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.

Ha I was part of that HoF calendar thread and it made my Christmas 🤣

Finally some makeup items in No7 over the last few days....an eyeliner yesterday and eyeshadow brush today.

Also inherited DDs eyeliner from Sephora as she doesn't wear it so won't need to buy any for a while!

Jo Loves day 14 is Pomelo Oud perfume. I love oud, and am ok with citrus, so I thought I'd really like this but I'm only getting citrus from it, no oud. I already have several citrus perfumes that I really like so this one probably won't make the cut.

Hmm. Rodial Bee Venom eye cream in today’s John Lewis calendar.
lovely, huge pot, look luxurious - but … a third eye cream in 14 days? How many eyes do JL think we have?

would prefer some of the cooling eye patches if it had to be yet another eye product, but a body product, moisturiser or makeup would have been better. Definitely last year of JL for me

I know, three eye creams in JL is a bit much but this one retails at £145 so you can't fault them on value. Also for that price, it's bound to make me look at least 20 years younger !

I just ran out of eye cream at the end of November so I was glad to get a couple in the calendar - three though will keep me going for ages 😆😆😆. The bee venom is a huge pot! I agree some eye patches would have been good. I’m nearly out so I’m looking for some eye patches online this morning 😳

Drunk Elephant polypeptides for me in Boots premium. This was one of my top swaying products, so I'm glad I opened it on a weekend whilst I can savour it!

I'm looking forward to this one, even though I do have a fair amount of eye creams at the moment. I immediately dabbed some on while I'm sat here :)

Small Body Shop is a Vitamin C sheet mask today. Pleased with this as it's something a bit different.

Day 11 of Vogue a full-sized Laura Mercier primer. Not a use of primers but like the brand so will give it a go!

I thought NOT ANOTHER eye cream! This morning in JL. Googled it, didn't realise how expensive it was!
I wish they'd swapped out the second eye cream for something different. But still really happy overall with the curation.

Travel-size Laura Mercier translucent powder in OK this morning. I use this daily, and it's a perfect handbag size, so this is a good drawer.

Glamour is a bit of a DOD, but at least it's a double so gets two of the crap products out the way in one go. It's a vitamin C night mask from Avant and a hyaluronic and retinol serum from Able Skincare (which seems like a similar brand). I'll use the vitamin C mask, and I'll probably use the serum on my arms. I know I bought Glamour for a reason, so I know there are a few great products to come. It's just taking a while..!

Day 14:

Selfridges is a MAC clear brow gel and the inevitable eyeliner, this one from Stila and which I am sure has previously been in at least one M&S calendar. At least it’s a double drawer day again. I do use clear brow gel (usually Benefits) so happy to try a MAC version. I don’t use black eyeliner on my fifty something eyes, so that will go to DD.

Jo Loves as @AndeanFlamingo notes above, is a 10ml of Pomelo Oud. As I’m the opposite of @AndeanFlamingo in that I really like pomelo/grapefruit scents and dislike oud, I was expecting to dislike this. But the oud is pretty subtle, while definitely there, and so this is a strong like for me.

Day 14 StyleKorean - double door of Tip Toe Jelly Stick in Butterfly, which is a lipstick that looks blue, but apparently turns pink once applied! Second product is Melixir Vegan Lip Butter with agave, a clear lip butter. Looking forward to using both.

Nivea BAC

Day 14 - Soothing day cream full size which is lovely 🥰

Day 13 - nice hair scrunchies which I gave to my daughter 😃

Today’s F&M was a big Bromley wellness pillow spray. L’AP was a little Passage d’enfer soap, and Korres was an olive exfoliated. There is definitely an olive theme in the Korres calendar, which is great if you like olives, but I’m not a fan 😆😆. I wouldn’t ever recommend Korres to anyone - the sizes has all been tiny, apart from yesterdays stickers which were huge, and, while Liberty, Harrods etc are three times the price, they are way way better value for money.

Hi,

Today’s Rituals was an advent candle and the DIY was a mini Tatcha moisturiser, which I am looking forward to trying as I have never used one of their products.

CC was another cheese and the tea bag was an immune support one, which is handy as I am ill in bed today😿, (hence no picture!)

Chocolate a/c was a mini fudge - my favourite!

DDog is absolutely loving his Rosewood calendar - can’t remember if it was from Lidl or Aldi, but it’s been a big hit. I love the fact that it’s got different things on different days! It’s on the kitchen table next to my tea calendar so as soon as I go to open that, he’s there, shoving his big furry head over the table and nudging me! He’s going to be devastated when it ends 🙀

ASOS is a This Works Deep Sleep Pillow Spray. I’ve not been sleeping well so I tried this last night. Slept like a log but may just have been coincidence. I’ll give it another go though.

Sylvan Glow is a Celimax Real Noni Energy Ampoule. Supposed to energize dull, tired skin. Will certainly use this. Have to say the rather unfortunate name reminds me of Brian from Hull if any of you remember that thread. 😂

@AppleDumplingWithCustardI’ve got a mini size of this on the go at the moment. I’m undecided so interested to see how you find it. I did chuckle at the Brian from hull comment though 😂

@AppleDumplingWithCustard I absolutely love this works- I genuinely think it does help with sleep!

Cult Beauty day 15 is a mini Kayali perfume. Vanilla candy rock sugar. I have a couple of Kayali fragrances and like them. Appreciate that it sprays at this size too!

Lumene today is a night moisturiser.

Hi
First dod today in Brown Thomas
some gold hair pin that looks like it could be from a christmas cracker 😂

can we see please? 🙏🏽

Posted pic ?