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I have heard of Beauty Advent Calendars for the past few years but this year is the first one where I have purchased any myself. Due to me being Cruelty Free, I am conscious of the products I use and didn’t want to pay out a lot of money if I was not going to use many of the items included. That being said, I really wanted to treat myself so I researched a few options and settled on this one -Look Fantastic and also the Latest In Beauty collaboration with Grazia, a well-known fashion magazine here in the UK (see separate review!).
The first thing that I noticed about this calendar was the striking green and gold colour scheme, the magnetic fastening and the individual drawers with the corresponding number on for each day. I was so impressed with the design, and will be keeping the empty calendar for other storage!
A quick look at the product description told me that the total RRP for all the items inside was a staggering £420- I paid just £75! The calendars both arrived well before December- it was so hard to control myself and not open either of them but I managed!
By the time the 1st December rolled around, I was chomping at the bit to get into both of the calendars. (If you want to know the contents of the Latest in Beauty calendar, please see the separate review).
So what did I find in the first drawer? I will first state that each item was individually wrapped inside each drawer and came with a little number card and description of the product too. So, the item in question for the first day was Morphe 9A eyeshadow palette. Great start! This palette helps you to create a warm, smoky eye look with 9 powder shadows in beige, tan and soft cocoa shades, as well as matte and subtle shimmer finishes that blend effortlessly to create a seamless look. I am a big fan of eyeshadow palettes and my collection is getting bigger and bigger (Yes, I do have a problem. No, I’m not ashamed!). I also loved the packaging of this, black and understatedly glam.
Day 2 now, and a brand that has been highly sought after on Boxession, where I also blog, but one I have never gotten around to trying myself yet- Living Proof Perfect Hair Day 5 in 4 Styling Treatment. This helps to add strength and shine to the hair whilst also smoothing, volumising and conditioning too. It has heat protection up to 230 degrees and has a colour safe formula to give hair the ultimate bounce! You simply comb it through damp hair after washing and then blow dry. My research tells me this brand is cruelty free too, so I can try this to my heart’s content!
On Day 3 though, was an item I can’t use- Caudalie Vinopure Clear Skin Purifying Toner. This is said to perfect the complexion of combination skin due to its clarifying formula. It has a weightless texture that melts into skin and has a blend of Salicylic Acid and Grape Polyphenols Organic Essential Oils to draw out impurities from the pores. However, due to the non-cruelty free status of the brand, I won’t be using this and will find it a new home.
Day 4 was yet another brand that is highly rated and sought after on Boxession and one I have little experience with- Luxie 121 and 141 Brushes. These are ergonomically designed to create stunning eye makeup looks effortlessly, thanks to the premium soft, synthetic bristles. I have to say, I love the design of these and look forward to using them, which I can as they are cruelty free!
Day 5 left me so surprised, in a good way, at the size of the item! It was Elemis Pro Collagen Marine Cream. This is HUGE! It is clinically proven to reduce the appearance of fine lines whilst increasing moisture levels in the skin to revitalise the complexion. Elemis is usually a little out of my price range and so the only time I get to try them is when they are in boxes or are gifted to me. This is such a huge size that I have definitely got my value for money here! They are also cruelty free, so I will definitely be using this up!
Day 6 was another brand I am a big fan of- Illamasqua Nude Collection Lip Liner in the shade Raw. This helps you to create long lasting definition with a highly pigmented, easily blendable and creamy formula the delivers a colour intense finish. Illamasqua is also cruelty free, so I will be using this too, as I don’t have a nude liner- well, I do now!
Day 7 was Rituals The Ritual of Ayurveda Dry Oil, which helps to restore inner harmony to the hair and body by nourishing and hydrating from head to toe. It is infused with Indian Rose and Sweet Almond Oil to revitalise and pamper the mind, body and soul. I have looked at the cruelty free status of this brand and it does appear that they are, but I cannot find total confirmation.
Day 8 was Philip Kingsley Elasticizer, which is a super moisturising and highly concentrated hair mask to smooth each individual hair strand to incredible levels of silkiness. You apply it to damp hair before you shampoo and leaving for a minimum of 20 minutes. I cannot find any confirmation of their Cruelty Free status, so this is in the grey area for me.
Day 9 brought me an item I have tried before- Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel. This helps to purify skin with it’s non foaming formula that restores radiance and leaves skin soft and supple. It is infused with a blend of bio-available vitamins and fruit enzymes to gently lift makeup and impurities with the gel to oil formula. They are cruelty free too, so I now have another one to use, and it is suitable for all skin types.
Day 10 rolled around and with it, came First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads. These give the complexion a natural and healthy glow as well as a gentle exfoliation. It is infused with lactic and glycolic acid to improve clarity and reveal a natural radiance. This is also a cruelty free brand.
Day 11 brought Avant Skincare Moisture Surge Overnight Treatment. This has an anti-oxidant rich formula to give the complexion a new lease of life and help you wake to youthful skin. You use it 2 or 3 times a week for a brighter complexion. They are also certified cruelty free by Cruelty Free International too, so I can use this!
Day 12 is a product I have used before and absolutely loved- Prai Throat and Decolletage Crème. This smells gorgeous and helps to reveal youthful looking skin with a lightweight formula that is enriched with Hyaluronic Acid to moisturise and firm the skin and leave the skin looking youthful and glowing. They are also certified by Cruelty Free International too!
Day 13 is a brand that are included a lot of boxes- Lord and Berry Eyeliner. This helps you to achieve the perfect smoulder with a deeply pigmented pencil. It enhances the eyes with ultra-long wearing colour. You can also smudge this for a smoky finish. I believe these to be cruelty free based on the research I have done.
Day 14 is a brand I have heard of and used before- Mellow Cosmetics Liquid Lip Paint. This saturates the lips in colour and delivers a velvet matte finish. It has a long wearing, creamy formula to last all day without drying out lips. This brand is cruelty free too, so I will use this.
Day 15 made me super happy, as not only is the product amazing but I didn’t realise this brand is cruelty free! Rodial Dragon’s Blood Lip Mask helps to pamper your lips with intense hydration. It is a bio-cellulose mask infused with Hyaluronic Acid to smooth and soften the lips. It has a cooling sensation to help soothe and repair the lips. Again, they are cruelty free and I didn’t actually realise this, so another one I can add to my list of safe brands!
Day 16 is another brand I love and that is cruelty free! Molton Brown Fiery Pink Pepper Bath and Shower Gel refreshes and subtly fragrances skin from top to toe with notes of Fiery Pink Pepper, Tangerine, Elemi Oil and Ginger as well as being rich in antioxidants to add a hint of luxury to your daily routine to invigorate your shower. I am a fan of nice smelling shower products, so I will definitely be using this.
Day 17 brought another cruelty free product- Emma Hardie Moisture Boost Vit + C Cream. This helps you rediscover lost radiance with the help of a vitamin enriched formula- Vitamin B3 and C help to brighten the skin and give skin a youthful luminosity. Again, they are cruelty free so I cannot wait to give this a go as I love the moringa cleansing balm from this brand!
Day 18 is a beautifully packaged item from Neals Yard Remedies, their Wild Rose Hand Cream which conditions and cares for hands with a deeply moisturising and nourishing dry skin. It is powered by Wild Rosehip, Geranium and Patchouli Oils to deliver intense hydration and delivers an uplifting scent. They are cruelty free, which is brilliant, but I am a little wary of this company due to them operating a Multi Level Marketing business model alongside their retail shops. I am in two minds about whether or not to use this.
Day 19 is one product I won’t be using because the brand isn’t cruelty free- Bioeffect EGF Serum. I know this has been in a Look Fantastic box before and was very popular. It is said to give skin a new lease of life using a plant based replica of EGF to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. As I mentioned, this is not cruelty free so I won’t be using this.
Day 20 was Eyeko Lash Alert Mascara, which has a nourishing and volumising formula, housed in a zero waste tube. It promises no smudging, crumbling or flaking to ensure lashes are healthy and volumised. Eyeko are cruelty free too, so I can use this.
Day 21 was a brand I haven’t really heard of before- Delilah Cosmetics Eyebrow Pencil. It has a fine pencil tip and a creamy formula to create natural hair like strokes to fill sparse gaps and enhance depth. It does seem like they are cruelty free from my research too.
Day 22 is Bubble T Limited Edition Bath Bomb- Salted Caramel scent. This helps you to enjoy a luxurious bath with an uplifting, delicious scent to help you switch off from the world. I don’t have a bath at my flat, so I will be using my mums bath to try these out. From my research, they are cruelty free.
Day 23, we are getting to the end now! Today’s product is Filorga Meso Mask, which is said to improve the appearance of skin with anti wrinkle, lightening and radiance enhancing formula. Filorga is not a cruelty free brand though, so I will be finding a new home for this!
Day 24 is a brand I love- Sleek Makeup Highlighting Palette in Solstice. This helps add a strobe like radiance to the face and body. It contains two baked powders, one which is a silky shimmer powder and one cream highlighter to create a shimmering metallic finish. They are easy to blend and come in beautiful packaging too. Sleek is cruelty free too!
Day 25, and the final day! Arguably saving the best til last, Christmas Day brought me Omorovicza Queen of Hungary Mist in a limited edition bronze coloured bottle. This helps to rejuvenate the complexion with a nourishing blend of Rose, Sage and Orange Blossom Waters. It is a lightweight mist to refresh and hydrate the skin and can be used as a post cleanse toner or a revitalising daily spritz. I adore this brand and they are cruelty free too!
So my final thoughts are positive- I have loved opening this every day and of all the 25 items, only 3 are not cruelty free with one other in the grey area. I will be trying all the other products and may find some new favourites! I have really enjoyed my first venture into beauty advent calendars and cannot wait to try everything. I am sure it won’t be my last venture either!
