From Black Friday to the holiday season, this time of year is a busy one for we HELLO! shopping editors, but I confess one of my favorite things to shop for and write about are holiday advent calendars. And whether you're looking for a bargain, want to gift an advent calendar or if you celebrate Twelvetide - marking the 12 Days of Christmas starting December 25 - there are still some great 2023 advent calendars still in stock.
I absolutely love beauty advent calendars in particular, and it is such a self-care moment to open a little glow-boosting present daily to help count down to the holidays. To be perfectly honest though, sometimes it seems like there are sometimes way to many to choose from, whether the exclusive versions at retailers like Saks or Nordstrom, which are filled with a host of beauty treats from various brands, or the limited edition makeup and skincare advent calendars from beauty faves like Bobbi Brown or Elemis for diehard single-brand fans.
There are so many holiday beauty advent calendars out there, so I'm here to help you decide which one – or ones – you'll invest in this year. In some cases you can save hundreds of dollars, or get luxury beauty buys you might not usually indulge in for a fraction of the price.
You can also decide to share the wealth, giving the individual days' gifts as stocking stuffers or as presents to friends and family. Every year, our favorite beauty brands treat us to fabulous holiday care packages in the form of advent calendars, and 2023 is no exception.
How we chose the best beauty advent calendars for 2023
I've been reviewing and writing about holiday advent calendars for HELLO! Online for a few years now, and every holiday season seeing the new beauty gift sets sparks immediate joy. There's nothing more fun than imagining opening a beauty treat each day (I open mine every morning because I just can't wait) whether its discovering and trying a new product or getting a brand new version of a product you already know and love. So here's what I took into consideration in choosing the best limited edition holiday beauty advent calendars for this year:
- Popularity: As someone who has been a shopping editor for four holiday seasons now, I’ve been studying the numbers to find out which beauty advent calendars HELLO! readers love most and shop year after year.
- Price: We’ve hit various price points on our list, whether you want to spend under $50 or go all out with the most luxurious holiday countdowns out there.
- Packaging: I especially value an advent calendar made from recycled or reusable materials - and the value of an aesthetically beautiful box can not be underestimated! The advent calendar may also be part of your festive season decor, or you may even want to reuse the packaging, I I gave extra weight to advent calendars that are as gorgeous on the outside as the treats are inside.
- Value: We know beauty advent calendars can be a pretty big splurge, even if you have a big holiday budget. We want to make sure that the gifts inside are worth it and won’t go to waste. The advent calendars on this list will also save you money as compared to buying the products separately - in some cases upwards of $1000.
- Our friends and family's personal faves: We’re experts in advent calendars because we have an opportunity to try so many of them, but we also shop them for ourselves every holiday. If we’ve personally gifted or bought it ourselves – and loved it – you’ll of course find it on this list.
Best limited-edition holiday advent calendars
There are advent calendars for the ultimate fan girls (and boys) who just can't get enough of a single beauty brand, whether La Mer or L'occitane, BareMinerals or Bobbi Brown. These holiday beauty advent calendars are the ultimate indulgence as you open daily skin care, makeup and bodycare gifts from your favorite go-to. And if you're looking for a holiday beauty advent calendar that covers a spectrum of fabulous beauty brands in one beautiful box, check out exclusive holiday advent calendars from beauty retailers and department stores - Saks Fifth Avenue, Macy's, Bloomingdale's and the like - which allow you to stock up on your faves. They're packed with treats from top brands.
1/11
BareMinerals Clean Beauty Countdown Advent Calendar 2023
BareMinerals Holiday Advent Calendar 2023
Quick look:
- PRICE: $73.50
- 12-day advent calendar
- Full size and mini treats
HELLO! Editor Reviewed: The 3 beauty gifts inside that make this advent calendar worth it
- Full size Ageless Night Concentrate
- Full size All Over Face Color in Warmth
- Full size Mineralist Gloss-Balm in Love
If you’re a proponent of clean beauty, you’ll love this beauty advent calendar that features 12 makeup and skincare favorites from the clean makeup pioneers - six full-size and six mini BareMinerals treats.
Each item included is cruelty-free and vegan, and everything caters to all ages, skin types, and skin tones.
I first discovered BareMinerals in the early '00s and the brand's dermatologist-tested makeup, great for sensitive skin, is still a winner today.
2/11
Bobbi Brown 12 Days Of Glow Advent Calendar 2023
Bobbi Brown Advent Calendar 2023
Quick look:
- PRICE: $180 (Worth $290)
- You save: $110
HELLO! Editor Reviewed: The 3 gifts inside that make this advent calendar worth it
- Long-Wear Cream Shadow Stick - full size
- Smokey Eye Mascara - full size
- Vitamin Enriched Face Base - travel size
Get 12 of Bobbi Brown's bestselling skincare and beauty essentials—including three full-size favourites – all in a beautiful ornament shaped box. You'll find all you need for creating glowing day-to-night looks throughout the party season and well into 2024.
3/11
‘Friends’ Central Perk 12 Days of Bath Advent Calendar 2023
Paladone ‘Friends' beauty advent calendar
Quick look
- PRICE: $34.99
HELLO! Editor Reviewed: The 3 beauty gifts inside that make this advent calendar worth it
- 2x30ml Honeysuckle and Rose Body Wash
- Vanilla Lip Balm
- Caramel Bath Fizzers
If you’re a Friends fan, you’ll love the Central Perk bath advent calendar, an officially-licensed countdown inspired by the iconic TV show. There are 12 pampering bath & body gifts inside, from a body puff to lip balms, body wash and bath fizzers.
- PRICE: $34.99
4/11
The Body Shop The Advent of Change calendar 2023
The Body Shop advent calendar
Quick look:
- PRICE: $89 (Worth $168)
- You save: $79
HELLO! Editor Reviewed: The 3 beauty gifts inside that make this advent calendar worth it
- Shea Body Butter
- Vitamin E Sheet Mask
- Pink Grapefruit Shower Gel
The Body Shop’s Advent Calendars are always a hit with fans! This year there are three to choose from - but the 24-gift Advent of Change is the most popular and top rated of the trio, scoring 4.9 of 5 from verified shoppers.
All three advent calendars of course feature The Body Shop's famed treats made from natural-origin ingredients, from Community Fair Trade Partners, and the packaging is made from recycled and recyclable materials when possible.
5/11
L’Occitane Cultivation of Love Holiday Advent Calendar 2023
L’Occitane Holiday Advent Calendar 2023
Quick look:
- PRICE: $80 (Worth $115)
- You save: $35
HELLO! Editor Reviewed: The 3 beauty gifts inside that make this advent calendar worth it
- Immortelle Overnight Reset Serum
- Cherry Blossom Bath and Shower Gel
- Intense Repairing Shampoo and Conditioner
With $115 worth of products, the L’Occitane advent calendar treats you to a sampler of 24 of the brand’s iconic body care, face care, and hair care products. And it's all packaged in a groovy red box inspired by 1976, the year the brand was founded in France, using local ingredients from Provence.
6/11
Bloomingdale's 25-Day Beauty Advent Calendar
Bloomingdale's advent calendar 2023
Quick look:
- PRICE: $300 ($800 value)
- You save: $500
HELLO! Editor Reviewed: The 3 beauty gifts inside that make this advent calendar worth it
- Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream
- SK-II Facial Treatment Essence
- La Prairie Skin Caviar Luxe Sleep Mask
If you're looking for a luxe advent calendar, Bloomingdale's has come up with a real beauty for 2023, with 25 handpicked Bloomingdale's favorites from luxury beauty brands.
Not only are there makeup must-haves from the likes of Charlotte Tilbury and Laura Mercier, as well as luxury candles and fragrances, but there's a focus on exclusive skincare. And if you can't see yourself splashing out $800 on beauty products in one go, here's your chance to indulge for less.
7/11
La Mer The Atelier 12-Day Advent Calendar
La Mer Advent Calendar 2023
Quick look:
- PRICE: $500 (Worth $720)
- You save: $220
HELLO! Editor Reviewed: The 3 beauty gifts inside that make this advent calendar worth it
- Crème de la Mer
- The Eye Concentrate
- The Lip Balm
If there's a beauty brand synonymous with luxury skin care it's La Mer - and the 2023 advent calendar gives you a chance to pamper yourself with 12 luxe products from head to toe.
8/11
BABOR Ampoule Skincare Advent Calendar
Doctor Babor advent calendar
Quick look
- PRICE: $99
- VALUE: $159
- 24-day advent calendar
HELLO! Editor Reviewed: The 3 beauty gifts inside that make this advent calendar worth it
- Vitamin C ampoule
- Lift Express ampoule x 3
- Perfect Glow ampoule x 2
For fans of pared-down skincare, this anti-aging advent calendar by Doctor Babor - a skincare brand you can shop at Skinstore, where a set of seven Babor ampoules is $50 – includes 24 ampoules to treat your skin right, from hyaluronic acid and Vitamin C to collagen serum.
9/11
Elemis First Class 24-day Skincare Advent Calendar
HyperFocal: 0 Elemis Advent Calendar
Quick look:
- PRICE: $260 (Worth $749)
- You save: $489
HELLO! Editor Reviewed: The 3 products inside that make this advent calendar worth it
- Frangipani Monoi Body Cream
- Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm
- Superfood Glow Priming Moisturizer
The glorious advent calendar from Elemis - the skincare brand which counts Catherine Zeta-Jones, Kate Hudson and Victoria Beckham among its celebrity fans - includes amazing must-haves from the Pro-Collagen range, the Superfood line and the Dynamic Resurfacing collection.
10/11
Dr Barbara Sturm 2023 holiday skin care advent calendar
Dr Barbara Sturm 2023 Holiday Advent Calendar
Quick look:
- PRICE: $560 (Worth $1606)
- You save: $1046
HELLO! Editor Reviewed: The 3 beauty gifts inside that make this advent calendar worth it
- Glow Drops (Full Size)
- Super Anti-Aging Hand Cream (Full Size)
- Face Mask (Deluxe Size)
If you truly want a superior advent calendar experience, this one from celebrity favorite Dr. Barbara Strum is housed within a jewelry armoire-inspired gift box and filled with the brand’s most loved luxury products. It offers full, deluxe, and miniature sizes of luxurious face creams, serums, cleansers, and more. You’ll be in good (glowing) company - Kim Kardashian, Angela Bassett, Blake Lively, Jennifer Garner and more stars are fans of the luxury beauty brand.
11/11
Molton Brown
Molton Brown Advent Calendar 2023
- PRICE: $295
- Worth: $430
HELLO! Editor Reviewed: The 3 products inside that make this advent calendar worth it
- Fragrance travel case with 6 Eau De Parfum Travel Case Refills including Orange & Bergamot, Coastal Cypress & Sea Fennel and Fiery Pink Pepper
- Marvellous Mandarin & Spice Hand Lotion
- Re-charge Black Pepper Bath & Shower Gel
If you're looking for a unisex beauty advent calendar, British favorite Molton Brown's includes a luxurious collection of shower gels, body lotions, Eau de Toilettes, mini candles and more.
There are classic Molton Brown scents like Orange & Bergamot, Re-charge Black Pepper and Heavenly Gingerlily plus the cosy new Marvellous Mandarin & Spice Collection.
Get your hands on these beauty advent calendars that are available right now before they sell out.
