Knock knock! It's time to choose your beauty advent calendar
There's only a month until we start knocking on the doors of our advent calendars, and this year there's a host of options for skincare, spa products, nails, haircare and makeup.
Advent calendars are, of course, nothing new to the UK. It's believed that the first printed advent calendar was seen in the early 1900's, and whilst traditional calendars and those filled with chocolate or sweet treats will always be popular, in the last decade there's been a signficant rise in the variety of beauty-themed calendars on the market. This year is no exception, with the leading skincare and cosmetic houses introducing theirs for retail in salons, on the high street and online.
"There's something very special about being about to open a little door to reveal a new beauty treat every day in December taking us back to that magical feeling of Christmas we had as children," says BeautyandHairdressing's Melissa Dennis. "Even as adults we still get excited at the prospect of opening a new door in a morning to reveal a new lipstick or mascara."
For salons, stocking beauty advent calendars in November offers a perfect retailing opportunity, and is a great way of not only celebrating the season of Advent but also offering clients the chance to try a couple of dozen beauty treats that they may not have previously purchased from you.
For consumers, they can also offer great value for money, with most including products with a value up to twice as much as their RRP. "If you're purchasing to stock up on travel sizes of your favourite products, check out mill for mill or gram for gram what the products would cost in their full sizes to see whether you're getting value for money," says Melissa.
Here's a round-up of our favourite beauty advent calendars that we'll be racing down the stairs to open on 1st December!...
Sleek Makeup
Makeup brand
Sleek have introduced their Can't Wait Another Day Advent Calendar featuring 25 windows of cosmetic treats including lip colours, eye pencils, mascara, eyeliners, eyeshadows and nail lacquers.
Available from Boots and
online, the Sleek advent calendar features: Matte Me Lip Cream in Old Hollywood 3ml, Matte Me Lip Cream in Birthday Suit 3ml, Matte Me Lip Cream in Feels 3ml, Matte Me Lip Cream in Velvet Slipper 3 ml, Twist Up Eye Pencil in Midnight 0.28g, Twist Up Eye Pencil in Chocolate 0.28g, Twist Up Eye Pencil in Aubergine 0.28g, Twist Up Lip Pencil in Currant 0.22g, Twist Up Lip Pencil in Shabby Chic 0.22g, Twist Up Lip Pencil in Raspberry 0.22g, Twist Up Lip Pencil in Deep Cherry 0.22g, I'M Conditional Mascara 5.5 ml, Glitter Eyeliner in Steel 4 ml, Dip It Eyeliner in Black 4 ml, Blush in Rose Gold 6g, I-Divine Eyeshadow Palette in All Night Long 2.4g, I-Divine Eyeshadow Palette in Gleaming In Gold 2.4g, I-Divine Eyeshadow Palette in Storm 2.4g, Lip Vip Lipstick in Couture 3.6g, Matte Nail Varnish in Birthday Suit 7ml, Matte Nail Varnish in Rioja Red 7ml, Matte Nail Varnish in Velvet Slipper 7ml, and Matte Nail Varnish in Old Hollywood 7ml.
Elemis
British spa brand
Elemis have launched an
online exclusive advent calendar, with 25 best-selling skin or body products to try each day of December until Christmas Day.
Worth £347.78, Elemis' calendar includes: Pro-Collagen Marine Cream 50ml Full Size, Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm 20g and Luxury Cleansing Cloth, Pro-Collagen Neck & Décolleté Balm 15ml, Pro-Collagen Hydra Gel Eye Masks x 1, Pro-Collagen Marine Mask 15ml, Papaya Enzyme Peel 15ml, Pro Radiance Cream Cleanser 30ml, Cellular Recovery Skin Bliss Capsules (14 caps), Balancing Lavender Toner 50ml, Instant Refreshing Gel 20ml, Peptide4 Night Recovery Cream Oil 10ml, Peptide4, Thousand Flower Mask 15ml, Superfood Facial Wash 30ml, Superfood Day Cream 20ml, Superfood Night Cream 20ml, Frangipani Monoi Body Oil 35ml, Frangipani Monoi Shower Cream 50ml, Frangipani Monoi Body Cream 50ml, White Flowers Eye & Lip Make Up Remover 28ml, Pro Radiance Illuminating Flash Balm 15ml, Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash 30ml, Pro-Collagen Marine Oil 5ml, Pro-Collagen Eye Renewal 5ml, Skin Nourishing Body Cream 50ml, and Gentle Foaming Facial Wash 30ml.
Green People
Organic beauty brand
Green People have launched their first ever festive countdown, the Green Regime Beauty Advent Calendar. Products are worth £125 in total, and are certified organic, are cruelty-free, and are suitable for sensitive skin and those prone to eczema and allergies.
The Green People
Green Regime Advent Calendar includes: Quinoa & Artichoke Shampoo 30ml, Day Solution Cream SPF15 10ml, Fruitful Nights Night Cream 10ml, Cotton Head Bandeau, Gentle Cleanse & Make-Up Remover 10ml, Cotton Facial Cleansing Pad, Volumising Mascara in Black full Size, Age Defy+ Soft Buff Exfoliator 10ml, Quinoa & Calendula Shower Gel 30ml, Damask Rose Facial Oil 5ml & Damask Rose Moisturiser 5ml, Illuminating Eye Shadow Duo Full Size, Age Defy+ 24 Hour Brightening 10ml, Fruit Scrub Exfoliator 30ml, and Velvet Matte Lipstick in Damask Rose Full Size.
ESPA
ESPA's Comfort and Joy Advent Calendar includes a limited-edition collection of the brand's hero products as well as new favourites. Worth £130, the ESPA Comfort & Joy calendar includes:
Restorative Bath Oil 15ml, Smooth and Firm Body Butter 15ml, 24-Hour Replenishing Moisturiser 7ml, Fitness Body Oil 15ml, Purifying Shampoo and Nourishing Conditioner 10ml, Skin Rescue Balm 3g, Soothing Bath Oil 15ml, Optimal Skin ProCleanser 15ml, Energising Shower Gel 15ml, Tri-Active Advanced Instant Facial 3ml, Energising Body Oil 15ml, Regenerating Moisture Complex 7ml, Optimal Body TriSerum 12ml, Fitness Bath Oil 15ml, Pink Hair and Scalp Mud, Tube 15ml, Muscle Rescue Balm 15g, Optimal Skin ProSerum 4ml, Detox Body Oil 15ml, Optimal Skin ProMoisturiser 15ml, Tri-Active Night Booster, Limited Edition Christmas Size 10ml, Fitness Shower Oil 15ml, 24-Hour Replenishing Eye Moisturiser 3ml, Hydrating Floral Spafresh Sptitzer 12ml, Overnight Hydration Therapy 15ml, and a Restorative Candle 70g.
Charlotte Tilbury
Charlotte Tilbury are treating you for just 12 days of Christmas, with
Charlotte's Beauty Universe Beauty Advent Calendar. That said, this calendar includes 12 full size and mini beauty and skincare favourites worth £196, including:Mini Full Fat Lashes, Eyes to Mesmerise in Jean, Colour Chameleon in Amber Haze, Mini Rock ‘n' Kohl in Bedroom Black, Matte Revolution in Pillow Talk, Hollywood Lips in Screen Siren, Multi Miracle Glow 15ml, Goddess Skin Clay Mask 15ml, Charlotte's Magic Cream 15ml, Wonderglow 15ml, Take It All Off 15ml, and Supermodel Body 15ml.Estée Lauder
Estée Lauder is home to some of our most iconic beauty, skin and makeup brands, and they've cleverly put together this fabulous advent calendar offering treats from brands such as Bobbi Brown, Clinique, Origins, MAC, Aveda, Bumble and Bumble, Darphin, Smashbox, GlamGlow and Michael Kors as well as their own Estée Lauder heroes.
The calendar, worth approximately £197 includes: Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II 7ml, Estée Lauder Daywear Multi-Protection Anti-Oxidant Sheer Tint Release Moisturizer SPF 15 15ml, Estée Lauder Revitalizing Supreme+ Global Anti-Aging Instant Refinishing Facial 5ml, Estée Lauder Deluxe Mini Pure Color Envy Sculpting Lipstick, Envious 1.2g, Estée Lauder Modern Muse Nuit Eau de Parfum Spray 4ml, Clinique Dramatically Different™ Moisturizing Lotion+ 15ml, Clinique Chubby Stick Intense™ Moisturizing Lip Color Balm, Broadest Berry 1.2g, Clinique Chubby Stick™ Sculpting Highlight, Hefty Highlight 4ml, Clinique Aromatics In White 4ml, Origins Clear Improvement® Active Charcoal Mask to Clear Pores 30ml, MAC In Extreme Dimension 3D Black Lash 12ml, MAC Strobe Cream 6ml, Bobbi Brown Hydrating Eye Cream 3ml, Bobbi Brown Soothing Cleansing Oil 15ml, Bobbi Brown Art Stick Liquid Lip, English Rose 1.8ml, Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge for Lips & Cheeks, Powder Pink 2.55g, Aveda Shampure™ Hand and Body Cleanser 50ml, Aveda Thickening Tonic 10ml, Bumble and bumble Don't Blow It Thick (H)air Styler 15ml, Bumble and bumble Dryspun Finish 40ml, Darphin 8-Flower Nectar Oil Cream 5ml, Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer 15ml, GlamGlow Gravitymud® Firming Treatment 15g, GlamGlow Thirstymud™ Hydrating Treatment 15g, and Michael Kors Wonderlust Rollerball 10ml.
MAC
Makeup giant
MAC has launched their
Shiny Pretty Things calendar to offer everything you need to create festive makeup looks this Christmas in 24 little gifts.
The calendar includes: Mini MAC Pigment/Tan 2.5g, Cleanse Off Oil Sample 6ml, Mini MAC Lipglass/Nymphette 2.4g, Dramming Pot, Multi-Formula Sponge/2, MAC/ Prep + Prime Fix+ 30ml, Kohl Power Eye Pencil/Feline 1.5g, Velvet Teddy Shadescents 1.5ml, Dazzleshadow in Let's Roll 1.6g, Duo Image Compact Mirror, In Extreme Dimension 3D Black Lash Sample 1g, MAC Lipstick in Velvet Teddy 1.8g, Pencil Sharpener, Eyeshadow in Woodwinke, 1.3g, Prep + Prime Skin 6 ml, MAC Lipglass in Spiked 2.4g, Lashes, Clear Brow Set 8g, Pro Longwear Fludiline in Blacktrack 3g, Prep + Prime Lip 1.7g, Strobe Cream 6ml, Lip Scrubtious/Sweet Vanilla, 14ml, Prep + Prime Natural Radiance 6ml, Lip Pencil in Cherry 1.45g, and Retro Matte Lipstick in Ruby Woo 3g.
Decléor
French skincare house
Decléor combines 24 hero skin products based on essential oils, including three full sizes in its 2018
advent calendar.
Products are worth a total of over £258, and include:Aroma Cleanse Essential Cleansing Milk , Full size Hydra Floral Everfresh Hydrating Wide-Open Eye Gel , Aromessence Neroli Amara Oil Serum , Hydra Floral Anti-Pollution Hydrating Rich Cream 15ml , Hydra Floral Ultra-Moisturising & Plumping Mask, full size Hydra Floral Everfresh Hydrating Light Cream 30ml, Hydra Floral BB Cream Medium , Aromessence Neroli Amara Hydrating Night Balm , Aroma Cleanse 3 In 1 Hydra Radiance Cleansing Mousse, full size Phytopeel Exfoliating Cream, Aroma Lisse 2-In-1 Dark Circle & Eye Wrinkle Eraser, Aroma Nutrition Satin Softening Dry Oil, Aroma Svelt Body Refining Oil Serum, Aroma Confort Systeme Corps Moisturising Body Milk, Aroma Cleanse Essential Tonifying Lotion, Aromessence Lavandula Iris Night Balm, Prolagene Lift Contouring Lift Flash Mask, Prolagene Lift – Lift & Firm Day Cream Moisturiser, Aromessence Lavandula Iris Facial Oil Serum, Hydra Floral White Petal Skin Perfecting Hydrating Sleeping Mask , Aroma Cleanse Alguaromes, Aurabsolu Intense Glow For Eyes, Aurabsolu Intense Glow Awakening Cream, and 1000 Grains Body Exfoliator.
L'Occitane
Natural beauty experts
L'Occitane have released a 2018 version of its popular
Classic Advent Calendar, featuring 24 of the French brand's most popular botanical skin, body and hair care products in a pretty package designed by Castelbajac Paris.
Worth £85, the calendar includes: Shea Shower Oil 35ml, Cherry Blossom Shower Gel35ml, Shea Butter Hand Cream 10ml, Almond Delicious Soap 50g, Shea Milk Extra-Gentle Soap 25g, Repairing Shampoo 35ml, Ultra Rich Body Lotion 30ml, Verbena Leaf Soap 25g, Ultra Rich Shower Cream 30ml, Almond Delicious Hands 10ml, Almond Milk Concentrate 20ml, Cherry Blossom, Shimmering Lotion 35ml, Verbena Cooling Hand Gel 10ml, Almond Shower Oil 35ml, Shea Butter Foot Cream 10ml, Precious Cream 5ml, Repairing Conditioner 35ml, Verbena Body Lotion 30ml, Revitalising Sugar Bath Cube 33g, Verbena Shower Gel 30ml, Shea Ultra Rich Lip Balm 4ml, Verbena Eau de Toilette 10ml, Shea Light Comforting Cream 5ml, and Cherry Blossom Hand Cream 10ml.
bareMinerals
Mineral makeup brand
bareMinerals have included 24 of their best-selling cosmetic products in their
Out Of This World advent calendar.
There are products for base and blush, eyes and lips with a value of £281, including: Eyecolour in Shantung 0.57g, Eyecolour in Skyline 0.57g, Blush in Golden Gate 0.85g, Blush in Beauty 0.85g, Blush in Your Highness 0.85g, All-Over Face colour in Glee 1.5g, Moxie Plumping Lipgloss in Show Off 2.25ml, Moxie Plumping Lipgloss in 24K 2.25ml, Moxie Plumping Lipgloss in City Slicker 2.25ml, Moxie Plumping Lipgloss in Maverick 2.25ml, Moxie Plumping Lipgloss in Femme Fatale 2.25ml, Moxie Plumping Lipgloss in Rose Quartz 2.25ml, Gen Nude Patent Lip Lacquer in Dahling 2.25ml, Gen Nude Radiant Lipstick in XOX 1.3g, Gen Nude Radiant Lipstick in Honeybun 1.3g, Lash Domination Volumizing Mascara 5.5ml, Round the Clock Eyeliner in 5AM 0.6g, Round the Clock Eyeliner in 8PM 0.6g, and Mini Well-Rested Face and Eye Brightener 0.6ml.
NYX
High street and professional makeup line
NYX have introduced their
Sugar Trip 24 Days of Beauty calendar, delivering just what it promise – 14 mini lip colours and 10 blendable powders, highlighters and blushers that will keep you sweet throughout the festive season.
The NYX Sugar Trip 24 Days of Beauty calendar includes: Soft Matt Lip Cream in Glazy-Days, Soft Matt Lip Cream in Sweet Nothing, Soft Matt Lip Cream in Deep Rooted, Soft Matt Lip Cream in Fluff Piece, Soft Matt Lip Cream in Sorbae, Soft Matt Lip Cream in Kiev, Soft Matt Lip Cream in Slip, Soft Matt Lip Cream in Starstruck, Soft Matt Lip Cream in Peanut Brittle, Soft Matt Lip Cream in Vienna, Soft Matt Lip Cream in Nantes, Soft Matt Lip Cream in Poppin', Soft Matt Lip Cream in Nantes, Butter Gloss in Candy Pop, Butter Gloss in Cranberry Mint, Eyeshadow in Sweet Tooth, Eyeshadow in In Deep Trouble, Eyeshadow in Cookie Cutter, Eyeshadow in Candy Stash, Eyeshadow in Twisted, Eyeshadow in Whipped Mocha, Highlighter in Pop N Rock, Highlighter in Cinnamon Spice, Highlighter in Candy Cloud, and Highlighter in Lollipop Hop.
