There’s a very particular kind of frenzy that descends upon the beauty world in the lead-up to Christmas. And yes, I’m aware it’s September. No, I do not care.
I’m not talking about the post-Black Friday scramble or the inevitable last-minute panic of buying presents for the person who has everything. I’m talking about beauty advent calendar season—that glorious time of year when 24 little doors stand between us and a very happy Christmas.
The Best Beauty Advent Calendars, According To marie claire:
For beauty lovers (myself very much included), it’s a ritual we wait all year for. We stalk release dates, sign up for every possible notification and mentally prepare ourselves to fight for the sets most likely to sell out. And then, despite our best intentions, we inevitably start opening them well before December 1.
But the appeal of a beauty advent calendar goes beyond the novelty of unboxing a tiny present every day. Done well, they’re one of the best ways to discover a brand’s cult products, try something you’ve had your eye on or stock up on old favourites without committing to a full-size product you’re not entirely sure you’ll love.
And yes, some beauty advent calendars come with a price tag that might initially make you do a double take. But this is where a little girl math comes in handy. When you’re getting around 24 products—often spanning skincare, makeup, hair care and fragrance—the value can quickly add up. Plus, anything that doesn’t quite make the cut for your own beauty shelf can always become a very thoughtful gift. Strategic regifting, if you will.
Whether you’re fiercely loyal to one beauty brand and want all your favourites neatly packaged into one very festive box, or you’d rather use the occasion to discover a whole new line-up of cult products, there’s a beauty advent calendar for you.
And because we know the best ones have a habit of disappearing before you’ve even had time to add them to your cart, we’ll be keeping this list updated as new launches arrive.
Here are the beauty advent calendars worth setting your notifications—and possibly your alarms—for.
Read: The Best Beauty Sales To Shop For A Summer Skin Treat
Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte’s Hollywood Beauty Wonderland
It would be remiss of us not to start with Charlotte Tilbury’s advent calendar, particularly given one was snapped up every minute for 24 hours last year. This time around, we’re treated to 15 makeup and skincare essentials, including four full-size products. If you—or a beauty devotee in your life—are a die-hard Charlotte Tilbury fan, this is one to have firmly on your radar.
Products: 15. | Value: $625. | Why I Care: The Charlotte Tilbury products have a cult status for a reason, and honestly, for $330 you are getting some extreme value for money.
Selfridges Beauty Advent Calendar 2026
Year after year, the Selfridges Beauty Advent Calendar delivers, and 2026 is no exception. Think of it as more than $2,000 worth of beauty from some of the biggest names in the industry — including brands you’d typically have to hunt down across multiple retailers here in Australia. Inside, you’ll find luxury favourites from Augustinus Bader, 111SKIN, Dr. Barbara Sturm and Tatcha, alongside cult names like Refy, The Ordinary and Laneige.
Products: 40. | Value: $2,399. | Why I Care: There is so much variety in this advent calendar, and hard to look past 33 full-size products from some of the most luxurious brands in the market.
Jurlique Advent Calendar
For skincare, hand and body care, Jurlique’s advent calendar is a very strong contender. Inside are 24 of the brand’s bestsellers and customer favourites, so it’s a great way to discover more of the range if you’re already a fan of the brand. Everything comes packaged in a festive box, so there’s very little left to do but start opening the gifts.
Products: 24. | Value: $460. | Why I Care: This advent calendar is an ideal gift (for yourself or a loved one) who needs some TLC or is looking to dip their toes into a broader range of skincare products.
While we wait for the rest of this year’s beauty advent calendars to land, here’s a little inspiration from last year to get you in the mood…
The Best Beauty Advent Calendars We Saw In 2025:
Why I care: Quite frankly, because securing this amount of Dior beauty is near impossible outside of advent calendar season. All the viral essentials are in there (Dior Addict Lip Glow in ‘Pink’, Rosy Glow blush in ‘Pink’ and Diorshow mascara in ‘Black’ to name a few), but makeup isn’t the only category worth caring about. Even in miniature form, Dior scents are elite, and this calendar curates the very best of them. I’m writing this from a cloud of Miss Dior Blooming Bouquet right now and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’m a newer fan of Dior La Mousse (one of the bigger skincare products in the calendar), and it’s completely converted me into a ‘luxury cleanser’ defender. The full-sized Dior candle always seals the deal. Unboxing it has become one of my very favourite Christmas traditions, and if the idea of its caramelised almond and cotton candy scent hasn’t already convinced you to place a Dior order within the next five minutes (AKA before temptation is replaced with regret), let sentimentality be the thing that does.
What it costs: $1,100
Why I care: As the most eagerly anticipated (and earliest) advent calendar launch of the entire season, Charlotte Tilbury’s calendar drop tends to set the standard for the year. Her 2025 offering comes in the form of this rather chic treasure chest, with true treasure inside (if you value multiple ‘Pillow Talk’ products, which I do). It’s the most popular (and celebrity-loved) lipstick shade for good reason, and you’ll soon be the proud owner of it in lipstick, lip bath and light wand form if you know what’s good for you. Plus, the packaging will make a stellar makeup storage case when you’ve emptied the drawers. There are a fair few travel size products (which you might first view as a downfall), but I say there’s nothing better than not having to limit your product quality just because you need to limit your product size. Never underestimate the power of having a suitcase-friendly Charlotte’s Magic Cream in your possession.
What it’s worth: Approx. $583
What it costs: $357
Why I care: Any skincare brand that’s graced the faces of Hailey Bieber, Bella Hadid and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley is one worth investing in, particularly in range-spanning calendar form. You’ll find all the celeb favourites inside the elegant emerald drawers, from Bieber’s beloved Clarifying Face Mask to Hadid’s trusty Hyaluronic Serum and Huntington-Whiteley’s go-to Glow Drops. Dr. Barbara Sturm’s products are pretty pricey generally, so this advent calendar is the ideal opportunity to figure out which picks work best for your skin. Is there a slight risk that you’ll grow attached to every single formula based on how effective they all are (and how well they work in unison?). Yes. Honestly it’s a high one—you don’t become one of Hollywood’s most sought after aesthetics experts with sub-par skincare. However, considering that means you’ll be purchasing the full-sized products with full confidence in their skills, it’s a win-win scenario.
What it’s worth: Approx. $2091.67
What it costs: $925
Why I care: Whilst I maintain that the value of every single one of these calendars is actually incredible, a designer beauty brand advent for under $560 is remarkably rare. They’ve been very generous with fragrance this year: you’ll get to sample Si in three different variations (Classic, Intense & Passione Red Musk) as well as My Way EDP and My Way Ylang EDP (both of which are tailor-made for the summer season ahead). What I like most about this calendar’s collection is its variation (and its seasonal suitability)—your holiday party makeup looks and post-holiday party skin recovery have both been considered. The liquid shimmer products (eyeshadow, lip gloss and highlighter in multiple shades per category) are what I was most enticed by, but if you’re more of a classic red lip or kohl liner kind of person, you’re still spoiled for choice.
What it costs: $555
Why I care: YSL’s annual calendar, to me, consistently takes the crown for ‘greatest multi-category curation’. In other words, you’re getting a bit of everything good: eye makeup, lipstick, fragrance and skincare. I can personally endorse every product in this line-up (sans the mirror, but I have full faith in its face-reflecting capabilities). For a few standouts, Black Opium and Mon Paris are two of my very favourite fragrances, Lash Clash mascara is one of the best lash-density-faking-formulas I’ve ever tried, and the YSL Loveshine lip colours are genuinely unmatched in the market. Keep in mind the 66 Marrakech Neroli candle (which hosts a heavenly honeyed floral home fragrance) is usually $200 solo, so ‘the calendar really is a steal.
What it costs: $575
Why I care: See the level of detail on every door’s illustration? That’s the exact care that goes into the formulation of every Sisley product. I truly believe that Sisley (despite being an enormously popular beauty giant) remains underrated; it’s that good. I’ll admit their skincare and haircare formulas are what I’m most excited about from this one: the Black Rose Cream Mask is a truly trustworthy formula for energising the face quickly, their Cleansing Milk feels like silk on skin, and the Regenerating Hair Care Mask has nursed my hair back to health many times. I do, however, feel the need to stress that you shouldn’t underestimate their makeup picks: the lip combo of their Phyto Lip Balm in ‘Pink Glow’ and a topper of Le Phyto-Gloss Lip Gloss in ‘Aurora’ is truly not to be slept on.
What it’s worth: Approx. $2,096
What it costs: $1,310
Why I care: Choosing just one Jo Malone scent to own (or wear honestly, I love a daily cologne cocktail) isn’t an option for me. That’s precisely why this calendar is moreso a smart financial decision than anything else. Honestly. Instead of purchasing full-sized bottles of each and every one (which I would alarmingly otherwise do), I’m able to restock my fragrance wardrobe with all their winners. If you’re partial to scent layering, which you definitely should be, there are also plenty of body & hand washes and cremes that will allow you to double (or triple) down on your absolute favourite. Or you could create a bespoke signature scent through some crafty scent stacking. There’s also a treat on Christmas day as well as the 24 days leading up, which certainly helps with the whole ‘fragrance collector math’ thing.
What it’s worth: Approx. $1,101
What it costs: $895
Why I care: Nobody does festive home fragrance quite like Glasshouse. It’s one of the few brands that actually offer luxury-quality scent with a price tag that’s easily justified within your end of year budget. They’ve outdone themselves with their selection this year, with an option for every Christmas vibe you’re hoping to cultivate. Envious of cosy winter celebrations? ‘Fireside in Queenstown’ will help you emulate them. Leaning into our hot Aussie summer? ‘Sunkissed in Bermuda’ suits to a tee. If you need a final nudge to secure it, you could always allocate a few scents to your gifting pile as you unpack them. I personally can’t see myself being that selfless with scents this good, but I guess it is the season of giving? For me, it’ll be the season of burning the good candle (and applying the fancy hand cream/fragrance/body lotion) every time I open one.
What it costs: $290
Why I care: Mostly because I feel very strongly that Christian Louboutin lipsticks are the most stunning things I’ve ever laid eyes on—and this calendar gifts you multiple bullets, plus an array of accessories for them. This is the calendar for anyone who understands that a ‘red lip’ is not a single look. The range of varied and velvety lip colours is very impressive, with options spanning from a true Christmas crimson to spritely cherry and moodier brick red. Rosy neutrals are included as well of course, as are multiple mini fragrances and collectible charms. Its Parisian-inspired packaging is definitely a tick in its ‘reasons to buy’ column, too. I rather enjoy the idea of a Christian Louboutin hat box in my possession. Chic, no?
What it’s worth: Approx. $1,578.44
What it costs: $1,115
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