The 6 Best Makeup Advent Calendars on Our Beauty Editors’s Holiday Wishlists

At this point, so many of Charlotte Tilbury products have achieved virality that it’s safe to say that the brand is pretty much universally beloved. As a result, her advent calendars sell out every single year. This year’s version comes in a stunning heart-shaped box that houses a selection of fan-favorite products. In terms of makeup, there’s a highlighter-blush hybrid, mascara, setting spray, and multiple lip products.

Days: 12

Type: Makeup, skincare

Value: $300

An ELLE editor says: “I always look forward to seeing what Charlotte Tilbury dreams up for her yearly advent calendar. I don’t think I have a single friend who wouldn’t appreciate receiving one, and this year’s contains quite a few of my all-time favorite products. To me, the highlight of the box is the Beauty Light Wand in Pinkgasm; I’ve gotten multiple compliments on how glowy and pretty my cheekbones look when I wear it. If you haven’t tried a lot of products from Charlotte Tilbury, I’d highly recommend using this opportunity to test a bunch of them at once.”—Carol Lee, ELLE.com associate beauty e-commerce writer

Kylie Cosmetics’s limited-edition advent calendar is a curated set of Kylie Jenner’s favorite makeup and skin care products from her namesake brand. Beyond the mascara, everything included, such as the viral lip products and flatting blushes, is full-size.

Days: 12

Type: Makeup, skincare

Value: $250

To a makeup lover, this advent calendar is as good as gold. The kit contains a bevy of full-size and mini MAC Cosmetics classics, including multiple M·A·Cximal Silky Matte Lipsticks, Eyeshadows, and even a silky black sleeping mask. If you’re looking to win some major brownie points, this is the way to go.

Days: 24

Type: Makeup, skin care

Value: $471

Bloomingdale’s carries some of the most covetable beauty brands on the market, and its advent calendar is chock-full of high-end and luxury surprises. The makeup brands include favorites like Laura Mercier, Charlotte Tilbury, and Armani Beauty. Also, Bloomingdale’s other advent calendar has already sold out, so act fast if this one tickles your fancy.

Days: 25

Type: Makeup, skin care, body care, hair care, fragrance

Value: $900

This box from Bobbi Brown contains three full-size products: the Long-Wear Cream Shadow Stick in Golden Bronze, Extra Plump Lip Serum in Bare Pink, and Smokey Eye Mascara in Black. The other nine compartments offer deluxe- and mini-size samples to allow you to trial a variety of Bobbi Brown bestsellers, including the Luxe Lipstick and Highlighting Powder, before you commit to purchasing the full-size.

Days: 12

Type: Makeup, skin care

Bobbi Brown rating: 3.7/5 stars

A Bobbi Brown reviewer says: “I individually bought these products, and since switching makeup to Bobbi Brown, all I get is compliments. I am 51 and continuously get mistaken for 38! It really complements my skin and adds to hydration and is not over the top and extremely natural. I recommend this wherever I get compliments and will probably continue to use it.”

Each day leading up to Christmas, you can open up a box in this advent calendar and test a new Benefit Cosmetics product. You’ll get plenty of hero products, like The POREfessional smoothing face primer and Benetint lip and cheek tint, as well as minis of the new pore-shrinking The POREfessional skin care line. After the holidays, keep the cute shopping basket-like box to store your new products or other knickknacks.

Days: 24

Type: Makeup, skin care