Grinches look away: it’s officially (almost) the most wonderful time of the year. And as we’re already feeling festive, we’re welcoming the season of giving (and of course, treating oneself) by rounding up the most magical beauty advent calendars hitting shelves this silly season.
Because while counting down to Christmas with reindeer, wreath and Santa-shaped choccies can be fun, we’d much rather find luxe body oils, dreamy scents and festive lippies behind those doors.
Get them while they’re hot (and then do everything humanly possible to restrain from opening before December).
P.S. If you’re lusting hard but don’t want a colossal splurge, remember most of these contain 25 mini pressies, aka an ideal amount to go splitsies with a few friends or even an office. Your shout boss?
RELATED: Nostalgic noughties scents we still love
RELATED: ‘Skin fasting’ is the new trend that will cut your routine in half
Net-A-Porter
Net-A-Porter Beauty Advent Calendar ($462, net-a-porter.com)
Don’t want to decide on just one brand? This chic curation features a whole bunch of winners. If the names Hourglass, KORA Organics and Dr. Dennis Gross don’t get your beauty radars buzzing, well, we truly don’t know what will. Net-A-Porter have gathered the greatest products, from Marc Jacobs’ Velvet Noir Major Volume Mascara (more than worthy of its cult status) to 111Skin’s Rose Gold Radiance Booster (a hangover-hiding illuminator that will be very welcome come party season).
Charlotte Tilbury
Charlotte Tilbury Glittering Galaxy Of Makeup Magic Beauty Advent Calendar ($295, charlottetilbury.com/au)
To paraphrase the queen of Christmas, (Mariah Carey, of course) all we want for Christmas is this Charlotte Tilbury advent calendar. CT may be coming for Mariah’s title though, because this collection of glittering goodies is crazy festive – she’s packed in all the products you need to get glowing from head to toe, and there’s even a full-size Matte Revolution lippie in Pillow Talk (a best-seller for a reason!) You can even reuse the tower as a jewellery case when the countdown is done (a little tip for anyone trying to justify it to those you share a bank account with).
Diptyque
Diptyque Advent Calendar ($612, mecca.com.au)
Think the price seems outlandish? Well, the contents are just as wild, in the best possible way. This Diptyque delight is truly the gift that keeps on giving (and giving, and giving, and giving). If you’ve ever had your eye on ‘world’s best gift giver’ status, this is the pressie that will secure you the title. There are 25 sweet-smelling scent variations inside (14 very bougie candles, and 11 other gems spanning from fragrance to face oil). Adjust your wish list accordingly.
The Body Shop
The Body Shop Dream Big This Christmas Beauty Advent Calendar
The little elves at The Body Shop have been busy this year, and TBH, they’ve crushed the countdown yet again. In fact, your party season self-care routine is completely set, thanks to their curated collection of bath bombs, body lotions and shower gels. All the goodies are even packed into a cute-as-can-be Christmas village design, and each product comes with a trivia fact that celebrates the achievements of history-making women. Here’s to a sweet-smelling Christmas and an inspired New Year.
Kiehl’s
2019 Christmas Kiehl’s Limited Edition Advent Calendar
Give the gift of great skin with 23 days’ worth of Kiehl’s festive favourites – cleansers, face masks, serums, moisturisers and heaps more – whether you’re prepping for a party or trying to rescue your complexion from death-by-champagne, this calendar has you covered. Long-time fans of the brand will also get a kick out of the design – created by artist Janine Rewelll, it features Kiehl’s signature skeleton Mr. Bones as he heads home to the original NYC Kiehl’s apothecary – endearing and aesthetic.
Sephora Collection
Sephora Collection Frosted Party Advent Calendar ($80, sephora.com.au)
We’re obviously more about sand than slopes here in Aus come Christmas time, but that doesn’t mean we can’t live vicariously through this snowy Sephora calendar. It’s got a particularly varied range of goodies inside too, with everything from the pretty (lip stains, bath fizzers, eye shadows) to the practical (nail files, pocket mirrors and nose strips). Here’s hoping Santa stops by his local Sephora store ASAP.
L’Occitane
L’OCCITANE Classic Beauty Advent Calendar
Designed to look just like a book, you could almost pitch it to loved ones as the ‘must-read’ of 2019. What they don’t know (that it’s really filled with body lotions, face creams and lip balms, and that you need to open it early – December 1st to be precise) won’t hurt them. And even if it does, they’ll be on-board once they catch a whiff of your cherry blossom shower gel.
Jo Malone London
Jo Malone London Advent Calendar ($640, jomalone.com.au)
This London townhouse replica may be as close to a Love Actually style Christmas as we get this year (and we’re fine with that, because, come on, look at it). With 24 ridiculously cute mini versions of all your favourite colognes, crèmes and candles, your entire universe is about to smell and feel a whole lot more festive. Don’t spend too much time lusting after it before adding to cart though; we know the price point is steep, but these things go fast.
Natio
Natio Colour: 12 Days ($79.95, natio.com.au)
Feeling overwhelmed by the packed party season social calendar? Let Natio take the stress out of your makeup routine. With an ultra-cute cosmetic countdown packed with everything from lip crayons and volumising mascaras to nail lacquers and foundation applicators, nailing a statement look on every single one of the 12 days before Christmas will be a total cinch.
La Mer
La Mer Twelve Days of Glowing Renewal ($560, lamer.com.au)
12 days of Christmas? Huge tune. 12 days of glowing renewal, however? Huge mood. La Mer’s countdown calendar is just as lush as you’d expect, and it’s packed with mini treatments (all infused with the brand’s signature Miracle Broth) to ensure December is definitely the month of dewy skin. Can’t pinpoint someone who will be willing to spend this much on your silly season skin care? A gift to you from you is always appreciated.
INIKA Organic
INIKA Organic 12 Days of Natural Beauty
Get a head start on your clean beauty New Years resolutions with this festive roundup of all your favourite INIKA products. Bursting with natural beauty goodies, it contains everything you’ll need for party face prep, from mineral eye shadows and vegan mascaras to organic lip crayons and pure primers. The full-size to mini ratio is also very impressive, with eight regular sized products and four precious little minis to pack in your purse for touch-ups.
These look so good and I want all of them. Unfortunately most are way out of my price range
My daughter loves advent calendars and always has them on her list for Christmas.
Honestly they all look amazing
I love the body shop all their stuff smells great too.