Christmas is fast approaching, so now is the time to start thinking about the best beauty advent calendars. There is a lot to get excited about – Liberty’s beauty advent calendar offers a stellar lineup of products, and Sephora’s calendar is perfect for anyone looking to explore up-and-coming beauty brands. For something affordable yet still luxe, turn to Next. But equally as impressive are the Christmas countdowns from M&S and Boots.
I’m a beauty advent calendar expert, and each year the team and I decide which ones are worth your money. They’re a brilliant way to try out new brands and products, and I’ve spotted everything from trending skincare and viral make-up, to haircare innovations and a library of fragrance in 2025’s line-up.
I got hands-on with each of the beauty advent calendars as they launched. Keep scrolling for my top picks.
The best beauty advent calendars for 2025 are:
Looking for more of the best calendars? Explore our guide to the best men’s advent calendars for 2025 from grooming to socks, tried and tested
Sephora beauty advent calendar 2025
Best: Beauty advent calendar overall
Worth: £1,025
Number of days: 25
Number of products: 41 (24 full-size)
Advent calendar highlights: Merit Beauty flush balm cream blush, K18 astrolift volume spray, Laneige water bank cream moisturiser
Available: Now
Why we love it
- Most products of all calendars in 2025
- Great collection of trending products
- Great variety of make-up, skincare, fragrance and bodycare
Of all the calendars I tested in 2024, Sephora’s favourites calendar was my top pick and, after getting up close and personal with its 2025 offering, the 41-product Christmas countdown has earned my favour once more.
With one more product than last year and 24 full-sizes, this calendar is a must for modern beauty lovers, including plenty of young brands like Clomana, Tower 28 and Merit.
When I tested everything inside, I highlighted the Merit flush balm (£24, Sephora.co.uk) , telling readers how “I loved how creamy and smooth the pigment applied, with the colour giving my cheeks a flattering pop of colour without sticking to any dry patches.”
The price for this year’s Sephora advent calendar is £225, making it £26 more than last year’s – though it’s worth £25 more than 2024, which justifies the year-on-year price hike. It’s available to buy now, but I’m anticipating a stock decline imminently.
Read the full lowdown on the Sephora beauty advent calendar now
Buy now £225.00, Sephora.co.uk
Selfridges beauty advent calendar 2025
Best: Luxury beauty advent calendar
Worth: £1,136
Number of days: 25
Number of products: 37 (24 full-size)
Advent calendar highlights: Murad cellular hydration barrier repair mask, Lisa Eldridge enhance and define lip pencil, Gisou honey infused hair oil, Jo Malone english freesia and pear cologne
Available: Now
Why we love it
- 35 products not in other advent calendars
- Impressive make-up offering
- Includes a gift card for a 45-minute concierge appointment
Take note
- Skincare line-up could be improved on
The Selfridges beauty advent calendar is here. Returning in its signature yellow box, the 2025 edition is worth an extra £42 than last year’s calendar, and all for the same £250 price. While it might have been nice to see some new accents on the packaging (the retailer has opted for the same pink and gold embellishments), the contents are the star of this calendar, with fan-favourite brands like Elemis, Creed, Laneige and Fenty.
It’s exclusive, too – 35 of the 37 products are only found in this Selfridges calendar, and those lucky enough to get their hands on them will benefit from an additional two full-size products, bringing 2025’s total to 24. This calendar always flies off shelves, so those who are hopeful they’ll secure one should look to check out soon now that it’s launched.
Read the full Selfridges beauty advent calendar review
Buy now £250.00, Selfridges.com
Cult Beauty advent calendar 2025
Best: Beauty advent calendar for make-up
Worth: More than £1,100 in the classic and £1,200 in the limited-edition
Number of days: 25
Number of products: 34 in the classic curation (20 full-size) and 40 in the limited-edition curation (21 full-size)
Advent calendar highlights: Vieve skin nova, Gisou honey-infused lip oil, Kate Somerville exfolikate, Hourglass unlocked instant extensions mascara
Available: Now for the classic curation, the limited edition one is now sold out
Why we love it
- Lots of viral brands included
- Seven products on day 25
- IndyBest buys featured in product roster
Take note
- A few too many lip products
Cult Beauty’s advent calendar for 2025 is proving especially popular on social media, alongside frontrunners Space NK and Sephora.
Much like last year, the beauty retailer has two Christmas countdowns: classic and limited-edition ‘curations’, with the latter iteration now sold out for 2025. The brand also revealed that 16 of the items featured are new launches from the past year, including Elemis pro-collagen toning mist (£45, Cultbeauty.co.uk), Byoma’s phyto-mucin glow serum (£15, Spacenk.com) and Medik8’s C-tetra advanced serum (£69, Spacenk.com).
With contemporary lilac packaging by artist Quentin Jones, this year’s haul will set you back an additional £5 versus 2024’s offering. But you’ll also get an extra one or two full-size items, depending on the calendar you choose. It’s a little expensive, but the retailer says that the value of the goods in this year’s calendar is more than four and a half times the retail price. If they’re right, that’s excellent value for money, especially considering a £20 e-gift voucher comes as standard with your advent purchase.
Read the full Cult Beauty advent calendar review
Buy now £240.00, Cultbeauty.co.uk
Liberty beauty advent calendar 2025
Best: Beauty advent calendar packaging
Worth: £1,245
Number of days: 25
Number of products: 30 (20 full-size)
Advent calendar highlights: Zelens melatonin B12 overnight repair mask, Augustinus Bader the rich eye cream, Davines naturaltech nourishing shampoo
Available: Now
Why we love it
- Features single items worth more than £150
- £25 cheaper for beauty drop subscribers
- More than one product in certain drawers
Take note
- Excessive number of fragrances
True to form, the Liberty beauty advent calendar features a design centred around its Regent Street store – but this time with ‘150’ motifs adorning the front to celebrate the luxury department store’s 150th anniversary.
For 2025, the Liberty beauty advent calendar is worth £1,245, which is £45 more than last year’s and contains two more full-size products than 2024’s calendar. You’ll unbox 30 items across make-up, skincare, haircare and fragrance – 20 of which are full-size.
Having unboxed the contents of the snow-capped advent, this year’s offering presents an enviable mix of brands, both classic and buzzy.
Lisa Eldridge’s seamless glide eye pencil in ground coffee (£24, Liberty.com) is sure to spark excitement, and the full-size version of La Mer’s the lip balm (£65, Liberty.com) will likely prove popular, thanks to the inclusion of anti-ageing algae extract and soothing aloe.
Read the full Liberty beauty advent calendar review
Buy now £275.00, Libertylondon.com
Harvey Nichols beauty advent calendar 2025
Best: Beauty advent calendar for variety
Worth: More than £1000
Number of days: 25
Number of products: 37 (20 full-size)
Advent calendar highlights: Color Wow colour security shampoo and conditioner, Le Labo eucalyptus 20 eau de parfum, Otis Batterbee eyelash curler, Charlotte Tilbury airbrush flawless lip blur
Available: Now
Why we love it
- Includes products with more permanence, like brushes and an eyelash curler
- Good selection of skincare actives
- Great introduction to boutique fragrance
Take note
- Could do with a few more make-up products
Harvey Nichols is up there with the best of the bunch, and 2025’s product roster is full to the brim with trending and timeless brands alike. After 25 days of unboxing, you’ll be set for healthy locks, glowing skin and glam to rival the runway.
While Patchology’s hydro-gel mask taps into social media’s obsession with overnight skincare, La Mer’s renewal oil is sure to bring a smile to the anti-ageing aficionado in your life – especially at £120 for the 15ml included (Harveynichols.com).
Make sure to grab yours soon if Harvey Nichols is top of your wishlist – it’s top of plenty of others’, too.
Read the full Harvey Nichols advent calendar review
Buy now £250.00, Harveynichols.com
Space NK fragrance advent calendar 2025
Best: Fragrance advent calendar for cult brands
Worth: £558
Number of days: 12
Number of products: 14
Advent calendar highlights: Killian Paris angels' share eau de parfum, Juliette has a gun not a perfume eau de parfum, Diptque mimosa scented candle
Available: Now
Why we love it
- Includes a candle as well as perfume
- Fan-favourite scents from each included brand
- Mixture of sweet, fresh, fruity, spiced and floral fragrances
Take note
- A full-size from one of the more cult brands would have been nice
If you missed out on the Harrods and Lookfantastic scent-filled advent calendars, then you’re in luck because Space NK’s perfume advent calendar launched a week ago. It boasts scents from the likes of Killian, Byredo and Glossier. Amazingly, it’s worth more than three times what you’ll pay. This is a must for those looking to discover new scents. Make sure you don’t miss out while it’s still in stock.
Buy now £160.00, Spacenk.com
Fortnum and Mason beauty advent calendar 2025
Best: Beauty advent calendar for niche brands
Worth: £1,149
Number of days: 25
Number of products: 26 (23 full-size)
Advent calendar highlights: Jo Malone London english pear and freesia hand cream, Charlotte Posner glam squad wash bag, Bamford B balanced body gel
Available: Now
Why we love it
- Gorgeous packaging
- Heaps of products not included in competitor offerings
- Only three travel-size items throughout, rest are full-size
Take note
- Not as many cult brands
As a company with not one but two Royal Warrants, Fortnum and Mason’s beauty advent calendar for 2025 is a league above luxury, with inclusions from some of the finest British beauty brands, including Clive Christian, Aromatherapy Associates and Olverum. There are also products from outside the UK, including Sol de Janeiro’s bum bum cream (£21, Fortnumandmason.com), which brings a touch of Brazilian-inspired nourishment on day eight.
In total, the contents are worth more than four times the calendar’s £265 cost, and that doesn’t even factor in the extravagant packaging, complete with poinsettias, holly and drawers in Fortnum’s iconic aqua. Fortnum’s calendar is available to shop now so secure your 25 days of royal decadence and enjoy luxe cleansers, moisturisers and more this December.
Buy now £265.00, Fortnumandmason.com
John Lewis beauty advent calendar 2025
Best: Beauty advent calendar for skincare
Worth: £1,000+
Number of days: 25
Number of products: 36 (23 full-size)
Advent calendar highlights: Le Labo thé noir 29 eau de parfum, Medik8 advanced night restore, Clinique all about eyes rich
Available: Now
Why we love it
- Even mix of products in every beauty category
- Features a red lip for party season
- Doesn't skip on bodycare, unlike competitors
Take note
- Three eye creams seems excessive
I’d recommend John Lewis’s beauty advent calendar for those with a mature complexion. Combining firming moisturisers, rejuvenating night creams and brightening eye formulas, the contents span brands both classic and of-the-moment – think, Elemis and Laneige.
It’s around £40 cheaper than the other high-end department store offerings (Selfridges, Liberty, Harrods), so the John Lewis beauty advent calendar is competitively priced with an estimated value of more than £1,000.
It’s no surprise that select inclusions feel particularly lavish, including Chantecaille’s faux cils mascara (£68, Johnlewis.com) and Killian’s love don’t be shy eau de parfum (£46 for 7.5ml, Spacenk.com). I’d argue that John Lewis’s beauty advent calendar for 2025 is its most indulgent yet and when mature skin expert Sabine Wiesel dove into its contents, she praised the skincare line-up and reported that “[it’s] made for targeting signs of ageing.”
So if you’ve overlooked it previously in a bid to secure more luxurious brands, this year’s haul demands your attention.
Read the full John Lewis beauty advent calendar review
Buy now £235.00, Johnlewis.com
Lookfantastic advent calendar 2025
Best: Affordable beauty advent calendar
Worth: £605
Number of days: 25
Number of products: 28 (17 full-size)
Advent calendar highlights: The White Company Seychelles candle, Mac lip pencil in spice, L'Occitane shea hand cream
Available: Now
Why we love it
- More full-size products than any Lookfantastic calendar previously
- Skincare line-up left our tester's skin soft and smooth after using
- Big name brands and popular products within
Take note
- Make-up roster is relatively low value
Lookfantastic’s beauty advent calendars are always some of the best value options on the market, and, for 2025, the brand introduced a third offering: a fragrance calendar (£130, Lookfantastic.com) to join its usual beauty (£105, Lookfantastic.com) and grooming (£85, Lookfantastic.com) iterations. IndyBest’s grooming expert Samuel Mathewson will be overseeing the latter calendar in his guide to the best men’s advent calendars. As for fragrance calendar hopefuls, unfortunately, the new scenting countdown sold out just 48 hours after pre-orders launched. And it’s no surprise with fragrances from The White Company and Jo Malone on its product roster.
With Lookfantastic’s vast offering of brands on-site, I wasn’t shocked to see best-selling products from Sol de Janeiro, Color Wow, and Laneige all included in the main beauty advent calendar. Specifically, those taking the calendar home can look forward to no less than four brass-style make-up brushes from Spectrum (these aren’t for sale, but are expected to be worth £20 approx.) and a full size of Medik8’s Hydr8 B5 intense serum (£59, Lookfantastic.com).
Given their affordability, these calendars sell out fast and, if the fragrance calendar is anything to go by, you’ll want to get your order in pronto.
Read the full Lookfantastic beauty advent calendar review
Buy now £105.00, Lookfantastic.com
Next beauty advent calendars 2025
Best: Beauty advent calendar for big brands
Worth: £385 for the 25 days of beauty calendar and £779 for the luxury edition
Number of days: Both 25
Number of products: 27 for the 25 days of beauty calendar and 26 for the luxury one
Advent calendar highlights: Noble Isle rhubarb shower gel, Murad retinol youth renewal eye serum, Benefit bad gal bang mascara
Available: Now
Why we love it
- Luxe edition was my favourite of the mid-range calendars
- Features brands not included in the competitor calendars, e.g. The Flat Lay Co.
- Good selection of anti-ageing formulas, specifically in luxe edition
Take note
- Packaging isn't suitable for reuse in future years
Next’s Christmas countdowns are not to be overlooked. This year, its beauty advent calendar (£95, Next.com) and luxury advent calendar (£185, Next.com) are both sights to behold. While the former is worth more than four times its cost at £385, the latter is valued in excess of £750, so there’s plenty of savings to be had.
Competing with Boots and Asos, the cheaper iteration features a great selection of brands, many of which I’ve yet to see included in offerings from other retailers. Specifically, Hello Sunday, The Flat Lay Co. and Bondi Sands.
Meanwhile, the luxury collection is perhaps my top choice for buyers looking for high-end products without the excessively opulent inclusions. That means no La Mer, no Creed and no Chantecaille. But it also means full sizes from Murad, Laura Mercier, Clinique and Mac.
Read the full lowdown on the Next beauty advent calendars
Buy now £95.00, Next.co.uk
Boots beauty advent calendars 2025
Best: Mid-range beauty advent calendar
Worth: £600 for beauty stars and £285 for days of skin
Number of days: Both 24
Number of products: Both 24
Advent calendar highlights: Drunk Elephant protini polypeptide cream, Anua PDRN hyaluronic acid capsule serum, Laneige lip glowy balm
Available: Now
Why we love it
- Products and brands to suit all ages
- Multiple cult products
- Stellar selection of lip products
Take note
- Sparse on the fragrance front
As if one calendar wasn’t enough, Boots is heading into Christmas 2025 with two beauty advent calendars, the 24 beauty stars luxury advent calendar (£150, Boots.com) and the 24 days of skin advent calendar (£70, Boots.com).
If you’re sick of fragrances that aren’t to your taste or simply don’t wear make-up, the 24 days of skin offering will be more to your liking. With a glut of Korean skincare from Anua, Round Lab and Haruharu Wonder, the brand has leaned into gentle formulas, making this an even better pick for all skin types. Plus, it’s worth more than four times its price at £285+, which is no surprise with a full-size £18 mist from Pixi (Boots.com) and a £36.50 vitamin C serum – again full size – from Lumene (Boots.com).
Meanwhile, the main calendar – the beauty stars iteration – is set to balance value for money with luxurious treats. It includes Nars, Sol de Janeiro and Elemis (yes, the cleansing balm to end all cleansing balms), and this time you’re looking at a whopping worth of £600. For buyers not in the price bracket for the likes of Harrods and Harvey Nichs, Boots offers a competitive alternative for around £100 less.
Read the full Boots beauty advent calendar review
Buy now £70.00, Boots.com
Harvey Nichols fragrance advent calendar 2025
Best: Fragrance advent calendar
Worth: £700+
Number of days: 12
Number of products: 20
Advent calendar highlights: Creed aventus, Malin + Goetz dark rum, Kilian roses on ice
Available: Now
Why we love it
- Includes ultra-luxe brands like Creed and Kilian
- One in 50 calendars includes a £50 gift card
Take note
- Some larger quantity bottles would be nice
Whether you’re one to layer perfumes or you fancy heading into 2026 smelling the best in the room, Harvey Nichols’s 12 days of fragrance calendar is sure to impress.
Scent enthusiasts will be excited – to say the least – to see ultra luxe inclusions from the likes of Parfums de Marly, Killian and even Creed, while those after something a little more distinctive will flock for the vial of Ex Nihilo (it’s definitely a brand to watch). The whole calendar is worth more than £700, but you’ll pay just £175, all while enjoying the same pink and red aesthetics as Harvey Nichols’s main offering.
Buy now £175.00, Harveynichols.com
The White Company beauty advent calendar 2025
Best: Beauty advent calendar for mums
Worth: £319+
Number of days: 25
Number of products: 25
Advent calendar highlights: The White Company winter signature candle, The White Company fireside mini votive candle, The White Company sleep bath shot
Available : Now
Why we love it
- Less travel sizes than previous years
- Mixture of seasonal and year-round fragrance collections
Take note
- Some design details on the drawers themselves would be appreciated
The White Company’s advent calendar is a must for the home proud among us. The brand has revealed very little about its Christmas countdown just yet. What I do know is that it will contain candles, room sprays, diffusers, body care and perfume in the brand’s signature scents, including Seychelles, winter and sea salt. The calendar is now live, so now’s your chance to grab a fresh selection of hand creams, shower gels and more, all in time for the festive season.
Buy now £195.00, Thewhitecompany.com
L'Occitane beauty advent calendar 2025
Best: Beauty advent calendar for body care
Worth: £276.50
Number of days: 24
Number of products: 24
Advent calendar highlights: L'Occitane almond shower oil, L'Occitane shea butter hand cream, L'Occitane fleur de cerisier (cherry blossom) eau de toilette, L'Occitane overnight reset serum
Available: Now
Why we love it
- Plenty of products from the best-selling amande range
- Townhouse packaging would slot nicely into Christmas decorations
Take note
- Would have liked to have seen some more full-sizes
If scent is top of your agenda when buying beauty then L’Occitane, with its heavenly lavender and citrus aromas, needs to be on your radar. For 2025, the French brand has packaged up its hand, hair, face and body haul in a typical Provencal-style townhouse. Though it’s not the most Christmassy wrapping, it’s certainly true to the brand and, as it happens, the contents are where this advent shines.
With all L’Occitane’s hero products, from the almond shower oil (£8, Loccitane.com) to the verbena shower gel (£6, Loccitane.com), the 24 items included will leave your skin clean and nourished as you step into 2026. There’s plenty of travel sizes here for all your hand luggage holidays, plus a selection of full-size products, including the brand’s ultimate best-seller: the shea butter hand cream (£25, Loccitane.com).
Much like The Body Shop above, the price-to-worth ratio isn’t quite as dramatic as the multi-brand retailers (see Selfridges, Liberty and the like), but a saving of more than £125 isn’t one to turn your nose up at, either. It’s available to shop now with free delivery.
Buy now £149.00, Loccitane.com
Asos beauty advent calendar 2025
Best: Beauty advent calendar for teen girls
Worth: £330
Days: 25
Number of products: 26 (15 full-size)
Advent calendar highlights: Laneige lip glowy balm, Laura Mercier translucent setting powder, Hair by Sam McKnight happy endings nourishing balm
Available: Now
Why we love it
- Strong selection for teenagers
- Affordable
- Good selection of bodycare
Take note
- Let down by the minute quantities
- Packaging is hard to navigate
Sitting alongside Boots as one of the most popular mid-range beauty advent calendars, Asos’ face + body advent calendar is a top pick for entry-level beauty enthusiasts. Be it teens or those just dipping their toes into the world of skincare, haircare and make-up for the first time, this calendar features a healthy mix of affordable, moderately priced and high-end cosmetics – so it’s not entirely out of the question that you might repurchase its contents post-December.
While it was exciting to see certain TikTok-famous brands featured – Clomana and Biodance, specifically – I might have liked to see some more 2025 newness in the formulas, such as exosome serums (a la The Inkey List) and boba moisturisers.
Worth £406, you’ll be getting more than four times what you pay in product value. The products are distributed equally across the various beauty categories. It’s certainly a contender in the sub-£100 market.
Read the full Asos beauty advent calendar review
Buy now £98.00, Asos.com
Cowshed beauty advent calendar 2025
Best: Beauty advent calendar for hand care
Worth: £483
Number of days: 24
Number of products: 24 plus a wicker basket
Advent calendar highlights: Cowshed restore hand cream, Cowshed relax bath and shower gel, Cowshed winter room candle
Available: Now
Why we love it
- Reusable hamper basket
- Plenty of full sizes
- Selection comes in perfect time to pamper guests at Christmastime
Take note
- Scrunchie and body mitt feel like throwaway inclusions
An extension of the Soho House brand, Cowshed is the embodiment of luxury country living and uses natural botanicals in all its products. This Christmas, the Cowshed 24 day advent calendar is wrapped up in a rustic wicker hamper and contains a selection of indulgent, relaxing and sleep-inducing products to help start and end your day right. It's worth a total £483, so you'll be saving 48 per cent, not to mention there's plenty of full size products here, too. After all, no one wants to display a miniature hand wash (ahem, The White Company) on their bathroom sink. A set of the refresh hand wash (£20, Cowshed.com) and hand cream (£22, Cowshed.com) bottles will do nicely.
Buy now £250.00, Cowshed.com
Fenwick beauty advent calendar 2025
Best: Beauty advent calendar for 40+
Worth: £1,000+
Number of days: 25
Number of products: 33 (12 full-size)
Advent calendar highlights: Laura Mercier translucent loose setting powder ultra blur, Shiseido vital perfection lifting and firming advanced cream, Charlotte Tilbury collagen lip bath
Available: Now
Why we love it
- Iconic beauty brands for longstanding cosmetics devotees
- Bold, sturdy packaging
- Rare to see a full-sized fragrance
Take note
- A few brands included are tired in 2025, e.g. The Organic Pharmacy
After closing its famous Bond Street doors last year, it might come as a surprise that Fenwick is bringing glitz and glamour once more in its 2025 beauty advent calendar. While the retailer is considerably smaller than Harrods, Selfridges and even Harvey Nichols, Fenwick’s beauty advent calendar shouldn’t be overlooked.
Costing £250 but worth more than £1,000, it includes a selection of beauty favourites from big-name brands, including Nars, Dermalogica, Malin + Goetz and Neal’s Yard.
Compared to Sephora and Space NK, I’d argue Fenwick’s offering skews slightly more mature, with a focus on anti-ageing creams, fine-line-friendly primers, and complex fragrances from Miller Harris, Carolina Herrera and more.
While the launch date hasn’t yet been revealed, the waitlist is live now, so join it for exclusive updates.
Buy now £250.00, Fenwick.co.uk
Lush beauty advent calendar 2025
Best: Beauty advent calendar for bath lovers
Worth: Not disclosed
Number of days: 25 for each
Number of products: 25 for each
Advent calendar highlights: Lush snow fairy bath bomb, Lush yog nog body lotion, Lush sticky dates shower gel, Lush super milk dusting powder
Available: Now
Why we love it
- Sustainable refill option for anyone who bought the calendar in previous years
- Return of well-loved Christmas ranges like snow fairy and yog nog
- Dazzling packaging
Take note
- Smell of the calendar can overwhelm your house
As usual, Lush is bringing a whole suite of advent calendars, including an advent refill for those who’ve kept their colourful packaging from years past.
This year, the selection includes the classic Lush advent calendar (£205, Lush.com), the brand’s high street advent calendar (£125, Lush.com) (which mimics the design of the original Lush shop) and, as mentioned, the refill calendar (£179, Lush.com). Long-time Lush enthusiasts will be thrilled to see the return of seasonal ranges like snow fairy and yog nog, along with all the typical festive bath bombs, from Father Christmas to the good old brussels sprout.
Buy now £125.00, Lush.com
Jo Malone London beauty advent calendar 2025
Best: Beauty advent calendar for scent
Worth: Traditionally, Jo Malone doesn't disclose this information, framing the bundle of goodies as 'priceless'
Number of days: 25
Number of products: 25
Advent calendar highlights: Jo Malone orange bitters cologne, Jo Malone wood sage and sea salt body and hand wash, Jo Malone pine and eucalyptus mini candle
Available: Now
Why we love it
- Stunning and distinctive packaging
- Scents to suit men and women
- Sees the return of long-standing favourites like blackberry & bay
Take note
- Expensive for number of minis
Jo Malone is a British fragrance institution, and I grow increasingly excited to see the brand’s advent offering with each passing year. Although it maintains its £360 price point from 2024, the 2025 calendar has shifted from its usual boxy offering to a unique, colourful dartboard design.
The contents are impressive as always; without giving away all the magic of Christmas, buyers can expect to see old favourites from the brand’s most popular ranges. Jo Malone’s signature scents, like lime, basil and mandarin, and blackberry and bay, will appear as candles, colognes, body creams, alongside some seasonal aromas to keep things fresh.
The brand notoriously keeps its calendar worth close to its chest, but, for context, one of the included 30ml colognes will set you back £56 by itself. If the Christmas season leaves you lusting after candles and luxury body care, consider Jo Malone’s advent calendar – if you can get your hands on it, that is.
Buy now £360.00, Jomalone.co.uk
Anthropologie beauty advent calendar 2025
Best: Beauty advent calendar for viral products
Worth: £365
Number of days: 24
Number of products: 24 (11 full-size)
Advent calendar highlights: UK Lash eyebrow serum, Natasha Denona rose cheek duo, Patchology kin remedy soothing eye gels single
Available: Now
Why we love it
- Good mix of brands both high-end and affordable
- Beautiful illustrated packaging
Take note
- 30ml hand wash seems impractical
Anthropologie’s 2025 beauty advent calendar is £20 more expensive than its 2024 iteration, but it features £365 worth of products (to last year’s £300). The design has pink, purple and forest green sketches on the front and is a great pick if you’re looking for something not so overtly festive.
In terms of what you can expect, while I don’t want to ruin all the Christmas fun, L’Occitane, Floral Street, Malin + Goetz and Wonderskin are all set to feature. On day 10 of the countdown, you’ll find a number of fragrance minis – while I don’t love sample sizes filling up an entire day, this will offer a good opportunity to try lots of different scents.
The calendar’s finally available to buy, so get your order in now if you’re desperate to get stuck in come 1 December.
Buy now £98.00, Anthropologie
Charlotte Tilbury beauty advent calendar 2025
Best: Beauty advent calendar for party season
Worth: £264
Number of days: 12
Number of products: 12 (5 full-size)
Advent calendar highlights: Charlotte Tilbury pillow talk beauty light wand, Charlotte Tilbury airbrush flawless setting spray, Charlotte Tilbury matte revolution lipstick in walk of no shame
Available: Now
Why we love it
- Five lip products
- Numerous cult favourites
Take note
- Skincare offering is a little stingy, remarked our tester
Fans of a nude lip, your time has come. That's right, the Charlotte Tilbury advent calendar is back and it's packed with bestsellers like the lip cheat pillow talk liners, the icon baby lipstick and more. When senior shopping writer Daisy Lester unboxed all the treats within, she was wowed at the "hall-of-fame formulas" included and praised the £80 total saving. Plus, if you use our exclusive code – INDY15 – readers of The Independent can save an extra 15 per cent, lowering the price to £148.75.
Read the full lowdown on the Charlotte Tilbury beauty advent calendar now
Buy now £175.00, Charlottetilbury.com
Clarins beauty advent calendars 2025
Best: Beauty advent calendar for glowing skin
Worth: £167 for the 12-day, £282 for the 24-day
Number of days: 12 and 24
Number of products: 12 and 24
Advent calendar highlights: Clarins lip comfort oil, Clarins beauty flash balm, Clarins lip perfector, Clarins hand and nail treatment cream
Available: Now
Why we love it
- Focuses on the brand's strong points: its skincare
- Top pick for mothers and grandmothers
Take note
- Packaging is uninspiring
Whether you’re in your late twenties or fifties, Clarins is a brand that spans the ages – and its 2025 beauty advent calendars are no exception. With the ever-popular lip comfort oil (£21.60, Clarins.com) appeasing the TikTok generation, plus the beauty flash balm (£30.40, Clarins.com) with more than 40 years of radiance-boosting history under its belt, there’s something for everyone in these calendars (and up to £127 up for grabs).
While the 12-day iteration makes an indulgent gift for the beauty lover in your life, the 24-day countdown brings a healthy mix of full-size and mini heroes for a glowing festive build-up. Think: smooth skin, voluminous lashes and bright, youthful-looking under eyes. Sign me up.
Buy now £155.00, Clarins.co.uk
Mac beauty advent calendar 2025
Best: Beauty advent calendar for lip products
Worth: £439
Number of days: 24
Number of products: 24 (19 full-size)
Advent calendar highlights: Mac lustreglass lipstick in syrup, Mac tinted lipglass in love child, Mac matte small eyeshadow in taupe
Available: Now
Why we love it
- Heaps of lip products
- Packaging can be repurposed as a dressing table caddy
Take note
- Skincare additions aren't heroes from the brand and a miniscule
A calendar that never fails to impress, Mac's '24 mystery must haves' advent is filled with high-quality make-up staples, plus enough skincare lotions and potions to ensure your complexion is moisturised, prepped and ready for the party season ahead. Naturally, as a brand whose name means 'make-up artist collection', the majority of full-size products (of which there are 19) fall under the make-up umbrella. Highlights include the Mac lip pencil in soar (£20, Maccosmetics.co.uk) and the best-selling Macstack mascara (£27, Maccosmetics.co.uk) – though, it might have been nice to see some of the brand's iconic brushes included here, too.
The calendar is worth more than twice what you'll pay at £439 – and the packaging is one of my favourites, with a rose gold and pastel wrap, plus a handy mirror for dressing table reuse beyond Christmas.
Buy now £195.00, Maccosmetics.co.uk
Benefit beauty advent calendar 2025
Best: Beauty advent calendar for brow products
Worth: £346
Number of days: 24
Number of products: 24 (five full-size)
Advent calendar highlights: Benefit 24-hour brow setter, Benefit benetint lip and cheek tint, Benefit hoola bronzer original
Available: Now
Why we love it
- Multiple best-sellers
- Quirky packaging
Take note
- Would've liked to see more variation between 2024 and 2025's offerings
Fans of a snatched brow, your time has come – the Benefit beauty advent calendar for 2025 has been announced. Called ‘the glam cube’, to includes a selection of 24 items, spanning eyes, lips, brows, skin and even hair. While there are only five full-size products here (including material items, such as make-up remover pads), it’s still worth more than double the retail cost – so there’s plenty of savings to be had.
Long-time Benefit enthusiasts will be happy to see the OGs out in full force, with the porefessional primer (£12, Benefitcosmetics.com), the they’re real mascara (£11.25, Benefitcosmetics.com) and the gimme brow tint (£10.15, Benefitcosmetics.com), to name a few.
While Rubik's Cube-inspired packaging is undeniably funky, I did enjoy the reusable nature of 2024’s basket casing. In fact, mine is still in use as bathroom storage.
Buy now £135.00, Benefitcosmetics.com
Liz Earle beauty advent calendars 2025
Best: Beauty advent calendar for cleansing
Worth: £505.10 for the 24 day and £200+ for the 12 day
Number of days: 24 and 12
Number of products: 24 (17 full-size) and 12 (five full-size), plus muslin cloths
Advent calendar highlights: Liz Earle cleanse and polish hot cloth cleanser, Liz Earle instant boost skin tonic, Liz Earle cleanse and glow transforming gel cleanser, Liz Earle bergamot and cardamom hand cream
Available: Now
Why we love it
- Perfectly placed for heavy make-up removal throughout party season
- Great value
Take note
- Repeat products across various scent ranges
Liz Earle is the queen of cleansing, so what better way to step into the festive party season than fresh-faced? The brand’s two beauty advent calendars – 12 days of Liz Earle (£79, Lizearle.com) and 24 days of Liz Earle (£175, Boots.com) – are a one-stop shop to revitalised and nourished skin, and both are worth more than double their cost.
The 24-day iteration boasts 17 full-size items, while the 12-day version features five. More importantly, both feature a full-size cleanse and polish hot cloth cleanser (£19, Boots.com), the brand’s hero formula.
Don’t hang about, who knows how long stocks will last.
Buy now £79.00, Boots.com
Elemis beauty advent calendar 2025
Best: Beauty advent calendar for dry skin
Worth: £690
Number of days: 25
Number of products: 26 (2 full size)
Advent calendar highlights: Elemis pro-collagen black cherry cleansing balm, Elemis exotic frangipani monoi shower cream, Elemis pro-collagen rose marine cream
Available: Now
Why we love it
- Multiples of the brand best-seller: the cleansing balm
- Sleek, snowflake packaging
- An anti-ageing powerlist
Take note
- I might have liked to have seen a full-size of the cleansing balm
If anti-ageing is the game then Elemis is the name because the British skincare brand has come through with some gems in its wonder advent calendar this year. For years, the brand has had mature skin types on tenterhooks with its fine line-minimising formulas and, now, its treating us to a whopping 14 products from its ever popular, pro-collagen anti-ageing range. Anyone taking the calendar home this December will be delighting in 26 products, including two full sizes and a nourishing selection of the brand's skincare and body care. Smooth, supple skin for 2026? Yes, please.
Buy now £225.00, Elemis.com
Molton Brown beauty advent calendar 2025
Best: Unisex beauty advent calendar
Worth: £332
Number of days: 24
Number of products: 24
Advent calendar highlights: Molton Brown fiery pink pepper bath and shower gel, Molton Brown mesmerising oudh accord and gold body lotion, Molton Brown re-charge Black pepper fragrance bauble
Available: Now
Why we love it
- Unisex variety of scents
- Ornate packaging
- Great for stocking up guest bathrooms
Take note
- Lacking some larger sizes
If you like to kick off your morning feeling zingy and shower fresh, then Molton Brown’s advent calendar will definitely be worth a gander. Worth £100 more than you’ll pay, the calendar features 24 products across 12 fan-favourite scents, including black pepper and coastal cypress and sea salt.
This calendar extends beyond the bathroom, too, with perfume, lip balm and a candle to set the mood. And it’s live now, so why not shop your bath and body upgrade today?
Buy now £230.00, Moltonbrown.co.uk
Glossybox beauty advent calendar 2025
Best: Beauty advent calendar for value
Worth: £624+
Number of days: 25
Number of products: 27
Advent calendar highlights: Natasha Denona cream blush, Emma Hardie moringa cleansing balm, Commodity milk expressive eau de parfum
Available: Now
Why we love it
- £15 discount for Glossybox subscribers
- Variety of young vs long-lasting brands
Take note
- Handful of throwaway products, e.g. make-up sponge shield
Glossybox is one of the best beauty subscription boxes, and its annual beauty advent calendar is just as good. This year, the brand selection is on point – think Medik8, Morphe and Natasha Denona. And at less than £100 (but worth more than £600), it’s one of the most affordable offerings.
Buy now £90.00, Glossybox.co.uk
Debenhams beauty advent calendar 2025
Best: Beauty advent calendar for mid-range make-up
Worth: £700+
Number of days: 25
Number of products: 37 (19 full-size)
Advent calendar highlights: MAC Cosmetics lustreglass lipstick in 'thanks it's Mac', Bare by Vogue liquid body illuminator, Spectrum foundation make-up brush
Available: Now
Why we love it
- Standout packaging
- Thoughtful inclusions for 2025, e.g. collagen supplements
Take note
- Some underwhelming brands given Debenhams' stellar on-site selection
If you're in the market for a calendar under £200 and the more affordable options don't hit the mark, you might find a happy middle ground in Debenhams' beauty advent calendar for 2025. It's worth more than £700, so its value is more than four times what you'll pay, and it's jam packed with beauty big-hitters. From Urban Decay's all nighter setting spray in its vitamin C variety (15ml included isn't available to buy, but 30ml is £13.20, Debenhams.com) to a full size of Benefit's 24 hour brow setter (£20.80, Debenhams.com), this calendar offers an even mix of mainstream and niche brands, with indie inclusions from Typebea and Dizziak to keep things exciting. Plus, the packaging is a gorgeous ode to all things beauty with its neon mix of festive motifs and cult cosmetics.
Buy now £150.00, Debenhams.com
Aesop beauty advent calendar 2025
Best: Beauty advent calendar for in-shower
Worth: Not disclosed
Number of days: 13, every other day in December
Number of products: 13
Advent calendar highlights: Aesop eleos aromatique hand balm, Aesop kagerou aromatique incense sticks and bronze holder, Aesop purifying exfoliant paste
Available: 4 November
Why we love it
- Includes incense holder and ceramic scent sculpture
- Best-selling resurrection and geranium leaf aromas included
Take note
- Odd-numbered day system is questionable
If you've ever been tempted by Aesop's luxury hand soap, then you'll want to prepare for the brand's latest seasonal launch: a 13-day advent filled with indulgent body care, fragrance and more. Interestingly, this calendar follows neither the 12 or 24-day model – instead you'll receive gifts on every odd-numbered day in December. The gifts include hand balms from the best-selling resurrection range, geranium body cleansers and more. As it's the brand's debut calendar, you'll want to set your alarms for launch day on 4 November.
Buy now £425.00, Aesop.co.uk
Your questions about beauty advent calendars answered
Are beauty advent calendars worth it?
The Independent’s consumer editor, Sabrina Sahota, says: “I see more brands coming out with beauty advent calendars every year, but value for money really varies. Some calendars are packed with full-size products, including cult favourites that justify the high price tags, while others are filled with minis that aren’t even big enough to be considered travel-sized. While these offer a chance to try new beauty products, some are more likely to be left languishing in a drawer until your next clear-out. If you’re going to splurge on a beauty calendar, make sure to check our reviews to see how much product you’re actually getting for your money. Also, consider sharing the goodies with family and friends, so they don’t go to waste.”
Are there any beauty advent calendar deals?
Typically, as 1 December looms, big brands begin to slash their prices in a bid to sell all stock, before the official Christmas countdown begins. However, The Independent has an exclusive discount for the Charlotte Tilbury beauty advent calendar, where readers can save 15 per cent with the code ‘INDY15’ right now. With so many advent calendars in rotation there are bound to be more deals on the horizon. Last year, our team rounded up the best deals from Boots, Mac and more – so be sure to check back as the colder months draw closer.
Why you can trust IndyBest reviews
IndyBest has been covering beauty advent calendars since their initial rise to popularity, with reviews spanning high-end brands, such as Fortnum and Mason, and more affordable options from retailers like M&S. Having reviewed beauty calendars from Asos, Selfridges and Mac in 2024, plus Harrods, Next and Sephora this year (with more to come) beauty writer Lucy Smith is heading up our 2025 guide to the best beauty advent calendars on the shelves this festive season. Owing to her expertise and knowledge, she can compare the calendars from previous years and help you decide whether they’re worth your money.
Which beauty advent calendars have sold out?
So far, only eight of 2025’s key beauty advent calendars have sold out. The Harrods fragrance and 12 days of hair and body advents were the first to go, selling out in record time back in August. In September, the Lookfantastic fragrance advent calendar sold out within a few days on launching and, by mid-October, the main Harrods beauty advent calendar and Space NK beauty advent had gone out of stock. The brands have told us these won't be restocked, but there are still plenty of fantastic options left to choose from.
No7’s pair of beauty advents have also sold out, but I’ve spotted some of the calendars at Boots coming back into stock – like Liz Earle – so watch this space. Likewise, Lancome’s beauty advent calendar is now unavailable, but you can still grab hold of it at certain retailers like Brown Thomas.
Which beauty advent calendars didn’t make the cut?
Not all of the available advent calendars in 2025 proved good enough to land a spot in this round-up. This came down to factors like value for money, the number of full-size versus mini products and the selection of brands or formulas included. Below, you’ll find a handful of the ones that didn’t hit the mark this year.
The Fragrance Shop fragrance advent calendar 2025: £150, Thefragranceshop.co.uk
As much as I liked the selection of brands in The Fragrance Shop’s calendar, £150 for 25 mini and travel-size fragrances seems steep. While I’d happily pay for a small atomiser of Issey Miyake’s sel perfume, a 4ml vial feels akin to the free samples you find at the back of a magazine. Unfortunately, its estimated value didn’t reflect the desirability of the contents on this occasion.
Sisley beauty advent calendar 2025: £640, Sisley-paris.com
I loved the painted design of Sisley’s advent calendar this year, and I can’t fault the quality of its premium French beauty products. However, if I’d paid in excess of £600 for a beauty advent calendar, I’d be disappointed to open its doors and find three skincare products at 5ml and five at 10ml. While I appreciate the ultra-luxe nature of the brand, I’d sooner pick out a selection of three full-size products than wrestle with these tiny tubes.
Pretty Little Thing beauty advent calendar 2025: £60, Prettylittlething.com
The risk with low-cost advent calendars is that the contents will skew more towards tat than objects of value, and that feels the case with Pretty Little Thing’s 2025 offering. Granted, you’d be pleased to open up a set of Spectrum make-up brushes and a Made by Mitchell blursh, but the remaining contents fall in line with the retailer’s fast fashion approach to sales. You’ll top up the cheapest items in your beauty roster, including cleansing cloths and eyelash glue, but do you need to?
Manicurist beauty advent calendar 2025: £139, Sephora.co.uk
In theory, a nail varnish advent calendar is a lovely idea, but Manicurist’s selection isn’t as exciting in practice. For starters, it doesn’t include the curing lamp, which presumes that anyone buying it already has one. If that’s the case, you’ll probably be doubling up on common colours – top coat and a classic red, for instance. I also thought the colour selection was uninspiring, and some butter yellows or chromes might have been more in-keeping with 2025 trends.
Holland & Barrett advent calendar 2025: £50, Hollandandbarrett.com
Admittedly, Holland & Barrett’s beauty advent calendar is now sold out, but I’m not sure that’s a reflection of its contents or the limited selection of natural beauty advents. The range of brands is appropriately exciting for £50, and the items from Fussy and Antipodes are worth looking forward to. Where it falls short is the variety of formulas. It features four face creams (two night creams), two deodorants, two cleansers, three vitamin C formulas and four with hyaluronic acid. Next year, I’d love to see fewer repeats and more of a start-to-finish skincare routine, SPF included.
Buying a calendar for him? Read our best men’s advent calendars
