CHIC TREAT
I’m a beauty expert – the best advent calendars to buy to save you cash on your make-up stash
THEY can be great value for money…
Beauty Editor Tara Ledden picks her top ten Advent Calendars.
10
Sephora
10
COST: £139, worth £711.
WHAT’S INSIDE: 34 products, 17 full-size.
VALUE: 80% saving (£572).
VERDICT: Sephora might be new to the UK, but it’s already making waves.
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This is hands down the best selection of full-sized products that will keep you going well into 2023.
It includes Pai Skincare Light Work cleansing gel (£33), Rodial Soft Focus Glow booster drops (£50) and Too Faced Better Than Sex mascara (£25).
There’s also a full-sized Neom Real luxury scented candle (£35), that you could re-gift come the big day.
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It’s on the pricier end, but the investment pays off.
Holland & Barrett
10
COST: £55, worth £180.
WHAT’S INSIDE: 25 products, 14 full-size.
VALUE: 69% saving (£125).
VERDICT: For a more affordable offering, the brand’s 25 Days Of Conscious Beauty Advent Calendar has a great ratio of full-sized products, which means less waste overall.
While the contents might not be as high end as some of the alternatives, they will all come in handy no matter your skin-type.
It includes Q+A hyaluronic acid daily moisturiser (£8.50) and Weleda Skin Food body lotion (£14.95).
The latter is often used by make-up artists and has celeb fans such as Victoria Beckham, Molly-Mae Hague and Hailey Bieber.
It wouldn’t be my first choice, but it’s completely vegan and cruelty free, with has as many sustainable and eco-friendly products as possible.
River Island
10
Cost: £50, worth £290.
What’s inside: 24 products, 18 full-sized.
Value: 82% saving (£240).
Verdict: Much like the fashion brand’s clothes, the products inside River Island’s 24 Day Beauty Advent Calendar are skewed to a younger audience, making it a great option for teenagers.
But there are still some impressive products, like my go-to hairbrush, the Wet Brush Original black detangler (£12).
There’s also a Spectrum Collections A17 Pink Precision angled brow brush (£5.99), deliciously zesty Shay & Blue Blood Oranges natural spray fragrance (£25) and Eyeko Black Magic mascara (£19).
The biggest drawback is there’s no door for Christmas Day.
Look Fantastic
10
COST: £95, worth over £500.
WHAT’S INSIDE: 26 products, 17 full-size.
VALUE FOR MONEY: 81% saving (£405).
VERDICT: Look Fantastic says its Beauty Advent Calendar 2022 is the brand’s the best ever value for money offering.
And with more than 22,000 products listed on its website, it has plenty of choice.
You get one for each day, plus an extra.
Top treats are a full-sized ESPA Optimal Skin Pro moisturiser (£50), and for Christmas Day, a PMD Clean mini worth £59.
Asos
10
Cost: £85, worth over £315
What’s inside: 29 products, including five on Day 25, and ten full-size
Value: 73% saving (£230)
Verdict: With big-name brands Charlotte Tilbury, Bobbi Brown and Olaplex, Asos’s Face + Body 25 Day Advent Calendar competes with the most prestigious retailers.
Hero products include a full-size Mac Velvet Teddy lipstick (£20) and Iconic London Light and Glow Duo in True Golden (£21).
The triple-layered Tetris-like packaging is slightly messy, however.
Cult Beauty
10
COST: £235, worth over £1,000.
WHAT’S INSIDE: 37 products inside, 13 full-size.
VALUE: 77% saving (£765).
VERDICT: It’s the most expensive on the list, but has by far the biggest saving and the most products.
The brand says it is in a league of its own and I’m inclined to agree, with bestsellers including Dr Levy Pollution Shield 5PF (£79), Charlotte Tilbury Bigger Brighter Eyes in Exagger-Eyes (£44) and Sunday Riley C.E.O. 15% serum (£70).
The brand is giving £75,000 from sales to Mental Health UK and planting a tree for each sale.
House of Fraser
10
COST: £125, worth £406.
WHAT’S INSIDE: 25 products, five full-size.
VALUE: 69% saving (£281).
VERDICT: Although this one isn’t the best value, I’m pleasantly surprised by the brands inside and love that the drawers are in order.
Highlights include a full-size Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution lipstick in Catwalking (£26) and Natasha Denona Sunset eyeshadow palette (£24), as well as a deluxe travel-size Philip Kingsley Elasticiser (£12).
The main downside is there are quite a few minis, but it does give you a chance to try out some seriously high-end skincare.
M&S
10
COST: £40 when you spend £30 on clothing, home and beauty, worth £300.
WHAT’S INSIDE: 25 products, four full-size, including all three make-up items.
VALUE: 87% saving (£260).
VERDICT: With such a huge saving for an affordable price, this is undoubtedly the best value for money on the high street.
The REN Radiance Brightening Dark Circle eye cream (£44) would cost more on its own than the whole calendar, so you can’t go wrong.
It’s already sold out online, but there is plenty of stock in-store.
Macmillan
10
COST: £88, worth £137.
WHAT’S INSIDE: 24 products.
VALUE: 36% saving (£49).
VERDICT: Every sale of the 24 Days of Beauty Advent Calendar, which is packed with Boots favourites, will see £2 go to the cancer charity.
The trio of Liz Earle skincare minis will be great if you’re travelling over Christmas.
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You also get a full-sized Sleek MakeUP i-Divine Palette Level Up (£8.99), No7 Stay Perfect eye pencil (£7.95), and No7 The Full 360 Ultra mascara (£14.95).
Plus, it’s better than half price this month, so you can buy it for £43, or £38 if you have a Boots Advantage Card, which bumps the saving up to £99 – an impressive 72% saving
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