The Cult Beauty advent calendar 2026 is now live, and I’ve got my hands on the retailer’s ‘special edition’ Christmas countdown to unbox every product inside. As I continue testing the best beauty advent calendars for 2026, Cult Beauty’s offering has wound up being one of my favourites, joining the likes of Harrods, Selfridges, Liberty and Space NK in the competition for this year’s most popular haul.
There are two calendars to choose from this year: the signature edition, which contains 33 products, 17 of them full-size, and the special edition, which features fragrance (where the signature doesn’t), contains 38 products. In previous years, the special edition has also been the first to sell out. Both cost £245, making this year’s calendars £5 more expensive than their 2025 counterparts. However, despite the higher price tag, both calendars contain fewer products than last year.
It seems that less is more elsewhere too, as Harvey Nichols has also reduced the number of items within year-on-year meaning that what’s actually behind each door is arguably more important than the headline product count.
That being said, I opened every door of the special edition calendar, so you can see exactly what you’re getting for your money, from the full-size hero buys to the minis and advent exclusives. Here’s my honest review.
Read more: Our exclusive review of Sephora’s 2026 advent calendar
Cult Beauty advent calendar 2026
Price: £245 (up £5 on last year)
Worth: £1,185 for the special, £1,105 for the signature
Number of products: 38 in the special, 33 in the signature
Number of days: 25
Why we love it
- 9 new launches from past year featured
- Minis have been chosen based on usefulness
- Every step of skincare routine is covered
Take note
- Great brands, but not necessarily the hero product from each
- Signature addition has repeats from previous years
Note – link below is for Cult Beauty advent calendar special edition, signature edition can be found here
As ever, the contents of Cult Beauty’s 25-day countdowns span make-up, skincare, haircare and bodycare, with the special edition also featuring fragrance. It’s worth noting that, unless you’re averse to having your scents chosen for you, the special edition advent is better value for money, with a worth of £1,185 versus £1,105 for the signature edition. You’ll also take home an extra five products and, as mentioned in my video above, the special edition skips out on brands such as Augustinus Bader, which are arguably overdone at this point.
In both calendars, one product has sparked debate among the beauty community. While the Patrick Ta blush was an exciting inclusion in last year's calendar, its return in a different shade has left some beauty fans underwhelmed. Several have taken to social media to question the colour choice. TikTok creator @fashionableforecast even described it as “possibly the most unwearable shades I've ever seen”.
That aside, Cult Beauty promised “more customer favourite brands than ever”, and it has seemingly delivered, with the likes of Vieve, Medik8, Gisou and more in the mix. Similarly, it has included a range of high-value full-size products. Namely, Allies of Skin azelaic & kojic advanced clarifying serum (worth £94), Sulwhasoo first care activating serum (worth £45) and, to satisfy Korean skincare lovers, Anua PDRN hyaluronic acid 100 moisturising cream (worth £24).
Upon unboxing the products, I particularly enjoyed the Huda Beauty lip contour and found the formula to be soft and creamy when applying, but hardwearing and drink-proof in practice – exactly what you want. I’ve also previously reviewed a number of the items included in the line-up. For example, in my review of the Gisou honey gloss shampoo and conditioner, I described how “the shampoo ensures a thorough clean from root to tip without dryness” and praised the conditioner for its “perfect amount of hydration and nourishment.” Likewise, in my guide to the best setting sprays, I found that the Charlotte Tilbury airbrush flawless setting spray “kept my make-up intact for at least six hours” – which is no easy feat.
My main criticism of the calendar would be the choice of products it has put forward from some excitement-worthy brands. Companies such as Westman Atelier, Hourglass and Elemis are always great to see in a beauty advent calendar. However, I’d argue complexion products are more Westman Atelier’s forte (versus mascaras) and beauty buffs aren’t looking for yet another red lipstick for Christmas. Similarly, if there’s one repeat inclusion I’m happy to see, it’s the Elemis cleansing balm...not an SPF. Admittedly with the Elemis SPF, it rounds off the selection of skincare nicely, but I wish CB would give a little more attention to the truly ‘cult’ products from these brands and others included.
That said, Cult Beauty has hit the mark from a product curation standpoint, and considerably better than other calendars I’ve tested in this price range, namely Harrods and Liberty. It has expertly selected which items are better suited to miniature quantities – such as bulky shampoos, if travelling – and the inclusion of nine new launches from the past year shows a strong effort to keep things fresh. The brand selection isn’t recycled from previous years (something I felt Harrods and Liberty let buyers down with in 2026) and the fact that you’ll take home a full skincare routine from cleansing through to retinol impressed me.
The advent calendars are now live and, if you’re considering shopping them – particularly the special edition – now’s not the time to hang about. Historically, the Cult Beauty advent calendar sells out fast.
Buy now £245, Cultbeauty.co.uk
Is the Cult Beauty advent calendar worth it?
While £245 is a lot to spend on a beauty advent calendar, Cult Beauty has clearly thought carefully about what earns a place behind each door and I would recommend it among this year’s countdowns – especially the special edition. I particularly appreciated the approach to sizing, with smaller formats used for products you only need sparingly, such as wash-day volumising treatments, rather than simply shrinking everything down.
The result is a well-balanced edit that will slot nicely into your existing beauty stash and garner enough excitement from new launches and buzzy brands to make it worth investing in. There are a couple of uninspiring inclusions – particularly in the signature edition – but overall, this is one of the most thoughtfully curated beauty advents I’ve tested this year.
What’s inside the Cult Beauty beauty advent calendar 2026?
The list below outlines everything that’s inside the signature edition of the 2026 advent, scroll on for details of the special edition.
Inside the special edition you’ll find:
How I tested the Cult Beauty special edition advent calendar
I unboxed every door of the Cult Beauty special edition, revisiting findings from previous testing alongside fresh reviews of products that were new to me. In particular I looked at:
Why you can trust IndyBest reviews
Lucy Smith is IndyBest’s senior shopping writer and, in addition to heading up this year’s guide to the best beauty advent calendars, she’s conducted reviews of all 2026’s advent frontrunners already. From the Sephora beauty advent calendar to the Charlotte Tilbury beauty advent calendar, she’s across everything brands and retailers are putting forward for the festive season, so she knows what Cult Beauty is up against.
Read more: The Space NK beauty advent calendar 2026 is its best yet
