Benefit beauty Advent calendar review: “like a child in a sweet shop”

Price on writing: £156 (worth £295+) | Buy now from Lookfantastic

Our verdict

Ever since my old boss complimented me on eyelashes, I’ve been a loyal customer to Benefit. The sheer satisfaction of being able to boast that my eyelashes were in fact, real, while wearing the brand’s They’re Real mascara cemented my love for the brand for years to come. 

Much loved for its eyebrow products (including the gel and their precision pencil), Hoola bronzer and pore-blurring products, Benefit’s 2024 beauty advent calendar is certainly one to consider if you too are a fan of the brand. 

Unlike last year’s calendar that had just 12 days inside, for 2024, Benefit has extended their beauty Advent calendar to 24 days of products. Each item is boxed up neatly in its signature kitsch packaging, all placed inside a pink supermarket store basket that can be reused as storage for years to come. 

Georgia Mann, MNHQ

Costing £156, the calendar has an overall value of £295, which means you’re roughly saving more than 50 per cent on the beauty products inside. There are four full-sized products included, each worth around £30 individually, which will no doubt be used long after Christmas is over. These full-sized favourites include Benefit’s popular BADgal mascara - which adds extra drama to your lashes - the Roller Liner Eyeliner, the brand’s cult POREfessional smoothing face primer and one of my personal favourites, Benefit’s 24-hour brow setting gel. 

The reusable outer packaging is very on-brand for Benefit

Aside from these four fan favourites, there are five mini products and 15 fun-sized items that, while slightly underwhelming when opening, are in fact incredibly handy to have stashed in your make-up bag or purse when you’re on the go. 

Among the miniature sized items is Benefit’s matte formula Hoola bronzer that is still as popular nowadays as it was when it launched back in 2001. 

Related: M&S Home of Beauty Advent calendar review

Alongside this bronzer, there’s also four blush shades to choose from. Great if you wear blush - not so great if you don’t. In fact, this seems to be a common theme in this particular calendar… Repeat product types, which is brilliant if you’re a lover of all things Benefit but for those of you seeking variety, this might not be the one for you. For example, there’s four mascaras, four brow products, four blushes and five lip products inside. 

Regardless, if you love make-up - and love Benefit, too - their 2024 beauty Advent calendar is a great opportunity to sample all of the brand’s bestsellers. The repetitive lip products could be improved, admittedly, and it’d have been nicer to see more full-sized products, but these gripes can be overlooked when you consider the mascara line-up, brow products as well as the reusable pink crate that will come in handy long after Christmas is over.

How we tested the Benefit beauty Advent calendar

Like our Stylist x Latest in Beauty beauty Advent calendar review, I had the help of two colleagues while testing this offering from Benefit - Georgia Mann and Charlotte Ross - with Georgia sharing: 

“My reaction to opening this Advent calendar can only be described as a child in a sweet shop, and I loved that about this calendar. 

“Advent calendars are meant to be fun, festive and exciting and Benefit definitely lived up to all of those expectations.” 

There’s three tiers of product sizes inside, all neatly stacked inside the basket

How much is the Benefit beauty Advent calendar?

Benefit recently reduced the cost of their calendar from £156 to £125, so it’s no surprise to discover that the calendar is now in fact sold out at Benefit directly. 

However, for those of you with FOMO who are desperate to get their hands on this year’s edition, you can still purchase it from the likes of Lookfantastic, John Lewis, SEPHORA and even ASOS.

Who is the Benefit beauty Advent calendar most suited for?

According to Charlotte, “the Benefit beauty Advent calendar is a delightful treat for beauty lovers and features a fantastic variety of mini and full-sized products, allowing you to sample some of their best sellers, including their iconic brow and mascara products. 

“The packaging is festive and fun, making it a lovely addition to any holiday celebration. 

“However, while the selection is impressive, I did find that some of the smaller products may not be as useful for those already familiar with the brand.” 

I don’t disagree. This particular calendar, like Charlotte Tilbury’s release for 2024, is great for individuals who are already accustomed to the brand. However, Benefit fans may also be disappointed to discover very small samples of repetitive products - like five lip products - that may not necessarily go a long way in reality.

With that said, I can’t deny that the miniatures included are a good way to try out the other products that Benefit has to offer before you invest your money into a full-sized version. 

What is inside the Benefit beauty Advent calendar for 2024?

To expedite our review process, we each individually opened up our calendars at once to unveil all 24 items inside. This ensures that we’re able to give a thorough review of what’s inside and whether or not this calendar in particular is worth your hard-earned money this Christmas. 

So, without further ado, keep reading to find our individual favourite products as well as the full product list for this year’s Benefit beauty Advent calendar. Spoiler alert! 

Everything inside the 2024 edition of Benefit’s beauty Advent calendar

Favourite #1 - Precisely, My Brow Pencil ultra-fine brow defining pencil

If there’s one thing I’m precious about when it comes to my makeup routine, it’s my brows. In a world of laminated and microbladed brows, I still stand firmly in the “Cara Delevigne” camp of bushy, but shaped, eyebrows. I also believe brows should be sisters, not twins. My face isn’t perfectly symmetrical, so I don’t expect my brows to be. 

Which is why my favourite item in this year’s Benefit beauty Advent calendar is the Precisely, My Brow Pencil. It’s ultra-fine, easy to use and a perfect colour match for my brow hair. I love that I can fill in my existing eyebrows without altering the shape. 

Related: Our review of the Boots 12 Days of Luxury beauty Advent calendar

Favourite #2 - 24-HR Brow Setter 24-hour invisible shaping & setting gel for brows

The brow pencil is closely followed by Benefit’s 24-hour brow setting gel. After all the hard work of filling in my more natural-looking brows, this product ensures it all stays in place throughout the day. 

I also love the fact that it’s full sized, as I shall be using this for many months to come before I need to replace it.

It was nice to see some of the products that Benefit are well known for included

Favourite #3 - They’re Real! Lengthening beyond mascara

And finally, unsurprisingly, Benefit’s They’re Real mascara is my third favourite pick. Honestly, it would be number one except that in this calendar, it’s only in miniature size. But, as a They’re Real loyalist, this will keep me ticking over until the new year when I need to repurchase my regular sized mascara. 

Georgia’s favourite - Starlaa rosy bronze blush

“Although a mini, I loved this blush as it matches my makeup colour palette perfectly! 

I love bronzy, peachy tones when it comes to a blush and this Starlaa blush just gives the perfect colour. It’s a silky-soft powder that feels really light on the skin, yet it’s a buildable coverage which is great for different looks. 

“It didn’t budge all day, which I was really shocked about considering I’ve been opting for cream blushers recently, this powder blush has really changed the game.

“I love their whole range of blushes included in this calendar, the colours and packaging are lovely, and they all seem to have an ever-so faint shimmer to them which I love.”

Benefit’s recognisable kitsch branding is consistent throughout the calendar

Charlotte’s favourite - BADgal BANG! BIGGER, BADDER volumising mascara

“The BADgal Bang is a mascara I swear by and since using, have never looked back. So, I was thrilled to see the full-sized product here. 

“The mascara adds instant length and volume, making my lashes look incredibly bold and lifted. The brush reaches every lash, even the tiniest ones, without clumping.

“It lasts all day without smudging, and the dramatic effect is perfect for a night out or adding extra glam to my daily look.” 

When does the Benefit beauty Advent calendar go on sale?

It’s already on sale! But be quick, the calendar is already sold out at Benefit directly. But you can still get your hands on your own calendar in time for the start of Advent from Lookfantastic, John Lewis, SEPHORA and ASOS.

There’s a lot of mini items - we would have liked to have seen more full-sized

What are the delivery options for the Benefit beauty Advent calendar?

What delivery options are available depends on what retailer you buy from. With Lookfantastic, for example, the calendar qualifies for free delivery.

How is the Benefit beauty Advent calendar different to other beauty Advent calendars?

The main difference between this and other beauty Advent calendars I’ve tried this year is that it’s exclusively Benefit products inside, understandably. Like Charlotte Tilbury’s, fans of Benefit will no doubt be thrilled to stock up on their favourite products from the brand. 

However, if you’re wanting to try new makeup, skincare and hair products, this is probably not the calendar for you this year. 

Final verdict on the Benefit beauty Advent calendar

The Benefit beauty Advent calendar offers a fun, festive experience with a nice variety of the brand's bestselling makeup and skincare products. 

While it features some full-size items, there are quite a few mini and fun-sized products included, which may be disappointing for those already familiar with the brand. The repetitive product types, like multiple mascaras and blushes, could also be improved. 

However, the reusable packaging and overall value make this calendar a solid option for Benefit fans looking to sample the brand's range.

About the author

Rebecca Roberts is a writer, editor, and content marketing expert hailing from Leeds. Here at Mumsnet, she commissions, writes, and edits to bring parents content designed to make life easier. After birthing and breastfeeding two babies in two years, Rebecca knows first-hand how hard it can be to prioritise yourself when you become a mother. So, she’s on a quest to find the best beauty and fashion products that are both practical and affordable, with the help of Mumsnet user recommendations. 

Beyond her role as an editor here at Mumsnet, Rebecca can be found balancing life as a working mum of two toddlers and when she’s not at her desk, you’ll likely find her at a local playgroup, in a nearby coffee shop, or walking the dog up and down country lanes.

About Mumsnet Reviews

All Mumsnet product reviews are written by real parents after weeks of research and testing. We work hard to provide honest and independent advice you can trust. Sometimes, we earn revenue through affiliate (click-to-buy) links in our articles. However, we never allow this to influence our coverage.

All prices correct at time of publication

Read next: the best beauty Advent calendars our Mumsnet users rate