Boots 12 Days of Luxury Beauty Advent calendar review: the one with all full-sized products

Price on writing: £99, worth £359 | Buy now from Boots

Our verdict 

As a beauty enthusiast who’s always on the lookout for a good deal on a product that’s affordable, saves time and actually works, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to try out the Boots 12 Days of Luxury Beauty Advent calendar. 

Priced at just £99 but worth a whopping £359, this particular beauty Advent calendar promises a luxurious countdown to the festive season. And, after thoroughly testing each product, I can confidently say it delivers on that promise - with a few very minor caveats. 

Unsurprisingly, the biggest selling point for this Advent calendar is the fact that every single item is full-sized. There’s no dinky travel versions that you’ll inevitably lose in your cosmetic drawer and find months down the line only to discover the product has expired. So, that’s arguably a rare find in the world of beauty Advent calendars. 

The packaging is simple but effective, and the ribbon is extra festive

Plus, considering it’s lower than £100, this Advent calendar is an absolute bargain, in my honest opinion. Especially since the Drunk Elephant product included is worth £66 alone! In fact, if you bought that along with the included Wella item (which is £58), you’d have spent more than the cost of the calendar - making the other 10 products free. Now that’s girl math.

I feel like the decision to include each item is well thought out, as you’ll likely find something for every stage of your beauty and skincare routine. 

One observation, though, is that there are more makeup products inside (five in total), which when there’s only 12 items, skews the offerings slightly - so, possibly not the best choice of Advent calendar for skincare lovers. Those individuals should probably take a look at Boots’ skincare offering.

One of the two eyeshadow offerings in the calendar

Two of the makeup offerings are eyeshadows - Huda Beauty’s palette and Bobbi Brown’s product - so, perhaps it would have been nicer to see something eyebrow related to complete the collection. That way, there would have been something for every stage of eye makeup, but this isn’t a deal breaker. In fact, the Huda Beauty and Bobbi Brown eyeshadow offerings can be used to achieve two very different looks, so it’s not a huge disappointment.

With that said, the selection of products lives up to the calendar’s name. Luxury brands like Drunk Elephant, Too Faced, Bobbi Brown and Philip Kingsley are brands you may not usually purchase yourself, but in a calendar like this, they are certainly welcomed additions when you want to try something new without breaking the bank. 

How much is the Boots 12 Days of Luxury Beauty Advent calendar? 

Boots’ 12 Days of Luxury Beauty Advent calendar is available now for a retail price of just £99. That’s less than a hundred quid for more than £350+ worth of beauty and skincare products. 

In fact, if you’re not that bothered about opening up each drawer for Advent, you could purchase this calendar for gifting purposes. Think about it - you’ll have saved yourself over £150 on products that you could then gift to the beauty lovers in your family and friends list. A handy tip, particularly when you consider that the calendar includes products from social media trending brands like Drunk Elephant and Sol de Janeiro. 

Related: Inside the 2024 LOOKFANTASTIC Iconic Beauty Advent Calendar 2024

Who is the Boots 12 Days of Luxury Beauty Advent calendar most suited for? 

The Boots 12 Days of Luxury Beauty Advent calendar is ideal for:

• Beauty enthusiasts: Perfect for those wanting to try high-end products that might normally be out of budget.

• Experimental beauty lovers: Great for individuals looking to diversify their beauty routine and explore new brands and products.

• Value-conscious shoppers: Ideal for those who want to experience luxury beauty items at a more accessible price point.

• Trend followers: Includes popular products from buzzy brands like Drunk Elephant and Sol de Janeiro.

• Mature skin types: The Drunk Elephant product, in particular, is better suited for mature skin, making this calendar especially appealing for those with more experienced complexions.

What is inside the Boots 12 Days of Luxury Beauty Advent calendar for 2024? 

Spoiler alert! If you don’t want to spoil the contents of this calendar, skip this section and go straight to buy it now. 

But, if you’re like me and fellow Mumsnet users who can’t resist taking a look before purchasing, read on for some of my personal favourites from this year’s calendar as well as the entire product list. 

Everything inside this year’s edition of Boots’ 12 Days of Luxury Beauty Advent calendar

Favourite #1 - The INKEY List Tripeptide Plumping Lip Balm

Particularly love this, primarily because my lip fillers of long ago have truly dissolved and these days the budget just doesn’t stretch. So, any lip product that promises a little extra volume without the needles is a win from me.

Favourite #2 - Too Faced Moon Crush Highlighter in the shade Shooting Star 

Too Faced is a brand I’m yet to try but have always wanted to - with pricing being my biggest turn off. I’m a lover of highlighter and am guilty of brushing it all over my face so this will most definitely get some use.

Favourite #3 - Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser and Pure Cotton Cloth

And finally, cleansing is a must in my everyday skincare routine. It’s the first thing I do in the morning and last thing at night. Usually I’d go for Clinique’s redness solutions but this feels equally as luxe and the included cleansing cloth is most definitely welcomed! And a nice little surprise when opening the drawer to find not one, but two Liz earle products. 

(L to R), products from The INKEY List, Liz Earle and Too Faced

How does the Luxury Advent calendar compare to other Boots Advent calendars? 

Boots has launched three beauty Advent calendars this year, each catering to different preferences and budgets. 

In fact, all are below £100 in price so in my opinion, extremely affordable. Meaning, you wouldn’t feel so guilty about indulging yourself for Advent. 

Alongside the 12 Days of Luxury Beauty Advent calendar, shoppers might also consider Boots’ two other offerings for 2024: 

Boots Limited Edition 24 Days of Luxury Beauty Advent calendar, £99, worth over £365

• Number of days: 24

• Product sizes: A mix of full-size and sample sizes

• Focus: Skincare and makeup

• Key brands: Drunk Elephant, Fenty, No7, Sol De Janeiro

Boots 24 Days of Skincare Advent calendar, £65, worth over £220

• Number of days: 24

• Product sizes: A mix of full-size and sample sizes

• Focus: Exclusively skincare products

• Key brands: Byoma, The INKEY List, Bubbl, Cetaphil, Weleda 

Evidently, the skincare offering is even more affordable at just £65, but considering this is exclusively skincare products, it doesn’t offer anything for makeup lovers. It would, however, make a fabulous choice for an older teenager who’s after an Advent calendar this year. 

Related: Inside Jurlique's 2024 beauty Advent calendar

The 24 Days of Luxury Beauty Advent calendar offers the highest overall value, closely followed by the 12 Days version. While the former has the best value, it is a mix of full-size and sample-size products and so, if you’d rather avoid collecting a load of minis, the 12 Days version is probably the best choice for you. 

The Boots 12 Days Luxury Beauty Advent calendar is one of the best value we’ve seen

What is Boots’ delivery for their beauty Advent calendar?

Boots offers several delivery options for the 12 Days Luxury Beauty Advent calendar:

1. Click and collect: £1.50, or free for orders over £15

2. Standard delivery: £3.95, or free for orders over £25

3. Next day delivery: £4.95, order by 10pm

4. Named day delivery: £4.75, choose a weekday within 14 days

Given the calendar's £99 price, customers would qualify for free standard delivery or click and collect. With that said, next day delivery is available for those who want their calendar quickly.

Final verdict on Boots’ 12 Days Luxury Beauty Advent calendar

The 12 Days Luxury Beauty Advent calendar stands out for its focus on full-size luxury products, making it ideal for those who want to try high-end items without breaking the bank. 

While it leans slightly more towards makeup than skincare, the overall value and quality of products make it a worthwhile investment for beauty enthusiasts looking to treat themselves or find perfect gifts for others.

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

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