Best Beauty Advent Calendars For 2017: Holiday Gift Guide

Best Beauty Advent Calendars For 2017: Holiday Gift Guide

Selfridges Cosmetopia Digest   Friday, October 06, 2017

This year, there are so many new names jumping on the Beauty Advent Calendar bandwagon, right from luxury store Harrods, to drugstore favourite Soap & Glory. Which hopefully means that the brands which previously had Beauty Advent Calendars would have to up the ante and make their calendars better than ever before, right?
LookFantastic has certainly done that this year, as also FeelUnique and ASOS. This ensures that you are coming back for next year's box!
Given that there are now more than 50 different Beauty Advent Calendars out there, I was hard-pressed to narrow it down to 15. So this - calendars which have improved with each year - became a criterion, and I've also included some of the new names, based on the contents.

Scroll down for the best Beauty Advent Calendars for Holiday 2017, including prices, contents, where to buy, and more.

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Beauty products used up in March 2014 (empties)

Beauty products used up in March 2014 (empties)

The Body Shop Cosmetopia Digest   Tuesday, April 01, 2014

I love April, and not just because it is my birthday month. First of all, there are a tonne of holidays. Secondly, really nice things have happened to me in Aprils past overall. Right, not-so-nice things such as walking into a wasps' nest, peritonitis and emergency surgery, a fractured nose and a bad motorbike accident have also happened just before previous birthdays, so much so that my family always views the first two weeks of the month with trepidation and tells me to watch my step. So here's hoping I - we all - have a hassle-free and superb month (and year) ahead!
Now for the empties from March. As usual, I finished up more skincare than makeup. But unlike February, this time, there were more products I really liked, although there were some serious duds.

Here are the beauty products I used up in March 2014 and my quick thoughts on each.

April 2013 empties

April 2013 empties

Skin care Cosmetopia Digest   Wednesday, May 01, 2013

In April, I only used up four items:
1. Freeman Barefoot Foot Lotion
2. Lush H'Suan Wen Hua Hair Treatment
3. Park Avenue Beer Shampoo
4. Clinique All About Eyes Rich

Freeman Barefoot Softening Foot Lotion in Iced Teaberry & Mint is a lightweight cooling lotion I apply overnight. It smells mild and doesn't feel greasy or stain the sheets. I've already got another one, but I'm starting on The Body Shop Peppermint Foot Lotion for now.

Lush H'Suan Wen Hua is a hair pack to condition the locks. I won't repurchase because it contains parabens (Why, Lush?), it lasted just three uses and it didn't do my hair any favours. It smelled nice, but my hair didn't feel softer or shinier and the frizz and dryness were still there. I might try Roots next time.

February (and January) favourites

February (and January) favourites

YSL Cosmetopia Digest   Saturday, March 02, 2013

Since I didn't do a favourites post for January, this list incorporates both Jan and Feb favourites. I've segregated them into make-up favourites and skin/hair/body care favourites. Make-up (and perfume) first:

So here are the items (top to bottom, left to right). Whatever I've mentioned in this blog has been linked:
1. Dior J'adore Eau de Parfum: My current favourite perfume, since mid-2012
2. Smith's Lip Balm: Will talk about them soon
3. Lancome Hypnose mascara: Gives my eyes decent shape
4. Shiseido Sheer Mattifying Compact: My HG compact foundation
5. O.P.I. Ski Teal We Drop
6. Rimmel Glam' Eyes quad - State of Grace 
7. M.A.C. Liquid Eyeliner in Treat Me Nice 
8. Bourjois Blush in Rose d'Or
9. Dior Addict Extreme in Avenue 
10. O.P.I. Mrs O'Leary's BBQ 
11. Rimmel Glam' Eyes quad - Sun Safari: a bit summery, but I wore it anyway :)
12. Chanel Rouge Double Intensite in Rose Garnet: this is my absolute favourite lippy ever, ever!
13. YSL Matt Touche Compact: Fell in love with it after buying at the airport

Now for skincare:
1. TIGI Rockaholic sulphate-free shampoo
2. LUSH Snake oil bar
3. Bourjois Magic Nail Polish Remover: My HG nail polish remover. Click to read review.
4. The Body Shop Moringa soap
5. Clinique All About Eyes Rich
6. The Body Shop Satsuma Puree Lotion: This is also in my list of empties in February
7. The Body Shop Cuticle Oil
8. Figs and Rouge lip balm in Aloe and Mint
9. Lancome Genefique Youth Activator Serum
10. Cetaphil Moisturising Lotion
11. The Body Shop Rainforest Moisture Shampoo

I'll do a post on February empties and my loooong March wishlist soon :)