They’re the best way to countdown to Christmas and today’s Advent calendars are so good, they make great presents in themselves – what could be more exciting than receiving a whole month of mini gifts to get you excited for the big day?
As well as the classic chocolate-filled Advent calendars, 2022’s collection also offer must-have beauty products, mini toys, teas and gins. You can also pick up reusable calendars that can be refilled with treats of your choice every year.
Whatever you want your opened doors to reveal, Hampshire shopping centre Festival Place has the calendar for you – just make sure you get yours before they’re gone.
Here are our top calendar choices.
Beautiful treats
Glam up your festive season with one of three beauty Advent calendars available at Superdrug. The Revolution Advent Calendar includes an eye shadow palette, lip glosses, highlighters, makeup brushes and more. You Are The Revolution Advent Calendar, £40 (was £80), Superdrug
Body Shop’s three new pop-up beauty Advent Calendars each celebrate the women that help produce the body-loving ingredients used in the products. Open the door to a daily dose of goodness with the Box of Wishes, Box of Wonders, or Box of Wishes & Wonders. The Box of Wishes, £55, is bursting with top-to-toe treats, including fragrant shower creams, body butter, and sheet masks. You can reuse the pop-ups as gift tags, and the drawers are great for storing crafts and other little bits and bobs long after Christmas. The Body Shop, from £55 to £145.
Tis the season to be fabulous! The 25 Days of Beauty Advent Calendar is worth over £309, and features make-up heroes like Benefit's BADgal BANG! Mascara, a full-size MAC satin lipstick in shade Twig, an eyeshadow palette from ICONIC London and a full size Pai's The Impossible Glow Bronzing Drops. 25 Days of Beauty Advent Calendar, £85 (worth £309), Next.
We're always excited about this one, and this year is no exception! The M&S Advent Calendar 2022 is a real treat filled with 25 goodies worth £300 from big name brands like Stila, This Works, L’Occitane and Emma Hardie, alongside own brand products - and the best bit is it will cost you just £40 when you spend £30 on clothing, home and beauty in store or online. It comes in luxurious jewellery box packaging which can be reused to store all your must have beauty products, and is the ultimate festive treat! Marks & Spencer’s Beauty Advent Calendar, £40 (worth £300)
Keep it sweet
Behind each of the 24 doors, you’ll find an adorable Nutmilk character — including an extra-big chocolate for Christmas Eve. Up to Snow Good Unbelievably Vegan Calendar, £8.50, Hotel Chocolat
Your Christmas will be merry and bright with a creamy piece of Malteser chocolate to greet you every morning. Made with smooth milk chocolate and crunchy honeycomb pieces, you’ll find a Merryteaser Mini Reindeer on Christmas Eve. Maltesers Reindeer Chocolate Calendar, £2, Tesco
Spirit of Christmas
You’re certain to be full of Christmas spirit with this cracking Advent box from Next. It includes delights such as damson gin, rhubarb and ginger liqueur, blood orange gin, cucumber gin and Yorkshire Tea gin. Spicers of Hythe Limited Gin Advent Cracker, £140, Next
It’s toy time!
This calendar features 8 LEGO Star Wars characters and 16 mini builds for Christmas adventures in a galaxy far, far away. Expect C-3PO and R2-D2 in Christmas jumpers, a Gonk Droid dressed as Santa, and Darth Vader in a summer outfit from LEGO Star Wars Summer Vacation on Disney+. LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar, £29.99, The Entertainer
The Christmas Countdown
The Christmas Countdown Hamper, £46, M&S, is not technically an Advent calendar, but this gift box will make the Christmas countdown as exciting as the big day itself. It comes with a felt hanging Advent garland, chocolate gold coins, a festive dining set to use every day of the season, and a cute robin redbreast. Everything comes in a smart red box, ready to gift.