Beauty Bible Christmas Gift Guide 2025: Our (considered) edit of Advent calendars
The whole advent thing has gone nuts this year – and we can understand why you might be so paralysed by choice that you don’t end up buying one at all.
So, to kick off Beauty Bible’s Christmas guide for this year, we thought we would steer you to a small selection of the Advent calendars that we’d happily open ourselves, or buy for friends (in fact, in some cases we already have), and which we consider to be most definitely worth the dosh. (Note: some are already discounted for Black Friday, some aren’t – but we’ve put the brands’ recommended price.)
Space NK 12 Days of Fragrance Advent Calendar
So here’s the thing with 12-day calendars – you give them as Christmas gifts on the day, which (technically) is the first day of Christmas. (As in ‘a partridge in a pear tree’ and all that.) Of course, you can use them for a countdown, too, but the ‘12 days’ concept does make them more of a gift idea.
So, this Space NK beauty certainly isn’t cheap, but for a fragrance-lover it’s an absolutely glorious offering, with olfactory treats from Acqua di Parma, Frédéric Malle, Juliette Has A Gun, Sana Jardin – and a darling Diptyque Mimosa scented candle, among other olfactory delights. Smelling AMAZING is guaranteed.
£160 – buy here
William Morris At Home Beauty Advent Calendar
First of all, this is INCREDIBLE value. But our observation is: this is one for grown-ups. (And we’re counting ourselves, there.) We love, love LOVE the annual William Morris At Home offerings, which come via our friends at Heathcote & Ivory, creators of beauty goodies par excellence.) , there, but the vintage William Morris fabric vibe makes this, we think, more one for your sister, your auntie, your mum, your godmother… Absolutely PACKED with hand treats, bath salts, body creams, bath fizzers, in a range of fragrances that incude Bergamot & Vetiver, Festive Clementine & Clove, and the new Beautiful Sleep range. Grab it fast; as we were compiling the guide it kept selling out right left and centre, but is still at John Lewis, below. (And Jo’s got one coming from Ocado, tomorrow!)
£45 – buy here
Bramley Advent Calendar (12 Days of Christmas)
Gosh, even before you get to the goodies inside – ALL FULL SIZE! – this comes in just the most beautiful, too-nice-to-throw-away box, which could definitely be repurposed in future years. Bramley’s brand tag-line is ‘botanical magic’, and that really does sum them up: wonderful, natural products that are a total treat for the senses. Among the goodies showcased here from this treasured British brand are Hand Wash, Hand Cream, Calm Balm and Raspberry Seed Illuminating Facial Oil (plus eight other treats, of course) – all with divine essential-oil-powered scents. (To our mind, this calendar could easily be renamed ‘12 Days of Calm’.
£120 – buy here
PIXI 12 Days of Icons Calendar
This literally launched yesterday – we were there at the unveiling breakfast, and the entire room exclaimed when they discovered the price: just £40. Consider us WOWED. It is honestly adorable in the flesh, the design based on PIXI’s store just off Carnaby Street, with each window inside opening to reveal one of the brand’s make-up or glow-getting skincare icons, which include a couple of Beauty Bible Award-winners. Contents include Glow Tonic Cleansing Gel, On-the-Glow BLUSH, Flawless & Poreless Primer and DetoxifEYE Patch, among other absolute treats.
£40 – buy here
Neal’s Yard Remedies Natural & Organic Advent Calendar
This actually isn’t available online, but should still be able to track it down via a real-life Neal’s Yard Remedies store (a visit to which is always a joy, of course). Their Store Finder is here; once you’ve found your nearest location, we suggest using Google to find a phone number – just to make sure the calendar’s still on their shelves. Anyway, it’s an utterly gorgeous curation, in an equally gorgeous (and reusable) box, including13 full-sized formulas (out of the 24 products inside), including Vegan Wild Rose Beauty Balm and iconic Frankincense Intense™ Age-Defying Cream.
£165
Stylist x Latest in Beauty Advent Calendar
We reviewed this a couple of weeks back, and we still believe it’s an absolute stunner – read our thoughts here. You also still have time take advantage of the exclusive deal that we’re offering on this curation. It has 25 windows, 32 full-size products (no samples!) and a retail value of £547, but with the code BIBLEAC99, the price comes down to £100 with free shipping, which we think is an absolute deal.
£100 – buy here (just remember to use that code BIBLEAC99)
Now, as regular readers know, we ONLY write about products (or salons or treatments) on this site that we honestly, hand-on-heart rate ourselves – and we enjoy a level of independence that is absolutely unique in beauty media.
So: the above are the Advent calendars – from many, many out there – that we’d spend our own money on. Hope that helps you cut through the noise! (Even if it is coming from jingling bells…)
