Who doesn’t love gifts at Christmas? And, if you’re a Mariah-Carey-level fan of Christmas, you’ll also treasure counting down to 25th December. What better way to do this than with an advent calendar?
We’re not talking about the types that contain chocolate (even though we’d secretly one get too because who doesn’t love chocolate?) but advent calendars by beauty brands are a big year-end treat for lots of women. Whether you’re getting one for yourself or as a gift for someone else, here are 8 beauty advent calendars that know exactly how to spread Christmas joy.
This popular brand’s beauty advent calendars are inspired by the amazing acts of selfless love shown by people all over the world, especially those who provide unpaid care to others. Buying an advent calendar from any of The Body Shop’s worldwide stores involves contributing to organisations that provide care for others. In Singapore, the brand will donate 10 cents from every transaction made in stores and online (until 31 December) to Daughters Of Tomorrow (DOT), an organisation that helps underprivileged women on their back-to-work journeys to build financially independent and resilient families.
There are three stunning advent calendars to choose from.
Newbies should try Share The Joy Advent Calendar ($99), with 24 treats such as tub-transforming Bath Bubbles, new Body Butters and a Sheet Mask. If this isn’t your first (advent calendar) rodeo, go for Share The Love Big Advent Calendar ($139), with 25 fun surprises – some full-sized favourites such as the brand new Avocado Body Butter, and mini versions of face masks.
And if you want something truly extraordinary, get Share Love & Joy Ultimate Advent Calendar ($249) with 25 new and bestselling products – the Vitamin C Glow Boosting Moisturiser will light up your Christmas in a different way, while the mini Himalayan Charcoal Purifying Glow Mask will put the joy back into using a ‘mask’ after the last 18 months.
Not only are these advent calendars pretty, they enable you to pay it forward too, plus are reusable (the Big and Ultimate versions have drawers that you can reuse to store jewellery or make-up).
The Share The Joy and Share The Love Big Advent Calendars are available at The Body Shop stores and online on Lazada and Shopee; the Share Love & Joy Ultimate Advent Calendar is only available at selected stores.
Choose from a 12-day or 24-day advent calendar from Clarins, depending on how much you love Christmas (or surprises). Ensure your December is full of gifts with the 24-day Advent Calendar ($169), with an iconic Clarins product to uncover each day. There’s a full-sized Lip Comfort Oil, a travel-sized Instant Eye Make-Up Remover and a sample-sized SOS Primer.
The 12-Day Christmas Advent Calendar ($119) will get you into the holiday spirit with skincare and make-up products for that ultimate Christmas glow. Get iconic products such as a full-sized Beauty Flash Balm, a travel-sized Hand and Nail Treatment Cream and a sample-sized Eye Contour Gel.
Available at Clarins stores.
If you can’t go to Paris this Christmas, bring a piece of it home with The 2021 Dior Advent Calendar. It’s designed in collaboration with London-based artist/illustrator Alice Shirley, who pays tribute to the grand architecture of Dior’s iconic boutique in the French capital. You’ll feel like you’re entering an enchanted world just looking at it, with the colours (gold and midnight blue) and designs of flowers and bees inside the doors of the calendar.
The 2021 Dior Advent Calendar ($720) features 24 deluxe miniatures such as signature perfumes, luxurious make-up and luscious skincare. You’ll be enamoured by the treats behind each window – once you actually manage to take your eyes off the gorgeous packaging.
Available at Dior Beauty boutiques.
This London beauty brand has taken it up a notch this year and put 25 limited-edition icons into a pretty package for the festive season. The Elemis Icons Advent Calendar ($360) features top formulas from the brand’s world-renowned collection and is a perfect companion to your Christmas skincare and bodycare routine. You’ll be delighted by items such as the Papaya Enzyme Peel, Pro-Collagen Eye Renewal and Superfood Glow Priming Moisturiser.
This advent calendar is shaped like an enormous bottle of Chanel’s iconic N°5 so it’s a work of art that’ll impress you before you even open it. There are 27 boxes with some of the brand’s most iconic products. The limited-edition Rouge Allure lipstick in a new shade of red will perk up any look, a bracelet with the number 5 is the perfect accessory to any outfit, and a bottle of N°5 eau de parfum is the touch of glamour every woman needs.
Available exclusively at Chanel Fragrance and Beauty boutiques.
This all-in-one advent calendar it a perfect pick-me-up during the festive season and is a great option for a gift too. The Holiday Vibes Advent Calendar Makeup Skincare & Bath Set ($89) features 24 products that will make your month. There are 24 cute boxes with surprises in them and you’ll enjoy products such as Eye Pencil To Go, Colorful Removable Eyeshadow Pan, Coconut Water Cleansing Wipes, Nail Lacquer and a variety of eye masks. And the best part is – the packaging comes from sustainably-managed forests.
Get it here before it’s gone.
This brand’s advent calendar is so popular, the stock online sold out in just 10 hours. You can still get them from stores though so plan your visit soon. L’Occitane Nature’s Advent Calendar ($89 with minimum $40 spend) features 24 of the brand’s best products that nature has to offer. The icing on the cake is that it includes a 75ml tube of its bestselling Shea Butter Hand Cream.
Each of the gifts are wrapped in a gorgeous design by French illustrator and graphic designer Tristan Bonnemain. The inspiration here is the abundance of gifts that nature continually provides us. And, with this advent calendar, you’ll certainly enjoy the best that nature – and the brand – has to offer.
Available at L’Occitane boutiques.
Make your Christmas one to remember with Net-A-Porter’s 25 Days of Beauty Advent Calendar. Or you can get this for that friend or family member who is a big skincare fan or the one who needs a bit of pampering after a tough year. This is advent calendar is also ideal if you want to sample a number of brands.
The items in this 25 Days of Beauty Advent Calendar (US$325.12/approx. SGD439) are bestsellers from brands such as Victoria Beckham Beauty, Charlotte Tilbury and Agent Nateur. You’ll get a mix of full-sized and mini version of serums, masks, hair creams, lipsticks – your whole body is looked after in this magical box. It’s the perfect treat to end the year.
Order it here.