If you had asked me a few years ago for my opinion on the subject of beauty advent calendars, I would have told you I thought the majority were great value for money; it now seems you do too!

It’s hard to believe I received communication from companies in August asking me to sign up to waiting lists for certain calendars to avoid disappointment. This month, I bring you an idea of what you can look forward to, hopefully in time for you to benefit from the bargains on offer this year.

Brands really do pull out all the stops to beat the competition and offer us exceptional value. These advent calendars make wonderful Christmas gifts for loved ones, or a nice treat for yourself. My main piece of advice is to check all the contents and be sure you’re happy with the majority (if not all) of the products included – you don’t want to end up with a load of items you may never use.

Boots
You will find several calendars on offer at Boots, starting with their 24 days of Skincare calendar for £70, which has a value of £285. They also have a £60 beauty calendar worth £236, as well as their premium option for £150, which has an incredible value of £612! With 17 full-size products included, this one promises sparkle and festive magic behind every door.

If you prefer to do all your shopping in one place, Boots have a great selection of other branded advent calendars including Liz Earle, Ted Baker, Soap & Glory and Benefit. They have also partnered again with Macmillan to offer 24 beauty treats, with £2 from every calendar donated to the charity.

Next
Next have two calendars on offer – one for £95 with a value of £385, and the other for £185 with a whopping value of £779. With items from brands including Neom, Clinique and Bondi Sands, these are very cost-effective and are bound to be popular with beauty lovers.

M&S
The M&S calendar is an annual favourite and deservedly so. It offers great value (£330) and is beautifully presented in a black and gold festive box, illustrated by designer Bella Freud. The calendar contains 25 products – eight full-size and 17 travel-size – and is yours for only £60 when you spend £35 on fashion, home or beauty in store.

With many favourite brands including Clinique, Estée Lauder, Benefit and Weleda to name a few, M&S states the products span from restorative hair treatments to soothing skin care, plus party season make-up. It’s no surprise this calendar has become a cult favourite!

The Body Shop
Another brand with two calendars on offer. The Classic version (£60) contains products that are all under 100ml – perfect for travelling – whilst the Ultimate version (£120) includes ten full-size items. From balms to body butters, shampoos to sheet masks, these are well worth checking out.

Luxury
For those who want to splurge, here are some calendars with a higher price tag: Liberty of London £275 (value £1,245); Harrods £250 (value not stated); Selfridges £250 (value £1,136); Elemis £225 (value £690).

I have no doubt you will have difficulty making a final decision; at least you can be assured they are all good value for money.