Fortnum & Mason has unveiled its 2026 beauty advent calendar, priced at £275 but containing more than £1,225 worth of high-end beauty, fragrance and wellness products. Shoppers can secure a £120 moisturiser, hailed as an 'absolute go to', for under £12, with one buyer revealing that 'someone asked me if I had had Botox' after using it.
What's inside the calendar
The calendar includes 25 treats, 24 of which are full size, setting it apart from many rival luxury calendars where shoppers often receive miniature samples. Breaking down the cost, each full-sized product works out at roughly £11.46, falling to £11 when the additional mini is factored in, particularly remarkable given that several items individually retail at £70, £85 and even £120.
The most prized product is the Wildsmith Copper Peptide Cream, with a standalone retail price of £120 — nearly half the cost of the entire calendar. Formulated to combat visible signs of ageing, it blends clinically proven bioactive copper peptides with low molecular weight hyaluronic acid to help bolster collagen and elastin.
Shopper reviews
One shopper said 'it's the one luxury I won't give up', adding: "I love this cream. You only need a tiny amount. I'm an old bird, but it keeps my skin supple and glowing. Someone asked me if I had had Botox." Another said: "My skin is glowing, it absolutely loves this moisturiser and friends have commented on how well I look so it must be doing something. I love the smell and the texture, a little goes a long way."
However, some shoppers found it absorbs too rapidly, with one commenting: "Too soon to say any improvement in my skin. Using the spoon measure which is a very small amount which sinks into my skin immediately. I would be tempted to use more but given the cost of a jar, I won't! Smells amazing." Others have been completely won over, with one reviewer adding: "I have tried to do without this cream, and have tried everything practically out there on the market. Nothing makes my skin glow and feel supple like this. I get positive comments about my skin."
Other premium products
The second most valuable product is a full-sized Jean Charles Brosseau Nymphéa Eau de Parfum, valued at £85. The delicate floral scent is said to evoke Monet's iconic lily pond paintings, with opening notes of bergamot and pink pepper alongside water lily, jasmine and wisteria, settling into soft musk, raspberry and sandalwood.
A further premium fragrance comes in the shape of Gallivant Abu Dhabi Eau de Parfum, worth £70, while the calendar also features a travel-sized Clive Christian No. 1 Feminine Parfum. Although the 10ml bottle is the only travel-sized product, it remains a remarkable inclusion, retailing at £650 for 50ml, with the 10ml size ordinarily available only as part of a 3x10ml Traveller Set priced at £250.
The bathing selection is headlined by Aromatherapy Associates De-Stress Muscle Bath & Shower Oil, worth £58, formulated to soothe weary muscles. Customers will also find products from prestigious names including Bamford, Ortigia, Granado, Delilah, Benamôr, Bramley, Connock and LabSolue, plus a Fortnum's candle, washbag and hand cream.
Comparison with other retailers
Meanwhile, Liberty London's Beauty Advent Calendar 2026 carries a price tag of £285 and boasts a value of over £1,300, featuring 29 products, although only 21 are full sized, averaging just under £10 each. Selfridges has also announced its beauty advent calendar will return for 2026, priced at £250, though specific details are being kept secret. Last year's edition contained high-end brands valued at £1,136.
Not every item will suit every customer, with unwanted pieces making ideal stocking fillers, yet there is sufficient variety to warrant the £275 cost. The calendar is available to shop at Fortnum & Mason.
