Unboxing the Best Beauty Advent Calendars Actually Worth Your Money

Beauty advent calendar season is officially here. And if you’re anything like us, you’ve probably already spotted a few that are making it very difficult to wait until December.

The best beauty advent calendars have come a long way from 24 tiny samples you’ll forget about by Boxing Day. These days, you can find full-size favourites, luxury skincare, make-up, haircare, fragrance and products you’ve had sitting on your wishlist for months, all for considerably less than buying everything separately. The most difficult part is honestly choosing which one to go for!

We’ve had a look at three of this year’s most exciting beauty advent calendars from Selfridges, Harrods and LOOKFANTASTIC and wanted to give you the full run down on all three. We’ll be discussing their contents aswell as where to buy a beauty advent calendar, how many days are typically in an advent calendar, and are they actually worth the money.

First thing’s first, let’s get into our pick of the best beauty advent calendars…

Selfridges Beauty Advent Calendar 2026

Price: £250
Contents worth: £1,278
Includes: UKLASH Brow Sculpt Brow Gel
Release date: Shop Now

The Selfridges Beauty Advent Calendar

If your beauty wishlist is less of a list and more of a novel, Selfridges may have just solved a few problems at once.

The Selfridges Beauty Advent Calendar 2026 contains 40 products, including 33 full-size products, spanning make-up, skincare, haircare, fragrance and body care. You’ll find names including Jo Malone London, Gucci, Charlotte Tilbury, ELEMIS, Laneige, Sol de Janeiro and, yes, UKLASH tucked behind those bright yellow doors.

At £250, this definitely isn’t a cheap advent calendar, however, Selfridges values the contents at £1,278, which means you’re getting over £1,000 more in product value than the price you pay. If several of the products are already on your wishlist, it suddenly becomes much easier to justify.

Harrods Beauty Advent Calendar 2026

Price: £270
Contents worth: Over £2,100
Includes: UKLASH Eyelash Serum 1ml
Release date: Shop Now

The Harrods Beauty Advent Calendar is essentially a trip around the Beauty Halls without leaving home. Across 25 days, you’ll uncover a seriously impressive edit of skincare, make-up, haircare and fragrance, including 21 full-size products.

And when we say luxury, we really mean it. There’s a full-size Augustinus Bader The Rich Eye Cream, plus skincare from some of the most revered names in the industry. 

The Harrods Beauty Advent Calendar

Then there’s the make-up. Sisley Paris Le Phyto Rouge, Gucci Beauty, Hourglass and a full-size Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Matte Revolution Lipstick all make an appearance. 

And, of course, we’re very happy to see the starter size of our UKLASH Eyelash Serum joining that line-up too.

The calendar costs £270, but we’ve done the maths and the products inside are worth over £2,100 when valued individually. That’s the kind of beauty maths we can get behind. In fact, just three of its luxury inclusions, Augustinus Bader The Rich Eye Cream, Shiseido Future Solution LX Eye and Lip Contour Regenerating Cream and Montale Crazy In Love fragrance, have been valued at more than the cost of the entire calendar when bought separately, so it’s definitely worth the money.

LOOKFANTASTIC Beauty Advent Calendar 2026

Price: £120
Contents worth: Over £665
Includes: UKLASH Eyelash Serum 1ml
Release date: Pre-order now, dispatching from 22 September 2026

Want maximum beauty without going quite as high on the spend? We’d have a look at the LOOKFANTASTIC advent calendar. For £120, it gives you 25 days of beauty with 27 products, including 19 full-size treats. LOOKFANTASTIC says the complete edit is worth more than £665.

The LOOKFANTASTIC Beauty Advent Calendar

There’s a really fun mix, too. And you know it must be good as they’ve had a mix of beauty icons, including Olivia Atwood, pick what goes behind each door.

Products are from brands such as Laneige, Benefit, Anastasia Beverly Hills, Clinique, MAC, Color Wow, Sol de Janeiro, Laura Mercier, ELEMIS and plenty more.

And behind one of those doors is a UKLASH Eyelash Serum to help you ditch the falsies and start your natural lash journey.

Of the three, this is the closest to the affordable beauty advent calendars category while still giving you a seriously impressive selection. £120 is still an investment, of course, but when you compare it with the value of everything inside, the saving is significant.

Extra Tip: If you’re looking for a super special gift for a loved one, LOOKFANTASTIC has a choice of two other advent calendars too! One specifically designed for the fragrance obsessed, and another grooming calendar specifically for him…the choice is endless!

Where Can I Buy An Advent Calendar?

Once you’ve found the one, our advice is simple - if you’re looking for a specific beauty advent calendar, head directly to the retailer first.

Popular calendars can sell out surprisingly early, sometimes well before anyone has even started thinking about putting the Christmas tree up. Buying directly from Selfridges, Harrods, LOOKFANTASTIC or whichever retailer has created the calendar is usually the easiest way to check current availability, pricing and delivery information.

Still deciding? Trusted comparison and editorial sites can be really useful for seeing what else is available. IndyBest regularly compares the best beauty advent calendars, while MoneySavingExpert is a handy place to check for deals and see how the numbers stack up.

Whether you’re searching for a luxury beauty calendar, a makeup advent calendar or a more affordable option, it’s worth comparing the purchase price with the stated value of the contents. A so-called cheap advent calendar isn’t necessarily better value if you won’t use half of what’s inside.

How Many Days Are In An Advent Calendar?

Traditionally, an advent calendar has 24 doors, taking you from 1 December all the way to Christmas Eve.

Beauty brands like to do things a little differently.

You’ll now find 12-day, 24-day and 25-day calendars, and some squeeze multiple products behind individual doors. So a 24 days of beauty advent calendar doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll only receive 24 products.

For example, LOOKFANTASTIC has 25 drawers but contains 27 products, while the Selfridges calendar packs in 40 products. More doors aren’t always the goal. We’d pay more attention to what’s actually behind them.

Are Beauty Advent Calendars Worth It?

If you love beauty products and are looking for the best value for money, yes, beauty advent calendars are worth the money.

A good beauty advent calendar lets you buy a collection of products for considerably less than they would cost individually. If you were planning on buying some of them anyway, or you’ve been wanting to try several of the brands included, the saving can make a lot of sense.

They’re also a lovely way to experiment without committing to a whole new routine at once. Maybe there’s a serum you’ve been curious about, a lipstick shade you wouldn’t normally pick up or a hair product everyone keeps talking about. When one calendar encapsulates several things already on your wishlist, that’s where we think they really earn their place.

And remember, you don’t need to use everything by Christmas. The products can slot into your beauty routine throughout the coming year, so December’s little daily treat can keep giving well into 2027.

Whether you’re shopping for yourself, looking for a girls advent calendar for the beauty lover in your life, comparing advent cosmetic calendars or looking for a calendar for him, there’s a beauty advent calendar that’s suitable for everyone.