Gone are the days when 24 mini chocolates would be enough to satiate us in the lead up to Christmas day – now, we’re grown up and our appetite for a little gift each morning has also matured. Enter: beauty advent calendars.
Not only can they be a great way to stock up on some of your favourite brands, but an opportunity to try some new products. They tend to include sample size products – perfect for travelling if you’ve only got carry-on luggage – but some have been known to include the odd full-size item. Result.
What’s more, they can be quite the bargain, with the total value of the items inside sometimes far outweighing the cost of the calendar – or so the brands claim.
Here are the beauty calendars we’re lusting after this year, we’ve included a range of prices to suit a variety of budgets.
There are three Bodyshop calendars on sale this year. This one is the middle of the range for £65. There is also a cheaper version for £45 and one filled with the brand's more expensive items for £99.
Available now, Bodyshop, £65.
The calendar isn’t out until 16th October and there’s already a waiting list longer than Santa’s naughty list – with more than a whopping 87,000 keen beans putting their names down. Whatever floats your boat, guys, we’ve only just realised it's October.
Join the waiting list here, Boots, £42
We also love the design on the box, which would look lovely among Christmas decorations.
Birchbox, £65
Sleek, Boots, £35
At £35, it's one hell of a bargain, but there's a catch – you have to spend £35 on clothing, home or beauty in store. Maybe just get your Xmas pressies there to qualify.
M&S, £35
We know £165 isn’t cheap, but the brands on offer are pretty luxurious – with the likes of Neal’s Yard, Bobbi Brown and Acqua Di Parma all making surprise appearances (well, not so surprising anymore, soz) as well as complimentary skin and makeup consultations at various counters in-store. All things considered, the total value of the calendar is around £300, apparently.
What’s more – in some kind of Willy Wonka meets Father Christmas stunt – 20 calendars also contain a hidden £100 beauty vouchers.
Available now, John Lewis, £165.
It has an extensive range of top beauty buys, including some own-brand items, and its advent calendar does not disappoint, featuring the likes of Benefit's Hoola Lite and Clinque Moisture Surge. There's more than enough to get excited about.
ASOS, £55
In fact, once you add in whole host of other bestsellers in sample sizes, the total value is estimated at almost £350.
Elemis, £150
We all work hard to earn our money – so it shouldn’t feel like hard work to spend it well. At HuffPost Finds we’ll help you find the best stuff that deserves your cash, from the ultimate lipstick to a durable iron to replace the one that broke (RIP). All our choices are completely independent but we may earn a small commission if you click a link and make a purchase.