These 2026 Advent Calendars Are Worth Your Money (And Offer More Than Hair Ties)

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What began as a religious countdown to Christmas in the 19th century has since become a holiday shopping staple. Advent calendars evolved from illustrated designs for children to chocolate-filled treats and, today, curated collections of beauty, fashion, and lifestyle products. For retailers, they’re a chance to package new exclusives and longtime customer favorites into 12-, 24-, or 25-day countdowns, with the promise of surprises worth more than the price of the calendar. It’s a win-win, at least when brands get the formula right.

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Skims learned that lesson the hard way when its $148 12-Day Accessories Advent Calendar sparked backlash on TikTok this week. Instead of luxurious surprises, customers unboxed an assortment of branded hair ties, bobby pins, keychains, and other underwhelming accessories that have been compared to “junk” by netizens.

Although the calendar has sold out since its release in October, Skims has offered refunds following the online uproar over the last few days. To help you avoid a similar holiday letdown, we’ve rounded up the best Advent calendars on the market, featuring carefully curated products and impressive total retail values that make the splurge worthwhile.

 EDITOR’S PICK 

 Macy’s 25 Days of Beauty Advent Calendar Set 

 Macy’s Exclusive 

$69.30 $99.00 30% off

Buy Now at macy’s

 For under $70, this Macy’s Advent calendar includes 25 days of beauty surprises and delivers an impressive lineup of skin care, makeup, haircare, and fragrance finds from recognizable brands. With names like Clinique, Bobbi Brown, Lancôme, Shiseido, and Carolina Herrera, it’s a particularly good deal for beauty enthusiasts who enjoy discovering new products without committing to full-size purchases. 

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 BEST FOR COFFEE LOVERS 

 Nespresso Vertuo Advent Calendar Coffee Pack With Flask 

 Nespresso x Swarovski 

$55

Buy Now at nespresso

 Coffee lovers can count down to Christmas one brew at a time with Nespresso’s Vertuo Advent Calendar. Priced at $55, it includes 24 days of surprises, from classic coffee capsules to flavored and decaffeinated varieties, plus two biscuits and a flask. It’s a practical pick for anyone who considers coffee a daily essential. 

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 NAUGHTY LIST APPROVED 

 Lovehoney 24-Day Enjoy Advent Calendar 

 Curated by Lily Allen 

$129 $216.77 40% off

Buy Now at lovehoney

 With a retail value exceeding $300, this 24-day calendar brings a sexy twist to the holiday countdown. Curated by Lily Allen, the $129 collection features intimate toys, accessories, games, and self-care essentials. It’s a generous gift for couples or solo explorers. 

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 A NOVEL COUNTDOWN 

 The Twelve Loves of Christmas: An Advent Romance Collection 

 No. 1 New Release 

$23.99

Buy Now at barnes & Noble

$22.36 $23.99 7% off

Buy Now at bookshop.org

$19.19

Buy Now at target

$17.98 $23.99 25% off

Buy Now at amazon

 For those who prefer romantic plot twists to beauty samples, this Advent calendar offers 12 sealed romance stories by 12 authors to unwrap throughout the holiday season. Created by bestselling sapphic romance novelist Alexandria Bellefleur, known for “Written in the Stars” and “The Fiancée Farce,” it’s a charming literary countdown for bibliophile giftees. It’s also gaining plenty of attention, ranking as Amazon’s No. 1 new product and selling more than 5,000 units at Target in the past month. 

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 THE BEAUTY LOVER’S WISHLIST 

 Revolve 12 Days of Beauty Advent Calendar 

 No. 2 Bestseller 

$89

Buy Now at revolve

 Beauty enthusiasts get 12 reasons to look forward to the holidays with Revolve’s $89 Advent calendar, which boasts more than $409 in retail value. The assortment spans skin care, makeup, fragrance, body care, and wellness, with six full-size products from brands like Kosas, Ilia, and Sweed. It’s a particularly strong deal for several top brands. 

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 FLAVOR-ENHANCERS 

 Williams Sonoma Oliviers & Co. Advent Calendar 

 Williams Sonoma-Exclusive 

$119.95

Buy Now at williams sonoma

 Give a kitchen a gourmet countdown with this 24-day calendar from Oliviers & Co. Designed like a miniature pantry, it hides a collection of culinary treats behind its numbered doors, including olive oils, vinegars, tapenades, truffles, salts, and sweet spreads. 

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 A CHEEKY LITTLE CHRISTMAS 

 Victoria’s Secret 12 Days of Thong Panties Advent Calendar 

 Sizes XS-XXL 

$89.50

Buy Now at victoria’s secret

 Victoria’s Secret’s 12-Day Thong Advent Calendar includes 12 pairs of underwear in a mix of signature lace styles, cotton lace-trim designs, and mesh V-strings. With exclusive festive patterns, embroidered details, and six available sizes, it’s a fun and practical alternative to traditional holiday gifts. 

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 25 DAYS OF BLISS 

 Lush 25-Day Advent Calendar 

$330

Buy Now at lush

 Lush turns holiday self-care into a 25-day affair with this reusable hamper packed with bath, body, and shower favorites. Alongside seasonal staples, it includes 10 exclusive products, from bath bombs and bubble bars to body scrubs, perfume, and a scented candle. 

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 THE SCENT OF THE SEASON 

 Voluspa 12 Days Alpine Advent Calendar 

$185

Buy Now at voluspa

 Set the mood for the holidays with Voluspa’s 12-Day Candle Advent Calendar, featuring petite pedestal candles from its popular Japonica and Holiday collections. Free of sulfates, phthalates, and parabens, each of the 12 votives offers a different fragrance, including Mediterranean Lemon and Gingerbread Chalet, with approximately 25 hours of burn time apiece. 

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 THE BEAUTY HALL OF FAME 

 Mac Cosmetics 24 Days of M·A·C Icons Advent Calendar 

 Top Gift at Nordstrom 

$250

Buy Now at nordstrom

 Makeup lovers get a little of everything with M·A·C’s 24-Day Icons Advent Calendar, featuring an impressive $565 retail value. The collection combines full-size favorites and mini surprises across lipsticks, glosses, liners, mascaras, eyeshadows, and skin care. With iconic shades like Ruby Woo and Candy Yum Yum, it’s a standout holiday splurge for devoted M·A·C wearers. 

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 How We Chose the Best Advent Calendars for Your Buck 

We scoured social media for some of the most popular Advent calendars of the season, prioritizing reviews from creators who peeked behind every door and gave viewers a look at the products inside. We also considered audience engagement, including likes and comments, to gauge how shoppers reacted to each calendar’s surprises. From there, we compared product selections and total retail values against their price tags to identify calendars that offer a solid return on your spend. We also made room for more budget-friendly options that don’t skimp on the contents, including The Twelve Loves of Christmas Advent Calendar at $17.98 and the Nespresso Vertuo Advent Calendar at $55.

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 Meet the Author 

Sophie Dunne is an E-Commerce Writer at Penske Media Corporation, writing across WWD, Footwear News, Billboard, Rolling Stone, and The Hollywood Reporter. Originally from Ireland and based in Los Angeles, she previously worked at Static Media as a writer and editor across all brands, covering entertainment, lifestyle, fashion, and travel. Her bylines have appeared in Women’s Health, The List, Women.com, Islands, Grunge, WebMD, and more. Before beginning her writing career in 2019, Dunne lived in Dubai for four years, working as an Emirates Cabin Crew Member. Having traveled to 71 countries with the airline, she began writing for an LA-based publication as a travel writer during her final year. Dunne has a degree in Humanities from Carlow College, St. Patrick’s (now South East Technological University) in her native Ireland. She studied English, history, philosophy, and psychology.