Seven of the best beauty Advent calendars of 2026, from €89 to €450

It’s one of my favourite times of the year when it comes to beauty − and by that, I mean it’s Advent calendar time.

The stakes have never been higher for beauty brands that produce Advent calendars: it increasingly appears to be a case of aggressive elbows at dawn as brands try to offer the best value for money, the best product selection and the most beautifully curated packaging.

Yes, Advent calendars are somewhat indulgent, but isn’t that the whole point? They’re the perfect gift for a serious beauty lover in your life, a perfect self-gift if you want to treat yourself, and a great way to try multiple products from different brands without splurging on the full sizes.

Plus, as someone suggested to me on Instagram last year, another reason they are a great purchase is you can gift the individual miniatures to friends and colleagues. Genius.

As always, my round-up includes a varied selection of what I consider to be the standouts: the best value for money, the most beautifully curated, the strongest product selection, and so on.

Best value for money

Marks & Spencer Beauty Advent Calendar – €89, worth €500

Marks and Spencer takes the top spot once more this year for sheer value for money. At just €89, with contents worth more than €500, this year’s M&S Advent calendar contains 26 products behind 25 doors, including 10 full-size products, across skincare, haircare, make-up, body care and fragrance.

If you’re an annual purchaser of this calendar, you’ll notice there are 12 new brands making their appearance for the first time. A particularly strong option for those who want a broad beauty selection without spending more than €100, highlights include Benefit Badgal Bounce Mascara, an Estée Lauder Double Wear Primer, Color Wow Money Mist and Philip Kingsley Elasticizer.

Best luxury selection

Brown Thomas Beauty Advent Calendar – €395, worth more than €1,800

One of the best luxury selections this year comes from Brown Thomas in the form of its Beauty Advent Calendar. Retailing at €395, there are more than €1,800 worth of products inside.

Expect luxury skincare and fragrance, with 25 products (23 full size) bringing together products such as Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream, La Mer The Rejuvenating Night Cream, Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair and Le Labo Santal 33, among other highlights.

Haircare comes courtesy of K18, Oribe and Kevin Murphy, while Irish brands Skingredients, Pestle & Mortar and Ground Wellbeing also feature. With fragrance discoveries from achingly cool brands including Ex Nihilo and Fragrance Du Bois only adding to the appeal, this is a seriously tempting option for someone who enjoys expensive skincare and niche scents.

Best all-rounder

Boots 24 Days of Luxe Beauty Advent Calendar – €175, worth more than €800

Boots is making a convincing case for treating yourself this year with its 24 Days of Luxe Beauty Advent Calendar. Twenty-seven products, including 19 full sizes, worth more than €800 and retailing for €175. It includes established favourites from Clinique, Estée Lauder, NARS and Benefit Cosmetics, with newer additions from Laneige, Fenty Beauty, Amika and more.

Full-size highlights include Aveda Rosemary Mint Shampoo and Conditioner, an ICONIC London Face Palette and Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask.

Best for discovering something new

Space NK Advent Calendar – €316, worth more than €1,350

One of the most generous Advent calendars I’ve come across in recent years, Space NK’s 2026 iteration contains 35 products, 26 of which are full size.

At €316, with an advertised individual product value totalling more than €1,350, it’s hot on the heels of the best-value-for-money category, while offering an astounding selection of products.

Its particular appeal is the combination of new and bestselling skincare, make-up, fragrance and haircare discoveries, including K18 HeatBounce Treatment, Augustinus Bader The Body Cream, Medik8 Exo-PDRN Serum, Sol De Janeiro Rosa Charmosa Dewy Cream, Phlur Missing Person fragrance, and much more.

Best for a little glamour

Charlotte Tilbury: Charlotte’s Hollywood Beauty Wonderland – €215, worth more than €400

Charlotte Tilbury’s annual advent calendar makes my list most years for its sheer appeal, and this year is no different. Always a great way to explore the brand’s make-up and skincare offering, Charlotte’s Hollywood Beauty Wonderland retails for €215 and contains more than €400 worth of products, including 15 surprises, four full-sized beauty products and two accessories.

As ever, Tilbury nails the presentation, as all contents are tucked into dual-handled drawers, and the star-adorned case can be kept afterwards as a keepsake or as a jewellery box. Fabulous, darling!

Best for bath lovers

Lush Advent Calendar – €250 (value of contents not published)

You can nearly always count on Lush Cosmetics to do something a little different with its advent calendar, and this year is no exception.

With a jam packed 25-day advent calendar (plus Christmas crackers!) focused entirely on body care, fragrance and bath time. It includes Lush favourites such as Sleepy Bubble Bar, Sticky Dates Shower Gel, Dream Cream, a selection of bath bombs, shower gels, a lip scrub and even some cosy socks.

Better again, all the contents are presented beautifully in a reusable wicker hamper, something you can keep and use long after the festive season has passed. An excellent and fun gift for a Lush lover, or indeed anyone who enjoys a little bit of TLC.

Most beautifully curated

Diptyque Advent Calendar – €450 (value of contents not published)

I could give the most beautifully curated award to Diptyque most years, including this one.

A glorious, intricately designed case, made to be reused, and housing 25 scented surprises spanning candles, body care and, of course, fragrance, with new arrivals and limited-edition scents included.

According to the brand, this year’s Advent calendar is “inspired by a craftsman’s toolbox”, and decorated with creatures of an enchanted forest, imagined by artist Jean-Simon Roch.

At €450, it’s one of the most expensive calendars on this list, but it’s also perhaps the most memorable, especially for someone who loves Diptyque − or fragrance in general. One of the most beautiful ways to count down to Christmas.