Boots 24 Days Of Skincare Advent Calendar review: 20 full-sized products for £70 is a bargain

Price on writing: £70 | Buy now from Boots

Score, 84/100: £70 for 24 products (including 20 full-size) makes this skincare-only calendar a standout value, with a smart K-beauty/high-street mix that builds a routine you’ll actually use. Best for skin-first shoppers who want practical, no-fuss hydration, SPF and everyday problem-solvers.

What Mumsnet users say

My verdict

If, like me, you’re more “skin health” than “party palette”, Boots’ 24 Days of Skincare Advent Calendar is a sensible, good-value pick for a 2025 beauty Advent calendar. It’s £70 for 24 products, 20 of which are full-size, with a line-up that’s heavy on barrier-friendly hydration and everyday SPF. You’re getting an actual skincare routine out of this - not a jumble of one-use sachets you’ll forget in a drawer.

I’ve also tested the Boots 24-Day Premium Beauty Advent Calendar (the £150 one with both makeup and skincare inside); you can read that review for the full breakdown, but I’ll cross-reference the key differences below so you can decide which box actually suits your life (and budget) from Boots this year. 

As a 33-year-old, time-poor mum who’d rather prevent dryness than perfect a cut crease, a skincare-only calendar makes sense to me. I loved the mix here: smart K-beauty staples (Anua, Round Lab, Tocobo) alongside Boots classics (Simple, Soap & Glory) and everyday problem solvers (Starface patches, INKEY List eye cream). If I’m nitpicking, it’s a bit face-heavy - I’d have liked one more body or hand or feet treat - but the value is hard to argue with for a high street calendar.

How I’ve tested the calendar

I received the skincare and premium calendars from Boots and used the skincare box over two months alongside my normal routine - school runs, work days and the classic 10pm “fine, I’ll do my skincare” moment. My skin is combination and dehydration-prone, with mild keratosis pilaris on my upper arms.

While testing products, I’ve looked at:

• Performance: hydration, absorption, pilling under makeup/SPF.

• Compatibility: how products layer without irritation (I have mild keratosis pilaris on upper arms).

• Practicality: formats you’ll genuinely use in winter, generous full-size components, and clutter factor.

• Value: full-size count vs price; overlap with everyday needs.

Here at Mumsnet, products undergo a rigorous testing period to make sure our team fully captures how well a product performs - or doesn’t. 

The calendar’s design is festive, without being overtly Christmassy

For beauty Advent calendars, I’ve been looking at the four core criteria - performance, quality and durability, ease of use and value for money - alongside four product-specific criteria: selection of products, product safety and authenticity, seasonality and usage patterns and finally, overall presentation of the calendar. 

Read on for my scores and reasons why:

Is Boots’ 24 Days of Skincare calendar good value?

In my opinion: yes. For £70 you get 24 products with a hefty 20 full-size, which works out at about £3.50 per full-size item before you even count the extras. 

The line-up is routine-building (cleanser, toner, serum, moisturiser, SPF) rather than filler, so you’re far more likely to finish things you’ve paid for. The K-beauty picks are thoughtful, the everyday staples are solid and the reusable drawer box is genuinely handy. 

In short: high use-rate and high full-size count equals strong value for money.

Everything inside this year’s Boots 24 Days of Skincare beauty Advent calendar

What’s inside Boots’ 24 Days of Skincare beauty Advent calendar? 

Before delving into the full list of what’s inside, I’d like to share a few favourites of mine and explain why these have made my everyday shortlist. Not only do they slot into my chaotic, kid-wrangling mornings without faff but they actually make my skin behave. 

Favourite #1: ANUA Rice 70 Glow Milky Toner

A good toner has been a staple in my skincare routine for years and with this one, my skin instantly calms down. It’s soft, milky, has no sting and there’s no fragrance headache. Two swipes and I look less grey and more, “slept at least six hours”, which I didn’t. 

Favourite #2: ANUA Hyaluronic Acid Capsule 100 Serum

The second inclusion from ANUA - this gives me the bounce I want without leaving a sticky film before applying moisturiser. 

Favourite #3: Round Lab Birch Juice Sunscreen SPF50+ PA++++ 

After spending years in the desert, you'd think I'd have learned the necessity of SPF. It wasn’t until I returned to the UK - and reached the young age of thirty - that I thought, yeah, time to take it seriously now. This particular SPF leaves zero white cast on my light skin, and it feels like a light moisturiser rather than a chore to be done. If I do wear makeup, it sits fine on top; if I don’t (most days), my skin still looks fresh rather than shiny.

Pictured: Starface Black Star Pimple Patches, ANUA Rice 70 Glow Milky Toner and Q+A AHA Body Exfoliator

Other favourites of mine include: 

• BYOMA Melting Balm Cleanser (full-size, 60g): Removes sunscreen without eye sting and rinses clean.

• Q+A AHA Body Exfoliator (full-size, 250ml): This has genuinely helped my keratosis pilaris on upper arms, which became smoother within two weeks.

• Boots Aqua Hydrating Water Gel (full-size, 50ml): Very similar texture to belif’s Aqua Bomb, it’s a great “day gel” for combo skin.

• Lanolips 101 Ointment (full-size, 17.5ml): A winter handbag staple; lips, cuticles, dry patches.

• Starface Black Star Pimple Patches (4 pcs): Overnight helpers for surprise chin visitors.

How does it compare to other beauty Advent calendars this year?

Against Boots’ own Premium Beauty calendar, this skincare version is the better pound-for-pound buy: it’s £70 (worth £289) with 20 full-size, while Premium is £150 (worth £613) with 17 full-size and adds makeup and one fragrance. 

If you’re eyeing the big luxe boxes (think Liberty/Cult Beauty price brackets), they’ll feel showier but cost a lot more; this one feels practical and everyday-useful, especially through winter. 

Who is the Boots’ skincare Advent calendar most suited for?

Anyone who puts skin health over glitter - teens/uni starters building a routine, time-poor parents who want easy wins or skincare fans curious about K-beauty without the faff. 

It’s also a good gift for sensitive budgets because the contents are wearable and seasonally sensible. If you want makeup variety or lots of hair/body treats, look to the Premium calendar instead.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Boots skincare Advent calendar out?

It’s part of Boots’ 2025 Advent range and landed in autumn; check Boots.com for current stock. 

How much is the Boots skincare advent calendar?

£70 on writing, with a claimed value of £289. 

How many full-size products are included?

20 out of 24 - unusually high at this price.

Is the box reusable?

Yes - it’s a sturdy, practical drawer set that works for bathroom or vanity storage.

Is it suitable for sensitive skin?

There’s a sensible tilt toward hydrating, barrier-friendly formulas, but always patch-test — especially acids (Q+A AHA Body Exfoliator) and fragranced SPFs. Cetaphil’s Rich Night Cream is included and aimed at dry/sensitive skin.

Makeup or fragrance included?

None. This is skincare-only. If you want makeup and a scent, look at the Boots 24-Day Premium Beauty Advent Calendar or another beauty Advent calendar in our roundup.

Do you get Boots Advantage Card points?

Boots Advantage terms can change; check the product page at checkout for current points offers.

About the author

Rebecca Roberts is a writer, editor, and content marketing expert based in Leeds. At Mumsnet, she commissions, writes, and edits content that helps parents make confident, informed choices - from beauty and fashion to home and parenting essentials.

After birthing and breastfeeding two babies in two years, Rebecca knows first-hand how hard it can be to prioritise yourself once motherhood takes over. That’s exactly why she’s passionate about finding beauty and fashion products that are practical, affordable, and actually make life a little easier - all backed by honest recommendations from real Mumsnet users.

When she’s not testing the latest skincare or writing about products that work for real mums, you’ll usually find her chasing two toddlers around West Yorkshire, catching up with friends over coffee, or walking the family dog along muddy country lanes.

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