Every year, our list of advent calendars gets longer and longer… which means more festive goodies for those of us on the ‘nice’ list! Whether you’re in the mood to spoil your nearest and dearest with a limited edition blockbuster gift set of everything you know they’d love, or are just hyper-aware of how much money you would have saved with adding one of these to your cart, an advent calendar is a must-have for the season.
Just imagine, 24 little compartments each unveiling 24 little trinkets throughout the month of December — truly, the ideal way to count down to the holidays. Best of all, there’s one for every budget. Here’s this year’s bumper crop of treats.
1. La Mer
Carnival de La Mer Advent Calendar, $955
Consider your halls decked with this year’s most expensive advent calendar. La Mer’s Miracle Broth-infused delights greet you behind each door in this carnival-themed set, meant to celebrate the enchanting keepsakes presented by the renowned skincare brand. Considering how a single jar of the iconic Crème de la Mer already goes for about $600, this looks to be a great introduction to their myriad of beauty items, since the collection includes mini versions of The Cleansing Foam (30ml), The Regenerating Serum (5ml), the Crème de La Mer (15ml), and others that keep your face, skin, and lips in tip-top condition.
Available at La Mer stores and Sephora.
2. Dior Beauty
24 Dior Surprises Advent Calendar, $845
Dior Beauty always makes their holiday collections as enchanting as possible, and this year‘s transports us to the Château de La Colle Noire on a starlit winter’s night. The starry inspiration, of constellation motifs in gold peeking through rich midnight hues, was designed by Italian artist Pietro Ruffo, most prominent across limited edition makeup — and this coveted advent calendar of course. It houses 24 windows of little Dior goodies, in a beautiful design that further recalls Dior’s iconic 30 Avenue Montaigne boutique; in fact, go ahead and spot the eight constellations featured here, a nod to Christian Dior’s lucky number. Items include full-sized lipsticks such as the Rouge Dior 999 Velvet Finish and the Rouge Dior Balm; makeup, skincare and fragrance minis including the J’adore Eau de Parfum and Capture Totale Super Potent Serum; as well as candles and a Lucky Star Christmas decoration.
Available at all Dior Beauty Boutiques and Counters, and on the Dior Beauty Online Boutique.
3. Christian Louboutin Beauty
Advent Calendar, $800
Christian Louboutin wants to bring the magic of winter funfairs and Christmas markets to us, and nothing says it better than this enchanting advent calendar, a round, red carousel-shaped design that sees 24 of their glamorous goodies, mini perfume vials included. If you or your friend have been wanting to own the Rouge Louboutin, vintage-style lipstick that’s as famous as the brand’s red lacquered-soled shoes, then this is the perfect opportunity to own one and play around with the fun shades on offer too — the set comes with a refillable red lipstick case, along with refills and sample sets in glowy, satin, and velvet matte finishes, while scattered throughout the compartments are various charms that let us decorate our lipstick case too.
Available at TANGS at Tang Plaza and tangs.com.
4. Diptyque
Advent Calendar — Limited Edition, $770
More constellation inspiration awaits as Diptyque invites us to a world of scents that’s lit up with millions of golden stars twinkling in the midnight sky. Each item in their holiday collection, which includes three limited edition holiday scented candles, comes sprinkled with stardust and comforting scents, while the pièce de résistance has to be this exquisite Advent Calendar that’s meant to give us joyous anticipation in December. Each of its 25 days corresponds to a new constellation in our Milky Way, while each new day gives us a new Diptyque treasure of scented candles, travel-sized Eaux de Parfum and Eaux de Toilette, scented gestures, enchanting gilded metal holiday decorations, and more. It’s also the first time the set includes all three limited-edition Christmas scents: the Sapin/Pine Tree candle, as well as mini Neige/Snow and Spark/Étincelles candles.
Available at Diptyque boutiques.
5. Jo Malone London
Advent Calendar, $715
Jo Malone London’s Advent Calendar is a classy affair that arrives in a flurry of excitement, in packaging that recalls their classic cream boxes with black trim. This year’s stellar countdown is filled with 25 exclusive scented treats of home scents, mini versions of their popular colognes (read: Wood Sage & Sea Salt, Peony & Blush), and even a limited edition Snow Globe. This year’s seasonal scent of White Moss & Snowdrop is also included as a 9ml Cologne, where you get to take in the feeling of snowdrop petals peeking through powdery snow via its notes of forest-fresh moss, golden amber, and cardamom. And if you’re wondering about their iconic English Pear & Freesia scent, know that you’ll be getting it in two versions: a scented Body & Hand Wash (50ml) and 30ml Cologne.
Available at Jo Malone London boutiques, their pop-ups in December, and online.
6. Guerlain
The Hive Of Wonders Advent Calendar, USD690
Made to look like a beekeeper’s hive box, but dripping in glamorous white and gold instead, Guerlain’s Hive Of Wonders Advent Calendar is a welcome addition to your vanity table, especially with a line-up of 25 treasures you can look forward to. The illustrations are done by artist Aleksandra Miletić, and meant to evoke the feel of an enchanted holiday season, while the box’s inner workings hold miniature L’Art & La Matière bottles, scented candles, skincare and makeup products, and even exquisite ceramic discs that hold their scents. As with Guerlain’s conscious philosophy, the Hive design is made from environmentally-friendly FSC cardboard, with removable trays that make it easy for us to reuse them long after the holiday season.
Available at Guerlain boutiques and counters.
7. Fresh
Best Sellers Advent Calendar, $545
Fresh favourites only! This year’s Fresh Beauty advent calendar opens up to 24 little pockets that hold everyone’s favourite beauty treats, from the extra-gentle Soy Face Cleanser to the ultra-hydrating Rose Face Mask that’s infused with real rose petals. Other items within the set include the skincare brand’s beloved firming Black Tea range, more Rose products, the Lotus Youth Preserve Rescue Mask, and new items launched this year, such as the Milk Body Lotion and Floral Recovery Calming Mask. The beloved Sugar Rosé Tinted Lip Treatment also features here, in a sheer blush shade, so you’ll indeed be able to complete that full, ideal beauty routine after all.
Available exclusively at Fresh stores.
8. Lush
Advent Calendar, $499
Time to find a bathtub, because these Lush goodies don’t disappoint. The 25 Lush products here are specially selected to bring us joy — and joy beyond just ourselves too. The limited edition box is designed by Dom, Nikki and Chris at ARTHOUSE Unlimited, and represents the brand’s seventh year working with the non-profit organisation that supports adults from the neuro-diverse community. Included within the set are bath bombs, bubble bars, shower gels, soap, and more, with the Gingerbread House bubble bar and Christmas Party bath bomb returning in this set as exclusive gifts. You’re also looking at an ethical gift, where its packaging is as sustainable as possible — it consists of 100% recycled polyester ribbon made from recycled drinks bottles, wrapped around a 100% recycled board box where the items are kept intact with tissue paper made from 100% recycled paper.
Available at Lush stores and online.
9. YSL Beauty
Holiday 2022 Advent Calendar, $480
Edgy and bold, YSL Beauty’s glitzy Advent Calendar is dressed in sleek black and gold, two distinct colours we’ve come to associate with both the beauty brand and fashion house. Within, we get a generous offering of 17 miniature products, 6 full-sized goods, and an additional surprise gift (hint: it looks like an exclusive accessory). Lipstick lover will be enthralled with the number of lip products within — we counted 9 that include the Rouge Pur Couture, Rouge Pur Couture The Slim and more — while mini fragrance vials of Libre and Mon Paris are included too. This year’s packaging for YSL Beauty sets are also 100% plastic-free and made entirely with cardboard sourced from sustainably-managed forests.
Available at YSL Beauty stores, and online at yslbeauty.com.sg.
10. NET-A-PORTER
25 Days of Beauty Advent Calendar, $467
Back in its fifth iteration, NET-A-PORTER’s Beauty Advent Calendars always wow us with their bevy of 25 bestsellers, cult classics, and other luxury beauty products that range across the categories of skincare, haircare, body care and makeup. And as if you don’t already get an insane bang for your buck, this year’s masterpiece has a value of more than USD1,000! What we always look forward to are the multitude of brands in their list, which sees Tata Harper, Augustinus Bader, Sara Chapman, Dr. Barbara Sturm, and Omorovicza for skincare; Wander Beauty, Charlotte Tilbury, and Westman Atelier for makeup; as well as a FaceGym gua sha tool andAromatherapy Associates’ Deep Relax Roller Ball to round off the other categories. The point here is to incorporate all of these products into your pre-party or post-party prep!
Available at net-a-porter.com.
11. M.A.C
Bursting With Surprises Advent Calendar, $270
We’re in for a giddy affair with M.A.C’s Bubbles & Bows festive collection, and in the best way possible. There’s just so much to look at and love when it comes to their sparkling new products; these are topped with bubble pop or bow-like embossing and packaging to get us in the festive party mood, accompanied best with a glass of sparkling champagne while you’re at it. For their holiday advent calendar, this one’s a full assortment of full-sized, mini, and sample-sized beauty drops, wrapped up in a beautiful sustainable keepsake box adorned with Art Deco designs. We spot the Powder Kiss Liquid Lipcolour, pots of Eye Shadow and Dazzleshadow, a mini Fix+ setting spray and more.
Available at exclusively at M.A.C stores, at Ngee Ann City, Nex, and Bugis Junction.
12. The Body Shop
Box Of Wishes & Wonders Ultimate Advent Calendar, $259
Here’s a collection we look forward to every year, as The Body Shop constantly levels it up with festive goodies in whimsical decor and gift sets galore — including a trio of beauty advent calendars. Of these, the Box of Wishes & Wonders edition is the most impressive one, as it includes 25 head-to-toe treats of full-sized favourites and bestsellers that’ll have us feel well-pampered. Its design is made both beautiful and meaningful, with a pop-up construction that reminds us of the sweet holidays, and boxes that introduce us to their Community Fair Trade partners, which the brand works with in order to support small communities around the world. In Singapore, they will also be donating $0.10 for every transaction in November and December 2022, in support of local non-profit Halogen.
Available at The Body Shop stores islandwide and the official flagship stores on Shopee and Lazada.
13. Lancôme
2022 Limited-Edition Advent Calendar, $250
Lancôme’s Advent Calendar presents their best skincare and makeup in a Paris-inspired set that sees an intricate rose-adored box than then unfolds into a lovely gilded pop-up Eiffel Tower and mini cityscape when laid out across the table. At $250, you get $1,029 worth of value, with 24 items in total, including five Absolue skincare items, the Advanced Génifique Youth Activating Concentrate (20ml and 10ml), and Clarifique Double Essence (50ml). Yes, that includes a full-sized bottle of their bestselling Advanced Génifique Serum, along with other minis that are perfect to pack on your next vacation.
Available exclusively at lancome.com.sg.
14. Charlotte Tilbury
Charlotte’s Diamond Chest of Beauty Stars, USD200
Get ready darlings, for this darling, glittery chest of drawers, which introduces us to 12 of Charlotte Tilbury’s favourite makeup and skincare icons. We’re getting full-sized Hollywood-worthy items of the award-winning Magic Lip Oil Crystal Elixir, Hollywood Beauty Light Wand highlighter, Colour Chameleon in Golden Quartz to glide over your eyelids, Brow Fix clear brow gel, and the Matte Revolution in Catwalking, a nude-peach shade that’s meant to give all of us supermodel pouts. There are also mini versions of the beloved makeup artist’s Charlotte’s Magic Cream, mascara, setting spray and more to truly have us looking flawless and confident wherever we’re rocking up to.
Available at charlottetilbury.com.
15. Kiehl’s
Limited Edition Holiday Advent Calendar, $199
Adorable holiday-inspired illustrations by London and Cape Town-based animation studio Made by Radio adorn this year’s Kiehl’s Advent Calendar, which invites us to take in and share the joy of their 24 surprise formulas, one behind each door. Well, spoilers here anyway. Kiehl’s fans will definitely delight in the three full-sized products and 21 minis, of cleansers, face masks, facial serums, moisturisers and more that include the Ultra Facial Cream (28ml), Calendula Herbal-Extract Toner (75ml), Creme de Corps (30ml), and Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum (10ml).
Available at Kiehl’s stores and online.
16. Clarins
24-Day Advent Calendar, $175
Clarins has both 24-Day and 12-Day Advent Calendars that house bestselling products that show off their expertise in plant science, and either way, you’re getting plenty of their beautiful beauty items in classic red packaging. Count down to Christmas with makeup, skincare and body care items galore, including the SOS Primer, Velvet Cleansing Milk, and Beauty Flash Balm, as well as the celebrated Joli Blush and Lip Comfort Oil to give a hydrated flush of natural colour to your cheeks and lips.
Available at Clarins store and counters, and online.
17. Sephora Collection
Wishing You Advent Calendar Set, $139
On the slightly more affordable end of the spectrum, we’ve got one of Sephora Collection’s coveted Advent Calendars, which arrives with 24 little boxes that hold 24 full-sized makeup, skincare, hair care and accessory surprises. Did we just say full-sized? You bet, which makes this well worth its price. Items include the Cream Lip Stain in Always Red, a Big By Definition Mascara, Classic Fine Felt Eyeliner, Coconut Lip Balm, the Ultra Glow Serum, Grapefruit Face Mask, and the Watermelon Eye Masks, for a true kit of skincare and makeup goodies that’ll delight both beginners and beauty veterans.
Available at Sephora.
18. L’OCCITANE
Classic Advent Calendar 2022, $95
L’OCCITANE gives us an extra merry holiday season, thanks to a collection of vibrant packaging designed by French designer Eva Offredo. Famous for illustrating children’s books, she imbues a whimsical, child-like spin spirit to her designs, which depict the four seasons of Provence, seen most prominently across this exclusive Advent Calendar. The set is currently sold out online but still available at the brand’s boutiques, and includes mini versions of popular products such as the Almond Shower Oil and Immortelle Reset Serum, along with a full-sized 75ml tube of their Almond Delicious Hands.
$95, with a min. $45 nett spend, available at L’OCCITANE boutiques.
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