Christmas has arrived early across the beauty world as major brands and retailers unveil their festive countdowns for 2026. But for many, Marks & Spencer’s offering is the most anticipated beauty advent calendar of the season and we’ve got our hands on it to bring our verdict on the full product line-up and price before its launch in a few weeks.
While luxury offerings from Liberty and Cult Beauty come with steep price tags, M&S continues to deliver one of the most affordable options on the high street. In previous years, securing the calendar required spending £35 in-store or online before purchasing the set for £60. This year, however, there is no minimum spend requirement; the 25-day calendar is available to buy outright for £75.
Valued at more than £460, the festive selection spans skincare, make-up, and haircare from top brands including Color Wow, Estée Lauder, and The Organic Pharmacy – read on for my thoughts.
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M&S beauty advent calendar 2026
Price: £75
Worth: £450+
Number of days: 25
Number of products: 25 (more than 8 full-size)
Advent calendar highlights: Color Wow money mist, Sam McKnight happy endings nourishing balm, Aveda rosemary mint shampoo
Why we love it
- Self care-focused contents for anyone in need of some TLC
- Covers make-up, skincare, haircare and body
- Affordable
Take note
- Brands like Floral Street, Philip Kingsley, Iconic London, This Works are included in lots of advent calendars
- Not as exciting as others
Make-up and skincare seem to be the focus of this year’s calendar. You’ll find some well-loved favourites, including Estée Lauder’s double wear smooth and blur primer, Benefit’s badgal bounce mascara and BareMinerals’ complexion rescue blonzer.
Hard-working skincare formulas feature, such as The Organic Pharmacy’s hyaluronic acid serum but I perhaps would’ve liked to see newer, cult products included in this year’s calendar.
Where haircare is concerned, Color Wow’s money mist is probably the most exciting inclusion. Elsewhere, Aveda and Philip Kingsley also give the haircare offering some credibility. There are several full-size products, which is a bonus and makes the £75 price tag considerably easier to justify.
As a whole, the 25-product line-up feels somewhat familiar and leans heavily towards traditional beauty-advent-calendar territory. Alongside the make-up and skincare are an Espa body butter, Cowshed bath and shower gel, This Works body whip, a hand cream with SPF and a pillow mist. It’s worth noting that the Aveda shampoo and conditioner, Pai cleansing oil and Clinique eye cream come in relatively small sizes. While these products aren’t bad, they make the calendar feel more like a luxury self-care hamper than a particularly exciting snapshot of where beauty is heading.
There’s a sense of déjà vu, too. Hair by Sam McKnight, Floral Street, Philip Kingsley, This Works and Iconic London have all become familiar faces in beauty advent calendars, so their inclusion doesn't have quite the same element of discovery it once did. Even some of the categories feel a little predictable: cleansing oil, body butter, bath and shower gel, night cream and pillow mist are all perfectly pleasant treats, but hardly groundbreaking additions to an already crowded advent-calendar market.
That said, there is enough here to prevent the calendar from being a disappointment. The Estée Lauder primer and Organic Pharmacy serum are particularly impressive full-size inclusions, while the Benefit mascara, bareMinerals blonzer and Sweed lipstick add real substance. The Floral Street fragrance and Philip Kingsley elasticizer are also the kind of premium additions that make the calendar feel more worthwhile.
Ultimately, the contents represent a decent value proposition, particularly for someone who enjoys classic bath, body and beauty treats and likes exploring established brands. But, compared with some of the more innovative beauty calendars now on the market, it feels safe rather than groundbreaking.
That said, it is supremely affordable, so if you’re not willing to spend more than £100, it’s a nice pick.
When does M&S’s beauty advent calendar launch in 2026?
The M&S beauty calendar will launch on 13 October 2026, both online and in-store. But Sparks members get early access from 1 October until 10 October.
How much will M&S’s beauty advent calendar 2026 cost?
The M&S beauty advent calendar is one of the most eagerly anticipated, largely thanks to its affordable price tag. This year the retailer’s Christmas countdown will cost £75. It’s much cheaper than some of the competition – Liberty’s beauty advent calendar (£285, Libertylondon.com) costs nearly four times as much. However, M&S’s offering is £15 more than last year.
Unlike previous calendars though, it doesn’t appear you’ll have to spend £35 in-store or online to snag the calendar for £75.
Buy now £75, Marksandspencer.com
Is the M&S beauty advent calendar worth it?
The M&S beauty advent calendar remains a solid choice for budget-conscious beauty lovers. Priced at £75 for 25 items, it offers dependable value through several standout full-sized products like the Estée Lauder primer and Organic Pharmacy serum, alongside hair and body care staples from trusted names like Philip Kingsley and Color Wow.
However, reliance on classic pampering staples makes it feel more like a luxury self-care hamper than an innovative beauty edit. If you want cutting-edge skincare tech, it feels predictable; but for under £100, it’s an easily justified, crowd-pleasing pick.
How I tested the M&S beauty advent calendar
I unboxed every door of the M&S beauty advent calendar, noting products I have already tested and trying out those new to me. In particular I looked at:
Everything included in the M&S beauty advent calendar 2026
Why you can trust IndyBest reviews
Alice Reynolds covers a wide range of beauty reviews and new launches for IndyBest from advent calendars to fragrance, make-up and more, so she knows what’s worth your time and money. Elsewhere, she consulted senior shopping Lucy Smith who has been reviewing advent calendars for IndyBest for three years.
Read more: I unboxed Selfridges’s beauty advent calendar 2026
