The best beauty advent calendars offer us a chance to get a huge range of beauty goodies at a much-reduced price—so it's no wonder that even weeks before the beginning of the December, they're practically flying off the shelves.
Aside from the endless food and being surrounded by loved ones, the best thing about the festive season is by far the advent calendar countdown. The idea of waking up to a nice little treat every day in the month of December brings us the kind of joy that makes us jump out of bed. And it's all the better if what you're getting is a snazzy little beauty treat in the form of one of the best beauty advent calendars; be it a brand new festive lipstick, a bottle of the best perfume, one of the best non-comedogenic foundations, or a vial of the best retinol serum.
From skincare routine favorites like Kiehl's to makeup heroes like Benefit Cosmetics and MAC, beauty brands have become the reigning champions of the advent calendar. Their calendars have become the one chance in the year for us to stock up on the best products for a bargain price—as most beauty picks contain a value of products worth almost double as much as they're sold for individually. So, what are you waiting for? It's time to look at this year's offerings to make sure you and your loved ones get the best of the best! And you'll want to act fast—most beauty advent calendars sell out incredibly quickly, and don't get restocked.
The best beauty advent calendars to shop this festive season
Where to buy beauty advent calendars in the US
- ASOS: Get beauty calendars, plus nail polish and sock advent calendars for 2022
- Macy's: Shop exclusive Macy's-only beauty advent calendars
- Neiman Marcus: New and limited edition calendars from Fresh & Valmont
- Net-a-Porter: See high-end calendars—including Net-a-Porter's exclusive calendar
- Nordstrom: View selected calendars including Kylie Cosmetics and get a free gift
- Saks Fifth Avenue: Buy beauty calendars and get gift card with code NOVGIFTSF
- Sephora: See Sephora's THREE own brand options plus so many more
- Ulta: Shop popular beauty advent calendars—all under $100
Where to buy beauty advent calendars in the UK
- ASOS: Affordable advent calendars from ASOS, Huda Beauty and more
- Boots: Shop calendars you can't get anywhere else—including Liz Earle
- Cult Beauty: Buy selected calendars and get a free gift or goody bag!
- John Lewis: A unique range from popular brands—with 20% savings on some!
- Look Fantastic: View popular calendars from MAC, GLOSSYBOX, Rituals and more
- Sephora: The best calendars in the biz—from Sephora own-brand to luxury brands
- Selfridges: See high-end calendars from Penhaligons, Giorgio Armani and La Mer
- Very.co.uk: Nab early black Friday discounts on affordable advent calendars
15 of the best beauty advent calendars to treat yourself to this November
1. Benefit Cosmetics
RRP: $65/£59.50 | Worth: $142/£134 | Contents: 12 mini products | Available: Now
Benefit Cosmetics never disappoint when it comes to their Christmas offerings and this years' advent calendar is no different.
At a reasonable price of $65 (£59.50), you'll get 12 of the brand's most-loved products in a mini version, including their BADgal BANG! mascara, the Roller Liner, the brand's They're Real Magnet! Mascara, the They're Real Mascara, the 24-Hour Brow Setter, Gimme Brow+ in Shade 3, Precisely, My Brow in Shade 3, The POREfessional Pore Primer, The POREfessional Hydrate Primer, and the Hoola bronzer, and Dandelion blush.
2. Dr. Barbara Sturm
RRP: $560/£450| Worth: Not specified | Contents: 24 mini and full-size products | Available: Now
Not only is Hailey Bieber (queen of flawless skin) a huge fan of Dr. Barbara Sturm, but she's just one of many A-listers who have co-signed the brand and the skincare genius behind it.
A veteran in the game, this year's rather pricey advent calendar combines a mixture of full and mini-sized bestsellers including the brand's Cleanser, their nourishing Vitamin E Lip Balm, the Face Cream, which has regenerative and anti-inflammatory properties, the Repair Hair Mask which offers heat and color protection, the Calming Serum to soothe inflammation, and The Good C Vitamin C Serum—one of the best vitamin C serums around. All products come in Dr. Barbara Sturm's signature colorless packaging, so your beauty cabinet will look super chic too, once you've opened all the windows. One of the best beauty advent calendars for those with a bigger budget this year.
3. Charlotte Tilbury
RRP: $200/£150| Worth: $325/£244 | Contents: 12 mini and full-size products | Available: Now
The Charlotte Tilbury advent calendar was one of our favorites last year, surprising us with the brand's popular Pillow Talk Push Up Lashes Mascara and Magic Serum Crystal Elixir, as well as a host of other beauty bag essentials. Luckily, the 2022 version is even better both on the inside and on the out, created in a stunning pink color and twinkling light decorations—which makes this calendar (from one of the best cruelty free makeup brands) look like a piece of festive decor all on its own.
Inside, you'll find five full size products—two more than last year—and six travel size gifts. When it comes to the full size offerings, customers can expect to find Charlotte’s Magic Lip Oil Crystal Elixir, the Hollywood Beauty Light Wand in Spotlight, the Colour Chameleon in Golden Quartz, the Brow Fix, and the Matte Revolution in Catwalking. There are also some brilliant treats in the mini size, including the brand's sell-out Magic Cream, the Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray, and the Lip Cheat Lip Liner. Sadly, their iconic eyeshadow palettes aren't included in this calendar—but why not pick one up separately? They'd make for a great Christmas gift idea for a girlfriend (as long as you give it to her before the 25 December).
4. MAC Cosmetics
RRP: $195/£165| Worth: $475/£405 | Contents: 24 products (including 16 full-size!) | Available: Now
We love the annual MAC advent calendar for a number of reasons but first and foremost, it's the packaging! The brand always gets it right, experimenting with fun, artistic designs with a festive twist. And for 2022, we love the circular box shape of their red and white Bursting With Surprises calendar, which is really unique against the rest of the best beauty advent calendars.
Then there's the contents of course, which is the most important thing. The MAC calendar is one of the best value options around, as it has 16 full size products, which is way more than lots of other calendars. Customers can look forward to a range of makeup and skincare essentials, including the Mini Mac Macstack Mascara, the Technakol Liner, the Brow Set, Mini Mac Strobe Cream, five of the Lustreglass Lipstick's in some of the most popular MAC lipstick shades, the Dazzleshadow and the Powder Kiss Soft Matte Eyeshadow.
5. Space NK
RRP: $280/£215| Worth: $1002/£770 | Contents: 25 products (14 full-size) | Available: Now
Space NK's is one of the best beauty advent calendars around, full of products (many full-size!) from high-end brands such as La Mer, Caudalie, Laura Mercier, and Sunday Riley. It also contains some of the best Olaplex products! And they're all sat behind a chic, hot pink advent calendar which would make for an ideal gift for the beauty-lover in your life.
Within the range of full-size products, you'll find the Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant, the Nécessaire The Hand Cream Fragrance Free, the Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick in Pillow Talk, the Summer Fridays CC Me Serum, Olaplex's No.3 Hair Perfector, The Ordinary's Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% and Malin + Goetz's Lip Moisturizer. And amongst the mini's are skin and haircare products from equally big brands; there's JVN Hair's Complete Air Dry Cream, Living Proof's Perfect Hair Day Shampoo, Sisley-Paris's Black Rose Cream Mask, the Jo Loves Snowflake Votive, the Augustinus Bader The Face Oil, and Tatcha's The Dewy Skin Cream.
6. Sephora
RRP: $45/£139| Worth: $105/£711 | Contents: 34 | Available: Now
The very first Sephora beauty advent calendar has launched in the UK! The brand have been selling calendars Stateside for the last few years, but this is their very first drop this side of the pond—and it's been worth the wait. And of all of the best beauty advent calendars, it'll give lucky recipients amongst the most products to look forward to—34 in total! And 17 of those will be full-size; so we'd say this is another fantastic value-for-money pick.
Inside, you'll find skincare, haircare and makeup. Some of the finds are: Huda Beauty Life Liner Quick 'N Easy, Augustinus Bader The Cream, Nars Orgasm Blush, Mugler Angel Eau de Parfum, Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara, Elemis Soothing Apricot Toner, Nails.Inc Peppermint Place Nail Polish, and Hair by Sam McKnight Happy Endings Nourishing Balm.
You can't get this exact calendar in America. Instead in the US, among the many Sephora advent calendars available is the Wishing You Advent Calendar, which includes 24 products from Sephora's own skincare and makeup line. Inside you'll receive a sheet mask, hemp cleansing wipes, a gua sha, a red lip gloss, and plenty more.
7. Dior
RRP: $650/£470| Worth: $650/£470 | Contents: 24 | Available: Now
This is certainly a luxury purchase, but it's one that's well worth it if you can afford the splurge. The Dior advent calendar features 24 minis, including lipsticks, multiple eau de parfums, a full-size candle, and other smaller candles, and body and hand cream. Specifically, some of the products include: the 30 Montaigne candle, the Diorshow Maximizer 3D, the Rouge Dior 999 velvet finish, the Sauvage Eau de Toilette, the La Collection Privée Christian Dior Oud Ispahan, and the Dior Vernis 999.
Plus, this beauty advent calendar also comes with a lucky star Christmas decoration, which would slot in nicely alongside your other decor (anyone else unboxing their Friends ornaments as we speak? We reckon the stunning starry blue exterior would make for a great centerpiece all on its own.
8. Cult Beauty
RRP: $324.30/$235| Worth: $1,100/£1,000 | Contents: 37 products, including 13 full-size | Available: Now
The Cult Beauty 2022 Advent Calendar comes with a whopping 37 products, which is one of the highest amounts we've seen this year—which is why it's one of the best beauty advent calendars around. This means that you'll open up at least one treat a day on the countdown to Christmas, but on multiple days you can look forward to multiple treats; on the big day itself for instance (Christmas Day, obvs), you can expect six beauty goodies—just make sure you don't spend the entire day trying them all out.
Once again, you'll find products from many of our favorite beauty brands, including Sunday Riley, The INKEY List, Hourglass, Drunk Elephant and Briogeo. Specifically, some of the products you can look forward to—look away if you don't want spoilers—are FARMACY’s full size Honey Halo Ultra-Hydrating Ceramide Moisturiser (wondering what ceramides are?), the Laura Mercier travel size Pure Canvas Hydrating Primer, a full size bottle of the Sunday Riley C.E.O. 15% Vitamin C Brightening Serum, and a full size Charlotte Tilbury Bigger Brighter Eyes in 'Exagger-Eyes'.
9. The White Company
RRP: $249/£175 | Worth: $358/£269 | Contents: 25 products—two full-size| Available: Now
This uber-luxurious advent calendar—which we reckon is one of the best early Christmas gifts you could give—doesn't have any makeup, but for those more focused on their overall wellness, there are plenty of home, skin and body care products for customers to enjoy. And there are so many gorgeous White Company items to revel in, such as their very seasonal Fireside Fragrance Oil, the popular Pomegranate Hand Cream, some Sea Salt Shower Gel, a Calm Hand & Body Balm, a Sleep Bath Shot, a White Jade Gua Sha, and two full size Signature Candles, in the Seychelles and Winter scents. All perfect for a self-care day...
And we have to say, the outside of this calendar might just be as good as the inside. The exterior is decorated with an illustration-style drawing of the front of a cozy winter house—so when you open the calendar, it's a little like you're going inside. While it's one of the best beauty advent calendars of 2022, it's also a lovely way to decorate your counter this festive period.
10. ASOS
RRP: $99/£85 | Worth: Not specified—but 76%/73% saving | Contents: 29 products, plus branded tote bag and a branded makeup bag| Available: Now
You may not have expected ASOS to show up on a list of the best beauty advent calendars, but the clothing company sell one of the most reasonably-priced options around, and it's packed full of brilliant brands, from the more affordable to the high-end.
Of the 29 products you'll find behind the doors, a few of our favorites include the Too Faced Deluxe Lip Injection, the Charlotte Tilbury Facial Deluxe Oil, REN's Ready Steady Glow AHA Tonic, Facial Spray with Aloe, Adaptogens & Coconut Water from Mario Badescu, Olaplex No.8, and the ELF Putty Primer Trio.
11. Kiehl's
RRP: $105/£99 | Worth: $261/Not specified | Contents: 24 products | Available: Now
Housed in a cute, colorful box with plenty of fun illustrations, you'll find 24 skincare essentials in this Kiehl's calendar—after all, the brand sell some of the best protective skincare around, including many of the best sunscreens for your face. Some of the products included are the 30ml Creme de Corps, the 14ml Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Mask, the 15ml Facial Fuel Energizing Scrub, the 75ml Calendula Deep Cleansing Foaming Face Wash, the 28ml Ultra Facial Cream, the 30ml Ultimate Strength Hand Salve and the 15ml Lip Balm #1.
While some of the products in the advent calendar are minis, many of them are full-size, so you'll have plenty of skincare to last you at least the first few months of the year!
12. Jo Malone London
RRP: £350 | Worth: Unknown | Contents: 37 products, including 13 full-size | Available: Now—but sold out in the US!
The Jo Malone advent calendar is a cult favorite for a reason; usually it's full to burst with lots of mini and full-size items from the luxury brand that—being so pricey—we don't often get to sample throughout the year. And this year is no different. Behind the chic, minimalist exterior, you'll find 25 goodies for your face, body and home, including their colognes, body crème's, hand wash, soap, and some of their best scented candles. Many of the brand's signature scents are also to be found in the calendar, from Peony & Blush Suede, to Wood Sage & Sea Salt, and Lime Basil & Mandarin.
And this year, there's even a few extra treats for the festive season. Beauty fans will also receive a Jo Malone Snow Globe and Snowball Keyring as an added bonus—and what could be more chic than a Jo Malone Snow Globe? Sadly, this advent calendar is out of stock in the US now, but you can still grab it in the UK while stocks last.
- View at Jo Malone in the UK
- View at Selfridges in the US (sold out in the US—keep an eye out for restocks!)
13. Look Fantastic
RRP: £95 (not available in the US) | Worth: Over $500/£500 | Contents: 26 mini products | Available: Now
This year's Look Fantastic Beauty Advent Calendar is one of their most stylish iterations yet, coming in a sophisticated black box with a lipstick mark in the corner—reminding us of all of those festive nights out we have coming up!
But most importantly, it's full of luxury products from some of the best brands in the business. From the Christophe Robin Cleansing Purifying Scrub, to the bestselling Elemis Pro Collagen Cleansing Balm, the By Terry Hydra-pressed Powder for your evenings out, and the Emma Hardie Plump & Glow Hydrating Facial Mist—it's guaranteed to have you smiling from ear to ear on all 25 days leading up to Christmas.
And once you've got your calendar, it's time to get excited about the Look Fantastic Black Friday deals, which are coming up very soon...
- View at Look Fantastic in the UK (UK only)
14. NYX Cosmetics
RRP: £45 (not available in the US) | Worth: Not specified | Contents: 12 mini and full-size products | Available: Now
The NYX Professional Makeup 12 Day Advent Calendar is bringing all the glitz and glam to our festive season this year with 12 amazing products, made up of a mixture of minis and full-sized bottles.
The brand has recently unveiled the products in the calendar, and they include two shades of NYX's Soft Matte Lip Cream, a 60ml bottle of their Makeup Setting Spray, their HD Eyeshadow Base, two shades of their Butter Gloss, and their Born To Glow Liquid Illuminator Mini Gleam.
- View at Look Fantastic in the UK (UK only)
15. The Body Shop
RRP: Varies (only available in the UK)| Worth: Varies | Contents: 24 and 25 mini and full-size products | Available: Now
Like last year, The Body Shop is offering not one advent calendar, but three for customers to choose from in 2022. The Box of Wishes calendar is the most affordable, selling for £55 with a worth of £89.50, while the Box of Wishes and Wonders is the most expensive at £145; but it's worth £219. And sat neatly in the middle is the Box of Wonders, on sale for £95, with a worth of £159.
The more expensive boxes have 25 products in them, while the most affordable has 24. All three boxes promise both full and small size products (but there are more full size products in the most expensive option), including items such as the brand's body butters, sheet masks, shower creams, shampoo and conditioners, and pillow mists. You'll find more of their luxe products in the priciest calendar, but each calendar will look equally pretty displayed in your home—as all of them come complete with a festive pop-up display!
- View at The Body Shop in the UK (UK only)
-
I am blush *obsessed* and this easy multi-use pick always gets me complimentsAs a self-proclaimed blush connoisseur, I swear by ILIA's cheek and lip stick and hopefully, when my work is done, you will too.
-
Emma Chamberlain just debuted the ultimate sexy chic updo—and the wispy look is perfect for fallIf you've been looking for a new, signature hair look for fall, Emma Chamberlain may have just come *through* for you...
