By The Telegraph (World News) | Created at 2024-11-15 17:50:14 | Updated at 2024-11-15 20:41:29
2 hours ago
What can you expect from this year’s best beauty advent calendars from Liberty, Look Fantastic, Charlotte Tilbury and other big names?
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As Christmas creeps closer, so does the annual fight to grab the best beauty advent calendars as soon as they go on sale. It’s no wonder: brimming with exclusive, limited edition minis and often full-sized products, most of the best make-up advent calendars work as a Christmas gift in their own right.
As was the case last year, the Harrods, Space NK and Cult Beauty calendars have already sold out. Your best bet is always to join the waiting lists and be ready to pounce when they restock, or sign up for the 2025 waiting lists.
Thankfully, 14 of our favourite beauty advent calendars are still in stock. Read on to find out everything we know about 2024’s advent calendars, including those on sale and even those that have already sold out. If you’re in a rush, here are this year’s best beauty advent calendars:
Which is the best beauty advent calendar? At a glance
- Best single brand beauty advent calendar - Bobbi Brown
- Best department store beauty advent calendar - Fenwick
- Best beauty advent calendar for a spa-like experience - Espa
- Best plant-based beauty advent calendar - Clarins
- Best make-up beauty advent calendar – Charlotte Tilbury
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How I chose the best beauty advent calendars
To choose the best beauty advent calendars of 2024, I primarily considered the stated value of each one – how much you’re getting versus how much you’re paying. Some are worth hundreds more than their cost, while others are similar in value and price. I also looked at the variety of products, how many full-size or travel sizes were included in a box and whether there were any limited edition goodies.
Read on for reviews and previews of all this year’s best beauty advent calendars.
Best beauty advent calendars already on sale
1. Bobbi Brown Dazzle and Glow 12 Day Advent Calendar
Best single-brand beauty advent calendar
We like: the inclusion of such a high quality make-up brush
- 12 days, 12 products worth £223 (saving of £63)
- Available to buy now
- Quickest delivery is next day for £6.50
- Our product highlight: Long-Wear Cream Shadow Stick in Golden Bronze (full size)
Bobbi Brown’s Advent Calendar contains 12 skincare and make-up products packed with shimmer, perfect for creating day-to-night looks during the holiday season, all housed inside a golden box.
Inside you’ll find the Tiktok sensation, the Vitamin Enriched Face Base, along with a full-size Smokey Eye Mascara, one full-size Long-Wear Cream Shadow Stick, a lip tint and other bestsellers.
2. The Fenwick 12 Days of Beauty Advent Calendar
Best department store beauty advent calendar
We like: the range of products across make-up, skincare and even vitamins
- 12 days, 18 products worth more than £500 (saving of at least £300)
- Available to buy now
- Quickest delivery is next day for £8
- Our product highlight: Vida Glow Radiance Capsules (30 capsules)
Best known for their Christmas window in the flagship Newcastle store, Fenwick’s beauty advent calendar is the only still in stock from a big department store. At £200, it’s pricey for a 12 day calendar, but you do get skincare, make-up, vitamins and accessories including a silk scrunchie.
3. ESPA Wellbeing Advent Calendar
Best beauty advent calendar for a spa-like experience
We like: the clean minimalist packaging
- 25 days, 25 products worth £488 (saving of £313)
- Available to buy now
- Quickest delivery is next day for £5.95
- Our product highlight: Isotonic Hydration Mask (55ml)
ESPA’s 2024 beauty advent calendar is full of all the holistic and aromatherapy products the brand is known for, designed to bring the spa experience home. If you’re a bath a day kind of person, this is the advent calendar for you.
Inside is Pink Hair and Scalp Mud, Nourishing Lip Treatment, Energising Bath and Body Oil, Super Nourishing Conditioner and a Winter Spice Votive Candle, among lots more.
4. Clarins 12 Day Women’s Advent Calendar
Best plant-based beauty advent calendar
We like: even the inks used to make the calendar are plant-based
- 12 days, 12 products worth £162 (saving of £67)
- Available to buy now
- Quickest delivery is next day for £5.95
- Our product highlight: Moisture-Rich Body Lotion
Clarins markets their 12 day advent calendar slightly differently to others. The Parisian brand says it’s to be opened during the 12 days of Christmas, known as Twelvetide, which typically begins on December 24 and ends on January 6.
The calendar includes full sizes of the Beauty Flash Balm and the Lip Comfort Oil in the shade Honey, a Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser and Hydra-Essentiel Face Mask.
5. The Body Shop Advent of Wonders
Best beauty advent calendar for stocking up
We like: it’s full of staples for your face, body and hair
- 24 days, 24 products worth £119 (saving of £64)
- Available to buy now
- Quickest delivery is next working day for £4.99
- Our product highlight: Avocado Body Butter
The Body Shop’s advent calendar is always popular and a good midrange option. This year’s is packed with 24 own brand products inside a stylish baby blue box.
Inside you’ll find the Avocado Shower Cream, Shea Body Butter, British Rose Facial Mask, Vitamin E Sheet Mask and a Hair Claw, among others.
6. Charlotte Tilbury - Charlotte’s Beauty Treasure Chest of Love
Best make-up advent calendar
We like: the mini setting spray is perfect for travelling
- 12 days, 12 products worth £243
- Available to buy now
- Quickest delivery is next day for £5.95
- Our product highlight: Magic Lip Oil Crystal Elixir (full size)
Charlotte Tilbury’s beauty advent calendar of 2024 is here, and we finally know all the details. Inside the 12 drawer calendar are 12 bestsellers including three full-size products and nine travel-sizes.
The products include full sizes of the Beauty Light Wand in Pinkgasm, full size Hyaluronic Happikiss in Pillow Talk, full size Magic Lip Oil Crystal Elixir and minis of the Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray, Lip Cheat and more.
£170
Price at
Charlotte Tilbury
7. Nuxe Advent Calendar
Best bodycare beauty advent calendar
We like: the minis are great for holidays
- 24 days, 24 products
- Available to buy now
- Quickest delivery is up to two working days for free
- Our product highlight: Prodigieux® Floral Scented Shower Gel
Parisian cosmetics brand Nuxe has launched a 24 product beauty advent calendar this year, packed with the glittery body oils, shower gels and moisturising creams it’s known for. Everything is packed inside a sparkly pink and gold cardboard calendar.
It’s worth noting that this calendar contains travel sizes only, hence the sub £100 price, but it’s fun to have a small taste of Nuxe’s range of products, whether it’s the Huile Prodigieuse Florale, the Rêve de Miel Lip Moisturising Stick, the Merveillance Lift Concentrated Night Cream or the Prodigieux le parfum.
8. Acqua di Parma Beauty Advent Calendar
Best luxury fragrance advent calendar
We like: the scent of Italy at Christmas
- 25 days, 25 products
- Available to buy now
- Quickest delivery is 1-3 days for free
- Our product highlight: Colonia fragrance (12ml)
Acqua di Parma’s beauty advent calendar is hotly anticipated each year. Inside this year’s are 25 handcrafted Italian inspired fragrances behind 25 doors, for each day of advent and Christmas day.
You can look forward to the scents from the Signature of the Sun range, the Blu Mediterraneo collection and the Classic Colonia Collection as well as candles, shower gels, lotions and soaps.
9. Molton Brown Advent Calendar
Currently £168.75, Molton Brown
Best beauty advent calednars for bath and beauty products
We like: the beautifully designed box
- 24 products worth £313 (saving of £88)
- Available to buy now
- Quickest delivery is next day for £7.95
- Our product highlight: Rose Dunes Eau de Parfum travel case refill
A favourite of the late Queen, Molton Brown is known for its luxurious bath and body products. This year’s limited edition calendar was designed by marble artist Natascha Maksimovic.
It includes classic scents like Orange and Bergamot, Fiery Pink Pepper and Heavenly Gingerlily along with deluxe sizes of the Mandarin and Spice collection.
10. Jo Loves 2024 Advent Calendar
Best designed beauty advent calendar
We like: the box will make an excellent Christmas decoration once empty
- 25 days, 25 products worth £769 (saving of £394)
- Available to buy now
- Free delivery
- Our product highlight: Black Cashmeran and Tonka Fragrance Paintbrush
Jo Loves produces the best designed beauty advent calendars every year. Last year the calendar was housed in a giant bauble, made in partnership with Warner House. In the years preceding that, there’s been a house of cards, a wreath and a star. This year it’s a giant ski chalet, inspired by Jo’s own family ski trip to Whistler in Canada.
Packed with home fragrance, perfumes and body mists, the Jo Loves 2024 calendar includes 25 products, including a gift voucher for a 100ml fragrance of your choice. There’s also an exclusive Salted Caramel Candle, a new Black Cashmeran and Tonka Fragrance Paintbrush and an Amber Lime and Bergamot Bath and Shower Gel.
11. Bamford Twelve Days of Joy
Best sustainable beauty advent calendar
We like: everything is useful - nothing will go to waste
- 12 days, 12 products worth £270 (saving of £75)
- Available to buy now
- Quickest delivery is next day for £7
- Our product highlight: Geranium Hand and Body Wash (250ml)
For the first time, Bamford is launching an advent calendar this year, focused on bath, body and home rather than makeup, perfect for a home bird. There’s Geranium Body Wash, Lip Balm, Bath Oil and a Sky Fig Candle.
Everything is packaged inside an illustrated green and white box made from FSC certified paper, so you can recycle it or hold onto it as a keepsake.
12. MAC Gift of Gold Advent Calendar
Best beauty advent calendar for full-sized products
We like: 18 of the 24 products are full-sized
- 24 days, 24 products worth £445 (saving of £265)
- Available to buy now
- Quickest delivery is next day for £6.50
- Our product highlight: MACstack Mascara in Black Stack
MAC’s advent calendar this year is bursting with surprises. You can expect both familiar favourites and impressive newness for all contours of the face. Its 18 full-sized gifts include six lipsticks and lip glosses, a lip primer, eyeliner, mascara and there’s also a mini lip pencil. This is a great advent calendar both for full-size and limited edition products - not currently available elsewhere on MAC’s website.
13. Diptyque Advent Calendar
Best candle advent calendar
We like: as expected from the Parisian brand, opening every drawer is an experience
- 25 days, 25 products
- Available to buy now
- Quickest delivery is up to three working days for £5.95
- Our product highlight: Sapin candle (70g)
Diptyque’s long awaited beauty advent calendar has finally been released and unsurprisingly, it’s mostly packed with candles, although you can expect eau de toilettes, eau de parfums, solid perfume, cleansing hand and body gel, interior spray and even Christmas tree decorations. Scents include Sapin (pine tree), Étoile (star) and Friandise (sweet treat). Everything is packaged inside a box in the shape of a sewing box, which can be reused after Christmas. At £390, it’s certainly a luxury, but aren’t all advent calendars?
14. Manucurist Let It Glow Advent Calendar
Best nail polish advent calendar
We like: the range of nail polish, nail care and accessories
- 24 days, 24 products
- Available to buy now
- Quickest delivery is up to four days for free
- Our product highlight: Active Glow all-in-one treatment
Eco-friendly nailcare company Manucurist are selling a “Let It Glow” advent calender this year with 24 full-size products. As expected, there’s a range of nail polish, but there’s also active treatments like oils and nail masks, plus nail care tools like nail files and cuticle pushers.
The colours include Hortencia, a pale pink, Dune, a beige colour and Crème, a milky off-white. There’s also hand cream, a base coat, top coat and a corrector pen. The nail polishes are all non-toxic and made from mostly natural ingredients, including potato, corn, cassava and cotton.
Beauty advent calendars we loved (but have sold out)
- Liberty London Beauty Advent Calendar, was £260
- The Harvey Nichols Beauty Advent Calendar, was £250
- The White Company 2024 Advent Calendar, was £195
- M&S Beauty Advent Calendar, was £35 when you spent £50 online
- Jo Malone Beauty Advent Calendar, was £360
- Fortnum’s Beauty Advent Calendar 2024, was £265
- The Harrods Beauty Advent Calendar, was £250
- John Lewis Beauty Advent Calendar, was £195
- SpaceNK 2024 Beauty Advent Calendar, was £250
- Elemis The Ultimate Skincare Advent Calendar, was £199
- Cult Beauty 2024 Advent Calendar, was £235
- Sephora Advent Calendar 2024, was £199
- Cowshed Christmas Hamper Advent Calendar, was £250
- Look Fantastic Iconic Beauty Advent Calendar 2024, was £100
- Selfridges Beauty Advent Calendar, was £250
- 12 Days of Liz Earle Beauty Advent Calendar, was £79
- Neal’s Yard Remedies Natural and Organic Advent Calendar, was £150
- Augustinus Bader The 12 Days of Bader Advent Calendar, was £445
- Next 25 Days of Beauty Advent Calendar, was £90
- Ted Baker Toiletries & Grooming Advent Calendar, was £36.80
- No7 The Ultimate Beauty Advent Calendar, was £122.50
Beauty advent calendar FAQ
Which brands have a beauty advent calendar?
Most big beauty brands sell their own beauty advent calendar these days. For those wanting to splurge, Liberty’s is the ultimate treat, containing beauty gifts worth around five times its sale price – which is why it always sells out almost instantly. If you’re looking for a budget option, try Look Fantastic or The Body Shop.
What to look for in a beauty advent calendar
The key thing to look for in a beauty advent calendar is a good price which offers value for money. Look at how much the products in the advent calendar are worth compared to the price you’re paying to figure out how much you’re saving compared to buying each product individually. I’ve listed the worth under each calendar above, where I can, to help you out.
It’s also worth looking at how many products are inside as some have multiple behind each door – but beware the difference in value between travel and full size products. Finally, it always helps to choose a stylish calendar like the Liberty London or one that can be reused like the Cowshed.
When are most beauty advent calendars released in the UK?
The majority of popular beauty advent calendars are released in September, although a few aren’t released until early October (last year these included Sephora, No. 7, John Lewis and Fenwick) and an even more select few aren’t available until early November. Every beauty advent calendar being sold from a big retailer this year is now available.
What is the price range of beauty advent calendars?
The best beauty advent calendars can cost anywhere between £40 and £600, with the upper end of that populated by designer brands like Dior. Last year, you could buy a decent advent calendar for less than £100 thanks to Look Fantastic, Next, M&S, Boots and ASOS although the majority cost around the £200 mark.
