Sephora

itsfi · ‎08-17-2025

We're less than a month away from the start of unboxing season when comes to advent calendars. Excited to see everyone's unboxing!

In the meantime, let's share news and other information about advent calendars (beauty or non-beauty) as they continue to become available.

Feel free to use this space to ask questions, get ideas or recommendations for picking up an advent calendar for yourself or someone else, etc. while we wait for December 1 to roll around.

from Charlotte Tilbury

from Jo Malone

from See's Candy

caitbird

Don't think this one has been shared here yet (apologies if it has, there are so many, I think I'm losing track!) - DedCool "Holidays in a Bottle" 12-day advent calendar, $121 USD

itsfi

Just when I thought we were done with advent calendar releases ... or, maybe they've been out for a while and I'm just now discovering them? In any event, a few more options if you're still shopping advent calendars for folks on your list, or for yourself! 😉

Haven Wellness - not familiar with this brand, but the offerings look really nice.

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Dr. Hauschka - I'm not sure if this is set up like a traditional calendar with boxes or bags but there's certainly a lot of goodies packed into the travel case. I like the tie-in to a contribution being made by the brand with every purchase (subject to certain rules).

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e.l.f. Cosmetics

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Ulta for Target Skincare Advent Calendar - includes face and body products.

That OSEA body oil is lovely. As is the First Aid Beauty body scrub and Strivectin neck cream. And the Origins Ginger body cream and the CosRX serum.

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Unless otherwise noted, images and information from brand site.

caitbird

@itsfi these look like nice options - I'm not familiar with Haven Wellness either, but I love the variety of items included in their advent. The e.l.f. looks like a great option for a tween or teen, too. And I'm (pleasantly) surprised by the quality of some of the items included in the Ulta x Target calendar!

itsfi

Forbes published an interesting article online, titled "Are Beauty Advent Calendars Still Worth The Purchase?" (I'll leave it you to do an online search for it, if interested) and it got me thinking,

What do you love/like about advent calendars (whether ones you buy or put together yourself)?

missjeanie

Like @caitbird I'm not really looking at the monetary value in any I purchase, though I do try to keep them to a reasonable amount, usually under a couple hundred. If I'm buying for someone else I absolutely look at the content and try to make sure that they're going to be something they enjoy. If I'm buying for myself, I look at a general description and try to avoid seeing the exact products. I find that the last few years I don't really get the surprise gifts from when I was younger. My family still exchange small gifts, but I miss having that surprise from my younger days. The advents give me that surprise factor.

When I'm putting them together I really enjoy the hunt for small items that the person may like. Though I do find that sometimes I end up picking up some 'filler' when I'm trying to do a 24 day calendar. Luckily candy is always a hit! I also think that doing advents for others gives me joy as I know that they'll enjoy getting a gift every day. Luckily for most people in my life, it's not about having the biggest, best gifts every day, but again, having that little surprise.

I think society has moved away from special treats, and we 'treat' ourselves all the time. Having an actual surprise in lieu of just buying stuff for ourselves feels like the old days when a little chocolate every day for 24 days was a big thing. The nostalgia for advent calendars also adds to it for me. I've had one every year since I could remember.

@itsfi Lol, that's my rambling for the day.

itsfi

I love that advent calendars take you back to your childhood @missjeanie! Maybe it's that I'm getting older, but nostalgia counts for so much in my book these days. I never heard of advent calendars until my late 20's / early 30s so I guess I'm making up lost time. 😂🤣😂

P.S. Chocolate is always a good idea, filler or otherwise. 🍫

danielledanielle

I like them enough to consider getting one, and this year, I used the thread to actually decide vs last year where I just stalked the thread. So 🙌🏽🙏🏽 @itsfi I did get FOMO with a few releases, but that's just my usual M.O. 🤣

Good point about inherent value vs retailer value @caitbird . I do prefer transactional benefits, but there's also something to be said about "do you actually like this or want to try this?" I'm less likely to gamble on mystery boxes knowing this about myself, while listing items takes away the surprise, I don't value certain calendars if I didn't think I'd be into it, even if it "looks" like a good deal.

There's too many though. (This is not directed at ANYONE, I've enjoyed the reveal of all of them in this thread), but there's some that I'm like... 🙃🙄. Really? I'll point out one specific one, the Ulta x Target one. That's gotta be an empty stock/cash grab since they are ending this partnership... There's probably value in that set, but I suspect it's more "let's get in on the hype before this is over" than anything else vs other retailers where it's thoughtful curations (that yes style one) or an annual tradition (think like the Dior, the diptyques, I think even the trader Joe's one applies here). Heck, I would even count the Ipsy once as a cash grab, too. Yes, they are all trying to sell me stuff, but c'mon, can we make it a little more enticing and not just randomness. Like they could've zhuzh'ed up the packaging at least.

TLDR: Woo me a little bit, 🤣. I don't want many suitors, I want quality suitors 😂

itsfi

1000% agree on quality @danielledanielle. I have to like and find value in the advent calendar(s) I pick up and what's inside for the most part. I'm already trying to pare down the quantity in ~~some~~ most areas 😂 and don't need or want to add more to that task with things that are more challenging to use because I'm 'meh' about something at the very outset.

I hadn't looked at the Ulta x Target advent that way (the packaging and presentation, yes, it needs ... improvement, unless they were aiming for that minimalist aesthetic in which case, they can check the box there), but what you said makes sense. Letting go of inventory does seem likely now that you mention it. I do feel that the contents of their advent is similar to their gwps, for me, at least - there are a few things I like but most I'd pass on to someone else.

I would hardly say you "just stalked" the thread last year. My recollection is that you participated in a few days of unboxings with your Maison Margiela advent calendar.

danielledanielle

Ok, so I stalked really poorly, mmkayyy @itsfi

It might be more accurate to say I used the thread as justification when I bought one, because I was stalking and getting FOMO

caitbird

@itsfi interesting article - thank you for sharing! The descriptions of advent calendars, and the experience of unboxing them, as "a little daily joy", an anticipated and curated surprise, a moment of treating or gifting yourself in a self care sense each day, etc., really resonated with me. That aspect of advent calendars is their real "value" and enjoyment for me personally, more so than any monetary value of the various items included. I don't think I pay as much attention to the supposed retail value of the advent calendar as some people maybe do - of course, I try to weigh whether it's a good deal for me personally before purchasing (e.g., will I use every item? what is the size/amount of each product included vs. the overall price? is the advent calendar within my budget? etc.), but I also always take the brand/retailer's stated "real value" with a grain of salt. I do think sometimes those numbers can be somewhat inflated or unrealistic.

As the Forbes article points out, value can be measured in a lot of different ways, not just monetarily. I also value more abstract or subjective things, like aesthetic/beautiful/cute packaging, that can help to elevate the overall experience of opening the advent calendar. For me personally, I like to purchase advent calendars as a way to treat myself to a daily gift (or a few...) - a moment of joy, if you will - and something to look forward to each day throughout the holiday season. Not to get too personal, but I do struggle with depression in general as well as seasonal depression in the fall and winter, so having things to look forward to and treating myself to some special things as a form of self care, especially during that time of year, can really help give my mood a boost.

On a more pragmatic note, I think Beauty advent calendars specifically (and potentially other multi-brand calendars of different types) can be a a great way to try new and new-to-you products or brands, that you might not have otherwise had on your radar, at a discounted price (similar to something like the Sephora Favorites sets). I do find value in that as well.

I also enjoy sharing my advent calendar items/unboxings here, and seeing what others are sharing as well - it helps make the experience more social for me, to share that joy and excitement. I find that sharing my own advent calendars, and seeing and reacting to others', kind of extends my enjoyment of the unboxing experience, and the holiday season in general, a little further.

Just my own thoughts on the topic - interesting to reflect on why, exactly, I (and so many others) enjoy these advent calendars so much!

itsfi

@caitbird, I love the "little daily joy" of advent calendars as well. 😊 Since you have multiple advent calendars to unbox, do you have a schedule or plan for when you unbox certain calendars? Or do you wait to see how you're feeling that day? Or a mix of both and/or maybe some other approach?

caitbird

@itsfi right now, I am planning on opening all of my 24-day advent calendars starting December 1st, and then I have one 12-day advent calendar I'll save as an after advent, and start opening it December 25th or 26th. If I get any more 12- or 15-day advent calendars (there are a couple I'm still eyeing 😅), I'll open those as after advent calendars as well.

I suppose I could theoretically stretch out the advent season longer by alternating my 4 different 24-day advent calendars each day, but I don't think I have the patience for that 🤣 it has been hard enough for me to wait until December to unbox them all!

itsfi

Kendra Scott has released advent calendars for 2025. Available now on the brand site, in both silver and gold. Retails for $398 with a stated value of $853.

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I've read that the jewelry in previous years' boxes have arrived tangled so hopefully that issue has been resolved with this year's offering. I don't typically gravitate towards jewelry advent calendars because of personal preferences but I have (and like) the Kendra Scott pieces I have, both from the main collection and the collabs she's done with Target, so this is more a maybe than others, though I'll have to look through the contents to see if I may aready have any of the pieces.

caitbird

My mom is getting into advent calendars too...she has ordered the Bonne Maman jam one for the past couple of years; this year, she's also ordered a wine advent calendar, and a dog one for Sunny, too! And she said she was thinking of getting the Universal Yums Candy Around the World Advent for the 4 of us to share.

Here's the wine advent, it's by In Good Taste:

photo courtesy of CNN Underscored

and here's the pup advent, by SmartBones:

caitbird

My YesStyle advent calendar arrived! 😍🎉

the packaging is just so cute!

This is my 4th and final advent calendar for this year (I also have the Papier stationery advent, the Bird & Blend tea advent, and the Simon & Schuster Cat Lovers' advent). I'm super excited for December 1! 😂

makeitup305

@caitbird amazing that you managed to snag it! It's such a fabulous deal! Did you get hit with a ton of tariffs?

WinglessOne

@makeitup305 As of last month, YesStyle’s covering tariffs (for now) for all US orders. If we’re hit with additional customs fees, they also have a tax refund policy for all orders under USD $1000. Not to enable you or anyone else of course, just sharing some helpful info. Sharing is caring! 😂

makeitup305

@WinglessOne wow, good to know. Thanks!

caitbird

@makeitup305 thank you! I'm so happy I was able to get it - the first time preorders opened, it sold out in 2 minutes and I missed it, but I was able to get one from the next batch. I didn't have to pay tarriffs, just sales tax - not sure why, but I'm glad 😅