It’s officially beauty advent calendar season and 2023’s offering is something special indeed. As we’re sure you’re well aware, in the world of beauty, we’re always looking ahead, so we’re already excited for the ultimate countdown—the Christmas advent. Soon enough, we’ll be seeing Christmas adverts on the TV and lights going up along high streets across the UK. Yes, it’s early, but we think you’ll forgive us for getting ahead of ourselves once we reveal the subject at hand. Beauty advent calendars have grown in popularity over the last few years, and for many brands, including Liberty, Net-a-Porter and Cult Beauty, the beauty advent calendar has become one of their most in-demand launches.
In fact, beauty advent calendars have proved so popular over the years that you’ve got to be quick if you want to get your first choice. Our inboxes started to fill way back in July with imagery and press releases from some of our favourite brands, each message pertaining to their beauty advent calendars. Considering now is about the time people actually start thinking about Christmas, we decided to make it easier for you to find the best beauty advent calendars by listing them all in one place. We’ve laid everything out, from prices to products, so keep scrolling to discover and shop (providing you’re quick enough) the best beauty advent calendars this year has to offer. But first, let’s answer a few of your burning beauty advent calendar questions…
The demand for beauty advent calendars has skyrocketed in recent years, which has tempted many a brand into creating a beauty advent calendar of their own. Some of the most popular include Liberty, Net-a-Porter, Harvey Nichols, Look Fantastic, Marks & Spencer, Charlotte Tilbury, Jo Malone London and Cult Beauty, to name but a few.
Some beauty brands start as early as September (and with some waiting lists opening in August) but by mid October most brands have released their beauty advent calendars. Right now, almost all of our favourites have waiting lists open or are availble to order now. Certain calendars sell-out quickly, including Liberty, Charlotte Tilbury and Cult Beauty so don’t wait if you get your hands on the one you want.
We’ve found a wide selection of beauty calendars that cover all your make-up, skincare and self-care needs! Net-a-Porter’s beauty advent calendar offers luxe skincare from Dr Barbara Sturm and Augustinus Bader whilst Jo Malone, Liberty and Diptyque offer up a selection of makeup, fragrance and candles. Dedicated brands feature their very best products, whilst e-tailors like Net-a-porter and Look Fantastic let you try a variety of brands during your countdown to Christmas.
Behind the doors of Liberty’s 2023 beauty advent calendar, you’ll find a selection of some of the most sought-after products from its iconic beauty hall worth over £1040. Among them is an array of cult favourites from the likes of Augustinus Bader, 111Skin, Dr Barbara Sturm, Sunday Riley, and Byredo to name but a few. Plus, 20 of the 29 products inside are full sized. This is a beauty advent calendar with serious clout in the industry. Every single beauty editor wants one. Mark your diaries, because Liberty Beauty Drop members have exclusive pre-order access between the 1st August and 10th September, before the main launch on the 27th September.
Net-a-Porter has switched up its advent calendar offering for 2023 with this very chic lantern, which is brimming with ultra-luxe beauty, jewellery and accessories that will make the countdown to Christmas all the more magical. Inside are 15 full-size and miniature surprises, which are packaged in a lantern-shaped box illuminated with LED lights, so you can keep it as a decorative lamp long after the festive season. It’s worth over £1,300, with beauty brands such as Augustinus Bader, Dr Barbara Sturm and Pat McGrath. Plus, there are some jewellery surprises too, including Lié Studio’s sterling silver ‘Classic Oval’ earrings, which will see you through party season and beyond. This one is launching in early October, so keep your eyes peeled.
Did someone say luxury? Jo Malone’s beauty advent calendar is one of the most coveted, and 2023’s take definitely won’t disappoint fragrance fanatics who have previously invested in the brand’s iconic calendar. This year’s has a gingerbread design weaved into the brand’s iconic cream and black packaging, and is so stylish you’ll want to leave it on show well into next year. It features colognes, candles, soaps, creams and even a full size 30ml fragrance, plus seasonal scents you’ll only find at this time of the year. This one is available from the 29th September.
December can be a hectic month, so you totally deserve this advent calendar from Templespa, which contains £520 worth of products to help you take some time out for self-care in the lead-up to Christmas. There are 24 skincare and body care treats housed inside the beautiful box, as well as 13 full-sized products and four limited edition surprises.
Fortnum & Masons’ advent calendars exude luxury, and 2023’s offering is no exception. Worth over £1020, you’ll find 30 luxe surprises nestled amongst the blue drawers, including a whopping 22 full-sized products from brands such as Aqua di Parma, Aromatherapy Associates and Le Bouche Rouge. The calendar itself makes a beautiful keepsake to re-use year after year.
Elemis is a favourite among beauty editors, and you’ll be sure to find many cult products behind the 25 doors, including results-driven serums and cleansers in travel sizes, and a very special full-sized surprise on Christmas day, which is worth £94 on its own.
Lookfantastic’s beauty advent calendar has sold out for several years in a row, so you’ll definitely want to add your name to the pre-order list. It features products across makeup and hair, but we think the skincare offering is particularly special, with pieces from the likes of Elemis, Eve Lom and Medik8 inside.
It’s official – Harvey Nichols has released it’s first ever beauty advent calendar, and they did not hold back. The twenty-five day countdown is filled to the brim with cult products galore worth over £1,200. When you consider the calendar is only £250, that’s a pretty good deal. What’s more, 1 in 10 calendar hold a £50 Harvey Nichols gift card to keep the festivities going long after christmas day.
The edit of products in this beauty advent calendar couldn’t be more up our street. Containing some of our favourite products ever, including Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream, Olaplex No.3 Hair Serum and Dr Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum, it’s a beauty lover’s dream.
Is it an extravagant splurge? Absolutely. However, this one from Diptyque is guaranteed to keep your fragrance needs met for a really long time. Containing a selection of 25 candles, perfumes and body products, there isn’t a single product in here that you won’t use up in its entirety. This year, the calendar features three limited-edition Christmas scents: Sapin, Neige and Étincelles.
Susanne Kaufmann is nothing if not elegantly classic, and, that’s exactly what we thought when we saw the brand’s 2022 beauty advent calendar. Available now, it contains a variety of award-winning skincare alongside body and bath products. Expect to find cult classic like the Eye Rescue Stick and Enzyme Exfoliator as well as new favourites.
Worth over £1000, Cult Beauty’s advent calendar is a hard one to match. If you manage to get your hands on one this year, consider yourself lucky—the brand’s beauty advent calendars have been known to sell out in under two hours.
Consistently one of the most in-demand beauty advent calendars, John Lewis & Partners’ option lives up to our (extremely high) expectations. It has products from Charlotte Tilbury, Givenchy, Laura Mercier, Votary, Elemis, and Bobbie Brown, so opening each drawer is set to be a luxurious experience. These beauty treats are housed in a fully recyclable box with reversible drawers you can upcycle or re-use next year!
With Sephora launching online in the UK, with stores opening next year, we couldn’t not include this years advent calendar. Worth over £711, this really is the gift that keeps on giving. True to it’s reputation, Sephora brings the best of cult brands including Huda Beauty, Augustinus Bader, Elemis, Floral Street, KVD Beauty and so much more. Our advice? Run, don’t walk.
We can always count on our favourite makeup artist to turn our beauty dreams into a reality. Charlotte Tilbury’s beauty advent calendar contains every hero item from the expansive collection, including a tub of the best-selling Charlotte’s Magic Cream and the iconic Pillow Talk lipstick and liner. We need it.
Our favourite boutique, Space NK, has outdone itself with its beauty advent calendar. It’s a beauty journey through some of the brand’s favourite products. It’s worth over £770, and you can expect to find goodies from top brands like Paula’s Choice, La Mer, Olaplex, Sunday Riley, Charlotte Tilbury and so much more.
Flannels has released its first-ever beauty calendar and definitely hasn’t held back. Behind each of the 25 doors hides an iconic beauty product from the most well-known brands around. What’s more, 18 of those are full-sized products—which is almost unheard of. Totalling over £800 in product, for just £235, this is definitely a contender for our Christmas countdown.
Dr. Barbara Sturm’s skincare line is one of the highest-performing we’ve ever tried and boasts an incredibly impressive A-list fan base. While this beauty advent calendar might have a higher price point, we think it’s the perfect way to try out some of the brand’s cult products, allowing you to hone in on the items you genuinely love afterwards.
Possibly the most beautiful advent calendar of the lot, Dior’s offering two years ago was created in collaboration with artist Alice Shirley for a truly luxurious experience—and it’s still available this year. Behind each of the 24 windows, you’ll find a Dior beauty surprise, including a mix of the brand’s beloved fragrances, bath and body products, skincare and makeup. We’ve got our eyes on the best-selling Lip Glow and the petite bottle of Miss Dior. Christmas just got a whole lot chicer.
House of Fraser’s beauty advent calendar allows you to countdown to Christmas with all your favourite beauty brands. Worth over £400, you’ll find offerings from iconic brands such as Charlotte Tilbury, MAC, Shiseido and so much more. This advent calendar has everything you need to get ready for festive parties – from delectable Acqua di Parma shower gel to high impact mascara and of course, eye makeup remover for the end of the night.
MAC fans, rejoice—the advent calendar is back. Worth over £400, the MAC advent calendar might be the biggest money saver. Each day, you’ll find another MAC favourite, including the new MACStack mascara, luxe Powder Kiss lipstick and many more surprises.
With its iconic yellow branding serving as its chic exterior, Acqua di Parma’s beauty advent calendar is an absolute must for anyone who considers themselves to be a fragrance fan. Inside, you’ll find products from across Acqua di Parma’s scent collections by way of candles, body creams and, of course, perfumes.
Ciaté was one of the first brands to really embrace the beauty advent-calendar movement, and this year’s offering rightly deserves a place on our edit of the best. In celebration of 10 years of ‘mani magic’ this year’s calendar may be the best yet. Featuring 23 mini plant-based polishes in never seen before colours, plus a special Christmas Eve treat that is a tantalising secret.
Rituals’ first premium advent calendar includes a mix of travel- and full-size products. Though we all love a chocolate advent calendar, we think the relaxing and rejuvenating offerings from Rituals are just as sumptuous. The unisex product selection allows it to be a great gift for all.
Bursting with essentials from one of our all-time favourite skincare brands, Elemis’s advent calendar includes some long-time icons as well as some new products from the label’s impressive new line-up. It’s available exclusively on the Elemis website, and the fact that it contains a full-sized portion of Pro-Collagen Marine Cream is reason enough to invest in this offering. Its contents are worth £421, and it’s available now, so grab it while you can.
If you ask us, we’d say this is one hell of a good deal. You get nine full-size favourites including a 30-millilitre of the iconic Dramatically Different Moisturising Lotion+. Worth over £381, Clinique fans will really appreciate this calendar.
If like so many others, you’re loyal to Benefit’s beauty products, then this is the beauty advent calendar for you. It contains an edit of the brand’s must-have buys from over the years, and our favourites include the best-selling They’re Real mascara and Gimme Brow+.
L’Occitane has decided to go big before going home, with three, yes, three advent calendars to choose between. The Classic, the Reusable and the Premium all offer a wide selection of the of the brand’s products. Snap up the Classic for £55 to enjoy over £100 worth of Provençal goodies.
ASOS’s beauty advent calendar is impressive to say the least. Highlights include cult products from Olaplex, MAC, Charlotte Tilbury and Rituals.
This is the fifth year that Glossybox has gotten in on the beauty advent calendar action, and we were certainly excited to see what it has in store. Made up of cult products from the likes of REFY, Glossier, Rituals, P Louise and Milk, it contains something for everyone. Not bad considering it has a total worth of £443.
Available online now and in exclusive stores, The Body Shop’s beauty advent calendar is back this year, and it’s better than ever. In fact, The Body Shop has multiple advent calendars to choose from, each of which is inspired by its Community Fair Trade partners, from India to Northern Ghana. Each day reveals another beauty treat to ensure you’re buffed and polished by Christmas Eve.
Housed in a chic red vegan leather vanity case, this advent calendar contains 10 deluxe travel sized products of the brands hero products, plus a compact mirror, scrunch and a rose quartz facial massaging tool. From cleansers to serums and masks, it has everything you need to kickstart a great skincare routine.
Inside the River Island Beauty Advent Calendar you’ll find £290 worth of beauty goodies for just £79. Whether you’re looking for a new blush palette, fresh gel nails, an illuminating fake tan spray or a magic Eyeko mascara, it has everything a beauty lover needs/wants/deserves for the festive run-up.
The perfect pre-Christmas gift for French skincare lovers far and wide, the Clarins calendar contains 12 cult Clarins products. Each day, the website will show you how to use your new product.
Coming soon, the Anthropologie beauty advent calendar offers up the best of the brand’s beauty section. From nail polishes to eye masks, this countdown will have you preened and prepped for Christmas.
The highly covetable White Company beauty advent calendar is back for another year. Countdown in festive spirit with 25 days of best-selling scents, wellness pick-me-ups and two full-size candles. We think this one will sell out quickly.
Usually, we’re reluctant to recommend single-brand makeup calendars, as it can be challenging to find one that contains products you will actually find yourself using regularly. However, this one from By Terry is an exception to the rule. Not only are all of the products perfect for everyday use, but it is also the perfect way to try out all of By Terry’s cult buys before you splurge on the full-size product. We challenge anybody to not fall in love with this one.
Give the gift of gorgeous skin by bestowing someone truly special (be it yourself or someone else) with Decléor’s beauty advent calendar. The delightful contents span the French brand’s face, body and bath ranges. It’s the ultimate treat for any skincare obsessive.
With an impressive and ever-expanding makeup, skincare and haircare offering, Next’s beauty calendar is easily one of the year’s most-anticipated after its sell-out success the year prior. With hero products from Elemis, By Terry, Neom, ESPA, MAC, Estee Lauder, this calendar is guaranteed to please anyone lucky enough to get their hands on it.
Available now, the Kiehl’s beauty advent calendar features 24 customer favourites, including Creme de Corps, Midnight Recovery Cloud Cream and the cult-favourite Ultra Facial Cream.
For 12 days you can indulge in Liz Earle gifting that’s sure to delight all your skincare needs. This beauty advent calendar lets you unwrap a selection of the well-loved brand’s best products.
Founded by the Pixiwoo sisters Sam and Nic Chapman, Real Techniques is known in the industry for its brushes. (Chances are your makeup bag already contains some of them.) Now, it’s time to up your application ante with the Real Techniques beauty advent calendar. Inside, there are 25 brilliant items, including miniature brushes, sponges, brush cleansing gel, tweezers, and just about every other beauty tool you can think of.
Back with its fifth advent calendar, Harrods almost has us in the mood to crack out the tinsel and start sipping on eggnog. It’s worth an incredible £1166, and you can expect to find brands like Charlotte Tilbury, Aromatherapy Associates, 111Skin, Dr. Barbara Sturm and more inside. This will sell out fast.
Buckle up for this one. If you want to buy this calendar outright, it will cost you £300 (which is probably about right considering the calibre of brands in there, including Aveda, Emma Hardie and Alpha-H). However, this little guy is all yours for just £40 when you spend £30 on clothing, home or beauty at M&S. This one usually sells like hotcakes and is widely considered to be the best beauty deal of the year.
If skincare is your thing, then look no further than ESPA’s epic derma-focused beauty advent calendar. Every day will feel like a spa day with this collection of potent, holistic treats.
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