Best beauty advent calendars 2026 – Waitlists and pre-orders

Talking about the best beauty advent calendars of 2026 is a conversation we take very seriously here at Cosmopolitan, which is why I’m writing this in August. Yep, sorry about that.

I get it: in the UK we’re still processing the record-breaking heatwave, so beauty advent calendars are probably the last thing on your mind RN – but the biggest and best brands are already dropping launch dates, opening pre-orders, waitlists and revealing the contents of their sought-after Christmas chests. So it’s time to pay attention, people.

Sure, opening a chocolate window every day of the festive month is nice ‘n’ all, but for the makeup, skincare and hair care fanatics among us, nothing quite beats the satisfaction of stocking up on beauty goodies with the best beauty advent calendars of 2026.

We may only be at the start of beauty advent calendar season, but already I can see that the game is strong, with brands already putting their best products forward all encased in stunning chests to open each day of the month. Huge retailers like Liberty, Cult Beauty and Sephora are powerful contenders, launching calendars filled with products that cost way more than the retail price. If you want to stay devoted to a specific brand, Charlotte Tilbury, Sculpted by Aimee and Jo Malone London have started to share the details of their 2026 offerings.

As a beauty writer of four years, I’ve spent many Christmases analysing these viral chests. In 2026, I’ll look at value for money, products (or brands) inside, the number of products, packaging and full size vs mini count to judge whether or not they’re worth your money. I do warn you though, these calendars sell out quickly so if one has caught your eye, I’d suggest pre-ordering or signing up to the waitlist today. Take this as your sign…

The best beauty advent calendars to buy or pre-order 2026Harrods Beauty Advent Calendar 2026Harrods Beauty Advent Calendar 2026Harrods Beauty Advent Calendar 2026

Pre-Order Here

Number of products: 34
Number of full size products: 21
Value of contents: Over £1,780
Price: £270 (£20 more than last year)

What’s inside the Harrods Beauty Advent Calendar? Harrods’ Beauty Advent Calendar is one that sells out year after year – and it’s no surprise to me. In 2026, the box bundles up 34 luxury names you can find in its impressive beauty haul, from skincare brand’s like Bioeffect and Tatcha, to makeup must-haves like Hourglass and Huda Beauty.

That’s right, the chest includes brands you already know and love, so nothing will be left untouched. However, if you enjoy the excitement of trying something new, 2026’s offering features names like fragrance brand Montale and skincare brand Valmont. Not that I want to spoil the surprise for you (this is an advent calendar after all), but tucked inside you’ll also find many luxury players including products from Lyma, Sisley, Gucci and Augustinus Bader (which its Eye Cream costs £170 alone, btw). Another £100 and you’ve made up the price of the box.

LUSH Advent Calendar 2026Lush Advent Calendar 2026Lush Advent Calendar 2026

Pre-Order Here

Number of products: 25
Number of full size products: Not specified
Value of contents: Not specified
Price: £210 (£5 more than 2025)

LUSH has already dropped the deets of its 2026 advent calendar, and it seems we’re in for a huge treat. Everything is tucked inside a festive hamper and contains some of our favourite LUSH bath goodies, as well as Christmas exclusives.

If you simply can’t resist, it includes the S’mores Shower Gel, Snowdrift Bath Bomb, Sticky Dates Shower Gel and the Hot Chocolate Orange Lip Scrub. Can Christmas come now please?! So if the sound of that doesn’t make you want to indulge in a bath every day and smell like a candy cane throughout the entire festive season, what will?

Soap & Glory, Unwrap The Magic Within Advent Calendar 2026Soap & Glory Unwrap The Magic Within Advent CalendarSoap & Glory Unwrap The Magic Within Advent Calendar

Buy Here

Number of products: 24
Number of full size products: Not specified
Value of contents: Not revealed
Price: £48 – in other words, a total bargain!

What’s inside the Soap & Glory The House of Glory Advent Calendar? Soap & Glory is thee OG at-home spa brand and this year, they’re proving why they reign supreme in the budget beauty advent calendar arena.

For only £48, you’ll be treated to 24 pampering essentials, including fragrances, body delights and skincare. Obvs we don’t want to spoil the surprise of what’s inside, but if you fancy a sneak peek, it contains a wide range of bath washes, lotions and fragrances in a range of popular scents, including Original Pink, Call of Fruity, Vanilla-licious and the limited-edition Velvet Cherry.

Revolution Beauty Makeup Advent Calendar 2026Revolution Advent CalendarRevolution Advent Calendar

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Number of products: 24 (10 full-size products, 8 minis and 6 accessories)
Number of full-size products: 10
Value of contents: Not revealed
Price: £50

What’s inside the Revolution Beauty Advent Calendar? At £50, this calendar is the perfect option for makeup lovers on a budget – and Revolution has truly revolutionised (wink, nudge) the game with this offering. In 2026, the calendar includes 10 full-size products (which includes a 15-pan eyeshadow palette), as well as eight minis and six accessories, like a mirror and beauty sponge.

As a beauty writer I’ve been fortunate enough to try many of the biggest and expensive brands, but Revolution Beauty is one I always back. The Lip Shift lip stain is my latest go to: it lends a long-lasting, pigmented tint that makes lips look contoured and fuller. Essentially, this calendar contains every product you need to create a full face of makeup – ideal for the most glamorous time of year.

John Lewis Advent Calendar 2026John Lewis Beauty Advent Calendar 2026John Lewis Beauty Advent Calendar 2026

Pre-Order Here

Number of products: 41
Number of full-size products: 23
Value of contents: £1,160
Price: £250

What’s inside the John Lewis Beauty Advent Calendar? John Lewis has well and truly pulled it out the bag with its 2026 advent calendar – and, as a beauty writer of four years, it takes something special to impress me in the beauty advent calendar space. This year, it contains a whopping 41 products worth £1,160. So for the price tag of £250 (which is £15 cheaper compared to 2025, btw) that’s a deal worth paying attention to.

As for the contents, where do I even start? For skincare savants, there’s popular brands including Medik8, Trinny London and Dermalogica, while make-up lovers will indulge inclusions from Charlotte Tilbury and Fenty Beauty. I also appreciate the inclusion of some luxury scents, including names like Maison Crivelli, Kilian Paris and Jo Loves. What truly stands out above all is the Foreo ufo 3 – a hand-held LED device that helps reduce the appearance of fine lines, brightens and firms the skin.

Anthropologie Beauty Advent Calendar 2026Anthropologie Advent Calendar 2026Anthropologie Advent Calendar 2026

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Number of products: 24
Number of full-size products: 11
Value of contents: £365
Price: £98

What’s inside the Anthropologie Beauty Advent Calendar? While we were told to never judge a book by its cover, in Antro’s case, we completely can. Beautiful on the inside and outside, this stunning chest is contains 24 makeup, skincare, fragrance and wellness goodies, 11 of which are full-size. As for what’s inside, we’re in for a real treat – as usual. We don’t want to spoil all of the surprise, but you can expect to unwrap goodies from popular brands like Hair Syrup, Floral Street, Slip, Malin + Goetz and Phlur.

Treasure Tress 25 Days of Curly Christmas Advent Calendar 2026Treasure Tress 25 days of Curly Christmas Advent CalendarTreasure Tress 25 days of Curly Christmas Advent Calendar

Pre-Order Here

Number of products: Not yet revealed
Number of full-size products: Not yet revealed
Value of contents: Over £270
Price: £119

What’s inside the Treasure Tress 25 Days of Curly Christmas Advent Calendar? If you have curly, coily or wavy hair, I’ve found just the calendar for you. For £119, Treasure Tress’ advent calendar is filled to the brim with Black-owned haircare products, specifically designed to cater to those with curls and coils. That’s right there’s no rummaging through a box of products you’ll never use: each gift has been hand-picked with textured and curly hair in mind, so you can make the most of every single one – and get your money’s worth, too.

Nothing has been revealed just yet, but there’ll be a mix of established and emerging brands, as well as some TikTok-viral products. We’re hoping to see some familiar favourites – names like Pattern and Flora & Curl would certainly get our attention.

Best beauty advent calendar waitlists 2026Liberty Beauty Advent Calendar 2026Liberty Beauty Advent Calendar 2026Liberty Beauty Advent Calendar 2026

Join The Waitlist

Number of products: 29 products
Number of full-size products: 21
Value of contents: £1,300 – £55 more than 2026
Price: £285 – £10 more than 2026

What’s inside the Liberty Beauty Advent Calendar? Liberty’s Beauty Advent Calendar is one we wait for in anticipation – and the waitlist is finally here. We may be in August but when a calendar is this stunning, we’ve got to pay attention. Inside it contains 29 products you’d find in Liberty’s Beauty Hall, which totals an impressive £1,300 (that’s £55 more than last year, btw) all for £285.

As for what’s inside? Usually Liberty keeps this under lock and key until launch day, but this year the contents have been openly displayed for us all to admire. If you want to keep the surprise until December, look away now. A few name drops include Jones Road, Trinny London, Verden, Sunday Riley and Augustinus Bader. Honestly, the line-up of brands is fairly similar to previous years but, as they say, why change something that’s working? Plus, tucked inside 20 advent calendars hides a golden ticket worth £1,000 for you to spend at Liberty London.

Sephora Advent Calendar 2026Sephora Advent Calendar 2026Sephora Advent Calendar 2026

Join The Waitlist

Number of products: 41
Number of full-size products: 27
Value of contents: More than £1,000
Price: Not revealed yet

What’s inside the Sephora Advent Calendar 2025? It’s the calendar of all calendars, and arguably one of our favourites on the Cosmo beauty team. Why? The calendar always includes some of the most viral, popular and sought-after names in beauty. While the official price is yet to be launched, we know that it contains 41 products (27 of which are full-size) that total over £1,000.

As for the contents, Sephora is keeping it mostly under wraps. However, as the investigative beauty journalist that I am, I’ve spotted inclusions from One/Size, Makeup by Mario (which is a full-size palette, btw), Medik8 and Sol de Janeiro. The waitlist is live now so if you love what’s on offer, I would get yourself on that list… pronto.

Charlotte Tilbury’s Hollywood Beauty Wonderland 2026 Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Beauty WonderlandCharlotte Tilbury Hollywood Beauty Wonderland

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Number of products: Not revealed yet
Number of full size products: Not revealed yet
Value of contents: Not revealed yet
Price: £170 – £5 cheaper than 2025

What’s inside Charlotte Tilbury’s Beauty Treasure Chest Advent Calendar 2025? Charlotte Tilbury’s calendar will forever remain one of the most glamorous and glitzy chests to covet. While the calendar doesn’t contain as many products compared to others in this edit, it’s the ultimate chest to secure if you’re a through and through Tilbury fan. Little information has yet to be revealed, but so far we know that the chests costs £170 and that the waitlist is live now!

Cult Beauty Advent Calendar 2026Cult Beauty Beauty Advent Calendar 2026Cult Beauty Beauty Advent Calendar 2026

Join the Waitlist

Number of products: Not fully revealed
Number of full size products: 16
Value of contents: Over £1,100
Price: Not revealed yet

What’s inside the Cult Beauty 2025 Advent Calendar? Cult Beauty is back with its 2026 advent calendar and inside it houses products worth over £1,100. So while the official price is yet to be released, I already know that the value for money is worth every single penny.

As for the contents, you’re in for a treat as ever. I’ve some of my favourite products including the Patrick Ta Double-Take Cream and Powder Blush Duo, Sunday Riley Tidal Hydration Serum and Huda Beauty Lip Contour lip liner. Not to mention other inclusions from brands like Glow Recipe, Vieve, Sol de Janeiro and 111Skin – oh, and there’s a Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm included too. Okay, I’ll be quite now! The rest you’ve got to wait until December 1st!

Fragrance fanatics? If you fancy some perfume inclusions in your calendar (who doesn’t) Cult Beauty have also launched the the Special Edition calendar which includes brands like Kayali and Escentric Molecules, alongside makeup, skincare and hair care must-haves.

LOOKFANTASTIC Beauty Advent Calendar 2026LookFantastic Beauty Advent Calendar 2026LookFantastic Beauty Advent Calendar 2026

Join the Waitlist

Number of products: Not revealed yet
Number of full-size products: Not revealed yet
Value of contents: Over £655
Price: £120

What’s inside the LookFantastic Beauty Advent Calendar? LookFantastic’s beauty chest is always a swift sell-out, and we know exactly why. While little information has been released for 2026, it features a mighty £655 worth of skincare, hair care, makeup and wellness products. As for the price tag, it will set you back £120 which is more affordable compared to others in this edit. Now that’s the kind of discount we’re interested in. As for brands, have you seen LookFantastic’s incred beauty directory? This calendar will feature products from MAC, Color Wow, Medik8 and Elemis… just to name a few.

Space NK Beauty Advent Calendar 2026 Space NK Beauty Advent Calendar 2026Space NK Beauty Advent Calendar 2026

Join the Waitlist

Number of products: Not revealed yet
Number of full-size products: Not revealed yet
Value of contents: £1,200 (£50 more than 2025)
Price: £275 (£25 more than 2025)

What’s inside the Space NK Beauty Advent Calendar? Space NK’s beauty advent calendar is *always* one of the greats – in fact, year after year, it comes out on top as my favourite beauty advent calendar. For 2026, I’ve been lucky enough to have a sneak peek at inside the chest and it’s generous to say the least. There are products from brands like Rare Beauty, Fenty Beauty, Hourglass, Vieve and REFY, making this one of the best calendars for makeup lovers out there.

I do have to shout out a specific product which, this alone, makes the calendar worth it to me: the Caudalie Vinoperfect Dark Spot Serum. It’s a gentle and hydrating serum that fades the appearance of dark spots, pigmentation and boosts radiance. After two weeks of consistent use, my complexion was glowing and looked so much plumper and healthier. I’d highly suggest signing up to the waitlist as, if last year is anything to go by, this chest is set for a swift sell out.

Selfridges Beauty Advent Calendar Selfridges Beauty Advent CalendarSelfridges Beauty Advent Calendar

Number of products: 40
Number of full-size products: 33 – nine more than last year
Value of contents: Over £1200 (£142 more than last year)
Price: £250

What’s inside the Selfridges Beauty Advent Calendar 2026? Selfridges is not here to mess around when it comes to their advent calendar – I mean, why would they? Step inside its beauty haul and there are hundreds of brands to shop from, from luxury names like Dior and Marc Jacobs, to viral brands like Kylie Cosmetics and REFY. It truly is one of the ultimate shopping destinations when it comes to all things beauty.

As for the calendar, it contains £1,200 worth of beauty products but it will sent you back £250 – that’s essentially a £1,000 saving when you think in ‘girl math’ terms. Tucked inside the iconic yellow box, you’ll find 40 beauty goodies (and from my calculations, that’s way more than one per day) 33 of which are full size. That also makes it the advent calendar to feature the most full-size beauty products! Now that’s worth shouting about. Expect to unwrap 38 exclusive-to-Selfridges products, including Tatcha, Augustinus Bader, Gucci Beauty and REFY. I also have to spotlight the eyeshadow from Marc Jacobs Beauty – if, like me, you’ve been itching to try the brand’s relaunched makeup range, this is your chance.

Debenhams Beauty Advent Calendar 2026Debenhams Beauty Advent Calendar 2026Debenhams Beauty Advent Calendar 2026

Join the Waitlist

Number of products: 29 (eight less than 2025)
Number of full-size products: 13
Value of contents: £528 (£172 less than 2025)
Price: £120 (£30 cheaper than 2025)

What’s inside the Debenhams Beauty Advent Calendar? There’s little we can say about the Debenhams Beauty Advent Calendar but last year we saw inclusions from big-time names like O.P.I, MAC, Hair Gain, Philip Kingsley, Benefit, Urban Decay and Nudestix, to name a few. So it goes without saying that the Debenhams advent calendar team knows exactly what we want. As for the value of contents, it is considerably lower this year compared to 2025 (£172 lower to be precise) however the advent calendar is £30 cheaper, making it one of the more affordable beauty advent calendars on the market.

Jo Malone London Advent Calendar 2026Jo Malone London Advent Calendar 2026Jo Malone London Advent Calendar 2026

Join the Waitlist

Number of products: 25
Number of full-size products: Not specified yet
Value of contents: £597
Price: £375 (£15 more than 2025)

This one’s for all you fragrance fanatics out there – and trust us when we say, this coveted chest is worth the splurge. Why? Because behind 24 doors sits 25 (!!) Jo Malone London faves that will last you throughout the festive season and beyond. Priced at £375 (which is £15 more expensive than 2025, btw), 2026’s calendar contains a generous bundle of Jo Malone London favourites. What those favourites are exactly, well we don’t know yet. But the value of contents is £597 so we’re expecting a generous selection of candles, body lotions and, of course, the brand’s legendary colognes.

NEOM 24 Days of Wellbeing advent calendar Neom Advent Calendar 2026Neom Advent Calendar 2026

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Number of products: 24
Number of full-size products: Not revealed yet
Value of contents: Not revealed yet
Price: Not revealed yet

What’s inside the NEOM 24 Days of Wellbeing advent calendar? Sometimes Xmas isn’t always ‘fa-la-la-la-la’ and things get stressful, so this box of relaxing remedies is just what’s needed when things get a little intense. The brand hasn’t dropped an official line up of contents, but we’re hoping to find a selection of Neom’s yummy bath products and candles, scents tucked inside the box. Speaking of, I don’t yet know what the box looks like this year however I can say that they’ll be 24 products to unwrap. So for all you wellness lovers out there, this one’s for you!

Sculpted by Aimee Advent Calendar 2026Sculpted by Aimee Advent Calendar 2026Sculpted by Aimee Advent Calendar 2026

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Number of products: Not revealed yet
Number of full-size products: Seven – including five calendar exclusives
Value of contents: £200
Price: £99

What’s inside the Sculpted by Aimee Advent Calendar 2026? Anyone who knows me knows I love Sculpted by Aimee – the brand’s products always deliver and are expertly formulated to sit beautifully on the skin. I mean, what else would you expect from a brand founded by an MUA?

Whether you’ve tried Sculpted by Aimee or not, this calendar is the perfect opportunity to get familiar with its best-selling beauty and skincare icons. I don’t know the contents as of yet, but we will find seven full-size inclusions (that’s one less compared to 2025) as well as five exclusive, limited-edition inclusions. It’s also reasonably priced too at £99, so this is a great way to get involved in this modern festive tradition without overstepping the budget.

Elemis Advent Calendar 2026Elemis Beauty advent calendar 2026Elemis Beauty advent calendar 2026

Join the Waitlist

Number of products: Not revealed yet
Number of full-size products: Not revealed yet
Value of contents: £650
Price: Not revealed yet

What’s inside the Elemis Advent Calendar 2026? Christmas is the time where we wear our glossiest red lipsticks and sparkly eyeshadows to celebrate the season, so arming yourself with a brilliant skincare routine to take off your makeup is just as important. To do the job well, of course we’re turning to Elemis. Not only are its products some of the most effective, but also the most enjoyable to apply (I mean, the Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm, hello?!).

There’s not much we know yet about the calendar, other than it bundles up £650 worth of Elemis goodies, including full-size products too. Oh – and for the biggest surprise – 15 calendars include special tickets that unlock £1,000 worth of Elemis products. Imagine! Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balms for life, please.

The Body Shop Classic Beauty Advent Calendar 2026The Body Shop Classic Beauty Advent CalendarThe Body Shop Classic Beauty Advent Calendar

Join the Waitlist

Number of products: 24
Number of full-size products: Not revealed
Value of contents: Over £120
Price: £65

The Body Shop Classic Beauty Advent Calendar 2026? Christmas can be a chaotic time, so an advent calendar packed with 24 pampering essentials sounds like the perfect antidote. The Body Shop Classic Calendar is nostalgia wrapped up, as it features all the familiar and yummy Body Shop scents we’ve used for decades – all for £65.

Inside there are body creams, hand creams, facial cleansers, body scrubs and sheet masks (just to name a few), each one smelling absolutely delicious. It feels impossible to pick a favourite, but we’ve always loved the Body Shop mango, coconut and shea scents – oh, and not to mention the iconic Dewberry collection which relaunched earlier this year. Yum.

If you’d like the next level up, The Body Shop also has its Ultimate Advent Calendar which includes 25 goodies, many of which are full-size products (whereas the Classic Calendar features more deluxe minis).

How much do beauty advent calendars cost?

The price of beauty advent calendars vary depending on the brand and how many products are included. Of course, these chests are more of a spend than your standard chocolate calendar, but you do get to open a host of beauty treats for the whole month of December. The luxury calendars (think: Liberty London and Jo Malone) are often around the £300 mark, while more budget-friendly options (think: Revolution Beauty, Sculpted by Aimee and even Look Fantastic) are priced anywhere between £50-£120.

What brands have beauty advent calendars?

The beauty advent calendar space is huge and today most big-name beauty brands launch calendars every year. If you’d like to stay devoted to a specific brand, such as Charlotte Tilbury, Sculpted by Aimee or Jo Malone, a beauty advent calendar is a savvy way to stock up on the brand’s best-selling products. If you’d prefer to open products from all kinds of brands, look to beauty destinations like Sephora, Cult Beauty, Look Fantastic and Space NK.

When do beauty advent calendars launch in 2026?

We know it’s crazy to say when we’re only in August, but already some of the biggest advent calendars are opening their waitlists or available to pre-order. However many aren’t actually on sale until September, so stay tuned.

What’s the cheapest beauty advent calendar?

We’re still waiting on all the advent calendars to launch (it’s only August after all) however so far the cheapest advent calendar is the Soap & Glory Unwrap The Magic Within Advent Calendar which retails at £48.

How we test the best beauty advent calendars:

The beauty advent calendar space is bigger than ever, so narrowing down the very best is no easy task. In this edit, you’ll find big-name retailers that consistently produce epic calendars – think Cult Beauty and Liberty – packed with a wide range of brands, alongside brand-specific offerings from LUSH, Charlotte Tilbury, Sculpted by Aimee and Jo Malone.

When selecting Cosmo’s top picks, I consider everything: price point, number of products, brand mix, the balance between full-size and travel-size items, packaging design, and any added extras like vouchers. I also feature a range of calendars that keep their product inclusions broad, so that they suit a wide range of people no matter their skin type or concern. For makeup inclusions, I made sure shades are universal and for skincare, I chose skin-kind products that target common concerns like dullness, dehydration and barrier support. And because many of these beauty chests come with triple-figure price tags, I’ve also featured more affordable options, so there’s something for every budget.

Remember: we’re only at the start of beauty advent calendar season so I’m still waiting for many brands to launch their calendars for 2026. So stay tuned to this page for the latest news, launches and upcoming videos.

Why trust Cosmopolitan? Clare Stephenson is the Senior Beauty Ecommerce Writer at Cosmopolitan UK. She has over four years of experience testing skincare, haircare, and makeup. In other words, she knows exactly what makes a great beauty advent calendar – from the products and brands included inside to the balance of full-size versus travel-size goodies. Over the past four years, Clare has tested countless advent calendars, so she can recommend the perfect one for any budget, preference, or skin type.

Clare Stephenson is the Senior Fashion and Beauty E-commerce Writer for Cosmopolitan, ELLE and Harper’s Bazaar. She has been an e-commerce writer since 2022, creating matter-of-fact reviews and shopping pages filled with her favourite products for every budget and need – whether that’s a glow-giving foundation, a high-tech LED face mask or the perfect wear-with-everything blazer.

Alongside writing, Clare loves to be in front of the camera creating shopping content, putting viral products to the test to see which ones are truly worth the hype. Through her work, she has interviewed leading dermatologists, makeup artists and industry experts to bring readers trusted advice and product recommendations.
Clare has contributed to titles across the Hearst UK portfolio, including Women’s Health, Good Housekeeping, Red and Prima. Prior to joining Hearst, she earned a BA in Multimedia Journalism from Bournemouth University, focusing her studies on magazines and editorial. She later worked as an editorial assistant at Voir Fashion Magazine, covering events including Fashion Week and interviewing notable brand founders.
Outside of work? You can find Clare strolling through London’s Columbia Road Market, pouring her fourth coffee of the day or heading to a Pilates class.

Follow Clare on Instagram @clarefrancesstephenson.