I am totally that girl who opens every compartment in an advent calendar in one feel swoop.
Perhaps it’s my impatient curious nature. 🙂
It’s not even December yet, but I couldn’t wait to unlock the hidden treasures in this one from Benefit, the Candy-Coated Countdown Advent Calendar ($99).
You’re “supposed” to open one compartment at a time, one per day, beginning on December first for 24 days.
“Supposed” to.
Tucked within each compartment resides a different beauty treasure…
But, uh, someone, and I’m not naming any names here, 🙂 may or may not have broken the rules with this one. This person may or may not have fiendishly opened every compartment with a quickness, and then dumped all o’ the beauty loot on the ground and took a picture of herself with the empty box held upside-down.
I was really looking forward to this thing because Benefit did something similar last year with their Countdown to Love Advent Calendar, which — mission accomplished! — I loved.
Like that one, this calendar contains a bunch of travel-sized Benefit faves, but, sadly, it’s also much more expensive…
Last year’s was $68, but this one is $99.
And that’s not the only difference…
Last year’s kit came with 21 pieces of makeup, a necklace with a charm, a hair tie and a hair clip, while this year’s kit includes 18 pieces of makeup, three hair ties, two notepads and a pack of heart-shaped paperclips.
So they cut back a little on the makeup but boosted the number of extras.
The $99 Benefit Candy-Coated Countdown Advent Calendar includes…
- 0.25 oz “That gal” brightening face primer
- 0.25 oz the POREfessional pore minimizer
- 0.08 oz Benetint cheek and lip stain in Rose
- 0.08 oz High beam liquid highlighter
- 0.08 oz Chachatint lip and cheek stain in Sheer Mango
- 0.08 oz Posietint lip and cheek stain in Poppy Pink
- 0.04 oz Stay flawless foundation primer
- 0.1 oz They’re real! mascara
- 0.22 oz Ultra plush lip gloss in Dandelion
- 0.22 oz Ultra plush lip gloss in A-lister
- 0.22 oz Ultra plush lip gloss in Fauxmance
- 0.14 oz BADgal lash mascara
- 0.08 oz Stay don’t stray concealer and eye shadow primer in Light/Medium
- 0.1 oz Fakeup concealer in 02 Medium
- 0.1 oz It’s potent! eye cream
- 0.3 oz Total moisture facial cream
- 0.08 oz Ooh la lift eye cream
- 0.08 oz Watt’s up! highlighter
- Beauty sticky notes
- Doodle pad
- Heart-shaped paperclips
- Pinky, polka-dot hair tie
- Elastic hair band with bow charm
- Metallic silvery hair tie
Needless to say, $99 isn’t as appealing as $68 was, at least not for what works out to be about the same number of products.
Despite that, I gotta admit that the cuteness factor here is sky high, and with its red and green accents, I think this one looks more Christmassy than the one last year.
Plus, with this year’s — hello! — there’s a cat on compartment number six. 🙂
And you know what they say… When you want to distract the masses from a $30 price increase, put a cat on it.
PRICE: $99
AVAILABILITY: Limited edition, and available now at Benefit boutiques, counters, Sephora stores and online
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
It’s huge! I love it. I’d probably immediately look for where the Porefessional primer is hidden, lol.
Gee, it is GIANT! But I’d love that calendar. I don’t think I have any products from Benefit so I would love the variety! Two years ago I got the Ciate Advent calendar from my mother-in-law and I did stick to opening one window a day but I was so tempted to open them all at once!
The price on this is suffocating, and usually I’m all for paying extra to get cute packaging. It’s a no-go for me…why so much of an increase? Last year’s version must have done really well. Love your pictures as usual, Karen. And your captions – “…glorious makeup blanket!” made me LOL on a very tired morning. I’ve been up all night trying to order from Sephora’s lame, crashing website!!
I’m tired too, girlfriend. I got about 3 hours of sleep last night. 🙁
Did you end up getting anything from Sephora?
Oh, no 🙁 Insomnia attack?
I had my Sephora cart all locked and loaded so when the site finally let me in I hit “purchase” pretty fast! I ended up with quite a few gifts, which is good. Usually I’m not that prepared for the holidays. Treats for me include Kate Somerville’s goat milk cream and TFSI glitter glue. My oily eyelids are rejecting all primers known to man!! UD, TFSI (regular), NARS, Sephora brand, Laura Mercier…nothing’s working any more.
I need this in my life. The price Is steep but I still think it’s worth it.
Although pricey, it sure is cute and contains a ton of stuff. What a great gift for a family with daughters if they can play nice and share! Off to Sephora for me since I can get through online!
This thing is huge! Lol it seems to come with a lot of nice goodies though
KAREN! I am definitely tut-tutting you for dumping all the loot (in the first week of November, of all things). Of course, I know that it’s your duty because you must review these things in advance for our benefit. Otherwise, I’m sure you would have waited patiently. 😉
Yikes that’s a price hike! I love the travel size lip glosses though, the dandelion ones often end up free with Elle/cosmo and I hoard them and have one in every handbag! Such a great pretty pink non sticky gloss!
For that price they could’ve at least included one product in its full version. There’s really no excuse for such a increase.
I agree they could have included at least 1-2 full sizes then this may look more appealing.
I’m going to pass because most of these things I already own from different sample sets, point perks and gift bags/GWP.
It IS a cute gift idea but if you give it as a gift for Christmas, it kind of defeats the purpose of the advent calender. $99 is way too much for a bunch of samples!
OMG that thing is huge! I’m totally like you and I wouldn’t be able to not open all the little doors. I hope you and Tabs are having a nice day!
The price hike is unfortunate! I’ve never had the best luck with Benefit products, but the advent calendar is always cute. At this price however, it’s really a big of a splurge. I personally prefer more makeup and less hair ties!
What are you wearing on your lips? That color suits you really well! 🙂
Hi Maria,
I’m wearing Tom Ford’s new Lip Color Matte Lipstick in Flame from the holiday 2014 collection. It’s a warm orangey matte lipstick. 🙂
I hope that you’re having a nice Friday so far! What are your plans for the weekend?