The best 2018 beauty advent calendars for all budgets
We’ve come a long way from the days of a milk chocolate or, gasp, a picture of a bauble behind an advent calendar door. The appetite for super-luxe gifts has steadily grown over the last decade, and now is the time to buy.
‘The beauty sector has been the leading innovator in advent calendars over the past few years,’ says Jack Duckett from trend analyst Mintel. ‘People are increasingly looking for ways to treat themselves.’
The most popular of the bunch is the gorgeous Liberty Advent Calendar, where £195 gets you £600-worth of products from top brands such as Byredo and Diptyque.
The fastest-selling product in the store’s history, last year’s calendar sold out in three days. For 2018, Emily Soulsby, Liberty’s beauty buyer, says, ‘We’ve doubled our stock, as we’ve had online searches for our calendar from 1 January this year.’ It launches tomorrow, but the calendar will still sell out fast – so don’t hang around.
There are some fine alternatives, though. The John Lewis & Partners Beauty Advent Calendar, £165 (johnlewis.com, above), has products from Elemis, Laura Mercier and Charlotte Tilbury. There’s also the chance to find £100 of beauty vouchers, which are hidden in a drawer in 20 of the calendars.
And if you’re a big fan of Jo Malone (who isn’t?), you’ll love its version – an illustrated townhouse, concealing top-notch goodies including a new Frosted Cherry & Clove Candle. It’s £300, but just think of the joy it will bring. Here is our edit of the best beauty advent calendars that 2018 has to offer.
Clarins 12 Days of Christmas Advent Calendar, £60
Back by popular demand and worth over £126, indulge yourself in Clarin's 2018 advent calendar. This collection features two full size and ten travel size of their most loved products. Each day, discover one of their best-selling and iconic products such as their Beauty Flash Balm and their SOS Hydra Mask.
Clarins Men 12 Days of Christmas Advent Calendar, £60
Clarins limited edition men's advent calendar is back for 2018. Get in to the festive spirit in style with these introductory grooming products every man needs for cleansing, grooming and moisturising. Whether you want to treat yourself or the man in your life, this is the perfect way to begin the Christmas countdown.
24 Days of Clinique Advent Calendar, £76
The Clinique Advent Calendar is back with a collection of their best skincare and beauty products. Mix and match to create the perfect daytime or evening look with favourites such as Lash Power Mascara Long Wearing Formula and Clinique Pop Matte Lip Colour.
Charlotte Tilbury Advent Calendar, £150
Charlotte Tilbury's 'Charlotte Beauty Universe' is this festive season must have advent calendar. Treat yourself to 12 days of Charlotte's most iconic beauty products. From Mini Full Fat Lashes to Hollywood Lips in Screen Siren, this is the ultimate starter kit for all beauty fanatics.
Whether you're already a fan of Cowshed products or looking for an introduction to the range, this is the perfect gift. The deluxe advent calendar contains a fantastic collection of natural skincare, hand care and bath and body treats for all of your pampering needs. Beautifully decorated with a bespoke illustration of Babington House by artist Claire Melinsky, these 24 little windows contain miniature treats such as Cowslip Soothing Hand Cream, Knackered Bath and Body Oil and Saucy Cow Conditioner.
Transform your skin this Christmas with Decléor's advent calendar worth £258, with three full size products and twenty-one deluxe samples. Featuring a wonderful mix of cleansers, masks, treatments and bath and body products, this is the ultimate gift to keep your skin glowing this party season.
Elemis 25 Days of Beauty Advent Calendar, £150
Start your countdown to Christmas with Elemis and their 25 Days of Beauty advent calendar. With best-selling and newly released products, from cleansers to day and body creams, the calendar features an excellent variety of everyday products. On day 25, you'll be treated to a full-size Pro-Collagen Marine Cream, the luxury miracle working anti-wrinkle day cream, created to firm, sooth and hydrate.
ESPA Comfort and Joy Advent Calendar, £130
Everyone loves a bit of "me time" and this luxury skincare calendar from ESPA is ideal for some much deserved relaxation. The brand is famous for its indulgent formulas which soothe your senses and leave your skin feeling beautifully smooth and revitalised. Inside each of the drawers, you can expect to discover magical products such as restorative bath oil, firming body butter, skin serum and energising shower gel. And on December 25, you'll be treated to a full-size gift so you can start the big day feeling even more special.
Estée Lauder Companies Advent Calendar, £150
Estée Lauder's advent calendar features a great mix of products which will appeal to a range of ages. With some classics and new releases, this calendar has a fantastic balance of skincare, haircare, make-up and even fragrances, so there is something for everyone.
Jo Malone Advent Calendar, £300
The Jo Malone advent calendar is without a doubt one of the most anticipated of the season. Beautifully illustrated and wrapped in a sparkling bow, the box contains 25 drawers of cult classics and some exciting seasonal launches. You can expect some of the firm favourites such as, Lime Basil and Mandarin Cologne as well as a new festive fragrance. Plus, there's an extra special surprise behind door 24!
Kiehl's Selfridges Advent Calendar, £110
Sure to sell out fast, Kiehl's Advent Calendar is perfect for couples to share. Beautifully designed by illustrator, Bannecker, these 24 little windows are full of delights such as facial fuel energising moisture treatment for men and the gorgeous grapefruit smelling hand and body lotion for women. Perfect to keep you both feeling and looking great this festive season. Sharing is caring!
La Mer, 12 Days of Radiance Advent Calendar, £300
Available at Harrods, La Mer's 12 Days of Radiance collection contains 12 of their best-selling products, including The Renewal Oil, The Moisturising Cream and The Eye Concentrate. Hurry, it just launched yesterday!
Liberty Beauty Advent Calendar, £195
Decorated in all it's festive glory, this year's Liberty Beauty Calendar is available to buy in store and online from Wednesday 24th October, featuring 18 full-sized and 6 deluxe samples of the most carefully selected beauty products. Including skincare, haircare, fragrance and candles you can expect minis from brands such as, Byredo, Diptyque and Le Labo. This is the ultimate gift to make the holiday feel that little bit more special.
L'Occitane Luxury Advent Calendar, £86
Bring a little more excitement to this year's Christmas countdown with the L'Occitane Luxury Advent Calendar, containing 24 of their most loved premium products. This year it comes in a unique moving design; the two towers rotate 360 degrees, revealing unique designs on all four sides whilst you search for the date. Each drawer holds a fragrance, a hand cream or skincare to help your skin look more youthful.
Marks & Spencer's advent calendar is back for 2018 and is set to sell out fast with a contents worth over £250 for just a purse-friendly £35. It includes specially selected beauty products from their own brand and big name brands such as Stila, Ren and Pixi.
Molton Brown Advent Calendar, £175
This Molton Brown Advent Calendar contains a wonderful mix of bath, candles and body products, as well as the limited edition fragrance which is worth £49 alone. Each door is sure to promise something special, whether its a cult classic or a new launch.
Space NK Advent Calendar, £250
Space NK's first ever beauty calendar is stylishly decorated in an emerald green and burgundy open-out box. In the 24 days leading up to Christmas, pull out a little drawer to discover beauty favourites from their best-sellers such as Sunday Riley, Eve Lom and Hourglass, as well as new brands including Drunk Elephant. Worth £600, this limited edition luxury advent calendar is only available whilst stocks last so don't miss out!
The Body Shop, 25 Days of The Enchanted Ultimate Advent Calendar, £99
For the most enchanting of Christmas countdowns, let Freddie the fox guide you through the forest to discover 25 beauty products to invigorate both your body and your mind. You can expect to find 14 full-size products carefully selected from their skincare ranges. Products include their gorgeous smelling Body Butter in Berry Bon Bon and all time favourite, Ethiopian Green Coffee Cream.
Net-A-Porter Advent Calendar, £150
Countdown to the holiday season with 25 individual beauty boosts, ranging from smoothing balms such as Oribe Straight Away Smoothing Blowout Cream to the perfect nude lipstick (Marc Jacobs Beauty Le Marc Lip Crème in No Angel). If your skin is in need of some TLC after all those festive celebrations, treat it to Charlotte Tilbury's Goddess Skin Clay Mask and let your body and mind unwind with Aromatherapy Associate's Lavender & Peppermint Bath Oil before New year's Eve celebrations begin.
The John Lewis & Partners Beauty Advent Calendar, £165
This festive countdown includes products from Elemis, Laura Mercier and Charlotte Tilbury. Plus, there’s also the chance to find £100 of beauty vouchers, which are hidden in a drawer in just 20 of the calendars.
