When it comes to advent calendars, there’s no such thing as too early in the beauty world. From Liberty and Harrods to Lush and John Lewis, the biggest brands have already unveiled their lineups – and it’s only just August.
These countdowns for beauty lovers have become a contemporary Christmas tradition. An indulgent alternative to chocolate, beauty advent calendars reveal a make-up, skincare, haircare, or fragrance treat behind each door of December (if you can refrain from unboxing in one fell swoop).
Whether it’s a Charlotte Tilbury foundation, a Byredo lipstick, or an Augustinus Bader cream, the gifts last long beyond party season. While once considered excessive, beauty advent calendars have become an increasingly mainstream choice for Christmas gifting – and most sell out by late October.
If you’re looking to add a touch of luxury to the festive season, it’s worth deciding which calendar you want to invest in now. Yes, even in the throes of summer.
Beauty advent calendars 2026 unveiled
Liberty London beauty advent calendar 2026 – £285, but worth £1,300, Libertylondon.com
Harrods beauty advent calendar 2026 – £270, but worth £1,039, Harrods.com
L’Occitane prestige beauty advent calendar – £169, but worth £269, Loccitane.com
Lush advent calendar 2026 – £210, but worth N/A, Lush.com
John Lewis beauty advent calendar 2026 – £250, but worth £1160, Johnlewis.com
Cult Beauty advent calendar 2026 – £245, but worth £1,100, Cultbeauty.co.uk
Harvey Nichols beauty advent calendar 2026 – £250, but worth £1,000, Harveynichols.com
Boots 24 day premium advent calendar – £150, but worth £700, Boots.com
Fortnum & Mason beauty advent calendar 2026 – £275, but worth £1,225, Fortnumandmason.com
As a shopping editor, I’ve covered beauty advent calendars for more than half a decade, reviewing line-ups from Selfridges, Cult Beauty, John Lewis, and Space NK. So far, heavyweights including Liberty and Harrods have already dropped their waiting list, while plenty more are teasing details online – including Gen Z go-to Lush, Provence favourite L’Occitane, and crowd-pleasing John Lewis.
The most wonderful time of the year in the beauty sphere, consider this your cheat sheet to 2026’s best advent calendars – trust me, you’ll want to get ahead of the glamorous game.
Best beauty advent calendars 2026
Liberty London beauty advent calendar 2026: £285, Libertylondon.com
When Liberty unveiled its beauty advent calendar in 2014, the modern mania began. A snapshot of its iconic beauty hall, the London department store’s annual offering is known for spotlighting more underground brands while delivering reliably luxurious skincare and fragrance staples. The box is worth the investment alone – it takes pride of place on any Christmas display.
This year, the retailer has confirmed that its calendar will be available for pre-order from early August, with the waitlist already open. In the line-up, you’ll find Sunday Riley CEO vitamin C 15 per cent brightening serum, Lisa Eldridge baume embrace melting lip colour, Augustinus Bader’s The Face Oil, and Davines Oi Shampoo, among other goodies.
At a glance
- Worth: £1,300
- Number of days: 25
- Number of products: 29 (21 full size)
- Advent calendar highlights: Augustinus Bader the face oil, Sunday Riley C.E.O. 15% Vitamin C brightening serum, Lisa Eldridge baume embrace melting lip colour
- Available: Pre-orders from early August
John Lewis beauty advent calendar 2026: £250, Johnlewis.com
This year, there are 41 products, including a huge 23 full-size goodies and 18 deluxe minis. Alongside skincare, makeup and fragrances from the likes of Trinny, Fenty Beauty, Elemis and Gucci, beauty tech features for the first time – including Foreo’s UFO mini, worth £129 alone.
Among the full-size skincare products, you’ll be treated to L’Occitane Almond Shower Oil, Liz Earle’s Cleanse & PolishTM, and Medik8’s Hydr8 B5, while make-up heroes span the Sculpted by Aimee Line and Shine Lip Liner and Gloss Duo, Fenty Beauty Hella Thicc Volumising Mascara, and Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Light Wand. What’s more, one in 41 customers is in the running to win a mystery voucher: prizes include a Shark face or hair tool, and a Clarins spa treatment.
The John Lewis beauty advent calendar 2026 is available to pre-order from 3 August for MyJL Beauty members, who get exclusive early access. Pre-orders will be shipped from 3 September, before going on general sale from 7 September – so it’s well worth becoming a member.
At a glance
- Worth: Over £1,160
- Number of days : 25
- Number of products: 41 (23 full size)
- Advent calendar highlights: Medik8 Hydr8 B5, Foreo Mini UFO, Elemis Pro-Collagen Future Restore Serum
- Available : Pre-orders from 3 August
Harrods beauty advent calendar 2026: £270, Harrods.com
The Harrods beauty advent calendar is always one of the earliest to launch – and it’s already revealed this year’s offering. Inside, there are 34 products – 21 of which are full-size – spanning make-up from Charlotte Tilbury, skincare from Augustinus Bader and Tatcha, haircare from Color Wow, and fake tan from By Terry.
Beauty highlights include Hourglass’s ambient lighting blush travel in luminous flush, a £75 voucher off selected Currentbody Skin devices, Nars’ total seduction eyeshadow stick, Lyma’s power youth cream, and Medik8’s C-tetra advanced gel-serum. It’s sure to be up there with this year’s most covetable calendars. There’s also a fragrance advent calendar (£225 for 12 luxury niche scents), and a 12 days of hair and body calendar (£99 for 17 pampering items), which offer stellar value for money.
At a glance
- Worth: £1,039
- Number of days: 25
- Number of products: 34 (21 full-size)
- Advent calendar highlights: Hourglass ambient lighting blush, By Terry tea to tan for face and body, Medik8 C-tetra advanced vitamin C gel serum
- Available: Pre-orders open in early August
Boots 24 day premium beauty advent calendar 2026: £150, Boots.com
The Boots 24-day beauty advent calendar is a much underrated option. Always affordable, it costs £150 again this year – but is worth £100 more. The exact lineup remains under wraps, but those who sign up to the waitlist will unlock 24-hour early access to buy the calendar before general sale online on Wednesday 2 September. Alongside the premium calendar, there’s also a 24 day skincare offering (£70, but worth £300), and a 12-day fragrance calendar (£90, but worth £345).
The 2025 calendar was brimming with premium names and genuinely useful products – think Estee Lauder cleansers, a full-size Drunk Elephant cream that lasted me into the spring, and a Nars primer. I’m hoping for the same this year.
At a glance
- Worth: £700
- Number of days in 2025: 24
- Number of products in 2025: 24 (17 full-size)
- Last year’s advent calendar highlights: Estée Lauder advanced night cleanser, Drunk Elephant protini polypeptide cream, Benefit hoola bronzer
- Available: Not yet announced
Cowshed’s 24 day deluxe advent calendar: £299, Cowshed.com
The Cowshed calendar waitlist opens on 17 August ahead of its launch on 1 September. Alongside Cowshed signatures – think the refresh hand wash, active bath and shower gel, and relax body lotion – the calendar features the brand’s new reimagined range of Wildly-Feel-Good fragrances for body, hand, hair and home.
In the mix, 24 full-size products draw inspiration from Christmas at Babington House, from roaring fires to champagne celebrations. The handwoven wicker hamper is designed for year-round use, while each door is individually boxed and sticker-sealed for gifting to loved ones.
At a glance
- Worth: £547
- Number of days: 24
- Number of products: 24
- Advent calendar highlights: Refresh Hand Wash, Active Bath & Shower Gel, Relax Body Lotion
- Available: Waitlist opens 17 August, available from 1 September
L’Occitane prestige beauty advent calendar: £169, Loccitane.com
Provence beauty brand L’Occitane is always a favourite for Christmas gifting – and its prestige beauty advent calendar combines all its bestselling formulas into one 24-day December offering. Granted, the value for money isn’t as impressive as other brands – it costs £169 and is worth £269 – but the lineup will make any L’Occitane devotee very happy. From the cult almond shower and body oil to luxurious hand creams, soaps, haircare and skincare – including the immortelle cream, overnight oil, eye cream, and cleansing cream – the calendar is just the ticket for some party season pampering.
The waitlists for both the prestige calendar and the more affordable Provence classics calendar (£99, worth £192) are open, with pre-orders from 13 August and general sale from 26 August.
At a glance
- Worth: £1269
- Cost: £169
- Number of days: 24
- Number of products: 24
- Advent calendar highlights: Shea hand cream, almond shower oil, and almond supple skin oil
- Available: Waitlist open now, pre-orders from 13 August
Fortnum & Mason beauty advent calendar 2026: £275, Fortnumandmason.com
Fortnum & Mason is keeping its cards close to its chest with its 2026 beauty advent calendar. The iconic department store has opened the waiting list and revealed that the calendar will cost £275, but is worth more than £1,225. There will be 24 full-size products across 25 days. As for the full lineup, we’ll have to wait and see – but Fortnum's has teased that Ortigia, Wildsmith, Clive Christian, Delilah, Granado, Jean-Charles Brosseau, and Benamôr 1925 will feature. Let’s hope the contents are as gorgeous as the pink, floral-painted box.
At a glance
- Worth: More than £1,225
- Number of days: 25
- Number of products : 25 (24 full-sizes)
- Advent calendar highlights: Products not revealed, but Clive Christian, Granado and Wildsmith reported to feature
- Available: Waitlist open now
Cult Beauty beauty advent calendar 2026: £240, Cultbeauty.co.uk
Cult Beauty’s 2025 advent calendar offered incredible value for money, with 40 products worth £1200 for less than £300. Who can argue with that? Overflowing with recognisable names, the likes of Gisou, Charlotte Tilbury, Hourglass and Summer Fridays were behind each door. This one sold out fast, so I’d suggest signing up for the waitlist to be in the know early this year.
At a glance
- Worth: £1,100
- Number of days in 2025: 25
- Number of products in 2025: 40 (20 full-size)
- Advent calendar highlights: Gisou honey lip oil, Medik8 C-tetra advanced, Charlotte Tilbury beauty light wand
- Available: Waitlist open now
Harvey Nichols beauty advent calendar 2026: £250, Harveynichols.com
The Harvey Nichols beauty advent calendar 2026 promises more than £1,000 worth of luxury beauty, including 29 favourites over 25 days – and 16 full-size products. Behind each door, discover skincare, fragrance, makeup and more from brands such as Charlotte Tilbury, Sisley-Paris and La Mer. Last year, personal highlights included La Mer’s renewal oil, Le Labo’s eucalyptus 20 eau de parfum, Color Wow’s conditioner and a Jo Loves candle. The crowd-pleasing lineup is always great for individual gifting, too.
At a glance
- Worth: £1,000
- Number of days in 2025: 25
- Number of products in 2025: 35 (26 full-size)
- Advent calendar highlights: Tatcha The Brightening Serum, K18 repair hair oil, Kosas hotliner
- Available: Waitlist open now
Charlotte's Hollywood beauty wonderland advent calendar 2026: £170, Charlottetilbury.com
Charlotte Tilbury’s annual beauty advent calendar is arguably the best for makeup lovers. The waitlist for the 2026 lineup is now open, and the brand has stuck to tradition by offering 12 beauty favourites. If previous years are anything to go by, we can expect the cult pillow talk lip liner and lipstick, setting spray, exagger-eyes mascara, beauty light wand, and rock n roll eyeliner to feature, alongside skincare treats such as the magic cream, crystal serum and cleanser.
At a glance
- Worth : Not disclosed
- Number of days: 12
- Number of products : 12
- Advent calendar highlights: Not yet unveiled
- Available : Waitlist open
Lush advent calendar 2026: £210, Lush.com
The Lush Christmas advent calendar is always popular – particularly among Gen Z and young beauty lovers. The 2026 offering has already been unveiled, costing £210 for 25 fan favourites and Christmas crackers. Packaged in a reusable hamper – a nice departure from more disposable boxes – it’s brimming with everything from cosy socks and candles to Lush’s famous bath bombs, bubble bars, shower gels, soaps and skincare. Delivering a little luxury to every day of December, it typically sells out quickly – so I’d suggest placing your pre-order now.
At a glance
- Worth : Not disclosed
- Number of days: 25
- Number of products : 25 plus a reusable wicker basket
- Advent calendar highlights: Honey I washed the kids body scrub, Christmas tree bath bomb, once upon a single wick candle
- Available : Pre-order live now for dispatch in October
Selfridges beauty advent calendar 2026: Selfridges.com
Many mistakenly believe Liberty was the first to debut a multi-brand advent calendar, but it was actually Selfridges in 2010. The retailer’s line-up has remained consistently excellent – and while the 2026 offering remains under wraps, I’m expecting the likes of Jo Malone, Hourglass, Nars, Aesop and Valentino to make an appearance.
At a glance
- Last year’s worth: £1136
- Number of days in 2025: 25
- Number of products in 2025: 37 (25 full-size)
- Advent calendar highlights: Jo Malone London english pear and freesia, Color Wow Dream Coat Supernatural Spray, Hourglass Blush
- Available: Calendar teased but not yet announced
Space NK beauty advent calendar 2026: Spacenk.com
Space NK’s advent calendars are always a starry line-up of both cult classic formulas and viral products. Last year, beauty lovers were treated to Augustinus Bader, Sol de Janeiro, Color Wow, K18, Paula’s Choice and Summer Fridays, alongside popular brands including Refy, The Ordinary and Medik8. With an overall worth of more than £1,150, it was a sell-out success.
At a glance
- Last year’s worth: £1000
- Last year’s cost: £250
- Number of days in 2025: 25
- Number of products in 2025: 37 (20 full-size)
- Advent calendar highlights: Augustinus Bader the rich cream, La Mer renewal oil, Le Labo eucalyptus 20 eau de parfum
- Available: Not yet announced
Lookfantastic beauty advent calendar 2026: Lookfantastic.com
I’ve reviewed Lookfantastic’s advent calendar for several years now – and I’m always impressed with how many covetable formulas are packed in at such a low price point. At £105, the calendar was among the cheapest for 2025. From Elemis and Medik8 to Mac, Color Wow and Aveda, it delivered on all fronts.
At a glance
- Last year’s worth: £655
- Last year’s cost: £105
- Number of days in 2025: 25
- Number of products in 2025: 25 (15 full-size)
- Advent calendar highlights: Medik8 Hydr8 B5 Intense Serum, Elemis Pro-Collagen Rose Marine Cream, Mac lip liner
- Available: Not yet announced
M&S beauty advent calendar 2026: Marksandspencer.com
Widely considered the best value beauty advent calendar each year, M&S’s lineup reflects its ever-growing beauty hall. In 2025, the box was designed by Bella Freud while the contents spanned haircare, make-up, fragrance and skincare from top brands including Clinique, Color Wow, Living Proof and Cowshed. If you’re dipping your toe into the world of beauty advent calendars, M&S’s is perfect.
At a glance
- Last year’s worth: £330
- Last year’s cost: £60
- Number of days in 2025: 25
- Number of products in 2025: 25 (8 full-size)
- Advent calendar highlights: Benefit benetint, Clinique high impact mascara, Living Proof shampoo and conditioner duo
- Available: Not yet announced
Sephora beauty advent calendar 2026: Sephora.com
Sephora is somewhat synonymous with viral brands and formulas – and its beauty advent calendar is among the more youthful offerings. This year, the waitlist is already open, and the brand is teasing 41 treats, including 27 full-size products and lots of exclusives. It’s sold out four years in a row thanks to makeup brands Rare Beauty, Merit and Huda Beauty, alongside skincare favourites such as Glow Recipe and Drunk Elephant. Fragrances such as Neom and Malin + Goetz also featured last year, alongside hair and body care from Sol de Janeiro and K18. If you’re shopping for a daughter or young family member, this is the calendar to bookmark.
At a glance
- Last year’s worth: £1,025
- Last year’s cost: £225
- Number of days in 2025: 25
- Number of products in 2025: 41 (24 full-size)
- Advent calendar highlights: K18 astrolift restorative volume spray, Drunk Elephant C-luma hydrabright serum, L'Occitane almond supple skin oil
- Available: Not yet announced
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