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You may still be clinging to the final days of summer, but beauty Advent calendar season is already upon us. Brands and retailers are releasing their 2025 calendars, many of which sell out long before you start to feel festive.
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 hundreds to choose from at wildly different prices, some focusing on specific product types, and some filled with a mixture of bestsellers.
So, to help with choice paralysis, I’ve been trawling the shelves for calendars filled with cult favourites suitable for a range of skin types and preferences, narrowing down the eight 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.
At a glance
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Best beauty Advent calendar overall:
Space NK Beauty
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Best value beauty Advent calendar:
Boots 24 Beauty Stars premium Advent calendar
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Best for bath lovers:
Lush refillable Advent calendar
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Best for product range:
Cult Beauty the Classic Curation
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Best entry-level calendar:
W7 Beauty Blast Advent calendar
Why you should trust me
I make a living testing health and beauty products, from hair masks and hair dryers 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 22 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 12 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 12 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 from domestic violence. 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.
Our favourite beauty Advent calendars in 2025
Best beauty Advent calendar overall:
Space NK Beauty
Luxury beauty retailer Space NK has been at the forefront of high-end skincare, body care, hair care and makeup since its inception. Its 2025 beauty Advent calendar covers all these bases, with 35 cult favourites to last you well into 2026. With 26 full-size products from big-name brands, this is a seriously good beauty haul.
Why we love it
With full-size makeup from Hourglass, Rare Beauty and Charlotte Tilbury; hair care from K18 and Olaplex; and skincare from Paula’s Choice and Laneige, this calendar will keep even the fussiest beauty fanatics happy.
It’s especially strong for skincare, with two full-size cleansers, a Medik8 Liquid Peptides serum, a Paula’s Choice pro-collagen peptide moisturiser and the new Inkey List Ectoin Hydro-barrier serum. None of these is likely to cause problems for most people’s skin.
In the mix you’ll also find hair care from Dyson, Augustinus Bader retinol serum and the popular Colour Wow Dream Coat – a powerful styling spray, good for adding shine to unruly hair. Add in two mini perfumes to chuck in your handbag, and you’ve got a selection that’s hard to beat.
Better still, the packaging is fully recyclable, so you can pop the calendar in your normal recycling bin. Space NK has also partnered with Handle, a company that recycles beauty empties. So if you have a Space NK store or other Handle drop-off location nearby, you can drop off the empties from the calendar, along with any others, and they’ll take care of the rest.
It’s a shame that … it’s pretty expensive, and the hair accessory included was absolutely no match for my thick hair. You can forget doing full up-dos with this, but half-up-half-down styles are definitely achievable.
Number of products: 35 (26 full size, 9 mini)
Overall value: approx £1,150
Packaging: domestically recyclable
Best value beauty Advent calendar:
Boots 24 Beauty Stars premium Advent calendar
Cheaper Advent calendars are usually filled with a lot of mini products, but Boots’ Advent calendar has a good range of full-size products from big-name brands. It might not seem cheap at £150, but the skincare, hair care and makeup inside is 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 a cleansing gel from Estée Lauder. 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 five full-size makeup products inside: a face powder palette from Iconic London, a Fenty liquid lipstick, a shimmery lip oil from Too Faced, a Mac lip liner and the Nars light reflecting hydrating primer. There are also minis of the Benefit Hoola bronzer, Mac Velvet Teddy lipstick, a Milk Makeup highlighter, Laneige lip balm 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 haircare 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
Best for bath lovers:
Lush refillable Advent calendar
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)
Best for product range:
Cult Beauty the Classic Curation
If the products in the Space NK calendar don’t tickle your fancy, chances are you’ll find something to love in 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..
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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 can cause irritation if you’re not careful.
Number of products: 34 (20 full size, 14 mini)
Overall value: Approx £1,100
Packaging: domestically recyclable
Best entry-level calendar:
W7 Beauty Blast Advent calendar
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: not listed
Packaging: domestically recyclable
The best of the rest
Sentier Advent calendar
Best 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 is 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
Bamford ultimate Advent calendar
Best 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: approx £600; packaging: domestically recyclable
Diptyque Advent calendar
Best 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, and 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 incredibly 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
What you need to know
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 Space NK listed above has 35 products with a total value of £1,150. It costs £260, so in theory saves you £890.
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 retailer’s calendar. 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.
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
