Cult Beauty Advent Calendar 2024 Review

I’m here with another review, and this time, it’s all about the Cult Beauty Advent Calendar 2024 – Curated with Love Edition. It’s a really huge box containing 42 beauty products with a total value of £1100, which is even bigger than last year. So, let’s take a closer look at its contents with my first impressions of each one of the items.

KraveBeauty Great Barrier Relief Serum (45ml, worth £28.00 Full Size) – a skin soothing serum that calms signs of sensitivity and evens out complexion. The formula is enriched with tamanu seed oil, safflower seed oil, rosehip oil, niacinamide, squalane, and ceramides. This serum looks interesting, and I’m looking forward to trying it.

Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm in Vanilla Beige (15g, worth £23.00 Full Size) – a lip balm that hydrates the lips while boosting their shine. I already had this in the Vanilla shade and loved it, so I was excited to try a new shade. The Vanilla Beige shade is absolutely beautiful, and I’m happy it met my expectations.

Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Hue Drops (15ml, worth £18.00 Travel Size) – a tinted niacinamide serum that gives the skin a warm glow and helps brighten it over time. The formula features niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, watermelon extract, centella asiatica extract, and coffea extract. This product has a vibe of Drunk Elephant bronzing drops, which I really like. It sits well on the skin without feeling heavy, and it’s not sticky or greasy. A little goes a long way, and 1-2 drops mixed with moisturizer is enough to achieve a natural sun-kissed glow.

Paula’s Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment (30ml, worth £61.00 Full Size) – an advanced 1% retinol serum that firms the skin, smooths wrinkles, and reduces pigmentation with peptides (palmitoyl tripeptide-1, palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7, palmitoyl hexapeptide-12) and vitamin C. The formula is also enriched with ceramides, licorice extract, oat extract, and burdock extract. Unfortunately, this one is a miss for me, as my skin doesn’t tolerate retinol well. I’m currently using Medik8 Retinal 3, and I’m afraid this product might be too harsh for my skin.

In the next window, we have two products:

• Hair by Sam McKnight Cool Girl Volume Cleanse Shampoo (100ml Travel Size) – a volume-boosting shampoo for thicker, healthier-looking hair. The formula features panthenol, rice extract, amaranth extract, white nettle extract, and fermented rice water. The shampoo really helps lift the roots and adds volume to my hair, and it smells lovely.
• Hair by Sam McKnight Cool Girl Volume Nourish Conditioner (75ml Travel Size) – a conditioner from the same volumising range. The formula contains rice extract, fermented rice water, amaranth extract, and white nettle extract. The conditioner pairs well with the shampoo and shares the same pleasant scent. It helps build volume, leaving my hair feeling soft and smooth.

In the next window, we have three products:

• LANEIGE Cream Skin Cerapeptide Toner and Moisturiser (15ml Deluxe Size) – a milky cream-toner with hyaluronic acid, peptides, ceramides, meadowfoam seed oil, squalane, tremella extract, and green tea extract. The product absorbs well, leaving my skin feeling smooth and hydrated.
• Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta Peel Pads (Pack of 3 Deluxe Size) – a two-step AHA/BHA facial treatment with 5 acids and 12 antioxidants to enhance skin radiance and improve uneven tone and texture. I’ve been using these pads for years and love how my skin looks and feels afterwards. This product gently exfoliates my skin, leaving it smooth and radiant.
• Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Intensive Treatment (15ml, worth £21.00 Travel Size) – a triple-action exfoliator featuring AHA, BHA, and fruit enzymes to dissolve dead skin cells. It provides instant results, leaving the skin feeling smooth and soft. However, the product is quite strong, so if you have thin skin, I recommend using it cautiously — leave it on for just one minute and avoid using it too frequently.

Saie Sculpt Multi Use Cream Highlighting Blush in Mauve Glow (5.8g, worth £26.00 Full Size) – a blush-highlighter hybrid that melts into the skin, giving a radiant, lifted look. I already have this product in Pinkglow and Quartzglow, and I was excited to try Mauve Glow. It goes on smoothly and blends beautifully, leaving a soft sheen without any glitter chunks. The shade is lovely, though I’ve noticed the texture of Mauve Glow feels somewhat different.

In the next window, we have two products:

• 111SKIN Rose Gold Eye Mask (Single Sheet worth £13.00) – hydrogel eye patches that refresh and brighten the under-eye area. The formula contains allantoin, panthenol, niacinamide, trehalose, hydrolyzed collagen, centella asiatica extract, rosa extract, pomegranate extract, and hydrolyzed yeast protein. he formula features allantoin, panthenol, niacinamide, trehalose, hydrolyzed collagen, centella asiatica extract, rosa extract, pomegranate extract, and hydrolyzed yeast protein. I’m always excited to find 111SKIN masks in beauty boxes because they work well, but quite pricey.
• Dr. LEVY Switzerland Intense Stem Cell Eye Booster Concentrate (7ml, worth £99.00 Travel Size) – a lightweight eye serum to reduce puffiness, smooth fine lines, and brighten the eye area. The formula includes niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, panthenol, caffeine, peptides, prebiotics, argan tree stem cell extract, Swiss apple tree stem cell extract, and borago oil. I’m happy to receive it, as I’ve used this product before, and it has made a difference to the fine lines under my eyes. Additionally, a little goes a long way, so this travel size will last me quite a while.

ISAMAYA Spur Stick Suede Lip Liner in Buck (0.07g, worth £22.00 Full Size) – a smooth, waterproof lip liner that offers rich pigmentation and excellent staying power. Unfortunately, the shade isn’t quite my preference.

In the next window, we have two products:

• Huda Beauty One Coat Wow Mascara (7ml, worth £12.00 Travel Size) – a mascara with a dual-sided brush that promises instant length and extra volume with just one coat. I’m pleased to receive it, as I generally like trying new mascaras.
• Pat McGrath Labs Perma Precision Liquid Liner in Xtreme Black Coffee (1ml, worth £30.00 Full Size) – a waterproof eyeliner with a velvety matte finish. It goes on beautifully and glides smoothly, and the shade is lovely, but it doesn’t last all night. 

Color Wow Money Mist (50ml, worth £12.50 Travel Size) – a leave-in conditioner that hydrates, strengthens and adds a luminous shine for healthier-looking hair. The formula includes a blend of anti-frizz, conditioning, detangling, and antistatic agents, a mix of algae extracts, amaranthus extract, and hydrolyzed rice protein. I absolutely love this product. In fact, it’s one of my favourite leave-in conditioners. It leaves my hair smooth, manageable, and soft, with a beautiful shine.

Gisou Honey Infused Hair Oil (20ml, worth £19.00 Travel Size) – a luxurious oil for healthy, soft, and strong hair. It is formulated with mirsalehi honey and a blend of almond oil, coconut oil, argan oil, and maracuja oil. I’m a big fan of this oil and its wonderful scent that lingers for hours. I love how it makes my hair silky, soft, and shiny.

In the next window, we have two products:

• Natasha Denona Baby Love Palette (4g, worth £18.00 Full Size) – a limited-edition mini palette featuring three shades from Natasha’s Love Palette: Lifetime, Heartbeat, and Intense. I’m a longtime fan of ND eyeshadow and its wonderful formula, so I have the original Love Palette.
• PATRICK TA Major Dimension Precision Gel Liner in Black (0.2g, worth £24.00 Full Size) – an eyeliner that delivers full coverage with a single swipe and sets to a long-lasting, bulletproof finish. I love the bold colour, which stands out more than most eyeliners, but I wish the formula were softer. Additionally, the pencil isn’t properly secured to the casing and keeps falling out during use.

Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream (15ml, worth £74.00 Travel Size) – a intensely hydrating moisturiser designed to soften the appearance of fine lines and even tone and texture. The formula is enriched with sunflower oil, argan oil, avocado oil, shea butter, evening primrose oil, and panthenol. The cream is rich and thick, so I use it as a night cream through the winter months. I enjoy using this moisturiser, although it is quite pricey.

In the next window, we have two products:

• ELEMIS Pro-Collagen Energising Marine Cleanser (30ml Travel Size) – a gentle cleansing gel that removes daily impurities and makeup, leaving the skin refreshed. It’s enriched with minerals like magnesium, zinc, and copper, along with succinic and lactic acids to exfoliate dead skin cells. The formula also includes hyaluronic acid, ferulic acid, algae extract, mimosa extract, and rose extract. It has a lovely scent and leaves my skin feeling soft and thoroughly clean, without any dryness.
• Cult Beauty Anti-Drip Wrist Bands (Set of 2, worth £6.00) – a pair of wristbands designed to absorb excess water that runs down the wrists and arms when washing the face. They are soft, stretchy, and comfortable.

In the next window, we have three products:

• Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream (75ml, worth £21.00 Travel Size) – a body cream scented with the brand’s signature Cheirosa 62 fragrance. It has a strong, sweet scent with notes of pistachio, almond and vanilla that lingers on the skin for hours. It’s a nice body cream, but I’m not a big fan of its scent.
• OUAI Scalp and Body Scrub in Melrose Place (30g Deluxe Size) – a sugar scrub designed to gently exfoliate the skin and remove product buildup from the scalp. The formula contains sweet almond oil, coconut oil, panthenol, aloe leaf juice, celery extract, hydrolyzed hibiscus extract, and fireweed extract. I’ve used this scrub before and really enjoy it. It lathers well, doesn’t feel rough on the skin, and has a divine scent I’m absolutely obsessed with.
• L’OCCITANE Almond Milk Concentrate (20ml Deluxe Size) – a body lotion enriched with sweet almond oil, walnut extract, sweet almond extract, and sweet almond protein. It melts effortlessly into the skin, leaving it feeling so hydrated, and has a lovely scent.

Sunday Riley C.E.O. 15% Vitamin C Brightening Serum (15ml, worth £36.00 Travel Size) – an advanced serum with 15% vitamin C (THD ascorbate) that helps minimise pores, brighten dark spots, and target signs of ageing. I’ve been using this product for a few weeks, and I’m really impressed with the results. My skin looks brighter, more even-toned, and healthier. 

In the next window, we have three products:

• MZ Skin Hydra Lift Gold Face Mask (1 Sheet, worth £25.00) – a hydrating hydrogel mask packed with niacinamide, panthenol, betaine, hyaluronic acid, centella asiatica extract, camomile extract, peony extract, hydrolyzed collagen, hydrolyzed glycosaminoglycans, and colloidal gold. I had high hopes for it, but I didn’t notice my skin feeling more hydrated or plumped after use.
• BIOEFFECT EGF Serum (15ml, worth £135.00 Full Size) – an anti-ageing serum that targets signs of skin ageing while boosting hydration. It contains Barley EGF (Epidermal Growth Factor), hyaluronic acid, and barley extract. After trying several products from this brand, I’ve consistently found they leave my skin feeling soft and supple. However, while this serum is hydrating, it does feel a bit sticky to me.
• Decree SOS Revitalising Eye Mask (1 mask, worth £12.00) – an eye mask enriched with niacinamide, panthenol, trehalose, hyaluronic acid, silk amino acids, centella asiatica extract, licorice extract, portulaca extract, and rose flower water. I’m looking forward to trying this product.

Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder (2g, worth £21.00 Travel Size) – an ultra-fine loose powder designed to minimise the appearance of pores, fine lines, and wrinkles for effortlessly smooth skin. It’s one of my absolute favourites, as it’s lightweight, blends seamlessly, and blurs imperfections beautifully.

BYOMA Moisturising Rich Cream (50ml, worth £14.99 Full Size) – a deeply hydrating cream packed with shea butter, ceramides, cholesterol, phytosphingosine, and olive oil. I’m not sure if this will be enough for dry or very dry skin. However, for my combination skin, it seems like a good choice for the colder autumn and winter months.

In the next window, we have two products:

• Jo Loves Jo by Jo Loves a Hand Cream (50ml, worth £40.00 Full Size) – a luxurious hand cream that softens the skin and leaves a delightful scent behind. It has a non-greasy texture and a refreshing scent, with notes of grapefruit and lime.
• Vyrao Witchy Woo Mini Candle (70g Travel Size) – a scented candle with moroccan orris, rose, frankincense, and iris notes. It smells nice, and I’m always happy to find candles inside advent calendars.

Medik8 H.E.O Mask (2 x 50ml, worth £60.00 Full Size) – a moisturising two-step overnight mask that delivers long-lasting hydration and barrier support. The formula includes humectants, emollients, and occlusives, such as saccharide isomerate, hyaluronic acid, allantoin, sodium pca, sea kale extract, ceramides, and fatty acids. I’ve wanted to try this product for a while, so I was very excited to see it included in the CB Advent Calendar 2024.

Tower 28 ShineOn Milky Lip Jelly in XOXO (3.9ml, worth £18.00 Full Size) – a non-sticky, moisturising lip gloss in a sheer pink shade. The formula is lightweight and gives a beautiful shine without any stickiness.

Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Matte Beauty Blush Wand in Pink Pop (12ml, worth £30.00 Full Size) –  a liquid matte blush. I have it in Peach Pop, and I really love this product. It’s easy to use, blends nicely, and lasts well. I’ve wanted to try the Pink Pop shade for a while, so I was excited to receive it. The shade is beautiful and works well as an everyday blusher. It looks perfect on my fair skin, but I think it may not complement deeper skin tones as well.

In the next window, we have six products:

• Ceremonia Guava Rescue Spray (200ml, worth £24.00 Full Size) – a hair spray designed to detangle, protect from UV and heat damage, and fight frizz. The formula contains conditioning agents, aloe juice, avocado oil, coconut oil, squalane, ucuuba butter, agave extract, guava extract, and ginger lily extract. Hair sprays are a staple in my routine, so I’m looking forward to trying this one.
• Philip Kingsley Elasticizer 2024 Limited Edition Fragrance Lemon and Bergamot (75ml, worth £23.50 Travel Size) – a pre-shampoo treatment that adds elasticity, manageability, and shine to the hair. I’ve been using this treatment for years, and it helps keep my hair smooth and easy to manage. I’m pleased to receive it and enjoy the limited-edition lemon and bergamot scent.
• Fable & Mane Saha Scalp Amla Soothing Serum (14.4ml Deluxe Size) – a pre-wash treatment oil that nourishes the scalp and hair while soothing irritation and itchiness. The formula is enriched with a blend of ingredients including amla extract, babchi extract, turmeric extract, basil extract, tulsi extract, neem extract, rice bran extract, fenugreek extract, rosemary extract, red seaweed extract, eggplant extract, jojoba oil, moringa seed oil, sunflower seed oil, and black cumin seed oil.
• amika Soulfood Nourishing Mask (60ml Deluxe Size) – a deeply hydrating hair mask enriched with jojoba oil and sea buckthorn oil. It left my hair feeling incredibly soft and completely detangled.
• JVN Nourishing Shine Drops (5ml Deluxe Size) – a finishing oil that works to boots shine, weightless hydration and elasticity. The formula is enriched with squalane, meadowfoam seed oil, Sunflower seed oil, moringa seed oil, hibiscus extract, eclipta extract, neem extract, and rosemary extract. 
• Cult Beauty Hair Clips in Pink/White (Set of 2 worth £5.00) – a pair of lightweight, no-crease hair clips. They’re cute and perfect for holding hair back while doing makeup.

Shop here: cultbeauty.co.uk, cultbeauty.com

PR sample/Gifted