Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Beauty Advent Calendars - Worth the hype?


I am by no means a Grinch and forgive me if this posts makes me sound like one but I just don't get the hype surrounding beauty advent calendars. I love Christmas. I love beauty products, but dropping anything from £25 - £250 on a selection of products I haven't chosen for myself doesn't make sense to me.

It's probably also worth noting I'm not a particular fan of beauty boxes either. I can understand their appeal more as you spend a smaller sum monthly to receive a selection of products and until recently I was working my through another Perfume Society box but as a general rule I prefer to 'choose' what I spend my money on.

On one hand I'd say my age and single status would mean I'd think nothing of dropping a small fortune on a luxurious selection of products to enjoy opening daily and whilst I'm not exactly one for the 'religious' aspect of Christmas aren't we forgetting the point.

I'm old enough to remember Christmas Advent Calendars when there wasn't even any chocolate involved and you simply enjoyed counting down the days till Father Christmas dropped down your chimney. Now all of sudden on 1st December you should be snapping or instagramming the contents of whichever beauty advent calendar you chose. I just wonder how young girls especially and/or their parents are reacting to an expectation of having to spend such a sum on these type of calendars 'to keep up with Joneses'.

Take the Make Up Revolution calendar for example which is £45 and contains 25 full sized products, including a palette on Christmas Day. This is one of the 'better value' options available and it has been available for half price throughout recent weeks. Now I actually went through Superdrugs website whilst a currently 3 for 2 offer was available and 'spent' £52 on a full face of make up from primer to setting spray. I was able to include blush, concealer and eyeshadow palettes among others, picked the shades I wanted and would have received a free canvas tote bag. What would you prefer? If you are interested it's currently £20 at Superdrug which is definitely a bargain.

Then we move on to the real luxe options from Diptyque and Jo Malone which are priced at £250, that's £10 per small sample you open each day throughout December. Whilst I'd be happy if someone dropped either at my door the reality is I know for a fact there would be some scents I'm not a fan of and would I rather spend £40 on a candle I picked and burn that through the month than amass a number of smaller sample sizes - along with £210 change. Of course I'm in the minority as the Jo Malone one has already sold out!

Just last week I treated myself to a new fragrance from Jo Malone which wasn't cheap at £80 (stay tuned for more on that coming up later in the month) but it was a considered purchase to wear throughout the holiday season. Again with change from £250 it was a much better option for me.

I was almost swayed by the Marks and Spencer advent calendar. For £25 once you'd spent £25 on other products it gave me the best of both worlds of choice and 'surprises' and I liked the selection of brands available within the calendar. In the end I took a glance around my bedroom which would rival the M&S Beauty Halls and questioned why on earth I wanted to spend £50 on things that I didn't really need.

Of course if you're a devotee of the likes of Clarins and The Body Shop I can understand the appeal of having some smaller products to use for travel purposes or to try things from the brand you haven't experienced before. I do like the idea and price point of Tanya Burrs 12 Days of Christmas for younger girls and if you're a nail polish junkie some of the advent calendars for nails are beautiful - the Ciate one visually looks amazing.

Last year Ben actually brought me a charm bracelet advent calendar. Day 1 was the bracelet and then every day thereafter I'd open a new charm to add to it which was a great idea and typing this reminds me I must dig that bracelet out and wear it.

So over to you, is it just me being a Scrooge or do you not get the hype either?



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19 comments:

  1. I was tempted with the m&s one, although being slightly ...cough... very late to the party it was out of stock everywhere (plus it may have to have been a stealth purchase!), but you are right its a lot to spend and I know I probably wouldnt use half of the stuff xx

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    1. I definitely think that the M&S one was most tempting but I've got so many mini's I already barely use!

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  2. I am with you on it. If someone gave me a luxurious advent calendar, like the one from Jo Malone, Selfridges etc. I would be very happy and excited to try some luxurious products but to spend my own money on it it's not such a good idea anymore :) Just like you I'd prefer to buy something I actually really want. x

    Mummy’s Beauty Corner

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    1. Glad it's not just me! I think they're a great idea in principle but the price point and hype around them makes it madness!

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  3. I'd never even heard of these beauty advent calendars until a week or so back when I started to see people blogging about them. I'm with you, I don't have a lot of disposable income so I like to choose exactly what I'm getting for my money. Oh the joy of opening the advent calendars where you just had a little picture behind each door! I guess if you fancy the samples why not wait a couple of weeks when hopefully they might reduce the ones they have left. x

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    1. That's a great idea to look out for reduced versions but unfortunately they only seem to create a limited number so that they sell out before it gets to that x

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  4. I am a bit the same, I like to spend my money on something I choose. I still like the chocolate advent caldendars though :) Just like you if I receive a beauty advent calendar, I would be really happy with it but I am not sure I would actually buy one myself.

    Ally | www.glamoclock.com >> GIVEAWAY TO WIN A DESIGNER NECKLACE

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  5. I am completely with you on this and have said the exact same thing myself. I'm not a huge fan of beauty products and tend to just buy the same products all the time, I like them so why change. I feel that make up and beauty products should be quite personal, everyone having their own taste and there there is the factor of using what complements your skin type and tone, you wouldn't get this with these advent calendars, it's more of a one fits all kind of thing which just doesn't work in my opinion.
    I did look at the Yankee Candle one but when I weighed up the cost against whether I would actually like the scents included and just buying the ones I liked for a £1 each, it actually worked out cheaper buying my own individually.
    I think I'll just stick to my chocolate advent calendar.
    Love Gem x x x
    Gem'sCountryLifeDream

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    1. As you say if you like a particular brand and want to explore more of it or have smaller sizes at your disposal it's probably great but the expense for not liking 'everything' makes the saving or value of the calendar pointless!

      I agree with the Yankee one too, on one hand try some different scents but why not spend that money on one jar you do and know you like to enjoy

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  6. I have not decided yet if I love them or not. QVC USA has a big red box beauty Calendar not Advent Calendar and has some pretty good products but some not so much. I did not buy it this year. I still have to finish other sample sized items pus lots of regular sized products so this year not interested. In the US alot of crafters and families make their own countdown to Christmas things and fill with lots of different items so I do like the idea. Maybe we could have someone make one with new special products we love???? lol Grace

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    1. I know what you mean! I don't think QVC UK do something similar unfortunately but I might be tempted with that if they did! I'm tempted to visit Selfridges as they're doing a make your own Birchbox as I think that appeals to me more.

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  7. The UK has so many fun advent calendar options - there are such limited options in the US. Jealous!

    xo Brianna | Glazed Over

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    1. So surprised as usually it's the US that's ahead with these things!

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  8. The UK has so many fun advent calendar options - there are such limited options in the US. Jealous!

    xo Brianna | Glazed Over

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  9. I want the Liberty one.. That is all. x

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  10. I'd love the Liberty one, but can't justify dropping that much cold hard cash on a calendar! I just can't.

    I kind of wish they were just the ones of old, with a picture of a tree or something behind a door! But then, I'm an old woman!
    :O)
    x

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    1. I know exactly what you mean. Its a shame actually I picked up one of the old picture ones in Liberty but that was so pricey I couldn't justify it either. I'll stick to the cheapy chocolate ones!

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