The 44 Best Advent Calendars to Kick Off the Holidays

Anthropologie is bringing the best in beauty, featuring the top brands in the biz. Whether they’re into skincare, makeup or fragrance, your giftee can discover one mini delight per day in the 24 days leading up to Christmas. Artist Nephthys Foster provides the whimsical art on the packaging, and included products range from the cult-favorite (and PureWow editor-loved) Sunday Riley Good Genes Lactic Acid Treatment and Supergoop!'s SPF 50 PLAY Everyday Lotion, to Juliette Has A Gun Not A Perfume, Salt & Stone Santal & Vetiver deodorant, Caudalie Vinoperfect Brightening eye cream and Phlur Missing Person Eau de Parfum. PureWow's social creator Kate Kesselman got a sneak peek and reports: "The calendar itself is gorgeous, with beautiful designs that add a little bit of magic to my mornings. The products are also the perfect sample size—you can actually try each one and decide whether it’s something you’d want to purchase again in the future."

Fast Facts

• Value: $300
• Number of Items: 24

For the luxury skincare connoisseurs in your life, the Augustinus Bader Advent calendar will be a must-have, as many PureWow editors will attest. Yes, it's *expensive,* coming in at nearly $700, but it's a great way to sample the brand's best sellers and new products. That means both sample and (small) full-size bottles of tried-and-true classics like The Rich Cream, The Serum and The Eye Cream. What gives these beauty staples cult status? The brand's proprietary Trigger Factor Complex (amino acids, vitamins, peptides), which was created after 30 years of research and clinical study.

Fast Facts

• Number of Items: 12

This holiday season, makeup maven Charlotte Tilbury is offering this screaming red beauty advent calendar packed with 15 of the brand's icons. Amongst the goodies are Charlotte's Magic Cream, a gua sha tool, mini makeup bag and plenty of cult-favorite lip products. (The Matte Revolution lipstick in Pillow Talk Medium and Lip Cheat Contour Duo in Medium are among them.)

Fast Facts

• Value: $400
• Number of Items: 15

Having a little hand cream in your purse is never a bad idea, and L'Occitane is one of the most emblematic brands you can carry. The 2026 advent calendar has both a shea butter and lavender hand cream, plus tons of the brand's bath and skincare products. Some particular pieces PureWow editors are excited about are the body soaps and scrubs, along with the Immortelle Divine Cream, whose Immortelle Super Extract provides a gentler alternative to retinol and vitamin C.

Fast Facts

• Value: $356
• Number of Items: 24

Luxury beauty lovers will fall in love with Dermstore's luxe, 24-day advent calendar that packs $1,147 worth of product into a festive $250 box of delights. Inside, you'll find brands like Dr. Barbara Sturm, Medik8 and Dr. Dennis Gross, in addition to fan favorites like the Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm, Morccanoil Dry Texture Spray and Paula's Choice Clinical Niacinamide. Each is wrapped in a cherry-red box with a contrasting white number to help you count down the days to Christmas.

Fast Facts

• Value: $1,147
• Number of Items: 24

Among the more innovatively packaged advent calendars available this season is Bloomingdale's luxury fragrance calendar, presented as a giant box of roses. Each fragrance is carefully wrapped in a red velvet pouch, with a drawstring that scrunches the fabric into flower petals, each numbered to guide you on a scent discovery leading up to the holidays. The advent calendar includes a mix of big names like Jo Malone and BVLGARI, high luxury like Van Cleef & Arpels and Christian Louboutin and elevated niche brands like Parfums de Marly. What's more, it's not just perfume you'll be getting. The fragrances are also packaged as moisturizers and cologne, so you get a little surprise upon opening.

Fast Facts

• Value: $320
• Number of Items: 14

Whether you opt for the 12- or 25-day Advent calendar, expect the buzziest beauty products inside. (And if you’re eyeing the 25-day box, expect 13 full-size goodies waiting for you.) The retailer didn’t hold back, throwing in full-size Benefit Cosmetics Benetint, Ilia Base Face Milk, Summer Fridays Dream Lip Oil and tarte Tartelette Tubing XL Mascara, among other favorites. You'll also find sample sizes of buzzy brands like Dr. Barbara Sturm, Color Wow, Dr. Dennis Gross, Supergoop! and Sol De Janeiro.

Fast Facts

• Value: $409 to $953
• Number of Items: 12 or 25

If you’re looking for clean, cruelty-free skincare, look no further than Beekman 1802’s Advent Calendar. It has a value of $410, including skin- and bodycare for the season ahead (with 12 being full-size products). Plus, all the products feature the brand’s key ingredient—goat milk—which promises to nourish your skin. These include the brand's signature hand creams and goat milk soap, plus skincare favorites like the Mini Micellar Milk Froth Facial cleanser, Mini Bloom Cream Daily Moisturizer and Solar Milk Mineral SPF 40. If you're even entertaining the idea of picking up this advent calendar, act fast. It famously sells out by Halloween every year.

Fast Facts

• Value: $410
• Number of Items: 24

PureWow lifestyle editor Marissa Wu tried French makeup and skincare brand Typology a couple years ago and was immediately obsessed. There's a lot to love: eco-friendly packaging and natural, minimalistic formulas that give you the polished, no-makeup makeup look that French women nail. Plus, all the products are easy to apply and last throughout the day. The brand's 24-piece advent calendar includes 14 full-size products, for a total value of $627. Her favorites are the lip balm, nine-ingredient moisturizer and lip oil. The recyclable box features nature-inspired relief artwork by artist Erwan Bouroullec, in a minimalist design that's très chic.

Fast Facts

• Value: $627
• Number of Items: 24

"PureWow's favorite nail care brand delights me with its Advent calendar year after year, and I'm thrilled that it's back for 2026. I swear on this brand, which has lasted me up to two weeks, no chips," Wu raves. "Yes, I'm talking about Olive & June, and for 25 days after its arrival (and beyond), your nails will look amazing." In its updated format, the brand exclusively brings back sold-out, festive shades, among them This Lettuce is Radicchio (sheer magenta), Exclamation Point (silver glitter), Glitter Elf (green glitter) and Lovenote Quick Dry (frost pink pearl). You'll also get two top coats, one in iridescent flake and a super glossy version.

Fast Facts

• Value: N/A
• Number of Items: 13

Clarins is something of a rite of passage for many a millennial who raided their mom's vanity. PureWow executive managing editor Catrina Yohay is no exception. She's co-signing the brand's Advent calendar, which does double duty with favorites across both the skincare and beauty departments.

"Confession: This one's for me. I've adored Clarins since I first spotted it on my mother's vanity in the '90s, and this Advent calendar is a total steal," she says. "It features a curated collection of the brand's fan-favorite products across makeup and skincare, including their SOS Primer and Cryo-Flash Cream-Mask."

Fast Facts

• Value: $374
• Number of Items: 24

Greek skincare brand Korres, which formulates much of its products with its signature Greek yoghurt and olives and Santorini grapes. Kesselman was able to try the brand's 2026 advent calendar firsthand and reports that it delivers on a solid mix of skincare and body products, among which are six full-size favorites.

"Two products that really stand out to me are the Greek Yoghurt Super Serum and Black Pine 6XHA Serum," she says. "The Greek Yoghurt Super Serum stands out because it’s one of Korres' signature skincare lines, so it feels like I’m getting one of the brand’s more well-known products rather than just a random mini. The Black Pine 6XHA Serum stands out because it’s a targeted anti-aging serum and one of the more expensive products included. It feels like a special addition to the calendar, and I was really excited to get it."

Fast Facts

• Value: $472
• Number of Items: 24

For many, winter means one thing: chapped lips. Ouch. Not so, if you gift them this lip balm Advent calendar from Burt's Bees. Yohay has certainly added it to her list.

"For the lip balm lovers (or chronic misplacers), this giftable Advent calendar will be such a sweet surprise," she says. "Behind every door are unique, holiday-themed flavors like peppermint bark, sugar cookie and, my favorite, cranberry spritz."

Fast Facts

• Number of Items: 12

When it comes to jam, Wu, who lived in France for two years, swears up and down on Bonne Maman. "I would be absolutely tickled if someone gave me this advent calendar," she says. "Best enjoyed with slabs of butter on fluffy brioche."

The 24 mini jars are filled with festive—and at times, adventurous—flavors. Strawberry and guava spread, chocolate raspberry, grapefruit and dragonfruit and caramel and salted butter are just a few of the two dozen flavors you'll discover.

Fast Facts

• Number of Items: 24

And on this 12th day of Christmas, your true love will give you...cheese? Yes, cheese—lots of it, which is exactly what any connoisseur will appreciate during this holiday season. The box comes with nine cheeses, three jams, one honey and cocoa crackers, and will take you on a tasting through Spain, England, the Netherlands, the United States and Greece.

According to PureWow contributing food editor Taryn Pire, "If you’re like me, you’ll throw tradition to the wind and open all 12 little doors at once to make yourself a charcuterie spread ASAP." This year, some of the included cheeses will be Smoked Gouda, Double Gloucester with Chive, Manchego Cheese PDO, Truffle Cheddar and Murray's English Cheddar, along with Greek honey and fig spread, among other nibbles.

Fast Facts

• Number of Items: 12

Whether you're in the mood for something sweet or savory to munch on, this Advent calendar will have what you're craving.  Full of flavored popcorn, holiday cookies and yes, even a summer sausage, it's essentially a snacker's dream. While it's on the pricier side for a food calendar, it's bursting with seasonal treats, and reviewers say they're "large portions" that are big "enough to share with the family," so we think it's worth the price.

Fast Facts

• Number of Items: 24

Oenophiles, this one's for you. While it would be quite challenging to do a steak advent calendar, Omaha Steaks found the next best option: wine. In 24 bottles, each amounting to a generous glass, you can taste your way around the world and decide on which wines you like enough to stock up on for your holiday table. You'll taste gold-medal Bordeaux and triple gold Spanish Merlot, in addition to French Pinot Noir, California Cabernet, Italian Pinot Grigio and Provençal rosé.

Fast Facts

• Number of Items: 24

For those with a hankering for something other than chocolate, there's this candy-filled Advent calendar from Sugarfina, which will satisfy the gummy-lovers amongst us. The Parisian-inspired Santa's workshop design leaves room for 24 of the brand's unique candies—think chocolate caramels, passionfruit gummies, birthday cake cookies and more.

Fast Facts

• Number of Items: 96 (24 candies, 4 candies per box)

The holidays are all about the nibbles, hands down. And while the cookies are fun...sometimes, candy is better. Especially when it's in the form of an under-$20 candy Advent calendar from one of New York City's most iconic sweets institutions.

"A candy Advent calendar just makes sense, and no one does it better than Dylan's Candy Bar," Yohay says. "I love the unique, holiday-themed treats you'll find behind each door. And the under $20 price tag isn't bad either!"

Fast Facts

• Number of Items: 24

Williams Sonoma has an Advent calendar that will surely spice up your dishes—and break anyone out of a cooking rut, fast. The chef on your wishlist will be surprised to find 24 different spices and blends, along with recommendations of what to use with them. The box features a solid mix too, with six spices and seasonings designed for veggies and sides, seven for fish, nine for meat and even two for dessert (like the Speculoos Spice Blend, which seems designed to take your muffins or gingerbread cookies to new heights of deliciousness).  

Fast Facts

• Number of Items: 24

Any baker would be over the moon to receive this cookie cutter Advent calendar as they ramp up their Christmas cookie operations. This set, exclusive to Williams Sonoma, includes 16 stainless-steel, enameled and copper-plated cookie cutters. Think snowflakes, angels, mistletoe, ornaments and Christmas trees, for starters. Each cookie cutter is nestled in its own festive box, and the inner flaps of the calendar include recipes for royal icing and sugar cookies. Time to set out a plate for Santa.

Fast Facts

• Number of Items: 24

If they like to end their day with a Netflix show and a glass of whiskey in hand, then this box will be right up their alley. Not only will it supply them with 24 top-shelf samples of the stuff from eight different countries, but Flaviar will keep the party going for a full year afterwards with a free one-year black membership ($40), which allows for early access to tasting boxes, discounts of up to 40 percent and free shipping on select items. The calendar itself also contains a sipping glass, a leather coaster and a tasting journal to allow for a true connoisseur's experience.

Fast Facts

• Number of items: 28

This one's all in the name. Whether your giftee loves stouts, IPAs or pale ales, or they're an equal-opportunity beer drinker who loves to try new things, this calendar, which features 12 craft brews (approximately 12 ounces each) from around the country, will be right up their alley. The cost is higher than your average six-pack and the exact beer offerings are a mystery, but we like to think the anticipation makes it all worthwhile.

Fast Facts

• Number of items: 12

From the extra drink or two (or three…) to the salty snacks, the holidays can be a time of...dehydration. This Advent calendar set will keep their H20 intake flowing all month long, since it's full of drops that will make their agua more flavorful. The small calendar has ten flavors like grapefruit, cola, mojito and peach iced tea, with zero sugar. You can either keep or give to a pal who needs a boost. 

Fast Facts

• Number of items: 25

"Another Advent calendar you can actually enjoy each day, this one is perfect for tea lovers. I get my dad an Advent calendar ahead of the holidays every year. Usually it's chocolate, but this year we're going for something a little more virtuous—and nothing says happy and healthy like a warm cup of a tea," Yohay says. "I also love that each day comes with two tea bags and an activity, seasonal message or recipe to enjoy while you sip. And thanks to the price tag, this would be such a great gift for a Secret Santa or White Elephant."

Fast Facts

• Number of items: 48

Two legendary franchises come together in this LEGO Marvel advent calendar. In the 24 days leading up to Christmas, kids can unbox a new addition to the set, which conceals the likes of a snowball cannon, photo booth, Captain America-themed snowman, Spider-Man and Doctor Doom.

Fast Facts

• Number of Items: 24

No joke, I know plenty of adults who would be thrilled to receive this squishy little advent calendar (I would), which features 24 micro Squishmallows standing 2.5 inches tall. In addition to festive creatures like an elf and Christmas tree, there are also miniatures of fan favorites like Brooke the Polar Bear and Manny the Snowman.

Fast Facts

• Number of Items: 24

Perhaps you're a secret Bluey fan yourself—and in that case, it's a double win if you pick up this Advent calendar for your kid, too. Bluey's calendar includes 25 delights, including stickers, a mini Christmas tree and four figurines: Bluey, Bingo, Mom and Dad, with the whole fam sporting their best Christmas sweaters. Maybe on the final day you can watch the holiday episode together too? 

Fast Facts

• Number of Items: 24

Yes, dog Advent calendars are a thing, and if you want to go big for your furry friend, splurge on Bonne et Filou's gourmet Christmas dog treats. While not an Advent calendar per se, it's a box filled with 18 handmade treats, using high-quality ingredients. Your pup will find macarons, truffles and bone cookies among the many other goodies inside. Don't be surprised if you start getting a nudge every year.

Fast Facts

• Number of Items: 18

Tiny dogs will go completely nuts for this 12-day Advent calendar packed with cute little toys. From Christmas-colored ropes to trees, ornaments and the requisite tennis ball (in festive red), your little companion will have a delightful morning every day leading up to the holiday.

Fast Facts

• Number of Items: 12

If your dog has a sweet tooth, they will be absolutely all over these doggie cookies, made from human-grade ingredients and festively decorated. There are 24 treats hiding in the snow globe-themed box, and it wouldn't be surprising if you needed to restrain your pup from breaking open every little drawer and polishing off the biscuits.

Fast Facts

• Number of Items: 24

If this list of the best advent calendars is any indication, they can get pricey—even for pets. That's part of what makes Milk-Bone's 12 Days of Woofmas so delightful: A box of treats is just $10. The 12 treats are a mix of Milk-Bone MaroSnacks and Milk-Bone Holiday Biscuits. The former includes real bone marrow in the ingredients, while the crunchy cookies help clean your dog's teeth. Not to mention, both are packed with 12 vitamins and minerals.

Fast Facts

• Number of Items: 12

It doesn't get any more festive than the Grinch, who himself is the proud (?) owner of a dog. Consider these 24 treats Max-approved, filled with ingredients like sweet potato, carrot, chicken and broccoli. Honestly, these are probably what were tiding poor Max over until the Grinch's heart grew three sizes.

Fast Facts

• Number of Items: 24

We’re big fans of Diptyque—and this Advent calendar will be a delight to any fragrance lover. It features a mix of perfume, candles, soaps and more, with this year's calendar designed by artist Jean-Simon Roch. The box is a marvel in and of itself, unfolding into a sumptuous triptych that becomes an impressive display case. Alongside cult favorites like the Baies candle are some of Wu's favorites: the Eau Rose and Fleur de Peau perfumes.

Fast Facts

• Value: $495
• Number of Items: 25

"Need a gift for the Virgo in your life or that one friend who always seems to get 'lost' in the desk supplies section at Target? Well look no further than Papier's advent calendar," declares former associate fashion commerce editor Stephanie Meraz. "It's filled to the brim with some of the cutest bestsellers from the brand, like a couple of weighty rollerball pens that write like a beaut, endless bookmarks that look and feel extremely luxe and—wait for it—stickers! Plus, a ton more goodies that I'll let you discover on your own. The inner child in me is beaming."

Fast Facts

• Value: $375
• Number of Items: 32

If you're a puzzle junkie, an art lover or both, this Advent calendar will keep you entertained through many a long winter's night. And it's a perfect way to introduce your child to some veritable art history. The calendar comes with 12 80-piece puzzles printed with Andy Warhol's whimsical holiday prints, plus an image of each if you need a little help finding the right centerpiece. I also love that the puzzles are printed on primarily recycled materials, so you can feel good about the impact (or lack thereof) on the environment while you have fun bringing these Christmas pictures to life.

Fast Facts

• Number of items: 12
• What's included: 12 puzzles, 12 puzzle inserts

Every year, I give one of my good friends a giant Voluspa candle, and this year I may need to upgrade her gift from one candle to one Advent calendar with 12 of them. Inside are a gold-plated wick trimmer and a dozen 2.5-ounce candles from the brand's best-selling Japonica and Holiday collections, each with a burn time of 25 hours. (I'm particularly keen on the new Gingerbread Chalet scent.) The hand-poured candles use a coconut wax blend and natural wicks.

Fast Facts

• Number of items: 12

If you know someone who has Friends on repeat, this Advent calendar will give them additional smiles with each window opened. While the items are on the inexpensive side (think tiny ornaments reading "You're the Joey to my Chandler"), consisting largely of paper goods and small trinkets, its affordable price point means you can feel good about buying one for you and each and every one of your own pals.

Fast Facts

• Number of Items: 40+

PureWow readers (and editors) love Glasshouse Fragrances, with the brand's beautiful packaging and knockout scents. The 12-day advent calendar is filled with perfume, body wash, lotion and hand cream, with the featured scents being Kyoto (camellia and lotus), Sunsets in Capri (white peach and sea breeze), Midnight in Milan (saffron and rose), Lost in Amalfi (sea mist) and Marseille Memoir (gardenia). The design depicts an Alpine getaway and the epitome of chalet chic.

Fast Facts

• Number of Items: 12

Astrid & Miyu is generally a favorite of the Beckhams, and the Advent calendar is most definitely luxe, from the jewelry itself to the 3D calendar that houses it. Having vetted 2024's version, I can tell you that you're in for a treat this year. Inside are three pairs of hoop earrings, two studs, a silver chain link necklace, an ear cuff, one hoop, a silver charm, a tiny tote, a keepsake tin and a $70 voucher. I love some of the exclusive pieces that can only be found in this set, like the Double Marquise Drop Studs and Pavé Marquise Charm Huggies, plus the fact that you can choose from a rhodium-plated sterling silver or an 18K gold-plated sterling silver.

Fast Facts

• Value: $1,145
• Number of Items: 12

If you're looking to give joy in the bedroom, this calendar from the brand behind the internet sensation rose vibrator offers 24 toys and treats that'll knock you (and your significant other's) socks off. That includes the We-Vibe Sync Lite ($99), Womanizer Classic 2 ($119) and other accessories for both you and your partner that will keep the bedroom sizzling until December 25.

Fast Facts

• Value: $608
• Number of Items: 24

For the person in your life who loves a little trinket, Leatherology's 12-day Advent calendar offers beautiful, high-quality gifts. For an extra special touch, the Itty Bitty Kress Bag Charm, Knotted Keychain and Standard Luggage Tag come with complimentary personalization, if desired. Also included in the box are a measuring tape, accessory chain, valet snap keychain, snap cord wrap set, lipstick case, Nina card case, wristlet AirPods case, playing card case and oval photo frame ornament.

Fast Facts

• Value: $760
• Number of Items: 12

Technically, this charm bracelet advent calendar is for people ages 8 and up...so I'm pretty sure that includes some fun-loving grown-ups. The designs—done in collaboration with London's cult department store, Liberty—are definitely Gen Z-coded, in a variety of fun (and in some cases, holiday-themed) shapes. Day 1's gift is the foundational gold-tone chain bracelet, and successive days reveal new charms for a total of 21 by Christmas Day.

Fast Facts

• Number of Items: 22

"As an avid reader, I was instantly taken with this Advent calendar," Wu says. "I love the premise. You can opt for four, eight or 12 books, and each comes wrapped in festive paper and numbered to direct your Advent calendar adventure. It's also so neat that all the books are gently used. (Yay for sustainability!)"

Readers can choose from five genres: Contemporary romance, non-romance, mixed genres, young adult and spicy romance. Every book includes a bookmark, tea or hot chocolate, stickers and a surprise goodie.

Fast Facts

• Number of Items: 4 to 24+