🎄 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

That is absolutely beautiful 💛

Some Kiko products are very nice! Definitely an underrated and underhyped brand imo.

So dull. No lipstick & I'm fed up of Floral Street https://beauty-detective.com/ms-beauty-advent-calendar-2025/ beauty-detective.com/ms-beauty-advent-calendar-2025/]]]]

@IlovePond what’s the issue with talc, is it allergy? And in the other thread you mentioned weleda, what’s the issue there? Sorry for interviewing you!

I went to google too. I believe she is referring to this.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy7pgd5nkr6o

Yes, I want to know about weleda too!

ETA: Read the article. Bloody hell.

Hair clip, hair comb, blah. I didn't buy last years because it didn't float my boat, and it was a no from me when I saw the sneak peek a couple of weeks ago, but I think this is the poorest offering yet from M&S. Shame as I used to love it in the first few years.

The M&S bac has been revealed - https://theindustry.beauty/ms-unveils-2025-beauty-advent-calendar-amid-continued-category-expansion/

Edited to add apologies 😊 I didn't see that the info was already posted on the thread.

It's a "no" from me i think

Oh well that's me off to M&S to use my 20% tomorrow and spend my £5 voucher. I don't need any more tat in the house (comb, clip gua sha, is that a black nail varnish?) . On the plus they have thrown in a couple of different brands I think this is the first time I have seen benefit but otherwise this works sleep cocoon, cowshed shower gel/body lotion it's just the same old every year but more expensive. Very disappointed

I've bought H&B after watching an unboxing. Never bought one before.

There's a few things I'd like to try, in particular the Antipodes mask. After realising that was £25 on its own I decided to get the whole thing. There's also a Vit C serum that looks nice and is quite pricey. Three decent looking face creams too.

There's also a few things I'm not fussed about but overall I think it's quite nice. I know some people here aren't keen following last years but it's a new one to me.

I was so looking forward to the m&s reveal but it's so blaaaaahhh 😝 I definitely won't be getting it. Off to go get the bras and pants tomorrow that I've been putting off buying 🤣

Thank you @BeautyMoth Oh wow how badly do I want Sephora now. 🫣 So many double doors. I think I need to get my Spacenk which is being delivered tomorrow and have a (rational) think about this before I hit buy on Sephora and fill the house with beauty products but I am sorely tempted

I've got my Lookfantastic fragrance and Glossybox now. Spacenk has been despatched as has Sephora so will hopefully get them soon. I'm looking forward to them all. I think Sephora have done well in terms of the experience of opening an advent. I've not looked at the products too closely, I know there is a uk lash serum that I will ask dh to take out and sell but other than that I will put away for December.

@OvaHere I watched the H&B unboxing and have ordered it as a birthday gift for myself.

Ooh the Diptyque calendar is out, now trying to decide between that or the Jo Malone option and I cannot make my mind up I think the M&S option is well priced, going for that option for my Mum

I’ve never bothered with Sephora before but that looks good. I’ll have to compare it to the others I have on my list

Although I have got the LF and Ok to create a AC for my mother who at 81 has no idea what she is putting on and has a hatred of minis lol! And having a liberty for me I’ve got over excited and ordered the Face the Future box as well !!!! This thread is brilliant and also addictive , I’ve signed up to Brown Thomas ( for next year honest gov! ) I need to step away now .

There's something about an unboxing that elevates a BAC more than a studio photo. Same just happened with H&B. I'm beginning to see why they send them to influencers. 😂

I liked Sephora from the photos and have had it in my cart for days hoping for a code or other incentive. That Tik tok has persuaded me to buy it!

@OvaHere I agree H&B definitely looks better unboxed. Especially if you like coconut.🥥
I am considering it as it is usually quite good for staples like soap, shampoo and deodorant which you would buy anyway

I love coconut scents so that's a plus. There's definitely enough in there that I will use. Interested to try the toothpaste and the rosemary hair oil, both things I might not get around to buying otherwise but curious to try.

Hi @BakeOffRewatch - I see other people have answered about Weleda - I don’t even feel like using up the bit I have atm, (which is probably silly).

I threw away all my lovely eyeshadows and highlighters from EL last year when I found out that a lot of talc is still - potentially- contaminated with asbestos. I know that talc is still widely used in many cosmetics and I am sure most of what is used in reputable brands is perfectly safe but I just didn’t want to use products containing it any more.

That’s when I turned to Hourglass eyeshadow. I also use Bobbi Brown eyeshadow sticks - BB use a lot of talc in their palettes but not in the sticks as they are cream not powder.

Thanks for letting me know @IlovePond . I have a Lisa Eldridge Palette I use regularly, an Hourglass face palette and a couple of blushers that came in the Liberty AC last year I will check them.

Niche Beauty AC has gone on sale today. It's looked quite nice in previous years but there's not a lot in it for £345, twenty four items - so strictly one per door and some are teeny samples.

@Isabelle70 can I ask what has put you off Liberty?

I was a bit taken aback at the small size of some of the items and I really dislike a couple of the perfumes, but I am still lusting after it😹

However, it’s the price that is the main sticking point for me still.

Oh now it's unboxed it's definitely not too bad for £50. I have red sensitive skin and there doesn't seem to be harsh products in. Was hoping m and s would be good but rubbish. Imo. This has no tools! 🤣