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Confession: I was always envious of the kids whose families purchased a yearly chocolate advent calendar. The thought of being able to open a small box or shelf each day and indulge in a special piece of candy enthralled me. For better or for worse, my family never participated in the tradition, and I never ended up incorporating it into my own holiday activities. But if there’s one thing that excites me more than a daily sweet treat, it’s a daily beauty treat, and that’s exactly what the best makeup advent calendars of 2024 have to offer.
Our top picks for the best makeup advent calendars of 2024
From the trendiest lip products to enough cheek products to last you all year, these kits are brimming with goodies and offer up to 25 days of surprises to help you count down to Christmas. The ones on our list also include a variety of other little indulgences, like luxe skin care and intoxicating fragrances. Because they comprise both full-size and mini-size products, it’s an amazing way to try a bunch of formulas at once while getting the best bang for your buck.
If you’re ready to shop for one of the best beauty gifts of the year, whether it’s for a loved one or yourself (we don’t blame you), keep scrolling for a guide to the five best makeup advent calendars of 2024.
At this point, so many of Charlotte Tilbury products have achieved virality that it’s safe to say that the brand is pretty much universally beloved. As a result, her advent calendars sell out every single year. This year's version comes in a stunning heart-shaped box that houses a selection of fan-favorite products. In terms of makeup, there’s a highlighter-blush hybrid, mascara, setting spray, and multiple lip products.
Days: 12
Type: Makeup, skincare
An ELLE editor says: “I always look forward to seeing what Charlotte Tilbury dreams up for her yearly advent calendar. I don’t think I have a single friend who wouldn’t appreciate receiving one, and this year’s contains quite a few of my all-time favorite products. To me, the highlight of the box is the Beauty Light Wand in Pinkgasm; I’ve gotten multiple compliments on how glowy and pretty my cheekbones look when I wear it. If you haven’t tried a lot of products from Charlotte Tilbury, I’d highly recommend using this opportunity to test a bunch of them at once.” —Carol Lee, ELLE.com associate beauty e-commerce writer
This box from Bobbi Brown contains three full-size products: the Long-Wear Cream Shadow Stick in Golden Bronze, Extra Plump Lip Serum in Bare Pink, and Smokey Eye Mascara in Black. The other nine compartments offer deluxe- and mini-size samples to allow you to trial a variety of Bobbi Brown bestsellers, including the Luxe Lipstick and Highlighting Powder, before you commit to purchasing the full-size.
Days: 12
Type: Makeup, skin care
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Each day leading up to Christmas, you can open up a box in this advent calendar and test a new Benefit Cosmetics product. You’ll get plenty of hero products, like The POREfessional smoothing face primer and Benetint lip and cheek tint, as well as minis of the new pore-shrinking The POREfessional skin care line. After the holidays, keep the cute shopping basket-like box to store your new products or other knickknacks.
Days: 24
Type: Makeup, skin care
Bloomingdale’s carries some of the most covetable beauty brands on the market, and its advent calendar is chock-full of high-end and luxury surprises. The makeup brands include favorites like Laura Mercier, Charlotte Tilbury, and Armani Beauty. Also, Bloomingdale’s other advent calendar has already sold out, so act fast if this one tickles your fancy.
Days: 25
Type: Makeup, skin care, body care, hair care, fragrance
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We love a mini, especially for travel, but this 24-day advent calendar, which has a retail value of $539, boasts a whopping six full-size beauty products from companies like Charlotte Tilbury and Too Faced. Beyond makeup, it also features essentials like silk scrunchies, peel pads, and sunscreen.
Days: 24
Type: Makeup, skin care, hair care, body care
Revolve rating: 5/5 stars
A Revolve reviewer says: “Oh my gosh—I am going to buy another one. Love! The value is incredible, and it is so cute. The pink and purple box is so cute IRL.”
Why Trust ELLE Beauty
As a leading publisher of fashion, lifestyle, and beauty content, ELLE.com is committed to highlighting the best products in various categories by personally testing the latest and most innovative products, interviewing countless experts, and vetting customer-loved items. For this piece, ELLE.com beauty writer Carol Lee combed through the internet and the websites of popular makeup brands and retailers for the best makeup advent calendars, assessing each one based on their features and customer evaluations.
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Carol Lee
Carol Lee is the Associate Beauty E-Commerce Writer at ELLE.com, where she covers all things beauty and personal care. Before joining the team, she was an editor at Food Network Magazine and HGTV Magazine and ran the beauty section at The Pioneer Woman. Carol received her bachelor’s degree in Journalism from New York University and was one of the first customers to visit Glossier’s flagship store in New York’s Soho neighborhood. Over the years, she’s tested countless makeup, hair, and skin care products, and written hundreds of articles covering the beauty space, from pieces about the trendiest launches to roundups of the best products on the market. As a Korean-American, she grew up in a sea of Korean makeup and skin care products and is a bona fide expert on the ever-expanding world of K-beauty, helping lead our coverage. Additionally, she’s also always on the hunt for the perfect lipstick and watches the same few comfort sitcoms (Frasier, Cheers, Seinfeld, New Girl, etc.) over and over again.