Regardless of how you choose to celebrate the holiday season, there’s something so exciting about opening up a tiny little surprise throughout the month of December. While the original advent calendars can be traced back some 200 years, marking the four-week period leading up Christmas Eve, anyone can participate in the annual tradition.
Here’s a roundup of our favourite beauty and wellness advent calendars, as we inch closer to the holidays. We will continue to update the picks, but act fast, because once they’re gone, they’re gone.
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For the friend who embraces wellness from the inside out
You can now get the best of the beloved Canadian retailer’s specially curated private-label, holiday-inspired essential oils, natural wellness and skincare items – all in advent calendar form. Stacked with 24 goodies for you or that special someone, you’ll find 24 ways to experience wellness, head-to-toe. Usher in the holidays with bestsellers like Saje’s Peppermint Halo, discover next favourites like the newly-launched Glow-On face oil and stock up on relaxation essentials for your mind, body and home. The Countdown Calendar includes seven diffuser blends, five roll-ons, two remedy mists, seven beauty favourites for your skincare, hair and lips, a bath salt, and two accessories, including a clear quartz facial roller.
24 Days of Wellness Countdown Calendar, Saje Wellness, $250
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For the friend who is starting on their wellness journey
Back by popular demand, the 12-day holiday countdown calendar is a perfect gift for you or someone else. Create feel-good holiday moments with the perfect community-favourite diffuser scents – from Unwind to Liquid Sunshine. Roll on the best-selling Peppermint Halo to decompress, unwind and bring on the best of the season with rituals that embrace your health and wellness. The calendar includes three diffuser blends, two roll-ons, two remedy mists, four personal care products, one bath salt and a limited-edition, ready-to-gift collection of best-sellers – perfect starter kit for someone just starting on their wellness journey. Just one thing: if last year was any indication, you’ll want to act fast on this item because it’s sure to go quickly.
12 Days of Wellness Holiday Countdown Calendar, Saje Wellness, $110
For the friend who loves to spill the tea
If tea is part of your calming self-care ritual, you can’t go wrong with DAVIDs TEA 24 Days of Holidays Tea Advent Calendar. You’ll find a premium loose leaf tea sampler, including fan favourites and web exclusives. Share it with your bestie or someone else – behind every door there’s enough in each blend to hold over a conversation as you “spill the tea” on the latest and greatest. Get yours and join the most delicious countdown today.
DAVIDsTEA 24 Days of Holidays Tea Advent Calendar, Premium Loose Leaf Tea Sampler, Amazon, $60
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For that friend who always smells so good
Body Shop’s top-rated 24-day Advent Calendar features 24 treats in its festive pop-up display, designed to pamper you head-to-toe, all season long. You’ll find everything from delicious-smelling hand creams, to shower gels, bath bubbles, body butter and so much more. But what you might love even more are the suggestions for little acts of kindness you can embrace and share to help make the season a little brighter for others as well.
The Body Shop Share the Joy Advent Calendar, The Body Shop, $89
For the friend who’s levelled up their bath ritual
Exclusive to Indigo, enjoy 12 uniquely-scented bath bombs throughout the month. The calendar makes a great gift for yourself or another.
Auria 12 Days of Bath Bombs, Indigo, $36
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For the skincare-obsessed friend
The body, face and fragrance brand has an advent calendar with 24 of its holiday staples, including a selection of delicious-smelling hand creams, oil-in-serums, shampoos, conditioners, moisturizers, soaps, lip balms and more. It’s an essential discovery kit for anyone who knows the brand but wants to try its varied range of projects. The products are free of parabens and feature ingredients such as its iconic verbena.
L’Occitane Holiday Advent Calendar, Sephora, $89.
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For the makeup-obsessed friend
Twelve bestselling and fan favourites from Benefit Cosmetics’s The More The Merrier Makeup advent calendar comes with the go-to-kit for endless holiday looks, from brows, face, eyes and lashes. Open one gift per day to reveal your next favourite glam go-to. The set comes in a special-edition cozy keepsake box that includes items such as magnet mascara, brow setter, face primer, bronzer, blush and more.
Benefit Cosmetics The More The Merrier Makeup Holiday Advent Calendar Set, Sephora, $88.
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Sephora’s own advent calendar includes 24 of its essentials in makeup, skincare, bath and accessories — all hidden in reusable boxes. A perfect gift for someone you cherish (or yourself), this is a great way to stock up on anything from cleansing wipes, charcoal nose strips, face and eye masks, lip liners, eye pencils, eye shadows, lip stains and more.
SEPHORA COLLECTION Holiday Vibes Advent Calendar, Sephora, $60.
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Stocked with Charlotte Tilbury’s 12 full-size and travel-sized iconic makeup and skincare products, this treasure trove also comes in a bejeweled golden chest, perfect for display on your vanity or dresser drawer. Complete your holiday look with Charlotte Tilbury’s Beauty Highlighter Wand, Lip Cheat Lip Liner, Matte Revolution Lipstick and other fan favourites.
Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Dreams & Secrets Advent Calendar, Sephora, $250.
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For the friend who always sets the mood
Get in a festive spirit with Voluspa’s Mini Candle Advent calendar. For those who put as much thought into their scentscapes as their signature scent, the 12 mini candles will light your way through the holidays in a fragrant countdown. Scents such as Santal Vanille, Panjore Lychee, Goji Tarocco Orange, Spiced Pumpkin Latte and more will tickle your senses.
Voluspa Mini Candle Advent Calendar, Sephora, $99.
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