For most people, the countdown to Christmas begins on December 1. But for beauty lovers around the world, the holiday season begins when the first beauty advent calendar hits the shelves.
And now it’s that.
It may only be September, but if we’ve learned anything from the last few years, it’s that beauty advent calendars always sell out. In other words, it pays to get started quickly. From this month, you can expect a series of beauty advent calendars from perennial favourites like Liberty, Charlotte Tilbury, Cult Beauty and Jo Malone, as well as new launches from the likes of luxury skincare brand Sisley.
Believe it or not, the 2023 advent calendars are set to be bigger and better than those that came before them, covering everything from viral scents and makeup to TikTok-famous skincare. Whether you’re looking to treat yourself (well deserved) or a loved one, below you’ll find the best beauty advent calendars for your 2023 Christmas shopping.
Fortnums 2023 Beauty Advent Calendar, £260
Fortnum & Mason Beauty Advent Calendars are as luxurious as it gets. This year’s 30 products include Acqua di Parma fragrances, Cult51 skincare and Aromatherapy Associates body care, 22 of which are available in full size. Fun fact: if you bought each product separately, it would cost you more than £1,020. It’s already online, but will be shipped after September 21.
2023 Liberty Beauty Advent Calendar, £250
The Liberty Beauty advent calendar is arguably one of the most magical calendars on the market, so it’s no surprise that it was one of the first to be snapped up. This year’s box is adorned with a moving illustration of a snow-covered Liberty store, but it’s what’s inside that will really pique your interest. Skincare from Augustinus Bader and Paula’s Choice, perfume from Le Labo and lipsticks from Byredo are just a few of the 25 exciting products. Here’s the waiting list.
Harrods Beauty 2023 Advent Calendar, £175
The Harrods Beauty Advent Calendar features 25 high-quality beauty products from beauty editors’ favourite brands including Charlotte Tilbury, NARS, Bobbi Brown, Gisou, Acqua di Parma and Dr. Barbara Sturm. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. You can join the waiting list here.
Cult Beauty 2023 Advent Calendar, £225
A product that beauty fans are excited about is coming and you can join the waiting list now. Cult Beauty’s highly anticipated advent calendar includes all your favourite products like Glow Recipe Plum Plump Hyaluronic Acid Cream, Olaplex No.3 Hair Perfector and Sunday Riley Good Genes Glycolic Acid Treatment, the latter of which is enriched with a multi-ingredient size. It’s worth over £1,000.
Selfridges 2023 Beauty Advent Calendar, £220
Selfridges is back with another £1,094 advent calendar. This time there are 32 beauty products – four more than in 2022 – and 16 fully stocked treats. Lisa Eldridge, Plessine von Gisou and Harry Styles join Augustinus Bader (a luxury skincare brand beloved by beauty directors), Charlotte Tilbury and TikTok virologist PHLUR. Join the Selfridges waiting list to be first in line when it opens on September 21.
Harrods Fragrance Advent Calendar, £175
It’s every perfume lover’s dream. TikTok-famous Parfums de Marly Delina EDP, Maison Francis Kurkdjian Gentle Fluidity Gold and Byredo Gypsy Water are just three of the 12 scents now available in the Harrods range. Fragrances from Escentric Molecules and Bvlgari are also available. MAC Matte Madness 2023 Advent Calendar, £170 This year, MAC’s advent calendar features 21 – yes, 21 – full-sized products. These include Retro Matte Lipstick, MAC Stack Mascara and Hyper Real Serumizer (all of which were spotted backstage at London Fashion Week this season). Dior Beauty Le 30 Montaigne 2023 Advent Calendar, £570 There’s no prettier advent calendar than this. It features a unique look at the Dior 30 Montaigne boutique, which sells everything from fragrances (including Miss Dior and J’adore Eau de Parfums) to skincare and makeup. There are also four candles and Christmas decorations. Lookfantastic 2023 Beauty Advent Calendar, £99 The Lookfantastic Advent Calendar will save you £466, with an actual value of £565 (best value ever). This year, there will be 27 products on display, not 25. Without completely spoiling the fun, think brands like NARS, MAC, Elemis and Coco & Eve. Pre-sale starts on September 1, with the official release on October 1. Sephora 2023 Beauty Advent Calendar, £189 The launch of Sephora’s multi-brand advent calendar has caused a lot of excitement among beauty editors, with products from Rare Beauty, Drunk Elephant, Glow Recipe, Tarte, Elemis and more… we could go on forever. Coming soon here 25 luxury original products to look out for. Don’t forget to join the waiting list. ASOS Face + Body 25-Day 2023 Advent Calendar, £90 All the hottest brands are included in ASOS’s Face + Body advent calendar, which comes in 25 individual boxes and saves you up to 77%. Ordinary, Elemis, Sun, MAC, Ordinary, Growing Alchemist… need I say more? The Fragrance Shop 2023 Advent Calendar, £85 Exclusive to The Fragrance Shop members, this £65 advent calendar includes fragrance brands such as Carolina Herrera, Marc Jacobs, YSL and Versace. If you don’t mind, you can also find some skincare here. Boots 2023 Advent Calendar 24 Days of Premium Beauty, £99 Neal’s Yard Remedies 2023 12 Days of Beauty and Wellness Advent Calendar, £95 The Neal’s Yard Advent Calendar has everything you need to rest and relax before Christmas and the New Year, including pillow sprays, eye brighteners and bubble baths. You’ll also find a £15 voucher for a treatment at any Neal’s Yard Remedies treatment room in the UK. Join the waiting list for Neil’s Yard here. Jurlique 2023 Advent Calendar, £110 On October 1, Jurlique is releasing a 24-piece advent calendar featuring all the products you could need for a gentle skincare routine. We’re talking about the Balancing Rosewater Mist, Hydrating Day Cream, and Nourishing Cleansing Oil, along with reusable makeup removal pads.
DQH Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C?
It’s easy to create a skincare routine, but knowing how to use it is another thing entirely. In most cases, if you’re not getting the desired skin results, it could be due to the layering of conflicting ingredients. So, is it possible that salicylic acid and vitamin C are such ingredients? Or are these active ingredients the duo that’s been missing from your skincare routine? If you want answers, stick around because today we are going to explain the benefits of salicylic acid and vitamin C and how they can be used in your daily life.
What are the benefits of salicylic acid for skin?
Salicylic acid is one of the most commonly used beta hydroxy acids and is favored by many people with oily, acne-prone skin. This acid is derived from willow bark, and unlike its water-soluble relatives (called alpha-hydroxy acids), salicylic acid is oil-soluble, which means it can penetrate deeper into the lower layers of the skin. Once it reaches the lower layers, it can help unclog pores of excess sebum, dirt, bacteria, debris, and impurities. This results in clearer skin tones and greater definition.
Not only does salicylic acid benefit the underlying layers, but the outer surface of the skin benefits as well. When applied to the skin, salicylic acid removes the buildup of dead skin cells. This is accomplished by breaking the bonds that hold dead cells to the surface. Over time, this can cause the complexion to look dull and prone to acne, blackheads, and other blemishes.
If you’d like to learn more about salicylic acid and how it can improve your skin, check out this dedicated blog post from a beauty insider.
What are the benefits of vitamin C for skin?
Vitamin C is considered one of the most powerful antioxidants, which means it is very effective at fighting free radicals and preventing them from causing further skin damage. Examples of free radicals include pollution, central heating, UV rays and harsh climate. They attack proteins, fats and cell membranes as soon as they come into contact with the skin, causing signs of premature aging such as fine lines and wrinkles as well as hyperpigmentation, flaky patches of skin and loss of elasticity.
Many people usually prefer to use vitamin C in their morning routine as this ingredient gives the complexion a radiant glow. You’ll also find that vitamin C can target areas of hyperpigmentation, plumping the skin and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
The thing about vitamin C is that there are a lot of outdated studies going back to the 1950s that describe vitamin C as an unstable skin component. Thanks to improvements in modern technology, this is no longer the case as all products now contain a stable form of vitamin C.
Visit The Beauty Insider to learn more about vitamin C. So please check out our blog post.
Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C?
Yes, you absolutely can. In fact, it’s thought that using salicylic acid before using vitamin C ensures it penetrates faster and works faster.
This is an efficient way to utilize two power sources, and the reason has to do with pH. For example, the skin’s natural pH is about 4.7, making it slightly acidic. Salicylic acid and vitamin C are also both acidic, and you’ll find that vitamin C is absorbed quickly into the skin. Therefore, using salicylic acid beforehand can increase the acidity of the skin and allow vitamin C to penetrate into the skin faster.
While this is considered an effective way to combine two powerful ingredients, you need to be aware of your skin type and how it reacts to certain active ingredients. Even people with perfect, normal skin can experience skin sensitivity and irritation. Therefore, always consult a doctor or dermatologist before using any new products on your skin.
It’s also important to follow skin application rules. In this case, you need to use the product correctly to ensure you get the best results for your skin. If you’re not sure what I mean, the basic rule for skin is to start with the thinnest consistency and work your way up to the thickest consistency. This prevents a barrier from forming on the surface, preventing other active ingredients from penetrating the skin.
Can I use salicylic acid at night and vitamin C in the morning?
Yes, absolutely, this is considered the most effective way to get returns without any adverse side effects. This is because there is enough time between applications to ensure that the skin’s pH levels return to balance.
You’ll also find that Vitamin C is rich in antioxidants and is perfect for use in the morning to ensure your skin is protected and looking its healthiest. Due to the small size of salicylic acid molecules, it is an acid that is able to reach the deepest parts of the skin. While this is effective at keeping skin clear, it also increases the risk of irritation and photosensitivity. Therefore, many people prefer to use powerful BHAs in their evening routine without exposure to UV rays, pollution, or harsh weather.
Warning: If you avoid using sunscreen every day, none of these ingredients will do what your skin needs. The combination of chemical peels and powerful ingredients increases the risk of further damage to the skin’s surface. Use SPF 50 every day to keep your skin protected and your lipid barrier healthy, even on cloudy days, keeping your skin in top condition.
