First look: OK! Beauty Box is back for 2025 with another beauty Advent calendar

Price on writing: £99 (worth over £600), but just £94 for Mumsnet users | Buy now from OK! Beauty Box 

My verdict

My colleagues and I had the chance to test last year’s calendar from OK! Beauty Box with Hannah Martin, so we can confidently say that this year's offering is bigger and better.

You're getting four more products, two more full-sizers and an extra £30+ in value. More importantly, the brand lineup has had a serious upgrade. Bobbi Brown's Vitamin Enriched Face Base? Eve Lom's iconic cleanser with the muslin cloth? Laura Mercier's setting powder? These aren't just names thrown in for clout - they're the products that actual makeup artists, like Hannah, swear by.

Having used last year's Rodial Glow Drops (which I love) all year, I'm intrigued to see they've switched to the Dragon's Blood Eye Gel this time - a £75 full-size product on day 25. That's a confident opener for Christmas Day.

The Aromatherapy Associates bath oil is back and I'm pleased to see the Sensory Retreats eye mask has returned - last year's version was brilliant for switching off after dealing with sick kids and endless washing.

This year’s design is bigger and a tad more festive

If I had one little gripe last year, it’s that the packaging didn’t feel particularly festive.Though, this year, it appears some design changes have been made. Not only is the box larger and similar in size to the likes of LOOKFANTASTIC’s’, but it also has a lovely Christmas tree design on the front of the box. The font on the drawers is nice enough inside too, but Liberty and Harrods still win on the visual front. Also, while I appreciate Hannah wanting to showcase new brands, three Luna by Luna lip products feels a little excessive. And while the Cetaphil minis are handy, they didn’t quite add the same excitement as the rest of the box.”

That said, if you're someone who wants expert guidance with your makeup and skincare, this is still the best calendar for that. Hannah's video tutorials via QR code are worth their weight in gold - especially if you're like me and still fumbling through a smokey eye in her third decade of life.

Be quick if you want one, though - the preorder drop sold out in less than five hours, and the Advent calendar has now gone viral on TikTok.

In a nutshell: It's improved from last year, the value is genuinely there and you're getting products from Hannah's actual professional kit. Just don't expect it to look as festive on your mantelpiece as some of the pricier options. 

How we’ve tested

Having tested the 2024 calendar last year, I’ve been able to compare products, brands, value and overall improvements year-on-year. My colleagues Charlotte and Georgia have also tried out the 2025 edition, so their feedback has been considered.

In fact, Charlotte believes that OK! Beauty Box have raised the bar with their 2025 Advent calendar, while Georgia gives it a solid 9/10, praising the "fabulous beauty Advent calendar that has a great mix of high end and high street brands, which are perfect for the winter season."

Each product inside has also been researched by me, and I’ve checked their individual retail prices (this has been easy, though, as OK! Beauty Box are very upfront about each) and assessed whether the new additions represent better value than last year’s offering. 

I’ve also considered whether the calendar addresses a previous criticism of mine (spoiler: mostly yes on value and brands, still not quite there on festive packaging, as lovely as the packaging is). As for the product curation, it does align nicely with Hannah Martin’s expertise as a makeup artist, think radiant skin and smoky eye staples.

What’s inside

This year’s edition has 30 products across 25 drawers, with a heavy focus on makeup (as you’d expect from a makeup artist), but there is also some skincare, haircare, body, fragrance and wellness. 

Everything inside this year’s 2025 edition of OK! Beauty’s beauty Advent calendar

The following are our standout products:

Charlotte’s favourites

“It has to be the Aromatherapy Associates Support Breathe Bath and Shower Oil and the Shiseido Uplifting and Firming Express Eye Mask - approaching winter, it's all about relaxing, reviving and self-care, but also more glamorous beauty products for the party season like the Luna by Luna red lipstick and Naked Cluster eyelashes.” 

Georgia’s favourites

Georgia’s first favourite is the FUL Intense Moisture Hair Mask, having been introduced to the FUL haircare brand thanks to last year’s calendar. “I was really happy to see a conditioning mask in this year’s box”, she says. “The winter season makes my hair so dry so this moisture mask really gives my hair the hydration boost it needs!”

“I’ve been really getting into my skincare this year”, Georgia adds, “and this EVE LOM cleanser is amazing, it does everything! It removes makeup but also hydrates, cleanses and tones at the same time! 

“When you use the cleansing cloth it comes with, it also acts as a gentle exfoliator. It also smells delicious and feels like such a treat when I’m doing my evening skincare routine!”

(L) Brow Aid’s The S.O.S Advanced Brow and Lash Recovery Mask and (R) FUL’s Intense Moisture Hair Mask

My favourites

I’m a low maintenance kind of girl, so anything that makes selfcare easy in the long term is definitely a win for me. Which is why my favourites out of this year’s OK! Beauty Box beauty Advent calendar are both the FUL Intense Moisture Hair Mask and the Brow Aid The S.O.S Advanced Brow and Lash Recovery Mask. 

The former I’ve used once weekly since opening it and it’s made a huge difference in the health and appearance of my hair. The latter I’ve used daily, applying it on my brows and lashes after completing my skincare routine. During the week for work and when my DC are at school, I prefer to avoid wearing makeup so it’s a perfect chance to apply this product to help my brows and lashes grow. 

Besides the included products, one lucky beauty lover who has purchased this year’s Advent calendar has the chance to win an exclusive 1-on-1 virtual masterclass with Hannah Martin herself. To enter, just order the beauty Advent calendar and you’ll automatically be entered into the prize draw.*

I’ve found the drawers much easier to open than other calendars I’ve tried this year

Is it good value for money?

Let's do the maths properly. You're paying £99 (£94 with our discount) for products worth over £600 - that's nearly six times the value, which on paper is brilliant.

But here's where I get a bit skeptical: would you actually buy all 30 of these products yourself? Probably not. Would you buy the Eve Lom cleanser, the Aromatherapy Associates oil, and the Bobbi Brown base? Quite possibly. That's already £144 worth of products you'd genuinely purchase, so you're winning there.

Charlotte reckons the value is amazing compared to other Advent calendars on the market: "Full sized products and high-end brands that you will actually use." Georgia agrees, particularly highlighting the Mumsnet discount - "£94 all in is such a bargain!"

Both make fair points. If you're the sort of person who loves trying new beauty products and you're already buying these premium brands, this calendar offers genuine value. You're essentially getting a curated selection of products you might actually finish, rather than a drawer full of miniature samples you'll never touch.

Who is this calendar most suited for?

This is for you if:

• You want expert guidance, not just random products

• You're a beauty enthusiast but not yet a pro

• You've been meaning to try high-end brands without committing to full prices

• You need help with makeup techniques (Hannah's tutorials are very useful)

• You appreciate a curated selection over quantity

• You're a time-poor parent who wants to feel put-together with minimal faff

This isn't for you if:

• You only want ultra-luxe, recognisable brands (there are a couple of lesser-known names here)

• You're after Pinterest-perfect festive packaging

• You already own most of these products

• You prefer skincare-only or makeup-only calendars

Honestly? This Advent calendar is perfect for someone like me - a time-poor parent who wants to look decent but doesn't have hours to watch YouTube tutorials or experiment with products. Hannah's picked items that actually work from her professional kit, and she's sharing a few tips along the way to help you get the best out of them.”

Charlotte reckons it suits women of all ages and skin types, highlighting the cult classics like Eve Lom's cleansing balm and Laura Mercier's setting powder, plus the self-care touches for winter like the silk eye mask. Georgia agrees on the broad appeal - she's in her late twenties and loves it, but so does her mum in her sixties. She particularly rates it for anyone wanting "hydrating skincare and makeup that gives subtle glam and shimmer."

Bottom line: If you're after a calendar that makes you better at beauty rather than just giving you more stuff, this is the one.

Don’t forget to stash your OK! Magazine vouchers in your purse for when you head to the shops next to redeem your copies

When does the OK! Beauty Box beauty Advent calendar 2025 go on sale?

You can now order the OK! Beauty Box beauty Advent calendar with Hannah Martin directly from the OK! Beauty Box website. 

Normally £99 (worth over £600), but just £94 for the Mumsnet community using the link in this post. Buy now from OK! Beauty Box, only while stocks last.  

What are the delivery options for the OK! Hannah Martin beauty Advent calendar?

• Dispatch began on 1 October 2025 (general sale date)

• Get free tracked delivery to mainland UK (excl. N.I.) - arrives in 10 to 12 working days

• Guaranteed before 1 December 2025

• Delivery charges: N. Ireland & Isle of Man £4.99, Jersey & Guernsey £9.99

According to OK! Beauty Box, you’ll also have the option to divert your parcel (sent by Evri) at any stage of the delivery process if you know you won’t be home to receive it. 

About OK! Beauty Box

OK! Beauty Box expertly curates product edits from premium, well-known beauty brands along with exciting newcomers in their monthly subscription and one-off beauty boxes. Their boxes deliver great value for money and expert advice, featuring skincare, make-up, body, hair care and wellness must-haves all tried, tested and loved by OK! beauty editors.

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.

This competition opens on 1, September, 2025 and entries close at the end of general sale for the Beauty Advent Calendar by Hannah Martin In association with OK! Beauty Box. More T&Cs here.