Are beauty Advent calendars worth it?
Beauty advent calendars are undeniably a luxury purchase, but they can offer excellent value if you actually use the products inside. Some also include exclusive shades, limited-edition products or early access to new launches that aren't available to buy separately.
Many of the premium calendars contain hundreds – and sometimes more than £1,000 – worth of skincare, makeup, fragrance and haircare for a fraction of the combined retail price. They're also a great way to discover new brands or try hero products before committing to buying the full-size versions.
That said, the best value isn't always the most expensive calendar. Some of the retailer editions from brands like Lookfantastic, Sephora and ASOS consistently receive praise from Mumsnet users for offering a varied mix of well-known brands at a lower price point.
Our advice? Rather than focusing on the headline value, look closely at the product mix. If you're excited to use most of what's inside, a beauty advent calendar can be a worthwhile treat. If not, you're probably better off spending the money on products you already know and love.
How we chose our recommendations
Beauty advent calendars start launching earlier every year, so Mumsnet Senior Content Editor Rebecca Roberts has been tracking the 2026 releases from the first waitlists through to the full calendar reveals.
Alongside researching official product information, launch dates and pricing from each retailer, we closely follow discussions on the Mumsnet forums to see which calendars members are genuinely excited about, which sold out quickly in previous years and which they feel offer the best value.
Beauty advent calendar season is taken very seriously by many Mumsnet users (yes, there are spreadsheets!), with members comparing contents, calculating product values and sharing spoilers as soon as they're released. Those conversations, combined with our own editorial research, have helped shape our recommendations.
Because new calendars are announced throughout the summer, we'll keep this guide updated with confirmed launch dates, prices, waitlists and contents as more brands reveal their 2026 beauty advent calendars.
About the author
Rebecca 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.
Outside work, Rebecca balances life as a working mum of two young boys 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.
*mumsGPT conversational analysis, 1 February 2026 to 1 July 2026