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.
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.
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
I tested the John Lewis Beauty Advent Calendar, rating its affordability, durability, quality of contents, value for money and Christmas magic[/caption]
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 John Lewis Beauty Advent Calendar Christmas Elf approved? Let’s find out…
John Lewis Advent Calendar review: full review
First impressions
The calendar contains 32 products, dished out across 25 days[/caption]
Beauty Advent Calendar, £195 (worth £933.13) from John Lewis
The John Lewis Beauty Advent Calendar 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 Living Proof shampoo and conditioner as well as a Percy & Reed styling cream and OUAI treatment masque.
Day 2 contains a whole haircare routine[/caption]
Day 25 winds down the festive season with a Neom Sleep Candle, Neom Wellbeing Soak and Rituals Recovery Hand Balm.
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?
The full contents of the John Lewis Beauty Advent Calendar[/caption]
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 Aromatherapy Associates Bath Oil uses ingredients like grapefruit, rosemary and juniper to invigorate you for that 2 PM meeting.
ESPA’s Bergamot & Jasmine Body Wash, 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)
- Living Proof Full Shampoo, 60ml (Full Size)
- Living Proof Full Conditioner, 60ml (Full Size)
- Percy & Reed Session Styling Smoothing Blow Dry Cream, 100ml (Full Size)
- OUAI Fine/Medium Treatment Masque Deluxe, 30ml (Full Size)
- Neom Perfect Night’s Sleep Candle 185g (Full Size)
- Neom Wellbeing Soak 10ml (Deluxe)
- Rituals Recovery Hand Balm 70ml (Full Size)
- Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eyeshadow Matte, Sepia (Full Size)
- Dermalogica AGE Smart
Biolumin-C Serum, 30ml (Full Size) - Bobbi Brown Smokey Eye Mascara, Black (Full Size)
- NARS Blush, 920 Sex Appeal (Full Size)
- Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream, 75ml (Full Size)
- MAC Lustreglass Sheer-Shine Lipstick, $ellout (Full Size)
- REN Clean Skincare Bio Retinoid Youth Serum, 30ml (Full Size)
- Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Night Oil, 15ml (Full Size)
- Kate Somerville Goat Milk Moisturising Cleanser, 30ml (Full Size)
- Olverum Bath Oil, 60ml (Full Size)
- Floral Street Sweet Almond Blossom, 10ml (Deluxe)
- Aromatherapy Associates Revive Morning Bath and Shower Oil, 55ml (Full Size)
- Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte’s Magic Cream Refillable SPF 15, 15ml (Deluxe)
- Patchology Served Chilled on Ice (1 pair)
- Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Eye Serum, 15ml (Full Size)
- ESPA Bergamot & Jasmine Body Wash, 75ml (Deluxe)
- Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour® Cream Lip Protectant Stick SPF 15 (Full Size)
- Elemis Pro-Collagen Overnight Matrix Moisturiser, 15ml (Deluxe)
- Rodial Glass Primer, 30ml (Full Size)
- Rodial Plumping Collagen Lip Oil (Full Size)
- OTO Sleep Soundly Pillow Mist, 50ml (Full Size)
- Votary Radiance Reveal Mask – Lactic and Mandelic Acid, 50ml (Full Size)
- Parfums de Marly Delina Body Cream, 50ml (Deluxe)
- Parfums de Marly Delina Eau de Parfum, 5ml (Deluxe)
- Ghost Orb Of Night Eau de Parfum, 10ml (Deluxe)
The pairing of Olverum’s Bath Oil and OTO’s Pillow Mist helps you wind down before bed[/caption]
Beauty Advent Calendar, £195 (worth £933.13) from John Lewis
More of an evening bather? The Olverum Bath Oil 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 Kate Somerville’s Goat Milk Moisturising Cleanser and Charlotte’s Magic Cream to crowd favourites like the Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Eye Serum and Dermalogica’s AGE Smart Biolumin-C Serum, 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?
The John Lewis calendar gets a yes from me[/caption]
Beauty Advent Calendar, £195 (worth £933.13) from John Lewis
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.
