With cooler weather and autumn leaves upon us, it’s almost time for Mariah Carey to defrost and tell us what she wants for Christmas. That means it’s also time to start thinking about beauty Advent calendars.
Our favourite brands and retailers have already released their 2025 calendars, many of which sell out long before the festive season is in full swing. In fact, the Space NK beauty Advent calendar, which was my top recommendation, sold out at the end of September.
Offering a selection of high-end cosmetics for less than their usual price, beauty Advent calendars have become a holy grail for the beauty obsessed. There are dozens to choose from at wildly different prices, some focusing on specific product types, and some filled with a mixture of bestsellers.
To help with choice paralysis, I’ve been trawling the shelves for calendars filled with cult favourites suitable for various skin types and preferences, narrowing down the 10 best beauty Advent calendars of the 2025 season.
While these Advent calendars can’t exactly be seen as a net positive for the environment, I also looked at their recyclability and for calendars with the broadest possible appeal, to avoid any wasted products.
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At a glance
Best beauty Advent calendar overall:
Cult Beauty the Classic Curation
Best value beauty Advent calendar:
Lookfantastic beauty Advent calendar
Best for bath lovers:
Lush refillable Advent calendar
Best for essential makeup and skincare:
Boots 24 Beauty Stars premium Advent calendar
Best for product range:
Next 25 days of beauty Advent calendar
Best entry-level calendar:
W7 Beauty Blast Advent calendar
Best skincare Advent calendar:
Elemis Wonders Advent calendar
Best for natural skincare:
Jurlique 24-day Advent calendar
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Why you should trust me
I make a living testing health and beauty products, from hair masks and hairdryers to body moisturisers and concealers. That means I’m more familiar with the best formulations than many beauty fanatics.
Testing hundreds of products means I’ve become an expert in all things skincare, hair care and makeup – the main contents of beauty Advent calendars. I also have a certification in cosmetic science, so I know how to identify the best products for specific skin and hair needs. As someone with sensitive skin, I also know which ingredients are likely to irritate, so I’ve only selected calendars where products are suitable for most people – so that nothing goes to waste.
How I tested
I judged each beauty Advent calendar on its product range, the broad usefulness of those products to most people, and the quality and sustainability of its packaging. I longlisted 26 of the most popular calendars from department stores and brands, narrowing down my options based on the contents of each calendar. I then shortlisted the 16 calendars with the best product range and value for money to test at home.
Getting hands on with each calendar gave me a better idea of how it is packaged and delivered, its quality and feel, and the merits and size of the products inside. From a sustainability perspective, I made sure every calendar in this roundup was made from, and delivered in, domestically recyclable or reusable packaging.
The goodies inside the calendars generally came in packaging that can be recycled at home, but all can otherwise be taken to one of many cosmetic recycling schemes, where pumps, sprays and bottles can be recycled properly. These include Space NK’s collaboration with Handle, and the Recycle at Boots scheme, which gets you extra points on your Advantage card for every empty you return.
Most Advent calendars are designed to have broad appeal, but I also assessed how useful each selection of products would be. For makeup, that meant looking for neutral, wearable shades, rather than wild fluorescent colours. For hair care, I looked for formulas that help condition and improve all hair, rather than a specific hair type. I also liked to see gentler skin care products that help with common skin concerns, such as dullness, hydration levels and barrier health, although I didn’t mind an occasional anti-ageing product or spot treatment as these also have a wide appeal.
Testing 16 Advent calendars left me with more cosmetics and products than I could ever feasibly use. In instances where I wouldn’t or couldn’t use something from inside the calendars, I donated samples to the Redbridge Reach Out domestic abuse service, where they could be given to women and young people seeking refuge. If you end up with products you won’t use, it’s always worth looking for a local beauty bank that will take donations or give items to friends and family.
Here are the 13 beauty Advent calendars that came out on top in my tests.
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The best beauty Advent calendars in 2025
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Best beauty Advent calendar overall:
Cult Beauty the Classic Curation
£240 at Cult Beauty
With my original pick of the Space NK calendar out of stock, my next best pick is this equally bumper-size offering from Cult Beauty. With 34 products inside 25 drawers, this calendar has skincare favourites to help repair stressed-out winter skin, as well as a few standout makeup products to add to your kit.
Why we love it
It’s beautiful to look at, and the recyclable packaging feels sturdy and luxurious. It comes with a solid selection of skincare that should help relieve dryness and plump up sensitive skin. That includes a Summer Fridays hydration mist, a Paula’s Choice barrier repair moisturiser and a Byoma Phyto-Mucin glow serum.
Those looking for more targeted skincare will find the Elemis Pro-Collagen toning mist, a Medik8 C-Tetra advanced serum, and the spot-fighting Oil La La serum from Krave. All are useful when a spot pops up, or when your skin needs brightening up after a night on the fizz.
For hair care you’ll find a scalp recovery serum from Philip Kingsley, a K18 Molecular Repair hair mask and Hair by Sam McKnight’s Love Me Do nourishing hair oil. Great for hair that’s been depleted by winter.
This calendar doesn’t scrimp on makeup, either. Inside, you’ll find a powder blush duo from Patrick Ta, a blush from Saie and a Charlotte Tilbury beauty light wand. There’s also a mini By Terry Hyaluronic Hydra Powder, a translucent powder I recently fell in love with – it sets my makeup in place without drying out my skin.
It’s a shame that … while most of the skincare in this calendar is good for sensitive and acne-prone skin, watch out for the Kate Somerville exfoliating mask – it’s highly potent, so it can cause irritation if you’re not careful.
Number of products: 34 (20 full size, 14 mini)
Overall value: about £1,100
Packaging: domestically recyclable
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Best value beauty Advent calendar:
Lookfantastic beauty Advent calendar
£105 at Lookfantastic
Many of the Advent calendars in this roundup justify their steep prices by including high numbers of full-size products, while the cheaper options tend to be mostly stocked with minis. The Lookfantastic calendar bucks this trend, offering 17 full-size products and 11 minis for less than half the price of the Cult Beauty calendar above.
Why we love it
Inside the drawers, you’ll find a balance of indulgent skincare, body care essentials, universally useful makeup, hair care and accessories. Highlights include a Medik8 Hydr8 B5 Intense serum, which gently hydrates and plumps winter-stressed skin, and the Ren Clean Skincare Radiance eye cream, which helps minimise the appearance of dark circles – perfect for mornings when you’ve burned the candle at both ends.
There is a 75ml Color Wow shampoo and conditioner set, as well as a mini hydrating, smoothing Wella hair mask that helps nourish stressed-out hair. Makeup-wise, there are three subtle pink-toned lip products from Mac, a full-size Revolution eyeshadow palette and a creamy Glow Hub blush stick. These shades are pigmented enough to work on all skin tones, and can be set in place using the full-size Iconic London Prep Set Blur setting spray.
Among these beauty goodies, you’ll find a Sol de Janeiro perfume mist and a White Company candle. I also love that you get two towelling wristbands, which I use to stop water dripping down my arms when I cleanse my face – essential in winter if you want to stop any wet sleeve-induced meltdowns.
It’s a shame that … much of the full-size skincare in this calendar is for improving hydration – you won’t find many targeted retinol or vitamin C products here. That said, most people can benefit from extra hydration in the colder months, so this isn’t a huge pitfall.
Number of products: 28 (17 full size, 11 mini)
Overall value: £655
Packaging: domestically recyclable
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Best for bath lovers:
Lush refillable Advent calendar
£205 at Lush
If your favourite part of the day is bath time, or you’re hoping to buy an Advent calendar the whole family can enjoy, this colourful option from Lush is my pick. Lush releases a few calendars each year, but this refillable chest is my recommendation: it’s perfect for storing your Lush products, and can be refilled for less money (and packaging) when the brand releases its 2026 calendar next year.
Why we love it
Lush is most known for its fun, freshly made bath bombs – this calendar comes with bombs and bubble bars. Some have sweet scents, others are spiced; all of them are vegan and cruelty-free. If you’re a Lush lover, you’ll have no trouble working your way through this haul.
You’ll also get four festive shower gels, two body lotions – including my longtime favourite festive Lush scent, Yog Nog – two soaps, a perfume and a lip scrub. For cosy festive evenings, there are also Lush socks and a Christmas Eve scented candle – no prizes for guessing which door that is hiding behind.
This year’s refillable calendar was designed in partnership with Artbox London, a charity that runs workshops for people with learning disabilities and neurodivergent artists. Artist Shruti Gadhvi, who designed this year’s box, took inspiration from the practice of meditation, positive affirmations and the flowers and colours she sees on her travels.
It’s a shame that … it’s quite expensive and it’s difficult to calculate the overall value since 10 items are exclusive.
Number of products: 25
Overall value: not stated
Packaging: refillable or domestically recyclable (bar the ribbon, which can be reused)
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Best for essential makeup and skincare:
Boots 24 Beauty Stars premium Advent calendar
£150 at Boots
Boots’ Advent calendar has a good range of full-size products from big-name brands, such as Drunk Elephant, Nars and Estée Lauder. It may not seem cheap at £150, but it’s filled with buzzy skincare products and makeup most beauty fanatics will want to try. The products inside are worth £612.50.
Why we love it
It really looks the part, with a circus-themed chest design that opens to reveal individually wrapped goodies for every day until Christmas Eve. Despite its substantial design, it’s still fully recyclable.
Highlights include a full-size viral Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide cream and an Estée Lauder cleansing gel. There’s also a mini-size Elemis cleansing balm – used together, these three make an effective, gentle evening skincare routine most people will love. You’ll also find crowd-pleaser fragrances from Sol de Janeiro and Floral Street.
But it’s the makeup that really makes this calendar standout. There are seven full-size makeup products inside: an Iconic London face powder palette, a Fenty liquid lipstick, a Too Faced shimmery lip oil, a Mac lip liner, a Laneige lip balm, Nars light reflecting hydrating primer and a Milk Makeup mini highlighter (the latter of which stretches the meaning of “full size” a little). There are also minis of the Benefit Hoola bronzer, Mac Velvet Teddy lipstick and Laura Mercier loose-setting powder. All staples that will make great additions to any makeup bag.
It’s a shame that … there are only two hair care products, so if this is what you’re after, opt for a different calendar.
Number of products: 25 (17 full size, 8 mini)
Overall value: £612.50
Packaging: domestically recyclable
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Best for product range:
Next 25 days of beauty Advent calendar
£95 at Next
In a world where many beauty Advent calendars cost hundreds of pounds, this more affordable calendar from Next is a breath of fresh air. Filled with 27 products, including hair care, skincare, nail care and makeup, it has a healthy dose of everything you need to upgrade your beauty routine.
Why we love it
Rather than filling its doors with basic cleansers and moisturisers, this calendar features targeted skincare, such as a This Works brightening vitamin C serum, a Hello Sunday dark spot oil serum and BeautyPro’s retinol eye masks. Perfect if you already have your skincare basics nailed down.
For makeup, the calendar offers a mini Benefit mascara, a full-sized Iconic London eyeshadow palette, a Pixi lip balm and a Delilah lip gloss. All of these are in neutral shades, so they should work with any skin tone and makeup collection.
I also love that this calendar doesn’t forget about your nails. Inside, you’ll get an Opi nail lacquer in Bubble Bath and a Nails Inc repairing cuticle oil. The Nuxe multi-purpose dry oil is a particular highlight for me, adding a healthy glow to skin and hair. Throw in a body scrub, candle, perfume and more, and you’ve got a pretty perfect offering for the price.
It’s a shame that … some of the skincare will be too niche. For example, if you don’t have dark spots, you’ll have little use for the dark spot oil serum. But the calendar has so much else to offer, it’s still a great buy.
Number of products: 27 (12 full size, 15 mini)
Overall value: £385
Packaging: domestically recyclable
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Best entry-level calendar:
W7 Beauty Blast Advent calendar
£19.95 at W7
£19.95 at Amazon
This Advent calendar from W7 is staggeringly cheap compared with the others here. Inside, you’ll find 24 boxes, each filled with bestsellers from the W7 range, including seven full-size products and 19 minis.
Why we love it
Good beauty Advent calendars are generally pricey, but the products included in the W7 Advent calendar can rival some of the best in the business.
All in, the product selection here is pretty useful for most people – I can’t see any makeup lovers struggling to include these in their routine. I particularly love the brand’s lip liners – you’ll get two in this calendar – and its H2O loose powder sets makeup without causing dryness. Also included is a mini Honolulu Sun Rays bronzer, famously similar to the Benefit Hoola bronzer. Another highlight is the Edgy mascara, which has a curved wand to help lift and curl the lashes as well as biotin, castor oil and vitamin B5 to condition the lashes.
The travel-size eyeshadows, primers, lip balms, eye creams and liquid blushes are perfect if you’re just starting out with makeup and want to try new formulations and styles without remortgaging your home. For the cost, this calendar is perfect for those hoping to try out new, budget-friendly products.
It’s a shame that … it’s mainly filled with travel minis, though this is perhaps expected given the price.
Number of products: 24 (7 full size, 17 mini)
Overall value: about £50
Packaging: domestically recyclable
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Best skincare Advent calendar:
Elemis Wonders Advent calendar
£225 at Elemis
High-end skincare is notoriously expensive, and Elemis is no different. But the brand’s annual Advent calendar is stocked full of 26 of its bestsellers, so you can try the range before adding something to your routine.
Why we love it
The selection in this calendar is a skincare fanatic’s dream, with a full-size Pro-Collagen Future Restore Serum worth £115 alone, and a Pro-Collagen Marine Cream worth £98. In these two products, the calendar almost pays for itself.
The Pro-Collagen collection is widely regarded as one of the best anti-ageing skincare lines out there. Its marine algae complex helps smooth fine lines and improve skin’s firmness and elasticity to reduce the appearance of the signs of ageing caused by declining levels of collagen. Alongside the two full-size products, the calendar also contains 13 minis from the Pro-collagen range.
These include various products from Elemis’s other lines, such as the Superfood Glow Priming moisturiser and Dynamic resurfacing facial wash. There are also a few body care products to use, such as a shower cream and a body balm. You could either use these yourself or sacrifice them to sticky-fingered members of your family to keep them away from the precious skincare.
It’s a shame that … there are only two full-size products included. The rest are travel size, so while this is perfect for testing new products, it doesn’t feel like as much of a saving as other calendars. Many of the products are focused on anti-ageing, which makes them unsuitable for teenagers and young adults.
Number of products: 26 2 full size, 24 mini)
Overall value: £698
Packaging: domestically recyclable
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Best for natural skincare:
Jurlique 24-day Advent calendar
£88 at Dorothy Perkins
£88 at Debenhams
Natural skincare has become a hot topic, with many preferring to harness the power of natural oils over complicated formulas. If that sounds like you, then you may want to try this Jurlique calendar.
Why we love it
Jurlique is a natural skincare brand that uses botanicals from its Australian farm in all its formulations. This calendar lets you trial the best the brand has to offer, from its rose face oil and hand cream to a hydrating cleanser and its herbal recovery serum. You’ll even find four mini-size products from the brand’s latest calendula range, which is designed to soothe and protect sensitive skin.
The packaging is another highlight. It’s recyclable, with the 24 products in a chest adorned with floral designs, inspired by the brand’s botanical roots. Each day’s gift is in a box that’s decorated with illustrations about the product inside, as well as a quick fact about Jurlique – a lovely, thoughtful touch I didn’t find on any other Advent calendar.
It’s a shame that … most of the products included are minis, and there are five oils included, which won’t work for everyone. However, if you’re a natural skincare enthusiast who wants to try lots of new products without spending a fortune, this is my choice.
Number of products: 24 (1 full size, 23 mini)
Overall value: £320
Packaging: fully recyclable
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The best of the rest
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Aldi Lacura beauty Advent calendar
£19.99 at Aldi (in store only)Best for: a small daily pick-me-up
Aldi is known for offering own-brand “dupes” of popular products at a dramatically lower price. There are more clever copycats inside the Lacura 12-day Advent calendar, even if they don’t quite rival the infamy of Cuthbert the Caterpillar.
Most notably, you’ll get a 25ml Lacura honey-extract-infused hair oil, which is the spitting image of the Gisou honey hair oil. I’m a big fan of the name-brand product and was pretty impressed by the Lacura oil’s smell and texture – it would fool me if I didn’t know any better.
For skincare, the calendar has a scalp and body sugar scrub. You may think this would be impossible to wash from your scalp, but the sugar base of the scrub dissolves in warm water, making it surprisingly easy. The calendar also features minis, including a rosy pink blush, highlighter and a tinted lip oil. Then, there’s a full-size black eyeliner and mascara. The moisturising primer and illuminating setting spray ensure makeup applies smoothly and stays put all day.
For the price, it’s an easy way to treat yourself for the 12 days of Christmas. You’ll just have to fight your way into Aldi from 26 October to pick one up before they sell out.
It didn’t make the final cut because … most of its products are minis, and it’s not as good value as the W7 calendar listed above. Furthermore, some of the doors are far less fun than others – I’d be less excited to receive a hair tie than a hair oil, for example. However, for the price, it’s hard to complain too much, as long as you can find one in store.
Number of products: 12; overall value: not stated; packaging: mainly card, with recyclable plastic inserts
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Rituals Classic Advent calendar
£103 at John Lewis £103 at LookfantasticBest for: body and hair care
Rituals is best known for its luxury scented body care, with a huge range of creams, scrubs, balms and oils. This calendar is designed to give you a taste of the best the brand has to offer. Inside, you’ll find 22 mini products, with a full-size hand balm and an exfoliating glove.
I particularly recommend the body lotion mousse, which sunk in fast and gave a brilliant dose of hydration in my recent body moisturiser tests. If that’s too lightweight for you, I also recommend the Ritual of Jing whipped body cream. The two 50ml foaming shower gels are also fantastic to use, and the hydrating shampoo and conditioner are perfect for travel. Thankfully, the mousse, shower gels and hair care products are all at least 50ml, so there’s a reasonable amount of product to try.
In the smaller minis, you’ll find a shimmery body oil, relaxing pillow spray and four votive-sized candles. There’s even a fabric softener in the bestselling Ritual of Sakura scent. That may sound strange, but I tried it in a recent load of laundry and was impressed by how well the scent stuck around. If you’re a fan of Rituals, you’ll be a fan of this.
It didn’t make the final cut because … its overall value isn’t a huge amount more than the calendar costs, and most of the products are minis. Its packaging also includes a big plastic insert, which protects the products but isn’t great for the environment.
Number of products: 24 (2 full size, 22 mini); overall value: £164.50; packaging: domestically recyclable, with a plastic insert
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Sentier Advent calendar
£99 at SentierBest for: fragrance lovers
This 12-day calendar (designed for the 12 days of Christmas, so not strictly Advent) from Sentier comes with a range of perfumes and candles to see you through the festive season. It’s beautifully designed and surprisingly well priced considering how long-lasting and potent the scents are.
Sentier describes the box it comes in as “meticulously crafted”. It’s certainly the most distinctive calendar of the lot, with doors and drawers opening in unexpected directions to reveal what’s inside.
In the box, you’ll get six 10ml alcohol-free scents in pretty glass bottles. In my experience, each scent was distinct, wearable and versatile enough to layer, making them perfect for popping in a handbag. You’ll also get six scented candles, each 60ml in size. I found that these wafted scent around my flat beautifully.
It didn’t make the final cut because … there’s a soft foam included in the bottom of each drawer, to keep the candle safe. This isn’t recyclable, despite the box being mainly made from card.
Number of products: 12; overall value: £516; packaging: not fully recyclable
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Bamford ultimate Advent calendar
£300 at BamfordBest for: self-care and wellbeing
If you’re into baths and self-care rituals but have more refined taste (and a higher budget) than Lush, this celestial-themed Advent calendar from Bamford is a more indulgent option. It comes with a whole host of Bamford favourites, including 13 full-size products and 11 minis to help you wind down during the hectic festive period.
In the full-size collection, you’ll find the brand’s bestselling perfume mist, two candles, body oil, bath oil and relaxing bath salts. In mini-size, you’ll find a range of body washes, lotions and hair care – less environmentally friendly perhaps, but handy to take on your travels over Christmas.
It didn’t make the final cut because … it’s very expensive. And its ratio of full-size to mini products could be better, considering the price.
Number of products: 24 (13 full size, 11 mini); overall value: about £600; packaging: domestically recyclable
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Diptyque Advent calendar
£399 at DiptyqueBest for: luxury fragrance
Diptyque is the first brand that comes to mind when I think of luxury fragrance, and its 2025 Advent calendar has a huge selection of its bestselling fragrances packed in. That’s both mini and full-size candles, seven different perfumes, a hand cream, an oil and soaps to make your festive season smell great.
It’s also one of the most beautiful designs I’ve tried out this year, with a book-shaped box that opens to reveal 25 smaller boxes adorned with book illustrations and the signature Diptyque cat. It will look great surrounded by Christmas decorations throughout December, though its good looks come at a luxury price point.
It didn’t make the final cut because … it’s expensive, with more reasonably priced competition, and there’s no indication of the calendar’s overall value. That said, perfume fans with deep pockets will love it.
Number of products: 25; overall value: not stated; packaging: about 90% recyclable; only one drawer has polystyrene in it
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What you need to know
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Are beauty Advent calendars worth it?
This depends. If your beauty routine is in need of a refresh and you want to try lots of new products, beauty Advent calendars allow you to do that for a reduced price.
Case in point: the Cult Beauty listed above has 34 products with a total value of £1,100. It costs £240, so in theory it saves you £860.
However, if you have a set beauty routine that works, then the mixed calendars might not be worth it. In this case, a scent-based or body-care Advent calendar may be more suitable as the products are less specific; a series of treats to enjoy rather than a whole new routine.
How much should you expect to spend?
Beauty Advent calendars can cost anything from £20 to £500 (or more), so there’s something to suit every budget. At the lower end of the scale, you can expect to find calendars from high-street brands, often with mini-size products inside. The packaging on these calendars is likely to be flimsier.
Move up to the £100-£200 price range and you can dip your toes into high-end brand calendars, or the department store Advent calendars, which contain a mix of bestselling products from a range of brands. The latter might work best if you’re buying a calendar as a gift, especially if you don’t know which brands the recipient likes best.
At the top end of the scale, you’ll find beauty Advent calendars from exclusive high-end brands, usually containing mostly full-size products. Packaging for these calendars is typically more sculptural and eye-catching, but they also come with a high price tag of more than £200.
Why are beauty Advent calendars released so early?
Planning, organising and launching an Advent calendar takes a long time. Think about how many products are included in the major beauty retailers’ calendars. Then think about how much organisation it takes to coordinate with each brand on products to fit in each Advent calendar window. Add on to that marketing materials and imagery, and you’ve got a project that starts production almost as soon as the new year hits.
Typically, brands release their calendars so early because it allows them to anticipate how much stock they need to order. As I’m writing this piece in August, many have already opened their waitlists, which helps them gauge how much interest there is in the calendar before it drops. When calendars go on sale in the autumn, it’s usually the case that when stock sells out, it’s gone for good.
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Sarah Matthews is a consumer journalist who can’t quite believe she gets to spend her days reviewing beauty products. She tests many things, from hi-tech skincare gadgets to the latest hair styling tools. On this occasion, getting festive five months before Christmas was just what her Yule-loving brain needed
• This article was originally published on 11 September 2025. 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 updated on 22 October 2025; three new Advent calendars were added.
