September has arrived and, dare I say it, it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas with the best beauty advent calendars going on sale (and selling out) across the board. The retailers getting involved in 2025 are plentiful, with Liberty London announcing its 25-day bonanza back in July, Harrods in August and, as autumn nears closer, a plethora of others including Boots, Charlotte Tilbury and Space NK.
As The Independent’s beauty writer, I’m a big fan of beauty advent calendars, and each year the team and I review the top picks to help you decide which ones are worth your money. They’re a brilliant way to try out new brands and products you’ve been eyeing up. And I can’t think of a better way to kick off the festive season than with a collection of the year’s best beauty launches – just in time to elevate your look as the Christmas parties approach. Especially with the trending skincare, viral makeup, vast library of fragrance and haircare innovations I’ve seen in 2025’s calendar line-up.
The majority of must-have advents are still in stock, but just know that this year’s favourite calendars will sell out. Especially those from popular brands such as Sephora, Space NK and John Lewis. In fact, Harrods’ limited-edition fragrance and hair and body calendars have already sold out, alongside the Lookfantastic fragrance calendar (in just 48 hours). Thankfully, I’m on hand to ensure you don’t miss any remaining launch dates, to delve into the contents and to cover all bases from pricing to packaging, so you can buy with confidence.
In the meantime, keep scrolling to find out more about this year’s calendars.
Why you can trust IndyBest reviews
IndyBest has been covering beauty advent calendars since their initial rise to popularity, with reviews spanning high-end brands, such as Fortnum and Mason, and more affordable options from the likes of M&S. Having reviewed beauty calendars from Asos, Selfridges and Mac in 2024, plus Harrods, Next and Sephora this year (with more to come) beauty writer Lucy Smith is heading up our 2025 guide to the best beauty advent calendars on the shelves this festive season. Owing to her expertise and knowledge, she can compare the calendars from previous years and help you decide whether they’re worth your money. Below, see her in-person rundown of a few of last year’s best-sellers.
