'I ditched expensive calendars for Sephora's £90 beauty equivalent of a Quality Street tin'

After a decade covering beauty and three years deep in the advent calendar circuit, I’ve learned the difference between a truly great festive curation and a collection that’s simply well-packaged. Sephora’s Premium Advent Calendar sits comfortably in the former camp, offering the beauty equivalent of a Quality Street tin that’s perfect for younger beauty fans.

Priced at £89.99, the contents inside are worth £235.76 - over two and a half times the price you pay, with 24 items inside that work out at £3.75 per item as part of the deal. There’s a generous mix of makeup, skincare, and tools, with 16 full-sized products, four travel minis and four accessories, which is pretty impressive for the price point.

The calendar comes in a gorgeous gold tin which is a little bit nostalgic, reminiscent of the chocolate or biscuit boxes we so often find ourselves rifling through in December. I love that this feels more sustainable than other options on the market, because the tin is genuinely reusable, and could even be used to give a gift at Christmas if you don’t plan to utilise it as storage.

READ MORE:

• NearlyParents' Sophie Habboo shares £9 Boots product behind glowing skin at The Roses Premiere
• 'I tried on the Marks and Spencer jacket that's selling fast online'

Inside, there are 24 numbered boxes which do feel a little chaotic. They’re a little haphazardly thrown in - something that slightly undermines the otherwise ‘premium’ label. It’s a minor gripe, but one worth noting when competitors like LookFantasic and Boots are nailing presentation this year.

Pros

• Excellent product-to-price ratio (£235 value for £89.99)

• 16 full-sized products

• Youthful curation with genuinely good formulas

• Reusable metal tin

• Gingerbread Lip Sleeping Mask and mascara are real highlights

Cons

• Packaging inside the tin feels cluttered

• Lacks luxury or brand variety compared to mixed-brand calendars of a similar price

Unlike the Sephora Favorites calendar, which contains a mix of brands and is significantly pricier at £225, this more affordable option contains products from the Sephora Collection - the retailer’s in-house brand of ‘high quality, high performance and affordable’ beauty products.

Unboxing the calendar, it quickly becomes clear that this countdown is built for a younger crowd. The inclusion of a pom pom keyring and hair clip, alongside a relatively school-friendly formulas a clear brow gel and vanilla lip butter certainly appeal to the teen and pre-teen category, which is definitely going to earn me some serious brownie points as the Aunty to a 10-year-old.

That said, save for the pompom accessories, there are some surprisingly solid formulas inside that even seasoned beauty fans can appreciate. The gingerbread-scented lip sleeping mask offers a festive twist on a product I already love and have several of. It feels nourishing, smells divine, and has a sweet-but-not-sickly finish.

Other standouts include the Love the Lift Mascara, which delivers genuine lift and definition without flaking, and the Makeup Setting Spray Glow will no doubt come in handy for locking festive makeup looks in place.

The Cocoa Cuddle nail polish is a chocolate-brown that fits perfectly into this year’s fashion trends, ideal if you DIY your mani. Though if you are interested in a nail polish calendar, OPI’s is a great choice.. Skincare-wise, the All Day Hydrator and Micellar Water are gentle, no-fuss staples - great for barrier-conscious or younger complexions.

There are a few inclusions that skew slightly older or more advanced, like a Gentle Peeling Serum and an XXL Nude Plumping Gloss might not be ideal for teens, but they do add variety and balance the line-up for older users.

A lot of advent calendars cost upwards of £100 this year, but this particular Sephora calendar remains an affordable option for parents looking to treat their teens to something that strikes a balance between age-appropriate and cool. For those millennial beauty fans and more mature makeup lovers, they may want to consider some alternatives.

Costing 1p more is the Glossybox beauty advent calendar. It’s worth over £624, making it the best bang for your buck when it comes to price paid to overall value ratio. Inside there are 27 products behind 25 doors from iconic and emerging beauty brands including Emma Hardie, Medik8, Natasha Denona and more.

For those happy to spend a little more, the Boots 24 Day Premium Beauty Advent Calendar is an enviable pick. Costing £150, it contains 25 products spread across 24 days with a total value of £612.50, which saves £462.50 overall, with huge names like Elemis, Estee Lauder and MAC, alongside trending powerhouses like Sol de Janeiro and Milk Makeup

The best way to find out if an advent calendar is worth the money, though, is to check out the full contents so you know exactly what you’re getting. Here’s everything inside the Sephora calendar:

• Nail Polish – 804 Cocoa Cuddle (6.5 ml)

• Top Coat (10 ml)

• Love the Lift Mascara (8 ml)

• All Day Hydrator (30 ml)

• Hand Masks – Nourishing & Comforting (1 pair)

• Pompom (1)

• Lip Butter – Vanilla (10 g)

• Outrageous – 02 XXL Nude (6 ml)

• Soft Matte & Easy – 04 Laid Back (4.5 ml)

• Colorful Blush Glaze – 06 Tropical Dawn (3.5 g)

• Makeup Sponge (1)

• Micellar Water Makeup Remover (50 ml)

• Color Shifter – Mystic Brown Mushroom (4 x 1.26 g + 1 x 1.33 g)

• Makeup Setting Spray – Glow (40 ml)

• Gentle Peeling Serum (30 ml)

• Make it Glow Luminizer – 03 Sunset Shine (10 ml)

• Glow Booster Mask (1 pair)

• Pompom Hair Clip (1)

• Brightening Eye Cream (20 ml)

• 12H Waterproof Retractable Eye Pencil – 01 Matte Black (0.3 g)

• Shape & Set Clear Brow Gel (7 ml)

• Clean Skin Gel (30 ml)

• Lip Sleeping Mask – Gingerbread fragrance (15 ml)

• Crease Brush (1)

This is a perfect starter kit for someone new to beauty, but also a strong pick for anyone who enjoys Sephora’s in-house formulas. If you’re looking for luxury textures or anti-ageing heavyweights, this isn’t it -but if fun, functional, and festive is your brief, it delivers.