Just as cherished as our traditional chocolate countdowns, beauty advent calendars have become somewhat of a festive tradition.

From Cult Beauty, Sephora and Lookfantastic to Harvey Nichols, Charlotte Tilbury and Next, top brands pull out all the stops for their opulent offerings. Now, M&S has joined the party by launching its 2023 beauty advent calendar.

Costing just £45, when spending £35 on home, beauty and clothing in-store or online, it’s brimming with £340 worth of products, spanning haircare, make-up and skincare.

Packaged in a keepsake vegan vanity case, the calendar contains 25 treats for every day of your festive countdown. From Philip Kinglsey, Percy & Reed, Eyeko and Ren to Clinique, Aveda, Benefit, Pixi and Dr Paw Paw, the selection of brands found inside includes a mix of cult names and in-house favourites.

A sell-out hit year after year, M&S’s carefully curated calendar should be on your radar.

How we tested

The goodies inside the M&S beauty advent calendar (Daisy Lester)

Ahead of its official launch, we got our hands on the calendar and committed the cardinal Christmas sin of opening it up before December. From the products to the packaging, here’s everything you need to know about M&S’s beauty advent calendar 2023 (spoiler: it’s the stalwart’s best one yet).

M&S beauty advent calendar 2023

Price: £45 (when you spend £35 on clothing or home)

Worth: £340

Number of days: 25

Product sizes: 17 mini size, 8 full size

Available: Now

Why we love it

Packaged in a reusable make-up bag

Affordable

Good mix of full-size and mini products

Overflowing with gifts for every day of your countdown to Christmas, you’ll find 25 beauty products inside the calendar. Scoring top marks for packaging, all the advent boxes are neatly slotted into a large metallic vanity case that you’ll use long after December, whether as a travel case or storage box. A nice touch that adds to the calendar’s overall value, it’s a far more useful addition than most beauty advent calendar boxes.

As always, we’re treated to a nice mix of high-end brands (think Ren and Clinique), as well as M&S’s popular in-house brands (the Apothecary hand cream and clay mask feel luxurious). From a Pixi brow tamer that we used to brush up our eyebrows, that Benefit roller lash curling mascara that has deserving cult status, and a shimmery pink Clinique lip colour, your party make-up is sorted.

Meanwhile, the full-size Ren cleansing gel (worth £25 alone), travel-size Clinque moisture surge and Dr Paw Paw overnight lip mask will help rejuvenate December skin after one too many parties.

M&S hasn’t scrimped on its hair and body offering, either, with mini-size Philip Kingsley shampoo and two conditioning formulas; a Percy & Reed volumising oil that doesn’t leave any greasy residue; Nuxe multi-purpose dry oil (which smells exquisite); Aveda botanical repair styling creme, and This Works deep sleep body cocoon all found inside.

Containing both full-size and mini products, some will make lovely gifts, too – particularly the nicely packaged L’Occitane hand cream and the full-size Verveine shower gel.

If previous years are anything to go by, the calendar is likely to sell out (fast). Whether you shop Sienna Miller’s covetable autumn collection with M&S or revamp your interiors with the shop’s homeware lines, you’ll need to spend £35 to secure the calendar for just £45.

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The verdict: M&S beauty advent calendar 2023

M&S’s beauty advent calendar is one of this year’s most pocket-friendly options. For less than £100, you’re treated to a truly excellent range of products spanning skincare, pampering and make-up. Adding to its overall value, we love the sleek upgrade it’s had for 2023, courtesy of the keepsake vanity case – plus, some of the full-size goodies will make lovely gifts. M&S have nailed it again.

From Selfridges to Charlotte Tilbury, find everything you need to know about this year’s beauty advent calendars in our bumper guide