Advent season is officially here - and as someone who’s already opened more than I’d like to admit, I can confirm: The M&S beauty advent calendar is always one to watch. Each year, it sells out fast (and for good reason), landing a solid spot in our best beauty advent calendars round-up.
While other popular retailers like LookFantastic, Sephora and Cult Beauty launched their calendars way back in September, Marks & Spencer took its time - but honestly, it’s worth the wait. Their beauty edit is known for being practical, with products you’ll actually use rather than mini shower gels you forget exist by Boxing Day.
This year's M&S advent calendar is £330 (up by £30 from 2024), and while it's certainly not the most affordable out there - we've spotted a deal that makes it £235 cheaper. If you spend £35 on full-price fashion, homeware or beauty at M&S, you can grab the calendar for £60. That's surely less than your weekly shop? Practically unheard of.
Why you can trust me:
“I’ve been a beauty writer for over six years, and in that time, I’ve opened, tested and unboxed more advent calendars than I can count. At this point, I know exactly what sets a good one apart from the rest. I look for the calendars filled with products I’ll actually use - not just mini samples or random fillers. Before writing about any of them, I always take a proper deep dive into last year’s version too - checking whether it’s gone up in price, if the value still stacks up, and whether the packaging feels special enough for the cost. I don’t just open them and call it a day; if it’s featured in our best beauty advent calendars list, it’s because it genuinely deserves the spot.” - Shani Cohen, Glamour's Beauty Commerce Writer.
M&S Advent Calendar 2025, at a glance:
| Waitlist open? | Yes. The waitlist opened in October. |
| Available to buy: | Now. Hurry it often sells out fast! |
| Number of products: | 25 products for the first time ever – 8 of which are full size compared to 6 last year. |
| Brand highlights: | Clinique, Estée Lauder, Color Wow, Living Proof, Cowshed, Floral Street, Weleda, Stila. |
| Price / RRP: | £330. |
| Worth: | £330. |
| Things we love: | More full-sized products than last year (eight) compared to six. Great for luxe skincare with brands like Estée Lauder, Prai Beauty and Cowshed in the mix. We love that this calendar features tools like a Gua Sha and a cute hair clip. |
| Things we love less: | The packaging, while fun and festive, could feel a little more luxe. The line-up is also a little repetitive. |
| Rewards: | If you spend £35 on full-price fashion, homeware or beauty, you can grab the calendar for £60. |
The 2025 design comes in a festive black and gold box created with Bella Freud - it’s chic and definitely on theme, but if I’m honest, last year’s velvet vanity case still wins it for me. That one felt like a proper treat (and basically doubled as a gift in itself) - I still use mine for my toiletries. But packaging aside, it’s what’s inside that counts, and this year’s line-up doesn't dissapoint.
You get 25 products, hand-picked by M&S’s beauty buyers, including eight full-size favourites (up from six last year). Expect everything from skincare and haircare to a few luxe wellness and fragrance treats. Look away now if you don't like spoilers…
What's inside the M&S Beauty Advent Calendar 2025?
- Bloom & Blossom Off to Bed Indulgence Bath Oil - 100ml (full-size)
- Clinique High Impact Mascara - 7ml (full-size)
- Benefit Cosmetics Benetint - 6ml (full-size)
- This Works Deep Sleep Body Cocoon - 100ml (full-size)
- Stila Stay All Day Smudge & Set Waterproof Gel Eyeliner - Espresso 0.35g (full-size)
- Prai Beauty Ageless Throat & Decolletage Creme Intensive Gold - 30ml
- Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Serum - 7ml
- Nails Inc Billie 1-Step Gel It's Topless Nail Polish - 10ml
- Weleda Skin Food - 30ml
- Color Wow Dream Cocktail Leave-In Thickening Treatment - 50ml
- Cowshed Relax Bath & Shower Gel - 100ml
- Cowshed Body Lotion - 100ml
- L'Occitane Almond Hand & Nail Cream - 30ml
- Emma Hardie Moringa Renewal Treatment Mask - 15ml
- Percy & Reed I Need a Hero! Overnight Recovery Mask - 100ml
- Living Proof Full Shampoo - 60ml
- Living Proof Full Conditioner - 60ml
- NUXE Huile Prodigieuse® Multi-Purpose Dry Oil - 10ml
- Dr. Paw Paw Lip & Eye Balm - 8ml
- Floral Street Sweet Almond Blossom - 10ml
- Discover Soft Gardenia - 30ml
- Formula Restore & Nourish Day Cream - 15ml
- Bloom Stainless Steel Gua Sha
- Bloom Large Hair Clip
- Bloom x Handle Recycled Wide Tooth Comb
Yes, it’s an impressive line-up, but there are quite a few familiar faces from last year - Cowshed, L’Occitane, Color Wow, Prai and Dr. Paw Paw all make a return. Not a bad thing (they’re crowd-pleasers for a reason), but it would’ve been nice to see a few newer or more TikTok-trending brands in the mix.
This year’s edit leans more towards skincare - especially anti-ageing - which makes it a great pick for those with mature skin or anyone after a more classic beauty line-up. If you’re chasing the latest viral launches, though, you’re probably better off with Sephora or LookFantastic's 2025 offerings.
One question remains: Has it improved from last year's? I'd say 100% yes. Despite my reservations on the packaging and repeat products, I have to say it's a pretty good line up. I mean anything with Estée Lauder in gets a thumbs up from me. It's pricey yes, but seeing as there's such a great deal when you spend £35 at M&S (and let's be honest, that's not difficult to do) - it makes it one of the best value advent calendars of 2025.
The M&S Advent Calendar 2025 is available to buy now. It's known to sell out fast, so don't wait around.
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