The best beauty advent calendars 2025 for every budget

They have become big business for brands too, with many spending all year sourcing the best products to give customers a festive treat at a fraction of the price they'd pay if they bought the products individually.

But which are the best value, and which are all fillers and no thrillers? We tried the market leaders and here's our honest pick - from Aldi, M&S, Boots, Sephora, Lookfantastic, Glossybox, Soap & Glory, Lush and Holland & Barrett - organised by budget, reviewed by our panel of beauty and consumer experts.

Best under £20

Aldi 12 Days of Lacura Beauty Advent Calendar

(Image: Aldi)

Reviewed by: Jade Wright

Price: £19.99, available in stores nationwide from October 26.

What's Inside:

• The Lacura Vitabase Moisturising Primer (15g)
• Lacura ‘Peachy Pink’ Liquid Blush (2.1ml)
• Lacura Stay Illuminated ‘Champagne’ Highlighter (2.1ml)
• Lacura Scalp & Body Scrub (50g)
• Lacura Honey Infused Hair Oil (25ml)
• Lacura Dramatic Lash Mascara (6ml)
• Lacura Silky Kajal ‘Matte Black’ Eyeliner (1.2g)
• Lacura ‘Berry Bliss’ Tinted Lip Oil (2ml)
• Lacura Collagen Lip Oil (8ml)
• Lacura Creaseless Hair Clips (2-piece)
• Lacura 100% Silk Scrunchie
• Lacura Illuminate Setting Spray (32ml)

Verdict: This great-value calendar brings together lots of Aldi Lacura miniature and full-size fan-favourite, cruelty-free products, with highlights including the Vitabase Moisturising Primer and Collagen Lip Oil. I particularly liked the silky black mascara and smooth black eyeliner - always welcome for party season. It may only be a 12 day collection, but it's a welcome boost at this time of year, and at under £20, who could resist?

Rating: 10/10

Best under £50

M&S Beauty Advent Calendar 

(Image: Emilia Kettle)

Reviewed by: Emilia Kettle 
Price: £60 when you spend £35 on Clothing, Home & Beauty instore or online. 
Value if bought individually: £330 
What's Inside:  

• Bloom & Blossom Off to Bed Bath Oil - 100ml (Full Size) 

• This Works Deep Sleep Body Cocoon - 100ml (Full Size) 

• Stila Smudge & Set Waterproof Gel Eyeliner - Espresso (Full Size) 

• Clinique High Impact Mascara - 7g (Full Size) 

• Benetint - 6ml (Full Size) 

• Bloom Claw Clip (Full Size) 

• Bloom Gua Sha (Full Size) 

• Handle/Bloom Wide Tooth Comb (Full Size) - Will come in one of four different colours 

• Nails Inc Topless Burgundy (Billie) - 14ml 

• Emma Hardie Moringa Renewal Treatment Mask - 15ml 

• L'Occitane Almond Hand Cream - 30ml 

• Formula Restore & Nourish Day Cream - 15ml 

• Dr Paw Paw Hyaluronic Lip Balm - 8ml 

• Cowshed Relax Shower Gel - 100ml 

• Cowshed Body Lotion - 100ml 

• Weleda Skin Food - 30ml 

• Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Serum - 7ml 

• Discover Winter Fragrance - Soft Gardinia Eau de Toilette - 30ml 

• Color Wow Travel Carb Cocktail - 30ml 

• Percy & Reed I Need a Hero Overnight Recovery Mask - 100ml 

• Living Proof Full Shampoo - 60ml 

• Living Proof Full Conditioner - 60ml 

• Floral Street Sweet Almond Blossom Eau de Parfum - 10ml 

• Prai Ageless Throat Gold Decolletage - 30ml 

• NUXE Huile Prodigieuse® Multi-Purpose Dry Oil - 10ml 

Verdict: 

M&S’s Beauty Advent Calendar offers a sparkly Christmas look designed by Bella Freud, that can easily be repurposed as a stunning gift box. 

The Advent is more focused on skin and hair care compared to others I’ve tested this year but of everything it includes, is of great quality. 

A standout is the Benetint and the Clinique High Impact Mascara, with the Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Serum and Floral Street Sweet Almond Blossom Eau de Parfum also being a nice touch. 

The M&S calendar is perfect if you’re after a range of quality products at a reasonable price.  

Rating : 8/10 

17 Advent Calendar 

17 beauty advent calendar(Image: Emilia Kettle)

Reviewed by: Emilia Kettle 
Price: £32.50 
What's Inside:  

• 17 Limited Edition Bronze & Highlight Palette 9 X 0.8g each 

• 17 Limited Edition Glitter Pigment 1g 

• 17 Limited Edition Jelly Blush Stick 10g 

• 17 Limited Edition Crème Blush 4.5g 

• 17 Limited Edition Highlight Wand 15ml 

• 17 Limited Edition Shadow Stick 1.5g 

• 17 Limited Edition Lip Gloss 3.5ml 

• 3 x 17 Limited Edition Lipsticks 3.5g 

• 17 Limited Edition Overnight Lip Mask 7g 

• 17 Limited Edition Plumping Lip Gloss 3.5ml 

• 17 Limited Edition Nail Polish 3ml 

• 17 Limited Edition Mascara 2.5ml 

• 17 Limited Edition Mini Eye Shadow 2.5g 

• 2 x 17 Limited Edition Eyelashes 

• 17 Lip sheet mask6g 

• Nail File 

• Hair Click Clacks 

• Hair Scrunchie 

• Claw Clip 

• Hair Scrunchie 

• Hair Scrunchie Bow 

• Mallow Beauty Blending Sponge 

Verdict :  The 17 Advent Calendar is the perfect option if you’re after an affordable range that has a lot to offer of great quality.  

Largely focused around makeup options, including lipsticks, blush and nail polish, you also get several hair accessories like clips and scrunchies. 

Despite being a good range of items, I did feel it could have benefited from more range beauty products as many felt focused around lips. 

Away from its products, 17 does a fantastic design job with its striking gift box star design that makes it perfect to reuse. 

Rating : 7/10 

 Soap&Glory 

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Reviewed by : Lottie Ikonen 
Price : £48 
Value if bought individually : £92.69 
What's Inside: 

• Clean On Me™ Body Wash 75 Ml E 2.5 Fl. Oz  
• Call Of Fruity™ Body Wash 75 Ml E 2.5 Fl. Oz  
• Loud Of Dreams™ Whipped Night Cream 50 Ml E 1.69 Fl. Oz   
• Call Of Fruity™ Body Butter 50 Ml E 1.69 Fl. Oz  
• Face Soap & Clarity™ Face Wash 50 Ml E 1.69 Fl. Oz  
• The Righteous Butter™ Body Butter 50 Ml E 1.69 Fl. Oz   
• The Scrub Of Your Life™ Body Polish 50 Ml E 1.69 Fl. Oz  
• Heel Genius™ Foot Cream 50 Ml E 1.69 Fl. Oz  
• Speed Plump™ Intensely Hydrating Day Lotion 50 Ml E 1.69 Fl. Oz  
• Magnificoco™ Body Wash 75 Ml E 2.5 Fl. Oz  
• Hand Food™ Hand Cream 50 Ml E 1.69 Fl. Oz  
• Call Of Fruity™ Hand Cream 50 Ml E 1.69 Fl. Oz  
• Bright + Beautiful™ Sheet Mask 29g E Net Wt. 1 Oz  
• Puffy Eye Attack™ Under-eye Brightening Hydrogel Patches 3 G Net Wt. 0.1 Oz.  
• Speed Plump™ Miracle Moisture Mask 25 G Net Wt. 0.88 Oz.  
• The Fab Pore™ Pore-refining Sheet Mask 29 G Net Wt. 1 Oz.  
• Pout About It™ Hydrogel Lip Mask 2.5 G Net Wt. 0.08 Oz  
• Roll On The Glory™ Rollerball Fragrance 10ml E 0.33 Fl. Oz  
• Berry & Bright Rollerball Fragrance 10ml E 0.33 Fl. Oz  
• Original Pink™ Body Mist 50 Ml E 1.69 Fl. Oz  
• Berry & Bright Body Wash 75 Ml E 2.5 Fl. Oz  
• Berry & Bright Body Butter 50 Ml E 1.69 Fl. Oz  
• Original Pink™ Bath Fizzer 50 G E Net Wt, 1.7 Oz.  
• Berry & Bright Candle 30g E Net Wt. 1 Oz 

Verdict: After opening every door in one go, I can confirm there are no “filler” days here – each item feels like something you’d actually use. Some are handbag-friendly, like the rollerball fragrances, while others have already earned a permanent place in my bathroom. 

If you’re after a calendar that combines pampering with a bit of festive sparkle, this one delivers. Available now at Boots, it’s a fun way to count down to Christmas – or, if you’re like me, to enjoy all at once. 

Rating : 7/10 

Holland & Barrett The Beauty Advent Calendar 2025

The Holland & Barrett advent calendar's contents is impressive(Image: Newsquest)

Reviewed by: Katie Collier

Price: £50, worth £233 – currently out of stock online

What’s inside:

• Antipodes Flora Probiotic Skin-Rescue Hyaluronic Mask (75ml)
• Wild Amber & Oud Soap Bar (125g)
• Faith In Nature Rosemary Hair Mask (300ml)
• Dr Organic Rose Otto Night Cream (50ml)
• Dr. Pawpaw Overnight Lip Mask (10ml)
• Ecodenta Anti-plaque Toothpaste with Coconut Oil (75ml)
• Holland & Barrett Hyaluronic Acid 50mg (30 tablets)
• So Eco Scalp Massaging Brush
• Super Facialist Vitamin C+ Brighten Skin Renew Cleansing Oil (200ml)
• UpCircle Night Cream with Hyaluronic Acid + Niacinamide (55ml)
• Q+A AHA Exfoliator Body Scrub (50ml)
• Salt of the Earth Ocean & Coconut Deodorant Spray (100ml)
• Sea Magik Skin Solutions Gentle Cleansing Facial Wash (150ml)
• Faith In Nature Shampoo Bar Coconut & Shea Butter (85g)
• Trilogy Vitamin C+ Super Serum (5ml)
• VitaSkin Vitamin C Lifting Eye Cream (15ml)
• Naughty Detox Dynamo Shampoo (50ml)
• Q+A Hyaluronic Serum (30ml)
• Holland & Barrett Biotin 1000ug (30 tablets)
• Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser (118ml)
• Dr Organic Skin Calm Concentrated Cream (50ml)
• Fussy Coconut Milk Natural Deodorant (15g)
• So Eco Reusable Microfibre Cleansing Pads
• Weleda Skin Food (30ml)
• Nature Spell Travel Size Rosemary Oil for Hair (50ml)

Verdict:

This beauty advent calendar is really impressive with 25 different products for your face and body.

I was glad to see some products that are generous in size and I feel like it’s worth the money.

I’m particularly excited about the inclusion of the soap bar from Wild and the mini Fussy deodorant as I’ve recently switched to using Fussy’s body bars and deodorant.

Since I’ll be heading on holiday soon, I’ve also switched to using shampoo bars so they take up less of my suitcase's weight allowance so I’m also excited about the Faith In Nature shampoo bar that’s included.

Many of the other products intrigued me like the facial washes and moisturisers and I feel like it’s a great way to try products and find some new favourites.

Rating: 8/10

Best Under £100

Sephora Premium Advent Calendar

Reviewed by: Jade Wright

Price: £89.99, from Sephora

Value if bought individually: £235.76

What's inside:

• Nail Polish – 804 Cocoa Cuddle (6.5 ml)
• Top Coat (10 ml)
• Love the Lift Mascara (8 ml)
• All Day Hydrator (30 ml)
• Hand Masks – Nourishing & Comforting (1 pair)
• Pompom (1)
• Lip Butter – Vanilla (10 g)
• Outrageous – 02 XXL Nude (6 ml)
• Soft Matte & Easy – 04 Laid Back (4.5 ml)
• Colorful Blush Glaze – 06 Tropical Dawn (3.5 g)
• Makeup Sponge
• Micellar Water Makeup Remover (50 ml)
• Color Shifter – Mystic Brown Mushroom (4 x 1.26 g + 1 x 1.33 g)
• Makeup Setting Spray – Glow (40 ml)
• Gentle Peeling Serum (30 ml)
• Make it Glow Luminizer – 03 Sunset Shine (10 ml)
• Glow Booster Mask (1 pair)
• Pompom Hair Clip
• Brightening Eye Cream (20 ml)
• 12H Waterproof Retractable Eye Pencil – 01 Matte Black (0.3 g)
• Shape & Set Clear Brow Gel (7 ml)
• Clean Skin Gel (30 ml)
• Lip Sleeping Mask – Gingerbread fragrance (15 ml)
• Crease Brush

Verdict: Sephora has a range of calendars, from its luxurious Favourites at £255 to the Sephora Collection Advent Calendar at %4.99, and this sits well in the middle, with a great introduction to the range, without a huge price commitment. It's perfect for younger beauty fans - my daughter adored the lip mark, pompom hair slide, clear skin gel and the reusable tin. While it's light on skincare for tired old timers like me, there's lots of fun products to enjoy - perfect for the run up to Christmas.

Rating 8/10

GLOSSYBOX 2025 Advent Calendar 

(Image: Emilia Kettle)

Reviewed by : Emilia Kettle 
Price : £90, from Glossybox
Value if bought individually : £624 
What's Inside :  

• Medik8 Daily Refresh Balancing Toner 

• Brushworks Blend & Sculpt Complexion Sponge 

• Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm 

• AKT London The Deodorant Balm - Columbia Road 

• ESPA Bergamot and Jasmine Body Lotion 

• Aveeno Skin Renewal Smoothing Cream 

• Sugar Silk Beauty Lip Mask 

• Natasha Denona Glam Face Palette 

• FUL Intense Moisture Hair Mask 

• ICONIC London Triple Threat Mascara – Black 

• Doctors Formula Probiotic Lifting & Radiance Eye Serum 

• Delilah Cosmetics Lip Line Longwear Retractable Pencil – Pout 

• Commodity Milk Expressive 

• MUA Makeup Academy Nourishing Shimmer Lipgloss – Cyber 

• Rituals The Ritual of Sakura Mini Fragrance Sticks 

• Sweed Satin Kohl Eyeliner - Dusty Brown 

• ESPA Bergamot and Jasmine Body Wash 

• GLOSSYBOX Winter Orchid Candle 

• Wander Beauty Baggage Claim Rose Gold Eye Mask 

• Rodial Vit C Brightening Mask Deluxe 

• Glow Hub Lip Slick Collagen Up Beauty Balm – TUTU 

• Herlum London Copa Dew All-Over Nourishing Oil 

• Morphe Sunsetter Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Setting Spray 

• Avant Skincare Pro-Intense Hyaluronic Acid Illuminating Day Cream 

• GLOSSYBOX Non Crease Clips 

• Brushworks Makeup Sponge Shield 

• Manucurist Active Glow - Raspberry 

(Image: Emilia Kettle)

Verdict :  The GLOSSYBOX 2025 Advent Calendar is jammed packed with goodies from haircare, makeup, skincare, beauty tools and even some homeware hits. 

GLOSSYBOX is a hit from the start, with the Advents design making it feel like a beautiful trunk of treasure that you get to discover for the 25 days ahead of Christmas. 

The Advent’s highlight is the Natasha Denona Glam Face Palette worth £54 and a real treat, with high quality pigment and long-lasting quality.  

If you want an Advent that offers a bit of everything with nothing going to waste, GLOSSYBOX’s 2025 edition is the perfect hit that I would buy repeatedly. 

Rating 9/10 

Best blow-the-budget beauty advent calendars

LOOKFANTASTIC The Beauty Advent Calendar

(Image: Lookfantastic)

Reviewed by : Jade Wright

Price : £105, from Lookfantastic

What's it worth ? £655

What's Inside :

• Sol de Janeiro Cheirosa 62 Perfume Mist 90ml (Full Size) - Worth £24
• The White Company Seychelles Candle 75g (Full Size) - Worth £12
• Medik8 Hydra B5 Intense 30ml (Full Size) - Worth £59
• Color Wow Shampoo and Conditioner 75ml 2pcs - Worth £22
• Iconic London Prep Set Blur 120ml (Full Size) - Worth £26
• MAC MACximal Matte Honeylove, Clear Lipglass, Lip Pencil Spice 3pcs (Full Size) - Worth £67
• Rodial Dragon's Blood Hyaluronic Acid Mask 50ml (Full Size) - Worth £55
• REN Clean Skincare Radiance Eye Cream 15ml (Full Size) - Worth £49
• ESPA Overnight Hydration Therapy 55ml (Full Size) - Worth £39
• Elemis Pro-Collagen Rose Marine Cream 15ml - Worth £37
• Aveda Botanical Repair Strengthening Leave-In Treatment 100ml (Full Size) - Worth £36
• Avant Glycolic Acid Rejuvenating Face Exfoliator 50ml - Worth £92
• Spectrum Collections 4 Piece Metallic Brush Set 4pcs (Full Size) - Worth Over £24
• The Nue Co. Magnesium Ease 15ml - Worth £20
• Peter Thomas Roth Anti-Ageing Cleansing Gel for all Skin Types 30ml (Deluxe Size) - Worth Over £14
• LANEIGE Hydro UV Defence EX SPF 50 20ml - Worth £13
• Glow Hub Buff Blush Stick 5g - Poppin (Full Size) - Worth £12
• L'Occitane Shea Hand Cream 30ml - Worth £10
• Makeup Revolution The True Icon Bronze Palette (Full Size) - Worth Over £8
• Wella Professionals Ultimate Smooth Mask 30ml - Worth Over £8
• Myvitamins Coconut and Collagen 30pcs (Full Size) - Worth Over £7
• LOOKFANTASTIC Towelling Wristbands 2pcs (Full Size) - Worth Over £6
• Molton Brown Bath and Shower Gel - Fiery Pink Pepper - Worth £6
• BEAUTYPRO Eye Therapy Under Eye Mask with Collagen and Green Tea Extract (Full Size) - Worth £2
• Aveeno Skin Relief Body Lotion 50ml - Worth Over £1

Verdict : This is a seriously luxurious calendar, and I'd say Lookfantastic's best ever. It has 17 full size products, from Espa to Elemis to Sol de Janeiro. Not to ruin the surprise, but one day has three full size MAC products, while another has a mini Seychelles The White Company candle. I made the switch to this from Liberty a few years ago, and for my money it's the best value calendar for your money this Christmas.

Rating 10/10

Lush Advent Calendar

(Image: Molly Court/Newsquest)

Reviewed by : Molly Court

Price : £205, from Lush , instore and online

What's Inside : 25 items

• Star Of Wonder bath bomb
• Ice Carousel bubble bar - Exclusive to gift
• Reindeer bath bomb
• Golden Delight bubble bar
• Snoozy Butterbear bath bomb - Exclusive to gift
• After Dinner Mint lip scrub
• Let The Good Times Roll shower gel 120g - Exclusive to gift
• Snowdrift bath bomb
• Love soap 80g - Exclusive to gift
• Mini Sleepy bubble bar
• Let The Good Times Roll bath bomb
• Yog Nog body lotion 50g - Exclusive to gift
• Super Milk dusting powder 65g
• Ginger Tom bath bomb
• Iced Wine shower gel 120g - Exclusive to gift
• Dream Cream self-preserving body lotion 45g
• Fighting Animal Testing socks - size M/L
• Yule Log soap 100g
• Shruti's Flower bath bomb - Exclusive to gift
• Golden Pear body scrub 135g - Exclusive to gift
• Merry Christmas Everyone shower gel 115g
• Candy Cane reusable bubble bar
• Sticky Dates shower gel 125g
• Christmas Eve scented candle - Exclusive to gift
• Vanillary Oudh perfume 15ml - Exclusive to gift

Verdict : This seems to be the classic advent calendar from Lush this year, and includes almost everything you could wish for from the cosmetic brand, such as bath bombs, bubble bars, shower gels, body lotions, body scrubs, soaps, a candle, and even a pair of socks (I kid you not).

The box, which was designed by Shruti Gadhvi, is quite literally a work of art, and I’m already planning on how I can reuse it.

It’s bright, it’s bold, and it opens like a treasure chest, which I think is quite fitting for all the surprises hiding inside. It makes you want to open it again and again.

Among the 25 beauty products, there are year-round favourites, items from Lush’s Christmas range, and 10 gift exclusives.

Rating : 10/10

Recommended reading:

• Lush advent calendars 2025 review - are they worth it?
• Aldi middle aisle bargain better (and cheaper) than the Amazon version
• The best Amazon bargains in my basket in the 2025 sales

Lush 29½ High Street Advent Calendar

(Image: Molly Court/Newsquest)

Reviewed by : Molly Court

Price : £125. From Lush , instore and online

What's Inside : 25 items

• Ginger Tom bath bomb
• Mini Sugar Plum Sparkle bubble bar
• Sweet Pudding bath bomb
• Butterball bath bomb
• Rosie Butterbear bath bomb - Exclusive to gift
• My Little Unicorn bath bomb
• Mini Sleepy bubble bar
• Penguin bath bomb
• Magical Santa bath bomb
• Mini Snow Fairy Roll bubble bar
• Creamy Candy bubble bar
• Sprout bath bomb - Exclusive to gift
• Sleepy Beaver bath bomb
• Catch Me If You Can bath bomb
• Mini Brightside bubble bar
• Butterbear bath bomb
• Reindeer bath bomb
• Mini Rainbow bubble bar
• Christmas Tortoise bath bomb - Exclusive to gift
• Snoozy Butterbear bath bomb - Exclusive to gift
• Candy Cane reusable bubble bar
• Snowman Dreaming bath bomb
• Toby's Magic Cow bath bomb
• Honey Butterbear bath bomb - Exclusive to gift
• Father Christmas bath bomb
• 5 x Character Cardboard cut outs - Exclusive to gift

Verdict : Although I opened this Lush advent calendar a few weeks ago now, I could still burst with excitement thinking about it, and that speaks volumes. It's certainly my favourite of the two Lush advent calendars released for 2025.

It’s designed by Sherrie Tilley and named after the brand's original shop location at 29 High Street in Poole, Dorset, with captivating, colourful designs and illustrated Christmas scenes (the bath bomb roof was a favourite of mine). You won’t be able to stop looking at it.

Opening the house-shaped box essentially feels like being given the keys to the magical Wonka Factory of bath bombs, and I quickly became obsessed with rummaging through the eco pops behind each door to see what I was going to find.

It’s bursting with bath bombs and bubble bars (this is certainly the one to go for if you are a bath-obsessed like me), and similar to the classic Lush advent calendar, it contains year-round favourites, products from the Christmas range, and some gift exclusives.

It’s no secret that Lush advent calendars are expensive, yet for the fanatics out there who can appreciate the quality of the products, I think they are something every loyal Lush customer deserves.

As you get 25 products in each calendar, I’m certain the supply of endless bath bombs, bubble bars, shower gels and beyond will last months and are sure to make the long, dark, winter days a little (or a lot) brighter.

I will certainly be first in line to buy Lush advent calendars next year and beyond.

Rating: 10/10