Iced Coffee and Sephora Hauls: The Best Advent Calendars for Gen Z (So Far)

Most of the beauty Advent calendars I’ve seen have at least a couple Gen-Z-loved beauty products, but Urban Outfitters’ calendar may as well have been designed by a high-schooler. There are Starface pimple patches (yes, the ones Gen Z wears out and about) and a travel-size bodywash from Sol de Janeiro. I also spotted a mini-version of the Billie Eilish perfume that topped wish lists last year.

The Sephora Favorites Advent calendar is back with lots of viral products, including Glow Recipe’s niacinamide drops, Sol De Janeiro fragrance mist, and Summer Fridays’ jet-lag mask. It already sold out at Sephora, so I’d recommend grabbing it from Kohl’s while it’s still available.

As my colleague (and former Anthropologie employee) Ambar Pardilla says, Anthropologie’s “beauty Advent calendars sell out faster than you can say ‘Maeve.’” This one hasn’t sold out yet, but given the premium samples of Salt & Stone deodorant and L’Occitane hand cream inside, I imagine it’s only a matter of time.

There’s a 12-day version, too, that’s about half the price. It includes some firming eye patches for aspiring influencers and some minis I’d love to keep in my work bag (notably, Grown Alchemist hand cream and Mario Badescu facial spray).

Expect even more minis over at Free People. There’s another appearance from Salt & Stone deodorant (this time in the Saffron & Cedar scent), along with some Gen-Z sunscreen favorites from Supergoop and Vacation.

This one’s for the TikTok girls — and, rest assured, there are full-size products inside. Highlights include an Abbode sleep mask, Summer Fridays lip oil, and a mini-bottle of those buzzy Kardashian gummies (these are geared toward digestion).

There are some full-size surprises in the 12-day version, too. Ilia mascara and Sacheau eye shadow, anyone?

It’s the first year that Ipsy’s 25-day Advent calendar is available to everyone (rather than just those who have a subscription), and it’s full of mini and full-size products. The company has only revealed six items so far, but I spotted several full-size Gen-Z favorites: Gisou lip oil, Glow Recipe drops, and a tube of Too Faced Better Than Sex mascara.

Laneige’s Advent calendar is a lip lover’s dream. There are no fewer than six lip products inside — that would be two lip serums, two lip glowy balms, and one lip sleeping mask.

Speaking of lip lovers — this one is dedicated to all things lips, and the Advent calendar itself is in the shape of a tube of lipstick. I think the Benetint, Make Up For Ever liner and Kylie Cosmetics gloss would make for a nice lip combo.

It’s somewhat of a Gen-Z ritual to use a face mask at least once a week. Here’s an Advent calendar with ten masks and a couple of eye patches. Some are meant for soothing, while others target pore control or moisture, so you can bank them for 2027 or use them throughout the holiday season.

We’ve been experiencing a Victoria’s Secret renaissance of late — the silk pajamas were a holiday hit with teens last year — and I imagine this Advent calendar dedicated to the brand’s fragrances will be popular with the scent stackers. Inside, expect appearances from several Bombshell perfumes along with some fun exclusives (a key chain and ornament included).

We’re living amid the super dupes, and Dossier is a Gen-Z favorite for fragrance. The brand’s 12-day Advent calendar includes scents “inspired by” Le Labo’s Santal 33 and Tom Ford’s Vanilla Sex. There are some Dossier originals too.

ICYMI: Gen Z is still obsessed with all things Snoopy. With milk-chocolate toffee crunch and dark-chocolate mint squares, this chocolate Advent calendar is a step up from the no-frills ones from the grocery store.

There’s another Snoopy-forward one from Sugarfina. My boyfriend and I got the non-Snoopy version last year and loved trying all the different gummies. (My favorites, the passion fruit gummies and sweet-and-sour hearts, are in this one too.)

For those who have waited in line at BonBon, may I suggest an Advent calendar dedicated to Swedish candy from Sockerbit. It includes extra surprises on Saturdays (meaning bigger baggies stuffed with gummies). That should be the new standard.

I’ve made it somewhat of a tradition to watch as many dorm-tour videos as I can every August, and each year it feels like college students stuff their mini-fridges with more energy drinks than the last. I’ve only spotted this one from Red Bull so far, but I’d suggest Celcius and Alani Nu get on it, too.

Though if you’d prefer your caffeine in coffee form, there’s this one from Cometeer that’s filled with flash frozen coffee. You can enjoy it hot or, well, iced for anyone who wants to bring iced coffee to their job interview …

In New York pop-up history, Fishwife’s felt as popular among my contemporaries as the ones by Parke and Pleasing. For those who couldn’t make it (and those who simply like tinned fish), the brand made an Advent calendar with its signature playful packaging. Inside, there are the usuals included — smoked salmon, albacore tuna, and mussels — along with some fun mementos, like chocolate sardines and the company’s new collaboration with Bag Balm.

Fly by Jing makes some of my favorite fancy instant noodles (the other is from Momofuku), and its Advent calendar includes all the noodle flavors along with other spicy specialties.

There’s also an embroidery Advent calendar for the 20-somethings who have picked up the hobby. Each day you embroider a new icon onto the calendar, which you can display at the end of the month.

I’ve been seeing Coco Wyo’s coloring books on lots of teen wish lists this year. Here’s an Advent calendar filled with 24 mini-versions of its coloring books.

If I were Snoopy, I’d be worried about Miffy stealing my fans. For those who have converted, there’s a 12-day Advent calendar filled with sticker sheets dedicated to the beloved bunny.

My sisters (also Gen Z) each wanted the NeeDoh Advent calendar last year. This year, it’s still in great demand, so you’ll have to enter a lottery on Amazon for a chance to buy one. Our resident toy expert, Liza Corsillo, recommends checking your local independent toy store and inquiring often about availability and restocks.

Pink is one of the latest additions to Tween Row, and I imagine the brand’s pantie Advent calendar will be a big hit with teens this year. It includes 12 limited-edition panties with festive bedazzled slogans like “Naughty” and “Nice.”

Kendra Scott is still a top jewelry brand for teens and tweens (though Enewton is up there too). The brand’s 2026 Advent calendar has several viral products — including a couple of those pendant necklaces — available in either silver or gold depending on your preference.

For our Swifties, I found an Advent calendar that comes with charms, beads, and chains to build your own bracelets.

Teen-loved mall brand Altar’d State also made a charm bracelet Advent calendar. It has a gold-tone paper-clip chain and 12 mini-charms to put on it.

Teleties is another brand that I’ve been seeing on teen wish lists (the hairbrush, specifically). While they’re keeping the contents of their 12-day Advent calendar under wraps, Day 12 does look suspiciously hairbrush size.

Kitsch’s Advent calendar doesn’t include the viral zigzag headbands, but there are plenty of other festive hair accessories inside, like a cocoa-colored Cloud claw clip, pistachio-scented hair perfume, and white-as-snow satin pillowcase.