Winter is a magical time, filled with parties, get-togethers and opportunities to get dressed up to your glamorous best. And however you celebrate the 25th of December, there’s no denying that the run-up to Christmas is the best time to get your mitts on exclusive deals and limited edition luxuries.
If you’re looking for luxe wedding day products, but not quite ready to invest in full-size products, a beauty advent calendar is the perfect way to trial products with most versions made up of 24 boxes housing miniature beauty delights.
But if you want to save the surprises for your wedding, simply store your calendar until 25 days before your Big Day – and then rip open! There’s nothing to stop the calendar becoming your very own bridal beauty countdown with a luxurious pre-wedding treat to enjoy every day until the I Do’s.
Because beauty calendars don’t have to be just for Christmas!
Kiehl’s
Designed by American artist Andrew Bannecker, Kiehl’s 2018 Holiday Advent Calendar is exclusive to Selfridges and inspired by glam rock. The elegant gold and black design includes two full size products and 22 deluxe samples, such as beauty lover’s favourite Midnight Recovery Concentrate.
Exclusive to Selfridges, £110, www.Selfridges.com
Elemis
If you want to give (or receive) the gift of gorgeous skin this year, get your hands on Elemis’s 25 Days of Beauty calendar. The hexagonal box design squirrels away more than two-dozen skincare-focused treats, from award-winners to bestsellers. SPOILER ALERT: the final gift is a full-size bottle of Pro-Collagen Marine Cream to unwrap on Christmas morning.
Elemis 25 Days of Beauty, £150 (worth £345), exclusively from www.Elemis.com
Lush 12 Days of Christmas
If you're the kind of woman (or man!) who seeks refuge from the cold, dark nights in the warmth of a bathtub, this is the calendar for you. Lush's 12 Days of Christmas celebrates the art of bathing with 12 super products to get squeaky clean in the bath and shower. Whether you're in the mood for bubbles, fancy some fizz or want loads of lathers, this traditional gift covers all bases.
Lush 12 Days of Christmas, £75, UK.Lush.com
Liberty of London
Hold on to your Christmas stockings because the 2018 Liberty of London Beauty Calendar is back and more beautiful than ever. Worth more than a whopping £600, this is the ultimate gift for beauty addicts with choice products from cult brands in the department store’s beauty hall; think Diptyque, Le Labo, Hourglass, Byredo and LIXIRSKIN. And while we’ll always love minis, we're excited by the fact there are 18 full size products nestled within the beautifully illustrated box. They’re known to sell out quickly, so you’ll have to move quickly to nab one of these.
Liberty of London Advent Calendar, www.LibertyLondon.com
Jo Malone All That Sparkles Calendar
We’re always excited to see what the luxury fragrance house reveals for its Christmas line-up. This year’s bumper beauty calendar is bursting with colognes, candles and more treats, all packed inside an iconic cream and black box, fronted with an illustration of the Jo Malone Townhouse on a classic London street. Available exclusively in Harrods from 1st October 2018 and in boutiques nationwide from 1st November 2018.
Jo Malone London Advent Calendar, £300, www.JoMalone.com
Fortnum & Mason
The beauty calendar bandwagon shows no sign of slowing and luxury grocers F&M are the latest to launch their first ever version. Promising to house beauty names from the established to the niche, the calendar retails at £195 but holds a staggering £625 worth of beauty goodies from brands like Aromatherapy Associates, Sisley and This Works. Behind each of the 24 doors await bestsellers from the store’s beauty floor, including 14 full-size prodcts. Expect skincare, makeup, haircare, nail care and colour, bath and body, and wellness galore. What’s more there are just 400 calendars made so this really is an exclusive purchase.
Fortnum & Mason Beauty Advent Calendar, £195, www.FortnumAndMason.com
Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Universe
If you’ve always wanted to try this beauty behemoth’s star products, now is your chance to enter the Charlotte Tilbury universe. Minis include Magic Cream, Full Fat Lashes mascara and the bestselling lipstick Matte Revolution Pillow Talk plus loads more.
Charlotte’s Beauty Universe Calendar, £150, www.CharlotteTilbury.com
Decleor Advent Calendar
Can’t wait for Christmas morning? Discover a new beauty surprise every day with Decle´or’s Advent Calendar. The collection packs in 24 skin saviours from the brand's bestselling ranges as well as three full size products: Phytopeel Smooth Exfoliator 50ml, Hydra Floral Everfresh Eye Gel 15ml and Hydra Floral Light Cream 30ml.
Decle´or Advent Calendar, £80, www.Decleor.co.uk
L’Occitane
It’s a double whammy from the French skincare brand this year, with a Classic (£49) calendar and bumper Luxury (£89) version to choose from. While both contain 24 products to brighten up every morning until Christmas, the Luxury calendar contains products with a higher price point – think creams, fragrances and body oils that will leave your skin feeling like silk. Both boxes are designed by fashion house CASTELBAJAC Paris.
L’Occitane Classic and Luxury Advent Calendars, £49 and £89 respectively, UK.LOccitane.com
Glossybox Advent Calendar
The beauty subscription has launched its very first calendar this year and if you’ve already signed up to get their monthly boxes, you can bag this 25-box calendar at a discount - £75 instead of £99. The rose gold box is holds an array of skincare, makeup, haircare and beauty tools from the likes of NARS Cosmetics, Real Techniques and HUDA Beauty as well as emerging new companies.
Glossybox Advent Calendar, £99 or £75 for subscribers, www.GlossyBox.co.uk
NUXE x Løve Organic Advent Calendar
Enjoy the git of healthy skin and hair this festive season with Nuxe's 24-box calendar. As well as the legendary Huile Prodigieuse®, the calendar also includes 14 travel-sized bestsellers and 10 warming packets of Løv Organic tea blend, which it has collaborated with for it's first ever Christmas Beauty Calendar.
NUXE x Løve Organic Advent Calendar, £59, UK.Nuxe.com
