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.

Ooh I'll join in! We have Degusta food and a Boots beauty...

Days one and two of Degusta…

And the Boots beauty…

Most of my BAC offerings have been covered already.

Lacura was a Bobbi Brown dupe for the moisturising primer. Pooch and Mutt was 2 pigs in blankets flavoured biscuits, the same as yesterday 😂

For those who’ve tried the VB eyeliners, do they have decent staying power when used for tight-lining?

ASOS today is a Sam McKnight hair balm. Ok but will probably go in my charity stash.

Sylvan Glow is a lovely Anua Peach Serum with Niacin. Excited to try this.

I really appreciate that John Lewis put all the hair stuff in one drawer as I won't use the shampoo, conditioner or Wella hair oil (not curly girl friendly) but I can use the other oil (might not be for curly girl purists but I think it looks OK!) I smoothed a bit of it over my hair after blow drying this morning and it's lovely for taming frizz and smells great too.

I want to live in Diptyque Land!

LF also got the Aveda cream, I don’t have much hair but my DDs will share it!

In my Frankenstein AC from DCs, I got Method pink grapefruit hand wash (I love this) and funnily enough both DCs and I independently put a scratchcard in Day 2 of our ACs for DH! (Sadly he didn’t win anything).

I am really enjoying this thread.

@LetitSnowballnot great at tightlining as it’s very soft and smudgy so it comes off after a while and moves about.

Less exciting day for me today.

Ok - L'Oréal Paradise volumising mascara (RRP £12.99).

Glamour - Coconut Lane phone strap that is nicer than the promo example, but unfortunately I fear destined for landfill. RRP £8.

Still, you can't win them all and I'm glad to get the phone strap out the way early.

Nivea calendar - lovely lip balm 👄 that I've been using already this morning as mx lips get very dry

Gruum day 2 - New England Fall Roll on Fragrance, oddly I can't smell it but DH says it smells lovely so looks like it's one for him!

Finally got home and opened two drawers from my SNK mash up calendar.

Some of what I put in this calendar is what I kept from LF fragrance AC so I've marked the photos as sensitive as I think these scents were from there. If you are unboxing LF and don't want future spoilers don't click the photos.

The two items native to SNK and in the right order (I checked the SNK thread) are Tatcha Vit C and Lisa Eldridge Kitten Mascara.

Arrgh. It's only marked one of the photos as sensitive. I'll see if MN can fix it.

ESPA 15ml replenishing eye cream. Happy with this and I’m nearly out of eye cream so will get used fast.

Elle 2 mini serums as pp said. Happy with these.

Boots Burts bees lip balm. Not sure about the salted caramel flavour but will use it anyway.

LF leave in hair treatment, I’m pleased with it as I’m lazy and hate masques you have to leave on, feels like I’m washing my hair twice unless I leave overnight and I’m not that organised!

Finally got my advent calendars out from under the bed.

Frankenstein beauty calendar day 1: Augustinus bader the rich cream from the HN ac.
Day 2: Lisa eldridge mascara from SNK ac plus estée lauder primer bought in Boots £10 Tuesday 🙂

Frankenstein fragrance calendar day 1: Graff from last year's Harrods calendar.
The car fragrance from this year's SNK fragrance calendar and a candle 🙂

Also need to open Harrods hair and body but I'll leave that until a little bit later. I've realised that I have no where to store anything, so it's all having to stay in the ACs for now 🙈🤣

Afternoon all. I had a very early start and busy work morning, so only finally getting to post now.

Day 2:
Jo Loves is a layered votive candle. Looking forward to using this - may try it tonight.

Selfridges was 3 minis - a shampoo, a conditioner and a shower gel. All will get used, and at least all 3 were in one drawer together, as individually they would have been somewhat disappointing.

Pics of the Harvey nics one attached, it had a cool ‘face’ overlay too but that’s now in the recycling!

Today’s gift is a Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Lip Blur in rouge which looks lovely

Oh I’d love to try the rose cleansing balm, what a combo!

Joining in with JL this year - missed out on Space NK sadly (husband thought by joining wait list he was guaranteed one 🤦‍♀️)

liked the hair products in today’s, and also liked the perfume from yesterday, not my usual type but actually developed really nicely. Sadly it rolled out of the bathroom cabinet this morning and smashed on the tiles below, so my bathroom smells lovely but I don’t!

looking forward to more updates tomorrow, I also have Hotel Chocolat dark chocolate advent which is my after dinner snack treat, husband has Lindt and Steph Bakes (individually iced biscuits), which he is loving

Same as @paristotokyo no I don’t think they last for tight-lining. I’m not steady handed enough for that unless I’ve lots and lots of time, and I’m usually in a rush in the morning so quick basic eye things work well for me. I can’t even put on false lashes 🫣😆

@JoRaRaRa I did have a moment of where am I keeping all this moment, and so far I’ve not found an answer …

What’s the Estée Lauder primer like ?

Loving everyone’s pics. Anyone else feeling like they now need a tea and cheese calendar??

I have tried the Clarins cleanser from my DIY calendar. I didn’t like it - it made my face tight and squeaky, stung my nose and made my eyes itch. I won’t use the rest so it’s on its way to the recycling, I’m afraid.

The Clarins exfoliator was unremarkable - didn’t seem to do much. There’s enough left for one more use. The Clarins shower gel sample smelt lovely but there was only just enough for one shower.

I also used the Rituals hair mask. The jury is still out on that one.