Each year I find myself looking for the perfect advent calendar. A balance of trendy products and items I have been eyeing the whole year. The idea of opening a little beauty or skincare surprise each day until Christmas is undeniably tempting.
And yet, I haven’t bought a beauty advent calendar in years.
I’ll walk you through my reasoning so you can decide whether this is something you want to splurge on this year or not. Also the timing of those calendars has gotten earlier and earlier so I find myself writing about this already in September. It feels a little strange, but here we are.
The Illusion of Value
Beauty advent calendars are often advertised with eye-catching value claims like “Over $500 worth of products for just $150.” That might sound like a great deal but those numbers can be misleading.
The stated value is usually based on the full-size retail prices of individual items, even when the versions included are much smaller. In many cases, the products are also less popular items that wouldn’t sell as well on their own.
What’s also important to know is that many brands have existing partnerships or promotional deals with retailers. Beauty advent calendars provide those brands with valuable visibility during the competitive holiday season which means retailers often get the products at significantly lower price points than the advertised value suggests.
You might also notice repeat items, especially if you’ve bought from the brand before or use their products regularly. That feeling of “I already have this” or “I won’t use that shade” can chip away at the excitement pretty quickly.
What you end up with is a calendar full of items that may look valuable on paper, but in reality don’t bring you much joy or use. If you wouldn’t have spent money on most of the products individually, the total savings don’t really mean anything.
That said, some calendars do offer pleasant surprises. For example, including more than one product behind a single door. This can feel like a bonus, especially if the items are new to you and match your preferences in terms of product type or color. In those cases, the unboxing experience can feel more generous and genuinely enjoyable.
Are You Just Getting Leftovers?
Advent calendars are often a strategic way for brands to quietly move less desirable stock. Throughout the year, beauty companies produce a wide range of products. Some become bestsellers, others don’t perform as well. Instead of letting unsold or underperforming products collect dust in a warehouse, brands repurpose them into limited edition holiday calendars.
Surrounded by elegant packaging and festive branding, these products are given a second life as exclusive surprises. The perception of value remains high, even when the actual desirability of the item might be low.
This is why you’ll sometimes find odd lipstick shades, obscure skincare samples, or products that have already been discontinued. While brands rarely disclose this openly, it’s a convenient way to offload old inventory without marking it as a clearance item.
Not every brand does this, and some prestige calendars are carefully curated with genuine fan favorites. But unless the full product list is shared in advance. And even then, unless you research each item it’s difficult to know whether you’re getting high-demand goodies or simply helping a brand clear their shelves.
For instance, the Patrick Ta blush in a deep berry shade or the Natasha Denona eyeshadow palette in bold blue and green tones, both featured in the Cult Beauty Advent Calendar, are unlikely to be the bestselling shades. These inclusions illustrate how brands may use calendars to distribute niche or less popular variants that wouldn’t sell as well on their own.
Waste and Sustainability
Nowadays it doesn’t only matter what’s inside but also what the calendar looks like on the outside. A festive and colorful design definitely is nicer to display on your make-up dresser. However, an individually designed advent calendar also requires lots of material and packaging that sometimes can’t be recycled.
An honorable mention here would be the Miin Cosmetics Advent Calendar. All products come in cardboard boxes and they are all packed up in a nice bag that you can afterwards continue to use, which is a great way to repurpose the packaging.
When Beauty Advent Calendars Do Make Sense
Despite all the criticism, beauty advent calendars aren’t a bad idea. I had quite a few of them myself. For some people, they genuinely offer good value, especially when used with intention. I saw a comment from a person who shared that they purchase a beauty calendar each year and then give away the products as Christmas gifts.
Others enjoy the calendar for the experience itself. The daily ritual of opening a little door, discovering a new product, and adding a touch of beauty to an otherwise hectic December can be a meaningful source of joy. For beginners that are dabbling into the beauty world, a calendar can be a fun and festive way to explore.
If I were to recommend one advent calendar this year, it would probably be the one from Space NK. Among all the options I’ve looked into, it stands out with what I consider the best price and products. Not only does it contain a high number of full-size products (26 out of 35), but lots of the included items are from brands that I would love to try like Glossier, Naturium, Westman Atelier and many more. While it is still a splurge, this calendar feels thoughtfully curated. If you’re on the fence but want to treat yourself with a calendar that’s actually worth the hype, this would be my top pick. The others would give me too many duplicates and products I don’t see myself reaching for.
Final Thoughts
In the end, it comes down to your budget, current makeup collection and your requirements for an advent calendar. If you approach the calendar with clear expectations, it can absolutely be worth it. Whether it’s about gifting, self-care, or a bit of everyday excitement, the emotional value can sometimes outweigh the numbers.
I will be skipping a beauty advent calendar again this year and instead plan to treat myself to a few products from my wishlist. I might just end up getting a chocolate or tea advent calendar at a much lower price point with all the Christmas cheer and excitement included.
I am curious to know: are you getting an advent calendar this year? Let me know down below in the comments!
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