My Early Predictions for the Best Beauty Advent Calendars of the Year
As we reported last week, Advent calendars have already started to arrive. Usually they land in early-to-mid-October, but this year the timeline has been pushed up to mid-September, similar to how the good Halloween decorations now pop up in July. The Liberty Advent calendar is already live, as is the Anthropologie one, both of which tend to sell out long before Christmas. Lots of the other calendars go on sale after September 15, and I expect those will go quickly too. As always, the deals vary. Some of the calendars contain lots of full-size products, while others have an assortment of travel and mini sizes for a wide range of brands. Like last year, I’ll be updating this often and making note as new calendars launch or sell out.
The beauty Advent calendars to get now (before they sell out)
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The Liberty London Advent calendar essentially invented the category. It was a big hit when it was released in 2014, prompting other department stores, and eventually brands, to launch their own. Every year, the brand tries to one-up itself; this year, there are 29 products, 21 of which are full size and valued at over $1,700, which Liberty says is its highest yet. The haul this year is pretty good. There are a couple fragrances, including the beloved Escentric Molecules Molecule 01, a facial oil from Augustinus Bader, and the Miracle Balm from Jones Road, an allover product that has amassed a following among beautyheads.
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In recent years, Liberty has also introduced a men’s calendar. The 2026 calendar has fewer full-size products — 14 instead of 21 — but still contains some exciting stuff like a very fancy lip balm from La Mer, a hyaluronic acid serum from Paula’s Choice, and Loewe cologne.
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Of all the calendars, Dermstore’s is my favorite. The curation is always solid and it contains a good mix of full-size and deluxe samples. Some of the products from this year I’m excited about: a full size of the iS Clinical wrinkle serum, a favorite of stylist Karla Welch; the BioEffect EGF Serum, which we’ve previously recommended for mature skin; and the Paula’s Choice niacinamide serum, which helps to even out and brighten skin.
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Bloomingdale’s also has a good calendar this year. It features 25 days of products across a range of brands and categories, including a hair clip from Emi Jay, a candle from Jo Malone, travel-size fragrances from Maison Francis Kurkdjian and Le Labo, and a full-size lotion from La Mer.
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If fragrance is more your speed, Bloomingdale’s also has a scent-focused advent calendar housed in a box reminiscent of a Venus et Fleur bouquet. There’s something in there for every nose: a Delina-scented Parfum de Marly body cream, a favorite of Real Housewives star Phaedra Parks; a fresh, woody scent from Jo Malone; and Byredo Gypsy Water, Christina Ricci’s go-to fragrance from the last decade.
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The Anthropologie Advent calendar is massively popular — it’s often one of the first to sell out. It’s also one of the best. This year’s is packed with Strategist-approved products including Verb Ghost Oil, Supergoop Play lotion, Vacation’s nice-smelling sunscreen oil, and Salt & Stone’s deodorant.
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For a less-expensive option, Anthropologie also makes a 12-day version that’s half the price. This one has an entirely different selection of products, so you could double up if you wanted. It’s currently available for preorder and starts shipping around October 22.
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The Revolve calendar always sells out, which I suspect is because it offers impressive value for the money. It contains 27 products, almost half of which are full size, and is a mix of popular products and newer, emerging brands. Some highlights: Verb shampoo and conditioner, a mini Foreo UFO toning device, Ouai detox shampoo, and Supergoop sunscreen.
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Laneige is also offering a 12-day calendar this year. It’s filled with minis of popular products like the beloved lip sleeping mask, the glowy lip balm, and a few products from the iconic Water Bank line.
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Burt’s Bees chapstick fans, rejoice! This calendar contains 12 days of lip balms in an assortment of flavors, including seasonal scents like sugar cookie and cranberry spritz.
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Typology releases a substantial advent calendar every year valued at around double the price. This year, the brand is offering something for every part of your routine, including a full size of writer Arielle Avila’s favorite vitamin-C serum, which layers well under moisturizers and helps to fade her acne scars.
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The M.A.C advent calendar is a nice mix of full-size and mini beauty products and includes iconic products like M.A.C Ruby Woo, a beauty staple; lip liner in Whirl, a classic pink; and a tube of Lipglass, one of my favorite glosses of all time.
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This year’s Free People advent calendar was curated with your beauty ritual in mind. It’s a mix of essentials like SPF from Vacation and deodorant from Salt & Stone, both products we’ve written about before. The price point is also decent for what you’re getting: 24 deluxe and travel-size products from popular brands.
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Bloomingdale’s has partnered with Alice + Olivia founder Stacey Bendet on a seven-day beauty advent calendar comprised of her favorite products, like a 111Skin face mask and a YSL lip gloss. There’s also two Alice + Olivia branded products — a Touchland hand-sanitizer case and a lip-gloss charm.
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Sephora Collection has two advent calendars this season, standard and premium. The premium one offers 24 days of surprises, most of which are full size, and comes in a sequined case.
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I like this Conair calendar for tweens — it’s 12 days of hair accessories, ranging from cherry hair clips to curled scrunchies.
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Lush Advent Calendar
A mix of Lush’s greatest hits, the 25-day Advent calendar is a nice assortment of the brand’s offerings. There’s a hair primer, scented candle, body lotion, and lots of bath bombs, which will take care of your bath routine for the month and beyond. Most years, the Advent calendar comes in a decorative box, but this year’s comes in a handwoven Grinch-green basket that can be used after the gifts run out.
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If the most exciting part of Lush’s Advent calendar is the bath bombs, this one might be more appealing. It contains 25 fizzy bath bombs and is slightly cheaper than the bigger calendar. It is also available for preorder but ships a bit earlier, starting on September 14.
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We’ve written about the Elemis cleansing balm a bunch. It gently removes makeup and SPF — actress Abby Elliott even uses it to take off the false lashes she wears on set. Get a full size of the balm in this calendar, along with 24 other Elemis products.
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L’Occitane has a few Advent calendars at different retailers this season, but I’m most excited about the premium one on its website. It contains a full-size shower oil (a staple in my shower routine), an assortment of hand creams in the brand’s popular scent, and a suite of body products in travel sizes so you can test them out.
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This year’s Jo Malone Advent calendar comes in a gift-worthy trunk, with each surprise wrapped in plaid. There are 24 days of minis, ranging from travel-size candles to hand creams, and culminates in a full-size cologne on the 25th.
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The Charlotte Tilbury Advent calendar regularly sells out by Christmas, and this year it may go even faster. For the first time, it contains two accessories: a makeup bag and a gua sha, compelling additions for fans of the brand.
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The Aesop Valise
For a discerning nose, Aesop has released a 13-day calendar with travel sizes of products like the cult-favorite hand cream and bar soap. There’s also a few things for the home, like a room spray in the scent Olous, which has notes of grapefruit, jasmine, and galbanium, and a Ptolemy Aromatique candle. It isn’t quite out yet, but you can sign up for the waiting list and be notified when it goes on sale.
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Maison Louis Marie makes some of my favorite affordable fragrances; the scent No. 04 has been a staple in my perfume wardrobe for years. The 12-day advent calendar is a good opportunity to try a cross section of the brand’s offerings — there’s hand creams, travel sprays, a room spray, and even a deodorant.
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At $525, this is one of the pricier advent calendars on the list, but I think it’s worth the price, given that it contains six fragrances and nine mini-candles, including Baies, a celebrity favorite.
More From The Strategist
- Hark, the Advent Calendars Arrived (Very) Early This Year
- The Best Things Strategist Editors Have Bought This Year (So Far)
- 63 Things You Should Never Buy Full Price
- The Strategist Fall 100
The Strategist is designed to surface useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Every product is independently selected by our team of editors, whom you can read about here. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
