Advent calendar season is officially here, with beauty offerings from Liberty, Space NK, Selfridges and Cult Beauty available to buy now. When it comes to more affordable skincare and make-up advent calendars, Boots’s No7 offerings are always strong contenders. This year, the high street stalwart has relaunched the same two options as in previous years: the No7 ‘25 days of beauty’ advent calendar and No7 ‘the ultimate’ beauty advent calendar.
Both contain a range of No7 favourites, but the latter is packed with full-size products only. While the 25-day beauty advent calendar is a reasonably-priced £60 (worth £248.93, Boots.com), the more substantial ultimate beauty advent calendar comes in at £180 – but that is with a saving of £365.80.
As a beauty journalist in my forties, I have a keen eye for effective skincare that offers anti-ageing benefits. I also favour make-up buys that simplify a busy routine. No7 tends to tick both boxes, while being fairly affordable. With all that in mind, the question is: can the ultimate beauty advent calendar impress me? Keep reading to find out.
No7 the ultimate beauty advent calendar
Worth: £545.80
Number of products: 24 (full-size) and a voucher
Advent calendar highlights: No7 pro-art on-the-go eye palette, No7 pro artist 12-hour artist eye pencil, No7 pro artist lip shine oil, No7 future renew damage reversal night cream, No7 hydraluminous+ hydrating dual phase mask
Available: Now
Why we love it
- Good range of skincare and make-up
- Most products are full-size
- Includes a voucher for a full-size foundation
Take note
- Packaging is heavy
- Brush with eyeshadow palette isn't great
- One palette had shattered in transit
Presented in a solid pink box, the No7 ultimate beauty advent calendar is quite heavy to carry, but robust, with a red, pink and gold finish that makes it look more premium. Each item is presented in a festive-looking cardboard box of varying sizes. To explore the goodies, I’ll talk you through the calendar’s contents. So as a fair warning, there are spoilers ahead.
To start with, I opened up some staple skincare essentials, with the No7 future renew serum and day cream in the first two days’ boxes. The lightweight serum is a brilliant option for dry skin like mine, and I find it offers an even base underneath make-up while helping to improve the look of fine lines.
Meanwhile, the day cream is hydrating, smoothing and soothing, plus it’s suitable for sensitive skin. Later on in the month, you’ll also open the No7 future renew night serum and night creams, making for a full morning and evening routine.
Opening up No7 pro artist liquid blush in taupe on day three kickstarts the make-up goodies, and it’s followed by a glittery pro artist lipstick, and creamy pro artist eyeshadow pot. Standouts for me are the luxe-looking palette, No7 pro artist eye quad, and the classic No7 pro artist 12hr eyeliner. Wearing both, paired with the No7 pro artist instant impact black mascara makes for a party-ready make-up look. Or, I’ve also dabbed a little bit of the eyeshadow on with eyeliner for a more neutral, timeless look.
I think the No7 pro artist glow lip shine in diamond pink is a worthy gloss alternative to brands like Charlotte Tilbury. Also on the make-up front, the calendar includes a No7 free pro artist weightless silk sheer foundation voucher, so you can be shade-matched in-store. Unfortunately the highlight and bronzer palette had shattered when I opened it up, so I would liked to have seen more durable packaging.
There’s a full wind-down routine included too, from No7 eye make-up remover (which effectively budges both shadow and mascara) and No7 prime forever gel cleanser (a gel to oil to milk formula), to soothing multiple-use No7 prime forever ender eye patches in a handy tin. A favourite of mine is also day 23’s No7 hydraluminous mask. Containing hyaluronic acid and niacinamide, the rich formula feels comforting on skin and leaves a softened, moisturised finish.
Buy now £180, No7beauty.co.uk
Is No7’s the ultimate beauty advent calendar worth it?
Considering the fact that No7’s the ultimate beauty advent calendar contains 22 full-size products, plus a voucher for a full-size foundation, its £180 price tag is extremely reasonable. The variety is impressive too, with goodies ranging from eye cream and daily moisturiser to eye liner, eyeshadow and mascara.
As an alternative, No7’s 25 days of beauty advent calendar offers a combination of miniature and full-size products (including some of the same picks in its ultimate counterpart) for only £60. But for those seeking mega value for money, at a slightly higher cost, the ultimate beauty advent calendar is very impressive. Whether you need a full top-up of your beauty selection or just fancy the treat of opening a decent product every day in December, I’d recommend No7’s the ultimate beauty advent calendar as one that’s well worth the price tag.
What’s inside No7’s the ultimate beauty advent calendar?
- No7 future renew serum, 25ml
- No7 future renew day cream, 50ml
- No7 pro artist liquid blush, taupe, 6.1ml
- No7 pro artist lipstick, starry night, 3.3g
- No7 pro artist eyeshadow, dusk rose, 3.5g
- No7 radiance exfoliating cleanser, 100ml
- No7 future renew body serum, 200ml
- No7 pro artist glow lip shine, diamond pink, 6.8ml
- No7 future renew eye serum, 15ml
- No7 pro artist highlighter & bronzer, 8g
- No7 pro artist angled powder brush
- No7 pro artist instant impact black mascara, 7ml
- No7 eye make-up remover, 100ml
- No7 prime forever ender eye patches, one pair
- No7 prime forever gel cleanser, 150ml
- No7 pro artist slim moisture lipstick, rose couture, 3.3g
- No7 youthful facial oil, 30ml
- No7 free pro artist weightless silk sheer foundation voucher
- No7 future renew night serum, 25ml
- No7 future renew night cream, 50ml
- No7 pro artist 12hr eyeliner, black, 1.2g
- No7 pro artist eye quad, golden hour, 7.68g
- No7 hydraluminous mask, 100ml
- No7 future renew hand cream, 75ml
- No7 pro artist lip shine oil, ruby reverie, 6.1ml
How I tested No7’s the ultimate beauty advent calendar
After getting my hands on Boots’s No7 the ultimate beauty advent calendar, I opened each door and trialled all the products, paying close attention to:
Why you can trust IndyBest reviews
Beauty journalist Helen Wilson-Beevers has been testing products for IndyBest since 2020, regularly reviewing new launches from big-name brands include CeraVe, The Inkey List, Laura Mercier and more. An expert in both skincare and make-up, she knows which buys are worth your time and which to swerve. As a beauty expert in her forties, she has a keen eye for anti-ageing skincare and products that are easy to slot into a busy routine.
For more, we’ve emptied Charlotte Tilbury’s 2026 advent calendar
