Christmas is fast approaching, so now is the time to start thinking about the best beauty advent calendars. There is a lot to get excited about – Liberty’s beauty advent calendar offers a stellar lineup of products, and Sephora’s calendar is perfect for anyone looking to explore up-and-coming beauty brands. For something affordable yet still luxe, turn to Next. But equally as impressive are the Christmas countdowns from M&S and Boots.
I’m a beauty advent calendar expert, and each year the team and I decide which ones are worth your money. They’re a brilliant way to try out new brands and products, and I’ve spotted everything from trending skincare and viral make-up, to haircare innovations and a library of fragrance in 2025’s line-up.
I got hands-on with each of the beauty advent calendars as they launched. Keep scrolling for my top picks.
The best beauty advent calendars for 2025 are:
Looking for more of the best calendars? Explore our guide to the best men’s advent calendars for 2025 from grooming to socks, tried and tested
Sephora beauty advent calendar 2025
Best: Beauty advent calendar overall
Worth: £1,025
Number of days: 25
Number of products: 41 (24 full-size)
Advent calendar highlights: Merit Beauty flush balm cream blush, K18 astrolift volume spray, Laneige water bank cream moisturiser
Available: Now
Why we love it
- Most products of all calendars in 2025
- Great collection of trending products
- Great variety of make-up, skincare, fragrance and bodycare
Of all the calendars I tested in 2024, Sephora’s favourites calendar was my top pick and, after getting up close and personal with its 2025 offering, the 41-product Christmas countdown has earned my favour once more.
With one more product than last year and 24 full-sizes, this calendar is a must for modern beauty lovers, including plenty of young brands like Clomana, Tower 28 and Merit.
When I tested everything inside, I highlighted the Merit flush balm (£24, Sephora.co.uk) , telling readers how “I loved how creamy and smooth the pigment applied, with the colour giving my cheeks a flattering pop of colour without sticking to any dry patches.”
The price for this year’s Sephora advent calendar is £225, making it £26 more than last year’s – though it’s worth £25 more than 2024, which justifies the year-on-year price hike. It’s available to buy now, but I’m anticipating a stock decline imminently.
Buy now £225.00, Sephora.co.uk
Selfridges beauty advent calendar 2025
Best: Luxury beauty advent calendar
Worth: £1,136
Number of days: 25
Number of products: 37 (24 full-size)
Advent calendar highlights: Murad cellular hydration barrier repair mask, Lisa Eldridge enhance and define lip pencil, Gisou honey infused hair oil, Jo Malone english freesia and pear cologne
Available: Now
Why we love it
- 35 products not in other advent calendars
- Impressive make-up offering
- Includes a gift card for a 45-minute concierge appointment
Take note
- Skincare line-up could be improved on
The Selfridges beauty advent calendar is here. Returning in its signature yellow box, the 2025 edition is worth an extra £42 than last year’s calendar, and all for the same £250 price. While it might have been nice to see some new accents on the packaging (the retailer has opted for the same pink and gold embellishments), the contents are the star of this calendar, with fan-favourite brands like Elemis, Creed, Laneige and Fenty.
It’s exclusive, too – 35 of the 37 products are only found in this Selfridges calendar, and those lucky enough to get their hands on them will benefit from an additional two full-size products, bringing 2025’s total to 24. This calendar always flies off shelves, so those who are hopeful they’ll secure one should look to check out soon now that it’s launched.
Buy now £250.00, Selfridges.com
Cult Beauty advent calendar 2025
Best: Beauty advent calendar for make-up
Worth: More than £1,100 in the classic and £1,200 in the limited-edition
Number of days: 25
Number of products: 34 in the classic curation (20 full-size) and 40 in the limited-edition curation (21 full-size)
Advent calendar highlights: Vieve skin nova, Gisou honey-infused lip oil, Kate Somerville exfolikate, Hourglass unlocked instant extensions mascara
Available: Now for the classic curation, the limited edition one is now sold out
Why we love it
- Lots of viral brands included
- Seven products on day 25
- IndyBest buys featured in product roster
Take note
- A few too many lip products
Cult Beauty’s advent calendar for 2025 is proving especially popular on social media, alongside frontrunners Space NK and Sephora.
Much like last year, the beauty retailer has two Christmas countdowns: classic and limited-edition ‘curations’, with the latter iteration now sold out for 2025. The brand also revealed that 16 of the items featured are new launches from the past year, including Elemis pro-collagen toning mist (£45, Cultbeauty.co.uk), Byoma’s phyto-mucin glow serum (£15, Spacenk.com) and Medik8’s C-tetra advanced serum (£69, Spacenk.com).
With contemporary lilac packaging by artist Quentin Jones, this year’s haul will set you back an additional £5 versus 2024’s offering. But you’ll also get an extra one or two full-size items, depending on the calendar you choose. It’s a little expensive, but the retailer says that the value of the goods in this year’s calendar is more than four and a half times the retail price. If they’re right, that’s excellent value for money, especially considering a £20 e-gift voucher comes as standard with your advent purchase.
Buy now £240.00, Cultbeauty.co.uk
Liberty beauty advent calendar 2025
Best: Beauty advent calendar packaging
Worth: £1,245
Number of days: 25
Number of products: 30 (20 full-size)
Advent calendar highlights: Zelens melatonin B12 overnight repair mask, Augustinus Bader the rich eye cream, Davines naturaltech nourishing shampoo
Available: Now
Why we love it
- Features single items worth more than £150
- £25 cheaper for beauty drop subscribers
- More than one product in certain drawers
Take note
- Excessive number of fragrances
True to form, the Liberty beauty advent calendar features a design centred around its Regent Street store – but this time with ‘150’ motifs adorning the front to celebrate the luxury department store’s 150th anniversary.
For 2025, the Liberty beauty advent calendar is worth £1,245, which is £45 more than last year’s and contains two more full-size products than 2024’s calendar. You’ll unbox 30 items across make-up, skincare, haircare and fragrance – 20 of which are full-size.
Having unboxed the contents of the snow-capped advent, this year’s offering presents an enviable mix of brands, both classic and buzzy.
Lisa Eldridge’s seamless glide eye pencil in ground coffee (£24, Liberty.com) is sure to spark excitement, and the full-size version of La Mer’s the lip balm (£65, Liberty.com) will likely prove popular, thanks to the inclusion of anti-ageing algae extract and soothing aloe.
Buy now £275.00, Libertylondon.com
Harvey Nichols beauty advent calendar 2025
Best: Beauty advent calendar for variety
Worth: More than £1000
Number of days: 25
Number of products: 37 (20 full-size)
Advent calendar highlights: Color Wow colour security shampoo and conditioner, Le Labo eucalyptus 20 eau de parfum, Otis Batterbee eyelash curler, Charlotte Tilbury airbrush flawless lip blur
Available: Now
Why we love it
- Includes products with more permanence, like brushes and an eyelash curler
- Good selection of skincare actives
- Great introduction to boutique fragrance
Take note
- Could do with a few more make-up products
Harvey Nichols is up there with the best of the bunch, and 2025’s product roster is full to the brim with trending and timeless brands alike. After 25 days of unboxing, you’ll be set for healthy locks, glowing skin and glam to rival the runway.
While Patchology’s hydro-gel mask taps into social media’s obsession with overnight skincare, La Mer’s renewal oil is sure to bring a smile to the anti-ageing aficionado in your life – especially at £120 for the 15ml included (Harveynichols.com).
Make sure to grab yours soon if Harvey Nichols is top of your wishlist – it’s top of plenty of others’, too.
Buy now £250.00, Harveynichols.com
Space NK fragrance advent calendar 2025
Best: Fragrance advent calendar for cult brands
Worth: £558
Number of days: 12
Number of products: 14
Advent calendar highlights: Killian Paris angels' share eau de parfum, Juliette has a gun not a perfume eau de parfum, Diptque mimosa scented candle
Available: Now
Why we love it
- Includes a candle as well as perfume
- Fan-favourite scents from each included brand
- Mixture of sweet, fresh, fruity, spiced and floral fragrances
Take note
- A full-size from one of the more cult brands would have been nice
If you missed out on the Harrods and Lookfantastic scent-filled advent calendars, then you’re in luck because Space NK’s perfume advent calendar launched a week ago. It boasts scents from the likes of Killian, Byredo and Glossier. Amazingly, it’s worth more than three times what you’ll pay. This is a must for those looking to discover new scents. Make sure you don’t miss out while it’s still in stock.
Buy now £160.00, Spacenk.com
Fortnum and Mason beauty advent calendar 2025
Best: Beauty advent calendar for niche brands
Worth: £1,149
Number of days: 25
Number of products: 26 (23 full-size)
Advent calendar highlights: Jo Malone London english pear and freesia hand cream, Charlotte Posner glam squad wash bag, Bamford B balanced body gel
Available: Now
Why we love it
- Gorgeous packaging
- Heaps of products not included in competitor offerings
- Only three travel-size items throughout, rest are full-size
Take note
- Not as many cult brands
As a company with not one but two Royal Warrants, Fortnum and Mason’s beauty advent calendar for 2025 is a league above luxury, with inclusions from some of the finest British beauty brands, including Clive Christian, Aromatherapy Associates and Olverum. There are also products from outside the UK, including Sol de Janeiro’s bum bum cream (£21, Fortnumandmason.com), which brings a touch of Brazilian-inspired nourishment on day eight.
In total, the contents are worth more than four times the calendar’s £265 cost, and that doesn’t even factor in the extravagant packaging, complete with poinsettias, holly and drawers in Fortnum’s iconic aqua. Fortnum’s calendar is available to shop now so secure your 25 days of royal decadence and enjoy luxe cleansers, moisturisers and more this December.
Buy now £265.00, Fortnumandmason.com
John Lewis beauty advent calendar 2025
Best: Beauty advent calendar for skincare
Worth: £1,000+
Number of days: 25
Number of products: 36 (23 full-size)
Advent calendar highlights: Le Labo thé noir 29 eau de parfum, Medik8 advanced night restore, Clinique all about eyes rich
Available: Now
Why we love it
- Even mix of products in every beauty category
- Features a red lip for party season
- Doesn't skip on bodycare, unlike competitors
Take note
- Three eye creams seems excessive
I’d recommend John Lewis’s beauty advent calendar for those with a mature complexion. Combining firming moisturisers, rejuvenating night creams and brightening eye formulas, the contents span brands both classic and of-the-moment – think, Elemis and Laneige.
It’s around £40 cheaper than the other high-end department store offerings (Selfridges, Liberty, Harrods), so the John Lewis beauty advent calendar is competitively priced with an estimated value of more than £1,000.
It’s no surprise that select inclusions feel particularly lavish, including Chantecaille’s faux cils mascara (£68, Johnlewis.com) and Killian’s love don’t be shy eau de parfum (£46 for 7.5ml, Spacenk.com). I’d argue that John Lewis’s beauty advent calendar for 2025 is its most indulgent yet and when mature skin expert Sabine Wiesel dove into its contents, she praised the skincare line-up and reported that “[it’s] made for targeting signs of ageing.”
So if you’ve overlooked it previously in a bid to secure more luxurious brands, this year’s haul demands your attention.
Buy now £235.00, Johnlewis.com
Lookfantastic advent calendar 2025
Best: Affordable beauty advent calendar
Worth: £605
Number of days: 25
Number of products: 28 (17 full-size)
Advent calendar highlights: The White Company Seychelles candle, Mac lip pencil in spice, L'Occitane shea hand cream
Available: Now
Why we love it
- More full-size products than any Lookfantastic calendar previously
- Skincare line-up left our tester's skin soft and smooth after using
- Big name brands and popular products within
Take note
- Make-up roster is relatively low value
Lookfantastic’s beauty advent calendars are always some of the best value options on the market, and, for 2025, the brand introduced a third offering: a fragrance calendar (£130, Lookfantastic.com) to join its usual beauty (£105, Lookfantastic.com) and grooming (£85, Lookfantastic.com) iterations. IndyBest’s grooming expert Samuel Mathewson will be overseeing the latter calendar in his guide to the best men’s advent calendars. As for fragrance calendar hopefuls, unfortunately, the new scenting countdown sold out just 48 hours after pre-orders launched. And it’s no surprise with fragrances from The White Company and Jo Malone on its product roster.
With Lookfantastic’s vast offering of brands on-site, I wasn’t shocked to see best-selling products from Sol de Janeiro, Color Wow, and Laneige all included in the main beauty advent calendar. Specifically, those taking the calendar home can look forward to no less than four brass-style make-up brushes from Spectrum (these aren’t for sale, but are expected to be worth £20 approx.) and a full size of Medik8’s Hydr8 B5 intense serum (£59, Lookfantastic.com).
Given their affordability, these calendars sell out fast and, if the fragrance calendar is anything to go by, you’ll want to get your order in pronto.
Buy now £105.00, Lookfantastic.com
Next beauty advent calendars 2025
Best: Beauty advent calendar for big brands
Worth: £385 for the 25 days of beauty calendar and £779 for the luxury edition
Number of days: Both 25
Number of products: 27 for the 25 days of beauty calendar and 26 for the luxury one
Advent calendar highlights: Noble Isle rhubarb shower gel, Murad retinol youth renewal eye serum, Benefit bad gal bang mascara
Available: Now
Why we love it
- Luxe edition was my favourite of the mid-range calendars
- Features brands not included in the competitor calendars, e.g. The Flat Lay Co.
- Good selection of anti-ageing formulas, specifically in luxe edition
Take note
- Packaging isn't suitable for reuse in future years
Next’s Christmas countdowns are not to be overlooked. This year, its beauty advent calendar (£95, Next.com) and luxury advent calendar (£185, Next.com) are both sights to behold. While the former is worth more than four times its cost at £385, the latter is valued in excess of £750, so there’s plenty of savings to be had.
Competing with Boots and Asos, the cheaper iteration features a great selection of brands, many of which I’ve yet to see included in offerings from other retailers. Specifically, Hello Sunday, The Flat Lay Co. and Bondi Sands.
Meanwhile, the luxury collection is perhaps my top choice for buyers looking for high-end products without the excessively opulent inclusions. That means no La Mer, no Creed and no Chantecaille. But it also means full sizes from Murad, Laura Mercier, Clinique and Mac.
Buy now £95.00, Next.co.uk
Boots beauty advent calendars 2025
Best: Mid-range beauty advent calendar
Worth: £600 for beauty stars and £285 for days of skin
Number of days: Both 24
Number of products: Both 24
Advent calendar highlights: Drunk Elephant protini polypeptide cream, Anua PDRN hyaluronic acid capsule serum, Laneige lip glowy balm
Available: Now
Why we love it
- Products and brands to suit all ages
- Multiple cult products
- Stellar selection of lip products
Take note
- Sparse on the fragrance front
As if one calendar wasn’t enough, Boots is heading into Christmas 2025 with two beauty advent calendars, the 24 beauty stars luxury advent calendar (£150, Boots.com) and the 24 days of skin advent calendar (£70, Boots.com).
If you’re sick of fragrances that aren’t to your taste or simply don’t wear make-up, the 24 days of skin offering will be more to your liking. With a glut of Korean skincare from Anua, Round Lab and Haruharu Wonder, the brand has leaned into gentle formulas, making this an even better pick for all skin types. Plus, it’s worth more than four times its price at £285+, which is no surprise with a full-size £18 mist from Pixi (Boots.com) and a £36.50 vitamin C serum – again full size – from Lumene (Boots.com).
Meanwhile, the main calendar – the beauty stars iteration – is set to balance value for money with luxurious treats. It includes Nars, Sol de Janeiro and Elemis (yes, the cleansing balm to end all cleansing balms), and this time you’re looking at a whopping worth of £600. For buyers not in the price bracket for the likes of Harrods and Harvey Nichs, Boots offers a competitive alternative for around £100 less.
Buy now £70.00, Boots.com
Harvey Nichols fragrance advent calendar 2025
Best: Fragrance advent calendar
Worth: £700+
Number of days: 12
Number of products: 20
Advent calendar highlights: Creed aventus, Malin + Goetz dark rum, Kilian roses on ice
Available: Now
Why we love it
- Includes ultra-luxe brands like Creed and Kilian
- One in 50 calendars includes a £50 gift card
Take note
- Some larger quantity bottles would be nice
Whether you’re one to layer perfumes or you fancy heading into 2026 smelling the best in the room, Harvey Nichols’s 12 days of fragrance calendar is sure to impress.
Scent enthusiasts will be excited – to say the least – to see ultra luxe inclusions from the likes of Parfums de Marly, Killian and even Creed, while those after something a little more distinctive will flock for the vial of Ex Nihilo (it’s definitely a brand to watch). The whole calendar is worth more than £700, but you’ll pay just £175, all while enjoying the same pink and red aesthetics as Harvey Nichols’s main offering.
Buy now £175.00, Harveynichols.com
The White Company beauty advent calendar 2025
Best: Beauty advent calendar for mums
Worth: £319+
Number of days: 25
Number of products: 25
Advent calendar highlights: The White Company winter signature candle, The White Company fireside mini votive candle, The White Company sleep bath shot
Available : Now
Why we love it
- Less travel sizes than previous years
- Mixture of seasonal and year-round fragrance collections
Take note
- Some design details on the drawers themselves would be appreciated
The White Company’s advent calendar is a must for the home proud among us. The brand has revealed very little about its Christmas countdown just yet. What I do know is that it will contain candles, room sprays, diffusers, body care and perfume in the brand’s signature scents, including Seychelles, winter and sea salt. The calendar is now live, so now’s your chance to grab a fresh selection of hand creams, shower gels and more, all in time for the festive season.
Buy now £195.00, Thewhitecompany.com
L'Occitane beauty advent calendar 2025
Best: Beauty advent calendar for body care
Worth: £276.50
Number of days: 24
Number of products: 24
Advent calendar highlights: L'Occitane almond shower oil, L'Occitane shea butter hand cream, L'Occitane fleur de cerisier (cherry blossom) eau de toilette, L'Occitane overnight reset serum
Available: Now
Why we love it
- Plenty of products from the best-selling amande range
- Townhouse packaging would slot nicely into Christmas decorations
Take note
- Would have liked to have seen some more full-sizes
If scent is top of your agenda when buying beauty then L’Occitane, with its heavenly lavender and citrus aromas, needs to be on your radar. For 2025, the French brand has packaged up its hand, hair, face and body haul in a typical Provencal-style townhouse. Though it’s not the most Christmassy wrapping, it’s certainly true to the brand and, as it happens, the contents are where this advent shines.
With all L’Occitane’s hero products, from the almond shower oil (£8, Loccitane.com) to the verbena shower gel (£6, Loccitane.com), the 24 items included will leave your skin clean and nourished as you step into 2026. There’s plenty of travel sizes here for all your hand luggage holidays, plus a selection of full-size products, including the brand’s ultimate best-seller: the shea butter hand cream (£25, Loccitane.com).
Much like The Body Shop above, the price-to-worth ratio isn’t quite as dramatic as the multi-brand retailers (see Selfridges, Liberty and the like), but a saving of more than £125 isn’t one to turn your nose up at, either. It’s available to shop now with free delivery.
Buy now £149.00, Loccitane.com
Asos beauty advent calendar 2025
Best: Beauty advent calendar for teen girls
Worth: £330
Days: 25
Number of products: 26 (15 full-size)
Advent calendar highlights: Laneige lip glowy balm, Laura Mercier translucent setting powder, Hair by Sam McKnight happy endings nourishing balm
Available: Now
Why we love it
- Strong selection for teenagers
- Affordable
- Good selection of bodycare
Take note
- Let down by the minute quantities
- Packaging is hard to navigate
Sitting alongside Boots as one of the most popular mid-range beauty advent calendars, Asos’ face + body advent calendar is a top pick for entry-level beauty enthusiasts. Be it teens or those just dipping their toes into the world of skincare, haircare and make-up for the first time, this calendar features a healthy mix of affordable, moderately priced and high-end cosmetics – so it’s not entirely out of the question that you might repurchase its contents post-December.
While it was exciting to see certain TikTok-famous brands featured – Clomana and Biodance, specifically – I might have liked to see some more 2025 newness in the formulas, such as exosome serums (a la The Inkey List) and boba moisturisers.
Worth £406, you’ll be getting more than four times what you pay in product value. The products are distributed equally across the various beauty categories. It’s certainly a contender in the sub-£100 market.
Buy now £98.00, Asos.com
Cowshed beauty advent calendar 2025
