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.

I’m another who has had a fairly awful 2025 so the BACs are cheering me up too. I’ve got an Olverum pure radiance facial oil in F&M today, a Passage D’enfer body wash in L’artisan parfumeur, and a probiotic super dose face mask in Korres. 😊

OK today is a 10ml Gatineau tinted peptide lip balm which looks nice. I do have an awful lot of lip products considering I rarely use them. I really should make more of an effort day to day.

Glamour is 55ml Fable and Mane hair oil.

Each worth around £30 so quite a good day for me. I like that the brands are a bit different.

So forget Bewleys. It's bottles of fizz in the Shelbourne instead.

And then a full Irish at Bewleys to recover……

ASOS today is a Sunday Riley Aquamarine Melt cleanser. Like Sunday Riley so pleased with this.

Sylvan Glow is Some Bi Me Retinol Intense serum. Nice but not sure I’ll use this as I’m a regular user of retinol and this is only 0.1%.

Forgot pic.

You could use on chest area or arms @AppleDumplingWithCustard?

Hi, I’m pleased with today’s offerings.

I made a better effort for my DIY today - a Clarins cleansing oil and an Escentric Molecules travel size that I got in a GWP.

There was an actual cheese in the CC calendar today, (after a couple of dud days - I really don’t like the onion marmalade so was disappointed to see it again the other day), so I will be eating that later.

I had no idea Twining did do many teas - I will have this one later - I am loving them so much!

Don't open this until you're ready to use it up quite quickly. A lot of people have had issues with the product separating after not very long. I had a full size that I ended up throwing out. There was a discussion in one of the threads not long ago (may have been the Liberty Beauty Drop thread) and a number of people reported similar. It's a shame because SR products are usually all very good.

JL was an Eve Lom cleanser…thank god not the ever present face mask!
Not keen on the smell of the cleanser so this will be donated.

LF fragrance was a Miller and Harris perfume… Scherzo.
Jury is out so far but I think it’s too masculine for me.

Excellent plan.

Day 10 of StyleKorean is a 55g pot of Medicube Deep Vitamin C Golden Capsule Cream - looking forward to using this as I like the Medicube range.

Day 10 CB. Im sure i moved this from another drawer later on in the AC to fill a gap with something i sold. Happy with this😊

Almond shower gel in L'Occitane today, I really like this range so pleased.

I love a shower oil - it always feels so decadent! Like im living like Marie Antoinette
🤣

Bit of a meh day today from Diptyque. A mini basil scented candle for removing odours, although I'll give it a try it's not very exciting.

@Seahorses12 That Diptyque candle is one of my favourites! It's a gorgeous herby fresh scent and you've just reminded me that I want to buy one ready for spring.

ASOS calendar owner here. Thank you for heads up to use today’s product quite quickly. I’ve tried Sunday Riley’s this morning instead of usual cleanser and I would have otherwise had two on the go at the same time. I will now just use today’s advent offering.
im generally loving the ASOS calendar, quite an upgrade from M and S calendar last year!

That Scherzo top notes are quite masculine but as the day progressed it has mellowed into rosy oudy base note, still lingering after whole day at work. I was reading reviews and was a bit worried that its too strong for office, thank goodness only 2 sprays but I like its longevity. Loving LF fragrance advent as every morning going to work has been slightly more exciting. Only disappointment was Juliette has a gun not a perfume. Perfect name.

Rituals hand balm .
This is next to my bed I'll use it tonight

@SavageGarden23
I completely agree re Juliette Has a Gun….it smells of nothing!
Definitely bottom of the chart so far.
All the others have been great and generally all have been brands I’ve never tried before.

Apple and pumpkin tonic water in degusta
😖

That's good to know, thanks! I won't right it off just yet!

Took me a minute, read that as 'toner' 🙈