🎄 2025 Style and Beauty Advent Calendar Discussion ***SPOILERS*** THREAD 5

[BakeOffRewatch]

IF YOU ARE NEW TO BEAUTY ADVENT CALENDARS AND WOULD LIKE IDEAS PLEASE READ THE THREAD FIRST

Annual Style and Beauty Advent Calendar discussion thread. First AC reveal this year was 23rd June. First luxury reveal was 2nd July.

Thread 1: https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/style_and_beauty/5360770-2025-style-and-beauty-advent-calendar-discussion

Thread 2: https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/style_and_beauty/5388836-2025-style-and-beauty-advent-calendar-discussion-spoilers-thread-2

Thread 3: https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/style_and_beauty/5396898-2025-style-and-beauty-advent-calendar-discussion-spoilers-thread-3

Thread 4: https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/style_and_beauty/5403558-2025-style-and-beauty-advent-calendar-discussion-spoilers-thread-4

The regulars on the thread mainly discuss luxury BAC and this dies down by September when everyone has purchased and forgotten the contents. Then it goes into discussion on what’s selling out, what hasn’t and what deals and discounts to be had on ACs in the lead up to December. Then in December we move onto AC opening threads!

There’s a separate thread for GWP, discounts and other deals here: https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/style_and_beauty/5389635-beauty-chat-freebiesgifts-with-purchaseoffers-thread-four

A thread for the Liberty Beauty Drop here: https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/style_and_beauty/5253698-liberty-beauty-drop-spoiler-from-the-despatch-date-part-9

MN has a great Christmas board for deals and early gift buying here: https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/christmas

The boots skincare one and the H&B one have no make-up. I've ordered the boots. I didn't order H&B as it's a bit too similar to last year but I loved it last year.

Edited: I don't know why it posted twice

I’m really late to the party this year due to DF being poorly.
I haven’t read all the threads but am wondering on people views on Elemis. I’ve had a couple of products in F&M in the past and loved them. Tend to prefer single brand advent calendar’s anyway. Grateful for others opinions .

I was looking to L'Occitaine but figured that buying a few full size products I definitely like is more sensible (can't use some of their scents due to migraine)

I had it last year and found it very useful - I use Elemis all the time so I used the full size products every day and used the small ones throughout the year when travelling. But the calendar was mostly small sizes. I opened it all at once because I wanted the box for a DIY calendar, but if it had been my main calendar I think I'd have found it a bit underwhelming.
This year's calendar looks pretty and there are some great products in it, it depends if you'd enjoy trying them all out or if you'd be better off just buying some full sizes in one of the QVC deals. I do love Elemis, it's the only brand I can rely on to never irritate my skin and I love the smell of all the products

That is very nice. Thank you for sharing. Was the Christmas shop busy when you went? It’s so crammed up there, both merchandise and people, I found it really awkward with a toddler in previous years.

did anyone order space NK Tuesday morning via standard delivery? Have you received yours yet?

Yes I did and no I haven’t. I have had a royal mail tracking number since yesterday but it still says ‘We’re expecting it’.

no sign of my look fantastic being ship. This is what their customer service replied
"
For now there does not appear to be any issues with the order and Shipment has been sent to the warehouse as a valid order to be dispatched.

This is currently in the dispatch process at the warehouse and will be shipped to you shortly. As soon as it has left the warehouse, you will receive a confirmation email to let you know it is on the way, along with any tracking details.

Should you not receive any updates via the tracking facility within the next 5 working days, Please let us know and we can look into the matter further.
"

Well that's reassuring. for now there doesn't not appear to be any issues, but it is not shipped either it's is processing for many days

My Lookfantastic fragrance arrived yesterday. One of the JHAG perfumes has been duplicated instead of them being different ones so I've emailed them about that.

No sign of SNK, thought that would arrive today and RM tracking hasn't updated. I'm such an idiot forgetting to get Next Day when I have a pass.

I ordered Spacenk Tuesday normal delivery I got an update on tracking this morning saying it will be delivered tomorrow. Hopefully everyone else's will arrive some time soon

Joining in, finally, though I think I've read every thread and finally settled on Space NK for myself (had it last year)... but, what's everyone opting for for their teen DD's?
She had LF last year, and I snaffled the bits for mature skin.
I'd like to spend under £100, or maybe just over.
She's 14, mega spotty, loves make up, skincare but fragrances are a bit wasted on her as she lost her sense of smell to Covid 4 years ago (though still wears SdJ etc). She seems to have worryingly developed expensive taste!
Was considering LF again, one of the Boots ones, maybe, but also just spotted the Sephora Collection.
DS will be getting the LF Grooming one again, as I'm not spending Liberty money on him.

I know this is a bit over your budget (perhaps it will get reduced at some point?) but what about the Kiko one.
https://beauty-detective.com/kiko-milano-advent-calendar-2025/

I got mine glossybox but will swap the Commodity perfume and medik8 for the sdj, elasticiser and naturium cleanser from my snk and Lbty calendars. The naturium cleanser is great for teen skin but too drying for me.

MSE have done a cost analysis of some calendars here:

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/deals/deals-hunter/2025/09/beauty-advent-calendars-2025/

I'd also second Glossybox for a 14 year old as it's also very pretty and great value. Thankfully, my almost 14 year old isn't at all interested in expensive beauty and makeup (Autistic) but I've still ended up spending the same amount on Pokemon and Squishmallow ACs for her.

unboxing of the Sephora advent on TikTok

https://www.tiktok.com/@indybestshopping/video/7548748498078895382

Ooh, not come across that one yet. Looks nice, though I don't think I've ever tried any Kiko products. Will put it on the list of potentials, thanks.

Glossybox looks quite the contender, actually. Especially with a few swaps from the SNK calendar, thanks.

Fair play to Harrods, I emailed them about my AC box being damaged (bashed in one corner and paper a little ripped at the side - not terrible but disappointing as it’s my first Harrods and I love their AC boxes), they have offered me £20 refund.
It took them ages to get back to me, but happy with their response about the damage, expressing that they want a better experience for their customers

I’ve just had a look at the EL blockbuster bag - not as good as previous years, but better than last year I think.

I use the two ANR serums every day so those plus the moisturiser plus the interesting blush stick would make it worth it for me at £90. (Those items retail for a lot more even if I assume I could find a 25% discount somewhere.)

I couldn’t find a list of ingredients, but EL seem to have dropped talc from some of their products so that would be a bonus if so, as I used to like their eyeshadows before banning talc from the house!

I will probably get it if they drop the minimum spend requirement. (One year they even reduced it, but I had already bought it 😼)

Yes, I've just received an email too, offering me £20 back. It's been so long that I'd assumed that it had been put in the bin 🤣 I'm happy with a £20 refund. Now to wait a few more weeks for them to read the proceed email 🤣

Their products are nice. They have some fantastic eyeshadow formulas made in Italy. I have a couple of the singles. Their lipglosses are very popular too.

Just had a quick look - seems that talc has gone from EL - finally - although don’t know if it’s gone from everything.

I am now officially interested in adding the BB bag to my DIY calendar.

I watched a Stylevana calendar unboxing last night - looked interesting.

Got home to find my LF fragrance calendar had finally arrived so thankfully I won’t have to try and chase up without an order number! Seems to be problem free - or at least all drawers are filled so I hope it is duplicate free because I really don’t want to check that closely.