The best beauty Advent calendars in the UK in 2026, tested – from bargain buys to cult favourites
Christmas is getting closer, and this year’s calendars are already on sale. We tested the biggest releases to find the ones worth buying, including cruelty-free picks
Christmas might feel like an age away, but the festive season has already begun for fans of beauty Advent calendars. Most of this year’s calendars are now on sale or available to preorder, and many of the most popular could sell out long before Whamageddon claims its first victim.
So, much as it pains me to say it, now might be a good time to buy one. Below, you’ll find my favourites, from bargain beauty Advent calendars under £50 to three-figure luxuries. I’ve tested 20 to find calendars packed with cult-favourite products suitable for a whole spectrum of skin types and preferences. I also looked at the packaging and broad appeal of each calendar to help minimise waste.
If nothing tickles your fancy just yet, don’t panic. More calendars get released in the lead-up to December, and I’ll keep updating this article as they drop.
***
***
Why you should trust me
I test beauty products for a living, which means I’ve worked my way through more skincare, makeup, hair care, perfume and nail care products than I dare to count. Working in this industry has shown me the very best and absolute worst of what’s out there. I know how to spot a good product when I see one, even if it’s tucked away in the corner of a beauty Advent calendar.
I also have a certification in cosmetic science, so I know how to identify products suited to different skin and hair types. I’ve struggled with sensitive skin for years, so I keep a close eye out for ingredients that might irritate. The calendars below are all full of products suitable for most people to minimise waste.
How I tested
Heaps of Advent calendars are released every year. To help find the best, I longlisted 30 before testing the 20 that offer the best range of products and value for money. I’ll continue to update this page with new options in the run-up to Christmas.
Testing them lets me assess the quality of each calendar and its contents, as well as the packaging it arrives in. If the calendar itself is recyclable but arrives shrouded in plastic bags and polystyrene, it’s a non-starter. I also check that each calendar is made from packaging that is recyclable at home or genuinely reusable.
It’s impossible to test every product inside every calendar – I only have one face, after all – but I judge each calendar based on the range, quality and usefulness of the products inside. Broad appeal is key to avoiding wasted products, and luckily, this is how most Advent calendars are designed.
I look for a good mix of skincare, makeup, body care, hair care and nail care, unless a calendar is specifically dedicated to a certain product type. I also check how easy it is to incorporate each product into a typical routine. Too many harsh treatments or bold makeup shades would be less appealing than a calendar with a more approachable lineup.
This helps me assess how broadly usable the contents are and how much is likely to go to waste. While beauty Advent calendars can’t be considered eco-friendly, it’s important to minimise waste where possible.
Each year I end up with far more products than one woman can reasonably use. This year, I donated the contents of the calendars to the Redbridge Reach Out service, which supports anyone experiencing domestic abuse.
***
Our favourite beauty Advent calendars in 2026
***
<em>Best beauty Advent calendar overall:</em>Cult Beauty Advent calendar Signature Edition
- What we love:High-end skincare and makeup in a beautiful design
- What we don’t love:Minimal hair care; a daring blush shade
Status: available
If you’re hunting for a beauty Advent calendar filled with high-end makeup and skincare, this year’s Cult Beauty Signature Edition is my top pick. I’ve tried and recommended many of the products inside over the past year, while others are established favourites. There’s very little to dislike, and with 33 products inside, 19 of which are full-size, that’s no mean feat.
What we love
While I’m most excited about the contents of this calendar, it’s also my favourite design. It opens like a book and features detailed illustrations of lipsticks and makeup brushes hidden among festive flowers and foliage. The white, sage green and gold colour scheme should work well with most Christmas decorations. And when the countdown is complete, the box can go in your household recycling bin, while the gold ribbon can be reused.
The skincare inside also has broad appeal. I tested the Medik8 Advanced pro-collagen peptide cream for my recent roundup of face moisturisers, and its light texture and peptide formula made it my top choice for anti-ageing. You’ll also get a 15ml size of the eye-wateringly expensive Augustinus Bader the Rich Cream, which I found amazing for nourishing dry winter-stressed skin.
There are just two skincare products you’ll need to be a little careful with: the Paula’s Choice Retinaldehyde treatment and the Allies of Skin Azelaic serum. Both contain ingredients used to target anti-ageing, acne and hyperpigmentation, but add them to your routine gradually and separately to reduce the risk of irritation.
Makeup-wise, there’s a lot to like too, with a full-size Saie liquid blush and Westman Atelier mascara, both high-end products loved by many beauty enthusiasts. You’ll also find a travel-size Charlotte Tilbury setting spray and Milk Makeup Hydro Grip primer, both of which are top picks in my upcoming primer and setting spray tests.
Topping things off with hair care, you’ll find the Fable & Mane HoliRoots hair oil, which helps to promote stronger strands and increase hydration without using silicones. But the hair-care highlight for me is the travel-size Gisou Honey Gloss ceramide shampoo and conditioner, which smell divine and are from the same range as my favourite hair mask.
It’s a shame that … only four of the products are hair care, and there’s no perfume included. And the Patrick Ta blush duo is almost highlighter pink; you’ll need a light hand, but the shade itself may not be for everyone.
Claimed overall value: more than £1,100
Number of products: 19 full-size, 14 mini (33 in total)
Calendar shell: recyclable card with reusable gold ribbons
Standout products: Westman Atelier Eye Want You mascara, Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish setting spray, Patrick Ta Major Headlines Double-Take cream + powder blush duo, Saie Dew blush, Medik8 Advanced pro-collagen peptide cream, Augustinus Bader the Rich Cream
***
<em>Best value beauty Advent calendar:</em>Lookfantastic Beauty Advent calendar
- What we love:A broad mix of beauty staples
- What we don’t love:No nail care; has a massive footprint
Status: preorder
This year’s Lookfantastic calendar packs 27 products, including 19 full-size, into its vault-style design. Each drawer has been curated by a different celebrity or influencer to include one of their favourite beauty picks, from face creams to home fragrance. It largely steers clear of pricey, specialist treatments, focusing instead on familiar beauty staples.
Why we love it
Starting strong with skincare, there’s a full-size Medik8 Total Moisture daily cleansing gel, which I love as a quick morning cleanse that doesn’t leave my skin feeling stripped. You’ll also find an Elemis Pro-Collagen night cream – the richer version of the day cream I tried in my face moisturiser tests. One of my favourite body moisturisers also features: the Ameliorate Transforming body lotion, which I found good for smoothing and hydrating rough, bumpy skin.
As for makeup, my top two picks are classics: there’s a full-size Benefit Roller Lash mascara in black, which is one of my long-term favourites for its curl and lift. Then there’s the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Freeze styling wax in clear to shape up all brow shades.
For wellness, I was pleased to spot a full-size Amalfi Lemon room spray from the White Company, which has an uplifting, clean scent that’s perfect for winter. There’s also a great mix of hair care, including a full-size Aveda Cherry Almond shampoo and conditioner. Since many of us heat-style our hair more often at Christmas, I was also glad to see a leave-in strengthening treatment from Color Wow.
It’s a shame that … you don’t get any nail care, and the calendar has quite a large footprint, so you’ll need a lot of space to display it.
Claimed overall value: more than £665
Number of products: 19 full-size, 8 mini
Calendar shell: recyclable
Standout products: Color Wow Dream Cocktail, Aveda Cherry Almond Softening shampoo and conditioner, The White Company Amalfi Lemon luxury home spray, Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Freeze wax, Benefit Roller lash mascara, Elemis Pro-Collagen night cream, Medik8 Total Moisture daily cleansing gel, Ameliorate Transforming body lotion
***
<em>Best beauty Advent calendar under £100:</em>Anthropologie 24 Days of Beauty Advent calendar
- What we love:Classic, usable beauty treats at a good price
- What we don’t love:Only one makeup product inside
Status: available
Some beauty Advent calendars cost the world and then leave you wondering what on earth to do with all the products inside. That is not true of the Anthropologie calendar for 2026. There are 25 little luxuries behind 24 doors, and all are staples that should fit easily into an existing beauty routine. Small upgrades for a sensible price.
What we love
There isn’t too much skincare in this calendar, but you will find a full-size Grown Alchemist Regenerating serum worth £60. This has a light gel texture and contains rambutan, polysaccharides and plant peptides to help smooth the appearance of fine lines, hydrate and promote smooth skin. You’ll find the Espa Clean & Green Detox mask, which has a cream clay formula containing vitamin E.
There are three fragrances included: the Malin+Goetz strawberry perfume oil, Phlur Father Figure, and a 10ml bottle of Floral Street Wild Vanilla Orchid. The latter is a light, floral fragrance that’s wearable and uplifting but not sickly sweet, and it’s one of my favourite new perfumes.
The hair care highlights include the Superfoods prewash oil from Hair Syrup, which I’ve tested before and enjoyed using. You’ll also find a silk scrunchie from Slip, which I found snagged less than standard hair ties, creating less breakage. Be warned – I haven’t been able to go back to normal hair ties since trying these.
The calendar also includes a few wellness treats, such as the This Works Deep Sleep pillow spray, a L’Occitane hand cream and a mini candle from Plum & Ashby.
It’s a shame that … there’s only one makeup item inside, and Trip electrolytes sachets don’t feel like an exciting beauty treat. The Malin+Goetz strawberry perfume oil is also an acquired taste.
Claimed overall value: £400
Number of products: 17 full-size, 8 mini
Calendar shell: recyclable
Standout products: Grown Alchemist Regenerating serum, Espa Clean & Green Detox mask, Hair Syrup Superfoods prewash oil, Slip silk skinny scrunchie, Floral Street Wild Vanilla Orchid eau de parfum, This Works Deep Sleep pillow spray, Phlur Father Figure eau de parfum, L’Occitane Amande (almond) Sublime hand cream, Neal’s Yard Wild Rose beauty balm, Manucurist Active Shine polish
***
<em>Best beauty Advent calendar for full-size products:</em>Space NK Beauty Advent calendar
- What we love:Great product range for treatments
- What we don’t love:Mostly anti-ageing skincare
Status: available
The Space NK calendar was my top pick last year, and this year’s curation is also strong. It was only pipped to the post because its skincare selection leans a little too heavily towards anti-ageing. Still, it’s a strong option if you’re a fan of high-end beauty and want to try a range of products.
What we love
This calendar has the most full-size products included of any here; there are 26, with nine minis. The full-size Skin Rocks cleansing balm effortlessly removed stubborn makeup. There’s also a full-size Medik8 Exo-PDRN Prismatic+ serum, which is one of the best PDRN serums I’ve tried for rejuvenating and improving skin tone, while supporting the skin’s barrier. Most of the headline skincare products are tailored toward anti-ageing, such as the La Mer moisturising cream and Caudalie Vinoperfect Brightening dark spot serum.
For hair care, Space NK has skipped the basics and gone straight for treatments. There’s a K18 heat protectant, a leave-in treatment from Color Wow, and an Olaplex treatment, all of which are full-size. It’s good to see a daily essential like heat protection in there, as well as treatments that should suit a range of hair types.
I’m also excited by the Kulfi lip stain oil, which is a moisturising, slightly glossy stain in a neutral rose designed to suit a range of skin tones. Likewise, the perfumes have broad appeal. I’ve tried Phlur Missing Person and the Gisou hair perfume before, but I was surprised by the velvety scent of the DS & Durga Debaser in Bloom perfume. All could be layered with the Saltair Salt Water Vanilla body oil, which has a deep, warm vanilla fragrance and feels light on the skin.
It’s a shame that … all of the makeup inside is cream- or liquid-based, so if you prefer powder formulations, this won’t be for you. There’s also no nail care included. And, as mentioned above, most of the skincare is focused on anti-ageing. They’re all high-end brands, but the calendar may not include enough basics for younger people or those who prefer a simpler routine.
Claimed overall value: more than £1,200
Number of products: 26 full-size, 9 mini
Calendar shell: recyclable
Standout products: La Mer Crème de la Mer moisturising cream, K18 HeatBounce conditioning heat protectant, Color Wow Carb Cocktail, Olaplex No3 Plus Complete Repair treatment, Augustinus Bader the Body Cream, Caudalie Vinoperfect Brightening Dark Spot serum, Kosas Soulgazer mascara, Kulfi Lassi lip staining oil, Medik8 Exo-PDRN Prismatic+ serum, Naturium the Booster hyaluronic acid body wash, Refy Lash Sculpt, Saltair Salt Water Vanilla body oil, Skin Rocks the Cleansing Balm
For more, read Sali Hughes’s guide to the best anti-ageing creams, serums and treatments
***
<em>Best luxury beauty Advent calendar:</em>Liberty Beauty Advent calendar
- What we love:Great fragrance selection and luxury products
- What we don’t love:Shampoo could do with a matching conditioner
Status: available
Browsing Liberty’s beauty hall is one of my favourite things to do in between meetings in London. It isn’t cheap, but this year’s Liberty calendar brought a little taste of that luxury to my living room. If you’re hoping to try new high-end beauty products, and particularly if you like experimenting with new fragrance, this will be right up your street.
Why we love it
What immediately struck me is the wide range of perfumes inside. There are eight from fragrance houses such as DS & Durga, Bibbi, and Ex Nihilo. You’ll find classics such as Molecule 01 fragrance, which smells different on everyone, but my favourite inclusion is Tana Meadow, from Liberty’s own fragrance house. It’s been my go-to fragrance recently, with spiced woody top notes that settle into white floral mid notes and a hearty vanilla, wood and praline base.
My next favourite thing about this calendar is the selection of makeup. While it’s hard to tell online, I was pleased to see a versatile range of shades, with a gorgeous dusky pink Lisa Eldridge lipstick and a conditioning mascara from Ilia. There is one daring berry-red lip stain from Violette FR that promises to hydrate lips as it stains, perfect for the festive season when we need our lipstick to last through far more feasting than usual.
The calendar is also rammed with skincare and hair care from luxury brands you won’t find at most high-street retailers. I tried the Maria Nila Gloss Coat anti-frizz treatment earlier this year and found it performed brilliantly in humid weather. The MZ Skin Bio-Placenta eye cream promises to improve tired eyes in four weeks; I found it had a cool, refreshing feel and sunk in quickly. There’s also a brightening vitamin C serum from Sunday Riley, which had a lovely hydrating feel and didn’t upset my skin, and an Augustinus Bader face oil that left my skin with a healthy glow without feeling greasy.
It’s a shame that … the Davines shampoo doesn’t come paired with its conditioner. There’s also no nail care, which is oddly common among this year’s calendars.
Claimed overall value: more than £1,300
Number of products: 21 full-size, 8 mini
Calendar shell: recyclable, with reusable drawstring bag
Standout products: DS & Durga Debaser eau de parfum, Bibbi Vanilla Factory eau de parfum, Ex Nihilo Blue Talisman extrait de parfum, Escentric Molecules Molecule 01, LBTY Tana Meadow eau de parfum, Lisa Eldridge Baume Embrace Melting lip colour in épanoui, Ilia Beauty Limitless lash mascara in after midnight, Violette_FR Lip Nectar in bêtise, Maria Nila gloss coat, MZ Skin Intensive Bio-Placenta eye cream, Sunday Riley CEO Vitamin C 15% brightening serum, Augustinus Bader the Face Oil
***
<em>Best beauty Advent calendar for families:</em>Lush Advent calendar
- What we love:Great mix of products for all ages to enjoy
- What we don’t love:The fragrances are characteristically sweet
Status: available
If you know your little ones won’t be able to keep their hands off your fancy beauty Advent calendar, why not buy something you can all enjoy? Lush offers two stocked-up Advent calendars every year: one filled with bath bombs and bubble bars and another with the brand’s wider beauty offerings. This reusable hamper is the latter, filled with vegan and cruelty-free festive bath bombs, creams, perfumes and a lip scrub to appeal to all ages.
Why we love it
That distinctive Lush smell hits as soon as you open this hamper. This will either delight or repulse you, although presumably if you’re considering this you’re in the former camp. Inside, you’ll find 25 treats spread across two 12-day halves that save you a bit of rummaging around.
Starting with bath products, you’ll find festive-food-themed bombs and bubble bars, including an orange, a candied pear, a candy cane, a carrot for Rudolph and a Christmas tree. There are also picks from Lush’s standard range, such as the Sleepy bubble bar. And the sweet theme doesn’t stop at bath time, thanks to the sticky dates, s’mores, and chocolate orange shower gels. You can even eat the Hot Chocolate Orange lip scrub, which tastes just as delicious as it sounds.
Out of the bathroom, the calendar comes with two exclusive fragrances. The mini Santa’s Favourite body spray smells like soft florals and settles into a light grapefruit. Or, for something stronger, the Snowcake and Rose perfume smells like warm marzipan and feels more grownup. You’ll also find hand soaps, a dusting powder, a body butter, a candle and a cosy pair of Lush socks.
Lush scores highly on sustainability: the hamper is made by a B Corp-certified manufacturer, and there’s a detailed breakdown online on the other packaging and how to recycle it. The packing peanuts can be placed in your food or garden waste bin, and when you’re finished with the bottles and tubs, you can return them to Lush using the Bring it Back scheme for money off your next purchase.
It’s a shame that … unlike previous years, there are no inserts to refill last year’s Advent calendar chest. While the new hamper design is a little more reusable day to day, this change seems counterproductive from a sustainability perspective, since part of the appeal of last year’s calendar was that you’d be able to refill it. I’m hoping this version will be refillable for years to come. For a completely refillable option, Lush is launching a fabric calendar this year for you to fill yourself, which will allow you to add products you know you love.
Claimed overall value: not listed
Number of products: 24 full-size, 1 mini
Calendar shell: biodegradable and recyclable cardboard inserts, reusable wicker hamper
Standout products: Hot Chocolate Orange lip scrub, Sleepy bubble bar, Sticky Dates shower gel, Honey Bear bath bomb, Once Upon a Time candle, Dream Cream body lotion, Honey I Washed the Kids body scrub, Christmas tree bath bomb, Snowcake and Rose perfume
***
<em>Best Advent calendar</em> <em>for skin and body care</em>Holland & Barrett Beauty Advent calendar
- What we love:Includes top-rated, budget-friendly products
- What we don’t love:No makeup
Status: available
Advent calendars full of high-end products are a double-edged sword: it’s great to find new favourites, but they might become a drain on your bank account if you want to repurchase them. Holland & Barrett’s Advent calendar packs in many affordable body and skin care products that I’ve tried and wouldn’t hesitate to use in my routine. Many of the products inside are from cruelty-free brands, and, of all the options here, this calendar feels the most gender-neutral, which also makes it great to share.
Why we love it
The skincare selection here is strong, with two inclusions from Dr Organic: a probiotic cream cleanser that I love, and a vitamin E moisturiser that will help with dry, winter-stressed skin. You’ll find a mini version of one of my go-to breakout-busting cleansers, the Cetaphil Exfoliating SA cleanser, with a matching mini moisturiser that’s perfect for travel. There’s also a brightening eye cream from the brilliant UpCircle, which uses repurposed ingredients.
For body care, there’s a full-size version of the Weleda Skin Food body lotion; I love the hand cream from this range, and the lotion has a lighter texture while still using plant-derived squalane to hydrate and protect the skin. I was also excited to see one of my favourite hair masks included; the moisturising hair mask from Faith in Nature can help increase shine, and rinses away quickly without leaving a heavy coating.
It’s a shame that … there’s no makeup included, and I’m also not sold on adding health supplements to a beauty Advent calendar, even if biotin and collagen are fairly common supplements. Also, unlike previous Holland & Barrett calendars, not all the products inside are vegan – some contain beeswax, lanolin, and bovine collagen.
Claimed overall value: more than £266
Number of products: 18 full-size, 10 mini
Calendar shell: recyclable
Standout products: Dr Organic Probiotic cream cleanser, Dr Organic Vitamin E Super hydrating cream, Cetaphil Gentle Exfoliating SA cleanser, Cetaphil SA Exfoliating lotion, UpCircle Brightening eye cream, Weleda Skin Food body lotion, Faith in Nature Shea & Argan hair mask, Hairburst Longer Stronger shampoo, Hairburst Longer Stronger conditioner
***
<em>Best beauty Advent calendar for teens and tweens:</em>W7 Beauty Blast Advent calendar
- What we love:Affordable; all the skincare and makeup basics
- What we don’t love:Mostly minis; no luxury touches
Status: available
Not all beauty Advent calendars require you to take out a loan; this W7 one costs less than the average takeaway and contains 24 makeup and beauty products. Last year’s W7 calendar was brilliant, and this year’s is even better suited to beauty newcomers.
Why we love it
Starting with skincare, this calendar contains a gentle cleanser, hydrating toner, moisturiser, lip mask and bronzing drops. Makeup-wise, there are two primers, plus a bronzer, blush, highlight and setting powder. For eyes and lips, there are two lip glosses, a lipstick and two lip liners, as well as shiny and matt eyeshadows and an eyeliner. It’s a good starter kit for tweens and teens dipping their toes into the beauty world, or anyone starting to build a beauty routine without spending a fortune.
And, while the packaging isn’t high-end, the lip liners, H2O hydrating powder and setting spray are particularly good. The bronzing drops are also a bit of fun – either used alone as a liquid bronzer or mixed with moisturiser for a healthy glow. The full-size lip mask can be used overnight to hydrate lips.
It’s a shame that … most of its contents are minis and all of the product packaging feels plasticky and flimsy. That’s what you’d expect for a calendar at this price, but don’t expect a luxury finish here.
Claimed overall value: not stated
Number of products: 6 full-size, 3 accessories, 15 mini
Calendar shell: recyclable
Standout products: W7 Double Draw lip pencils, H2O hydrating powder, W7 Golden Glow Drops, Sugar Cookie overnight lip mask
***
The best of the rest
***
No7 25 Days of Beauty Advent calendar
- What we love:Full-size makeup; broad skincare range
- What we don’t love:Mainly mini skincare
Best for: breaking a beauty rut rather than the bank
Status: available
If you want to switch things up in your beauty routine, this great-value calendar is a safe bet. It feels like the grownup equivalent of the W7 calendar above; it’s more luxurious, with a larger proportion of skincare, including products with retinoids and exfoliating ingredients.
All the full-size products are makeup, aside from one lip balm. These include a cool-toned light brown matt lipstick and liner, a lip oil with a punchy fruity taste, a pink liquid blush, an eyeliner pencil and a black tubing mascara. All of this is simple to use, wearable and will fit easily into most beauty routines.
The calendar includes skincare from several No7 ranges, including Radiance+ and Future Renew. There are serums, an eye cream, day and night creams, cleansers and a toner. These are all minis, but this does allow you to sample a range of products before deciding whether to buy full-size versions. There’s also a £5 voucher for selected No7 Future Renew products.
It didn’t make the final cut because … while the calendar has a diverse range of things to try, it’s limited to No7, so there isn’t as much choice as other calendars. Also, it’s mostly skincare, so it may be less appealing if you already have a routine you’re happy with. None of the skincare products is full-size, either, except the lip balm.
Claimed overall value: £248.93; number of products: 24, including 8 full-size, plus a £5 voucher; calendar shell: recyclable;
standout products: No7 Pro Artist Luxe liquid blush, Pro Artist lip shine oil, Pro Artist That’s a Wrap tubing mascara, No7 Future Renew Damage Reversal body serum, No7 Future Renew SPF40 day cream, No7 Radiance+ Vitamin C Glow toner
***
Liz Earle 12 Days of Beauty Advent calendar
- What we love:Cruelty-free; luxury skincare; generous ‘minis’
- What we don’t love:Fragranced; only 12 days
Best for: cruelty-free skincare
Status: available
Liz Earle is known for affordable luxury, and this 12-day calendar brings together a selection of its skincare and body care, from facial toners to rich creams. Its presentation box is recyclable; I found everything inside useful; and the selection isn’t overwhelming. It’s also Leaping Bunny certified.
Why we love it
It wouldn’t be a Liz Earle Advent calendar if it didn’t include the Cleanse & Polish hot cloth cleanser. This is massaged on to dry skin, then gently “polished” off using a warm, damp washcloth (also included). The warmth makes the cleansing ritual feel spa-like. I’ve used this cleanser many times and always find the process enjoyable and oddly meditative. Add the large 75ml Superskin moisturiser, and you’ve already got the foundations of a good routine.
Unlike in larger calendars, the “mini” products don’t feel like an afterthought. The Smooth & Glow exfoliating tonic, Instant Boost Skin tonic and Eyebright soothing lotion all come in matching 50ml bottles, which are larger and more high-end-looking than typical minis. The full-size body wash, body cream and hand cream come in a limited-edition fragrance, Mandarin & Nutmeg, which smells clean and uplifting, with a touch of festive warmth.
It didn’t make the cut because … much of the skincare here is fragranced, and there’s only 12 days’ worth, rather than 24. A 24-day calendar is available, but it’s more than twice the price, and its vast range of skincare could easily feel overwhelming.
Claimed overall value: £203.50; number of products: 3 full-size, 1 supersize, 8 mini; calendar shell: recyclable; standout products: Cleanse & Polish hot cloth cleanser, Skin Repair hydrating night cream, Mandarin & Nutmeg body cream, Smooth & Glow exfoliating tonic, Eyebright soothing eye lotion
***
Next 25 Days of Beauty Advent calendar
- What we love:Great skincare and accessories
- What we don’t love:The minimal makeup included is quite bold
Best for: tools and accessories
Status: available
Next has partnered with the charity Future Dreams this year, with £10 from each calendar sold going to fund its specialist support centre for people with breast cancer and their families. The calendar is also one of the few I’ve encountered that includes an LED tool, and I’m a sucker for a bit of beauty tech.
I don’t usually recommend wand-like LED tools that concentrate the light on small areas; full LED face masks are much easier to use. That said, the BeautyPro anti-ageing LED wand could be worth it for those wanting to dip their toes into LED. You’ll also find other handy extras inside, like a Flat Lay Co storage pouch that clips on to your keys and a Neom candle with lavender, chamomile and patchouli to help you drift off to sleep.
For skincare, the calendar packs in a full-size Caudalie anti-ageing cream and a Clinique All About Eyes serum, which is infused with caffeine and has a soothing roller for cooling the undereyes. There’s also a mini Elemis cleansing balm, which is my go-to first cleanse in the evening; follow it up with the Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish hot cloth cleanser to get a dreamy spa-like cleanse.
It didn’t make the final cut because … it’s a little thin on the ground with makeup and nail care. Also, the makeup is quite bold; the Laura Mercier pink eyeshadow stick would be more useful in a neutral shade and, even though they’re great for Christmas, the glittery Natasha Denona eyeshadows won’t be right for everyone. Similarly, the perfumes are all minis apart from the Victoria’s Secret vanilla body mist, which leans a little young.
Claimed overall value: more than £576; number of products: 10 full-size, 19 mini; calendar shell: recyclable; standout products: BeautyPro ALED 5-in-1 anti-ageing wand, Flat Lay Co keyring pouch, NEOM Perfect Night’s Sleep travel candle, Caudalie Resveratrol-Lift Firming Cashmere cream, Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth cleanser, Elemis Pro-Collagen Rose cleansing balm, Clinique All About Eyes Serum De-Puffing Eye Massage
***
Liberty men’s Advent calendar
- What we love:Useful products that add a little luxury
- What we don’t love:Worse value than the main beauty Advent calendar
Best for: men
Status: available
If there’s one way to bring a man around to the idea of a beauty Advent calendar, it’s buying him a great one. This is beautifully designed and filled with genuinely useful, high-end but not fussy skin, hair and body care. And, like the main Liberty calendar featured above, it’s got a wide range of fragrances inside from the likes of Loewe, D’Orsay and Granado.
The highlights inside include the Paula’s Choice ectoin, which I often use at night for intensive barrier support, since it’s fast-absorbing and doesn’t upset my sensitive skin. There’s also the Commune Seymour body cream, which uses natural oils and botanical fragrance to nourish the skin – I’m also a fan of the hand cream, as the smell is divine and the recyclable aluminium packaging is luxurious. You’ll also find upgrades of men’s daily essentials, such as Ortigia shaving gel and a Charlotte Mensah hair pomade.
Topping things off, you’ve got some treats to help you unwind, such as the Verden sleep mist, Earl of East bath salts and a warming muscle gel from Aromatherapy Associates.
It didn’t make the final cut because … despite the similar prices, its value is significantly lower than the main Liberty calendar. There are fewer items, fewer of which are full-size, and you also lose out on the drawstring bag made from one of Liberty’s famous prints … I think the men at least deserve a drawstring bag, don’t you?
Claimed overall value: £885; number of products: 14 full-size, 11 mini; calendar shell: recyclable; standout products: Paula’s Choice 7% Ectoin + Hyaluronic Acid Milky Hydrating Serum, Commune Seymour body cream, Ortigia shave gel, Charlotte Mensah Manketti Oil hair pomade, Verden Nocturne sleep mist, Earl of East bath salts, Aromatherapy Associates Warming De-Stress muscle gel, Loewe Esencia pour Homme eau de parfum, D’Orsay Vanilla Affair extrait de parfum, Granado Boemia perfume
***
Jurlique Beauty Advent calendar
- What we love:B Corp-certified botanical beauty; reusable box
- What we don’t love:Nearly all minis; face oils won’t suit everyone
Best for: B Corp-certified botanical beauty
Status: available
Australian B Corp-certified skincare brand Jurlique makes lovely botanical skincare. This year’s 24-day calendar features a selection of its bestsellers, many of which contain ingredients grown on the brand’s farm in Australia. So, if you’re ethically conscious and a fan of botanical beauty, this might fit the bill.
There’s a blend of essential oils, including mandarin, ylang ylang and geranium, designed for use in a diffuser for some calm during the Christmas period. You’ll also find products from the brand’s rose collection, including a face cream, hand cream, face mist, body lotion and shower gel, as well as its rose face oil. There are also products from its calendula range, along with serums and a hydrating face mask and cleanser.
Like last year’s calendar, this comes in a gorgeous reusable box that’s just big enough to store trinkets without taking up too much space; I’m still using my 2025 calendar to store extra makeup.
It didn’t make the final cut because … there’s only one full-size product, which feels a little disappointing. The essential oil needs a diffuser, so it’s not as versatile or useful as a full-size skincare product. The four face oils won’t suit everyone, and there are two identical mini rose hand creams. I’d prefer 24 different products rather than repeats. It’s also skincare-only, so makeup fans should look elsewhere.
Claimed overall value: £280; number of products: 1 full-size, 23 mini; calendar shell: recyclable inserts with reusable box; standout products: Radiant Skin foaming cleanser, Purely Age-Defying Firming face oil, Nutri-Define eye balm, Rare Rose face oil, Rose body lotion
***
What you need to know
***
Are beauty Advent calendars worth it?
This depends entirely on your beauty routine and how much you enjoy experimenting with new products. If you like high-end, luxury beauty, then beauty Advent calendars can be a great way to get expensive products bundled together for a lower cost. It’s also an opportunity to try luxe brands without committing to buying full-size products.
The first risk is you end up spending a lot of money on products you won’t use. To avoid this, think about the elements of your beauty routine that you like to switch up. If there’s anything you’re staunchly loyal to, for example your skincare, think twice before buying a skincare Advent calendar.
There’s also the environmental impact of any products you don’t use, so it’s worth considering either donating them unopened to charity or giving them to any other beauty lovers in your circle.
How much should you expect to spend?
There is a huge range of beauty Advent calendars available, from below £20 to over £500. That chasmic difference in cost makes a big difference to the products inside. Entry-level calendars offer mostly mini-size products from high-street beauty brands. Some more affordable calendars also offer 12 doors, for the 12 days of Christmas, rather than 24.
With the £20-£60 bracket covered by budget brands, the mid-range contenders sit somewhere between £61 and £150. These calendars tend to offer more full-size products than lower-priced calendars from mid-range brands. Unless you’re a big fan of one particular brand, the best way to try lots of new skincare, makeup and hair care is to choose a calendar from a beauty retailer such as Anthropologie, which offers curated calendars with a selection of brands. Most beauty fans will find something suitable in this price bracket.
Spend between £151 and £250, and you can expect to find calendars filled with mainly full-size products, whether from mid-range or luxury brands or higher-end beauty retailers such as Cult Beauty and Space NK.
If you’re hoping for full-fat luxury at full-fat prices, you can spend over £250 and grab a calendar from super-high-end retailers such as Selfridges and Liberty, or premium brands such as Diptyque. These tend to contain higher-value products, with some brands claiming a total value of more than £1,000. Just be sure to triple-check the contents all appeal to you before spending this much.
Why are beauty Advent calendars released so early?
Unlike edible Advent calendars, which can be packed up and filled with the same chocolates year after year, beauty Advent calendars take months of planning and coordination. As you’re opening the 2026 calendar, most brands will already be deep in planning what to include in 2027.
By opening waiting lists early, brands are able to better plan the number of calendars they need to make, and ensure they have enough time to send them out before 1 December.
In the US? Check our US beauty Advent calendars guide here
• The article was originally published on 8 September 2026. Reviews published in the Filter may be periodically updated to reflect new products and at the editor’s discretion. The date of an article’s most recent update can be found in the timestamp at the top of the page. This article was amended on 8 October 2026; the Lookfantastic, Liberty main and men’s, Next and Holland & Barrett calendars were added after testing, and prices were updated throughout.