Each September, we’re inundated with the best beauty advent calendars. From Liberty and Selfridges to Harrods and Boots, beauty fans are spoiled for choice – too much choice, some might argue. The biggest retailers are all priced in the same ballpark, and many feature the same rotating cast of brands: Augustinus Bader, Elemis and Color Wow.
So, which one should you invest in? For me, it comes down to both practical appeal and gifting potential. I look for beauty advent calendars that offer great value for money across premium skincare long into the new year, while adding some excitement to the festive period with versatile makeup options. The products also need enough star power to wrap back up and treat loved ones to on Christmas Day.
Cult Beauty advent calendar at a glance
- Worth: Over £1,100
- Confirmed cost : £245
- Number of products: 33 (19 full-sized)
- Advent calendar highlights: Westman Atelier mascara, Hourglass lipstick, Medik8 peptide cream, Saie blush
- Available: Now at Cultbeauty.co.uk
For 2026, Cult Beauty is making one of the strongest arguments. I always expect excellent makeup, but this year’s calendar adds some seriously impressive skincare into the mix: Augustinus Bader, Sunday Riley, Anua, Paula’s Choice, and Medik8. Nearly all the products inside are formulas I’ve tried and loved.
And it’s not forgetting luxury makeup either – expect Westman Atelier, Vieve, Patrick Ta, Saie, By Terry, and Hourglass. As I said, beauty advent calendars come down to personal taste, and Cult Beauty’s offering stocks me up for 2027 with dozens of long-loved favourites. Better yet, 19 of the 33 products are full-sized.
How I tested
Christmas came early in my house, as I unboxed the entire Cult Beauty advent calendar to review this year’s contents. I assessed whether the overall value (£1,100) matched the products inside, considering the ratio of full-size to travel-size formulas. I also noted the balance between skincare, makeup, bodycare and fragrance, and which category – if any – felt lacking.
Above all, I wanted the calendar to feel genuinely useful going into the new year, from skincare saviours to makeup staples. Spoilers ahead.
Cult Beauty advent calendar 2026: £245, Cultbeauty.co.uk
★★★★★
What we love: High-end and useful skincare, 19 full-size formulas, premium makeup, multiples in drawers, and offers excellent value for money at £245
Take note: Box isn’t overly exciting and makeup shades aren’t for everyone
Cult Beauty’s advent calendar is simply overflowing with premium makeup and skincare products. It’s no exaggeration to say I wasn’t disappointed by a single product – somewhat a rarity when it comes to beauty advent calendars. The advertised 19 full-size products don’t feel like a sales pitch.
Most of the full-size skincare products I’ve already tried and adored – see Vieve’s skin nova, Medik8’s pro-collagen peptide cream, Byoma’s foaming rice deep cleanser, Paula’s Choice’s clinical dual-retinoid treatment, and Sunday Riley’s plumping serum – while the travel-size offering isn’t as teeny-tiny as most on the market. Augustinus Bader’s rich cream, Elemis pro-collagen SPF50 fluid protection and Anua’s PDRN moisturising cream are all travel bag heroes.
Completing your beauty arsenal for the new year, the makeup offering also left me impressed. Westman Atelier’s mascara and Sunday Friday’s lip butter balm are both full-size everyday staples, while a Charlotte Tilbury travel-size airbrush flawless setting spray is perfect for keeping in your bag. A limitation to most calendars is not being able to choose your makeup shades, but if the full-size Patrick Ta double take powder blush duo and full-size Huda Beauty lip contour in warm brown aren’t for you, the products are perfect for gifting.
Haircare isn’t neglected either, with a Gisou shampoo and conditioner travel-size duo, Maria Mila scalp serum and Fable & Mane HoliRoots hair oil all useful bathroom additions. When it comes to fragrance, the signature edition of the calendar doesn’t include any, while the special edition includes Eccentric Molecules, Iso E Super, KAYALI, and Kilian Paris, alongside a Sol de Janeiro mist.
Now that brings me to the final point about Cult Beauty’s 2026 advent calendar: there are two editions. I’ve reviewed the signature (33 products, 19 full-size), but beauty lovers can decide between that one and the special edition (38 products, 17 full-size). Both cost the same price, and the special is the obvious choice if you like fragrance. The calendar swaps some of the signature products for added formulas including Davines OI All In One Milk, Amika Soulstruck Nourishing Leave-In Dry Hair Mask, and Color Wow Xtra Large Bombshell Volumizer, so it’s also the preferred choice for haircare fans.
Read more: Is Liberty's beauty advent calendar the best Christmas offering?
Is the Cult Beauty beauty advent calendar 2026 worth it?
The short answer: yes. If you love makeup, beauty and haircare, I’d be shocked if you were disappointed when counting down to Christmas with Cult Beauty. The impressive number of full-size products, paired with premium brands and useful formulas, makes it one of this year’s best beauty advent calendars – if not the best. The makeup balances excitement with everyday wearability, while the skincare builds a full routine for the new year—nearly all of the products I’d happily buy individually.
Read more: Best 2026 beauty advent calendars, from Liberty to Harrods
