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I’VE noticed Advent Calendars releasing earlier and earlier over the last few years.

It reached a new record when we received our first email about them in March of this year.

Where to find-in stock Advent calendars

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John Lewis has always had a reputation for quality, so I had high expectations of its Beauty Advent Calendar

Beauty Advent Calendar, £195 (worth £933.13) from John Lewis

Beauty, skincare, wine, dog treats, tea… you name it, there’s an Advent calendar for it. 

However, the most sought-after calendars are in the luxury beauty market. 

It’s a once-a-year opportunity to get stellar discounts on all your favourite luxury brands, all perfectly packaged in gold foil and glitter.

More Advent Calendar reviews

John Lewis has always had a reputation for quality, so I’ve done a John Lewis Beauty Advent Calendar review to see if it lives up to its household name.

Pros

  • A healthy mix of skincare, haircare and wellness
  • 32 products
  • Beautiful packaging
  • Chances to win experiences
  • 20 Full-Size Items

Cons

  • Some duplicate product groups

Rating: 5/5

John Lewis Beauty Advent Calendar review: how I tested

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I tested the John Lewis Beauty Advent Calendar, rating its affordability, durability, quality of contents, value for money and Christmas magicCredit: Aaron Dowler

Beauty Advent Calendar, £195 (worth £933.13) from John Lewis

Before we start, I should tell you that I am basically a Christmas elf.

My tree goes up mid-November because, by that point in the year, I desperately need the serotonin.

I live and breathe Christmas all year round. I come from a huge family (I’m one of six) so Christmas is a magical time of year in our household. 

I’m also unashamed to say that my love language is gifts. It’s no surprise that I’ve ended up working at Sun Shopping.

I’ve looked at the calendar through five lenses: affordability, durability, quality of contents, value for money and  — of course — Christmas magic.

Is the Christmas Elf approved? Let’s find out…

John Lewis Advent Calendar review: full review

First impressions

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The calendar contains 32 products, dished out across 25 daysCredit: Aaron Dowler

Beauty Advent Calendar, £195 (worth £933.13) from John Lewis

The comes with 32 full and deluxe-size products. 

You might be thinking “Isn’t there usually only 25 days in an Advent calendar?”, and you would be right. 

What I love about this calendar is that some days treated me to more than one product, and there are some big hitters. 

Day two practically has a whole haircare regime hiding behind the door. There’s and as well as a and . 

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Day 2 contains a whole haircare routineCredit: Aaron Dowler

Day 25 winds down the festive season with a , and .

The box design whispers quiet Christmas Luxury with gold-foil illustrations of birds, clouds, sun and stars. 

It’s reassuringly heavy and robust enough to use as a DIY calendar next year.

Boasting products worth £933.13, it can be snapped up for £195, but you have to be fast — this gem sells out in record time each year. 

What's inside the John Lewis Advent Calendar?

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The full contents of the John Lewis Beauty Advent CalendarCredit: Aaron Dowler

Beauty Advent Calendar, £195 (worth £933.13) from John Lewis

I would have loved to have seen some limited editions or festive packaging given that this is an Advent calendar. However, that doesn’t make it any less magical. 

I’m not huge on makeup beyond the odd bit of concealer and bronzer to look a little more alive. 

That means I was fine with there being just four make-up products in this calendar: MAC lipstick, NARS blush, Laura Mercier eyeshadow and Bobbi Brown mascara.

It was just enough to win some serious brownie points from my three sisters while keeping most of the calendar for myself.

Whilst I’m not big on make-up, I am big on wellness. (It’s even been said that I invented the lunchtime WFH bath). 

Some of the bath products in this will make you think you’re above going back to the laptop. 

The uses ingredients like grapefruit, rosemary and juniper to invigorate you for that 2 PM meeting. 

, meanwhile, will make you feel like a rich divorcee floating down a grand staircase in a silk robe. 

What's inside the John Lewis Advent Calendar? (SPOILERS ALERT)

  1. (Full Size)
  2. (Full Size)
  3. (Full Size)
  4. (Full Size)
  5. (Full Size)
  6. (Deluxe)
  7. (Full Size)
  8. (Full Size)
  9. (Full Size)
  10. (Full Size)
  11. (Full Size)
  12. (Full Size)
  13. (Full Size)
  14. (Full Size)
  15. (Full Size)
  16. (Full Size)
  17. (Full Size)
  18. (Deluxe)
  19. (Full Size)
  20. (Deluxe)
  21. Patchology Served Chilled on Ice (1 pair)
  22. (Full Size)
  23. (Deluxe)
  24. (Full Size)
  25. (Deluxe)
  26. (Full Size)
  27. (Full Size)
  28. OTO Sleep Soundly Pillow Mist, 50ml (Full Size)
  29. (Full Size)
  30. (Deluxe)
  31. (Deluxe)
  32. (Deluxe) 
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The pairing of Olverum's Bath Oil and OTO's Pillow Mist helps you wind down before bedCredit: Aaron Dowler

Beauty Advent Calendar, £195 (worth £933.13) from John Lewis

More of an evening bather? The delicately balances 10 oils including Siberian Fir Needle and May Chang to give your aching muscles some TLC. 

After your bath, spritz your pillow with OTO Pillow Mist, a heady potion of chamomile, ylang-ylang, lavender and mandarin. 

Even more impressively, this calendar contains your whole new skincare routine. 

From cult classics like and to crowd favourites like the and , you’ll be glowing this winter.

And to add a little festive excitement, behind door 25, there’s a chance for 10 lucky people to win a £500 gift voucher for an exclusive shopping spree at John Lewis. 

There’s also a quintet of experiences to give you something to look forward to after Christmas.

They include: 

  • One of 30 Elemis Expert™ Facial Vouchers
  • A NEOM Ultimate Spa Break at 5* Rockcliffe Hall for 2
  • An Aromatherapy Associates Spa Experience at St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel & Spa for 2
  • A variety of treatments at Cavendish Clinic in one of the following John Lewis stores: Cambridge, Cheadle, Edinburgh, Kingston, Milton Keynes, Peter Jones (London) and Southampton

How much is the John Lewis Beauty Advent Calendar?

The John Lewis Beauty Advent Calendar is £195 and for what’s behind those golden drawers, it’s relatively well priced.

In fact, it feels like a bargain compared to the Liberty Advent Calendar or Cult Beauty Advent Calendar

It’s also refreshing to see so few sample sizes in a calendar.

How much is the John Lewis Beauty Advent Calendar worth?

The John Lewis Beauty Advent Calendar is worth a hefty £933.13 which makes it a steal for £195.

I’ve always wondered how they come up with the "worth" figure given that some calendars include deluxe samples not on general sale — it turns out they calculate a price per gram or ml. 

You can see where your money is going in this calendar. It contains quality, well-known cult products and no piddly samples that’ll leave you wanting more after just one or two uses.

Where to buy the John Lewis Beauty Advent Calendar

The John Lewis Advent Calendar is available online at johnlewis.com, or in most John Lewis stores.

The verdict: is the John Lewis Beauty Advent Calendar worth it?

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The John Lewis calendar gets a yes from meCredit: Aaron Dowler

Beauty Advent Calendar, £195 (worth £933.13) from John Lewis

Read More on The Sun

For £195, it’s a yes from me, even if you only found five products that you loved and then gifted the rest it would make this calendar worth it. 

Luckily, we loved pretty much all of them and for 20 full-size and 12 deluxe sizes it’s a no-brainer. Worth a staggering £933.13, you’re saving 70% on the retail price. It’s your new full luxury routine from top to toe.

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