The Sainsbury’s beauty advent calendar might not have the same name recognition as some of the best beauty advent calendars from Liberty, Cult Beauty and Space NK, but it’s been a fixture of the festive beauty line-up for several years now. And while you won’t find the same luxury cosmetics behind its doors, there’s plenty to be said for this budget-friendly alternative – particularly when it comes with a tempting 50 per cent discount for Nectar users.
The trouble with affordable beauty advent calendars is that retailers can prioritise keeping costs down over the quality of the products inside. Budget brands such as Collection have plenty of gems in their ranges, some of which rival their premium counterparts (ahem, lasting perfection concealer). But there's a difference between filling a calendar with inexpensive cosmetics and carefully selecting the products that punch above their price point. After all, a bargain is only a bargain if you're going to use what's inside.
As someone who’s unboxed a whole fleet of advent calendars in 2026, with years of experience reviewing beauty products more widely, I’d argue Sainsbury’s has managed to strike that all-important balance between affordability and products you’ll actually want to use. Here’s why.
Read more: The beauty advent calendars 2026, reviewed
Sainsbury's beauty and skincare Christmas advent calendar
Spanning 24 days and 24 items (plus a vanity case to house it all), Sainsbury’s 2026 beauty advent is worth more than £170. There’s plenty of products to get excited about, several of which our IndyBest testers have reviewed and approved, too. For instance, the viral Maybelline mascara was a big hit with assistant IndyBest editor Sarah Jones in her lash sensational sky high review, where she remarked that her “eyelashes instantly looked lengthened and lifted, and most impressively, stayed that way all day.” Likewise, the hydrating cleanser was beauty editor Lucy Partington’s favourite product overall in her guide to the best CeraVe products. In fact, she went so far as to claim that “once you try it, you’ll never go back.”
Elsewhere, this Christmas countdown boasts sensitive skin-approved picks from Curel, Nivea’s dual-phase eye make-up remover (which I’ve gone back to time and again, myself) and Colgate’s 2026-launch whitening serum.
If you ask me, for less than £50 (while this Nectar offer lasts), you’d be hard-pressed to find a better curation of budget beauty.
What’s inside the Sainsbury’s beauty advent calendar?
- Nivea glowy lips berry SPF 30, 10ml
- Nivea intensive moisture hand cream, 100ml
- Nivea double effect eye make-up remover, 125ml
- John Frieda volume lift the original root booster, 25ml
- Curél deep moisture spray, 60g
- Sally Hansen insta dri cinna-snap, 9.17ml
- Baylis & Harding goodness oud, cedar & amber body wash, 100ml
- Vaseline gluta-hya rosy pink lip serum gloss, 10ml
- Garnier vitamin C fresh & bright hydrating sorbet cream, 85ml
- Sanctuary Spa signature collection body wash, 75ml
- Vaseline gluta-hya dewy radiance serum burst body lotion moisturiser, 75ml
- Maybelline lifter gloss 002 ice, 5.4ml
- Maybelline lash sensation mascara sky high black, 7.2ml
- Colgate max white purple teeth whitening serum, 40ml
- Aveeno oat gel moisturiser, 15ml
- Rehab mini dose 1.0 hair oil, 1 jar
- L’Oréal Paris studio line glue in spray, 200ml
- Beautypro hyaluronic acid sheet mask, 1 mask
- CeraVe hydrating cleanser with hyaluronic acid for normal to dry skin, 88ml
- Bioderma sensibio H2O micellar water, 100ml
- Wild cherry blossom mini deodorant, 16g
- Tangle Teezer mini ultimate detangler pink & orange, 1
- Truyu iconic lash & brow set eyelash curler and tweezer, 1
- One of the following: Rimmel oh my plump! lip shaper café latte, 1.2g or Rimmel oh my plump! lip shaper beige, 1.2g
- Cosmetic bag
Buy now £40, Sainsburys.co.uk
Read more: I tested the John Lewis beauty advent calendar 2026 – here’s my review
