‘Tis the season for festivities, including traditions such as opening doors of advent calendars each day.
Chocolate calendars are great but have you tried beauty advent calendars? Almost anything is possible nowadays with face masks, lip gloss, bath bombs, beauty blenders and more all hiding behind the doors.
From Makeup Revolution to L'Occitane, there are a variety of beauty and skincare advent calendars out there but what do you get inside and are they worth the money?
To help you find out, our team reviewed some of the High Street’s offerings.
You can see our beauty advent calendar review from last year in our article here.
Are beauty advent calendars worth it? Our review
Lush 29 High Street Calendar
- Christmas Capybara bath bomb
- Shoot for the Stars bath bomb
- Gold Star bubble bar
- Toby's Magic Cow bath bomb
- Elf On The Shelf bath bomb
- Candy Cane reusable bubble bar
- Snow Queen bath bomb
- Sweet Pudding bath bomb
- Sleepy mini bubble bar
- Penguin Bath bath bomb
- Bubble Bear bubble bar
- Magical Santa bath bomb
- Mother Christmas bath bomb
- Snow Fairy mini roll
- Frosty the Snowman bath bomb
- Creamy Candy bubble bar
- Groovy Snow Fairy bath bomb
- Sleepy Bear bath bomb
- Lil Lush Pud bath bomb
- Catch Me If You Can bath bomb
- Brightside mini bubble bar
- Space Girl bath bomb
- Dreaming of a White Christmas bath bomb
- Sugar Plum Sparkle mini bubble bar
- Father Christmas bath bomb
Price: £130
Value of products: About the same
Reviewed by: Jade Wright
Is it worth it?
From the minute this huge calendar arrived, there was no mistaking where it was from. The fabulous scent of Lush's signature bath bombs and bubble bars was unmistakable.
Shaped like the first Lush shop, at 29 High Street in Poole in Dorset, it's filled with bath bombs, bubble bars and glimpses of a magical Santa’s workshop inside five cardboard cut-out characters inspired by Christmas products, all tied up with a big pink ribbon.
The presentation has a real wow factor and fans of the brand will be delighted to see the return of some old favourites and some new exclusive products.
While most beauty advent calendars have a variety of different gifts inside - and there is a Lush standard calendar with a broader range - for me it's great to have a calendar where I know we will use every day's haul.
I'd say the value is probably about the same as you'd pay in-store with each day's gift averaging about a fiver but Lush has never been about big sales, instead focusing on paying staff a living wage and sourcing ingredients responsibly.
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As you'd expect, it has great eco credentials - it's all cruelty-free and each day's gift was packaged without plastic and the boxes are all made from recycled fibres. Even the big pink bow on the front started life as a plastic bottle.
My children loved helping to open each day's box, and they looked forward to using them in the bath that night. The bubble bars are our favourite because each one was reusable - we got about four or five baths from each one.
Overall, it's a great buy and one you can share with a whole family, although I'll be keeping some of my favourites aside for a long luxurious soak when the children are in bed.
You can get your own Lush 29 High Street Calendar via the website.
Score: 9/10
Revolution Beauty Advent Calendar 2024
- Mini Revolution Shimmer Bomb
- Revolution Satin Kiss Lipstick Heartrace Nude
- Revolution Satin Kiss Lipstick Cupcake Pink
- Revolution Satin Kiss Lipliner Chauffeur Nude
- Revolution Satin Kiss Lipliner - Divine
- Revolution Lip Gloss - Divine
- Revolution Strawberry Lip Mask
- Revolution Lip Oil - Mini
- Revolution Lip Gloss - Brunch
- Revolution Eye Brush
- Revolution Mini Reloaded Palette
- Revolution Liquid Shadow Lilac Shine
- Revolution Mini Beauty Blender - Black Revolution Powder Puff - Black
- Revolution Kohl Eyeliner Brown
- Revolution Kohl Eyeliner Black
- Revolution Clear Brow Gel
- Mini Revolution Liquid Highlighter
- Revolution Beam Bright Highlighter Pink Seduction
- Revolution Reloaded Highlighter Raise the Bar
- Mini Revolution Blush Bomb - Cute Pink
- Mini Revolution Blusher Reloaded Pink Lady
- Mini Revolution Loose Baking Powder Translucent
- Revolution Rhinestone Stickers - White/Pink
Price: £34, down from £48
Value of products: All the items in the advent total £97 so the current price (£34) is great value.
Reviewed by: Emilia Kettle
Is it worth it?
Makeup Revolution offers affordable dupes of high-end beauty items, perfect for those learning to use makeup or those like me who would prefer to save money.
You can easily fill a makeup bag of essentials for less than £50.
Makeup Revolution's Christmas range includes a sparkly pink Advent Calendar with 25 days of gifts for £48 (currently on sale for £34).
I was able to test it out for myself and it got extra points for being cardboard and easy to recycle. It's a good size so it won’t take up lots of space throughout December.
Creating a whole look might not be possible but they're all great quality and good things to have in your makeup bag.
The one downside would be that I felt let down when I opened a large box to discover a single eyeshadow - a part of my heart broke.
It wouldn't have been as bad if only one had a deceiving size but several large boxes had tiny items including a beauty blender and body gems.
Overall, I'd say the calendar's quality is great and all the products are helpful and will be used. With it being one of the more affordable beauty advent calendars on the market, you really can’t go wrong.
Buy yours via the Revolution website.
Score: 8/10
Bubble T Advent Calendar – Masking Edition
- 18 x 20ml Sheet Masks
- 3 x 6g Under eye masks
- 3 x 6g Lip Masks
Price: £39.99
Value of products: More than £35.99 when bought individually so at the sale price, the advent calendar is slightly cheaper to buy than the individual products. However, I can’t see it being worth £69.99 or £75.
Reviewed by: Katie Collier
Is it worth it?
I bought my advent calendar from Superdrug for £39.99 (now discounted further to £25.99) instead of £75 but it’s also available to buy on the Bubble T Cosmetics website for £35.99 down from £69.99 at the time of writing.
Having never seen or opened a face mask calendar before, I was quite excited to give this a try.
I've not tried anything from Bubble T Cosmetics before but the packaging of this advent calendar looks and feels aesthetic with plenty of colour.
While there are 18 face masks, the variety is really good with everything from a Coco Pops mask to bubble tea masks in different scents.
With 18 face masks plus the six face and lip ones, I know I won’t need to buy any for a long time.
I think it would be more fun to search for the day’s date rather than it being ordered but that’s a minor fix and I could muddle them up if I wanted to.
The calendar has a mirror fitted inside the box so you can apply your face mask easily.
The masks have lots of liquid in them but haven’t left my face feeling too wet after using them. Instead, I’ve felt refreshed which is ideal.
I’d recommend this advent to anyone who likes to add self-care to their weekly routine. I can see this being a good calendar for a range of ages.
Score: 7/10
Boots 17 Countdown of Joy Advent Calendar
- Mini eye shadow - Lilac 2.5g
- Mini eye shadow - Gold 2.5g
- Mini bronzer - 2.5g
- Mini blush - 2.5g
- Mini highlighter - 2.5g
- Beauty blender
- Mini nail varnish Red - 3ml
- Eye pencil black - 0.25g
- Mini mascara - 2.5ml
- Mini lip gloss - 3.5ml
- Mini setting spray - 10ml
- Lip balm - 7g
- Mini face primer - 10ml
- Mini clear brow gel - 3.5ml
- Emery board nail file
- Red lipstick - 3.5g
- Nude lipstick - 3.5g
- Lip oil - 3.5ml
- Eyeshadow brush
- Mini tweezers
- Mini nail clippers
- Mini bath fizzer (pink) - 25g
- Blush/bronzer brush
- Mini compact mirror
- Stretchy make-up headband
Price: £27, down from £30 or £20.10 with Black Friday discount
Value of products: Worthwhile buying as a bundle to save money (at least £30) and get your hands on limited-edition products.
Reviewed by: Molly Court
Is it worth it?
Are you looking for a beauty advent calendar with everything you need to do your glowing make-up?
Boots has you covered with its 17 Countdown of Joy Advent Calendar, made with all beauty-lovers in mind.
From nude and bold red lipsticks to mascara, brow gel, sparkling eye shadows, a bronzer, blusher, highlighter, setting spray and even a face primer, the calendar has it all.
Especially when it comes to getting ready for those fancy Christmas parties and big nights out this festive season.
Plus, it comes armed with all the tools for your make-up bag, including a beauty blender, brushes, compact mirror, tweezers, nail clippers and a soft stretchy headband to keep those fine hairs out the way when applying that all-important base.
It’s playful and exciting too as you look for the numbered boxes to slide out of the star shape, revealing very reasonable-sized mini products each day.
Admittedly, the quality of the products doesn’t resemble high-end beauty brands but they're all more than good enough for basic make-up, top-ups and minis to take on the go (ideal for anyone travelling this Christmas).
Originally priced at £30, I bought this on offer for £27 and it’s certainly worth the money mainly due to how good it looks and the variety of products inside.
However, on the Boots website, it’s currently on offer for £20.10 due to a Black Friday discount.
Some of my personal favourites include the beauty blender, gold shimmer eye shadow, lip balm, black eyeliner and nude lipstick.
Score: 8/10
M&S Beauty Advent Calendar
- Floral Street Vanilla Orchid Eau Deu Parfum 10ml
- Clinique Take the Day off Balm 15ml
- Color Wow Colour Security Shampoo 75ml
- Color Wow Colour Security Conditioner 75ml
- Benefit Fan Fest Mascara 8.5g
- REN EverCalm Cleansing Milk 50ml
- Nails Inc Cranberry Me Merry 10ml
- Percy & Reed Tame That Mane Smoothing Blow Dry Cream 100ml
- Formula Sleep Cream 15ml
- L’Occitane Shea Hand Cream 30ml
- Philip Kingsley Elasticizer 40ml
- Fresh Elements Glow Day Cream 15ml
- Aveda Botanical Repair Strengthening Masque 15ml
- Nails Inc Nude In Noelle 10ml
- Pixi Eye Define Waterline Tightline Black 0.35g
- Cowshed Relax Bath & Body Shower Gel 100ml
- Margaret Dabbs Nail and Cuticle Serum 15ml
- This Works Deep Sleep Overnight Whip 200ml
- Discover Velvet Amber 10ml
- Cowshed Relax Bath & Body Body Lotion 200ml
- Dr. PAWPAW Ultimate Red Tinted Lip Balm 10ml
- Prai Ageless Throat & Decolletage Crème 30ml
- Living Proof PhD 5-in-1 Styling Treatment 60ml
- Emma Hardie Purifying Pink Clay Detox Mask 15ml
- Bloom & Blossom Keep Dancing Foot & Leg Mist 100ml
Price: £50 (when you spend £30 on Clothing, Home & Beauty in-store)
Value of products: Over £300
Reviewed by: Rebecca Carey
Is it worth it?
What’s not to love about Marks and Spencer’s beauty advent calendar?
First off, I adored the dark velvet blue bag the advent treats came in. I really hate when you’re given a giant box of clunky cardboard or plastic that you will never use again.
I didn’t mind a bit that it didn’t come in the traditional advent calendar box shape because the sleek and stylish bag has made itself a permanent home in my cupboard.
You’re also not deprived of the joy of opening your advent calendar doors as once you peek inside, 25 little delights are creatively arranged for you to dig into.
I was impressed with the variety of the products – both in sizes and types. It definitely feels like a decent value for money with 11 full-size items and 14 miniatures.
The quality of the makeup on offer was clearly thoughtfully chosen to appeal to a wide audience.
In the calendar, you receive an eyeliner, a Benefit mascara, two nail polishes (red and nude) and a lip balm.
Setting aside foundation and concealer (which would be impossible to fit to everyone's needs), I think it does a nice job of covering all bases.
I enjoyed the addition of travel-size perfumes (they have definitely come in handy and fit neatly in my bag without much fuss).
However, I must say that the real standouts were the skincare and hair treatments.
There were plenty of recognisable brands featured including Clinique, L’Occitane, Aveda and more which definitely added to the luxurious feel of the entire calendar.
Overall, whether it’s a gift for someone you love or a treat to yourself, the M&S Beauty Advent Calendar promises a true pamper session.
It's currently sold out online but the supermarket encourages customers to look for it in their local stores.
Score: 9/10
L'Occitane Le Grand Voyage
- Immortelle Divine Cream, 4ml
- Overnight Reset Serum, 5ml
- Shea Light Comforting Face Cream, 4ml
- Shea Cleansing Cream, 20ml
- Face Make-up Remove Glove
- Shea Intensive Foot Balm, 50ml
- Almond Shower Oil, 35ml
- Revitalising Shower Gel, 50ml
- Ultra Rich Shower Cream, 35ml
- Citrus Verbena Shower Gel, 35ml
- Almond Shower Scrub, 20ml
- Shea Milk Extra Gentle Soap, 25g
- Shea Verbena Extra Gentle Soap, 50g
- Almond Milk Concentrate, 20ml
- Shea Ultra Rich Body Cream, 20ml
- Cherry Blossom Shimmering Body Lotion, 35ml
- Citrus Verbena Body Lotion, 35ml
- Effervescent Revitalising Sugar Cube, 18g
- Shea Butter Hand Cream, 30ml
- Néroli & Orchidée Hand Cream, 30ml
- White Lavender Hand Cream, 10ml
- Glycine Hand Cream, 10ml
- Gentle & Balance Micellar Shampoo, 35ml
- Intense Repairing Conditioner, 50ml
Price: £68
Value of products: £129.50
Reviewed by: Jade Wright
Is it worth it?
Packed with French charm and references to days gone by, it's fitting that this calendar is themed around travel, given how many of us pick up L'Occitane products while on holiday.
The 100ml products are perfect for carry-on luggage, whether you're off skiing or searching for some winter sun.
The pretty packaging looks like an old trunk and inside it's printed with a traditional Parisian Toile de Jouy design.
The small but perfectly formed products give an introduction to a full-size L'Occitane item - from the ever-popular Shea Butter Hand Cream to the luxurious Immortelle Divine Cream and Overnight Reset Serum.
Recommended reading:
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I was pleased to see my favourite scents included - the almond and verbena - and to try some of the ranges I hadn't seen in the UK before.
It's good value - I'll use all the products and it's about half the retail price of the products.
But this calendar comes with a warning - I got so invested in the travel theme that I ended up booking a few days away to see the alpine Christmas markets.
I've saved up some of my favourite products to take with me. The only challenge will be resisting buying the full-size versions in the airport on the way home.
Score: 9/10
All prices are correct at the time of writing.
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