The best beauty advent calendars of 2025, chosen by our beauty experts
September may seem early, but the biggest beauty brands have already released their 2025 advent calendars and the wait-lists are growing...
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September may seem premature to be talking about beauty advent calendars, but Liberty London, Elemis and Selfridges have already made their 2025 versions available to buy. Elsewhere, wait-lists are open to secure the most in-demand calendars and we’ve found out what’s inside many of them.
Last year, some of the most popular beauty advent calendars sold out as early as October, with buyers eager to get their hands on limited edition products. The contents of calendars are often worth several times their selling prices, which range from under £100 to over £300. I asked a panel of Telegraph readers whether they think they’re worth it, and you can read their responses below.
Sonia Haria, The Telegraph’s beauty director, advises making your choice by September to avoid disappointment. “Most advent calendars now seem to be on sale from late August or early September. You could buy your favourite and keep it stored away until Christmas.”
Some big brands are keeping the contents of their calendars secret and some don’t yet have waiting lists, so we’ll be updating this article whenever there’s new information. We do know plenty already, however. If you’re not worried about spoilers, skip to my previews, followed by the answers to some frequently asked questions. If you’re in a hurry, here are my predictions for this year’s top five:
The best beauty advent calendars: At a glance
- Best Buy beauty advent calendar: Liberty London
- Best Value beauty advent calendar: LookFantastic
- Best multi-brand beauty advent calendar: Space NK
- Best beauty advent calendar for big brands: Cult Beauty
- Best luxury beauty advent calendar: Harrods
How I choose the best beauty advent calendars
When it comes to choosing the best beauty advent calendars, I enlist the help of beauty director Sonia Haria. “I always look for luxury or cult beauty products that would cost a lot to buy full-price,” she says. “Part of the thrill of advent calendars is the cost-saving element, so if you’ve had your eye on a certain product for a while, it is often good value to buy a beauty advent calendar rather than individual full-sized bottles.”
Taking Sonia’s advice, I primarily consider the combined value of the contents inside if you were to buy them individually. Some are worth hundreds of pounds more than the calendar costs.
I also look at the variety of products; how many full-size or travel sizes are included in a box and whether there are any limited edition products. The contents have to be good too, rather than whatever hasn’t been sold that year.
Finally, I ask Telegraph readers which beauty advent calendars they have bought in the past and whether they found them to be good value for money.
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What you think about beauty advent calendars
I asked a panel of Telegraph readers whether beauty advent calendars are good value for money. There’s a certain amount of cynicism, but many of you say you enjoy buying them as gifts. Liberty London seems to be the most sought-after brand. Here’s a selection of your comments:
The best beauty advent calendars of 2025
Beauty advent calendars aren’t all released at the same time. Some can be bought now for later delivery, others have wait-lists open but won’t yet reveal the contents, while some are keeping everything under wraps. I’ve divided my guide into three sections.
JUMP TO:
- Best beauty advent calendars already on sale
- Best beauty advent calendars with pre-sale open
- Beauty advent calendars with wait-lists open
- Forthcoming beauty advent calendars whose contents we know
Best beauty advent calendars already on sale
Many of the best beauty advent calendars are already on sale, including our Best Buy, Liberty London’s calendar.
1. Best Buy Beauty Advent Calendar: Liberty London
For the last 10 years, Liberty London has released our beauty editor’s favourite advent calendar. “I always love Liberty’s advent calendar,” Sonia says. “I find that the selection and curation of products is well thought-through and you can uncover some real gems. It always looks festive and beautiful, too – there’s a reason why it sells out every year.”
This year, the waitlist has been open from July 2, and the calendar is now available to buy. Liberty says there will be 30 products across make-up, skincare and fragrance, including 20 full-size and 26 exclusive.
The brands include Jones Road, Lisa Eldridge, Augustinus Bader and Ex Nihilo. With the box designed as a replica of the Grade II listed Tudor department store on Great Marlborough Street, it’s essentially a taste of the famous beauty hall at home.
Key specifications
- Number of days: 25
- Number of products: 30
- Value: £1245 (costs £275)
- Saving: £970
- Available to buy: Now
As can be expected from the high-end beauty retailer, which first opened in Covent Garden in 1993, Space NK’s advent calendar is always popular and quick to sell out. “The Space NK advent calendar last year was brilliant,” Sonia says. “It had lots of full-sized products within it, some of which were exclusive to Space NK, so you felt like you were getting bang for your buck.”
This year it’s available from September, but you can already sign up for the wait-list. The calendar will contain more than £1,150 worth of products and be sold for £260. While Space NK hasn’t released any information about the contents yet, we can probably expect similar brands to previous versions, which included Rare Beauty, Laneige, Hourglass and Charlotte Tilbury.
Key specifications
- Number of days: 25
- Number of products: Not specified
- Value: £1,150
- Saving: £890
- Available to buy: Now
Harrods’ beauty advent calendar is one of the only calendars so far that you can already buy, rather than just sign up to a wait-list. Surprisingly, given the illustrious brand, this isn’t the most expensive option on this list by any means. (Although that’s not to say it’s cheap.)
If you can’t wait, the Harrods website reveals all 32 products that are going to be behind the 25 doors. The full-sizes, of which there are 14, include a Laura Mercier mascara, La Mer moisturiser and Bobbi Brown eyeshadow stick.
Key specifications
- Number of days: 25
- Number of products: 32 (including 14 full-size)
- Value: Not specified
- Saving: Not specified
- Available to buy: Now
Cult Beauty advent calendars are always filled to the brim with products, and this year is no different, with 34 products and 24 full-sizes inside. “I like Cult Beauty’s calendar, which always has an exciting selection of products to discover,” says Sonia.
Last year’s calendar contained 40 products, which was the most of any we tested, including 19 full-sized products. The four that have been revealed so far for this year’s are Gisou Lip Oil, Huda Beauty Lip Gloss, Hourglass Mascara and a Patrick Ta Blush palette.
Key specifications
- Number of days: Not specified
- Number of products: Not specified
- Value: £1,100 (costs £240)
- Saving: £860
- Available to buy: Now
There’s no wait-list or pre-sale yet for Harvey Nic’s 2025 beauty advent calendar, but we do know what’s in side it, and it’s looking Absolutely Fabulous, darling. There’ll be 37 products including 20 full sizes, behind 25 doors, and the calendar will be available to buy from September.
Highlights inside include La Prairie SPF50. Le Labo Eucalyptus 20 Eau de Parfum, Trinny London Exfoliant and Bamford pillow spray, plus more from Charlotte Tilbury, Augustinus Bader, Nars and La Mer.
Key specifications
- Number of days: 25
- Number of products: 37 (including 20 full-size)
- Value: More than £1,000
- Saving: At least £750
- Available to buy: Now
Historic department store Selfridges is one of the best examples of a multi-brand retailer pulling out all the stops, with 37 products inside 25 doors, including 24 full-size products, worth £1,136 The brands inside include REFY, Charlotte Tilbury, Laneige, Color Wow and Creed.
And it’s not just makeup and skincare; the calendar includes a makeup brush, a scalp brush and even a beauty concierge card. This is available to buy already.
Key specifications
- Number of days: 25
- Number of products: 37
- Value: £1,136
- Saving: £886
- Available to buy: Now
Elemis’ beauty advent calendar is always popular, with many of its full price contents costing more than £50. While we’re not sure what’s going into this year’s calendar yet, we can expect variations of the viral Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm (Elemis sells this in unscented, rose and the original, which has elderberry and starflower oil) and perhaps a Marine Cream.
This year, the calendar is wrapped inside a keepsake recyclable box with a snowflake design. The Elemis calendar is available to buy already.
Key specifications
- Number of days: 25
- Number of products: 25
- Value: £690
- Saving: £465
- Available to buy: Now
No 7 has two beauty advent calendars available this year. There’s this Ultimate Beauty Advent Calendar, which includes 25 products, including the bestselling Future Renew range that went viral in 2023.
If you’re looking for a more budget option, there’ll also be a £60 calendar worth more than £236: the 25 Days of Beauty Advent Calendar.
Key specifications
- Number of days: 25
- Number of products: 25
- Value: £530
- Saving: £335
- Available to buy: Now
With a gold treasure chest design and jewel-handled drawers, we’re predicting this consistenly popular advent calendar will be just as popular as last year’s viral hit. While the exact contents are still under wraps, the luxury beauty brand has revealed there will be five full-sized products and seven minis – meaning two more full-sized products than last year.
It will be available to purchase on Charlotte Tilbury’s Easy Beauty For You app and website from September 9 and in stores from September 12.
Key specifications
- Number of days: 12
- Number of products: 12
- Value: Not specified
- Saving: Over £80
- Available to buy: Now
In the last few years, The Body Shop has released three variants of the advent calendar with different price points. Last year’s started at £49, making it a cheap option compared to most.
The top of this year’s range costs £120, and includes Body Shop favourites like Vitamin E cream and Camomile Cleansing Balm.
Key specifications
- Number of days: 25
- Number of products: 25
- Value: £235
- Saving: £115
- Available to buy: Now
Since being founded in 1986, skincare brand Dermalogica has become known for its scientifically-backed formulas to support skin health. Its beauty advent calendar, which sold out last year, will have 24 days of skincare.
Inside will be three full sizes, and products including the Daily Microfoliant (perhaps Dermalogica’s most famous product) and BioLumin-C Vitamin C Serum.
Key specifications
- Number of days: 24
- Number of products: Not specified
- Value: £510
- Saving: £281
- Available to buy: Now
Lady Bamford’s lifestyle brand, Bamford, has a 24 day advent calendar was released at the end of August. Inside are 24 products, including 13 full sized, all of which are Bamford’s own brand.
Expect to see a range of skincare, bath and shower products and even a Christmas decoration. The range is packaged inside a reusable box decorated with phases of the moon, to symbolise the slowing down during festive season.
Key specifications
- Number of days: 24
- Number of products: 24 (including 13 full-size)
- Value: £602
- Saving: £302
- Available to buy: Now
Lush’s 2025 Advent Calendar feels like a joyful mix of self-care and creativity. The design comes courtesy of artist Shruti Gadhvi, whose work with Artbox London – a social enterprise supporting learning disabled and autistic artists – brings a thoughtful layer of meaning to the colourful, flower-filled box.
Words like “freedom” and “calm” are woven into the design, setting the tone for what’s inside: 25 vegan surprises spanning bath bombs, soaps, scrubs, shower gels and even a pair of socks, with ten calendar-only exclusives.
Key specifications
- Number of days: 25
- Number of products: 25
- Value: Not specified
- Saving: Not specified
- Available to buy: Now
Neal’s Yard is back with another natural, vegetarian advent calendar from its Dorset factory. Included are 24 products for 24 days, including 13 full-sizes. The calendar is a collaboration with William Morris, featuring the golden lily print.
Inside is a myriad of hand creams, shower gels, facial oils, cleansers and bath products. Pre-order is open now.
Key specifications
- Number of days: 24
- Number of products: 24
- Value: £385
- Saving: £220
- Available to buy: Now
Best beauty advent calendars with pre-sale open
So far, only a handful of beauty advent calendars are available for pre-sale, meaning you can pay for them now to be delivered when they’re ready. “This is worth doing if you are keen on a popular advent calendar that has a tendency to sell out,” says Sonia.
15. Best Value Beauty Advent Calendar: LookFantastic
Price: £105, value over £655
LookFantastic’s beauty advent calendar is back for its tenth year and once again it’s more than half the price of its famous competitors (although the price is creeping up by £5 per year). This year’s will cost £105, but they claim it’s worth six times that at £655. We don’t have any information about the contents yet, but we’ll update this page when that changes.
As with last year, LookFantastic is also releasing a Grooming calendar for men. For the first time, there’ll also be a fragrance advent calendar. “I think perfume advent calendars are a fantastic way to collect travel-sized or smaller bottles of perfumes to help build a perfume wardrobe and discover new scents and brands,” says Sonia. “These often make excellent gifts for a perfume lover.”
Key specifications
- Number of days: Not specified
- Number of products: Not specified
- Value: More than £655
- Saving: £550
- Available to buy: Not specified
Fortnum & Mason is synonymous with Christmas in the UK and further afield. It’s a picture of British quaintness and its beauty hall is stacked with the type of high-end brands you’d expect, like Penhaligon’s, Ortigia and its own products.
The F&M calendar can be ordered now for delivery from September 22. Inside, you’ll find Sol de Janeiro, Aromatherapy Associates, Cult 51, Bamford, Shleep, Baobab and Charlotte Posner.
Key specifications
- Number of days: 25
- Number of products: 26 (including 23 full-sized)
- Value: £1,149
- Saving: £884
- Available to buy: September 22
We know little about Sephora’s 2025 beauty advent calendar, except the fact that it will contain 41 products in total, including 24 full sizes. Sephora is also promising exclusive products, meaning they won’t be available anywhere except in the calendar.
Last year, Sephora’s beauty advent calendar cost £199, had 25 days and included MAC, Drunk Elephant, Medik8 and Rare Beauty. There was also a Sephora Collection calendar, selling own-brand products for £79.99.
Key specifications
- Number of days: Not specified
- Number of products: 41 (including 24 full-size)
- Value: Not specified
- Saving: Not specified
- Available to buy: Not specified
Best beauty advent calendars with wait-lists open
Many of the most sought-after beauty brands have opened waiting lists, where you can sign up to be notified as soon as their advent calendars go on sale. “I would sign up to all the mailing lists so you’re ready to buy as soon as they go on sale,” says Sonia.
18. Best Fragrance Beauty Advent Calendar: Jo Malone
Price: £360, value unknown
If you’re after a fragrance advent calendar rather than the traditional combination of skincare, make-up and haircare, Jo Malone’s is always a treat. The calendars contain a combination of colognes, candles and bath and body creams and shower products.
At £360, it’s at the higher end of the market. But as the preferred perfume brand of the Princess of Wales, that’s probably to be expected. (The King is more partial to Penhaligon’s, whose 2025 calendar is still under wraps.) This year’s Jo Malone calendar also includes a 30ml Orange Bitters Cologne, which is worth £56 itself.
Key specifications
- Number of days: 25
- Number of products: 25
- Value: Not specified
- Saving: Not specified
- Available to buy: September 19 (September 12 for wait-list)
For an option that’s less than £100, Anthropologie’s calendar is at the budget end of the market (if you can call anything in the beauty advent calendar market “budget”). This year’s has 24 doors containing 24 products, including 11 full-size.
Products will include full sizes of L’Occitane Shea Nail and Cuticle Oil, Le Mini Macaron Lacquer and UK Lash Eyebrow Serum as well as sample sizes of Who is Elijah fragrance and Floral Street Sweet Almond Blossom.
Key specifications
- Number of days: 24
- Number of products: 24 (including 11 full-size)
- Value: £365
- Saving: £267
- Available to buy: September
20. Best Department Store Beauty Advent Calendar: Fenwick
Price £250, value over £1,000
Fenwick comes into its own at Christmas; anyone who has visited its historic department stores will be familiar with their famous Christmas windows. It’s no surprise then that its beauty advent calendar is one of the best.
This year’s will include 33 products from brands like Charlotte Tilbury, Nars, Trinny London and Hourglass. There’ll be a mix of skincare, make-up, haircare and fragrances.
Key specifications
- Number of days: Not specified
- Number of products: 33 (including 12 full-size)
- Value: More than £1,000
- Saving: More than £750
- Available to buy: Not specified
21. Best Beauty Advent Calendar for Trying New Brands: Beauty Bay
Price and value information not yet available
This is only Beauty Bay’s second year releasing a beauty advent calendar. Last year’s cost £100, was worth £345 and contained 25 products behind 25 doors.
All we know about this year’s calendar so far is that it has 25 days, but if last year’s is anything to go by, you can expect brands like Sol de Janeiro, Bubble, Beauty of Joeson and its own brand, By Beauty Bay.
Key specifications
- Number of days: 25
- Number of products: Not specified
- Value: Not specified
- Saving: Not specified
- Available to buy: Not specified
Boots is releasing two advent calendars this year: this 24 Beauty Stars Luxury Advent Calendar, which will contain 24 products, and the 24 Days of Skin Advent Calendar, which will cost £70 and be worth more than £285. Both can be signed up to, using the same wait-list.
Those who sign up to the wait-list will be able to buy the Luxury advent calendar one day early, on September 9 (rather than the general sale on September 10). If previous Boots calendars are anything to go off, we can expect cult classics and newer viral products. At £150, it’s one of the cheaper options.
Key specifications
- Number of days: 24
- Number of products: 24
- Value: £600
- Saving: £450
- Available to buy: September 10
Forthcoming beauty advent calendars whose contents we know
23. Best Perfume Beauty Advent Calendar: Acqua di Parma
Acqua di Parma’s 2025 Advent Calendar is one for design purists as much as fragrance devotees. This season, architect Cristina Celestino turns the traditional countdown into something of a collectible, reimagining Alpine decorative techniques in a striking hatbox patterned with brushed gold.
The result nods to the Dolomites’ Antelao peak, the guiding motif of the brand’s festive range. Inside, 25 miniature treasures span the house’s most recognisable collections – Colonia, Blu Mediterraneo, Signatures of the Sun and Home. It will be sold exclusively on Selfridges from October 1.
Key specifications
- Number of days: 25
- Number of products: 25
- Value: Not specified
- Saving: Not specified
- Available to buy: October 1
If you’re looking for a calendar that you don’t have to immediately pre-order in September, John Lewis’ advent calendar doesn’t come out until October. It’s also (slightly) one of the cheaper department store advent calendars, yet still contains 36 products.
The brands inside this year’s include Trinny London, Chantecaille, Laneige, Fenty Beauty and Medik8, plus exclusive products from Le Labo. Some customers will also find gift cards for John Lewis and beauty treatments hidden inside.
Key specifications
- Number of days: 25
- Number of products: 36
- Value: Over £1,000
- Saving: £765
- Available to buy: October 3
Parisian brand Nuxe, best known for its dry oil Huile Prodigieuse, has a 24 day advent calendar coming out this year. The best bit – it’s in the shape of a Huile Prodigieuse bottle, which opens in half like a clamshell.
The products will of course include a bottle of your own, plus other products across hair, face and body, with accessories like a dry body brush.
Key specifications
- Number of days: 24
- Number of products: 24
- Value: Not specified
- Saving: Not specified
- Available to buy: September
26. Best Beauty Advent Calendar for less than £100: M&S
As is the same every year, M&S’ calendar comes at a very reasonable price – so long as you spend a certain amount in-store. This year, it’s £60 if you spend £35, and it will be worth £330. You can shop the deal from October 9.
The calendar has been designed in collaboration with Bella Freud, with a black and gold starry theme that matches the London-based fashion designer’s playful style. It includes eight full-size products from the likes of Benefit, Clinique and This Works.
Key specifications
- Number of days: 25
- Number of products: 25
- Value: £330
- Saving: £270
- Available to buy: October 9
British fragrance brand Molton Brown was granted a Royal Warrant in 2012 for supplying toiletries to Queen Elizabeth II. The late Queen reportedly loved the Orange and Bergamot Bath and Shower Gel.
While that isn’t included in this year’s advent calendar, there will be Hand Wash in the same scent, along with 23 other bath and body products, hand creams, perfumes and candles.
Key specifications
- Number of days: 24
- Number of products: 24
- Value: £332
- Saving: £102
- Available to buy: September 10
Most big beauty brands sell their own beauty advent calendar these days. For those wanting to splurge, Liberty’s is the ultimate treat, containing beauty gifts worth around five times its sale price – which is why it always sells out almost instantly. If you’re looking for a budget option, try Look Fantastic or The Body Shop.
The key is value for money. Look at how much the products in the advent calendar are worth, compared to the price you’re paying. I’ve listed both price and value above, to help you out.
It’s also worth looking at how many products are inside, since some have more than one behind each door. Be aware that many will be travel-sized, rather than full size products. Finally, it always helps to choose a pretty calendar that can be reused, like the Cowshed’s.
The majority of popular beauty advent calendars are released in September, although a few aren’t released until early October – last year,these included Sephora, No. 7, John Lewis and Fenwick. Some aren’t available until early November.