FROW Edit: Advent Calendars Worth the Countdown 🎄✨💎

The advent calendar has outgrown its chocolate roots. Today it’s a ritual, a luxury, and sometimes a flex. Beauty still dominates, filled with serums, lipsticks and creams that could fuel your routine well into next year but 2025’s offering is broader than ever. From fine jewellery to stationery, socks, tea and even gourmet marshmallows, there’s something here for every type of woman and every kind of December.

The Beauty Heavyweights 💄💎

This is where the calendars get serious. Luxury names, high-value edits and the kind of full-size treasures that make December feel like beauty’s biggest month.

Space NK Beauty Advent Calendar - £260 (worth £1,150+)

Space NK’s advent calendar is one of the first to sell out each year, and this time it’s better than ever. There are 35 products tucked inside, 26 of them full-size, spanning skincare, makeup and haircare. You’ll find big hitters like Drunk Elephant’s brightening formulas, Rare Beauty’s cult mascara, and Augustinus Bader’s much-lauded moisturiser, alongside insider favourites that keep the discovery factor alive. The drawer-style packaging is sleek enough to double as a storage box afterwards. This is the calendar for the woman who wants it all: prestige names, trending brands, and serious value, more than four times the price you’ll pay.

Liberty Beauty Advent Calendar - £275 (worth £1,245+)

Liberty’s beauty hall is already legendary, and their advent calendar has become just as iconic. The 2025 edition holds 30 luxury products, with 20 full-size gems. Inside you’ll uncover Rose Inc lipsticks, Sunday Riley serums, Votary oils, Aromatherapy Associates bath treats and more, all wrapped up in Liberty’s signature printed drawers. The packaging is as coveted as the contents, doubling as a keepsake storage box you’ll use long after December ends. This one is for women who see beauty as part of their style DNA: curated, timeless, and indulgent. It’s also a guaranteed sell-out, Liberty’s advent is known to disappear within days of launch.

Fortnum & Mason Beauty Advent Calendar - £265 (worth £1,149+)

For a touch of old-world glamour, Fortnum’s calendar delivers. There are 26 products inside, 23 full-size, featuring luxury staples like Aromatherapy Associates oils, Chantecaille skincare and Cult51 serums. Fortnum’s signature drawer-style packaging makes the unboxing feel as refined as their tea service, more jewellery chest than advent box. It’s the perfect fit for women who prefer elegance and exclusivity over trend-led hype, and who want every door to feel like a five-star treat.

LookFantastic Advent Calendars from £105

LookFantastic knows how to cater to different tastes. The Iconic Beauty Calendar (£105) brings over £500 worth of skincare, body and hair treats, making it one of the best value options around. For fragrance fans, the Fragrance Calendar delivers mini perfumes from designer houses, a different scent for almost every day of December. Both editions feel polished and gift-ready, making them ideal for women who want variety without splurging £250+.

Sisley Paris x Luke Edward Hall Advent Calendar (£640)

At £640, this is pure indulgence. The Sisley calendar holds 25 surprises across skincare, fragrance, makeup and haircare, anchored by icons like the Black Rose Cream Mask. The packaging, designed by British artist Luke Edward Hall, is a “festive theatre” illustration that turns the box into an art piece. Each compartment can be reused, making it as sustainable as it is stylish. For the woman who treats her skincare like couture, this is the only advent worth unwrapping.

Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Treasure Chest Advent Calendar (£175)

Charlotte Tilbury doesn’t just sell makeup; she sells a lifestyle of glamour, and her advent chest is no exception. Inside are 12 essentials, from Pillow Talk lipsticks to Magic Cream and Wonderglow primer. Every item is a proven hit, so there’s no filler, just pure Tilbury allure. Housed in a glossy, drawer-style chest, it’s chic enough to keep on your vanity long after Christmas. For the woman who loves drama, sparkle and results, this is the calendar that delivers.

Benefit Cosmetics ‘All I Want Advent Calendar’ (£135)

Benefit’s calendar is the definition of playful. It’s stuffed with 24 minis, covering the brand’s cult bestsellers: Roller Lash mascara, Hoola bronzer, Gimme Brow+ and more. The pink, punchy packaging screams fun, making it the ultimate pick for younger beauty fans or anyone who wants a daily dose of makeup joy. If skincare isn’t your thing but brows, lashes and cheeks are, Benefit has you covered.

Cult Beauty Advent Calendars - Classic Curation & Limited Edition Curation

Cult Beauty has gone big this year with two calendars. The Classic Curation (£240, worth over £1,100) includes 34 products, with 20 full-size icons, 8 of 2025’s key launches, and 3 Cult Beauty exclusives. Inside are names like Saie, Patrick Ta, Medik8, Charlotte Tilbury and KraveBeauty, with five separate gifts waiting on day 25.

The Limited Edition Curation (£240, worth over £1,200) stretches to 40+ products, including 12 new launches. Several doors hide surprise swaps such as fragrances from Creed, KAYALI and Kilian, alongside major makeup and skincare releases. Its finale delivers eight gifts behind the last door.

Both versions come with extra layers: three Golden Tickets worth £1,000 each, a £60,000 charity donation from sales, and packaging designed by Quentin Jones, whose collage artwork brings a bold, fashion-led finish. The only question: are you a Classic girl or a Limited-Edition one?

Jewellery Luxe ✨💍

Advent doesn’t have to stop at serums and lipsticks. Missoma proves jewellery can be the ultimate countdown flex.

Missoma Jewellery Advent Calendars from £465

Missoma proves advent calendars don’t have to stop at beauty. Back for 2025 in three editions; Gold (£495), Silver (£465) and 14ct Solid Gold (£1,395), each one is filled with exclusive jewellery pieces. The gold edition includes 11 designs worth £928, including bestsellers like the Molten Ear Cuff and new limited-edition tennis chain styles. The silver edition caters to cool-tone lovers, with black onyx pieces and a £50 gift card. At the top end, the solid gold edition features five brand-new 14ct pieces worth £1,853, plus a £150 gift card, all housed in a velvet jewellery box. This is the ultimate advent flex: timeless, wearable luxury that outlasts the season.

Mid-Range Treats & Niche Finds 🌸🧴

Not every calendar has to cost £250+. These mid-tier picks and niche creations bring fresh energy from haircare heroes to nail powders without losing the indulgence factor.

TreasureTress 12 Days of Christmas - £81 (pre-order)

TreasureTress puts textured hair at the heart of advent. This 12-day calendar focuses on bigger product drops rather than 24 smaller samples. Expect styling staples, hydrating treatments and accessories that genuinely add value to your routine. It’s a smart edit for women who want practical luxury rooted in community, not just another skincare-heavy countdown.

Sephora Favourites Advent Calendar - £225 (worth £1,025+)

Sephora’s biggest advent to date and one of the most exclusive on the market. Inside are 41 products, including 24 full-size treats, worth over £1,025. The line-up pulls from beauty’s hottest names; Glow Recipe, Rare Beauty, Merit, Tarte, Sol de Janeiro, Tower 28, Drunk Elephant, Tatcha and more, with 31 products you won’t find anywhere else but Sephora. Beyond the product drop, Sephora has hidden golden tickets in selected calendars: prizes range from Caudalie spa treatments to hampers and even bottles of wine. It’s playful, prestige and stacked with value, the kind of calendar that makes December feel like beauty’s biggest party. Available for pre-order now, and already tipped to sell out like it has three years running.

Ted Baker ‘24 Days of Treats’ £46.00 (Boots)

Ted Baker’s calendar proves style doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Inside are body sprays, lotions and bath treats in the brand’s signature scents. At just over £40, it’s an affordable, polished gift for a friend, colleague or yourself. The packaging is playful yet chic, making it one of the best high-street picks of the season.

Avant Skincare Advent Calendar - £99 (worth £935)

Avant’s 12 Days of Beauty x Wonders is designed for women who take their skincare seriously but still want December to feel indulgent. Inside are 12 award-winning formulas from rejuvenating serums to nourishing creams and masks, each crafted with sustainably sourced botanicals. The line-up is worth an incredible £935, yet the calendar retails for just £99, making it one of the best-value luxury buys this year. What truly sets it apart is innovation: for the first time, you can scan the box with your phone to unlock an augmented reality experience. A fairy harvesting ingredients comes to life, turning this into more than skincare, it’s a sensorial countdown that blends nature, science and a little festive magic.

Dipped UK 24-Day Dip Powder Nail Calendar (£120)

Nails finally get their own spotlight. This 24-day calendar is packed with dip powders in a spectrum of shades, allowing for endless mani looks throughout December. It’s niche, yes, but also genius, a beauty calendar that goes beyond the usual skin and makeup to give nail lovers something just for them.

Non-Beauty Surprises 🍫🧦📚

Because beauty doesn’t own December. From stationery to socks, tea and marshmallows, these calendars prove the countdown can be practical, playful or just plain sweet.

SockShop 25 Pair Advent Calendar (£95)

One pair of bamboo socks a day, for 25 days. It’s quirky, practical and secretly one of the smartest calendars on the market. Designs range from festive fun to everyday staples, making it the gift that keeps on giving well into January.

Papier Stationery Advent Calendar (£140)

Papier’s second-ever advent calendar follows a sold-out debut last year. Inside are 24 desk treats: personalised notebooks, chic pens, stickers and exclusive new designs. Presented in bold, drawer-style packaging, it doubles as a reusable organiser. For the stationery lover who wants their desk to feel as curated as their wardrobe, this is the one.

Martha Brook 24 Days of Stationery (£109)

Martha Brook’s calendar has cult status. Pretty pens, notepads and feminine desk accessories fill each door, but it’s already sold out for 2025. The waiting list is open and if past years are anything to go by, it’s worth signing up for.

Bird & Blend Tea ‘Matcha Latte Magic Whisk Advent Calendar Experience’ (£144)

Tea calendars are trending, and Bird & Blend’s matcha edition is the most stylish of the bunch. Alongside 24 blends, the box includes a whisk to make each cup feel like a ritual. It’s for the woman who wants her mornings calm, cosy and caffeine-powered.

The Marshmallow Co. Advent Calendar (£32.87)

Handmade marshmallows in festive flavours, presented in pretty packaging made for Instagram. It’s indulgent, sweet and slightly unexpected, a fun pick for women who want December to taste as good as it looks.

FROW Verdict 🧡

Beauty is still queen, and calendars like Liberty, Space NK, Fortnum’s and Cult Beauty prove why: huge value, prestige names and packaging to treasure. Charlotte Tilbury and Benefit bring makeup-first energy, while Sisley rules the ultra-luxury skincare tier. Missoma rewrites the rules with jewellery, Papier and Martha Brook keep stationery chic, and socks, tea and marshmallows prove that advent can be practical, mindful or just plain fun.