The beauty advent calendar has cemented its place as the premier luxury gift for the holiday season, offering an indulgent countdown to Christmas. For 2025, the market is saturated with high-value collections from both luxury retailers and cult-favorite brands. These calendars serve as a clever way to sample or stock up on top-tier products, with many boasting a retail value far exceeding their purchase price. From prestige skincare routines to full-size makeup icons and niche fragrances, the best calendars of the year are characterized by exclusive, reusable packaging and a curated selection of cult-favorite and viral products. The most coveted calendars—including those from Liberty, Dior, and Augustinus Bader—are selling out rapidly, making early shopping essential for securing a gift that delivers daily moments of opulence.
The Editor-Approved Icons of Luxury Beauty
Several calendars consistently stand out as the top-tier, must-have options, often selling out within hours or days of their launch due to their exceptional value and curation.
The Liberty Beauty Advent Calendar is frequently cited as the undisputed queen of the category. For 2025, it features 28 treats, including a remarkable 18 full-size products. Wrapped in the department store’s instantly recognizable print, its retail value often exceeds making its purchase price of around a significant saving and a stylish investment. Similarly, the Dior calendar offers a highly curated, 24-day countdown filled with luxury brand favorites. This includes travel-size versions of their beloved J’adore and Miss Dior fragrances, along with viral favorites like Dior Addict Lip Glow and Rouge Dior lipstick, making it a perfect gift for the discerning beauty enthusiast.
Skincare Supremacy: Prestige Brand Calendars
For those whose primary focus is high-end, transformative skincare, the brand-specific advent calendars offer an unparalleled regimen.
The Augustinus Bader 12 Days of Bader calendar is a prime example of this targeted luxury. Though only a 12-day countdown, it is highly coveted for its inclusion of the brand’s top-selling, scientifically backed formulas, such as The Cream, The Rich Cream, and the brand’s eye cream and cleansing gel. This calendar effectively covers and elevates an entire skincare routine with prestige products. Another prominent skincare contender is the Dr. Barbara Sturm calendar, which features 24 full-, deluxe, and travel-size must-haves. For the brand devotee, these collections are a great way to commit to a luxury skincare line, often featuring limited-edition packaging that enhances the holiday experience.
The Best of Variety: Retailer Powerhouses
For the person who loves a balanced mix of products—from makeup and hair care to skincare and fragrance—the calendars from multi-brand retailers offer the broadest selection and best value.
The Sephora calendar is noted for its inclusion of the most trending products, featuring an impressive number of full-size items from a wide range of brands. Similarly, the Cult Beauty calendar is highly anticipated for its focus on new and niche brands alongside established classics. Their 2025 offering included a diverse mix of skincare favorites to combat winter skin stress (like the Medik8 C-Tetra Advanced Serum) and standout makeup products (such as the Patrick Ta Major Headlines Double-Take Blush Duo). These retailer calendars successfully blend the discovery of new brands with the excitement of unwrapping cult-status favorites.
The Wellness and Niche Categories
Beyond the mainstream luxury offerings, the market continues to expand with calendars tailored to niche interests, focusing on wellness and fragrance.
For a unique and pampering experience, the NEOM calendar focuses on fragrance and wellbeing. Its inaugural launch included a selection of soothing, scented products, such as candles, hand balms, and bath milks, perfect for creating a relaxing atmosphere during the busy holiday season. In the fragrance-only category, the Byredo Christmas Advent Calendar offers a high-end experience for the scent aficionado, featuring an enviable lineup of the brand’s signature eau de parfums, hand creams, and candles. These niche calendars prove that the beauty advent trend has evolved to cater to every facet of the wellness and self-care ritual.
