We’ve been waiting with bated breath since last year to see what our favorite luxury beauty companies were dreaming up, and they did not disappoint. From Dior to Diptyque, brands have gone the extra mile to curate elevated versions of the festive tradition. The 12-, 24-, or 25-day sets are also an incredible chance to test a variety of products, often at a discount, and an undeniably fun way to build anticipation as we countdown to Christmas. Instead of waiting until one specific day to open all of our presents, why not also treat ourselves to a small one every day while we wait?
To make shopping for your loved ones that much easier, we conducted some intense research to create this guide to the seven best luxury beauty advent calendars available right now. But if you end up keeping one (or two) for yourself, we totally don’t blame you. See our selects below.
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Dior’s advent calendar is one of the most anticipated holiday launches each year. This year’s offering is modeled after 30 Avenue Montaigne, the fashion house’s historic flagship in Paris. Meanwhile, the interior of the calendar is decorated with golden illustrations of a sun and swirling flora. Additionally, each compartment holds a selection of the brand’s hero products, from popular fragrances like Sauvage Eau de Parfum and J’adore Eau de Parfum to iconic makeup pieces like the Rouge Dior lipstick in 999 and the Dior Addict Lip Glow in 001 Pink.
Includes: 24 mini or full-size skin care, makeup, fragrance, and other beauty products
An ELLE editor says: “I’ll admit it—I’m a total Dior Beauty devotee. I can’t do my makeup without the highlighter palette, there’s nothing else quite like the Rosy Glow blush within my collection, and I’m still convinced that the brand’s 999 is the absolute perfect shade of red. I don’t think anyone, least of all me, would be upset to receive this gorgeous advent calendar, especially considering that it’s stocked with plenty of fan favorites.”—Carol Lee, ELLE.com associate beauty e-commerce writer
Each door on Sisley’s advent calendar features a whimsical pen-and-ink illustration by British artist Fee Greening, including celestial bodies and various plants and trees. You can open the compartments to reveal full-size and miniature products that’ll help refresh and upgrade your hair care, makeup, and skin care routines.
Includes: 25 mini and full-size hair care, skin care, makeup, and other beauty products
Value: $1,048
An ELLE editor says: “This advent calendar is sitting on my desk as we speak, and I can’t help but steal glances at it ever so often. It’s even more stunning in person, and I haven’t opened it for fear of somehow damaging the packaging. But I’m excited for the moment when I finally bite the bullet and get to start using old favorites ,like the Regenerating Hair Care Mask, and trying new friends like Phyto-Lip Twist.”—Carol Lee
La Mer’s products will cost you a pretty penny, but the brand’s luxurious creams, lotions, and other rich formulas keep countless fans coming back time after time. If you have a relative or friend who’s obsessed with La Mer, they may just cry tears of joy when you hand this to them.
Includes: 12 mini and full-size skin care products
Value: $821
Diptyque hit it out of the park with this year’s advent calendar, teeming with dozens of celebrity- and editor-loved fragrances, including a full-size, limited-edition Sapin candle. Sapin is the perfect pine candle to me, and Feu de Bois (wood fire), also included in the set, is my ideal winter candle. Plus, there’s not a single perfume included that I or other ELLE editors don’t like. For example, Fleur de Peau is my favorite Diptyque scent, L’Eau Papier is ELLE.com beauty commerce editor Nerisha Penrose’s top pick, and Orphéon is ELLE beauty editor Katie Berohn’s fragrance of choice. The calendar also has a set of decorations to add to the festivities.
Includes: 25 mini and full-size candles, fragrances, body care products, and decorations
Augustinus Bader, a skin care brand celebrities like Victoria Beckham and Hailey Bieber obsess over, incorporates TFC8 (Trigger Factor Complex) into all of its products. For the uninitiated, TFC8 is the brand’s proprietary ingredient and uses a blend of amino acids, peptides, and vitamins to nourish the skin and boost its natural cellular renewal process. Thanks to its efficacious anti-aging formulas, it’s amassed quite the following, which is why I’m convinced this advent calendar won’t stay in stock for long. The box is stocked with all of the brand’s bestsellers, including The Cream with TFC8 Face Moisturizer, The Rich Cream with TFC8 Face Moisturizer, and The Body Cream, so if you haven’t tried the brand yet and want a proper introduction, this might be your sign to take the plunge.
Includes: 12 mini and full-size skin care products
Value: $868
Another covetable beauty advent calendar to look out for every year is YSL Beauty’s. Lips and fragrance are the stars of the show in this year’s version, although a few mascaras, skin care goodies, and even a branded travel mirror made the cut, too.
Includes: 24 mini and full-size makeup, skin care, fragrance, and other beauty products (including a travel mirror)
Value: $592
YSL rating: 4.7/5 stars
A YSL reviewer says: “Wonderful gift—loved everything in the box! Lipstick is top tier.”
You can’t deny that Estée Lauder has stood the test of time—a testament to classic formulas that actually perform. This opulent advent calendar is a tribute to 24 fan-favorite products. One night, you might be surprised with a deluxe sample of Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Multi-Recovery Complex, a hyaluronic acid-infused anti-aging serum. Some other night, you’ll discover the Revitalizing Supreme+ Youth Power Eye Balm, a firming and smoothing night cream. Also included are hand creams, lip glosses, perfumes, and more.
Includes: 24 mini skin care, makeup, and fragrance products
Why Trust ELLE Beauty
As a leading publisher of fashion, lifestyle, and beauty content, ELLE.com is committed to highlighting the best products in various categories by personally testing the latest and most innovative products, interviewing countless experts, and vetting customer-loved items. For this piece, ELLE.com beauty writer Carol Lee combed through the internet and the websites of popular makeup brands and retailers for the best luxury advent calendars, assessing each one based on their features and customer evaluations.
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Carol Lee is the Associate Beauty E-Commerce Writer at ELLE.com, where she covers all things beauty and personal care. Before joining the team, she was an editor at Food Network Magazine and HGTV Magazine and ran the beauty section at The Pioneer Woman. Carol received her bachelor’s degree in Journalism from New York University and was one of the first customers to visit Glossier’s flagship store in New York’s Soho neighborhood. Over the years, she’s tested countless makeup, hair, and skin care products, and written hundreds of articles covering the beauty space, from pieces about the trendiest launches to roundups of the best products on the market. As a Korean-American, she grew up in a sea of Korean makeup and skin care products and is a bona fide expert on the ever-expanding world of K-beauty, helping lead our coverage. Additionally, she’s also always on the hunt for the perfect lipstick and watches the same few comfort sitcoms (Frasier, Cheers, Seinfeld, New Girl, etc.) over and over again.
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