Which Beauty Advent Calendar: let’s do the maths

(See also Jo Malone beauty advent calendar 2020: do you really need to buy it?)

What is a Beauty Advent Calendar?

“Advent” means Coming in Latin and an advent calendar simply counts the days to Christmas.

In the UK, a brand such as Jo Malone, will sell a 24 day advent calendar.

Its a huge box with 24 individually numbered drawer and in the countdown to Christmas, you open a drawer/day and it will reveal a present (e.g.) a candle, parfum, soap etc.

Such beauty advent calendars are massively popular in the UK, but do not come cheap. High-end calendars start at £200 with the promise that your getting products worth (say) £600. To encourage sales, the calendars are limited edition and there’s usually a waiting list. As a result, when most advent calendars go on sale in October, they are sold out.

This year is very different and as many beauty brands are struggling, there are in my view, fewer bargains…

Don’t look at the £££ that the seller is telling you the calendar is worth…how much is it worth to you??

The calendars in this blog cost £200+ and the sellers claim that you are buying products that are three to five times as much (about £900+). But if out of the £900, one of the products was a lip pen that cost £170 or 20% of the value would you buy the calendar?

The questions you need to ask are what:

• What am I going to use in this calendar?
• What is the monetary vlaue of these products?
• Is it greater / less than £200?

To help you decide, I did some numbers for cultbeauty, Harrods, Fortnum & Mason and the Liberty calendars. The aim was to calculate the real value of the product. E.g. If the Votary Seed Oil is £70 and the total of the products is £924, then that forms about 10% of the value. I then did the same for samples.

Happy shopping.

P.S. As Alexander Pope wrote, “To err is human, to forgive divine” so my calculations may have errors. Don’t shoot me.

cultbeauty beauty advent calendar 2020

• Retail price: £199
• Expected value: £930, including a charity donation of £15
• Full content list in notes
• Join waitlist by clicking on this link
• Ordinarily goes on sale in October 2020

Value of products…

There are many products that are nearly the same approximate value. For example, all these products are between £50-£80 and I think that’s great value for money

VOTARY Super Seed Facial Oil; Oskia Liquid Mask Lactic Acid Micro-Peel; Verso Eye Cream; Dr. Barbara Sturm Night Serum; Costa Brazil Óleo Para O Corpo – Kaya Jungle Firming Body Oil; Algenist Alive Prebiotic Balancing Mask; Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream; 111SKIN Rose Gold Radiance Booster

Fortnum & Mason beauty advent calendar 2020

• Retail price: £195
• Expected value £800 (per seller)
• Full content list in notes
• Available for sale now, with delivery from 24th September 2020.
• Link for purchase is available HERE

Value of products…

Three products together form c40% of the total value of £686. Therefore, if you are not going to use these 3 products, really look at the other products and ask yourself, do I think they are worth paying for. These products are:

Lucia Magnani Daily Firming Hydrator; Cult51 Neck and Décolleté Firming Cream; 3LAB WW Cream

Harrods beauty advent calendar 2020

• Retail price: £250
• Expected value not given by seller
• Full content list in notes
• Available for sale from 1st October 2020.
• No waiting list I can see.
• Link to page is available HERE

Value of products…

As you would expect of Harrods, there are some luxurious products in the bag with a higher value than other advent calendars. I have mentioned a few that range between £75-£170

Augustinus Bader Face oil (13ml) – £75; Dr Barbara Sturm lifting serum (10ml) – £78; Decorte AQ Absolute Bright Cream (25ml) – £168

The face oil is currently not available in most countries, so kudos to Harrods for getting it into the calendar

Liberty Beauty Advent Calendar 2020

• Retail price: £215
• Expected value is £789
• Full content list in notes
• Ordinarily available for sale from October.
• There is a waiting list.
• Link to page is available HERE

The value of the products

I am not sure what to make of this calendar, as the following products form about 50% of the value:

QMS MEDICOSMETICS LIP LINE CORRECTOR (15ml) for £155; VOTARY SUPER SEED SERUM 50ML for £75;
VENN AGE-REVERSING ALL IN ONE CONCENTRATE 20ML for £62;
DR SEBAGH SERUM REPAIR 20ML for £69

If you are not going to use most of these products, then really you should skip this calendar.

I hope this was helpful. Please let me know your thoughts. Also, if you’d like to analyse other calendars with the same microscopic precision, then happy to do so!

Other beauty calendars you may be interested in?

1. cultbeauty advent calendar 2020
2. Diptqyue advent calendar 2020
3. Elemis advent calendar 2020
4. feelunique advent calendar 2020
5. Fortnum & Mason advent calendar 2020
6. Glossybox advent calendar 2020
7. Harrods advent calendar 2020
8. Jo Loves advent calendar 2020
9. Jo Maloen advent calendar 2020
10. John Lewis advent calendar 2020
11. Liberty advent calendar 2020
12. lookfantastic advent calendar 2020
13. Molton Brown advent calendar 2020
14. Net-a-porter advent calendar 2020
15. Selfridges advent calendar 2020
16. Space NK advent calendar 2020
17. The White Company advent calendar 2020
18. Harrods, cultbeauty, Libery and Fortnum & Mason beauty advent calendars – are they value for money

Supporting notes

All prices are from UK website of Harrods, Fortnum & Mason, cultbeauty and Liberty so VAT inclusive and exclude shipping and import duties. “A” is the quantity of the full sized product. “B” is the price (£) for the full sized product. “C” is the quantity of the product in the Advent Calendar. “D” is calculated as (C/A)*B. “E” is calculated as D/F expressed as a percentage.

****

Cultbeauty advent calendar contents

1. VOTARY – full size Super Seed Facial Oil (50ml),
2. Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Triple Detox Shampoo (60ml)
3. Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in ‘Luminous Flush’ (1.3g)
4. Oskia Liquid Mask Lactic Acid Micro-Peel (30ml)
5. Verso – full size Eye Cream (20ml)
6. Herbivore – deluxe Prism Exfoliating Glow Serum 12% (10ml)
7. MALIN + GOETZ – travel size Vitamin b5 Body Moisturizer (30ml)
8. de Mamiel – full size Settle (10ml)
9. Dr. Barbara Sturm – deluxe Night Serum (10ml)
10. MOLTON BROWN Delicious Rhubarb & Rose Bath & Shower Gel (100ml)
11. Allies of Skin – deluxe 20% Vitamin C Brighten & Firm Serum (8ml)
12. Costa Brazil Óleo Para O Corpo – Kaya Jungle Firming Body Oil (30ml)
13. Algenist – full size Alive Prebiotic Balancing Mask (50ml)
14. Drunk Elephant – deluxe Virgin Marula Luxury Facial Oil (8ml)
15. Augustinus Bader – full size discovery size The Rich Cream (15ml)
16. Glow Recipe – travel size Banana Soufflê Moisture Cream (25ml)
17. 111SKIN – travel size Rose Gold Radiance Booster (10ml)
18. Too Faced – travel size Lip Injection Extreme (1.4ml)
19. IT Cosmetics – deluxe Superhero Mascara (5ml)
20. BY TERRY – travel size Ombre Blackstar in ‘Bronze Moon’ (0.9g)
21. Natasha Denona – full size Bloom Highlighting Blush (4g)
22. Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare – deluxe B3 Adaptive Superfoods Stress Rescue Super Serum (15ml)
23. Susanne Kaufmann – travel size Pillow Spray Calming (75ml)
24. Jordan Samuel Skin – full size Retinol Treatment Oil (30ml)
25. Charlotte Tilbury – full size K.I.S.S.I.N.G Lipstick in ‘Stoned Rose’ (3.5g)
26. Jo Loves – travel size Fig Tree Votive Candle (70g)
27. Patchology – full size Little Helper Energy Dietary Supplement Strips (6 x 0.1g)
28. Larry King Hair Care – travel size A Social Life for Your Hair (30ml)
29. Huda Beauty – full size Topaz Obsessions Palette (10g)
30. Milk Makeup – deluxe Lip & Cheek in ‘Werk’ (3g)
31. Nudestix – full size Intense Matte Lip + Cheek Pencil in ‘Belle’ (2.49g)
32. SUMMER FRIDAYS – full size Overtime Mask (64g)
33. Cult Beauty – Beauty Banks £15/€17 Charity Contribution

Fortnum & Mason beauty advent calendar 2020

1. Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Kiss Cupuacu Lip Butter (6.2g)
2.  Instant Effects Instant Lip Plumper
3. Le Prunier Beauty Oil (3.7ml)
4. Chantecaille Rose de Mai Face Cream (10ml)
5. Noble Isle Rhubarb Bath & Shower Gel (75ml)
6. Noble Isle Rhubarb Body Hydrator (75ml) &
7.  Noble Isle Tea Rose Body Lotion (75ml)
8. Dr Russo SPF 30 Sun Protective Brush-on Moisturiser
9. Aromatherapy Associates De-Stress Oil (9ml)
10. Aromatherapy Associates Revive Oil (9ml)
11. Sisley Black Rose Skin Cream (10ml)
12. Sisley Black Rose Mask (10ml)
13. Patchology Restoring Night Eye Gels
14.  Ilapothecary Keep Calm Hand & Body Lotion (30ml)
15.  Lucia Magnani Daily Firming Hydrator (15ml)
16.  Iconic London Chrome Flash Eye Pot Spellbound (50g)
17. Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Touch Hand Cream (50ml)
18. Christian Breton Liftox Serum (15ml)
19. Aurelia Cell Revitalise Night Moisturiser (30ml)
20. Bramley Body Wash (100ml)
21. Bramley Body Lotion (100ml)
22. Cosmetic 27 Baume (15ml)
23. Fresh Sugar Strawberry Exfoliating Face Wash (20ml) &
24. Fresh Soy Face Cleanser (20ml)
25. Guerlain Abeille Royale Oil (5ml)
26. Delilah Volumising and Defining Mascara – Carbon
27. Cult51 Neck and Décolleté Firming Cream (30ml)
28. 3LAB WW Cream (15ml)
29. Bamford B Silent Pillow Mist
30. Elizabeth Scarlett Night Sky Cotton Velvet Makeup Bag

Harrods beauty advent calendar 2020

1. 111Skin Rose Gold Eye Masks
2. Acqua di Parma Colonia (5ml)
3. Acqua di Parma Colonia Body cream (40ml)
4. Augustinus Bader Face oil (13ml)
5. Chantecaille Gold Recovery Mask (5ml)
6. Darphin Aromatic Cleansing Balm (5ml)
7. Decorte AQ Absolute Bright Cream (25ml)
8. Dr Barbara Sturm lifting serum (10ml)
9. Dr Sebagh Serum Repair (50ml)
10. Fresh Vitamin Nectar Mask (30ml)
11. Goldfaden MD Eye Concentrate (5ml)
12. Guerlain Orchidee Cream (3ml)
13. Hourglass Veil Setting powder
14. Huda Beauty Power Bullet lipstick (full)
15. Laura Mercier Rouge Essential
16. Living Proof Color Care shampoo (30ml)
17. MFK Baccarat Rouge 540 Candle
18. Murad Multi-acid peel (10ml)
19. Nars Longwear Eyeliner
20. Natasha Denona Chrome top coat
21. Natura Bisse Tensolift neck cream (10ml)
22. Rodial Bee Venom Cream (15ml)
23. Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate Serum (10ml)
24. Slip Scunchies x 3 set
25. Sunday Riley CEO Brightening Serum (15ml)
26. Valmont Renewing Pack (5ml)

Liberty Beauty Advent Calendar 2020

1. DIPTYQUE BAIES MINI SCENTED CANDLE 70G (FULL SIZE)
2. VENN AGE-REVERSING ALL IN ONE CONCENTRATE 20ML
3. SOL DE JANEIRO BRAZILIAN BUM BUM CREAM 50ML 
4. (MALIN+GOETZ) MEADOWFOAM BALM 30ML
5. NOBLE ISLE FIRESIDE BODY LOTION 50ML &
6. FIRESIDE SHOWER BATH & SHOWER GEL 50ML (FULL SIZE)
7. AVEDA BOTANICAL REPAIR LEAVE IN TREATMENT 25ML (FULL SIZE)
8. LE LABO SANTAL 33 EAU DE PARFUM 15ML (FULL SIZE)
9. VOTARY SUPER SEED SERUM 50ML (FULL SIZE)
10. VILHELM PARFUMERIE DEAR POLLY EAU DE PARFUM 10ML
11. AUGUSTINUS BADER THE RICH CREAM 15ML (FULL SIZE)
12. DERMALOGICA PRE-CLEANSE 30ML (FULL SIZE)
13. NARS VELVET MATTE LIP PENCIL IN DRAGON GIRL
14. MARGARET DABBS NOURISHING NAIL & CUTICLE SERUM PEN (FULL SIZE)
15. MARIO BADESCU WITCH HAZEL & ROSEWATER TONER 59ML (FULL SIZE)
16. SUSANNE KAUFMANN HERBAL WHEY BATH 40G
17. BAMFORD GERANIUM HAND & BODY WASH 100ML
18. DR SEBAGH SERUM REPAIR 20ML (FULL SIZE) 
19. QMS MEDICOSMETICS LIP LINE CORRECTOR 15ML (FULL SIZE)
20. HERBIVORE PRISM 20% AHA 5% BHA EXFOLIATING GLOW FACIAL 15ML (FULL SIZE)
21. REN CLEAN SKINCARE VITA MINERAL ACTIVE 7 EYE GEL 15ML (FULL SIZE)
22. HOURGLASS SCATTERED LIGHT EYESHADOW (FULL SIZE)
23. DAVINES NOURISHING SHAMPOO 100ML (FULL SIZE)
24. AROMATHERAPY ASSOCIATES FOREST THERAPY BATH AND SHOWER OIL 9ML (FULL SIZE)  
25. DECREE LIGHT CLEANSE 30ML
26. SPACEMASKS SINGLE EYE MASK (FULL SIZE)
27. LIBERTY SMALL STRAWBERRY THIEF WASHBAG (FULL SIZE)