Best beauty advent calendars to buy, from £45

Every year before Christmas, beauty fanatics go on the hunt for the best beauty advent calendars. We’ve been busy testing and reviewing a range of skincare, makeup and wellness calendars and below, we’ve listed some of the best calendars available this year.

We’ve handpicked those that include the best mix of products for the greatest value for money, and to suit all budgets. The most popular calendars are already on sale. That means now’s a great time to get your hands on your favourite beauty advent calendar before it’s too late.

If you’re in a rush, choose one of the options from our at-a-glance list below. Or, if you need some more advice about how to choose the best beauty advent calendar for you, scroll down to read our handy guide.

Best beauty advent calendars: At a glance

• Best beauty advent calendar for most people: LookFantastic | £99
• Best luxury beauty advent calendar: Liberty | £250
• Best value beauty advent calendar: Glossybox | £80
• Best organic beauty advent calendar: Holland and Barrett | £45

The best beauty advent calendars to buy in 2023

1. ASOS Face and Body: Best advent calendar for self care

Price: £90 | Pre-order at ASOSIf you can’t decide what type of beauty product you want in your advent calendar, why not buy one that has it all? With 25 products, one per day leading up to Christmas day, the ASOS beauty advent calendar is back for another year of treats. The calendar comes in a recyclable box and is stocked full of relaxing bath time products, high-end makeup, nailcare and other beauty-related delights.

Without giving too much away, this year’s lineup includes brands such as Elemis, Neom, The Ordinary, MAC, and Rituals. There are also some must-have beauty tools in the mix, too, making this a fantastic calendar for a daily festive treat.

Thankfully, this year’s calendar is available to buy right now. Be warned though, the 25-day calendar has been known to sell out well in advance of December, so make sure to snap one up soon before they sell out.

Key details — Worth: £315* (2022); Product type: Beauty mix/grooming products; Release date: Available now

2. LookFantastic: Best calendar for most people

Price: £99 | Pre-order at LookFantastic

Candles, makeup, skincare, haircare, and cleansing tools: what more could a person need to indulge in themselves at Christmas? Worth £565, the Look Fantastic beauty advent calendar now contains 27 products over 25 days, all for £99. That’s more products and a higher value than last year, all for the same startlingly low price. Featuring iconic brands such as Nudestix, Color Wow and Nars, this calendar has value for money that is simply jaw-dropping.

Not only are the products impressive, the packaging is always beautifully themed. Last year, the calendar had a  “the beauty story” theme, where the calendar box folded open like a book. This year’s theme is a stunning red and gold theme, which is sure to look great wherever you choose to display it.

Key details — Worth: £565; Product type: Makeup, skincare, homeware; Release date: Available now

3. Glossybox: Best value advent calendar

Price: £80 | Pre-order at Glossybox

This calendar from Glossybox is easily the best value advent calendar this year, even if you’re not a subscriber. The calendar comes with 28 beauty goodies – 17 full-size and 11 deluxe minis – from fabulous brands such as Made by Mitchell, Medic8, and Color Wow. You’ll even receive a full-size eyeshadow palette from Ciaté London, which is fantastic for a calendar that costs £80.

Subscribers will be delighted to hear that they can pick up a calendar for just £70. For a calendar that was stocked full of products worth £473, that’s simply astounding value.

Key details – Worth: £473; Product type: Luxury beauty mix; Release date: Avavilable now

4. Holland and Barrett: Best for organic beauty

Price: £45 | Pre-order at Holland and Barrett

If you want to dip your toes into the world of natural skincare, Holland and Barrett’s advent calendar is a great place to start. While the brand may be best known for its vitamins and pricey health foods, the beauty advent calendar is always excellent value. It’s ideal if you want to try a wide range of organic beauty products from bigger companies such as Weleda and Dr Organic, as well as independent brands such as Fushi and Tisserand.

Last year, for just £45 you could get 24 different items, most of which were full-size products. This year the calendar will come with 25 days’ worth of products with a total value of £180 for the same affordable price.

Key details – Worth: £180; Product type: Organic health and beauty products; Release date: Available now

5. Cult Beauty: Best for beauty aficionados

Price: £225 | Pre-order at Cult BeautyCult Beauty’s advent calendar is a firm favourite among beauty fans. The website stocks the latest beauty must-haves and its calendar is a great way to sample hits from the likes of Glow Recipe and Olaplex, as well as luxury beauty from Sunday Riley and Dieux Skin. For that reason, this advent calendar always sells out fast – in fact, the first drop in 2021 had sold out before November.

This year, Cult Beauty is launching its biggest and best-value beauty advent calendar yet. It contains a whopping 39 products, including 20 full-sizers and six products to try behind door 25. Its total value is over £1,000, rivalling the original high-end beauty advent calendars from Liberty and Selfridges, despite only launching its calendar in 2019.

Key details – Worth: Over £1,000; Product type: Luxury beauty mix; Release date: Available now

6. Liberty London: Best luxury beauty advent calendar

Price: £250 | Pre-order at LibertyLiberty was one of the very first companies to launch a beauty advent calendar before they became mainstream, and each year it proves why it’s still one of the best. This year’s calendar will contain 29 products in total, including 20 full-sized products, worth a whopping £1,043 in total. Brands you can expect to see include Sunday Riley, Le Labo, Rose Inc. and Augustinus Bader – it promises to be a fabulous combination of cult classics and hidden gems.

When we say this one’s going to fly off shelves, we don’t mean a slow flight. We’re talking Concorde speeds, as Liberty’s beauty advent calendar was previously the fastest-selling product in Liberty London’s 145-year history. While it’s not cheap by any stretch of the imagination, it’s the perfect way to make yourself or a loved one feel luxurious this Christmas.

Key details – Worth: Over £1,043; Product type: Luxury beauty mix; Release date: Available now

7. Benefit Cosmetics: Best makeup advent calendar

Price: £145 | Pre-order at BenefitMakeup aficionados listen up, because the Benefit cosmetics beauty advent calendar is back and it’s better than ever. Every year, Benefit releases a huge range of Christmas gift sets, including its best-selling mascaras, brow and cheek products, but the brand’s beauty advent calendar is the cream of the crop.

The calendar includes 24 of Benefit’s bestsellers and fan favourites – we’re looking at you, roller lash – and it’s available to buy right now. Everything in the calendar is worth £281 in total, so you’ll be saving 49% on the cost of buying the full-price items. That’s a huge saving, especially for products that are bound to become firm favourites in your makeup drawer.

Key details – Worth: £281; Product type: Makeup; Release date: Restocking 6th November

8. Selfridges: Best for people who want to try new high-end products

Price: £220 | Pre-order at SelfridgesWhen it comes to high-end products, Selfridges never misses a beat. That’s why its beauty advent calendar is always a bestseller. Last year it was packed with 26 luxury beauty products, 12 of which were full-size. This year, it’s got a record-breaking 31 products for you to try from high-end brands such as Refy, Paula’s Choice, Paco Rabanne and Gisou. With that many products to try out, you’ll be spoilt for choice throughout Christmas. The contents of this year’s calendar are worth a whopping £1049 in total, which is better value for money than ever before.

In keeping with last year’s calendar, you’ll also get a Selfridges beauty concierge gift card. That entitles you to shop around Selfridges with a designated beauty expert, who will give you personalised advice on how to achieve your beauty goals. So not only will you be able to try out 31 new high-end beauty products, but you’ll also be able to get complimentary personalised advice to revitalise your beauty routine. There’s no better way to get a new year, new me routine.

Key details — Worth: £1049; Product type: Luxury beauty mix; Release date: Restocking soon

How to choose the best beauty advent calendar for you

What are beauty advent calendars?

Today, almost every beauty and lifestyle brand sells an advent calendar full of products from makeup and skincare to hair products and even candles. That means, in the run up to Christmas during the Advent period, you’ll be able to open the calendar every day and get a new beauty product to try. This can either be 12 days, 24 days, or include an extra special treat for the 25th day.

Beyond the fact they help pass the time between 1 December and the main event on the 25th, they’re also a fantastic way to experience brands that you may not have used before or brands you’ve been meaning to try for some time but didn’t want to take a risk on. After all, beauty products don’t always come cheap.

READ NEXT: The best shampoo and conditioner sets to buy

When should you buy a beauty advent calendar?

Many beauty advent calendars go on sale in the autumn so if you’re keen to get your hands on a particular one, you’ll need to be quick. Waitlists for most of this year’s calendars have already opened, so sign up now. We’ll also be writing all about release dates and announcements below, so keep an eye on this page to stay in the loop.

If you don’t manage to get one in time for Christmas, all is not lost. You can usually pick one up on sale well into the new year but your options will be limited.

How much should I spend?

Beauty advent calendars don’t come cheap – they’re stocked full of luxury beauty products that would ordinarily set you back a huge chunk of your cash. The best budget options start at around £50 – cheaper options don’t really pack the same quality goodies – but high-end options can cost well over £200. They can, however, be a great way to test out these new products before introducing them to your routine full-time.

That being said, because the products all come bundled together, the value of the products in the calendar is often far higher than its retail price. For example, last year the Cult Beauty advent calendar contained products worth over £1000, but retailed for £235. What’s more, higher end calendars often have enough products to keep you going throughout the year.

In the options above, we’ve listed the best beauty advent calendars from the huge selection now on offer. We’ve handpicked those that include the best mix of products for the greatest value for money, whether you’re looking to spend £50 or £300. In the spirit of advent calendars, we haven’t included any major spoilers, but you can find out exactly what’s in each calendar by clicking through to the listing online.

READ NEXT: The best advent calendars to buy