Lookfantastic Advent Calendars 2026 Review: Which of the Four Is Best?

Lookfantastic has released four quite different Advent calendars for Christmas 2026. There is a broad Beauty Calendar, a men’s Grooming Calendar, a dedicated Fragrance Calendar and a smaller 12-day collection from Liz Earle. Prices start at £79 and rise to £150, while the advertised product values stretch beyond £665.

This is a researched review rather than a hands-on product test. I assessed the official contents, product sizes, full-size ratios, formulations, individual values and packaging photography supplied by Lookfantastic. I also considered how useful the products are likely to be once the novelty of opening the calendar has passed. That last point matters. A box can contain hundreds of pounds’ worth of beauty products and still represent poor value if half of them are unsuitable for the person receiving it.

The Four Advent Calendars at a Glance

How I Reviewed the Calendars

I began with the figures supplied by Lookfantastic and Liz Earle, then added the stated individual values where these were provided. I looked at product sizes, the balance between full-size and smaller products, category variety and how much of each headline value depends on one or two expensive items.

The scores also reflect likely usefulness. A full-size moisturiser or shampoo that can join an everyday routine is more persuasive than an accessory given an ambitious price. Fragrance is more personal still, so a perfume calendar needs to offer more than an impressive total on paper. Packaging has been assessed from the official product photography; its physical texture, weight and durability cannot be verified without handling the boxes.

Lookfantastic Beauty Advent Calendar 2026 Review

The £120 Lookfantastic Beauty Advent Calendar is the broadest of the four. Its 25 drawers contain 27 products, and Lookfantastic identifies 19 of them as full size. The collection moves between skincare, makeup, haircare, bodycare, fragrance and home scent without allowing one category to take over.

How the Beauty Calendar Looks

The official photography shows a square burgundy outer box with two front panels meeting around a bright coral Lookfantastic logo. Opening those panels reveals a much bolder coral interior and rows of individual drawers. It is modern rather than traditionally Christmassy. There are no snowy scenes or gold stars, which may suit somebody who would prefer a beauty gift that does not look like festive packaging from a distance.

The contrast between the darker exterior and colourful interior gives it a proper reveal. Full-size bottles are also visible alongside the calendar in the promotional image, helping the collection look more substantial than a box of miniatures.

The Products I Would Be Most Pleased to Find

The Clinique Moisture Surge 100H Hydrator is one of the safest inclusions. It is a 50ml full-size moisturiser rather than a token sample, and Lookfantastic values it at £42. It gives the calendar an everyday skincare product that should last well beyond December.

The 30ml Elemis Pro-Collagen Night Cream is another substantial inclusion, even though Lookfantastic labels it as deluxe size. Its stated value is £78. Together, the Clinique and Elemis moisturisers give the skincare side of the calendar real weight.

Haircare has been handled unusually well. The full-size 250ml Aveda Cherry Almond Softening Shampoo comes with the matching 200ml conditioner, so neither product is stranded without its partner. Color Wow’s 200ml Kale Cocktail and Hair by Sam McKnight’s 250ml Cool Girl Texture Spray add two further full-size hair products.

Makeup is led by Benefit Roller Lash Mascara, MAC Fix+, Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Freeze and Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder Ultra Blur. These are recognisable products rather than obscure filler, although the Made by Mitchell Blursh in Strawberry Cream is more dependent on personal colour preferences.

The Less Predictable Inclusions

The calendar contains some products that will divide opinion. The Avant Hyaluronic Acid Molecular Boost Eye Cream is assigned a value of £98, making it the single most valuable item in the box. That sounds impressive, but a high retail price does not automatically make an unfamiliar 10ml eye cream the product everybody will want most.

The reusable Lookfantastic eye patches carry a stated value of £15. They may be useful when paired with an eye serum, although they do not deliver the same sense of value as a £15 cosmetic from an established beauty brand. The MZ Skin gold sheet mask is similarly described as full size because it is sold as a single-use product. Technically correct, perhaps, but different from receiving a full jar or bottle.

There is also a 95ml Amalfi Lemon home spray from The White Company. It is a good-quality addition for somebody who enjoys home fragrance, but it sits outside the skincare and makeup focus suggested by the calendar’s name.

Complete Beauty Calendar Contents

• Medik8 Total Moisture Daily Cleansing Gel, 14ml
• LANEIGE Vanilla Lip Glowy Balm, 10g
• ESPA Bergamot & Jasmine Bath and Shower Gel, 100ml
• Aveda Cherry Almond Softening Shampoo, 250ml
• Aveda Cherry Almond Softening Conditioner, 200ml
• Benefit Roller Lash Mascara, 8.5g
• Kanzen Pore Purifier, 125ml
• Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Freeze, 8g
• MZ Skin Hydra-Lift Golden Facial Treatment Mask
• Aveeno Skin Relief Body Oil Spray, 50ml
• The Beauty Crop Primer, 20ml
• The Beauty Crop Glow Milk Lip Oil, 3.5ml
• Avant Hyaluronic Acid Molecular Boost Eye Cream, 10ml
• Lookfantastic reusable eye patches
• Color Wow Kale Cocktail, 200ml
• Made by Mitchell Blursh in Strawberry Cream, 6ml
• The White Company Amalfi Lemon Luxury Home Spray, 95ml
• Clinique Moisture Surge 100H Hydrator, 50ml
• Ameliorate Transforming Body Lotion, 100ml
• MAC Fix+ Setting Spray, 100ml
• Spectrum sponge duo
• Hair by Sam McKnight Cool Girl Texture Spray, 250ml
• The Ordinary UV Filters SPF 45 Serum, 60ml
• UKLash Lash Serum, 1ml
• Sol de Janeiro Cheirosa 40 Perfume Mist, 90ml
• Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder Ultra Blur, 6g
• Elemis Pro-Collagen Night Cream, 30ml

Does the £665 Value Stand Up?

Adding Lookfantastic’s individual product figures produces a total of approximately £668, which supports the advertised value. Against the £120 selling price, that is a difference of about £548 and an apparent saving of roughly 82%.

There is a catch. The Avant eye cream and Elemis night cream contribute £176 between them. If neither product appeals, the personal value drops sharply. A better test is to count what would be used: the Aveda pair, Clinique moisturiser, Benefit mascara, MAC spray and LANEIGE lip balm are all practical inclusions with a broad audience.

Beauty Calendar Pros and Cons

Lookfantastic Grooming Advent Calendar 2026 Review

The Grooming Advent Calendar may be the quiet surprise of the range. It costs £90 and contains 27 products across 25 doors, including 15 described as full size. Its displayed individual values add up to approximately £471, just above the advertised value of £469.

A More Restrained Design

The exterior is blue-grey with a central Lookfantastic logo and a circular “twist to unlock” instruction. Inside, the numbered drawers use the same cool colour palette. It looks more restrained than the coral Beauty Calendar and red Fragrance Calendar, although it does not lean heavily on stereotypical black packaging or faux barbershop styling.

The contents photography makes the collection look busy and varied. Bottles, tubes, a candle, a comb and a shaving brush are visible, so it is immediately clear that this is not simply 25 days of shower gel.

The Strongest Grooming Products

ESPA Men’s Post Shave Rescue Balm, Murdock London Black Tea Cologne and Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream for Men give the collection a credible premium core. Murdock’s 150ml Sea Salt Spray and Ruffians Matt Clay cover hair styling, while Bulldog contributes an approachable full-size face wash.

The Aery Fernweh candle is an unexpected but attractive addition. It broadens the calendar into general self-care and gifting rather than treating grooming as nothing more than shaving. This Works Deep Sleep Plus Pillow Spray follows the same direction.

There are practical products too: Rituals Homme antiperspirant, First Aid Beauty KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub, Weleda Skin Food and Ameliorate Clarifying Body Spray. It is a more rounded collection than its name initially suggests.

Where the Calendar Feels Weaker

Several doors contain inexpensive accessories or single-use items. A comb, cleansing cloth, shaving brush, warming eye mask and pimple patches can all be useful, but opening one after a £51 cologne or £33 Elemis cream may feel like a drop in quality.

The Philip Kingsley shampoo and conditioner are only 20ml each. They are legitimate travel sizes, though likely to provide relatively few washes. The two 15ml Aveeno products and 10ml Vichy serum also sit firmly in sample territory.

The biggest question is Rodial’s Dragon’s Blood Sculpting Gel. Lookfantastic assigns the 50ml product a value of £105, meaning it supplies more than a fifth of the calendar’s advertised total on its own. Someone who already wants the product may see this as a major result. Anyone indifferent to it should mentally reduce the claimed value.

Complete Grooming Calendar Contents

• ESPA Men’s Post Shave Rescue Balm, 50ml
• Aveeno Calm & Restore SPF 50, 15ml
• Aveeno Oat Gel Moisturiser, 15ml
• Avant Mandelic Acid Restoring and Anti-Pollution Toner, 30ml
• Shiseido Men’s Ultimune Serum, 10ml
• Rodial Dragon’s Blood Sculpting Gel, 50ml
• Rituals Homme 24h Anti-Perspirant Spray, 150ml
• Philip Kingsley Flaky/Itchy Scalp Shampoo, 20ml
• Philip Kingsley Flaky/Itchy Scalp Conditioner, 20ml
• BARBER PRO Warming Eye Mask
• First Aid Beauty KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub, 2oz
• L’Occitane Lavande Poivre Noir Shower Gel, 75ml
• Weleda Skin Food, 75ml
• Murdock London Black Tea Cologne, 50ml
• Aromatherapy Associates Muscle Shower Oil, 50ml
• Bulldog Sensitive Face Wash, 150ml
• Lookfantastic cleansing cloth
• Ruffians Matt Clay, 30g
• Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream for Men, 15ml
• Shaving brush
• Acnecide Pimple Patches, pack of 12
• Comb
• This Works Deep Sleep Plus Pillow Spray, 10ml
• Murdock London Sea Salt Spray, 150ml
• Vichy Minéral 89 Hyaluronic Acid Booster Serum, 10ml
• Aery Fernweh Himalayan Cedarleaf Candle, 155g
• Ameliorate Clarifying Body Spray, 200ml

Is It Really Only for Men?

Not particularly. The styling is aimed towards a male recipient and products such as the post-shave balm and shaving brush reinforce that positioning. Yet Weleda Skin Food, First Aid Beauty body scrub, Vichy serum, the Aery candle and several hair products are not inherently gender-specific.

That makes it a reasonable option for anybody who prefers grooming, haircare and skincare to colour cosmetics. It may actually suit some recipients better than the main Beauty Calendar.

Grooming Calendar Pros and Cons

• Pros: Low £90 price, 15 full-size products, useful category variety and an approximate cost of £3.33 per item.
• Cons: Several low-cost accessories, a few very small samples and heavy reliance on the £105 Rodial gel for the headline value.

Best for: Someone interested in skincare, hair styling and general self-care, whether or not they already have a detailed grooming routine.

My researched score: 8.6/10

Lookfantastic Fragrance Advent Calendar 2026 Review

At £150, the Fragrance Advent Calendar is the most expensive option. It contains 25 products with a stated value above £530. Lookfantastic’s individual figures total approximately £532, so the headline value is supported by its own itemised list.

The Most Dramatic Presentation

The vivid red outer box is brighter than the other Lookfantastic designs. Opening its two front panels reveals graduated drawers arranged around a central column. The mix of conventional bottles, miniatures and travel sprays also gives the contents more visual variety than a row of identical sample vials.

It looks appropriately luxurious in the official photography, although shoppers should recognise what the image is showing. This is primarily a fragrance discovery collection. It does not contain 25 conventional full-size perfume bottles.

The Two Headline Fragrances

Givenchy Irresistible Rose Nectar, supplied in a 35ml full-size bottle, is the most valuable inclusion at £69. Jo Malone Pomegranate Noir Cologne follows at £56 for 30ml. Together, these two products account for £125 of the total value.

That calculation changes the buying decision. Anyone interested in both fragrances is effectively paying another £25 for the remaining 23 products. Someone who dislikes either scent cannot use the same logic.

Other recognised names include Armani Sì Intense, Marc Jacobs Daisy Wild Eau So Intense, YSL Black Opium Pink Glaze, Carolina Herrera Good Girl Jasmine Absolute, Dolce & Gabbana The One and Rabanne Million Gold for Her.

Discovery Is the Point

Most of the designer fragrances are supplied in 5ml, 7.5ml, 10ml or 15ml formats. These are larger than the tiny promotional vials handed out at beauty counters, but they remain discovery or travel sizes.

There is a useful spread between established designer labels and less familiar names such as Olfactive O, Le Monde Gourmand and Juliette Has a Gun. Floral Street appears twice, with London Poppy and Electric Rhubarb. Whether that is welcome depends on how much the recipient enjoys the brand.

Three inclusions are not wearable perfume: a Lookfantastic atomiser, an Osmology candle and This Works pillow spray. The White Company Seychelles product is intended to be sprayed onto items rather than worn on the skin. These additions stop the calendar becoming repetitive, though they also reduce the number of personal fragrances.

Complete Fragrance Calendar Contents

• Marc Jacobs Daisy Wild Eau So Intense pen spray, 10ml
• Le Monde Gourmand Lait de Coco, 30ml
• Lookfantastic fragrance atomiser
• Olfactive O Amber, 8ml
• Jo Malone Pomegranate Noir Cologne, 30ml
• Juliette Has a Gun Powder Love, 5ml
• Ghost Orb of Night, 10ml
• Floral Street London Poppy, 10ml
• Versace Crystal Emerald, 5ml
• Armani Sì Intense, 15ml
• Eilish rollerball, 3.5ml
• YSL Black Opium Pink Glaze, 7.5ml
• This Works Deep Sleep Pillow Spray, 10ml
• Carolina Herrera Good Girl Jasmine Absolute miniature, 7ml
• Dolce & Gabbana The One, 5ml
• Floral Street Electric Rhubarb, 10ml
• The White Company Seychelles, 15ml
• Balmain Rouge, 10ml
• L’Occitane Néroli & Orchidée, 7.5ml
• Osmology Moroccan Rose Candle, 155g
• Rabanne Million Gold for Her Parfum, 5ml
• Molton Brown Tea Ceremony, 7.5ml
• L’Eau d’Issey, 10ml
• Juliette Has a Gun Not a Perfume, 5ml
• Givenchy Irresistible Rose Nectar, 35ml

Does the £530 Value Justify £150?

The numbers work, but fragrance is far more subjective than shampoo or moisturiser. A person can use an unfamiliar cleanser even if it is not their favourite. An unwanted perfume may remain untouched because scent is so personal.

This calendar therefore makes most sense for someone who actively enjoys discovery sets and changes fragrance regularly. A shopper with one established signature scent may be better spending the same £150 on a chosen full-size bottle.

Fragrance Calendar Pros and Cons

• Pros: Full-size Givenchy and Jo Malone bottles, a broad designer selection and a supported value above £530.
• Cons: Most perfumes are miniatures, scent preference is highly personal and several doors contain home fragrance or an accessory.

Best for: A fragrance enthusiast who enjoys testing new perfumes rather than wearing the same scent every day.

My researched score: 7.9/10

Liz Earle 12 Days Advent Calendar 2026 Review

The Liz Earle calendar takes a different route. It costs £79 and has 12 days rather than 25, but the products form a connected skincare and bodycare collection. Liz Earle gives the contents a value above £200.

A More Traditional Gift Design

Its long burgundy box is decorated with gold botanical leaves and Liz Earle branding. Pulling the sides apart reveals a central section of numbered compartments. It looks more overtly festive than the minimalist Lookfantastic boxes, while still reflecting the botanical identity of the brand.

The calendar is smaller and less dramatic than the three 25-day designs. That is not necessarily a weakness. Its contents photograph shows several sizeable tubes and bottles, making it look more like a coordinated gift collection than a box of samples.

A Routine Rather Than a Random Selection

Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser is the natural starting point, accompanied by its cotton cloth. The calendar then introduces a second cleanser, two toning products, a face exfoliator, eye lotion and three different facial moisturisers.

The 75ml Superskin Moisturiser with Natural Neroli is one of the largest and most persuasive products in the box. Skin Repair Hydrating Night Cream comes in a 50ml size, while the 15ml Skin Repair Light Cream provides a smaller daytime option.

Bodycare follows a matching Mandarin and Nutmeg theme. The 200ml body wash and 200ml body cream are substantial, supported by a 50ml hand cream. These three products give the calendar a seasonal scent identity rather than inserting unrelated body products.

Who Should Check the Ingredients Carefully?

Liz Earle uses botanical positioning, but botanical does not automatically mean fragrance-free or universally suitable for sensitive skin. The published ingredient lists include fragrance, essential oils and recognised fragrance allergens in several products.

Anyone with reactive skin should check the current ingredients printed on each product and introduce unfamiliar formulas gradually. This is particularly important when several new skincare products arrive together; using everything at once makes it harder to identify the cause of irritation.

Complete Liz Earle Calendar Contents

• Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser, 100ml
• Cleanse & Glow Transforming Gel Cleanser, 30ml
• Smooth & Glow Exfoliating Tonic, 50ml
• Skin Repair Light Cream, 15ml
• Instant Boost Skin Tonic, 50ml
• Eyebright Soothing Eye Lotion, 50ml
• Mandarin & Nutmeg Botanical Body Wash, 200ml
• Mandarin & Nutmeg Botanical Body Cream, 200ml
• Skin Repair Hydrating Night Cream, 50ml
• Mandarin & Nutmeg Hand Cream, 50ml
• Gentle Face Exfoliator, 15ml
• Superskin Moisturiser with Natural Neroli, 75ml
• Pure cotton cloth

Is the Liz Earle Calendar Worth £79?

The official value above £200 implies a saving of at least £121. That percentage is lower than the three Lookfantastic calendars, but the Liz Earle collection may generate less waste for the right person. The products belong to one routine and several are supplied in generous sizes.

It is an easy recommendation for somebody who already uses Liz Earle. A first-time buyer faces more risk because there is no variety of brands or formulations. If the first cleanser or moisturiser does not agree with their skin, several other doors may feel less useful.

Liz Earle Calendar Pros and Cons

• Pros: Coordinated routine, substantial skincare and bodycare sizes, lowest purchase price and less reliance on novelty products.
• Cons: Only 12 days, no brand variety and fragranced formulations will not suit everyone.

Best for: An existing Liz Earle customer or a skincare-focused recipient who does not want makeup and perfume.

My researched score: 8.3/10

Which Lookfantastic Advent Calendar Offers the Best Value?

The Beauty Calendar is the strongest overall buy. Its £120 price is balanced by 19 full-size products and enough variety to keep the 25-day countdown interesting. The Grooming Calendar comes remarkably close and is arguably better value for somebody who does not use colour cosmetics.

Liz Earle ranks third, but it could easily be the best personal choice for somebody who already knows the brand. The Fragrance Calendar finishes fourth because perfume is so individual, not because its contents are poor.

How to Save on a Lookfantastic Advent Calendar

Before ordering, check the latest Lookfantastic voucher codes. Limited-edition calendars can be excluded from general promotional codes, so the discount must appear in the basket before it should be treated as part of the saving.

Lookfantastic also awards LF Beauty Plus+ points on these purchases. At the time of my research, the Beauty Calendar offered 600 points, the Grooming Calendar 450, the Fragrance Calendar 750 and the Liz Earle calendar 395. Points only represent a useful saving if the shopper expects to return and redeem them.

All four calendars exceed Lookfantastic’s current £25 threshold for free tracked UK delivery. The three Lookfantastic-branded calendars were available to pre-order with dispatch scheduled from 22 September 2026, while the Liz Earle calendar was in stock. Prices, stock and delivery dates can change, so check the basket before paying.

Which Calendar Should You Buy?

• Choose the Beauty Calendar for the strongest all-round mix of skincare, makeup, haircare and fragrance.
• Choose the Grooming Calendar for the lowest price per item and a routine built around hair, skin, body and fragrance.
• Choose the Fragrance Calendar for someone who actively enjoys sampling different perfumes.
• Choose the Liz Earle Calendar for an existing fan who would rather receive a focused routine than unrelated surprises.
• Skip all four if only two or three listed products genuinely appeal. Buying those products separately may cost less and create far less waste.

Lookfantastic Advent Calendar FAQs

What Is in the Lookfantastic Beauty Advent Calendar 2026?

It contains 27 skincare, makeup, haircare, bodycare, fragrance and home-scent products across 25 drawers. Lookfantastic describes 19 of the products as full size.

Is the Lookfantastic Beauty Advent Calendar Worth It?

It offers good researched value for somebody who will use several beauty categories. The individual listed values total approximately £668 against a £120 price, although £176 of that value comes from the Avant eye cream and Elemis night cream.

Is the Grooming Calendar Only Suitable for Men?

No. Its presentation and some shaving products are aimed at men, but much of the skincare, haircare, bodycare and home fragrance can be used by anyone.

Does the Fragrance Calendar Contain Full-Size Perfume?

Yes, including 35ml Givenchy Irresistible Rose Nectar and 30ml Jo Malone Pomegranate Noir. Most of the other designer perfumes are deluxe, miniature or travel sizes.

What Is the Difference Between the Liz Earle 12-Day and 24-Day Calendars?

The 12-day calendar costs £79 and concentrates on a smaller skincare and bodycare routine. Liz Earle also released a larger 24-day version at £175 with a much wider product selection. The smaller calendar is the more accessible option for somebody who does not need a full 24-day countdown.

Can a Discount Code Be Used on a Lookfantastic Advent Calendar?

It depends on the code and its exclusions. Lookfantastic frequently excludes selected brands and limited editions, so only rely on a voucher when the checkout confirms that it has reduced the calendar price.

My Final Verdict

The Lookfantastic Beauty Advent Calendar is my overall winner for 2026. It does not rely entirely on obscure products or tiny samples, and the Aveda haircare pair, Clinique moisturiser, Benefit mascara and MAC setting spray give it a practical backbone. There are still a few debatable values, but the balance is stronger than most large mixed beauty collections.

The Grooming Calendar is the sharper choice at £90 and deserves more attention than its male-focused name might suggest. Liz Earle is the sensible, lower-waste option for an existing fan. The Fragrance Calendar is the most exciting gamble: excellent for a perfume explorer, but harder to recommend as a blind gift.

The best calendar is not necessarily the one with the largest number printed beside “worth”. It is the one containing products that will still be used in January, February and beyond.

Written by Julian House 1st September 2026