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, the final day. Charlotte Tilbury beauty light wand. Overall this has been a pretty good calendar.

Sylvan Glow on Christmas Day is the Blackhead Melting Softener and associated implements. What a gift to get on Christmas Day! 😱. Fortunately I don’t need this as I don’t suffer with blackheads but they’ve softened the blow with an unnumbered bonus box containing five products. Apart from the 25th this has been a lovely calendar.

The last day of Glossybox is a Natasha Denona palette containing some lovely wearable colours.

This was my Day 25 drawer. Only just had time to post it.

The La Mer Lip Treatment
Chantecaiile mascara
2 x AB rich eye cream - one I bought on Vinted and one gifted from my lovely friend who wasn't interested in keeping it (I did give her some stuff from my SNK in return).

Hope you all have had a great day. 😍

Now the Advent Calendars have been opened , and some products used :

Is this inspiring anyone to re-purchase ?

I got the Rituals one .
I like the hand balm ( red tube)
I re buy the Sakura scent and thought I'd try some new ones .
When I wash some delicates I'll give the laundry boost a go , though I don;t know if I'd re buy it probably ££
I do like the shampoo/conditioner , that will be a re-buy .

Good question @70isaLimitNotaTarget

I have already ordered some more of the sleep cream from the Liberty calendar from eBay - it’s very nice.

I like the MZ eye cream from my DIY calendar - would rebuy it if I could afford it.

I have bought the Amsterdam spray from Rituals before, so would buy that again.

I’d be interested in repurchasing the Vanilla Powder from Liberty if it wasn’t silly money to do so.

I like the Rituals shampoo and conditioner. I would repurchase at the right price.

I like all Ritual of Jing products so would definitely buy these again.

Day 25 of the JL calendar was a slightly odd mixture- Rituals shower gel which is nice but seemingly impossible to get to work when you have wet hands in the shower, Espa body lotion, This works bath soak (all small sizes) and a Shiseido eye mask.

would have bought the Le Labo The Noir perfume from this calendar but Santa brought me a large bottle, so very happy with that!

Would definitely buy/ have bought before the Elizabeth Arden hand cream, By Terry lip balm, BobbiBrown cheek colour, Eve Lom cleanser and Exfolikate. Would probably re-buy the Charlotte Tilbury lipstick, surprisingly good colour on me and have worn a lot already.

haven't tried all the other products yet and have given away a couple of the lip balms as 4 was definitely too many

@Defiantly41 - if the Rituals shower foam top is stiff, pushing it against the shower wall will shift it. After a couple of times they usually loosen up.

I'm happy with the Jo Loves day 25 voucher for a full size perfume but, like @AprilLady , I haven't found a scent in the calendar that I like enough to want a full size. I'm actually in London in late January but don't think I'll have time to visit the store so I think I'm going to order some samples to try.

In other news, I contacted Jo Loves customer service about my fragrance paintbrush that was only just over half full. They asked for a photo of the cartridge then quickly replied to say they're sending me a replacement cartridge. So very good customer service from them.

@Defiantly41 thank you! I completely missed the eye mask in JL when I opened yesterday's drawer. I agree - slightly random selection of items,.especially for Christmas Day. That ESPA body lotion keeps turning up in calendars and beauty boxes and I don't rate it at all but I like the other things from yesterday.
Overall, I think JL has been really strong this year. I especially enjoyed the fragrances. The By Terry lip oil could be a repurchase but I'll have to work my way through all the other lip oils and balms first!

Ah! I didn’t realise there’s an eye mask in drawer 25 of JL!

My top products from JL are the Laura Mercier eyeshadow stick, Trinny London cream eyeshadow, Medik8 night cream, all the eye creams and lip balms.
The only thing I won’t use is the Charlotte Tilbury red lipstick , of which there are many on Vinted right now. Also loved the Kilian perfume.
The LF Fragrance AC was real winner for me.

I have the Lumene AC to open in January then there will be a few lean months until August when the BAC machine revs its engine and we begin again…can’t wait!
Happy holidays everyone 🙂

I am opening the Parfums de Marly Countdown and today is 4 x 5ml.
I am excited to try these as they are all new to me except Valaya exclusif.

@MrsBnow12 that is a great drawer. I really like Meliora and La Rosee is my favourite of the Delina perfumes.

@MrsBnow12 I haven't tried any of these so I was very pleased with today's drawer 😍 I also can't wait to try out the body cream from yesterday's box 🩷

I’m really pleased with today’s PDM drawer. I haven’t sniffed the perfumes from SNK and HN yet but will open them when I get home. I think the PDM box is really nice quality and it’s one I will keep to re-use.

I noticed this with the Rituals of Jing foam , it was impossible !
I haven't used the other one yet as I'd bought some of the Mehr foam which was fine to open.

Finally got the Jing one to work after drying my hands and pressing down ( wrapped in a flannel to catch the foam )