In the last few years, advent calendars have evolved from the basic 24 doors of chocolate to branded advent calendars containing mini and full-sized gifts that can actually be put to use.
While the humble chocolate calendars are still around, many are opting to invest in beauty advent calendars. Due to the demand, there’s now a wide variety of calendars to choose from, including calendars dedicated to one budget brand or one premium brand, plus calendars offering gifts from multiple different brands.
No7 is one of Boots’ most popular skincare and beauty brands, and it’s been releasing calendars for several years now. I got my hands on the 2024 No7 The Ultimate 25 Day Beauty Advent Calendar to test if it’s worth buying. Though the calendar was originally priced at £175, it is now reduced to £122.50.
My first impression of the calendar was how sturdy and substantial it was. Although it’s made of shiny cardboard it’s certainly not flimsy and could be reused as a beauty chest, especially as it has a handy mirror too.
One of the main benefits of buying a beauty advent calendar is the savings you can make. No7’s Ultimate Beauty Advent Calendar costs £122.50 to buy – but it contents are worth a whopping £514.39!
Full contents include:
The biggest positive of the calendar is the fact that every single product inside is full-sized – which is a rare find in the world of beauty advent calendars. For me, this justifies the cost, because nothing’s been created solely for the calendar and there are no tiny mini sizes – you’d find all of the products on the shelves of Boots at full price.
The highest value item in the calendar is the No7 Laboratories Line Correcting Booster Serum, worth a whopping £44.95, followed by the Future Renew Day Cream, Night Cream and Serum which are all worth £34.95 respectively.
Some of the highlights of the No7 Ultimate Beauty Advent Calendar include the items from the No7 Pro Artist range. The range is brand new and features premium packaging and formulas. I love that the calendar has a good mixture of beauty make-up and skincare products.
No7 has two advent calendars for 2024 – but this one is the more premium version, meaning it has more full-sized products from more of the brand’s most expensive ranges. As a result, the contents of the advent calendar are worth a lot more. The other calendar – the No.7 25-Day Beauty Secrets Advent Calendar – costs £60 but is currently sold out.
I would recommend this advent calendar, especially for those who love skincare and beauty. While there aren’t any major negatives, one of the only arguable downsides to the calendar, in my opinion, is that there isn’t the variety of brands that you’d get in the mixed-brand advent calendar. The calendar also features multiple products which serve a similar purpose, for example, there are three serums. However, it’s worth noting these are from different No7 skincare ranges.
You could also use the No7 Ultimate advent calendar to divide up into Christmas gifts for friends and family, using the items as stocking fillers.
It’s also great for those who want to try out and compare different ranges to find your new favourite products.
Alternatively, there is the Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Treasure Chest of Love advent calendar costs £170 but is worth £243.
Or, for self-care during the festive season, the ESPA Wellbeing Advent Calendar is worth £488 and filled with skin and body treats.