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 24 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.
Olive and June Nail Polish Advent Calendar
Category: Polish and Nailcare
Savings: $45
What we're most excited about: Nine miniature polishes in the brand's most celebratory colors.
Ardell 12 Days of Wispies Advent Calendar
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.
Nyx Professional Makeup Diamonds & Ice, Please! Holiday Countdown Advent Calendar
Category: Makeup
Savings: $20
What we're most excited about: The six Hot Singles Eyeshadows—so sparkly and festive!
ASOS Face + Body 24 Day Holiday Calendar
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?)
Charlotte Tilbury Bejewelled Chest of Beauty Treasures Set
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.
Ciaté Mini Mani Month Nail Polish Advent Calendar
Category: Nail Polish
Savings: $150
What we're most excited about: Twenty-two mini Plant Pot nail polishes for everlasting chic nails.
L'Occitane Classic Advent Calendar
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.
Net-a-Porter 25 Days of Beauty Advent Calendar
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.
Dr. Barbara Sturm Advent Calendar 2020
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.
Acqua di Parma Advent Calendar
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.
Atelier Cologne Clémentine California Advent Calendar Perfume Set
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.
Clarins Winter Wonders Collection Advent Calendar
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.
E.L.F. Cosmetics 12 Day Advent Calendar
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.
Jo Malone London Advent Calendar 2020
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.
Lush 12 Days of Christmas Gift Set
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.
Payot Holiday Set Advent Calendar
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.
The Liberty Beauty Advent Calendar
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!
QVC Beauty 12 Days of Posh Beauty Full-Size Collection
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.
Macy's 25 Days of Beauty Advent Calendar
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.
Moroccanoil Beauty Vault Advent Calendar
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.
Kiehl's Limited Edition Skincare Advent Calendar
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.
OPI Holiday 2020 Shine Bright Collection Advent Calendar
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.
Dermstore Beauty Advent Calendar
Category: Makeup, Hair, and Skincare
Savings: $166
What we're most excited about: Sunday Riley's C.E.O. Glow Vitamin C + Turmeric Face Oil—because we won't stand for anything less than a supremely glowy complexion this winter.
Elemis 25 Days of Spectacular Skin Advent Calendar
Category: Bodycare and Skincare
Savings: $309
What we're most excited about: Superfood Blackcurrant Jelly Exfoliator so we can revive our skin back to baby-soft status.
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