Don’t get me wrong—my Trader Joe’s advent calendar is a yearly tradition that I get embarrassingly excited about. But for anyone with a hankering for covetable beauty products, advent calendars are the ultimate currency for travel- and full-size experimentation. And this year, the offerings are particularly spectacular.
From beloved retailers like Net-a-Porter and ASOS to cult-loved (and investment-worthy) brands like Dr. Barbara Sturm and Charlotte Tilbury, more and more big names are jumping on the yearly beauty advent calendar train, and we’re excited to shout “all aboard” at the top of our lungs. Below, we’ve rounded up 23 standouts sure to satisfy anyone with a sweet tooth for beauty—whether it’s you, a loved one, or both. However, a word of advice: If you think you should wait until December to get your calendar, think again. These are selling fast (like, literally as I was writing), so it’s best not to wait! Keep scrolling for the absolute best beauty advent calendars of 2020.
Category: Polish and Nailcare. Savings: $45. What we’re most excited about: Nine miniature polishes in the brand’s most celebratory colors.
Category: False Lashes and Adhesive. Savings: $20. What we’re most excited about: The Double Whispies set—for the Bambi-like flutter of our dreams.
Category: Makeup. Savings: $20. What we’re most excited about: The six Hot Singles Eyeshadows—so sparkly and festive!
Category: Face and Bodycare. Savings: $358. What we’re most excited about: A full-size tube of Aveda’s Daily Damage Repair because our strands are parched and fragile AF right now. (Anyone else?)
Category: Makeup and Skincare. Savings: $60. What we’re most excited about: The full-size Matte Revolution Lipstick in Pillow Talk—it’s iconic, and we refuse to ever run out.
Category: Nail Polish. Savings: $150. What we’re most excited about: Twenty-two mini Plant Pot nail polishes for everlasting chic nails.
Category: Bath and Bodycare. Savings: $41. What we’re most excited about: The travel-size Almond Shower Oil—it’s the next best thing to showering in a chic Parisian hotel this holiday season.
Category: Makeup, Skincare, and Haircare. Savings: $1000+. What we’re most excited about: The travel-size bottle of The Rich Cream from Augustinus Bader because it’s Augustinus Bader.
Category: Skincare. Savings: $1000+. What we’re most excited about: The Hyaluronic Acid Serum—it’s a cult favorite and tops your skin up with dewy hydration.
Category: Fragrance. Savings: $1000+. What we’re most excited about: The Colonia Eau de Parfum—we’re addicted to the vacation-vibes vibrancy of lemon, patchouli, sandalwood, sweet orange, and, last but not least, Bulgarian rose.
Category: Fragrance. Savings: $84. What we’re most excited about: Santal Carmin—the crème de la crème scent if you love something deep, rich, and woody.
Category: Skincare. Savings: $99. What we’re most excited about: The Lip Comfort Oil in Raspberry—aka one of the best (and underrated) lip glosses money can buy. Trust us.
Category: Makeup. Savings: N/A. What we’re most excited about: The Bite Size Eyeshadow in Cream & Sugar—to cover any and all holiday shadow needs this season.
Category: Bath, Bodycare, and Fragrance. Savings: N/A. What we’re most excited about: So the brand is being fairly secretive about what lies within its highly anticipated advent calendar, but we’re keeping our fingers crossed for our all-time fave Jo Malone scent, Wood Sage & Sea Salt.
Category: Bath, Bodycare, and Fragrance. Savings: N/A. What we’re most excited about: The Winter Garden Bath Bomb because, in all honesty, our ultimate beauty fantasy looks a lot like taking a bath in the middle of a winter garden.
Category: Skincare. Savings: $125. What we’re most excited about: I mean, everything. Nothing gets us going like Parisian skincare after all, but the Pâte Grise Nuit is a nonnegotiable face cream for anyone prone to extra bumps or blemishes this time of year.
Category: Literally Everything. Savings: N/A . What we’re most excited about: How does one possibly choose between coveted brand names like Diptyque, Hourglass, Le Labo, Fresh, Augustinus Bader… and so many more? This 2020 advent calendar is currently sold out, but the birdies at Liberty say there are more on the way, so you best register to receive yours ASAP!
Category: Makeup and Skincare. Savings: $243. What we’re most excited about: Laura Geller Baked Gelato Vivid Swirl Illuminator for the most photogenic glow. You can have your pick between multiple shades: Caramel Glow, Pixie Pearl, Peach Glow, or Charming Pink.
Category: Skincare and Makeup. Savings: $335. What we’re most excited about: Caudalie’s Vinoperfect Serum because it just might be one of the top-selling serums on the beauty market. It’s also the best for beating dry or dull skin.
Category: Bodycare and Haircare. Savings: N/A. What we’re most excited about: The Dry Body Oil—a featherlight, fast-absorbing antidote for dry winter skin that smells like the brand’s iconic (and very wonderful) signature scent.
Category: Bodycare, Haircare, and Skincare. Savings: $109. What we’re most excited about: Creme de Corps because we don’t even know what our skin would look like without it at this point, and we’re not in the least bit curious to find out.
Category: Nail Polish. Savings: N/A. What we’re most excited about: Is it just us or is $50 a ridiculously low price to pay to drown in all of the latest holiday-inspired colors from one of our all-time favorite brands? Perhaps, but we’re not asking questions. We’re especially excited for top-selling moody hue Lincoln Park After Dark.
Category: Bodycare andSkincare. Savings: $309. What we’re most excited about: Superfood Blackcurrant Jelly Exfoliator so we can revive our skin back to baby-soft status. Up next, Indulgent Self-Care Nights Are My Secret Talent—Here Are the Items I Swear By
