Kiehl's beauty advent calendar is packed with 24 skincare essentials from the 175-year-old brand, but the miniature sizes of some products, including the shampoo and conditioner, are a drawback. Priced at £119, it is among this year's most affordable beauty calendars, with contents worth £237.
A whistlestop tour of Kiehl's bestsellers
Founded in New York in 1851, Kiehl's has been a trusted name in skincare, make-up and haircare for more than a century. The brand is known for its simple, fuss-free products and science-backed formulas, delivering premium quality at affordable prices. Each year, Kiehl's limited edition holiday advent calendar is much-loved for its quirky design and roster of bestsellers.
Whether you're new to Kiehl's or already love its formulas, the £119 calendar offers a whistlestop tour through the brand's most coveted products. Behind the doors you'll find moisturisers, serums, toners, eye creams, hand salves and face cleansers.
Design and contents
Kiehl's has partnered with New York and London-based creative Jordan Robertson for the holiday-themed calendar. It features dog motifs in a colourful, playful palette inspired by New York City at Christmas. The box is compact and simple, with days ordered consecutively, and each product is packed in a cardboard box, making them easy to gift as stocking fillers or for Secret Santa.
The products span every category of skincare, from cleansers, serums and treatments to moisturisers, eye treatments and body care. While the addition of haircare was exciting, the miniature sample sizes of the shampoo and conditioner only provide enough for one wash. Other tiny formulas that bring down the calendar's overall value include the musk oil, eye zone treatment, dark spot solution, midnight recovery concentrate and triple acid peel.
Standout products and value
Despite the small sizes, the skincare offering impressed. The calendula deep cleansing foaming facial wash is nourishing, and the creamy avocado eye treatment works well at night. The midnight recovery cream glides on smoothly and helps visibly plump skin. The ultra facial cream is intensely moisturising for dry winter skin, and the rare earth pore-minimising clay mask and ultra facial barrier-hydrating cleanser offer extra care. The ultra facial oil-free cream is praised for minimising the look of visible pores, and the lip balm (15ml) is a moisturising, non-sticky treat for dry lips.
There's also an ultimate strength hand salve (30ml) to soothe dry hands. As Christmas approaches, the products get bigger and better, leaving you with a well-stocked skincare arsenal. With most beauty calendars pushing £300, Kiehl's offers a more affordable option that doesn't scrimp on formula quality. However, if you want to sample makeup, haircare and fragrance, this calendar isn't for you, and the products won't last long into 2027, unlike offerings from Liberty, Cult Beauty and Sephora.
Is it worth it?
With 24 popular products spanning serums, moisturisers, creams, scrubs, masques and eye treatments, the Kiehl's advent calendar is a real treat for skincare fans. You won't find full-size products here, but at a comparably affordable price, it's a lovely gift for friends, family or yourself. Packed with effective formulas to pamper and nourish skin, it's a fun festive way to discover a new favourite product you might invest in later. Available at Kiehls.co.uk.
