They’re so good, it’s almost as if we curated them ourselves. Raise your hand if the rollout of the best beauty advent calendars gets your heart racing every holiday season. Some may say it’s too early to start thinking about gift shopping in September, and to that, I say, stop being such a Grinch! Besides, the earlier they launch, the more time you have to deliberate over what to buy. But don’t deliberate for too long—you’ll want to hit the checkout button before they inevitably sell out, whether you’re treating a friend, family member, or yourself. (Wink.)
Our Top Beauty Advent Calendars
The Evolution of Your Beauty Routine: Anthropologie The 24 Days of Beauty Advent Calendar, $98
The Star of Our Wish List: Revolve 25 Days of Revolve Beauty Advent Calendar, $150
Doctor’s Orders: Best of Dermstore: 24 Days of Beauty Advent Calendar, $250
It’s Giving Dewy Dumpling: Anua 7 Days of Glass Skin Advent Calendar, $34
Red Carpet-Ready: Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte’s Hollywood Beauty Wonderland Advent Calendar, $220
Walking in a K-beauty Wonderland: YesStyle Y So Cereal Advent Calendar, $165
Scents of the Season: Maison Margiela Replica 7-Day Holiday Calendar, $140
And before you hit me with the “buttt,” I know. Advent calendars give us sticker shock, too. Think of it this way: When you add up the retail value of each product, it’s crystal clear just how much you’re saving. The holidays are stressful as is, so I let these calendars do the math for me—and, trust me, it’s a winning formula. After all, why struggle to land on the perfect singular gift when you can buy them a little bit of everything? Sounds like beauty heaven to us.
If you’re unsure where to start, I’ve assigned myself the arduous task of online window shopping for you. (Ha, I kid: It’s not arduous, and it’s quite literally my job.) Without further ado, here are the best beauty advent calendars out right now—plus, a few 2025 calendars that are still available to shop. And of course, I’ll be refreshing this story with newness as it rolls out. For now, have your credit card info ready and prepare to be crowned the best gift-giver of all time. Why I love it: Anthropologie is always one of the first beauty retailers to debut its advent calendars, and with every year, they continue to impress us with whimsical packaging and designs. (Props to artist Nephthys Foster!) The product selection is especially strong this year and distributed relatively evenly between skin care, body care, makeup, hair, and fragrance, so there are truly treats for any taste. Plenty of buzzy brands—Boy Smells, Vacation, and Salt & Stone—are waiting behind 24 pint-size doors.
The star product: Summer’s over, but sunscreen is a 365-day affair. In case you thought you could start winding down your SPF application, think again. Luckily, Supergoop’s SPF 50 Play Everyday Lotion is one of our favorite face and body sunscreens to slather on, thanks to a lightweight, cast-free formula infused with skin-soothers like sunflower seed extract. “Unlike the lotion sunscreen of yore that takes rigorous rubbing to blend into your skin (if it ever does), this one melts right in…and it doesn’t feel heavy or sticky throughout the day,” says senior editor Jesa Marie Calaor.
P.S. Is your loved one a candle fiend? They’ll love Anthropologie’s Holiday in the City 12-Day Advent Calendar ($178), which is stuffed with 10 wax candles, room fragrance spray, and one candle snuffer.
Why it’s worth it: $50 for an advent calendar that includes the likes of Ilia and L’Occitane? You’ve got that right. I think this would be a great gift for the teen girls in your life, since it offers plenty of day-to-day products they’ll actually use, like the Batiste Dry Shampoo Original, Mario Badescu Facial Spray, and Poppy & Pout Sweet Mint Lip Balm.
The star product: I’m going with OPI Funny Bunny—not because I personally love it, but because even I know how popular the milky white shade is. (I’m more of a pink/purple/blue gal—all of the colors, please!) And, because I’m in my fragrance era, I’ll toss in the Clean Reserve Whipped Cherry Eau de Parfum. This fruity-gourmand sounds downright delectable, with notes of wild cherry, coconut water, mimosa blossoms, pralines, and vanilla cream.
Why it’s worth it: Technically, these are on preorder at the time of writing, but you should totally add them to your cart to secure yours. (They’re expected to start shipping out around October 16, so you don’t have to wait long!) These sell out relatively early in the season. And when you’re getting $953 worth of beauty products for $150, yeah, I get why. The range of these 24 beauty and wellness brands is quite impressive and includes some unexpected finds, like Abbode, Etoile Collective, and Lemme. What’s also in the mix? Tried-and-true classics, such as Benefit Cosmetics Benetint, Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta Universal Peel, and Tarte Tartelette Tubing XL Mascara. Our gifting list revolves around this cheerful red suitcase.
Star product: Hands down, it’s the Foreo Mini UFO. I’m not used to seeing skin-care devices in any advent calendar, period, so this is a great get. While it comes with seven masks that lay right on top of the device, I’m pretty sure any microfiber or cellulose sheet mask, like the Mediheal Collagen ones, will do the job. Keep calm and mask on. (Sorry, can’t help it.)
Why it’s worth it: Back this year is Revolve’s 12-day advent calendar, which is a more affordable (but just as cute!) gift priced under $100—but the fun part is that you get $409 worth of product. Just about every brand featured is an Allure fave, from Kosas to Summer Fridays. An indulgence that feels comparably responsible? Oh yes, it’s possible.
Star product: It’s a mini, yes, but it absolutely has to be the Allies of Skin Multi Peptides & GF Advanced Lifting Serum. Yes, she’s expensive (the full size is $188), but I can’t lie: This is the serum that has made me look the glowiest after one application (and I’ve tried hundreds throughout my career). But when there’s a high concentration of peptides involved, it makes sense. This silky serum, as far as I’m concerned, excels in the plumping and firming category.
Why it’s worth it: Ah, Dermstore, one of my favorite destinations for skin care—though the e-retailer covers it all: makeup, hair, fragrance, and wellness, and this advent calendar is a prime example of its offerings. We’re talking a host of derm- and editor-approved brands, like EltaMD, Paula’s Choice, Revision Skincare, and SkinMedica. If that’s not enough to convince you, perhaps the numbers will. $1,147 worth of products for $250, enough said.
Star product: Of course I’m going to highlight a full-size product, and of course it’ll be Medik8 Crystal Retinal 3. As a human being in my early (and close to mid) 30s, I’m more about aging prevention than ever! Now’s the time to ramp it up, folks—well, if that’s your goal, of course. With a range that spans levels 1 through 24 and allows you to “graduate” from lower to higher concentrations over time, the Crystal Retinal 3 that’s included—which contains 0.03% of the active—is perfect for beginners. (If you have very sensitive skin, level 1 is recommended.) “I haven’t experienced any irritation with level 3, a rarity for my sensitive skin,” former content director Kara McGrath said in her review.
Why it’s worth it: If you’ve been curious about this buzzy K-beauty brand but don’t know where to start, let this travel-friendly kit be your intro—or if you’re on a gifting budget, this clocks in at just $34. Win-win. In fact, this lineup is a complete skin-care routine, from double-cleaning to moisturizer, so it’s as practical as it is well-priced. All you need to add on is sunscreen, which Anua also offers, of course.
Star product: The Azelaic Acid 10 Hyaluron Redness Soothing Serum has gone viral, and for good reason. Azelaic acid is an all-star ingredient that “helps treat acne, reduce inflammation, fade post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, and improve redness, all while targeting acne-causing bacteria,” Connie Yang, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City, previously explained. In this particular formula, it teams up with niacinamide to address uneven skin tone and calm redness. Oh, and it also makes a power pair with tretinoin.
Why it’s worth it: Laneige has proven to be a K-beauty stronghold in the U.S. since 2017 (when it launched at Sephora!), so I suspect this advent calendar will sell out pretty quickly—so get shopping. 12 Days of Wonder has a great mix of skin-care formulas from the soothing Water Bank and plumping Bouncy & Firm lines, and of course, the brand’s popular (and delectably-smelling) lip-care collection. The Glaze Craze Tinted Lip Serums are newer favorites of mine—what can I say, I’m a sucker for those satisfying donut applicators!
Star product: There are long-time faves like the Lip Sleeping Mask, but with winter dryness on my mind, I’m gearing up to slather the Water Sleeping Mask on every night to lock in moisture, strengthen my barrier, and boost overall glowiness. Three types of HA, probiotics, niacinamide, and squalane—sweet dreams, indeed!
Why I love it: Dahlings, always count on Charlotte to deliver a showstopper of an advent calendar. This year’s wardrobe-like iteration is painted in a cheerful red and adorned with star-shaped knobs that pull out to unveil the beauty treasures within. It’s the kind of dresser eye candy you’ll want to keep around to store jewelry, hair accessories, or knickknacks of any sort. Here’s the breakdown: 15 products in all, four of which are full-size. Also in the mix is a fuzzy pink makeup bag (with a keychain attachment to hook onto your bigger bags) and white quartz gua sha in the shape of the classic Charlotte Tilbury lips.
The star product: When in doubt, go team Pillow Talk. Over the years, I always come back to Matte Revolution Lipstick when I need a reliable lipstick that doesn’t dry out my lips but still packs the punch of color I permanently crave. I actually prefer Pillow Talk Medium (which is the shade included here) to the original Pillow Talk because it gives me that bolder pop.
Why it’s worth it: Also up for preorder (and ready to ship as soon as October 20) is a cute suitcase-themed advent calendar aptly named Carry-On Essentials. Inside, you’ll discover a stacked lineup of the brand’s C.E.O. products, which do wonders for reducing dullness. And hot off the press: The Auto Correct Brightening + Depuffing Eye Cream is a 2026 Best of Beauty winner! Infused with caffeine and antioxidants, this is the wake-up call your dark circles will love (or hate, rather?).
Star product: Naturally, I’m eyeing another Best of Beauty winner, Good Genes Lactic Acid Treatment, which helps seriously boost brightness and smooth texture—all while being gentler than other exfoliating acids. Don’t just take my word for it: “I can count on one hand the products that I routinely go back to, and Good Genes All-In-One Lactic Acid Treatment and I have been BFFs for about a decade now,” says contributing commerce writer Christa Joanna Lee. “As I enter the last year of my 30s, I depend on this more than ever to keep my dry, sensitive skin from flaking and looking dull. It delivers consistent exfoliation, keeps rough patches at bay, and despite being an acid treatment, it’s never irritated my skin.”
Why it’s worth it: YesStyle advent calendars sell like hotcakes every year, so you’ll want to preorder yours as soon as you’re able to (October 7 at 11 p.m. ET). Besides the super cute packaging (the mascots, I mean, c’mon!), you get a plethora of Korean skin care and makeup from 35 brands! While some days include sample-like satchets, the minis and full-size products more than make up for those. A full-size Beauty of Joseon Radiance Cleansing Balm will last you months. A full-size tube of Abib Collagen Eye Patches? Yes, please.
The star product: As Allure’s biggest K-beauty fan, this is the hardest box to choose just one product, so I’ll just rattle off a bunch of products I love and a quick reason why.
Arencia Fresh Green Rice Mochi Cleanser: It has such a fun texture and I love that it gently exfoliates. I also prefer to leave it on for a minute or two as a “mask.”
Centellian24 Madeca Cream Time Reverse: This is one of those creams everyone raves about, no matter their age. It’s calming and floods your skin with long-lasting moisture and barrier-strenghtening benefits. I actually like the lighterweight Time Reverse Zero for my combo skin, but the original will be perfect for the winter.
Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Probiotics NAD+ Serum-in-Mist: It’s simply a really good, actually deeply hydrating face mist—truly the brand’s milky essence in mist form!
Unleashia Sunset Dazzle Gloss: These make my lips look so juicy and I adore the bouncy donut applicator—my favorite shade is No.4 Bora Bora.
House of Hur Moist Ampoule Blusher: This liquid blush is extra pigmented, so you just need the tiniest amount a fabulous, “look at me” flush.
Why it’s worth it: Beekman 1802 usually wins for one of the cutest advent calendars that come across my inbox and desk, and this year is no different. Yes, I’m swayed by adorable characters, and what about it? A little Goatie is all dressed up as a barista, holding a tray of miniature coffee and pastries, to welcome you to the Kindness Café, and I gladly accept the invite. Out of the 24 goodies, you’ll unlock 12 full-size products—a fantastic deal, because every limb of mine is going to need every possible hand and body cream come winter.
The star product: Most hand creams are good, but some, like the Milk RX Advanced Better Aging Hand Renewal Cream, provide extra benefits that make them more enticing. In this case, lactic acid gently exfoliates to smooth out any rough patches (hello, harsh winter winds), while peptides help boost elasticity. Repeat after me: No cracked hands in 2026 (or 2027).
Why it’s worth it: Benefit’s 2025 Rubik’s Cube advent calendar is still sitting on my office desk, but somehow it’s already time to check into The Hotel Beneville. This pretty-in-pink suitcase is home to so many editor favorites, including but not limited to the classic Benetint, Hoola Bronzer, Badgal Bang Mascara, and The Porefessional Primer. All in all, this lineup of 24 full- and mini-size makeup and skin-care products will keep any beauty lover fed well through 2027. Bon voyage!
The star product: Like thousands of other people on this planet, I trust Benefit brow products—like, a lot. While my absolute fave isn’t included (I love you, Precisely, My Brow Detailer), my runner-ups are. Take Gimme Brow+, a Best of Beauty and Readers’ Choice Award winner that lends the illusion of fuller brows in as little as three swipes. Easy.
Why it’s worth it: Tatcha packaging is already gorgeous as-is, so when the Japanese-inspired skin-care brand finally came out with its first-ever advent calendar last year, we couldn’t believe our luck. And by another stroke of luck, it’s back for 2026! 12 Ways to Love Your Skin is aptly named, with 12 nourishing formulas that cleanse, hydrate, brighten, and smooth with time-honored Japanese ingredients such as Uji green tea, Akita rice, Okinawa algae, Japanese indigo, and tsubaki oil. P.S. You can spot quite a few Best of Beauty and Readers’ Choice winners in this lineup: The Silk Serum, The Brightening Eye Cream, and The Water Cream.
The star product: Why does senior commerce director Shanna Shipin call The Longevity Cream her “Goldilocks moisturizer?” It doesn’t irritate her eczema, for one, makes her ultra-dry skin look “so supple” and “glistening,” and offers enough grip to double as a primer. And the texture of this gel-cream? Addicting. “There’s a wiggly, jiggly bounce-back when you tap on the surface of the moisturizer, and you really are best served by using the spoon to scoop a dollop out,” Shipin says. Who says skin care shouldn’t be fun? Certainly not us.
Why it’s worth it: You don’t always need 24 products, especially when it comes to a category as personal as fragrance. Maison Margiela gets that, which is why it kept its curation super tight with just five of its most people-pleasing scents: Jazz Club, By the Fireplace, Chasing Stars, Lazy Sunday (which comes in a hand cream, shower gel, and eau de toilette). What do they all have in common? They’re comforting, calming, and grounding, so get cozy.
The star product: By the Fireplace is a scent we love spritzing in the colder months. And because it’s an eau de toilette (it’s lighter, thanks to a lower alcohol concentration), it’s a fantastic unisex scent. Social media manager Bianca Richards, for example, shares this scent with her partner. “Matthew and I thrive in the fall because we’re both homebodies who love creating a cozy, warm space to feel at peace,” she says. Infused with notes of clove oil, chestnut accord, and vanilla accord, By the Fireplace feels genuinely like a warm hug. (For the record, regardless of fragrance formulation or gender, you can 100% wear whatever scent you please!)
Why it’s worth it: Elizabeth Arden is skin care that means business—and by business, we mean seriously soft and plump skin. After all, we use the terms “iconic” and “icon” very sparingly (copy team, hear that?), but a product like the Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant deserves the accolade. First launched in 1930, we’ve written about the deeply moisturizing (and Best of Beauty-winning) salve more times than I can count on two hands. Editors in chief and flight attendants, among many others, have given it heaps of praise. Alongside the all-rounder cream, you’ll find five full-size products (like the Eight Hour Cream Lip Protectant Stick) and three travel-size products (hey, White Tea Original Eau de Toilette).
The star product: I know I just gave Eight Hour its flowers, but the Advanced Gold Ceramide Capsules and Retinol HPR Ceramide Capsules deserve shoutouts all the same. Not only are they extra-travel-friendly for holiday trips home, but they’re also already portioned out, so you can squeeze and apply without a second thought—especially useful for those nights you feel so tired you can barely lift up your arms to brush your teeth. (Just me?)
Why it’s worth it: Wherever you or your loved ones may be, this L’Occitane Prestige Advent Calendar invites its recipient to experience a piece of Provence, France, where the brand’s roots lie. There, you’ll find bounties of almond trees and lavender plants that power many of L’Occitane’s beloved skin-care and body-care products. This stacked lineup—filled with dryness-soothing formulas such as the Shea Butter Ultra Rich Body Cream, Almond Milk Concentrate, and Immortelle Overnight Reset Oil-in-Serum—is more than ideal for ushering in the colder months.
The star product: There’s an average shower…and then there’s a shower using the L’Occitane Almond Shower Oil, which transforms from a luxe oil to a silky foam. Not only will your bathroom smell like a spa—think a comforting, warm blend of almonds and vanilla—your skin will benefit just as much as the rest of your senses. “By the time I step out of the shower and into my robe, my skin feels like satin,” a former staffer attested.
Why it’s worth it: What’s better than a wallet-friendly beauty brand? An even more wallet-friendly advent calendar, obviously. Revolution Beauty’s set rings in at just $65 (no price increase from 2025—we love to see it!), and with 24 products total, that means each comes in at less than $3 a pop. You can replace your entire makeup routine, or share the wealth with your makeup-obsessed sisters and nieces. This colorful lineup stretches from lip gloss, eyeliner, mascara, and setting powder to makeup tools such as sponges and heart-shaped powder puffs. Glam time is a go.
The star product: If the Jelly Blush looks a little familiar, your eyes aren’t tricking you. Whether you’ve a die-hard fan of that other brand’s formula or haven’t bounced around the idea of trying jelly makeup, let this delightful lip and cheek stain convince you to dab, blend, and be on your popsicle-stained, dewy-flushed way.
Why it’s worth it: If you’re a DIY nail lover, or know someone who is, Manucurist curated an all-inclusive set that includes brand-new hues like bordeaux and forest green—perfect for fall and winter vibes. Senior editor Jesa Marie Caloar vouches for the longevity of the Green Nail Polishes, by the way. “Just two coats of the stuff give me an opaque, vibrant, and streak-free manicure,” she says. “It dries quickly and takes weeks to chip, despite all of the things I do with my hands (dishes, weight training, and hours of typing away at my laptop) that could potentially ding my nail look.” I’m sold. Aren’t you too?
The star product: I love all of the nail/hand care that goes into this box, including a keratin booster and nail & cuticle oil, but I’m eyeing the set-exclusive Active shade: Shine Icy. (The Green Nail Polishes are more like your traditional lacquers, whereas Active Nail Polishes are sheerer in nature and help repair your nails—think AHAs, sweet almond oil, and raspberry—throughout wear time.) I do prefer my bolder hues overall, but I’m intrigued by this strengthening formula, and I can’t pass up a glitter, especially for the holidays.
Why it’s worth it: We know advent calendars sometimes skimp on full-size skin-care products, but Korres offers a solid lineup of six, including the Smart Yoghurt Probiotic Gel-Cream, Smart Yoghurt Probiotic Super Serum (a bit more on that later), Wide Award Eye Gel Roller, and 6xHA Wrinkle Smoothing Youth Activator Booster. There’s also plenty of body care (shower gels! body scrubs! body milks!) to make sure your skin doesn’t know a thing about chappedness—and even a few hair-care products for your travels.
The star product: A winner in our sensitive category for the 2026 Best of Beauty Awards: Korres Smart Yoghurt Probiotic Super Serum. Dry, irritated skin hates to see this calming concoction of oat extract, bisabolol, and ginger root extract coming. Another great pick? One Allure contributor credited the Greek Yogurt Foaming Cleanser with soothing her rosacea flare-ups. “My complexion tends to become irritated as soon as I remove my makeup, but it’s a rosacea symptom that’s become nonexistent since I started using this product, and the effects last, too. I wake up with an even tone that remains as such throughout the following day.”
Why it’s worth it: As we’ve said before, Guerlain encapsulates everything we love about French beauty. It’s meticulously sourced—hey, black bee honey from the remote coasts of Brittany, France, and Ireland—irresistibly elegant in design, and just really nourishing to our skin and hair. Oh, and the scents! So lovely and sophisticated.
For our luxe savants—the bougiest person you know—The Jewelry Box x Germanier Advent Calendar is a total treat for the eyes, bursting with colors and laced with intricate beading. Designed to be a collector’s item, rather than a box you toss once you’ve unveiled all 25 products, it’ll definitely stay by yourself as a catch-all for your jewelry, small trinkets, memories, anything!
The star product: You can’t pass up the newest scent: L’Heure Bleue Eau de Parfum. Even if amber florals aren’t typically your vibe, this one will surprise you. “Typically, I find iris fragrances to be too powdery for my tastes, but the ozonic accord brings a distinct lightness that really opens up the scent,” says social director Kassidy Silva. “Plus, when I get whiffs of the jasmine, vanilla, and pear as I wear it throughout the day, I can’t help but stop and sniff. During the day, I get an easy eight hours of wear time, but it lasts even longer when I spritz it on my clothes or pillows.”
