General “Waifs and Strays” Beauty Advent Calendar opening thread.

[AprilLady]

As in previous years, this a thread for those opening Beauty Advent Calendars not covered by specific calendar opening threads - though happy for those to be shared here too. Also looking forward to hearing about the “Frankenstein” curations.

Carrying on the tradition from previous years, it will also be fun to hear about other calendar openings - Degusta, jam, cheese anyone?

I know there are mixed feelings on this, but many of us would really appreciate it if spoilers are not posted before 7am on the relevant day, though if the consensus is this is too late we could
make it from midnight on the day? Please also avoid dropping hints or spoilers about future contents if you have opened the calendar in advance.

Posting pictures of contents is also always much appreciated.

I’ll be opening the Selfrdiges and Jo Loves calendars this year. Really looking forward to tomorrow.

@JoRaRaRa I am so impressed with your dedication. Spreadsheets? You deserve an award for your expertise. I can only dream of being able to do that. I do admire you 😊

I have also had a s**t year & I am grieving too, and my Advent Calendar brings a little bit of joy each day, during the lead up to our first different Xmas, that is badly needed x 🎄

Evening, just opened my ASOS box number 9, happy with L’ occitane hand cream today, a small tube useful for handbags.

Day 10 Jo Loves was Como body lotion which I look forward to layering with the bath & shower bubbles from earlier in the week.

Glosters was After-Eight marshmallows - I’m not keen on marshmallows but they’ll definitely get consumed by others in the house.

Shower gel in Korres - fine but not exciting!

I will so be asking someone to visit Dub for me next year @OchonAgusOchonOh as the Switzers Brown Thomas one looks amazing.

i know there’s a dedicated thread for LookFantastic but I’ve been really pleased with it so far. Like PPs it’s been a shit year and it’s lovely to have something to look forward to each morning (my DCs have also made me a Frankenstein AC of beauty/food treats and it’s been fab!)

It’s been a long, long work day. Finally able to post

Day 9:

Selfridges is two items - a mini moisturising primer by Sculpted by Aimee, and a cream blusher by a brand called Moonglaze. Not one I’d heard of before, but shade looks like something I’m prepared to have a go at.

Jo Loves is the with love from Como body lotion to go with the shower gel from a few days ago.

We can have a BAC outing. We can all meet up in Bewleys to compare our hauls.

That would be fabulous. Funnily enough one of my DDs texted me before to ask if she was BU (they have the MN lingo down!) to go to Dublin for one day as she could do it for £14 and had a craving for proper Irish food. Obviously I said YANBU! I must mention Bewleys to her, I’ve offered to pay for a glass of fizz at The Shelbourne

(sorry for slight derail!)

Good morning everyone. I am up bright & early for my day in the office so I am posting this before hopping in the shower.

Look Fantastic Fragrance Calendar

Day 10 - Scherzo Miller Harris perfume

It is a Unisex perfume & it smells gorgeous, but I have said that about all of them so far 😂

I will put some on after my shower & see how it lasts through the day.

Morning. Also posting early before heading in to work.

Day 10:

Selfridges is a UK lash serum and a Fenty mascara. Bit of a meh day, as I don’t use the lash serums and have plenty of mascaras.

Jo Loves is a perfume - Amber, Lime and Bergamot. On the fence at the moment about this scent, will need to try it again.

Day 10 of my Sephora advent contains 2 items. The first is Augustinus Bader eye patches which will be used tonight or i will take on my flight. I also have a black eyeliner by Kevyn Aucoin which I intend to use today.

10 days in and I really am enjoying this calendar. I decided this year to go for different calendars to last year and so far so good.

I did try the spacemasks yesterday and promptly ordered more.

@AprilLady i had that Jo Loves scent in a candle a couple of days ago in my HN AC. I adore the scent in a candle but I do think as a wearable fragrance it errs a bit on the masculine side?

Hand cream in DD’s Rituals, which she doesn’t want but I do. Cheese yesterday was a Taleggio - really nice, I wish there’d been more of it.

Oh I’d be up for a day trip to Dublin for the Brown Thomas BAC. Or perhaps we can all lobby them to do “international” shipping next year?

Nice day in JL - 75ml Sol de Janiero BumBum cream and 50ml Eve Lom cleanser, which I love.

Lumene Day 10 is a setting spray: I’ve never actually used one before, so interested to try.

Another double drawer day in JL! Is it just me or are we getting more of these than in previous years?
Anyway it's the ubiquitous Bum Bum cream. I really like this and I'm always happy to get a tub. And Eve Lom cleansing balm, which I'm excited to try as I love cleansing balm and have heard good things about this one

Day 10 SNK. I didn't keep the lip product from this drawer and instead replaced with 2 x 5ml of JHAG Not a Perfume that I must have acquired from an AC or edit.

Anthropologie today was a Floral Street perfume in sweet almond and is lovely. Quite strong but have not tried it before so will enjoy

@Youngatheart00 yes, I did actually think when I tried it that it would work well as a candle. I think it’s probably a somewhat masculine leaning unisex perfume.

Day 10 LIB. Max Factor False Lash Supreme Recharge mascara RRP £15. Not tried this one before, beautiful packaging but reviews just ok

Aren't you a lovely mammy. Was it far from the shelbourne she was raised though?

I hope she has a lovely day.

My Frankenstein 🧌 calendar is something from the cult beauty calendar. I know some people would consider this to be a dod, but for me, I will use it and it's a chance to get a version more expensive then I usually buy 😍 I managed to pick it up for a few quid on vinted.
I've marked the photo as sensitive as it's from a drawer later in the month and I don't want to ruin the surprise for others.

Day 10 Jo Loves: Amber, Lime & Bergamot perfume.

I really like this on first spray, as it starts with a heavy dose of the amber and lime, but it very quickly turns into just bergamot on me, which I'm really not keen on. I agree with other people that it leans very masculine. I would probably keep a candle in this scent but the perfume will be getting passed on.

Loving double drawers too😍! In my messed up JL this morning was the Eve Lom cleanser, SDJ Bum bum cream, a sample of erborian and HelloSkin under eye masks.

Echoing others here, I’ve had a tough year too and I really am glad to see the back of 2025. However, it really has made December better having the BAC - it really does make me excited like a kid every morning. Love that it brings some magic.

@OchonAgusOchonOh @WelcomeToDecemberItGetsWorseHereEveryDay @Defiantly41 - I would definitely be up for a Dublin meet up! And a glass of fizz at The Shelbourne - I worked there in the mid 80s for a few years. Could never have afforded to buy a glass of anything there back then!