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December may be months away, but early-bird beauty gift sets are are popping up faster than you can say, “it’s not even Halloween yet.” Of all the women’s perfumes, hair styling tools, and luxury candles on your wish list, one holiday beauty gifting category takes the cake as the most coveted: Beauty advent calendars.
Last year, beauty advent calendars took TikTok by storm. Most beauty advent calendars earned stellar reviews, with scrollers-by tuning in to see daily unboxing videos of the calendar’s windows. Dior’s luxury beauty advent calendar was a favorite, with over 155.2 million views on TikTok; while Target’s budget-friendly calendar earned 29.6 million views. Other beauty advent calendars left shoppers wanting for more. (A note for the risk-averse: You can always opt for a calendar that discloses what’s inside.)
Because of their growing popularity, you have so many options to choose from when selecting a beauty advent calendar. There’s candle advent calendars, skin care advent calendars, and makeup advent calendars, plus options that include a mix of items. You can, of course, put some merriment in your month by purchasing one for yourself, but beauty advent calendars are designed for easy gifting. Pick a brand your loved-one adores, or introduce them to something new. These top beauty advent calendars can be found at some of your favorite retailers, from Amazon and Target to Net-a-Porter and Neiman Marcus. Either way, beauty advent calendars are some of the sweetest gifts for wives, gifts for girlfriends, and gifts for moms. Start keeping an eye on these advent calendars that make a great gift for women in your life because they tend to sell out fast. As we inch closer to the holiday season, the editors at WWD will highlight the best advent calendars worth buying immediately for some holly, jolly feels.
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Saks Fifth Avenue Saks 25 Days of Beauty Advent Calendar
A perennial favorite that’s stocked with skin care and makeup galore, Saks Fifth Avenue’s beauty advent calendar delivers a taste of luxury beauty items. This year’s edition includes a Diptyque candle, two TikTok-famous beauty products by Charlotte Tilbury, a mini Gucci perfume, a travel-sized Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream, plus 20 more beauty treats. We expect it to sell out quickly, so don’t hesitate if you have heart eyes for this beauty gift.
Voluspa 12-Day Advent Calendar
Candle gifts are a smart choice if you’re shopping for the person who has everything, or someone you don’t know particularly well. Voluspa’s 12-Day Advent Calendar is the first Sephora beauty advent calendar to launch this year, and it’s made quite an entrance with 12 votives featuring the candle brand’s bestselling scents.
Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte’s Lucky Chest of Beauty Secrets Advent Calendar
The 2023 Charlotte Tilbury beauty advent calendar is going to be all over your For You Page when fall’s in full swing — last year’s edition went viral for its jaw-dropping mix of 12 bestselling products, many of which were full-sized. We won’t know what’s inside until mid-September, but don’t wait until then to add your name to the waitlist, as it’s quick to sell out (and based off of last year’s offerings, it’s bound to be legendary).
Burt’s Bees Bundle Up With Burt’s Holiday Advent Calendar
You can never have too many lip balms, and Burt’s Bees beauty advent calendar will restock anyone’s stash. This set includes 12 balms in different flavors — including popular pomegranate and seasonal options like mint cocoa and vanilla maple — some of which are tinted for a hint of color. Purchased individually, these balms would cost you $48 total, so the $24 price tag makes this lip balm advent calendar a major steal.
L’Occitane Holiday Premium Calendar
L’Occitane lovers will have a holly jolly time opening the brand’s skin care advent calendar’s 24 windows. This selection includes $240 worth of bath, body, and skin care products in mini and full sizes, ideal for trying at home or packing in an overnight bag for a weekend away. Buttery face cream, pillow mist, and face oil are just a few of the standouts ready to be unwrapped.
111Skin 12 Days of 111Skin
Jennifer Aniston, Demi Moore, and Margot Robbie are just a few of 111Skin’s celebrity fans. Want to see what lures them in? Order up the 12 Days of 111Skin beauty advent calendar, which comes with prestige face serums, sheet masks, and high-powered skin care essentials that promise A-list level radiance. Best of all, the set was carefully designed so you can use the products for 12 days in a row as a brightening boot camp for dull, tired skin.
The Body Shop Share the Love Big Advent Beauty Calendar
Body Shop’s Share the Love set is a top beauty advent calendar for teens and adults alike, as it contains non-irritating skin care products friendly for all ages. You’ll get practical products like sudsy shampoo and body wash, plus self care staples like bath bombs and rose-scented body scrub. Some beauty advent calendars refresh your skin care routine; this one will restock your medicine cabinet.
Cowshed Christmas Advent Calendar
Few brands do body care like Cowshed, the British beauty brand behind Soho House’s global spas. This wellness advent calendar is full of 24 items that treat your senses from head to toe, including eye cream, hand creams, body lotions, and much more. If you’re after a wellness gift, this item will end your search.
Chapstick 12 Days of Chapstick Holiday Advent Calendar
Can’t get enough holiday flavor in your life? The 12 Days of Chapstick Holiday Advent Calendar lets you take the candy canes, pumpkin pie, and sugar cookies anywhere you go. This affordable beauty advent calendar includes those flavors and more, allowing you to swipe on something sweet whenever you’re craving it. The set also includes classic and cherry flavors that’ll last you well beyond the New Year.
What Are Beauty Advent Calendars?
Beauty advent calendars are gift sets packed to the brim with beauty products, designed to be opened daily during your countdown to Christmas. Traditional advent calendars have 24 small treats inside (so you have one to open each day of December leading up to the 25th), however many beauty advent calendars come at a more affordable price point with 12 items inside, instead.
Shoppers can expect a mix of full-size and travel-sized skin care, makeup, and body care items inside their beauty advent calendar, depending on the set. Some beauty advent calendars disclose the skin care and makeup products inside, while others are full of surprises. Brand-specific beauty advent calendars (like Charlotte Tilbury’s or L’Occitane’s) usually include bestsellers and best-kept-secret products with cult followings. Retailer’s beauty advent calendars typically include a smattering of options, covering various brands and product categories.
What to Look for in the Best Beauty Advent Calendars
- Price range: Beauty advent calendars come in a range of prices, from $15 to upwards of $500. Affordable beauty advent calendars make amazing beauty stocking stuffers and gifts for white elephant or Dirty Santa gift exchange parties, while pricier options are standalone gifts in their own right. Expect more full-sized products and wow-worthy surprises in luxury beauty advent calendars.
- Types of products: Most beauty advent calendars conceal a mix of products across different categories, like skin care, makeup, hair care, and body care. Others, like Burt’s Bees’ advent calendar, include different variations on a singular type of product — ideal for sharing to spread the holiday cheer or restocking your personal stash.
- Who it’s best for: Consider the person you’re shopping for and what their beauty routine looks like — glam girls will love a makeup advent calendar, while those who can’t stop slathering on face creams will use every drop of product in a skin care advent calendar. Or go with a self care advent calendar with body oils, candles, and face masks as a cozy gift idea.
Are the Best Beauty Advent Calendars Worth It?
For those who love testing new products and mixing up their glam routines, beauty advent calendars are worth every penny. Beyond the cute factor, these beauty gift sets allow you to test out new products, restock ones you love, and maybe even find a new staple in your getting-ready regimen. Because beauty advent calendars contain a multitude of products, you’ll get a discount on what you’d otherwise pay to purchase each inclusion individually. (Saks Fifth Avenue’s $225 offering includes $560 worth of beauty goods, for example.)
Price aside, beauty advent calendars make excellent gifts for men or women. With beauty finds inside to open one at a time in the days leading up to Christmas, beauty advent calendars are the gifts that keep on giving.
Meet the Author
Claire Sullivan is the Senior Beauty and Lifestyle Commerce Editor for Footwear News and WWD, where she writes and edits beauty, fashion and lifestyle stories. She has over six years of experience as a writer and editor for national media outlets including Martha Stewart Living, Martha Stewart Weddings, InStyle, and Byrdie. She’s tested hundreds of products during her time as an editor, so she’s well-versed in selecting the products, including beauty advent calendars, that make a meaningful difference in your skin and hair. Learn more about us here.