Roast dinners with all the trimmings, decadent hampers, and endless parties: the Christmas season is all about overindulgence. The best beauty advent calendars deliver exactly that, replacing humble chocolate with luxury skincare, makeup, haircare and fragrance.
Each year, the offerings have got bigger, better and, crucially, earlier. It might be August, but the first beauty advent calendar has already landed on my doorstep – and it hails from Harrods.
Costing £270 but worth more than £1,000, pre-orders are now open ahead of its September launch date. If previous years are anything to go by, it’s sure to sell out too.
The retailer’s annual offering is reliably premium – think Hourglass, Augustinus Bader, Nars, Gucci, Color Wow, Tatcha, and Medik8. Overflowing with beauty essentials to last you long after Christmas Day, there are 32 products spread across 25 days.
But with so many retailers and brands vying for your attention – Liberty, Cult Beauty, Harvey Nichols and Boots are all drumming up excitement – should Harrods be top of your list?
Harrods beauty advent calendar at a glance
- Worth: £1,039
- Number of days: 25
- Number of products: 34 (21 full-size)
- Advent calendar highlights: Hourglass ambient lighting blush, By Terry tea to tan for face and body, Medik8 C-tetra advanced vitamin C gel serum, Augustinus Bader rich eye cream, Sisley Paris lipstick, Color Wow hairspray
- Available: Pre-orders open now, delivery from 10 September
I committed the cardinal Christmas sin by opening each calendar door in August to find out. From value-for-money to variety and packaging, here’s my verdict on the Harrods beauty advent calendar 2026.
How I tested
Considering the ratio of deluxe to full-size products, I weighed up whether the overall worth (£1,039) matched up with the products inside. I also assessed the usefulness of each formula beyond Christmas: from skincare saviours to makeup staples – each product had to have wow-factor. Packaging also came into play – is the box functional year-round as storage or just taking up space in the recycling bin? Spoilers ahead.
Read more: I'm tracking 2026 beauty advent calendar launches, from Liberty to Cult Beauty
Harrods beauty advent calendar 2026
★★★★☆
What we love: Premium brands such as Augustinus Bader, Sisley Paris, Shiseido, Tatcha and LYMA, generous full-size offering, skincare variety – from eye creams to serums and masks – beauty tools, useful everyday formulas, haircare heroes, and travel-size minis
Take note: Limited fragrance offering, mostly skincare, multiples of the same skincare products (eye creams and moisturisers), no trending beauty, and limited pampering products
Compared to the likes of Liberty, Charlotte Tilbury and Fortnum & Mason, the Harrods calendar box is bland at best. The foiled paper finish mimics the London department store, but won’t add anything special to your festival display at home. If you did want to use it for year-round storage, the recycled board box is sufficiently sturdy.
It’s inside where the calendar gets exciting. Once again, Harrods proves that luxury doesn't have to follow the latest TikTok trends – instead, it’s carefully curated an edit of premium, results-driven beauty.
Among the best options for skincare devotees, 25 drawers reveal coveted names including Augustinus Bader, Sisley Paris, Shiseido, Tatcha, LYMA and Clé de Peau Beauté. The calendar is packed with high-performance formulas that would be difficult to justify buying individually – see AB’s rich eye cream, which costs £170 alone.
Many of the top formulas are full-size – including Shiseido’s eye and lip cream, and Medik8 C-tetra serum – adding genuine value rather than relying on tiny sample sachets.
While there is some repetition, such as multiple eye creams, moisturisers and SPFs, it’s an opportunity to discover different formulations from premium brands. For anyone looking to elevate their skincare routine, this is where the calendar truly shines.
Vouchers are like marmite in beauty advent calendars: some appreciate, and others would rather have a product than an excuse to spend more money. Alongside a CurrentBody skin hydrogel face mask and eye mask, Harrods throws in a £75-off voucher for a CurrentBody device.
The makeup offering is more limited, but the luxe brands again make up for it. Highlights include Charlotte Tilbury’s classic pillow talk lipstick, Sync’s liner in an everyday mauve, a Sisley Paris £50 lipstick and Huda Beauty’s gloss. The roster is padded out with a gorgeous Hourglass blush, Nar’s eyeshadow stick (great for on-the-go) and a Gucci face gloss (not essential but nice). The By Terry tea-to-tan liquid bronzer is a personal favourite for creating a winter glow.
Fragrance lovers will be left wanting more, as the only inclusion is a travel-sized Montale Paris eau de parfum. The haircare offering is propped up by a full-size Color Wow hairspray (it’s excellent), while a hair mask and Philip Kingsley shampoo and conditioner duo are sure to give your tresses some party-season TLC.
Buy now £270.00, Harrods.com
Is the Harrods beauty advent calendar worth it?
With more than £1,000 worth of beauty inside for less than £300, the Harrods beauty advent calendar represents excellent value, particularly for those investing in premium skincare. It won't appeal to everyone – younger beauty fans chasing the latest viral launches will likely find better at Boots or Sephora – and the exterior packaging doesn't quite match the opulence of the products within.
Brimming with luxury names – including Augustinus Bader, Sisley Paris, Shiseido, Tatcha and LYMA – the lineup impresses with effective formulas and full-size products. Despite some category repetition (there are multiple eye creams, SPF’s and moisturisers), the offering feels curated and genuinely useful.
Why trust me?
I’ve been reviewing beauty advent calendars for six years, from M&S and Selfridges to Lookfantastic and Liberty. When it comes to Harrods, this is the third time I’ve reviewed the retailer’s advent calendar, so I’m prime placed to see how it compares against previous iterations and competitors.
Read more: I've peeked at John Lewis's beauty advent calendar 2026 – and it's packed with luxury favourites
