Beauty

41 best beauty advent calendars I've opened + Black Friday deals

The countdowns that actually live up to the hype.
41 Best Beauty Advent Calendars I've Opened  Black Friday Deals

Featured in this article

1. Best Beauty Advent Calendar Overall:
Sephora Beauty Advent Calendar 2025
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2. Best Luxury Beauty Advent Calendar:
The Harvey Nichols 12 Days of Fragrance Advent Calendar 2025
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3. Best For Hidden Surprises:
Liberty Beauty Advent Calendar 2025
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GLAMOUR's beauty team opening the Sephora Beauty Advent Calendar 2025.

Head to GLAMOUR UK's TikTok channel to watch my advent calendar unboxings.

GLAMOUR's beauty team opening the Cult Beauty Advent Calendar 2025.

I score the best advent calendars based on their packaging (top marks if it's reusable or recyclable), value for money, variety and whether or not the products inside work (and are suited to a range of complexions, hair types and makeup preferences).

My favourite beauty advent calendars feature plenty of full-sized products as well as extra goodies like the chance to win a £100 voucher for the beauty brand you've bought into. Beauty advent calendars would lose points for having poor value for money, or if they feature brands that GLAMOUR readers don't really care about. I know which names excite you.

Number of calendars tested so far in 2025:

  • 35 calendars tested; 41 featured.

GLAMOUR testers:

Beauty advent calendars comparison chart:

BrandPriceValue:No. of products:Number of full-size:
Sephora£225£1,0254125
Harvey Nichols£250£1,000+3720
Liberty£275£1,2453020
Space NK£260£1,150+3526
Cult Beauty£240£1,000+3420
Selfridges£250£1,1363724
Harrods£250TBC3214
LookFantastic£105£6652817
Charlotte Tilbury£175£260125
Fortnum & Mason£265£1,1492623

Ahead, the best beauty advent calendars 2025, approved by Glamour editors.

What were the best beauty advent calendars last year?

The Glamour team's top-rated beauty advent calendars last year were the Sephora advent calendar – adored for its value for money, and selection of cult brands we'd actually been wanting to try for time – while the most popular advent calendar among GLAMOUR readers in 2024 was, surprisingly, the NEXT Beauty Advent Calendar. It was reduced to £81 at its most affordable and was worth over £380; more than 300 of you placed orders as a result.

Outside of that? We loved the Harvey Nichols, Cult Beauty and Space NK calendars – as well as those by Marks and Spencer, Liberty and Selfridges. The reason they came out on top? Each contained a healthy mix of skincare, makeup, and beauty tools, including a host of viral buys and essentials we were already desperately in need of top-ups of.


When do beauty advent calendars go on sale in 2025?

Most of this year’s calendars have been live since early July - yes, really. The drop dates keep creeping earlier every year, and at this point, the post-summer advent calendar rush is basically an annual event. NEOM and SpaceNK's calendars have already sold out, and plenty of others are close behind.

Liberty led the charge again with early access for Beauty Drop subscribers back in July, followed quickly by Cult Beauty, Harrods (who’ve launched three new calendars this year), and LookFantastic. Our advice? If you’ve got your eye on one, join the waitlists, set your alarms and don’t hang around. The best calendars always go first - and the earlier you shop, the better your chances of bagging a good one.


Who has the best beauty advent calendar?

Most big beauty brands now have beauty advent calendars each year. Seriously: name a big-name and they've probably released a Christmas countdown packed with their bestselling products – from conditioners to eyeshadow, lip balm, eyeliner and body lotion. But that doesn't mean they're all good.

This year, expect worth-your-money beauty advent calendars from The White Company, Cult Beauty, Sephora, Charlotte Tilbury, Dr Barbara Sturm, LookFantastic, John Lewis, L’Occitane, Space NK, La Prairie and Liberty London. And outside of beauty, take note of jewellery advent calendars, non-chocolate advent calendars, gin advent calendars, wine advent calendars and sex toy advent calendars, too.


Which beauty advent calendar offers the best value for money?

Of the beauty advent calendars that have launched so far this year, the one with the highest worth is Liberty’s. It’s worth a whopping £1,245 - and includes 30 iconic beauty finds (including 20 full size), plus a unique Ianthe print drawstring bag. All for £275. Whew.


Are beauty advent calendars worth it?

Honestly? Yes - if you pick the right one. The good ones (and there are tonnes on our list) offer serious value for money. Take the LookFantastic Beauty Advent Calendar - it costs £105 but packs in 28 products worth over £655, including 17 full-sized icons from brands like Sol de Janeiro and Medik8. You’re basically getting an entire beauty routine for the price of one fancy serum.

Then there are the luxe options, like Harvey Nichols’ Beauty Advent Calendar, which is £250 but includes heavy hitters like La Mer’s Renewal Oil - that’s £120 on its own - plus Augustinus Bader, La Prairie and Trinny London. It’s actually a no-brainer if you’re into luxury icons.

Of course, not every calendar is great value for money - some are more about the unboxing moment than what’s actually inside. But if you do your homework (or, let’s be real, let us do it for you), the right beauty advent calendar can save you hundreds and keep your top shelf stocked well into the new year.


Why are beauty advent calendars released so early?

Mostly, it’s down to demand. Over the years, beauty advent calendars have become the ultimate gift for beauty lovers - and the good ones (hi, Liberty, LookFantastic, Cult Beauty) sell out fast. Space NK’s has already gone! Brands have started dropping them earlier than ever this year — some as early as August - just to get ahead of the rush.

It’s also a smart retail move. The beauty advent calendar market has exploded, and launching early gives brands more time to build buzz, restock, and, let’s be honest, dominate your social feeds. Yep, it feels a little wild to be talking tinsel mid-summer, but in the beauty world, Christmas basically starts the minute the first advent calendar lands.

After something else? Shop the best gift hampers and best beauty gift sets.