Christmas is fast approaching, and the time to secure one of the best beauty advent calendars is running out. Harvey Nichols offers a stellar lineup, while Sephora’s calendar is perfect for exploring up-and-coming brands. For affordable luxury, Next stands out, alongside impressive offerings from M&S and Boots.
As a beauty advent calendar expert, I test each year’s offerings to find the best value. Next’s beauty advent calendar (£95) is worth over four times its cost at £385, featuring brands like Hello Sunday and Bondi Sands. Its luxury version (£185) is valued at over £750, with full sizes from Murad, Laura Mercier, Clinique and Mac.
Boots launches two calendars: the 24 Beauty Stars Luxury Advent Calendar (£150, worth £600) includes Nars, Sol de Janeiro and Elemis; the 24 Days of Skin Advent Calendar (£70, worth over £285) focuses on Korean skincare from Anua and Round Lab, with full-size Pixi and Lumene products.
Lush offers several options, including the classic (£205), high street (£125) and refill (£179) calendars, featuring seasonal ranges like Snow Fairy and Yog Nog. Clarins’ 12-day and 24-day calendars (worth up to £127) include the popular Lip Comfort Oil and Beauty Flash Balm, appealing to all ages.
Space NK’s perfume advent calendar, launched a week ago, features scents from Killian, Byredo and Glossier, worth over three times its price. For high-end without excessive opulence, Next’s luxury collection is a top choice.
