General Waifs and Strays Beauty Advent Calendar opening thread 2025 Part 2

[AprilLady]

This is part two of the 2025 thread for those opening Beauty Advent Calendars not covered by specific calendar opening threads - though happy for those to be shared here too. I’m really enjoying hearing about all the different calendars being opened, including the Frankenstein and DIY ones.

As usual, many of us would really appreciate it if spoilers are not posted before 7am on the relevant 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 continuing to opening the Selfridges and Jo Loves calendars, and look forward to all your updates.

Link to previous thread here:

www.mumsnet.com/talk/style_and_beauty/5452443-general-waifs-and-strays-beauty-advent-calendar-opening-thread?

ASOS today is a Rituals shower oil. Happy with this.

Sylvan Glow is a Dr Althea Pure Grinding Cleansing Balm. Sounds a bit unappealing but it has exfoliating properties. Keen to try this.

StyleKorean Day 23 is a Purito Oat-In Calming Gel Cream 100ml. I've used Purito products before and liked them, so I'm keen to use this.

Oh i need to look on vinred for this. Love a citrus and love mb x

A very good DIY day today - well done me! Another cheese day in the CC, an interesting tea bag and a caramel dairy milk too! Rituals was a fragrance spray - it’s nice but I have a couple in this fragrance to use up already.

I substituted the drawer contents in today’s Liberty calendar and I had completely forgotten what I had put into this and the ongoing DIY one.

I’m looking forward to trying the sample size perfumes and I like FS perfumes well enough too. I’m just getting into cleansing balms so was pleased to see one today and am excited to try the tiny Sisley night mask. I bought the GlowHub lip balm after seeing it in another calendar, so have only myself to blame if I don’t like it!

Yeah I feel lipped out too! First day I’ve been really meh.

Today’s L’AP was a little leather pouch to hold a 10ml perfume, which I probably won’t use. Korres was an eye cream, and F&M was a pack of Ortigia bath salts. I love ortigia but I haven’t had a bath in several years so these will probably be wasted. Only one more day to go with Korres - how has the time gone by so quickly!

@Growlybear83 A leather pouch is a bit disappointing for the 23rd December! That sounds like more of a random Monday early on, like an 8th December item I also can't believe how December has flown.

The Ortigia would make a nice present for someone. Have you enjoyed the soaps?

Am now very popular with nieces who have extra (lip balm) gifts in their stockings 😂

JL was a lip oil by FENTY. No pigment so great for a glossy topper.

LF Fragrance was a gorgeous Molten Brown perfume…orange and vetiver I think it’s called. Unfortunately, it doesn’t last on me but is a really beautiful scent.

@IlovePond well after watching this thread I buckled and two weeks ago ordered CC 😆 it came two days ago , the kids cannot get their heads around it 🤣 so I am going to dive in Christmas Day eve and settled down to an evening of cheese and wine when kids have collapsed . Most are enabled by beauty , you got me at cheese !

The Sisley face mask I thought was fabulous if it’s the rose one that was was in SPNK last year shame so tiny .

Day 23 Lumene, a Vitamin C eye cream.

@ChannelLightVessel I bought the Lumene Calendar at a discount and am saving it for next year. I’ll have forgotten what’s in the drawers by then! I really rate their products.

Well done on getting the cheese @SunnyPinkMoose !

The Sisley is a sample that I think might have come in a Liberty Beauty Drop - I am looking forward to trying it.

I am annoyed about the Glow Hub lip balm - I had only quickly checked the top for damage/use when I bought it. Today I had a proper look and it’s been scraped all down the side so that’s one for the bin 😿 It’s not like me to have not checked properly at the time of purchase but it’s too late now!

@RoseTeaLady
Me too!
Will be lovely to continue the AC joy in January.

That is a really lovely shower oil , I got this in the Rituals on day 1 and thought , "nah" bit when I used it , I loved it .

And I haven't opened todays yet

Happy Christmas Eve everyone 🌲

LF Fragrance Calendar

Day 24 Happy Space x Look Fantastic Essential Oils Candle

With Rose, Geranium & Amber with hints of Jasmine, Sandalwood & Cedar

It smells amazing too 😀

Has anyone else got a Drawer No 25 as I have & it huge!

Happy Christmas eve! @Tangomango1 I have a drawer 25 which I'm looking forward to! Today drawer 24 in Diptyque is a beautifully scented 50ml body oil.

Happy Christmas Eve!
It's a fragrance in JL today - Portrait of a Lady by Frederick Maille but it's a double DoD for me as I've had it before and I don't think I like it but I cannot get the lid to screw off to check!

Happy Christmas Eve! A Seoulista sheet mask in OK, and a Flat Lay make up bag in Glamour in leopard print. Initially I thought both were DODs, but actually the sheet mask is K beauty so I'm interested, and the make up bag is really decent quality.

Day 24 Jo Loves is a red Nails Inc nail polish. I knew this was coming at some point but it's no less disappointing for it. I rarely wear nail polish and definitely don't wear red, especially not bright cool-toned red (but I'm being fussy here, I don't want nail polish in this calendar regardless of colour!). To me this is a cheap filler that doesn't belong in a luxury advent calendar but the fact they saved it for Christmas Eve suggests that whoever curated this thinks it's a good choice.

Happy Christmas Eve.

Selfridges is a Refy dual brush. Google tells me it’s good for cream bronzers and blushers, so will get used.

Jo Loves is the only complete DoD for me in this calendar - a red nail polish.

@AndeanFlamingo snap - agree completely about the red nail polish, it really doesn’t belong and neither me nor either of my young adult DDs are likely to use it.

Happy Christmas eve!

Today in boots premium was the sol de Janeiro perfume mist (blue). I'm happy because it's a much bigger size than I thought it would be!

I do think it's been a good calendar, although I'm a bit intrigued by glamour. I like a few gifts in there as well.