Get them while you can …
Everyone seems to be still going mad over beauty advent calendars. We’re torn – many are so pretty, filled with treasures to last the year and take in your travel bag. If you’re a beauty magpic, they’re hard to resist. But some are way over-priced, with so much wasted packaging. The best ones must be those you actually re-use, with a bit of longevity; I loved L’Occitane’s fabric, refillable option in previous years, and I use Charlotte Tilbury’s chest of drawers version to keep lipsticks and jewellery in. Choose carefully and a beauty advent calendar can be an attractive way to try out a variety of brands without committing to full sizes.
Here are some standout options, available while stock lasts …
1 The Under-€100 One
Rituals Advent Calendars land on October 1: choose from the Wreath Advent Calendar (€98.90, worth €166) or the Diorama (€131.90, worth €194.60), a collection of numbered boxes brought together in a neat cube.
2 The Best Value For Money
Space NK in miniature? Yes, please. They always offer a brilliant deal, and with 26 full-sized items and nine minis from favourite names like Tatcha, Summer Fridays, Phlur and Rare Beauty, this is another one to covet. We can safely say that we’d use every single item in this. It’s €299, but worth a whopping €1,350, and it’s entirely recyclable. No wonder that it’s flying off shelves.
3 The Stylish One
The always popular Jo Malone London Advent Calendar is available now at Brown Thomas, with an array of colognes, cremes and mini candles (€415).
4 The Legendary One
We love the brands featured in the always excellent Liberty calendar (£275stg), from Augustinus Bader to Emma Lewisham. You even get a La Mer lip balm, one of the best ever. There are intriguing fragrances too (DS & Durga, Vyrao, Granado and Liberty’s own range). Be warned, it’s selling fast …
5 The Half-Advent One …
This Charlotte Tilbury 12-drawer set only gets you halfway through December, but it’s an attractive option at €215 for five full-size and seven mini items, so you’ll use every item. If you’re at Kildare Village, stop into the Tilbury boutique as they sometimes have beauty gifts from previous years in stock, for less.
6 The Prettiest One
Full of Diptyque treasures, this is one of the loveliest-looking calendars we’ve seen, oozing French chic. From monochrome candles, plus a limited-edition gold Sapin candle that’s exclusive this year, to elegant scents from the Essences de Diptyque collection, this book-shaped calendar is one to keep and treasure (€399).
7 The Money Is No Object One …
This year’s Sisley advent calendar, designed by Luke Edward Hall, is undeniably pretty – we had to show you. But at €696, it’s extravagant in the extreme.
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