The beauty advent calendars worth opening on 1 December

11 November 2026

By Hemma Vara

Count down to the most wonderful time of the year with skincare saviours, make-up favourites and little luxuries behind every door.

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If you’re longing for a little pampering in the name of treat-yourself culture, you’re in luck: it’s beauty advent calendar season.

A wonderful way to count down to Christmas by uncovering a new surprise every day, the best beauty advent calendars offer a considered way to discover make-up, skincare and fragrances from some of the world’s best-known brands, some housed in a keepsake box.

Our top pick is Charlotte Tilbury’s Hollywood Beauty Wonderland, a 12-door skincare and make-up advent calendar holding four full-sized products and minis in the brand’s signature soft glam style. It’s already sold out online at Mecca, but we’ve found a few other retailers where you can still add it to your cart.

Below, browse our selection of New Zealand’s best beauty advent calendars, from luxury splurges and fragrances designed for layering to K-Beauty favourites for skin in need of some TLC.

The most coveted beauty advent calendars for Christmas 2026

1. The best beauty advent calendars with a bit of everything

Charlotte Tilbury's Hollywood Beauty Wonderland

Best for: Recreating Charlotte Tilbury’s signature soft glam look in one keepsake box

Number of days: 12

What’s inside: Four full-sized products, minis, a gua sha and a make-up bag.

Available at:

Space NK Beauty Advent Calendar

Best for: Indulging in products from cult-favourite beauty brands including Augustinus Bader, Tatcha, La Mer, Glossier and Sunday Riley

Number of days: 25

What’s inside: 35 beauty products, including 26 full-sized products and nine minis.

Available at:

Space NK, $720

Le 30 Montaigne Dior Advent Calendar

Best for: Those with a penchant for the finer things in life

Number of days: 24

What’s inside: Fragrance, make-up, skincare and a scented candle, housed in a keepsake box in the form of the lucky star, one of the Maison’s signature symbols.

Available at:

Dior, $1,356

2. The best skincare advent calendars for a luminous complexion

Laneige Advent Calendar

Best for: Building a hydration-focused K-Beauty routine

Number of days: 12

What’s inside: Hydration and barrier-boosting skincare including the cult-favourite Water Bank Gel Cleanser and Moisturiser and a Lip Sleeping Mask.

Available at:

L'Occitane Deluxe Beauty Advent Calendar

Best for: Head-to-toe pampering

Number of days: 24

What’s inside: Eight full-sized products, travel-sized skincare, haircare and bodycare, plus an exclusive beauty pouch.

Available at:

L’Occitane, $369

12 Days of Go-To Advent Calendar

Best for: High-performance skincare and limited-edition accessories

Number of days: 12

What’s inside: Skincare and haircare essentials, including a full-sized repair mask, plus limited-edition accessories like a Go-To x Alémais shower cap.

Available at:

Mecca, $210

Tatcha 12 Ways To Love Your Skin

Best for: Creating a complete day-to-night skincare routine with Tatcha’s favourites

Number of days: 12

What’s inside: Skincare essentials, including cleansing oils, exfoliators, serums, moisturisers, eye cream and a nourishing lip balm.

Available at:

L'Occitane Classic Advent Calendar

Best for: Elevating your bathing ritual (and sampling the French beauty brand’s viral Almond Shower Oil and more)

Number of days: 24

What’s inside: Five full-sized products, travel-sized skincare, haircare and bodycare treats, plus a pillow mist.

Available at:

L’Occitane, $225

3. The best make-up advent calendars for dialling up the festive glamour

Benefit Cosmetics The Hotel Beneville Advent Calendar

Best for: Restocking your make-up bag with brow and blush essentials

Number of days: 24

What’s inside: Four full-sized make-up favourites, a mix of mini mascaras, blushes, bronzers, brow products and skincare, plus a mirror and hair clips.

Available at:

24 Days of M·A·C Icons Advent Calendar

Best for: Lipstick lovers

Number of days: 24

What’s inside: 10 lip staples, alongside a selection of eye, brow and lash products, skincare and make-up prep minis and a limited-edition accessory.

Available at:

M·A·C, $529

Nude by Nature Mini Bar Advent Calendar

Best for: Creating a soft, natural make-up look

Number of days: 12

What’s inside: Complexion-enhancing make-up essentials and four beauty tools.

Available at:

Chemist Warehouse, $54

4. The best fragrance & candle advent calendars for the scent-curious

Glasshouse Fragrances 24 Days of Christmas Advent Calendar

Best for: Lovers of bold, decadent scents

Number of days: 24

What’s inside: A mix of eau de parfums, scented candles, interior fragrances, bodycare and handcare, plus a perfume pencil and hand cream tube key.

Available at:

Circa 12 Days of Scents Advent Calendar

Best for: Evoking a festive mood through scent

Number of days: 12

What’s inside: 12 hand-poured, 60g soy candles featuring a mix of Christmas-inspired, gourmand and fresh fragrances, each with up to 20 hours of burn time.

Available at: