25 best advent calendars for women 2023 UK | The Sun

LOOKING for a unique way to countdown to Christmas this year? These are the best advent calendars for women.

Whether you're shopping for gifts or treating yourself, advent calendars are the perfect way to get into the festive spirit – and this year's editions are filled with the most luxe of goodies, from beauty treats to artisan drinks and nibbles.

Forget cheap chocolate or even a picture behind each door: these days, advent calendars are serious business, with some of the most iconic brands releasing coveted editions that sell out year after year. Think the likes of Liberty, Cult Beauty and Jo Malone, to name a few.

Now is the time to start picking yours up, with many calendars having already officially launched and others being up for pre-order.

We've handpicked the best advent calendars for women below, with a wide range of price points and treats inside, whatever your taste and budget.

Best advent calendars for women at a glance:

• Best overall advent calendar: Yankee Candle Advent Book
• Best beauty advent calendar: Look Fantastic Beauty Advent Calendar 2023
• Best advent calendar for mum: Bonne Maman Advent Calendar
• Best advent calendar for girlfriend: The Premium Gin Advent Calendar
• Best unusual advent calendar: Meri Meri Necklace Advent Calendar

READ MORE ON ADVENTS

8 best wine advent calendars for 2023 UK, including red, white and champagne

7 best rum advent calendars 2023 UK

Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte's Lucky Chest of Beauty Secrets

• Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte's Lucky Chest of Beauty Secrets, £160 from Charlotte Tilbury – buy here

Legendary make-up brand Charlotte Tilbury is back with another beauty advent calendar for 2023 – and we've been tipped off that it's already five times more in demand than 2022's offering.

Always super-popular with beauty fans, the above stat means it's likely to sell out very soon indeed, so we advise purchasing fast to avoid disappointment.

Coming in at £160 but offering a staggering £244 worth of products, the advent calendar is presented in a luxurious box, where behind each of the 12 jewel-handled drawers, you'll find some of the brand's award-winning makeup and skincare icons.

Most read in Gifts and Lifestyle

comfy cloud

Shoppers rave about ‘world’s most comfortable pillow’ now on offer

NAUGHTY LIST

11 best sex toy advent calendars 2023 UK

SPIDEY SENSE

13 Best Spider Catchers 2023 UK

Love at first site

20 best dating sites and apps UK for finding love in September 2023

From a travel-size Charlotte's Magic Serum Crystal Elixir to a full-size Charlotte's Magic Lip Oil Crystal Elixir, it's all in there – plus you'll also automatically qualify for a free gift as, as part of a current offer on orders over £90.

Need we say more? Don't walk – run!

Amount of items: 12, Delivery time: Express delivery available.

That Boutique-y Gin Company Advent Calendar (2023 Edition)

• That Boutique-y Gin Company Advent Calendar (2023 Edition), £59.95 from Master of Malt – buy here

If you enjoy an alcoholic tipple, then a gin advent calendar is a great way to introduce yourself to some new blends.

Available to buy now, the That Boutique-y Gin Company advent calendar offers a different 30ml sample each day including flavours from all over the world.

This year, there are some new treats to enjoy, as well as favourites from past editions – all lovingly handpicked by the Drinks by the Dram team.

Choose express delivery for a date that suits you; it'll give you plenty of time to spare before the countdown to Christmas begins.

Amount of items: 24, Delivery time: Express delivery available.

Amount of items: 23, Delivery time: Flexible (book a delivery).

READ MORE:

• Best advent calendars for men
• Best advent calendars for babies
• Best advent calendars for kids
• Best chocolate advent calendars
• Best beauty advent calendars
• Best wine advent calendars
• Best beer advent calendars
• Best DIY advent calendars
• Best whisky advent calendars
• Yankee Candle advent calendar
• Best wax melt advent calendar

Liberty Advent Calendar 2023

• Liberty Advent Calendar 2023, £250 – sign up here

An annual occurrence, the Liberty Beauty Advent Calendar sold out in 2022: in fact, it was the fastest-selling product in the department store's 147-year history!

Every year, the luxury icon goes one better with its selection of cult products from The Liberty Beauty Hall – and it's finally unveiled its newly designed Beauty Advent Calendar 2023 which lands at midnight on 27 September.

Housing over £1,040 worth of products for just £250, this year's offering contains 29 goodies from super luxe brands including Vilhelm Parfumerie, Bibbi Fragrance, Sunday Riley, Le Labo, Augustinus Bader, Charlotte Mensah and Rose Inc. – plus there's even jewellery for the first time, courtesy of Estella Bartlett

Including full and sample-sized products that cover haircare, skincare and make-up, one thing's for sure – this calendar won't hang around for long.

Be sure to register your interest by heading over to the sign-up page linked above.

Amount of items: 29 (including 20 full-size products), Delivery time: TBA – goes on sale at midnight on 27 September.

Swizzels Advent Calendar

• Swizzels Advent Calendar, £6 from Ocado – buy here

Not really a chocolate fan but still love something a bit sweet behind the door of your advent calendar? Enter Swizzels Advent Calendar.

The brand – best known as the inventors of Love Hearts, Drumstick, Parma Violets, Fizzers and Refreshers bars – offers this fun-looking advent calendar designed in the style of an old-school sweet shop. And naturally, it's full of retro sweets for you to taste.

From the looks of the box, you can expect favourites like the classics we've mentioned above as well as banana skids, fizzers, stingers and more.

But the only way to find out for sure is to get your hands on this sweet calendar yourself.

Neal’s Yard Remedies’ 12 Days of Beauty & Wellbeing Advent Calendar 2023

• Neal's Yard 12 Days of Beauty & Wellbeing Advent Calendar 2023, £95 from Neal’s Yard Remedies – join the waitlist here

Neal’s Yard Remedies' calendars are always popular: last year's sold out and its 2023 version currently has a waitlist you can sign up for to make sure you don't miss out.

Featuring 'a fresh new line-up of natural, sustainably sourced cult favourites and new arrivals', we've had a peek and we can tell you it's filled with 12 amazing beauty products that you'll love. Think brightening and hydrating lotions and potions, and scented treats for the bathroom and bedroom.

There's no need for unnecessary waste because the calendar can be used for storing keepsakes going forward.

Plus, if you purchased last year's calendar, you can reuse your box and simply refill it with the items in this year's iteration as each product comes individually wrapped and numbered – so no need to spoil the surprise.

Amount of items: 12, Delivery time: TBA (join the waitlist).

Bonne Maman Advent Calendar

• Bonne Maman Advent Calendar, from £36.28 from Amazon – buy here

For a sweet treat every day in the lead-up to the big day (Christmas Day, that is), is there anything more wholesome than mini pots of jam? We think not.

In this calendar, you'll receive 23 mini 30g jars of jams, marmalades and spreads specially created for Christmas – plus two surprise gifts on the 1st and 24th of December.

Included are Fig with Cardamom, Orange with Cinnamon, Strawberry and Redcurrent, and Apple with Caramel and Cinnamon alongside lots of others.

'I got this as a secret Santa for my work college who loves jam and she was over the moon! It was perfect,' writes one impressed shopper.

Amount of items: 25, Delivery time: Fast – see buying options.

Look Fantastic Beauty Advent Calendar 2023

• Look Fantastic Beauty Advent Calendar 2023, £99 from Look Fantastic – pre-order here

Update your beauty collection with the Look Fantastic advent calendar worth over £565 – its highest-value edition to date.

This year's calendar includes 27 products from brands including Sol De Janeiro, Nudestix, Color Wow and Nars, which you'll find behind the 25 daily doors.

There are some great ways to save, too. If you subscribe to the Look Fantastic Beauty Box, you'll get an extra £15 off the Beauty Advent Calendar. Or if you're pressie shopping, buy two calendars to get them for £90 each – or buy three and save over £35.

As with all beauty advent calendars, this one's super popular so get in there quickly to make sure you don't miss out.

Amount of items: 27, Delivery time: Available from 1 October, with pre-orders now open.

Yankee Candle Advent Book

• Yankee Candle Advent Book, £49.99 from Yankee Candle – buy here

Is there anything more festive than a candle that smells like Christmas?

With the Yankee Candle Advent Book, you'll be treated to a filled votive or scented tea light candle in a festive fragrance during the 24-day lead-up to Christmas – plus there's also a glass tea light holder included in the set.

If you'd prefer something smaller (and cheaper), Yankee Candle also offers an Advent Wreath for £27.99, plus last year's Advent Tree is on clearance. Explore the rest of Yankee Candle's advent calendar collection here.

Amount of items: 24, Delivery time: 2-4 working days (free standard delivery on orders over £35).

Oliver Bonas Reusable Velvet Patchwork Fabric Advent Calendar

• Oliver Bonas Reusable Velvet Patchwork Fabric Advent Calendar, £55 from Oliver Bonas – buy here

If you love the idea of creating your own advent calendar, then a beautiful, reusable option like this one from Oliver Bonas could be the one for you.

Made from hand-cut plush velvet, it's decorated with gold embroidery and tassel trim, giving it a super-luxe feel for hanging on the mantle.

Fill it with chocolates, sweets or even jewels – the choice is yours.

Amount of items: One, Delivery time: 2-3 working days (Standard Delivery) or Next Working Day Delivery.

NIO Cocktails 24-Cocktail Celebration Box

• 24-Cocktail Celebration Box, £149 from NIO Cocktails – buy here

Love cocktails but don't love making them? NIO's got you covered.

With its 24-Cocktail Box, you'll get to sample two cocktails behind each door (with accompanying dried garnish) that have already been pre-made and housed in sustainable and transportable packaging.

You can expect to find classic mixes like a Negroni, Margarita, Cosmopolitan, Old Fashioned and Espresso Martini alongside other delicious concoctions. All you need to do is pour over ice and enjoy.

Worth £170, it's available to order now – plus Eden Reforestation Projects will plant five trees for every purchase.

What are you waiting for?

Amount of items: 24, Delivery time: 3-4 Day Delivery across the UK, and 1-2 Day Delivery to England and Wales.

Bird and Blend Tea Advent Calendar

• Tea Advent Calendar, £38 from Bird and Blend – buy here

Who doesn't love a hot brew on a cold morning? Well, with this advent calendar from Bird and Blend, you'll be able to try two tea parcels every day in the lead-up to Christmas.

That's 48 bags of tea.

This year, blends include Strawberry Lemonade, Banana Bread Chai and Hazelnut Rocher tea to name but a few. What you can be certain of is that each blend will be unique and warm.

Choose between regular or caffeine-free and also feel guilt-free because this calendar is 100 per cent plastic-free and recyclable, including tea bags.

Amount of items: 48 (two tea bags per day), Delivery time: Standard (2-3 working days), First Class (1-2 working days) or Tracked Next Day.

Penhaligons The Toy Chest Advent Calendar

• Penhaligon's The Toy Chest Advent Calendar, £395 from Selfridges – buy here

Renowned for its unique, expertly crafted fragrances, Penhaligon's advent calendar is back with an exclusive to Selfridges – and it's as beautiful as ever.

Having branched out from pure fragrance, this advent calendar reflects the brand's artfully curated candles, body lotions and soaps as well as its famous perfumes – meaning you'll get to try something new every one of the 24 days in the lead-up to Christmas.

Giving a teaser, Selfridges says to 'expect appearances from icons like Halfeti, Elisabethan Rose and Endymion, to name a few'.

If you want the whole run down, the full list of scented goodies can be found on the product page: including the uber-popular Halfeti, the gorgeously floral The Coveted Duchess Rose and the fresh and spicy Blenheim Bouquet which was originally created for the Duke of Marlborough.

There are also three 35g candles, one 30g soap, plus lip balm, hand creams lotions and a Christmas charm.

At £395, it may be pricey, but Penhaligon's is a luxury brand steeped in history (it was established in 1870) and has the royal seal of approval both officially and through its collaborations. The brand recently worked with King Charles III on a beautiful, fresh fragrance inspired by his gardens at his Highgrove home.

If it's good enough for the King, it's good enough for us.

Amount of items: 26, Delivery time: Standard delivery, Nominated day or Timed delivery.

Hotel Chocolat 45% Nutmilk Chocolate Advent Calendar

• 45% Nutmilk Chocolate Advent Calendar, £13 from Hotel Chocolat – buy here

It can be hard to find great quality vegan chocolate, but Hotel Chocolat knows how to deliver.

The brand's signature Nutmilk advent calendar is 45% nut milk, meaning the dinky chocolates are made out of nuts instead of milk – guaranteeing creamy, flavourful bites every time. It's so tasty, you wouldn't believe it was vegan.

The chocolate has been moulded into festive figures and you’ll also find a cheerful message behind each door. Milk-free, positive and full of flavour: what more could you want?

Amount of items: 24, Delivery time: Standard delivery, next day and nominated day delivery options available.

Meri Meri Necklace Advent Calendar

• Meri Meri Necklace Advent Calendar, £65 from Selfridges – buy here

We love the idea behind this advent calendar from LA-founded party supplies and gifts brand, Meri Meri.

Perfect for little girls and the young-at-heart alike, the 24 windows house a gold-tone necklace, 17 enamel charms and six tassel attachments – allowing you to build a super-cute and ever-changing charm necklace during the build-up to Christmas.

It comes in the sweetest mini gingham suitcase box with numbered trays, which you can keep and store your personal items in after.

Priced at £65, it's the perfect companion for the countdown to Christmas.

Amount of items: 25 (including suitcase), Delivery time: Standard delivery, Nominated day or Timed delivery.

Rituals Premium Advent Calendar

• Rituals Premium Advent Calendar, £186.90 from Rituals – buy here 

This advent calendar from Rituals is 3D, adding a bit of fun to your calendar set-up.

Filled with 24 goodies worth an incredible £295.50, you'll get eight luxurious full-sized Rituals products as well as LED Christmas lights and private collection bestsellers: think anti-ageing serums, perfume, body creams and more.

On sale now, it's worth being quick so you can get your hands on it before it sells out.

Amount of items: 24, Delivery time: 1-3 working days.

Hotel Chocolat Up to Snow Good Advent Calendar

• Up to Snow Good Advent Calendar, £8.50 from Hotel Chocolat – buy here

Sometimes you can't beat a good old chocolate advent calendar, especially for kids.

This has little ones in mind, with 24 milk chocolate penguins, Santas and snowmen behind each door, with an extra big surprise on Christmas Eve.

Using only 40 per cent milk chocolate, kids won't be starting the day with high in sugar, low in cacao treats and will instead have a more satisfying bite.

And it's really affordable at just £8.50.

Amount of items: 24, Delivery time: Standard delivery, next day and nominated day delivery options available.

The Body Shop The Advent Calendar of Wonders

• The Body Shop Advent Calendar, £95 from The Body Shop – buy here

With a generous 25 treats inside The Body Shop's Advent Calendar of Wonders, the products included have been selected as a reminder of the Ghanaian women who work as part of the brand's community Fair Trade project.

Expect to find bestsellers like body butter and face masks inside, including Shea Body Butter and British Rose Shower Gel.

New for 2023, The Body Shop Advent Calendar is a staple for beauty lovers.

Valued at £173.50, you can get all 25 goodies for just £95.

Amount of items: 25, Delivery time: Several options including next working day.

The Premium Gin Advent Calendar

• The Premium Gin Advent Calendar, £89.95 from Drinks by the Dram – buy here

Treat yourself to a tipple each day in the lead-up to Christmas with this gin-tasting advent calendar from Drinks by the Dram.

Filled with 24 30ml wax-sealed drams, this set allows you to try gins from all over the world including classics like Hendricks and Tanqueray and lesser-known options like Tobermory gin.

The good news is that this calendar is available now, so grab it quickly while it's still in stock.

Amount of items: 24, Delivery time: Standard 3-day service.

Virgin Wines Advent Calendars

• Virgin Wine Advent Calendars 2023, £89.99 from Virgin Wines – buy here

Still figuring out your wine palette? Or are you a seasoned wine drinker? Either way, these advent calendars from Virgin Wines are a must-buy.

Coming in three iterations (red, white and mixed), you'll be treated to a sample-sized bottle of a different wine each day – although as to which, you'll have to find out for yourself.

You'll also be treated to a full-sized bottle on Christmas Day for an extra special treat.

Each calendar is available to reserve now for £10, with the remaining £79.99 billed to you when it's dispatched in November, so be sure to secure yours now in time for the Yuletide festivities.

Amount of items: 24, Delivery time: Reserve now for dispatch in November.

Holland & Barrett Beauty Advent Calendar

• Holland & Barrett Beauty Advent Calendar, £45 from Holland & Barrett – buy here

Holland & Barrett has announced its 2023 advent calendar, and it's one to get excited about.

Filled with 25 skincare, beauty and wellness essentials, it's worth £179 (its highest value to date) but can be yours for less than £50 – a huge saving of 75% off the RRP of all items.

Several of the products will be full size including the bestselling Weleda Skin Food Body Lotion, VitaSkin Vitamin C Collagen Boosting Serum and Miaroma Rosemary Pure Essential Oil.

It's officially on sale now and is set to be popular, so we'd recommend getting in early.

Amount of items: 25, Delivery time: Several options including Same Day Click & Collect and Next Day Delivery.

The Cartwright & Butler Advent Calendar

• The Cartwright & Butler Advent Calendar, £210 from Cartwright & Butler – buy here 

If you've decided to spoil yourself or a loved one this Christmas, then Cartwright & Butler is just the ticket.

For fervent foodies, this 24-day advent calendar is filled with an array of the brand's best-selling treats, including chocolate fudge, shortbread rounds, cheese crumbles and soft fruit jellies.

You'll be wishing the time in bed away so you can taste what's on offer each day in the lead-up to Christmas.

It's selling fast, so best to be quick.

Amount of items: 25, Delivery time: Several options including Next Day Delivery.

2022 advent calendars for women that are still in stock

Did you buy an advent calendar last year that you really loved? There are still a few that are back again for another year – we've got you covered on which ones to check out.

The White Company Beauty Advent Calendar

• The White Company Beauty Advent Calendar, £175 from The White Company – buy here

Make your living spaces a little homelier each day in the lead-up to Christmas with The White Company advent calendar.

Containing indulgent products like the Pomegranate Hand Cream and the Sleep Bath Shot for yourself and the Seychelles Signature Candle and Midnight Mini Home Spray for your house, it's the perfect calendar to help you relax and enjoy some 'me time' during the mad rush of the Christmas season.

The elegant front cover features a wreath foil motif that'll look luxe wherever you place it – and with contents worth £273 (a saving of £98), it'll certainly give you that luxurious Christmas feeling, too.

Amount of items: 25, Delivery time: Several options including next day.

Embracing Mindfulness Task Jar  

• Mindfulness Advent Calendar, £11.95 from Amazon – buy here

There's something rather splendid about an advent calendar that asks us to look inward rather than out.

This Mindfulness Advent Calendar is filled with 24 lovely cards with activities to build a sense of calm and contentedness in the run-up to Christmas – which is well needed with parties, shopping and socialising filling up calendars.

Take a breath and have a moment to yourself each morning for less than £15.

Amount of items: 24, Delivery time: Next Day Delivery available.

Kiehl's Limited Edition Holiday Advent Calendar

• Kiehl's Limited Edition Holiday Advent Calendar, £109 from Kiehls – buy here

Kiehl's Limited Edition Holiday Advent Calendar is back once again: rejoice.

Featuring 24 skincare gifts behind each yuletide door, this advent calendar will set you up with a whole new skincare routine come the end of December.

Inside you'll find cleansers, face masks, serums, moisturisers and more from the famous apothecary brand, including several favourites like the Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado which we reviewed and loved, and the Ultra Facial cleanser.

Outside, you'll find a holiday design by South African/London-based studio, Made By Radio, full of bright colours and nods to the festive season.

Amount of items: 24, Delivery time: Next Day Delivery available.

Artisan Cheese Advent Calendar 2023

• Artisan Cheese Advent Calendar 2023, £150 from Paxton and Whitfield – buy here

Imagine having a different slice of 75g cheese every day in the lead-up to Christmas…

Well, with this advent calendar from Paxton and Whitfield, you don't need to, because the brand will deliver three fresh deliveries of artisan cheese right to your door.

Paxton and Whitfield say the calendar will contain festive classics like Gruyere and Stilton as well as other more unique concoctions from all over the UK and Europe.

There are only 750 calendars available, so make sure you order yours today to secure availability.

Amount of items: 24, Delivery time: Three fresh cheese boxes delivered on 30th November, 8^th December and 15^th December.

Where to buy advent calendars for women in the UK?

There are plenty of places to pick up a great quality advent calendar for women, whether you head to a retailer with its own release (for example Look Fantastic, Boots and Master of Malt) or to a more general stockist such as a supermarket or Amazon.

Check out our top recommendations below:

• Master of Malt
• Ocado
• Neal's Yard Remedies
• Amazon
• Look Fantastic
• Yankee Candle
• Oliver Bonas
• NIO Cocktails
• Bird and Blend
• Selfridges
• Hotel Chocolat
• Rituals
• The Body Shop
• Virgin Wines
• Holland & Barrett
• Cartwright & Butler

How much do advent calendars cost?

We'll cut to the chase: prices massively vary when it comes to advent calendars for women, so it all depends on how much you're looking to spend.

In our search, the cheapest option was the Swizzels Advent Calendar at £6 (perfect for a fun taste of retro sweets) while the priciest was Penhaligon's The Toy Chest Advent Calendar at £395: a definite splurge but uber luxurious!

What are the best beauty advent calendars?

Beauty advent calendars nearly always sell out because of the huge savings many brands offer when you buy one.

Some of the best are the Neal's Yard 12 Days of Beauty & Wellbeing Advent Calendar, Look Fantastic's 2023 offering, The Body Shop's box of treats, the beauty calendar from Holland & Barrett and The White Company's Beauty Advent Calendar.

What is the best women's advent calendar?

This depends on what you're looking for. If you're all about big savings, then Look Fantastic's Beauty Advent Calendar 2023 is worth over £565 – its highest-value edition to date – but costs just £99, saving you an incredible £466.

If alcoholic drinks are your cup of tea, then the That Boutique-y Gin Company Advent Calendar offers lots of fresh flavours to try.

Most will tell you what's inside, so if you don't mind spoiling the surprise, you can make a judgement for yourself about which advent calendar floats your boat.

Is Marks and Spencer doing an advent calendar in 2023?

It sure is! M&S's bestselling beauty advent calendar will be available to buy in-store and online from 26 October. This year's edition is worth £340, so set your alarms to find out what's inside.

READ MORE SUN STORIES

Matt Hancock PUNCHED in face by footie star in first episode of Celeb SAS

MAFS UK’s Laura was on another HUGE reality show before E4 programme

What is an advent calendar?

An advent calendar is a countdown to Christmas, that begins on the 1st of December and ends on the 24th or 25th.

Most of the time, there are 24 or 25 doors to open every day, with each one revealing a surprise – that could be chocolate, gin or beauty products, depending on which calendar you choose –although some calendars only offer 12 days.

Source: Read Full Article