11 October 2023 , 21:00
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With Christmas getting nearer and nearer (despite the weather feeling warmer than ever), beauty buffs and skincare lovers will have most likely got their hands on their favourite or most yearned after beauty advent calendar. And if you're anything like me, you will have searched high and low for the advent calendar that will get you the best products for the biggest saving.
You know the one - that'll truly get you bang for your buck because you'll actually use the vast majority, if not all, of the products inside - rather than 5 of 25... And if you're paying up to £100, you'll not want to waste a single penny.
And with so many calendars around to choose from - many of which we've taken a peek inside: Revolution, Liberty, Elemis, M&S for example - it can be hard to separate the wheat from the chaff when it comes to quality. Especially when you're on a time crunch as a result of everyone wanting the very same thing as you: an affordable beauty advent calendar that has top class brands inside.
With the likes of LOOKFANTASTIC and ASOS Face + Beauty and others costing £90+ and having an abundance of gorgeous goodies inside, Glossybox is up there as a pretty incredible contender amongst its glowy competitors as not only is it filled with brands such as Medik8, Avant and ESPA, but it's one advent calendar whose saving is mindblowing (around £400) - and so you can imagine my delight when we got the chance to review one for ourselves.
There are 25 drawers - some of which house two items (I am wearing three products from this very advent here) (Eve Rowlands)On face value, this year's box has exceeded last year's just by looking at the RRP in line with the total number of products. Last year the box was £99 and featured 28 products. This year you get 28 products (again) from cosmetics to skincare and even a candle but you only have to pay £80, £70 if you're a subscriber. The products inside are also worth more - in 2022 you got £443 worth. In 2023, it's £473, thus making it the calendar with the biggest saving we've tried this year. Basically, Glossybox's advent calendar has had an upgrade.
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It's got a mix of full size products, travel sizes and three of the drawers even have two inside meaning that your make up routine and skincare goals can really level up this season - plus, it's a great way to try out new products you may have been wanting to try but can't quite bring yourself to buy full price.
I took a deep dive inside Glossybox's Feel The Magic Advent Calendar (which is as aesthetically pleasing on the outside as it is beautifying inside) and have picked out my top five products that I love, cannot wait to try and think you, too, will be utterly obsessed with. Just to preface this review... there will be a full list of its contents ahead so if you'd rather keep what's inside a total surprise, this is your warning.
So without further ado...
My Top Five picks
The box itself was heavy, which to me was a good sign of good quality, and after opening the doors, I was greeted by small, medium and large drawers, which were delicately filled with lilac paper. The first product to catch my eye (literally) was the ICONIC London Triple Threat Mascara.
ICONIC London Triple Threat Mascara. (Eve Rowlands)
The mascara glided easily onto my lashes and left no clumps! (Eve Rowlands)The gold packaging was classy and my tired eyes were in severe need of zhuzhing up (even after putting my eye cream and moisturiser on) so I whipped out the wand and put a single coat on my lacklustre lashes and I was so pleasantly surprised. My lashes of late haven't been playing ball (I blame the LVL I treated myself too before my summer holiday earlier this year but it could be anything) and even my trusty Maybelline Sky High couldn't get them looking voluminous and long.
Without mascara... (Eve Rowlands)
... With mascara (Eve Rowlands)However, one (or maybe two) swipes of this weightless formula and my eyes were transformed. My lashes looked thick (rather than wispy) and they had drama - without any clumping. I absolutely LOVED it. Plus, after a few hours of wearing it, I didn't get the dreaded smudge some mascaras leave under my bottom lash. Winner winner - especially as it's worth £21.
Medik8's Micellar Mousse was soft, lightweight and smelled divine (Eve Rowlands)My next pick is the Medik8 Micellar Mousse, which comes in at £25. As soon as I pumped this into my palm I was won over by its scent. So many face cleansers smell... chemically or have no smell at all. This smelt clementine-ey and fresh. It was lush and felt soft as I massaged it into my face. It lathered up nicely - I could see my makeup coming off, tinting the mousse a slight beige colour - and after washing it off, my face felt smooth and taut.
Made By Mitchell's Blursh in Rosey Posey (Eve Rowlands)
I am obsessed with this shade (Eve Rowlands)The next product that excited me was Made By Mitchell's Blursh in Rosey Posey. Despite it being a relatively cheap product, I'd been wanting to try it out for ages (it featured constantly on my TikTok FYP) and hadn't got round to doing so because, well, I already had a pretty big collection of blushes and I couldn't justify adding another to the pile. Plus, cost of living.
But being in an advent calendar, I couldn't say no. And oh my gosh. I see the hype. Popping it on my cheeks, I blended the creamy pink liquid with my fingers (I didn't have a brush to hand as I was too excited to try it) and quickly the liquid transformed into a powdery finish. It was sorcery. It was glorious. Plus, the colour didn't fade. On my skin, I've found that my blush fades after a few hours (maybe I need a new primer, maybe I need a new blush). But this highly pigmented Blursh stayed put and let me tell you: I am obsessed.
This serum retails (in the travel pack size) at £92 on Avant's website (Eve Rowlands)What if I told you one of the products in the Glossybox advent calendar was worth £12 more than the entire calendar itself? Shocked? I was too when I discovered that Avant Collagen Intense Radiance Activator Serum was in one of my drawers. Retailing at £92 (for the travel size) on Avant's website, it is described as a skincare saviour that gives you a radiant complexion and works to help smooth out wrinkles and fine lines and as someone who, at the ripe age of 29, has more crow's feet (I call them laughter lines, okay?) and forehead kinks than she'd like, I was buzzing to try this. After cleansing my face (with Medik8, of course) and then exfoliating (with Rodial Papaya Enzyme Scrub) I took a pea-sized amount and massaged it in. The texture is light and it doesn't leave you feeling like you've got a lot of product on your face, like some creams do. My skin was soft and a little brighter - I'm looking forward to adding this product into my routine.
Amanda Holden looks stunning in fluttery false lashes that cost less than £6
From soft blushes and neutrals to punchy, glittery pinks, this palette is GORGEOUS (Eve Rowlands)
Ciate's I am Women Eyeshadow Palette is day number 25: Christmas Day (Eve Rowlands)As an eyeshadow lover, I couldn't not mention Ciate's I am Women Eyeshadow Palette which is filled with 24 shades that range from soft and subtle nudes, shimmering neutrals, buttery mattes, and intense metallics - and is lucky drawer number 25: Christmas Day. Costing £41 usually, this creamy palette is highly pigmented meaning your eyeshadow won't shift or look patchy as the day goes on. My favourite shades, whose names are all uplifting and completely empowering for women, are Slay The Day, for a chic and casual daytime look, or My Superpower Is... for an almighty pop of Barbie pink with extra sparkles.
Verdict
All in all, for what you pay for this advent calendar compared with what you get inside is an absolute steal. I mean, one product costs more expensive than the calendar itself, the Avant Collagen Intense Radiance Activator Serum, and so if there is any justification as to why you should invest in the calendar, it's this. Plus, it's cheaper than last year's for the same number of products.
There's also a good mix of make up, hair and skincare products - especially if you're looking to alleviate those fine lines and wrinkles and get soft, smooth skin - that'll make you feel ten out of ten. Blush lovers will go mad for Made by Mitchell's Blursh which is continually raved about on social media, and I can completely see why.
And if you're hair needs a bit of TLC, Grow Gorgeous' Volume Shampoo, Colour WOW's One Minute Transformation and Batiste Dry Shampoo will give it that glow up in the colder months.
While make up and skincare are the sole focus of this box, it's also got some smellies that will make you - and your home - smell like a rose garden plus a silk pillowcase to elevate your skincare routine (and haircare) as you sleep. Day 1 you get a deluxe size eau de parfum from Floral Street and on day 24 you get a gorgeous smelling Rituals Ritual of Sakura candle (that's worth £26). I could probably go on for a while about all the glorious lotions and potions included in this advent calendar but I won't - I'll just say that it's worth it and I am impressed.
SPOILER ALERT
Now comes the part I warned you about earlier - the full product listing for this year's Glossybox haul. If you don't want any spoilers, look away NOW.
- Floral Street Wonderland Peony EDP - Deluxe Size / Worth £28
- ICONIC London Triple Threat Mascara - Full Size / Worth £21
- Rodial Papaya Enzyme Scrub - Deluxe Size / Worth £15
- Batiste Original Dry Shampoo - Deluxe Size / Worth £1.98
- Lottie London Ready Set! Go Translucent Powder - Deluxe Size / Worth £3.99
- Medik8 Micellar Mousse - Full Size / Worth £25
- Earth Harbor Marina Biome Brightening Ampoule - Full Size / Worth £29.93
- MUA Academy Intense Colour Lip Liner - Razzleberry - Full Size / Worth £2.25
- MUA Academy Creamy Matte Lipstick - Razzleberry - Full Size / Worth £3.50
- Made By Mitchell Blursh - Posey Rosey - Full Size / Worth £14
- ESPA Optimal Pro Moisturiser - Deluxe Size / Worth £15
- ESPA Optimal Skin Body Tri-Serum - Deluxe Size / Worth £10
- Color WOW One Minute Transformation - Deluxe Size / Worth £9
- Avant Collagen Intense Radiance Activator Serum - Full Size / Worth £89
- Brushworks Eye & Brow Brush Set - Full Size / Worth £19.99
- Brushworks Powder Puff Duo - Full Size / Worth £5
- So Eco Satin Pillowcase - Oyster - Full Size / Worth £15
- Physicians Formula Rose all Day Set & Glow - Full Size / Worth £15.29
- Fresh Soy Face Cleanser - Deluxe Size / Worth £3.90
- L'Occitane Almond Delicious Hand Cream - Deluxe Size / Worth £9
- Grow Gorgeous Volume Shampoo - Deluxe Size / Worth £8
- Beautypro Brightening Sheet Mask - Full Size / Worth £4.95
- Revolution Pro Correcting Primer Radiant Peach - Full Size / Worth £7
- Note Mineral Lip Gloss - Full Size / Worth £8.95
- Amor Lashes Mixed Length Clusters + Mini Bond - Full Size / Worth £15
- Babor Active Night Ampoules - Full Size / Worth £39.90
- Rituals Ritual of Sakura Candle - Deluxe Size / Worth £12.50
- Ciate I Am Woman Eyeshadow Palette - Full Size / Worth £42
You can order the Glossybox Feel The Magic Beauty Advent Calendar 2023 edition here or, take a look at our top beauty advent calendars list here where we highlight some of the best of the bunch.