The Best Beauty Advent Calendars And Gift Sets To Hit Check Out On Now
You don't want to sleep on these exclusives.
By Keng Yang Shuen,
Advent calendars got their start as little treasure boxes containing sweets or chocolates behind 24 doors, which has its roots in old European traditions of marking down the days of December leading up to Christmas. Of course, they've become a massively popular phenomenon in recent years, with certain brands like Kiehl's known to sell out of theirs way before Christmas. Other brands opt for gift sets which are likewise exclusive to the festive season, which also boast elaborate or adorable packaging that are highly collectible. Here, we’ve rounded up some of the best advent calendars and gift sets (that are still available on the market).
What's included: 24 miniature creations that span Dior's skincare, makeup and lifestyle ateliers, including fragrances and scented candles.
What to know: The box is modelled after the facade of the maison's historic boutique at 30 Avenue Montaigne in Paris. It opens up to reveal a custom illustration by artist and regular Dior collaborator Pietro Ruffo, who has recreated the famous Tuileries Garden's richly ornamented gate. P.S. It can also be reused as a storage case.
There's also a smaller version of this advent calendar – the Le Mini 30 Montaigne - that contains four miniature beauty products if your budget doesn't stretch that high ($210). Or if you're really out to splurge, there's the Les Malles Des Reves set, which rings in at $5,400 and offers 24 full-sized items, including fragrances from La Collection Privee (Dior's most exclusive perfume range), as well as skincare products from the Prestige collection. Only 220 pieces of the Les Malles Des Reves set are available worldwide.
Get it at: All sets are available at Dior Beauty boutiques and online store, with the exception of the Les Malles Des Reves set, which is only available on request at the La Prive Collection Privee Christian Dior boutique at Ion Orchard, as well as the Dior Beauty boutique at Marina Bay Sands.
What's included: A limited-edition take on SK-II's evergreen Pitera Facial Treatment Essence that's the result of the first collaboration between the Japanese skincare giant and the French fashion label. For this launch, the essence's bottle comes in two colourways – red and blue, each emblazoned with Maison Kitsune's emblematic fox. The red design features flower motifs and a meditative fox in anticipation of the fresh new day, while the blue bottle features star motifs and a meditative fox unwinding in its peaceful state. The collaboration also includes a complimentary three-piece set consisting of the brand's Facial Treatment Clear Lotion (30ml), Facial Treatment Gentle Cleanser (20g), and Skinpower Advanced Cream (15g).
What to know: You'll be able to snag a limited-edition pouch (with the same fox print featured on the bottle) with the purchase of any one of the brand's key products – that's the SkinPower Advanced Cream (80ml), the GenOptics Ultraura Essence (50ml/75ml), or the Pitera Facial Treatment Essence (230ml). There's also a matching tote bag that's given to customers who buy both SK-II x Maison Kitsuné Limited Edition PITERA™ Essence and any of the hero products listed above.
Get it at: Sephora, BHG, TANGS, SK-II counters, Metro, Takashimaya and Lazada
What's included: The set contains a 50ml bottle of the brand's most famous perfume, the N°5 Eau de Parfum, which is accompanied by a 100ml bottle of the N°5 The Body Oil spray that's presented for the first time in a bottle that resembles the flacon of the iconic perfume.
What to know: Chanel also has a range of other limited edition sets for its other beauty icons - such as the Coco Mademoiselle – as well cases exclusive to the festive season – read more about them here.
Get it at: Chanel Fragrance and Beauty boutiques, counters and online store
What's included: Aesop's seasonal gift kits are always a stylish option, especially for the design fiends in your life. This year's edition was inspired by music, hence the names like Majestic Melodies, Rousing Rhythms, Tuneful Textures, Heartful Harmonies and Fabulous Forms.
What to know: Each kit contains different combinations of products – Majestic Melodies (pictured) for example, comprises Aesop's popular Resurrection Aromatique Hand Wash (500ml) and the matching Hand Balm 75ml, as well as the Rejuvenate Intensive Body Balm (100ml), and the Geranium Leaf Body Cleanser (100ml) for a body-focused cleansing routine.
Get it at: Aesop boutiques and online store
What's included: A dozen of full-sized and minis, including Clarins' best-selling items like the Comfort Lip Oil.
What to know: The Clarins calendar may be more pared back in terms of flashiness but it's got everything you need to get through the festive season, especially if you're travelling to cold climates. There's a whole skincare routine with the brand's Cleansing Micellar Water and Hydrating Gentle Foaming Cleanser, as well as moisturisers for both the face and body.
Get it at: Clarins boutiques and its online store
What's included: 25 minis that include nine from Guerlain's premium L’Art & La Matiere perfume range (Musc Outreblanc, Cuir Beluga, Cruel Gardenia, Oud Nude, Rose Barbare, Angelique Noire, Neroli Outrenoir, Cherry Oud and Herbes Troublantes), six scented candles, makeup, skincare products and perfumed ceramics.
What to know: Turkish jewellery Begum Khan was invited to create the design of this year's box, which takes its unusual shape after Guerlain's mascot – the bee – or to be more precise, the bee hive. Each box, limited to 1,700 pieces worldwide, comes with a flower and bee charm adorning it.
Get it at: Guerlain boutiques and the brand's pop-up at Ion Orchard's Level 1 Atrium, which is on now till December 17
What's included: The online retailer's take is a tad different – it offers 15 trinkets and items across its beauty and fashion pillars. There are cult skincare items like Augustinus Bader’s The Rich Cream, as well as makeup tools to prep for any party, such as Pat McGrath Labs’ MatteTrance Lipstick in Elson (a cool-toned, velvety red). To further complete your holiday look, the retailer has even thoughtfully included accessories like silver stud earrings and beaded bracelets - what's not to love?
What to know: The box it comes in is a delectable design in itself - it's an artful lantern-shaped box that's illuminated with LED lights.
Get it at: Net-a-Porter
What's included: 24 drawers and boxes that contain five full-sized bottles of the French brand's bestsellers, as well as 19 travel sized items. We won't give away everything – it's meant to be a surprise after all, but you can expect icons of the house like the Advanced Genifique series, as well as popular fragrances like the Idole and Tresor.
What to know: The box has been adorned with an abstract, geometric take on the Agora rose - Lancome's signature flower – that was designed by French artist Lydie Bossuet.
Get it at: All Lancome counters and online store
What's included: A full-sized bottle of Hermes' latest fragrance, the fruity and effervescent Tutti Twilly eau de parfum (85ml), a travel-friendly mini bottle (7.5ml), as well as a vial of the Twilly d'Hermes moisturising body lotion (80ml).
What to know: The eye-catching motif of the box will probably catch your eye; it was inspired by artist and regular Hermes collaborator Virginie Jamin's design for the Fantaisie d’etriers scarf, and nods to the maison's famous equestrian accessories.
The motif's colour palette of citrus orange, foliage green and midnight blue is reminiscent of Christmas wreaths and may explain why this festive-exclusive packaging is only available for certain perfumes in Hermes' stable - namely, the Terre d’Hermes, Twilly d’Hermes, H24, Eau des Merveilles, Un Jardin a Cythere, Un Jardin sur le Nil and Eau d’orange verte. Did we also mention it's eco-friendly? The box is made of recycled and recyclable materials.
Get it at: Hermes boutiques