From face creams to fragrances, enjoy a cocoa-free countdown to Christmas with these alternative advent calendars.
As much as we love the idea of it being socially-acceptable to eat chocolate as soon as we wake up every morning, we won’t lie – finding an unexpected bath oil or a Huda Beauty lip gloss behind the door of our advent calendar sounds more like our kind of bag.
Recent years have seen fashion and beauty advent calendars go from a nice-but-niche treat to the norm, and there’s a whole host of options that come packed with premium products, often at a tiny snip of the usual cost. What’s more, they are the best way to discover a wealth of new launches and iconic classics without having to invest in the full-size products.
Here’s a selection of the best buys on the market so you can prepare before December starts.
Happy shopping!
Huda Beauty 12 Days of Beauty
Bringing you 12 beauty best sellers from Huda Beauty, Kayali & Wishful, Huda Beauty’s first ever advent calendar is the most glamourous way to count down to the big day. From lip contours and false lashes to fragrances and face masks, what could be more covetable?
INFO: Dhs755 at hudabeauty.com
Net-a-Porter 25 Days of Beauty
For anyone meticulous about their skincare, this Net-a-Porter calendar is a strong investment. The 25 products span well-known luxury names including Dr. Barbara Sturm and Augustinus Bader, as well as some new, niche names to know like Joanna Vargas and U Beauty. Unfortunately it sells out almost straight away each year, but this is one to keep your eye on.
INFO: Dhs1,180 at net-a-porter.com
The Ritual of Advent – 3D Advent Calendar
Reminiscent of a sweet 3D snowy village scene, expect to find the new Ritual of Jing Mini Fragrance Sticks, Mini Candles from the Private Collection, Rose de Shiraz Eau de Parfum, The Ritual of Namaste Anti-Aging Serum and many more exciting surprises in this winter wonderland, which even has its own set of mini lights to set the scene.
INFO: Dhs465 at rituals.ae
Acqua Di Parma Advent Calendar
The ultimate luxury calendar for fragrance fans, every window of Acqua Di Parma’s calendar hides one of its elegant fragrances, homewares or grooming products, including a miniature Mirto di Panarea eau de parfum and a 70g Notte di Stelle candle on Christmas eve. We love it for its bright yellow packaging reminiscent of the house’s unmistakable identity alone.
INFO: Dhs1,970 at acquadiparma.com
The Body Shop Advent Calendar
For creative calendars that won’t break the bank, look no further than The Body Shop. Offering a wide range of options, each calendar has a philanthropic storyline, such as Maya purchasing gifts for her local women’s shelter, a student named Erika winning a recycling contest and a woman fighting for gender justice.
INFO: From Dhs350 at The Body Shop stores
Mr Porter 12 Days of Grooming
One for him, this slick calendar houses is filled with luxury grooming products including 9 full-size products. Expect to find contents from ELEMIS, Dr Dennis Gross, Augustinus Bader and more worth more than Dhs2,000. Like its female counterpart, this also sells out fast, but keep checking back for new stock.
INFO: Dhs520 at mrporter.com
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- Words by Naomi Chadderton
