It’s easy to get carried away with the festive shopping frenzy that comes hand-in-hand with Christmas. More than once I’ve experienced what I call the ‘Black Friday Blackout’ and completely forgotten what I ordered until it shows up a week later.
This year however, the cost of living crisis has meant the majority of us are having to be extra careful when it comes to where we’re spending our money.
Looking for a bargain or an extra discount code has basically become my party trick. Buying something at full price? I don’t know her.
And while for a lot of people, buying a beauty advent calendar may not seem like a priority investment, it can actually be great value for money in a lot of ways.
Pretty much all beauty advent calendars have a higher item value than what they’re sold for and contain a huge number of products, so you can either kit your beauty bag out for the next few months (or even year) or divide them into presents for other people. Smart, huh?
When it comes to beauty advent calendars, there are definitely some standouts that offer a cut above the rest when it comes to what you get vs. what you pay for.
Aside from the price, consider what you really need and what you want to try to make sure you truly get the best value for your money.
Browse our roundup of the Eliza team’s most coveted calendars of the season here and head over to our TikTok to watch our series of advent calendar unboxings for a door-by-door rundown.
The best money-saving advent calendars
Below, find my top six beauty advent calendars that are the best value for money.
Harrods Advent Calendar
Price: £250
Worth: Over £1000
Saving: £775
Number of doors: 25
There’s no denying this advent calendar is pricey: at £250 it’s the priciest on this list but I’d argue for good reason. Of the 25 goodies inside, a staggering 21 (!) are full-sized which isn’t a regular feature in a typical calendar. We love to see it.
Highlights include a string of cult must-haves, from Augustinus Bader’s The Rich Cream (a mini at 15ml FYI, but worth £71 and great if you want in on the hype), Ren’s AHA Tonic (worth £28) and the Eve Lom Original Balm Cleanser and Muslin Cloth (worth £48).
If you’re looking to up your self-care game, this is the calendar for you. With a ReVive Eye Mask, Christophe Robin Purifying Scrub and an Aromatherapy Associates De-Stress Muscle Bath and Shower Oil, it’s the ultimate Sunday evening routine set-up.
Cult Beauty Advent Calendar
Price: £225
Worth: Over £1000
Saving: £775
Number of doors: 25
This is the most expensive advent calendar in this roundup, but it also holds the biggest savings – and the products truly live up to their ‘cult’ status.
Containing 39 products behind 25 doors, this calendar boasts 20 full-size products (that’s seven more than last year!), including a Sunday Riley Good Genes Glycolic Acid Treatment (worth £70), a Biossance Squalane + Marine Algae Eye Cream (worth £43), and a Summer Fridays CC Me Serum (worth £65).
Other highlights include the Jo Loves mini Roasted Chestnuts candle, Cult Beauty’s Satin Pillowcase and matching Satin Sleep Mask, as well as a Dieux Skin Tattoo Forever Eye Mask.
I would say this is a skincare-heavy advent calendar, so great if you’re looking to refresh your skin routine for the new year, but if you’re more of a makeup maven, one of the other calendars in this roundup will give you more value for your money.
Oh, and as an extra bonus, there are three golden tickets to be found across the country, worth £1000 to spend at Cult Beauty. Are you feeling lucky?
ASOS Face + Body 25 Day Advent Calendar
Price: £90
Worth: £397
Saving: £307
Firstly, ASOS is one of the most affordable out of all the big beauty retailers, but then you take a look behind the doors and realise it contains some of the most popular beauty brands and products out there; Charlotte Tilbury’s Pillow Talk Eyeshadow Quad would normally cost £45 on its own, Caudalie’s Vinopure Purifying Gel Cleanser which is £18, and Ritual’s The Ritual of Ayurveda Body Scrub, worth £18.90.
There are 25 products altogether with a mix of full-size and deluxe travel sizes, and I would say this is more skin, body and wellness-focused. You’ve got a really nice self-care edit including products such as Neom’s Bedtime Hero Travel Candle, Grown Alchemist Hand Cream and Psychic Sisters Gua Sha.
Charlotte Tilbury Lucky Chest Of Beauty Secrets
Price: £160
Worth: £225
Saving: £65
Number of doors: 12
While Charlotte Tilbury’s advent calendar won’t bag you the biggest savings in this round-up, it is a smart investment if you are a CT loyalist and already use a lot of her products in your makeup routine.
Behind 12 doors you’ll find some of Tilbury’s most popular products, including a full size Hot Lips 2 Lipstick in Glowing Jen (worth £29) and a full size Magic Lip Oil Crystal Elixir (worth £28) as well as travel sizes of the Beauty Light Wand, Pillow Talk Push Up Lashes! Mascara, and Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray.
This advent calendar also contains a selection of skincare heroes from CT, including her cult Magic Cream and Magic Serum Crystal Elixir. If you or someone else in your life is a Tilbury devote, this is truly a treasure trove.
LookFantastic Advent Calendar
Price: £99
Worth: £565
Saving: £466
Number of doors: 25
LookFantastic always delivers great value for money with its advent calendar, but my favourite thing about this one in particular is the range of products you get in it.
This year, the calendar includes an edit across skincare, makeup, haircare, body and wellness, from MAC Cosmetic’s MACStack Mascara Mega Brush (worth £26 – full size) to Origins Mega Mushroom Treatment (worth £38 – full size) and Sol De Janeiro’s Bum Bum Cream, (worth £10 – deluxe size) so you really feel like you’re getting something new to try in every part of your beauty routine.
This is one of the more affordable advent calendars out there coming in at just under £100 and gives you one of the most significant savings. It houses 12 full-size products out of the 27 total and includes brands such as NARS, Eve Lom and Medik8,
Plus, if you’re already a subscriber to The Box, you’ll get an extra £15 off the price, taking the advent calendar down to just £84.
Space NK Beauty Advent Calendar
Price: £235
Worth: Over £1000
Saving: £765
Number of doors: 25
Of all the beauty advent calendars I’ve unboxed this year, this one comes out on top in terms of both value and quality of products inside. It takes a lot to impress me when it comes to advent calendars (call me jaded but I’ve seen it all), and this one genuinely surprised and delighted me.
You’ll find a luxury selection of 33 products from cult brands across skincare, makeup, hair and body, with brands including Tatcha, Rare Beauty, Laneige and Paula’s Choice.
I was seriously impressed with the range of full-size makeup products inside these doors; you’ve got Charlotte Tilbury Bigger Brighter Eyes Eyeshadow Palette (worth £45), Hourglass Confession Ultra Slim High Intensity Refillable Lipstick (worth £35) and the Rose Inc Ultra-Black Lash Lift Serum Mascara (worth £22), as well as a skin perfector, liquid eyeliner and multipurpose pencil, replenishing your makeup bag in one fell swoop.
Other mega products include the Boy Smells Hinoki Fantôme Candle, Nécessaire The Body Serum and Kate Somerville Goat Milk Moisturizing Cleanser.
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