I seem to be writing these reviews at an earlier date with each passing year.
The beauty of age is certainly experience and you’ve been around the block, so you are happy to call out sh*te in an unrelenting fashion.
Yes, I belong to that Generation OLD that like calling a spade, a spade (another thing that digital savants have probably never seen).
Let’s start this year’s review with Space NK….
Pricing
I love the consistent pricing strategy the brand has. This was the cost of the calendars in the past years
2023 £220
2022 £215
2021 £199
2020 £195
Where can I buy the calendar?
Join the waitlist here
Is it available for shipping outside the USA or the UK
Yes
What are the new things that this calendar contains?
Space NK didn’t disclose all their products in the “join the waitlist” phase but they have done so this year. Absent are brands like Chantecaille but the “regulars” Dr. Barbara Sturm, Sunday Riley are back. New brands in the mix are definitely NIOD, 111 Skin, Tatcha and Lanegie
Unlike other years this calendar spreads itself quite widely and noticeable for me are the number of haircare products, frivolous setting sprays and useless make-up that this calendar contains.
Out of the 33 products, that’s a good 10-12 which I wouldn’t touch
Hair products include:
- Olaplex No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo 100ml
- Olaplex No.5 Bond Maintenance Conditioner 100ml
- Bread Beauty Supply Hair-Oil: Everyday Gloss 30ml
- JVN Hair Complete Instant Recovery Serum 100ml
- Colour Wow Dream Coat Supernatural Spray 50ml
Mists/Setting sprays and make-up products include
- Charlotte Tilbury Bigger Brighter Eyes Eyeshadow Palette:
- Hourglass Confession Ultra Slim High Intensity Refillable Lipstick:
- Rose Inc Ultra-Black Lash Lift Serum Mascara 10.7ml:
- 19/99 Precision Colour Pencil in Nutura:
- Rare Beauty Perfect Strokes Matte Liquid Liner 7.5ml Joy:
- Tatcha Luminous Dewy Skin Mist 40ml
- Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Setting Spray 50ml:
What do I think of this calendar and would I buy it?
The maths doesn’t always make sense with advent calendars – its pretty pointless me allocating a value/unit. This year I am asking myself, what I would honestly use from this calendar. I came up with this list
- Drunk Elephant Lala RetroTM Whipped Cream 30ml (£56)
- Sunday Riley C.E.O. 15% Vitamin C Brightening Serum 15ml (£35)
- Farmacy Beauty Green Clean Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm 50ml (£24)
- 111 SKIN Rose Gold Illuminating Eye Mask x3 (say £30)
- Summer Fridays Jet Lag Mask 64g (£49)
- Eve Lom Rescue Mask 50ml (say £40-£50)
- Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream 15ml (£71)
- NIOD multi-molecular Hyaluronic acid (£45)
I am not too sure I’d use the Eve Lom product, but the total is about £350 and I am paying £220. Is this really value for money for me? Probably not
Previous year blogs
Full list of everything in the calendar
Dr. Barbara Sturm Cleanser 150ml: This gentle, everyday cleanser is formulated with soothing panthenol and aloe vera to help gently lift away traces of the day.
Olaplex No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo 100ml: Enriched with sunflower seed oil, apricot kernel, rosemary leaf extract and banana fruit, this lathering shampoo helps to repair and protect hair from everyday wear and tear.
Olaplex No.5 Bond Maintenance Conditioner 100ml: Suitable for all hair types, styles, and textures, this deeply nourishing conditioner is ideal for treating split ends, and frizz.
Charlotte Tilbury Bigger Brighter Eyes Eyeshadow Palette: Infused with transparent sparkle, each of these four eyeshadow powders can be used to create the illusion of bigger, brighter eyes.
Drunk Elephant Lala RetroTM Whipped Cream 30ml: Formulated with six African oils, along with moisture-retaining ceramides, this velvety moisturiser nourishes skin and promotes a brighter, more supple complexion.
Sunday Riley C.E.O. 15% Vitamin C Brightening Serum 15ml: Boost skin’s radiance and help protect against environmental stressors with this fast absorbing, antioxidant-rich formula.
Hourglass Confession Ultra Slim High Intensity Refillable Lipstick: Shade At Night Line and fill lips like a pro, thanks to this super slim applicator that can be refilled with a wide range of gorgeous colours.
Farmacy Beauty Green Clean Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm 50ml:No party makeup is too stubborn for this do-it-all award winner, a fresh concoction of papaya, sunflower and ginger root oils works to cleanse and soothe.
111 SKIN Rose Gold Illuminating Eye Mask x3: Restore radiance with these rejuvenating eye masks infused with important amino acids, peptides, and proteins to encourage a natural glow.
Rose Inc Ultra-Black Lash Lift Serum Mascara 10.7ml: Formulated with peptides to strengthen and lengthen, this mascara also contains nourishing argan oil and goji berry oil extracts to help protect lashes.
Naturium Niacinamide Serum 12% Plus Zinc 2%30ml: Formulated with niacinamide (vitamin B3) and zinc, this soothing serum works to balance excess oil, refine, and purify.
Tula Skincare Cooling & Brightening Eye Balm 10g: Formulated with caffeine to help tighten the area around the eyes, this cream also contains hyaluronic acid to hydrate and blueberry to protect delicate skin.
Bread Beauty Supply Hair-Oil: Everyday Gloss 30ml: This multi-tasking, everyday hair oil can be used to soften strands, smooth frizz, add shine, and tame texture.
Nécessaire The Body Serum Fragrance Free 250ml: Formulated with five molecular weights of hyaluronic acid, this body serum works to provide multi-level hydration to help minimise eczema, crepiness and dryness.
Summer Fridays Jet Lag Mask 64g :This hydrating mask is designed to drench tired or stressed skin with hydration and nutrients for a renewed, radiant look.
Kosas Wet Lip Oil Gloss Shade Exposed 4.5g: Packed with hydrating actives, this lip oil helps leave lips looking plump and juicy without drying out the skin
Biossance Vitamin C Rose Moisturiser 30ml: Brighten, firm and hydrate in one step with this lightweight and luxurious texture that locks in moisture while imparting a youthful glow.
Eve Lom Rescue Mask 50ml: Clear up congested skin and brighten a dull complexion with this multi-award-winning face mask.
Paula’s Choice 10% Azeliac Acid Booster 30ml: Specially formulated with azelaic and salicylic acids, this lightweight cream works to reduce the appearance of blemishes, bumps and redness.
Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Setting Spray 50ml: This dual phase setting spray will help keep makeup in place for up to 12 hours.
Tatcha Luminous Dewy Skin Mist 40ml: Suitable for all skin types, this versatile facial mist can be used to set makeup or refresh skin whenever it needs a hydrating boost.
JVN Hair Complete Instant Recovery Serum 100ml: Help protect hair from heat damage and visibly reduce split ends with this gorgeous hair serum.
Malin+Goetz Vitamin B5 Body Moisturizer 30ml: This lightweight formula sinks effortlessly into skin and provides deep moisturising action to leave skin feeling instantly soft.
Kate Somerville Goat Milk Moisturizing Cleanser 60ml: This gentle, creamy formula is enriched with goat milk proteins to help soothe dry and sensitive skin
Medik8 Crystal Retinal 6 50ml: Use as part of your evening skincare routine to help soften and smooth skin, allowing it to awaken refreshed and radiant.
Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream 15mlFormulated with the brand’s TFC8, or Trigger Factor Complex, The Rich Cream nourishes skin with key ingredients for healthy cell renewal.
Boy Smells Hinoki Fantôme Scented Candle 85g: Infused with the scent of smoky Japanese cypress and jasmine petals, this sultry candle includes notes of resin, hinoki, cardamom, jasmine, moss and guaiac.
Colour Wow Dream Coat Supernatural Spray 50ml: Trending on TikTok, this leave in hair serum coats lengths and ends in a protective film to give a glassy hair finish – no frizz or fly aways.
19/99 Precision Colour Pencil in Nutura: Get creative with this multi-use makeup pencil that can be used on the eyes, lips, cheeks or anywhere else on the face.
Rare Beauty Perfect Strokes Matte Liquid Liner 7.5ml Joy: With ultra-black pigments, this liquid liner can be used to create the perfect eye look. It has a matte finish and will not smudge, streak or feather.
Niod Multi-Molecular Hyaluronic Complex 30ml: This refreshing, lightweight serum works to plump skin with a range of molecular weights of moisture-magnet hyaluronic acid. It smooths, and leaves skin looking and feeling fresh.
Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask 20g Chocolate: Wake up to softer, smoother lips with the help of this intensive care lip mask that works as the wearer sleeps. Available in a range of shades, each shade features its own unique scent.
Erborian Skin Hero Bare Skin Protector 15ml: Your skin but better! This non-tinted skin perfector uses K-beauty technology to smooth, blur and enhance the appearance of bare skin.