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The beauty advent calendar frenzy seems to get bigger and bigger, and earlier and earlier, each year. But while these purport to be a brilliant opportunity to scoop up expensive products for less, are you making a savvy beauty investment or just paying for a beautifully wrapped box of products you’ll never really use (and that the brands might otherwise struggle to sell)? These are expensive purchases, and as almost all of them come with frantic warnings that ‘last year’s sold out in mere weeks, so you better be quick’, it would be all too easy to panic buy.
So are they really worth what the brands claim? To find out, Claire Coleman, a beauty editor for more than 20 years, and beauty writer Antonia Lenon dissected exactly what’s on offer from some of the biggest brands and carried out forensic calculations to see how they stack up.
HOW WE WORKED OUT VALUE FOR MONEY
To work out what we thought the contents of each calendar were worth, we looked at the RRP of the products and, where they weren’t sold in a standard retail size, calculated a price based on the price per ml or g of the full-sized product.
Discrepancies between the brands’ figures and ours might come from different calculation methods — for example, if a full-sized product is available in 100ml and 250ml sizes, the price per ml is usually cheaper for the 250ml product but, where possible, we gave them the benefit of the doubt.
We then calculated how much more than the selling price the contents were worth as a percentage. Using this metric, there was one very clear winner – Marks & Spencer‘s, whose £75 Beauty Advent Calendar contains products worth more than five times that. John Lewis’ beauty advent calendar sits in second place, with a seriously impressive line up of products worth over £1,000 for just £250.
Here’s everything you need to know about the cream of the crop of this year’s calendar collection…
Best Beauty Advent Calendar Quick List
- Best for bargain hunters: M&S Beauty Advent Calendar, £56
- Best for beauty know-it-alls: LOOKFANTASTIC Beauty Advent Calendar, £120
- Best for dependable value from trusted names: John Lewis Beauty Advent Calendar, £250
- Best for sharing the proceeds: Cult Beauty Advent Calendar, £245
- Best for luxury: Fortnum & Mason Advent Calendar, £275
- Best for grown-ups: Space NK Beauty Advent Calendar, £275
- Best for younger beauty fans: Sephora Favourite Advent Calendar, £235
- Best for over 50s skincare obsessives: No7 Ultimate Beauty Advent Calendar, £144
- Best for a mix of best sellers and new trending buys: Boots 24 Days of Luxe Advent Calendar, £150
- Best for tweens with a beauty obsession: Sephora Collection Advent Calendar, £47.99
- Best for makeup junkies: Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Beauty Advent Calendar, £170
- Best for Clinique devotees: Clinique Beauty Advent Calendar, £180
- Best for full-size products: Beauty Pie Better Than An Advent Calendar, £249
- Best for fragrance fans: Byredo Advent Calendar, £650
1. Marks & Spencer Beauty Advent Calendar
Best for…bargain hunters
Our verdict? M&S drew inspiration from the candy cane for its advent calendar, with a pink and burgundy striped exterior. The interior has a similar colour scheme, although the drawings on some of the drawers take inspiration from beauty products rather than Christmas.
But for value add, there’s no doubt this is a winner, and it’s got a strong mix of revered beauty names including Estée Lauder, Clinique, Benefit, bareMinerals, Color Wow, ESPA, Aveda and Floral Street.
Antonia feels it ‘really delivers on haircare’, citing Color Wow’s Money Mist, a leave-in conditioning spray that hydrates and boosts shine as her ‘standout’.
But there’s a decent spread of makeup, body care and fragrance too and at this price it’s a great combination of established beauty brands alongside products you might not otherwise have tried, including Claire’s picks — Sweed’s brilliant lipstick and Sam McKnight’s balm, both of which she calls ‘unsung heroes.’
Any downsides? For a brand that makes so much noise about sustainability, it’s a pity there aren’t more full sizes in here. And Antonia would have liked to have seen one of the more recently launched M&S Studio perfumes rather than two from their Discover range.
2. LookFantastic Beauty Calendar
Best for…beauty know-it-alls
Our verdict: The contents have been handpicked by a group of beauty experts working with LookFantastic, and the selection reflects that considered approach. Expect familiar names including Laura Mercier, Laneige, Medik8, MAC and Color Wow. The packaging is festive without being overcomplicated: a red exterior opens to reveal a burgundy interior. The box itself is enormous – one of the biggest we trialled.
Claire says, ‘The UKLash lash serum is one of the ones I recommend to everyone as it really works. I’m delighted to see the Ordinary’s sunscreen and Sam McKnight’s texture spray is effective and smells divine’.
Antonia is equally taken with the practical treats, particularly Clinique’s moisturiser, which she says is ‘perfect for dull winter skin’. Laura Mercier’s Translucent Powder is ‘especially handy to keep in your handbag for quick touch-ups before and during Christmas parties’ to help keep makeup looking fresh.
Any downsides? Claire says, ‘Overall, this is a total winner for me, but if I’m being picky, I’d have liked to see a bit more fragrance in there as well.
3. John Lewis Beauty Advent Calendar
Best for…dependable value from trusted names
Our verdict? John Lewis has seriously upped its game with this year’s calendar. Across 41 products, there’s a grown-up mix of skincare, makeup, haircare and fragrance, plus the FOREO UFO 3 Mini for some high-tech December pampering. Antonia was most excited by the Laura Mercier setting spray.
The packaging delivers on festive vibes without tipping into tacky or twee. The midnight blue box has a hand-painted design, featuring baubles and small gold stars, and is fully recyclable.
Claire notes that 23 full-size products is a generous offering and says those skincare and body care products give this one the edge over competitors: ‘There are some classics in here that I’ve used for years — the L’Occitane Almond Shower Oil followed by Nuxe’s Huile Prodigieuse will leave even the driest winter skin feeling baby soft and smelling amazing, while the Grown Alchemist hand cream will do the same for hands,’ she says. ‘Dermalogica’s Daily Microfoliant is a gentle exfoliator that even sensitive skin can use, and almost everyone will benefit from Medik8’s hydration-boosting B5 serum.’
Any downsides? ‘As a skincare fan, it’s disappointing not to see an SPF in there,’ Claire says. Antonia adds: ‘While the spread is good, I’d like to have seen more eye and brow makeup in there.’
4. Cult Beauty Advent Calendar Special Edition
Best for…sharing the proceeds
Our verdict? Packaging is on the minimalist side, with an exterior featuring a pastel botanical design inspired by Victorian tradition. On the inside, the calendar is white with a gold snowflake and starry cloud detailing.
It feels like there’s something for everyone in this calendar — which might mean you want to regift some of the contents. For example, while products like the Byoma cleanser, Milk primer and Elemis SPF50 are universal pleasers, the Glow Recipe and Sol de Janeiro products are pitching to a very different audience than the sophisticated serums.
While Antonia says she’d be ‘most excited to open the doors housing Medik8’s Pro-Collagen Peptide Cream and Paula’s Choice Retinoid treatment‘, for Claire it’s the makeup that she would not be sharing — ‘the Vieve primer, the By Terry brightening primer, and the Summer Fridays lip balm are going straight on my face!’
Any downsides? With only one mascara (albeit the super luxe Westman Atelier), it’s relatively light on eye products — and we’d have loved to have seen some fragrance too. There’s none at all, despite some great perfume brands available on Cult.
5. Fortnum & Mason Beauty Advent Calendar
Best for…luxury products
Our verdict? Housed in a striking purple calendar with red flowers and a festive little robin, the doors open to reveal drawers in classic Fortnum & Mason turquoise. This feels less like a conventional beauty calendar and more like a mini shopping spree in a really posh apothecary, ‘a real treasure trove for lovers of lesser-known brands,’ says Claire.
Antonia says it feels ‘designed for self-care on a dark, December night: Aromatherapy Associates’ De-Stress Body Oil is perfect for an evening when you want to have a long, undisturbed bath or shower, while Bamford’s face oil adds another touch of luxury.’ On the fragrance front, Claire appreciated the opportunity to try a 10ml sample of a fragrance that normally retails at £650 — ‘not to be sniffed at.’
Any downsides? Skincare dominates this calendar with no haircare products and makeup very much the supporting act. Moreover, what there is in terms of makeup is all from the same brand. ‘I like Delilah, but three of their products seem a little excessive,’ notes Claire.
6. Sephora Favourites Advent Calendar
Best for…younger beauty fans
Our verdict? If you saw last year’s gold boxing, this year’s version in holographic silver feels familiar. Although those who want something that screams Christmas may feel it doesn’t deliver compared to the more decorated options.
But there’s a huge amount to discover across makeup, skincare, haircare and fragrance. Antonia is particularly excited by the combination of neutral mattes and shimmery metallic shades in the Makeup By Mario eyeshadow palette and appreciates the inclusion of K18’s hair mask, which ‘makes the calendar feel more substantial.’ Claire thinks that while there are definitely products in here that she’d want to keep for herself – Dr Sam’s cleanser, Medik8’s serum, Merit’s blush, the Hourglass powder and the Laura Mercier Caviar Stick, for a start- she says, ‘this is very much the calendar I’d give to my teen niece. She’d love the sweet Sol de Janeiro scents and brands, such as Topicals and One/Size that have been popularised on social media.’
Any downsides? If you’re not a burgundy lip fan, you might be disappointed as the MAC lipstick, Tower28 lip balm and Sephora lip liner are all on the reddish-brown side of things.
7. SpaceNK Beauty Advent Calendar
Best for…grown-ups
Our verdict? SpaceNK has opted for blue, like John Lewis, but has leaned hard into the Christmas theme, with a busy design featuring a nutcracker, reindeer, bells, baubles, stars, a sledge, candy canes, crescent moons and more. The edit feels more grown-up than some of the competition, with a skincare focus that should appeal to anyone who would rather discover a new serum than another glittery eyeshadow or lip gloss.
It’s also heavy on the full sizes, with a number of products Claire says she’d ‘urge you to try if you’re not familiar with them already.’ She highlights Skin Rocks cleansing balm and Vieve’s Skin Nova as ‘brilliant products’, and says it’s good to see haircare well represented too – ‘the Philip Kingsley Elasticizer is a hero product for a reason.’
Antonia is particularly excited to try Medik8’s latest PDRN serum, and also flags that the Refy and Kosas mascaras in brown and black are ‘particularly wearable’ and says there’s ‘something irresistibly dinky about the tiny bottle of Gisou’s Honey Hair Perfume.’
Any downsides? The interior drawers feel significantly less sturdy than those of other calendars, and seem unlikely to have a long lifespan if you tried to repurpose them — although it is fully recyclable. Claire would have liked to have seen more fragrance and body care — ‘Space NK stocks some great products in these categories, so this feels like a bit of a loss.’
8. No7 Ultimate Beauty Advent Calendar
Best for…over 50s skincare obsessives
Our verdict? The pale pink box, which opens to reveal pink and red drawers, looks more luxe than the Boots calendar (below). Although some may feel it’s not especially festive, for No 7 devotees, this is a savvy investment. Claire loves the fact that every product is full size and points out that the inclusion of seven Future Renew products — the range built on No7’s patented anti-ageing peptide formula — ‘telegraphs that it’s very clearly targeting an older consumer.’ And, she adds, while there are some Prime Forever (the latest range for women in their 30s) products in there, they’ve chosen ones, like cleansers and eye patches, that anyone of any age can use.
But it’s not all skincare. Antonia liked the Golden Hour eye palette, and both Claire and Antonia appreciated the voucher for foundation. ‘Foundations and concealers are notoriously difficult to put into an advent calendar because they can’t be shade-matched, so this is a clever way round that,’ comments Antonia. It feels like a really well thought-through product, both for existing fans and those not as familiar with the brand.
Any downsides? Antonia was disappointed not to see the Prime Forever SPF primer in the calendar. ‘I trialled the Prime Forever range when it was released this year, and that was my favourite product,’ she says.
9. Boots 24 Days of Luxe Advent Calendar
Best for…a mix of best sellers and new trending buys
Our verdict? This beauty smorgasbord impresses. Antonia flags that Laneige’s Lip Sleeping Mask with its dinky spoon is a far more glamorous alternative to Vaseline for combating chapped winter lips and reports that Floral Street’s Wild Vanilla Orchid fragrance, ‘a grown-up, moody vanilla’, is one she’s always asked about when she wears it. Claire was pleased to see the Aveda Rosemary Mint Shampoo and Conditioner — ‘I used to use them years ago, and they smell divine’ while intrigued to try the Nars Multiple Blush Stick — ‘something of a cult among makeup artists for years.’ Similarly, she points out that Estee Lauder’s Advanced Night Repair is a classic, so the Eye Cream is ‘definitely worth a look’.
Any downsides? Only the packaging really. For 2026, Boots has gone for ribbons, stars and confetti. However, the burgundy hue doesn’t look especially festive, and the mix of ribbons and stars doesn’t quite scream ‘luxe’.
10. Sephora Collections Advent Calendar
Best for…tweens with a beauty obsession
Our verdict: This isn’t a traditional advent calendar. Instead, you lift the lid to reveal 24 individually boxed and numbered products. It’s not immediately clear whether you’re supposed to tip them all out or fish around inside for each day’s treat – and some may miss the fun of opening individual drawers.
As the second-cheapest calendar, this is a sensible choice for parents being pestered by a tween beauty obsessive. Sequinned hair accessories, pom-poms and relatively gentle skincare make it feel age-appropriate. Indeed, there’s little here to alarm parents, whether in the colour cosmetics or the skincare ingredients, but that doesn’t mean adults won’t find things to enjoy, too.
Claire says the Matte On-The-Go blotting papers would be a useful addition to any handbag, especially in party season, and that the lip and cheek tint ‘is their take on the classic Benetint product’. Antonia likes the lip gloss, ‘though both the shades that could be included have a glitter finish, which not everyone will love’.
Any downsides? Claire points out that the tweezers included get consistently bad reviews – ‘they’d have done better including their flat tip ones that are £1 more expensive but get much better reviews’. While Antonia thinks the packaging lets the calendar down.
11. Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Beauty Advent Calendar
Best for…makeup junkies
Our verdict? Housed in a red box, with dinky jewel handles, this calendar has genuine repurposing potential. It could easily sit atop a dressing table, or make a chic addition to a wannabe princess’s playroom. While smaller than some of the competition, that’s part of its charm – think considered rather than crammed. Travel-size versions of products such as the Magic Cream and Magic Serum give you the chance to try them before committing to a full-size investment.
Antonia says the Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray is ‘a winning addition to any makeup bag’, although she’d have preferred the newly-released matte version, her salvation during the summer heatwaves. While Claire is ‘a big fan of the Matte Revolution lipsticks‘, saying Pillow Talk Medium is a universally flattering shade, and that the Unreal Blush Healthy Glow Stick is ‘a good smear and go blusher.’
Any downsides? If you’re going to make an advent calendar that has fewer than 24 gifts, why not go for 10 rather than 15 and make all of them full-sized? If you’ve got a really tiny evening bag, the mini Rock ‘N’ Kohl liner and Exagger-Eyes mascara could be handy, but the full-size versions don’t take up much more space and have more longevity.
12. Clinique Beauty Advent Calendar
Best for…Clinique devotees
Our verdict? Entirely pink and covered in small white stars, complete with a ribbon, the calendar feels unapologetically feminine, if not particularly festive. If you’re much more interested in skincare than makeup and already know you like Clinique, this is a straightforward way to explore more of the range.
Antonia likes the inclusion of both Black Honey and Pink Honey lip products, saying ‘so many calendars seem to default to several dark or similar lip shades.’ And Claire’s picks would include the Chubby Stick highlighter, the mascara, cleansing balm and scrub.
It’s by no means an adventurous calendar, but for an existing Clinique fan, that consistency may be just what you’re after.
Any downsides? More miniatures than full sizes make this feel a bit miserly in comparison to others. Yes, travel sizes are good for sampling, but they’re not good news for the environment and, more prosaically, mean the calendar lacks the wow-factor of others. It’s great if you’re looking to restock multiple travel washbags, but when you look at the limited value add, it’s hard to recommend it over others for any but the most devoted Clinique fan.
13. BEAUTY PIE Better Than An Advent Calendar
Best for…full-size products
Our verdict? There are 14 full-size products here, spanning skincare, makeup, bodycare and fragrance, plus a year’s membership. But calculating its true value was tricky because all of Beauty Pie’s products are sold at a regular price (which they say is less than what the industry would charge for the same product) and a lower member’s price that you get for buying a £59/year membership. Their quoted value of £1,028 is based on what they say other retailers would charge, but you could buy everything for £555 or £333.50 if you’re already a member.
Antonia has her eye on Youthbomb 360° Radiance Concentrate — ‘the most expensive product in the box, and one that beauty editors rave about’ while Claire admits she’s a fan of the Micro-Caviar Overnight Moisture Mask and the Fruitizyme Five-Minute Facial — ‘both transformative’, and the Japanfusion Cleanser — ‘a daily delight.’
Any downsides? The confusing price. The £249 price tag is only available to members. Non-member shoppers either have to purchase the calendar for £1,028 – the combined traditional RRP of all the products inside – or buy a membership for £59/year to access the £249 price.
14. Byredo Advent Calendar
Best for…fragrance fans
Our verdict? This calendar looks a cut above the rest (which you’d expect given the £650 price tag). The products are housed in a rigid cardboard box that feels much sturdier than some of the flimsier calendars. The patterned exterior opens into a vivid blue design; each door has a small ribbon attached to it to pull it open, and each gift is wrapped in Byredo tissue paper.
This is the calendar for fragrance aficionados. Byredo is all about luxury fragrance, and within this calendar, all their iconic scents — Gypsy Water, Mojave Ghost, Bal d’Afrique, Blanche and Rose of No Man’s Land — are represented, with the opportunity to sniff others such as Summer Rain, Treehouse and Bibliotheque.
Antonia appreciates the little extras that really make it feel special – ‘the perfume keyring and leather travel case are beautifully made and useful beyond December, while the wooden hairbrush and pocket mirror are the kind of objects you’ll want to display in your bedroom.’
Any downsides? If you want to check out new skincare or update your makeup bag, look elsewhere. Yes, there are a couple of lipsticks, but Antonia would’ve loved to have seen the colourful Vesuvio eyeshadow palette included instead. Claire also points out that, even with the accessories, you’re not getting the value add that many calendars offer, although if you’re spending £650 on an advent calendar, maybe you don’t care.
…And don’t miss the YOU Beauty Advent Calendar worth over £635 – on sale now for £115
For just £115, the YOU calendar is packed with covetable brands we really rate, including newcomers Sunday Riley, Lisa Eldridge and Vieve. It’s a challenge to pick out favourites, but Lisa Eldridge Kitten Lash Mascara is best in class, Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat Lip Liner is a make-up classic, and Jo Loves Plum Pudding Votive Candle is a surefire hit of happiness.
Shop the You Magazine beauty advent calendar before it sells out. And there’s more. Buy your calendar before 18 October, and you’ll be entered into a draw to win one of 27 prizes.