Anthropologie's beauty Advent calendar sells out every year — here's why it's worth the splurge

Yeah, yeah, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and all, but so many Advent calendars are straight-up junk. Phew, it feels good to get that off my chest. I've cracked open hundreds of countdowns over the years (quite the accomplishment, I know), so I wouldn't be doing my job if I ignored the obvious. As for beauty Advent calendars? When they're great, they're great, but most of 'em are packed with cheap gimmicks and worthless samples that'll barely give you one use, two tops. Anthropologie's beloved 24 Days of Beauty Advent Calendar is one of the greats, and the 2025 version is officially yours for the taking.

Anthropologie 24 Days of Beauty Advent Calendar

$98

Beauty Advent calendars sell out quickly, and this Anthropologie gem is always one of the first to go. My suggestion: Nab this top-rated option ASAP to score $300-plus worth of premium makeup and skin-care minis from First Aid Beauty, Patchology and a bevy of other bestselling brands. 

$98 at Anthropologie

Anthropologie 12 Days of Beauty Advent Calendar

$50

The more minis, the merrier. Not sure you want to make the splurge? Spring for this 12-day countdown for half the price or, ya know, double up on the festive fun and grab this limited-edition assortment while you're at it. Nearly all of the products are totally different from the other set — there's only one repeat! 

$50 at Anthropologie

What's on the inside really counts

The packaging itself is a beauty to behold, with artist Nephthys Foster's illustrations bringing a whimsical wonderland to life. Instead of flimsy, perforated packaging, there are 24 beautifully decorated boxes tucked inside that can be repurposed for future holiday countdowns. Plus, the box that holds 'em can be used to store ornaments, holiday cards or small decorations in the years to follow.

The real magic is tucked inside. Now, I'm no Scrooge, so I'm not going to ruin all the surprises that await. But if you're the type to do your due diligence before you add to cart (same), then let me just say that this holiday showstopper is a real treat. It stretches your wallet big time — I'm talking travel-size makeup, skin care and fragrance samples worth over $300. The featured brands are among beauty's best, including heavy-hitters like Living Proof, Peter Thomas Roth, Caudalie and Tocca, to name a few.

I'll admit: I typically steer clear of these curated assortments because, well, nothing's ever curated exactly to my taste. Not only am I a creature of habit (hey, consistency's a good thing!), but my skin is sensitive and acne-prone, so trying out random face cleansers, creams and serums is a generally big no-no in my book. I was thrilled — shocked, honestly — that this Advent calendar only has four face products, one of which is an eye cream that I've actually purchased (and loved) before. I'll be holding onto that one and giving the other three to friends with far less finicky skin. My loss is their gain!

But we're still working with samples here

A beauty Advent calendar under $100 with full-size products? Now, that would be a holiday miracle. Sure, there are a couple of brands that include bigger products in their countdowns, but they also come at a cost (in more ways than one). Take Charlotte Tilbury's 2025 offering, for example: Yes, you get five full-size favorites, but the countdown is half as long (12 days vs. 24) and more than twice the price ($220 vs. $98).

Really, it comes down to one thing: Would you rather stick with brands and products you know, or do you want to use this moment to try out mini versions of the products you've been eyeing? The Anthro countdown does the latter (and does it incredibly well, I might add).

Final verdict: It's a treat for the biggest beauty lovers

I've tried every Advent calendar under the sun, so I don't say this lightly: Anthropologie's 2025 countdown is a delight from start to finish. The presentation, the reusable packaging, and the variety of products tucked inside are truly top-tier. It's pretty pricey as far as Advent calendars go, but dare I ask, when's the last time you walked out of Sephora or Ulta without racking up a bill in the triple digits? At least you'll get 3x the value with this buy.

And in the spirit of giving, here's a little advice for you: The Anthropologie Advent calendar is always one of the first to go and the brand claims that this year's "will sell out before that unboxing reveal," so scoop it up, stat.

The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.

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