Our five favourite beauty advent calendars

We all have our favourite departments within the luxury behemoth that is Harrods. And if you find it hard to pull yourself away from the labyrinthine beauty halls, then you simply must get your hands on this year’s spectacular Harrods Beauty Advent Calendar. This beautiful calendar, in Harrods’ signature green with a gold illustration of the iconic building, houses 25 products (21 of which are full-sized) from the likes of Kylie Cosmetics, Charlotte Tilbury and Acqua di Parma. Expect a decadent range of skincare, make-up and toiletries (and even an eye mask) worth an incredible £1,173, but priced at just £250.

The Harrods Beauty Advent Calendar 2023, £250; Harrods, 87-135 Brompton Road, SW1X 7XL

Think that Holland & Barrett is just somewhere to stock up on vitamins? Think again. The high street giant is home to a selection of award-winning ethical and vegan-friendly beauty and wellbeing brands. In the run-up to Christmas, Holland & Barrett has selected 25 of its finest products to be part of its Beauty Advent Calendar. Discover luxury treats from the likes of Weleda, Faith in Nature and VitaSkin, ranging from face and hair masks to lavender soap, vitamin-C eye cream, serums and toners. The items are worth more than £179, making the calendar a cinch at £45. It’s perfect for those trying to save the pennies this Christmas.

Holland & Barrett 25 Days of Beauty Advent Calendar, £45; Holland and Barrett, 50 Brompton Road, SW3 1BW 

Try something a little different this Christmas with this gorgeous illustrated calendar from Parisian perfume house Memo. Instead of counting down the 25 days to Christmas, the ingenious calendar is designed to be enjoyed during those languid days between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, with seven exclusive fragrances to explore.

Memo Paris Post-Christmas Advent Calendar, available at Harvey Nichols, £230; Harvey Nichols, 109-125 Knightsbridge, SW1X 7RJ 

High street favourite Boots has jumped on the beauty bandwagon with the launch of its first-ever luxury calendar. A snip at £99 – and featuring products worth over £450 – it has a different treat in every window from top beauty brands including Drunk Elephant, Urban Decay, Shiseido and Bobbi Brown. We’ll take two, please.

Boots Premium Beauty Advent Calendar, £99; Boots, 147-149 Brompton Road, SW3 1QP

This luxury advent calendar is brimming with luxury goodies – 45 to be precise, including 24 full-sized. A must for beauty lovers everywhere, this decadent calendar, worth more than £1,300, features a range of skincare essentials (Dr Barbara Sturm, Sisley, Dermalogica), fragrances (Memo Paris, Maison Francis Kurkdjian) and make-up (Fenty Beauty, Hourglass and Charlotte Tilbury), as well as unexpected goodies including a candle, CBD sleep drops and pillow spray. What’s more, Harvey Nichols has hidden a £100 gift card in one in every 50 calendars, which you may be lucky enough to find on Christmas morning.

The Harvey Nichols Beauty Advent Calendar 2023, £250; Harvey Nichols, 109-125 Knightsbridge, SW1X 7RJ