SEPH-ORIA

Sephora Advent Calendar review: “Jump on this calendar, fast”

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SINCE becoming a beauty writer, I’ve become my friends' beauty Agony Aunt.

I’m constantly quizzed on whether this moisturiser works, or if that perfume smells nice, but there’s only one thing my friends want to hear about this month: Advent calendars.

I put the Sephora Advent Calendar to the testCredit: MIA LYNDON

Sephora Favourites Advent Calendar 2024, £199 (worth over £1,000)

Thanks to internet hype, OTT packaging, and online reviews like this one, Advent calendars have become this season’s most-desired beauty product, and the options are plentiful.

As beauty Advent calendars grow in popularity, the stakes are becoming higher and higher, meaning the calendars of 2024 are very impressive.

I’ve made it my mission to find the very best.

So far, my heart belongs to the now-sold-out LookFantastic Beauty Calendar, but will Sephora reign supreme? Let’s put it to the test.

PROS

  • Reusable design
  • Fold-out design keeps things compact
  • Huge saving of 80%

CONS

  • Packaging isn’t very festive
  • Cardboard boxes rather than drawers
  • Haircare products are lacking

RATING: 4.5/5

You'll find 40 beauty goodies insideCredit: SEPHORA

Sephora Favourites Advent Calendar 2024, £199 (worth over £1,000)

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Sephora Beauty Advent Calendar review: how I tested

As I write this, a small stack of Advent calendars sits in the corner of my living room.

I’m not a hoarder – I’ve simply borrowed a few of 2024’s most-wanted calendars to gauge which ones are worthy of your cash.

Believe it or not, reviewing Advent calendars isn’t rocket science — if a calendar looks good and is filled with a wealth of products, then you’re in for a treat.

On top of this, though, I’ve been analysing exactly how much money they save, the durability of the packaging, and the quality and curation of the products inside.

There are so many brilliant options on the market this year that the stakes are high, and to give credit where it’s due, I’ve been taking a critical eye to 2024’s beauty calendars.

Sephora Beauty Advent Calendar review: quick summary

Last year’s Sephora Advent Calendar sold out in just a few weeks, and so will this one.

Boasting an impressive saving of £801 compared to purchasing each product individually, it’s the perfect way to top up on beauty buys and inject some extra festive sparkle into December.

Filled with 40 goodies, spanning make-up, hair, skin and body care, you’ll be left with a pile of beauty products come Dec 25th – and 24 of them are full-sized.

There are several reasons Sephora has reached the upper echelons of beauty retailers but most notably, it stocks products that you won’t find anywhere else.

Sephora has hidden some of these products inside its 2024 Advent calendar — think and — meaning you’ll get your hands on some beauty exclusives, as well as products we all know and love (I’m looking at you, ).

Sephora Beauty Advent Calendar review: full review

First impressions

I’ll be honest – I’m not a big fan of shopping at .

This isn’t because I don’t think it’s very good; it’s a little too good.

With so many aisles lined with brilliant brands, how am I to choose between them and, well, leave? It's all a bit overwhelming.

Sephora stocks some of the beauty industry’s finest, from dermatologist-approved toners to cult blush wands, including brands like , , and .

While trekking to a Sephora store or trawling through its website is all part of the fun, I’d rather scratch my Sephora itch by opening up this Advent calendar – because there’s no travelling or deciding necessary.

Not only does this calendar contain one of the best product bundles I’ve found inside a calendar so far, but it’s also pretty dazzling.

Not only does this calendar contain one of the best product bundles I’ve found inside a calendar so far, but it’s also pretty dazzling.

Starring shimmering walls and a foldout drawer design, the Sephora calendar bears a resemblance to this year's LookFantastic and Boots Advent calendars.

I’m a little fed up with Advent calendars that are filled with flimsy cardboard boxes, rather than proper calendar drawers, and sadly Sephora fits into the former category.

However, each box is reinforced with a second piece of corrugated card, which makes them sturdier and easier to reuse.

What’s inside the Sephora Beauty Advent Calendar?

To be honest, it would almost be easier to tell you what’s not inside the Sephora Beauty Advent calendar.

Stuffed with so many products that the doors almost don’t close, you’ll discover a stash of products inside, many of them full-sized.

While I’m impressed with the make-up and skincare offerings, which include Kosas, Medik8 and Glossier, the haircare offerings fall short — though inside day 21 hits the mark.

Day 10 is possibly the most impressive and includes a full-sized as well as – perfect for tackling greasy hair.

If you’re a make-up fan, you’ll get excited at Day 17, which stars a and , the perfect duo for nailing festive party looks.

Day 25 should always be a showstopper and the Sephora Calendar delivers with and — two of 2024’s most coveted make-up buys.

Here’s everything else you’ll find inside…

What's inside the Sephora Favourites Advent Calendar 2024?

How much is the Sephora Beauty Advent Calendar?

To stand out from the crowd, beauty Advent calendars can’t get away with just looking pretty – they have to save you money too.

While the Sephora Advent calendar’s twinkling exterior is certainly eye-catching, it’s the 80% saving that caught my attention.

Scanning at £199, but worth over £1000, Sephora has effectively hidden £801 worth of freebies inside this calendar.

Starring products like , worth over £80 alone, you’ll get your money’s worth in just a few calendar days.

This saving stacks up against competitor calendars, beating the likes of Cult Beauty and Charlotte Tilbury, yet just falls short of LookFantastic, which boasts a saving of 82%.

Where to buy the Sephora Beauty Advent Calendar

If you only listen to one thing in this review, make it this: jump on this calendar, fast.

With last year’s Sephora calendar selling out by mid-November, beauty insiders expect this year’s calendar to follow suit, so get your keyboards at the ready.

While Sephora has some physical stores, you’ll need to head over to the to order your calendar and avoid disappointment.

Fortunately, you’ll receive when ordering this calendar, which will arrive 2-3 working days from despatch.

The retailer provides one of the most affordable options I’ve ever seen, at just £4.95, or free for MySephora Gold members.

The verdict: is the Sephora Beauty Advent Calendar worth it?

I’ve leapt with excitement when I've been asked to review other Advent calendars.

However, I initially didn’t feel like this about the Sephora calendar.

Perhaps it’s down to Sephora’s late release date (October, as opposed to July) but the calendar just hasn’t racked up as much hype as others.

However, I’m pleased to tell you that I was wrong — the Sephora Calendar is, in fact, one of 2024’s most underrated Advent Calendars.

The Sephora Calendar is, in fact, one of 2024’s most underrated Advent Calendars

Apart from the obvious, brilliant range of products inside, it’s the little things that Sephora gets right, like its reinforced boxes.

It’s not the most festive calendar on the market, but it can be reused, meaning more bang for your buck, and less paper waste for your recycling bin.

The wealth of beauty goodies inside speak for themselves, but it would be an oversight to not rave about them for one last time.

READ MORE SUN STORIES

So, here goes; the products concealed inside this Advent calendar are so brilliant (and plentiful), that you'll have no desire to step foot in a Sephora for a very long time.

Sephora Favourites Advent Calendar 2024, £199 (worth over £1,000)

Want to find more savings on your online shopping? Then head to where you can get discounts and voucher codes from hundreds of top retailers including , , , , , , and more.

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