An Advent Calendar for Every Type of Person
Photo-Illustration: The Strategist; Photos: Retailers
Historically, Advent calendars were simple and filled with Bible verses or chocolate — a sweet little morsel to enjoy each day during the countdown to Christmas. But thanks to the overwhelming (and only growing) popularity of luxurious beauty Advent calendars, you can now find an Advent calendar filled with just about anything you can think of. From skin care to dog treats to itsy-bitsy toys, there are myriad options out there to make the holidaze far more fun. While tradition dictates that you start using an Advent calendar on the first day of December and return to it each day until December 25, the options below (and their goodies within) would be just as delightful to receive and open all at once. We’ve rounded up options for all kinds of people, from stationary aficionados to serious Lego collectors.
This literally jam-packed Advent calendar from compote king Bonne Maman contains 24 wee jars of jelly and honey to zhuzh up your biscuits and toast all December long. It’s a favorite of multiple Strategist staffers; Jen Trolio has purchased it two years in a row and likes that it’s easy for her family of four to share, with enough spread in each small jar for everyone to get a taste.
Strategist contributor and coffee expert Sal Vaglica tested eight different coffee-subscription brands and made Bean Box his best simple-subscription pick. The company’s Advent calendar curates a similar experience with 12 limited-edition, holiday-inspired blends from roasters all over the U.S. Each sachet is labeled with a gradient scale indicating the intensity level (with a mix of lighter and darker blends in the box), and you can choose between ground coffee or whole beans — you’ll get enough of each blend to make a full pot.
Of course, the Advent calendar that most people will spend their December opening is filled with chocolate. This fabulously festive one from Lindt has 24 treats from across the chocolatier’s signature range, from mini bunnies and Father Christmas figures, to chocolate baubles for the tree.
Bokksu, the boutique brand that imports hard-to-find snacks from small Japanese businesses, have curated their annual advent calendar for 2023. Inside are 20 snacks, four collectibles, as well as information and cultural stories behind each treat.
Waterdrop’s Microdrinks are fizzy little tablets that add flavor (and some vitamins) to your water bottle. The brand’s advent calendar comes with 24 in fruity flavors like starfruit and lemongrass, and peach and ginger.
For the person who knows their biodynamic reds from their skin-contact oranges, consider Vinebox’s advent calendar. It features 12 best-selling white, red, and rosé wines, and it sells out every year, so don’t leave it to the last minute.
British brand Fortnum and Mason’s annual advent calendar contains a mixture of the best-selling teas from their London food hall (like Countess Grey and Moroccan mint), as well as some limited festive blends (including a Christmas green tea and gin-and-tonic tea.)
Walker’s advent calendar has 24 doors with six different varieties of shortbreads, shaped into thoughtful chocolate-chipped stars, buttery hearts, and salted-caramel squares. Perfect for the hardest-to-buy-fors.
Sephora’s 2023 Advent calendar contains 24 beauty and skin-care products and accessories that run the gamut from a glossy lip lacquer to a teeny beauty blender.
Mignonne Gavigan’s annual advent calendar includes a selection of earrings, charms, necklaces and rings, selected for those whose jewelry box resembles a rather vibrant fruit bowl.
The Babor advent calendar has a gift for each of the 24 days leading up to Christmas, each of which are a miniature of one of their best selling skincare products. Whether you’re looking to add a radiant glow, or firm up any fine lines, there’s a teeny treat to suit your skin.
Thanks to its selection of popular makeup, beauty, and hair care products, the Cult Beauty advent calendar has become pretty much cult. This year, miniatures include sought after formulations from Sunday Riley, Ouai and Olaplex, as well as treats like a sleep mask and satin pillowcase.
U.K. luxury brand Rodial’s advent calendar has each step of your routine covered with 12 miniatures which include vitamin C wipes, soft glow drops, and the brand’s best selling dragon’s blood sculpting gel.
This is the advent calendar that I’ve got my eye on this year. Benefit has been my go-to favorite beauty brand since I was a teenager, and I’m never without one of their primers or bronzers — both of which come in miniature form in this calendar — in my makeup bag. There’s also a full-sized tube of roller lash inside, which we’ve named as our favorite curling mascara countless times.
Evo’s fuss-free, nourishing products are great for hair that needs a little TLC. Inside this 12-day advent calendar are miniatures of the brand’s best-selling shampoos, conditioners, and hair masks as well as some very festive scrunchies and clips.
Lego sets don’t have an age limit, and brickheads young and old can enjoy the brand’s widely beloved Lego City Advent calendar, which features 24 small builds and mini-figs that all come together to create a wintry scene.
Lego also makes Harry Potter, Guardians of the Galaxy, Lego Friends Advent calendars to appeal to builders of all stripes, but one particularly popular set is the LEGO Star Wars advent calendar (it sells out each year). Star Wars superfans recommended the set to us as it features exclusive builds not otherwise available in the LEGO Star Wars range.
If the words Charmander, Pikachu, and Squirtle mean anything to you, you’ll get a kick out of seeing the OG Pokémon dressed in their winter best. This Advent calendar includes 24 palm-size characters and seasonal accessories like sleds and Christmas trees, and the packaging doubles as a snowy backdrop that has lights and sounds to add to the holiday ambience.
Refresh their collection of bath toys with this “just-add-water” advent calendar from Playmobil. Once all 25 doors are opened, they’ll have a new flotilla of boats and marine life to play with in the tub.
Recommended by Ali Mierzejewski, editor-in-chief of the Toy Insider, this Advent calendar has the same unboxing appeal as the best-selling 5 Surprise Mini Brands series — but with 24 teeny grocery and household items, including four that are exclusive to the calendar. Mierzejewski says they’re great “to display, trade with friends, and use as props for Barbie and other similar-size dolls.”
Funko Pop! figurines are made for collecting, and this magical Advent calendar is filled with 24 mini-versions of highly collectible Harry Potter toys. Perfect for fans who are still waiting for their letter to Hogwarts to arrive, they can display the Pocket Pop! items (with a maximum height of 1.87 inches) on their desk or around their home.
Fido deserves a seasonal treat too. This calendar has 12 different chew treats, twists, and kabobs for their cute pup to enjoy.
This Advent calendar comes with 12 holiday-themed toys filled with catnip and crinkle paper for your kitty to nibble, bat, and pounce on.
This wooden calendar has 24 small boxes that will hold just about any tiny treat that comes to mind, from candy and coins to holiday trinkets and love notes. After the holidays, you can store it away to fill up again next year.
This tree-shaped countdown calendar is a good choice for young kids who love to “help” hang holiday décor. It comes with 24 magnetic ornaments that will cling to the wood-backed tree, plus a bright-yellow star for the top. Not only can they rearrange the display to their heart’s delight, but the calendar is reusable year after year.
Despite their mini size, each of Pottery Barn’s 12 scented candles have a burn time of 13 hours. That’s plenty of time to get acquainted with their range of fragrances, from woody and toasty notes, to sugary-sweet scents.
Tonies fabric advent calendar has 24 illustrated pouches that can be filled with little treats, trinkets, and toys. As it’s so highly customisable, it’s a great choice for families that gather round and take turns picking out a surprise on December mornings.
Made from entirely recycled paper, this pop-up advent calendar makes for a charming decoration for the mantel. Behind each door is a new, festive character to perch on the pop-up stand, and it can be reused as a decoration for Christmases to come.
Ikea’s festive DIY advent calendar is easier to put together than a Kallax. Behind each of its 24 doors is a small box to either hide treats inside or display in the countdown to Christmas.
Discover a new rock or gemstone every day leading up to Christmas with this National Geographic Advent calendar filled with 24 specimens, including black obsidian, blue quartz, jade, and a special “dig brick” that budding gemologists can chip away at to reveal a special crystal. The calendar also comes with five jewelry settings for those who’d like to transform their finds into wearable art.
PAPIER’s 24 doors of desk delights includes everything needed to get organized, from pocket sized notebooks and to do pads, to handy paperclips, pens, and a bookmark. It all comes inside a crafted box too, with each gift designed to slot — satisfyingly — beside one another.
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