I was so excited to receive my first Advent Calendar of any kind ever!
The 24 Days of Enchanted Beauty Calendar from The Body Shop arrived at my door a couple of weeks ago. I wondered if people who buy their own Advent Calendars or receive them as gifts open them all at once or open each door day by day? Please weigh in one this ‘coz I’m really curious about it! Under normal circumstances, I think I would open them day by day to prolong the surprises, but that’s just me 😉
The Enchanted Forest theme fits very well with The Body Shop’s long history of being against animal testing since the brand first started in the UK decades ago. Now, TBS has broadened their mission to include helping to maintain the habitats of wild creatures. They created a Countdown to Christmas calendar on their website that you can open day by day online to reveal a task that you can undertake to help the environment and the animal species in it. Things like planting spring flower bulbs to help pollinators, buying a potted Christmas tree that can be planted outdoors after the holiday etc. I think it’s full of great and achievable ideas.
Now back to my TBS Advent Calendar. First, I took some photos of 24 Days of Enchanted Beauty so I could show you what it looked like in pristine condition.
Initially, I was a bit surprised by the un-Christmasy raspberry pink color, but no matter, it certainly doesn’t have to be red and green for me. A very cute owl graces the cover.
Inside the Enchanted Beauty Advent Calendar are 24 doors filled with a combination of cruelty-free travel size bath, body, hair, makeup, and beauty tools with a few full size products added in for good measure.
Because I was so psyched about the calendar, I decided to film the unboxing. That was probably a mistake because it is sooooooo long owing to the fact that I was searching on camera for each numbered door in sequence, and I had no idea that it could be tricky to open the doors and pop out the day’s surprise! The video sorely could use some editing that I don’t know how to do. So if you’re a glutton for punishment, feel free to take a look. You get a good look at the goodies that way. Or skip it, and read on.
Here are the items in the 24 Days of Enchanted Beauty Advent Calendar:
- Strawberry Shower Gel, 2 fl. oz.
- Coconut Body Milk, 2 fl. oz.
- Born Lip Watermelon Lip Balm, 0.31 oz.
- Berry Bon Bon Hand Cream, 1.0 fl. oz.
- Vanilla Delight Bath Bomb mini, 0.9 oz.
- Bunny shaped emery board, full size
- White Musk Body Lotion, 2 fl. oz.
- British Rose Fresh Plumping Mask, 0.17 oz.
- Soft Pink Bath Pouf, travel size
- Almond Hand & Nail Manicure Cream, 1 fl. oz.
- Himalayan Charcoal Purifying Glow Mask, 0.2 oz.
- Peppermint Candy Cane Fragranced Shower Gel, 2 fl. oz.
- Soft Facial Cleansing Sponge, full size
- Strawberry Clearly Glossing Shampoo for Dull Hair, 2 fl. oz.
- Brow & Lash Comb, full size
- Chamomile Gentle Eye Makeup Remover, 2 fl. oz.
- Coconut Cream Exfoliating Body Scrub, 1.7 oz.
- Exfolating Bath Gloves, full size
- Born Lippy Strawberry Lip Balm, 0.31 oz.
- Green Tea Bath Bomb mini, 0.9 oz.
- Kohl Eye Definer, shade Black
- Shea Hand Cream with Handcrafted Shea Butter from Tamale, Ghana, 1 fl. oz.
- Matte Lip Liquid, shade Tahiti Hibiscus deep red, full size
- Almond Milk & Honey Body Butter for Sensitive Dry Skin, 1.7 oz.
I am slowly making my way through the goodies. So far, I’ve used the Strawberry Shower Gel, the Almond Milk & Honey Body Butter, the Born Lippy Watermelon Lip Balm, the Chamomile Gentle Eye-Makeup Remover, the Almond Hand & Nail Cream, and the bunny shaped emery board. They were all perfect sizes to take with me for the Thanksgiving weekend.
I am looking forward to using the mini bath bombs. Truth be told, I don’t like the gigantic bath bombs that are too big for my bath. One of these minis will be perfect. I also know I will prefer the mini pouf to the huge ones that I usually find in the stores.
So far among the products I’ve used, the lip balm, the Almond Milk & Honey Body Butter, and the Gentle Eye Makeup Remover that really is gentle and effective for my super sensitive eyes are my personal faves. I own the full size British Rose Fresh Plumping Mask, and it’s a beauty!
Although the deep red shade of the Matte Lip Liquid is stunning, I will be giving it away in an upcoming giveaway. I have finally admitted that I cannot wear matte liquid lipstick, so better I give it to someone who hopefully can wear it. I will also give away the black eyeliner pencil since I currently have so many.
Once I get back home, I will continue experimenting with the other yummilicious goodies from the calendar. When I opened the calendar I took a sniff of all of the lotions, shower gels, hand creams, shampoo, scrub, lip balms, and body butter – they all smell divine!
I love products from The Body Shop because I know they are always great quality as well as fun and effective to use. I think 24 Days of Enchanted Beauty Advent Calendar is worth well the $70 price tag because its value is so much higher. In fact, it has been so popular that it seems to be sold out. And the larger 25 Days of Enchanted Deluxe Advent Calendar priced at $110 is out of stock, too.
However, 25 Days of Enchanted Ultimate Advent Calendar is still available. With Freddie the Fox adorning the front of the green box, the calendar contains a mix of full size and travel size bath, body and hair products as well as makeup and beauty tools. Though the contents of this super big calendar are valued at $352.50, it is priced at $225. Truly a memorable, delightful as well as useful gift for the bath and body lover!
In addition to this year’s Advent Calendars, The Body Shop has oodles of holiday gift sets that you must explore as well as the individual products in travel and full sizes that I have mentioned and more. Perfect for putting together your own gift baskets or filling up Christmas stockings with little treasures that you know will be appreciated and used. For yourself, check out one of my all-time favorites, Drops of Youth Liquid Peel, a natural chemical exfoliator that is just about a dupe for much pricier Japanese peels that are not natural. You will love it! So head over to The Body Shop website to check them out or head to your local TBS store. And don’t forget to use Ebates either online or in-store for additional savings.
What is your favorite Advent Calendar?
I received the same Advent Calendar from them, and I am absolutely delighted by it. The packaging alone is so appealing, but the products inside are fantastic!
This is such a great box with fun variety. Even if something isn’t quite your thing, they can be used in turn as stocking stuffers for those you know would love it! As for me, I’m a day-by-day opener and I always have been since receiving the disgusting chocolate advent calendars as a child. In truth, I think it’s less so because of wanting a surprise every day as much as it feels like an unspoken rule engrained deeply into me.
Absolutely cute design! Unfortunately, unless the Advent Calendars are packaged as drawers or contain individual “day” boxes, there is no easy way for this type – it is “hunt for day-tear open door-prise out product-repeat”. Enjoy your goodies!
I received a HSN Crafting Advent Calendar from Crafters Companion 627-040 $25.45 it is for crafters. Inside each day there is some type of cutting die for your Die Cutting Machine. HSN has a Beauty Advent Calendar #650-960 $64.75 So fun. QVC also offers a Beauty Christmas Advent Calendar #A342633 $49.98 inside: 1-oz First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream
0.17-fl oz LAVANILA Pure Vanilla Rollerball
0.25-fl oz Kate Somerville ExfoliKate
0.02-oz Julep When Pencil Met Gel Eyeliner
1-fl oz Skinfix Foaming Cleanser
Two 2-fl oz WEN Cleansing Conditioners
0.0018-oz IT Cosmetics® Brow Power
0.17-fl oz Dr. Jart Cicapair Tiger Grass Cream
0.07-fl oz Amazing Cosmetics Amazing Concealer
0.14-oz Doll 10 HydraGel Cream Balm
0.34-fl oz Vita Liberata Beauty Blur
0.05-fl oz bareMinerals® Mascara
0.2-fl oz NEST Black Tulip EDP
0.5-fl oz ELEMIS Pro-Collagen Marine Cream
0.25-fl oz StriVectin TL Advanced Tightening Neck Cream PLUS
0.8-fl oz James Read Gradual Tan Sleep Mask Tan Face
2.5-fl oz L’Occitane Almond Shower Oil
2.54-oz Obliphica Seaberry Hair Mask
1-fl oz philosophy amazing grace firming body emulsion
1.01-fl oz MineTan Coconut Super Dark Coffee Self Tan
0.6-oz Erno Laszlo Sea Mud Deep Cleansing Bar
0.5-oz LXMI Creme Du Nil
Sigma Beauty Brush Mat
Eyelash curler
I’m glad you got the crafter’s calendar, DiEtta! I know you’ll enjoy it. And the QVC calendar that you post sounds like an excellent choice: so many great brands!
Oooo the body shop advents are my favorite. All of these scents sound yummy!
That’s an adorable advent calendar and I too would be torn over whether to open them all at once or save them until their designated day. I *think* I would open them all at once if I knew what was in it already, but would probably save them until their designated days if I had received it without knowing the contents.
Every year I web-browse and drool over all of the lovely advent offerings but never have bought or received one. I don’t usually feel justified in such a splurge for myself, as purchasing separate items or different sets often suits my needs far better. I just about picked up the Nars one this year as it was fun and almost entirely usable for me, but still decided not to. What would I have done with the box??? I would have felt compelled to keep it because it was quite something, but as fun as it was it does not suit my decor AT ALL. Yet I would have felt somehow guilty recycling it…which is ridiculous, I know. I confound even myself, hahaha.
And as for a gift….lol….people in my friends/family circle wouldn’t really consider it a legit gift option even if I asked for it specifically by name. They are just not skincare/makeup people and do not understand why I am. My mother wouldn’t even use eye cream (L’Occitane’s divine eyes, which she admits she REALLY likes) if I didn’t buy it for her as a present. At least most of my women wear sunscreen, but I fear the men are a lost cause. I tell you, my family is nothing if not stubborn. 😛 Do you have any non-skincare/makeup people in your life that sometimes look at you like you have two heads? Or is that just me… lol
The same for me, Rachel. Most of my friends and family members don’t wear makeup. I have three who do from time to time. I think it’s a shame that your family won’t get you a beauty Advent Calendar. I think it would be a wonderful and memorable gift. The NARS calendar is amazing! Today, it’s 20% off with 15% cash back from Ebates so it’s “only” $102 😉 But worth it for what you get!
You enabler.
lolololololol
No you’re right though, it really IS a good one if the products suit you. I am sorely tempted but since I already added a few more things to my weekend’s haul (more Zoya Pixie Dust! and a small set of Diptyque candles) I’ll need to leave it. And who knows- maybe next year’s calendars will be even better! 😀
I had complementary gift wrap service with my candles and I think I might just put them under the tree and try my best to act surprised when I open the box. Nobody will know where they came from. teeheehee
You clever woman, lol! I hope you enjoy the gift-wrapped candles! I was going to buy a bottle of Zoya Allison polish today, but somehow paying $6.95 for one bottle of polish doesn’t seem worth it. I am still thinking about the perfume, as if I need more 😉
The Body Shop does make really good advent calendar! I didn’t get one this year though, I’m trying to avoid sample sizes.
The idea is to open each day but I’d probably take a peek or open everything at once, haha! You should do more videos, I enjoy watching unboxings!!!
That’s so funny, Kathryne! My signif other Jeff told me this morning that the video was awful and that I should have opened everything up first. I explained to him about what an unboxing video is, but he still didn’t buy it lol. I really need to learn how to edit video before I make more, but I’m too lazy 😉
I want this calendar so bad, I’ve been seeing it on blogs but this is one heck of a thorough review as always Allison! I’m swooning over this – I’d use everything except one or two products. 😍
It is so upsetting that The Body Shop has sold out of the two more affordable Advent calendars before Thanksgiving! If I had known, I would have tried harder to get my post up sooner 🙁 I think it is a great value, and the kind of calendar that would suit any natural, CF, scent lover from age 10 through adult. Like you said, I am using almost everything!
With your love of travel and your love of The Body Shop this is ideal for you. You’ll get to try so many new items. I see others who have trouble opening the slots too so don’t feel bad. I always thought that an advent box was like an early gift to help build up the excitement towards the holiday.
I like your POV on the role of Advent calendars, Marcia! I’m glad to hear I wasn’t the only one struggling with the doors and getting the products out! Jeff told me I should have opened everything first, but I thought it would be better to be surprised. Too bad I don’t know how to edit video yet!
This was SO FUN to watch you open and hear your voice. I didn’t know you had a channel!!! You are so cute. I really enjoyed your advent opening.
Thank you so much, Shelley! My significant other, Jeff, told me it was too long, that I should have opened it first and just talked about it rather than being surprised but wasting time trying to open and remove the items. I need to learn how to edit. Your videos are so professional!
I love the packaging. I also love mini bath bombs. I always end up breaking large ones in half anyway.
These calendars are so cute and it looks like the goodies are all a good size! It’s too bad the more affordable ones are sold out.
Yes, I am sad that more affordable Advent Calendars from TBS are gone. If I had known, I would have tried to get my review up sooner. It truly would be a great gift for ages 10 through adult. The goodies are a very good travel size with enough for a lot of usage occasions. I was impressed!
Okay so before we jump into editing do you use a MAC or a PC? I’m seriously up for teaching you how to edit your videos if you’d like to learn and are wanting to do more videos. That being said, I find nothing wrong with your video and I loved it. I’m actually heading over to leave a comment on it as well <3
You are the sweetest person, Cassie. Right now, I think you’ve got your hands full with your husband’s recovery, but at some point, I’d like to take you up on that if you are a MAC person! xoxoxoxo
Due to my computer science career field I’m both a PC and a MAC person (I’m also a makeup MAC person 😉 ) However, MAC is my love of the two. I work with both iMovie and Final Cut Pro for the MAC and I do Adobe Premier which is both PC and MAC. Anytime you need help I’m game. It’s been hectic at the moment because of school and his recovery but this week is actually my last week of school for this semester.
This is fun and unboxing are always fun! lotsa nice things to try in here as well!
I just love that packaging!!! So cute!!!