Beauty advent calendars are now big business. I can remember the first ever one landing on my doorstep and squealing a little bit with excitement; it was such a unique, innovative and boundary-pushing idea that the beauty world got behind like nothing before. With brands being unable to keep their advent wares in stock long enough to keep their fans happy, it's no wonder that the concept has exploded over the last few years. In 2015 the beauty advent offering is bigger and better than ever, with pretty much every brand imaginable dipping their toes into the water. From Benefit, Clarins and The Body Shop, to Ciate, Jo Malone, Selfridges and Look Fantastic, there's a calendar to put a smile on every one of your little rosy faces. Here is my breakdown of some of the best and why you're going to want them all...
THE NAIL VARNISH ADDICT'S ONE: CIATE LONDON (£49.95)
A nail polish addicts paradise, this beautifully adorned calendar includes seventeen different mini Paint Pots, three nail treatments, two Glitter Toppers, a crystal nail file and a full size glittery varnish. It's absolutely stunning and the perfect addition to any perfectly curated festive decor, plus it will keep your talons looking fab all party season long.
AVAILABLE: Now online.
THE NOSTALGIC ONE: THE BODY SHOP (£60.00)
Worth over £90.00, this calendar is bursting with goodies that will keep you feeling fab well into 2016. Including everything from their iconic mini soaps and body creams, to makeup tools, sparkling fragrance and some of their latest skincare launches, this is the perfect treat for The Body Shop fans of all ages. It's also a great way to re-introduce yourself to the brand if you've not stepped foot into a store for ages!
AVAILABLE: Now online.
THE AMAZING VALUE ONE: YOU BEAUTY (£59.95)
This is an incredible offer for the price, especially considering the contents are worth a whopping £330.00! If you love luxury beauty, discovering new brands or experimenting with products, then this is the only calendar you need to know about. You Beauty have been doing beauty calendars since the start, so their experience makes this one of the best offerings of the lot.
AVAILABLE: Now online.
THE MAKEUP LOVER'S ONE: BENEFIT COSMETICS (£34.50)
Although this has already sold out in the UK, you can still get your hands on it if you're taking a trip to the States any time soon. Worth £70.00, the calendar is loud, proud (as you'd expect from Benefit) and totally non-Christmassy. The major downside is that this has only twelve doors (and therefore gifts,) making it somewhat disappointing in comparison to the other offerings right now. But if you're a Benefit fan, you're undoubtedly going to want to hunt one down regardless.
AVAILABLE: Sold out already!
THE SECRET ONE: LOOK FANTASTIC (£70.00)
The contents of this are being kept firmly under wraps, but no doubt it will feature some of the most popular brands on site. Worth over £250.00, the £70.00 price tag offers a huge saving and will inevitably introduce you to some must-haves just in time for the new year.
AVAILABLE: Now online.
THE SCENTED ONE: YANKEE CANDLE (£31.99)
Every door of this innovative advent calendar reveals a tealight or votive candle in one of eight seasonal scents. Including Bundle Up, Candy Cane Lane, Icicles, Spiced Orange, Snowflake Cookie and Winter Glow amongst others, this is perfect if you've got enough lipglosses and hand creams to sink a battleship - but still want to dabble in the advent craze.
AVAILABLE: Now online.
THE LUXURY ONE: SELFRIDGES (£95.00)
Filled with 24 luxurious miniature treats, this is a definite must-have for all beauty fans who've got the cash to splurge on such an indulgence. This incredibly special advent calendar features surprises from some of the world's best beauty brands, including Kiehl's, Lancome, YSL, Viktor & Rolf and many more besides. It's like shopping in the Selfridges beauty halls without the crowds.
AVAILABLE: Now online.
THE COMPLETELY INDULGENT ONE: JO MALONE (£260.00)
Exclusive to Harrods, the Jo Malone advent calendar is the ultimate in luxury. The Georgian townhouse design and exquisite drawers mean this is definitely one to keep and re-use - especially as it’s got an eye watering price tag of £260.00. Featuring some of the classic and most loved Jo Malone classic scents (including Lime Basil & Mandarin, Pomegranate Noir and Dark Amber & Ginger Lily,) this is a dream made out of cardboard.
AVAILABLE: October/November from Harrods.
THE AFFORDABLE ONE: MAKEUP REVOLUTION (£45.00)
Featuring 25 full size Makeup Revolution essentials, each window will reveal a beauty treat that's been handpicked by the team at Revolution HQ. Including a selection of lipsticks, nail polish, blusher, glosses and more, although this doesn't offer up a huge saving versus the normal 'off the shelf' price, it does create some theatre around an incredibly popular brand.
AVAILABLE: Now online.
THE SKINCARE ONE: BOOTS NO 7 (£38.00)
I'm still working my way through the amazing skin treats from last year, but this is a great gift for anyone that loves their mini sizes. Bursting with skincare, makeup, accessories, body products and handy tools, the contents are worth a staggering £148.00 - giving you a £110.00 saving!
AVAILABLE: Register now online.
THE GREAT DEAL ONE: MARKS & SPENCER BEAUTY (£25.00)
Filled with 24 festive treats worth over £200, you can buy the M&S Beauty Advent Calendar for £25 when you spend more than £25 in M&S Beauty. (If you're unfamiliar with their incredible expanding beauty offering, get thee to an M&S stat.) It includes treats from some amazing brands such as Rodial, Neal's Yard, REN, Stila and Cowshed - as well as some you may not have heard of until now.
AVAILABLE: In store from October.
THE BARGAIN ONE: BOMB COSMETICS (£19.99)
Filled to the brim with a mix of Bomb Cosmetics' favourite soaps and blasters to get you in a fizzy festive mood, this is an affordable way to join in the fun this year. Plus, it means you've got to have extra bath time across the month to ensure you're using up your daily treat yes?
AVAILABLE: Now online.
THE 'YOU'RE GONNA WANT IT' ONE: CLARINS (£60.00)
For the first time ever, you can now count down the days to Christmas with Clarins. The simple, yet beautiful, design features some of their most popular and iconic products - across makeup, skincare, body products and pampering treats. This is the one that's definitely top of my list, offering incredible value and products I know I'll thoroughly enjoy using. It's about time Clarins!
AVAILABLE: Now online.
So that's your lot. Although there are a few others available on the high street and online, these are the calendars I think are worthy of a mention. Is there a beauty advent calendar that particularly tickles your fancy? Or will you be sticking to chocolate this year?
Clik here to view.![]()
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Clik here to view.
THE NAIL VARNISH ADDICT'S ONE: CIATE LONDON (£49.95)
A nail polish addicts paradise, this beautifully adorned calendar includes seventeen different mini Paint Pots, three nail treatments, two Glitter Toppers, a crystal nail file and a full size glittery varnish. It's absolutely stunning and the perfect addition to any perfectly curated festive decor, plus it will keep your talons looking fab all party season long.
AVAILABLE: Now online.
THE NOSTALGIC ONE: THE BODY SHOP (£60.00)
Worth over £90.00, this calendar is bursting with goodies that will keep you feeling fab well into 2016. Including everything from their iconic mini soaps and body creams, to makeup tools, sparkling fragrance and some of their latest skincare launches, this is the perfect treat for The Body Shop fans of all ages. It's also a great way to re-introduce yourself to the brand if you've not stepped foot into a store for ages!
AVAILABLE: Now online.
THE AMAZING VALUE ONE: YOU BEAUTY (£59.95)
This is an incredible offer for the price, especially considering the contents are worth a whopping £330.00! If you love luxury beauty, discovering new brands or experimenting with products, then this is the only calendar you need to know about. You Beauty have been doing beauty calendars since the start, so their experience makes this one of the best offerings of the lot.
AVAILABLE: Now online.
THE MAKEUP LOVER'S ONE: BENEFIT COSMETICS (£34.50)
Although this has already sold out in the UK, you can still get your hands on it if you're taking a trip to the States any time soon. Worth £70.00, the calendar is loud, proud (as you'd expect from Benefit) and totally non-Christmassy. The major downside is that this has only twelve doors (and therefore gifts,) making it somewhat disappointing in comparison to the other offerings right now. But if you're a Benefit fan, you're undoubtedly going to want to hunt one down regardless.
AVAILABLE: Sold out already!
THE SECRET ONE: LOOK FANTASTIC (£70.00)
The contents of this are being kept firmly under wraps, but no doubt it will feature some of the most popular brands on site. Worth over £250.00, the £70.00 price tag offers a huge saving and will inevitably introduce you to some must-haves just in time for the new year.
AVAILABLE: Now online.
THE SCENTED ONE: YANKEE CANDLE (£31.99)
Every door of this innovative advent calendar reveals a tealight or votive candle in one of eight seasonal scents. Including Bundle Up, Candy Cane Lane, Icicles, Spiced Orange, Snowflake Cookie and Winter Glow amongst others, this is perfect if you've got enough lipglosses and hand creams to sink a battleship - but still want to dabble in the advent craze.
AVAILABLE: Now online.
THE LUXURY ONE: SELFRIDGES (£95.00)
Filled with 24 luxurious miniature treats, this is a definite must-have for all beauty fans who've got the cash to splurge on such an indulgence. This incredibly special advent calendar features surprises from some of the world's best beauty brands, including Kiehl's, Lancome, YSL, Viktor & Rolf and many more besides. It's like shopping in the Selfridges beauty halls without the crowds.
AVAILABLE: Now online.
THE COMPLETELY INDULGENT ONE: JO MALONE (£260.00)
Exclusive to Harrods, the Jo Malone advent calendar is the ultimate in luxury. The Georgian townhouse design and exquisite drawers mean this is definitely one to keep and re-use - especially as it’s got an eye watering price tag of £260.00. Featuring some of the classic and most loved Jo Malone classic scents (including Lime Basil & Mandarin, Pomegranate Noir and Dark Amber & Ginger Lily,) this is a dream made out of cardboard.
AVAILABLE: October/November from Harrods.
THE AFFORDABLE ONE: MAKEUP REVOLUTION (£45.00)
Featuring 25 full size Makeup Revolution essentials, each window will reveal a beauty treat that's been handpicked by the team at Revolution HQ. Including a selection of lipsticks, nail polish, blusher, glosses and more, although this doesn't offer up a huge saving versus the normal 'off the shelf' price, it does create some theatre around an incredibly popular brand.
AVAILABLE: Now online.
THE SKINCARE ONE: BOOTS NO 7 (£38.00)
I'm still working my way through the amazing skin treats from last year, but this is a great gift for anyone that loves their mini sizes. Bursting with skincare, makeup, accessories, body products and handy tools, the contents are worth a staggering £148.00 - giving you a £110.00 saving!
AVAILABLE: Register now online.
THE GREAT DEAL ONE: MARKS & SPENCER BEAUTY (£25.00)
Filled with 24 festive treats worth over £200, you can buy the M&S Beauty Advent Calendar for £25 when you spend more than £25 in M&S Beauty. (If you're unfamiliar with their incredible expanding beauty offering, get thee to an M&S stat.) It includes treats from some amazing brands such as Rodial, Neal's Yard, REN, Stila and Cowshed - as well as some you may not have heard of until now.
AVAILABLE: In store from October.
THE BARGAIN ONE: BOMB COSMETICS (£19.99)
Filled to the brim with a mix of Bomb Cosmetics' favourite soaps and blasters to get you in a fizzy festive mood, this is an affordable way to join in the fun this year. Plus, it means you've got to have extra bath time across the month to ensure you're using up your daily treat yes?
AVAILABLE: Now online.
THE 'YOU'RE GONNA WANT IT' ONE: CLARINS (£60.00)
For the first time ever, you can now count down the days to Christmas with Clarins. The simple, yet beautiful, design features some of their most popular and iconic products - across makeup, skincare, body products and pampering treats. This is the one that's definitely top of my list, offering incredible value and products I know I'll thoroughly enjoy using. It's about time Clarins!
AVAILABLE: Now online.
So that's your lot. Although there are a few others available on the high street and online, these are the calendars I think are worthy of a mention. Is there a beauty advent calendar that particularly tickles your fancy? Or will you be sticking to chocolate this year?
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.![]()
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.![]()
Clik here to view.
Features PR samples unless otherwise stated. To read my full disclaimer, click here.
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