Advent Calendars 2025 - Let the Unboxings Begin!!

[itsfi]

The holiday countdown has begun!! 🎉 Please use this thread to share your advent calendar unboxings. 🎁

Whether you open all the doors to your calendar at once, or you open a box one day at a time and follow the traditional schedule (e.g., 24 day unboxing beginning on 12.1 and 12-day calendar unboxing beginning 12.13 or 12.25), WELCOME!! 

For those of us who just can't wait to see what goodies are in our advent calendars, if you will be opening all the doors/boxes at once before the end of the season, please consider hiding your unboxing posts behind a spoiler tab so those who want to be surprised day by day can still do so.

[danielledanielle]

Dermstore, pre order is available, retails at $300 USD

 

[caitbird]

Amazon has just released a 12-day beauty advent calendar:

Spoiler

Seems like a pretty decent selection, although I feel the price is a bit steep for what you get in terms of brands/number of products included IMO.

[missjeanie]

@caitbird I didn't even know Amazon did their own like this.  I could see this being a super popular selection of goodies, but I agree on the price point. 

[itsfi]

More advent calendar launches from US luxury retailers

Saks Fifth Avenue  - it's a 30-day advent calendar - skincare & fragrance

Spoiler

Bluemercury - going with 31 days, the Bluemercury advent calendar is only available to its Platinum level members - skincare, hair care, fragrance & makeup. I love that the trunk presentation and that it can be repurposed/reused. 

Spoiler

Unless otherwise noted, all images are from the retailer's site. 

[Mcakes]

These both look so good, I really love the outer packaging on the Saks Fifth one! 

[itsfi]

💯 @Mcakes @it’s a beauty! I’m assuming it’s the NYC store at Christmas, or one its Christmas displays. Makes me want to go to New York around the holidays. It’s been a while since I was there during that time of the year. Gonna have to put that on the “to do” list. 📋

[itsfi]

A few more advents have trickled in. 

Pafory - this is the first I've heard of this online retailer (?), niche fragrance stockist. I'm intrigued by this advent calendar. They're based in the UK so I'll have to see what duties and other charges look like, but ... 

Memo Paris - this is one of the ones I've been waiting to be available stateside and it has arrived.

Typology - love what I've tried from this French brand and have picked up their advent calendar this year, which is a mix of skincare and makeup.

 

Mind Games

Manucurist - 24 Day advent, with a glitter focus/theme this year - it's now up for sale on the brand site. Picked up last year's advent calendar and enjoyed all the treats inside - happy to see that Sephora is carrying the brand! 🙌 Not sure if Sephora will offer the advent calendar this year or if it'll be exclusive to the brand site.

Uncommon Goods have some unique takes on advent calendars, as well as more traditional themed calendars.

This crafts advent calendar seems like it could be fun for kids and adults alike, or for a parent-and-me holiday activity.

Their candies around the world advent seems interesting as well.

Unless otherwise noted, all images are from the respective brand's site.

[Mcakes]

The crafts and candy calendars look super interesting, going to look into these for the kids! Thank you for posting

[itsfi]

@Mcakes!!!! 🤗 Happy fall! Good to see you! 

Image credit: freepik

Love getting the kids in on the fun with advent calendars! Can't help but smile to see their excitement at getting to open something everyday! It adds an extra something to look forward to. 

[missjeanie]

@itsfi You're finding so many fun ones!!! I need to spend more time narrowing down for my selections this weekend!

[itsfi]

Now that sounds like some fun homework for the weekend @missjeanie!

lol, there are a lot of good ones. I've been trying to post a mix of calendars but do have an ever so slight predisposition towards ones that are of interest to me, either personally or as gifts. 😉 Believe or not, (trying to) keep on top of the advent calendars has actually helped me not purchase as much as I might otherwise this time of year. I mean, at least so far - can't say if that will hold up from now until end of November. 🤣 

I was able to cross off a few of the calendars that released in late August / early September since they included items I already have, and that has been what I've been using as a benchmark to help narrow down my list of possible advent calendar purchases and for me, at least, it's been really helpful. I mean, I've had to pass on some very pretty calendars and that's not been easy, but it's been helpful.

[missjeanie]

@itsfi I’ve also been able to cut a few off my lists of possibilities due to overlap with my current stash. It’s been a nice way to keep the possibilities down lol

[itsfi]

lol @missjeanie, this time of year, practically anything that helps to whittle down the list of possible purchases for myself is welcomed. Making an effort to avoid overlap (for the most part) has been a good first line of defense - made easier since I'm more aware of what I actually have, most of the time, at least. There was that third sample size Laneige sleeping mask that popped up out of nowhere the other day ... 🙄 

I keep telling myself that I've been good (okay, fiiine, fairly good, errrr, somewhat good not bad 🤣) with my non-home related spending this year, and to just keep hanging in there. Waiting to see whether a couple other brands/retailers will drop advent calendars this year. 

[missjeanie]

I've actually found moving all my stuff from one house to another to be good for my beauty spending @itsfi .  Cause I've realized that I will order things... and they don't always come out of the box and I move the box and forget that I now have these things.... Seeing everything together.... yikes.  Maybe I need to shop my stash a little more.  I'm trying to be good with my advents/sales this season so that Im not adding to the chaos and just adding to the joy.... If that makes sense. 

[itsfi]

Neiman Marcus has posted their advent calendars. Both are beautiful and tempting; a couple of the best ones I've seen from larger retailers/department stores. Tagging @Margalee but you may have already received notification of these.

25 Days Advent Calendar - a lovely mix of beauty products. 

12 Days After Advent - Fragrance focused

Image credit for all: Neiman Marcus

[danielledanielle]

This looks so good, kind of wish I waited for this one, but I'm enjoying all of these @itsfi 

[itsfi]

That Bloomingdale's fragrance advent calendar you picked up contains a bevy of beauties @danielledanielle! I don't know if it's that I'm paying more attention to advent calendars this year and am more aware of a lot more different ones on the market, but it seems that many brands/retailers are stepping up their game for the 2025 calendars. Not complaining as that's not a bad thing for us as consumers; just an observation. 

[Margalee]

@itsfi  I saw these. They are sooo tempting. Especially the beauty advent with Guerlain and Omorovicza. I will have to wait though if I want that. I was lucky enough to get in on the Bloomingdales calendar. It's much better looking than what I thought. It's actually not so flat looking on the outer finish. It looks like fancy wrapping paper. I almost didn't purchase it, but when I saw it on sale I figured it'd sell out. Only thing is four of the fragrances in NM advent are the same as Bloomingdales advent had so those would be repeats. But NM has brands and flavors in their advent I am keen to try and I don't think I'll be affording those full sizes any time soon. I did whiff Halfeti and Baciami early. Halfeti seems like it is a mega fragrance, easily scented through the box. Baciami is much less fragrant than I imagined. But come on, a Baklava scent in NM??? And a Xerjoff which I have been lusting after- the brand in general- and there they are. haha I need to plant a money tree... The Sephora beauty advent looks pretty good this year. Somebody did a good job on that one in my opinion. Not sure what I can get this year but a red lipstick is on the must haves. That Dior dual end might break the red deal since I like the pink color very much.

[itsfi]

@Margalee, enjoy your advent calendar. The sequin liquid duos from Dior look lovely; a nice touch for a holiday collection. 

[itsfi]

Skincare, bodycare, fragrance and makeup

Aman Skincare advent calendar - the collab with 111 Skin for the advent is interesting - the line they included is a good one so the value is there. I've been interested in this line since it launched 7 years ago so I may look into this a bit more but it's the brand's body care and candles that intrigue me the most. A conversation with @missjeanie on another thread is making me think I should first check to see if I have a sample of mini of a couple of things from this brand. 🤔

Spoiler

Bvlgari after advent calendar

Nudestix after advent calendar

All images from brand site unless otherwise noted.

[itsfi]

Ahhhh, Guerlain! 😍 So tempting ...

Looks like they've moved away from the beehive layout for this year's advent calendar, settling on a book design instead. I need to look at my notes re: Orchidee line but this could be a possibility for me. I do kinda wish they'd include a mini meteorites, but that would be a challenge to find a universal color family.

Spoiler

Image credit and screenshots: Guerlain