For the make-up and skincare obsessives among us, the annual arrival of beauty advent calendars signals the true start of the countdown to Christmas. While high-end offerings from the likes of Liberty and Cult Beauty carry eye-watering price tags, Marks & Spencer’s high-street entry remains one of the most hotly anticipated buys of the season.
I managed to get my hands on the M&S beauty advent calendar 2026 ahead of its official launch today (13 October), so consider this your lowdown of its line-up and value before you consider adding it to your basket.
In previous years, securing the calendar required a £35 spend on home, clothing, or beauty before you could purchase the set for £60. For 2026, M&S has streamlined the process: there’s no longer a minimum spend threshold, meaning you can buy the calendar outright for £75.
Packed with 25 days of treats valued at more than £460, this year’s countdown spans skincare, make-up, and haircare from big-name brands including Color Wow, Estée Lauder, and Clinique. But should you buy it? Read on for my verdict.
Read more: Best beauty advent calendars for 2026
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.
How much will M&S’s beauty advent calendar 2026 cost?
This year the retailer’s Christmas countdown costs £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
