It’s officially my favorite time of year: Advent calendar season. While Advent calendars have been around for decades, more brands than ever are coming out with their own versions of the tradition, especially in the beauty space—and we’re not complaining. Not only are they so fun to open and a treat to look forward to each day during the holiday season, but they also can help save you money on products you’ve had your eye on for a while, since they’re typically sold at a value.
Iconic beauty brands like Sephora, Dior, Jo Malone, and Mac, and trendy brands like Glow Recipe, Kitsch, and Charlotte Tilbury, have come out with Advent calendars this year, and let me tell you, they’re good. This year’s beauty Advent calendars are some of the best I’ve ever seen. To make finding the best beauty advent calendars a bit easier during your hectic holiday shopping, I got my hands on some of the buzziest and top-rated ones available, and I’m sharing which ones are worth your money.
Credit: Ulta
Ulta’s Advent calendar impresses year after year. This year, the 24 Days of Beauty Advent Calendar is full of a mix of full-size, deluxe travel, and mini products for $79, with a value of $264. Some of my favorites that you’ll find in here are the Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Matte Revolution Lipstick, Tatcha Water Cream, and Farmacy Cleansing Balm.
Credit: Sephora
If you want to get your glow on this holiday season, look no further than Glow Recipe’s 12-day Advent calendar. It has a $200 value and is being sold for $110, and initially had a 25,000-person waitlist. Inside, you’ll find four full-size products, three travel-size items, and five minis; some of my favorites are the beloved Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops (in both the original and bronzing drops versions), the Plum Plump Hyaluronic Cream, and the Avocado Ceramide Moisture Barrier Cleanser.
Credit: Korres
I have to rave about the packaging of the Korres Advent calendar. It has a nostalgic Christmas feel, and you’ll truly feel the holiday cheer as you open each gift. The fan-favorite Greek brand includes 24 skincare and body care products in its Advent calendar, priced at $119 and valued at $428.
Credit: Kiko Milano
I absolutely adore Kiko Milano, one of the leading cosmetics brands in Europe (founded in Italy); every time I apply one of their gorgeous products, I feel like I’ve been transported to Milan. Their 2025 Advent calendar includes 24 products, both mini and full-size. It’s one of my favorites on this list because it has some unexpected goodies. While the brand is known for its makeup, which you’ll find a lot of in this Advent calendar, they also included surprises like a solid perfume (one of the biggest fragrance trends at the moment), a dual comb and mirror, and hand cream. It’s sold for $150, with a value of $283.
Credit: Dior
If you’re spending hundreds of dollars on an Advent calendar, you want it to look and feel luxurious—and this year’s Dior Advent calendar does. The packaging is inspired by the brand’s historic boutique at 30 Avenue Montaigne in Paris, designed by artist Pietro RuffoIt. You’ll open a mix of 24 mini skincare, fragrance, and makeup bestsellers, including the iconic Dior Lip Glow Oil, a mini size of the Miss Dior Blooming Bouquet Eau de Toilette, and the viral Dior Rosy Glow Blush.
Credit: MAC
Mac will always have you covered with their iconic lipsticks, luxe eyeshadows, and tons of other beloved products, which you’ll find in their 24-day Advent calendar. It’s priced at $245 with a value of nearly $500 (read: you’re essentially getting it half off).
Credit: Manucurist
For the nail lovers, the Manucurist Advent calendar really is that girl. The Parisian nail care brand is truly one of the best on the market, IMO, thanks to its gorgeous, high-quality formulas and chic packaging. The brand is known for its “Active” line, which are polishes that enhance your nails and nail health, such as Active Glow, Active Plump, and Active Brighten, among others, which you’ll find in this 24-day Advent calendar. It’s $139 with a $321 value, and each product is full-sized (score!).
Credit: Jo Malone
If you’re willing to splurge, the Jo Malone Advent calendar is a great option. It has 25 days of goodies, including some of the brand’s most beloved bestsellers, like the Orange Bitters Cologne and Wood Sage & Sea Salt Body and Hand Wash. I also love that this is more gender-neutral—it makes an excellent gift for both men and women in your life.
Credit: Tatcha
The luxurious, stunning packaging of the Tatcha Advent Calendar truly had me in awe. They partnered with illustrator Foxco to design the packaging artwork, which honors the brand’s heritage from Kyoto to San Francisco. Moving on to what’s inside, some of the brand’s bestsellers, like their Silk Cream, Lip Mask, and Silk Serum, are included —delicious formulas you’re sure to fall in love with. It retails for $220 with a $309 value.
Credit: Sephora
I look forward to Sephora’s Advent Calendar every year. This year, their Premium Makeup & Skincare Advent Calendar is full of 24 surprises from the brand’s own line, Sephora Collection. It has 16 full-size products, four travel-size products, and four accessories, for a value of $245, ringing up at $95.
Credit: Amazon
Another stand-out in terms of packaging is Charlotte Tilbury’s 12-day Beauty Treasure Chest Advent calendar. It’s worth $314 and is priced at $220, and includes five full-sized items and seven minis for a total of 12 products. Some of the brand’s most iconic products are included, like their Pillow Talk Lip Cheat, Magic Cream, and Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray.
Credit: Elemis
In terms of the price-to-value ratio of the Elemis Advent Calendar, you absolutely are getting an incredible deal. It rings up at $320 but has a value of nearly $1,000 (!), $987 to be exact, making this an advent calendar absolutely worth your money. It includes two full-size products from the bestselling Pro-Collagen line, along with 23 other goodies for a total of 25 products.
Credit: Target
Full of your favorite drugstore beauty heroes, the Target 12-Day Advent Calendar is only $20, but valued at over $80. Some of the most beloved drugstore brands, like e.l.f., L’Oreal, Sally Hansen, and Physician’s Formula, are inside, along with an adorable lip ornament and a bow-adorned suction smartphone mount. The 12 surprises are a mix of full-size and deluxe-size products.
Credit: Kiehl’s
Kiehl’s is one of the oldest and most iconic skincare brands—there’s a reason it’s been around since 1851. Its 2025 Advent calendar includes 24 products valued at $292, but costing $152. A few of the products you’ll open are the iconic Facial Cream, Triple Acid Peel, and Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado.
Credit: FabFitFun
FabFitFun is one of my absolute favorite subscription boxes, and they offer an incredible 12-day Advent calendar. This is a fun one if you want a mix of beauty and lifestyle products. You may open a pair of cozy, fuzzy socks one day, a travel jewelry case the next, and an Hourglass lipstick another. It has a $320 value and is selling for just $89.99 for members (non-members pay the full value, $319.99).
Credit: Benefit Cosmetics
The Rubik’s Cube-like design of Benefit’s 2025 Makeup Advent Calendar makes for a super fun opening experience. It has 24 products, including a full-size Bad Gal Bang Mascara (one of my absolute favorite mascaras of all time), a full-size Benetint, and a full-size 24-HR Brow Setter. It’s $149 with a value of $292.
Credit: Kitsch
You’ll have a season full of good hair days with the Kitsch 12-day Advent Calendar. It has 12 full-size products valued at $175, totaling $119. The brand doesn’t say what exactly is in it on the website, making it a true surprise.
Credit: Target
Ulta Beauty and Target have their own exclusive offering, a 12-day calendar retailing for $45. It’s valued at $139, with beloved favorites inside, like the Tarte Maracuja Juicy Lip Balm, Fenty Beauty Hella Thicc Volumizing Mascara, and Benefit 24hr Brow Setter.
Credit: Amazon
This is one of my favorite Advent calendars on this list because it’s sold on Amazon for $30, well below the price of many other beauty Advent calendars available. It features seven days of skincare goodies, including favorites from their Hydro Boost line. It’s valued at $56.
Credit: Typology
The Typology Advent Calendar is popular and often sells out, so if you see it’s available, act fast. It has an over-$600 value, ringing up at $279, with 24 items (including 13 full-size products and 13 new launches).
Credit: Origins
Origins is known for its holistic approach to beauty and skincare, using plant-based ingredients to create its formulas. They have an incredible Advent calendar this year, packed with 24 products valued at $235, selling for $185.
Credit: Amazon
If you’re like me, you’re an OPI girl through and through. The brand’s 2025 Advent Calendar features 12 gorgeous, holiday-ready mini shades, including shimmery red and sparkling gold, along with beloved classics like OPI Bubble Bath and Lincoln Park After Dark.
Credit: L’Occitane
L’Occitane is a pro at making body care feel like royalty, which is why I love its 24-day Advent calendar, full of body care, skincare, and hand care. You, of course, will find their beloved hand cream inside (a winter staple), along with their Almond Shower Oil, Shea Cleansing Milk, and Intensive Repair Shampoo, among others. It’s priced at $135 with a $238.50 value.
Credit: Nordstrom
If you’re an at-home gel nails connoisseur, the Le Mini Macaron Advent calendar is a great pick. It comes with five mini gel polishes in festive colors, a mini LED lamp, gel remover wraps, and more, totaling 12 products for around $70, valued at $119.
Credit: Ulta
Twenty four products for $50 is a steal in my book, which is exactly what you get with affordable makeup brand Essence’s 2025 Advent calendar. Each product is exclusive and limited-edition, making it feel extra special, and it includes face, eyes, lips, and nail products, as well as tools.
Credit: Alo
Bring the Alo gym right to your home with the brand’s 2025 Advent calendar. Inside, you’ll find 24 great beauty and lifestyle surprises, such as body wash, a headband, candles, a claw clip, and even a $25 Alo gift card (which is really what sold us on this one). It has a $450 value and is retailing for $280.
Credit: Macy’s
Department stores like Macy’s always have incredible Advent calendar options. I’m obsessed with this 25-day Advent calendar, exclusively at Macy’s, featuring top brands and amazing products. Some stand-outs are the mini YSL Lash Clash Mascara, Elemis Superfood Midnight Facial, and Laura Mercier Translucent Setting Powder. It has a $236 value and retails for $75.
Credit: Target
Another affordable option, priced at $20, is the MCoBeauty 12-day Advent Calendar. MCoBeauty has become a TikTok-viral, beloved brand known for creating products that rival high-end competitors and selling them at affordable prices.
Credit: Macy’s
I can never resist a good lip product, so I was ecstatic when I found that Macy’s has an exclusive 12-day lip Advent calendar. For starters, I’d be remiss not to mention the packaging that’s shaped like a lipstick tube—truly iconic. But even more, it includes some of my all-time favorite lippies, like the Tarte Maracuja Juicy Lip Plump, Make Up For Ever Lip Liner, and Clinique Black Honey. It’s selling for $99 and has a $192 value.
Credit: Amazon
I didn’t know I needed a lip balm advent calendar until I saw Burt’s Bees’ 12-day set, complete with your favorite Burt’s Bees flavors. Cult-favorites like pomegranate and vanilla bean are included, along with festive holiday flavors like sugar cookie and cranberry spritz. Best yet, it’s $30 on Amazon.
Credit: Amazon
Another Advent calendar available on Amazon, I love this 24-day one from Revolution Beauty. It includes everything you need for a full face of makeup, from translucent setting powder to a gorgeous lip oil.
