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Look and feel your best during the count down to Christmas
Once reserved for children, advent calendars have become luxury purchases, with many grown-up versions filled with cheese, wine, gin, beer, and, of course, beauty and grooming products.
While there is an ever-growing list of skincare, make-up and beauty brands producing advent calendars marketed towards women, there are far fewer created with men in mind. However, fear not, as we have been testing grooming and skincare advent calendars that are more gender neutral or created specifically for men.
Some of our favourite tried-and-tested brands have launched advent calendars this year, and what better treat than uncovering a new grooming product each day in December?
Whether you’re buying one for yourself or as a gift for your dad, brother, partner or a friend, these advent calendars are packed with skincare, haircare and scent, so you or your giftee will be groomed to perfection in the run-up to Christmas (and beyond).
Keep reading to find out which grooming advent calendars for men are worth your hard-earned cash.
We opened all the doors and drawers on these calendars way ahead of Advent, to test the products inside and see what we thought of each calendar as a whole. We looked at the quality and value for money of each offering, to pick out the best options for men.
For the best in men’s grooming, look no further than the Liberty men’s advent calendar, which is packed with a wide variety of enticing offerings from luxe brands.
From skincare and fragrance to accessories and playing cards, the well-curated products come housed in a beautiful miniature replica of the Liberty shop in London.
The calendar has a great mix of familiar luxury favourites, such Acqua di Parma, REN and Aromatherapy Associates, alongside some niche brands you might not have heard of before. With 25 products in total, they’re not overly weighted to a particular subcategory, so this feels like a perfectly rounded offering.
With a higher price point, this calendar is best suited to someone who likes elevated products and is open to discovering new brands, too. The calendar itself is made from sturdy materials and has a remarkable exterior design and a stunning patterned interior – you’ll be be re-using this as a festive decoration for years to come.
For hotel staple products that will have your bathroom stocked up until Easter, the Baylis & Harding advent calendar for men is a great option. From shower gels and bath soaks to shampoo and foot lotion, these miniature bottles look and smell great, with scents such as black pepper and ginseng or hemp and bergamot.
Some products are repeated on different days, losing a bit of surprise factor, but you can’t have too much of a good thing. The scent variety is also limited to three fragrances across the 24 products, which may be disappointing to some.
Lookfantastic has an incredible range of Christmas calendars and gift boxes this year, including this men’s grooming advent calendar, which is packed with a mix of products spanning all things grooming.
Among the items included, there’s a Dr Paw Paw mini lip balm; Bulldog (one of the leading brands in men’s grooming) hair-styling cream, and nourishing face oil from sustainable skincare brand grüum. Meanwhile, there’s also luxury skincare and bodycare to discover from the likes of Grown Alchemist, Elemis, ESPA and Aromatherapy Associates.
The box itself is fun to explore, as there are drawers on both sides, so there is a bit of treasure hunting involved. Another bonus of this calendar is the abundance of haircare products as well as skincare and bodycare. With a generous 26 products, your whole body will be groomed to perfection. There’s even a special warming eye mask to be found on day 25 – perfect for your post-Christmas-diner nap.
The price point is relatively affordable, with members of Lookfantastic’s subscription service, The Box, able to shave an extra £15 off the price.
This advent calendar is currently sold out, but we will let you know if it comes back in stock.
Some people take umbridge with an advent calendar that only has 12 days’ worth of products, but this is an example of how to do it right. Full-sized and travel-sized products are packed into this calendar from Rituals – a brand known for its focus on creating special moments of wellness within everyday life.
From body cream and fragrant deoderant to eau de parfum and even car perfume, this calendar comes with an eclectic array of goodies. We loved the ritual of hammam scented candle (which has cool mineral notes) and the l’essential eau de parfum, with its rich, spicy and sultry scent.
We also appreciated the fact this advent calendar included descriptions of each product and how to use them, which was really helpful.
This small advent calendar comes with products for men to sample at Christmas and beyond. Brands such as L’Occitane, ESPA, Aromatherapy Associates and Clarins are paired with affordable options such as Bulldog, Mo Bros beard oil and even American brand Bath and Body Works, which is stocked at Next.
With just 12 days included in the countdown, there are fewer products to enjoy, but this feels like a satisfactory entry-level calendar for someone who has a pared back grooming routine. Full-size options include formulas from This Works and Aromatherapy Associates, while there’s also a mini shampoo and mini conditioner from Philip Kingsley – although, we think these two items could have been combined in one drawer, freeing up room for an extra product.
This the perfect way to find your new favourite Kiehl’s products. There’s a huge range of items to delve into with this calendar, which is comprised completely of miniatures (apart from the full-sized lip balm) from the American brand.
A gender neutral option, it’s perfect for men (and women) interested in getting serious with their skincare. There is a retinol product, eye cream, masks, overnight oil, the creme de corps body cream in its recognisable packaging and lots more.
The design of the box is a real highlight – with fun cartoonish motifs of festive shoppers and party-goers, created by duo of artists Icinori.
Another great option for men who are serious about skincare, this Clarins advent calendar features cult products, such as the brand’s double serum (with seven days’ worth of sachets in one of the drawers), alongside some other geat skin-loving products, such as the SOS pure mask and a full-size super moisture balm, which left our skin feeling refreshed and hydrated.
This would make a great gift for someone interested in products from a more-premium skincare brand, without worrying about spending too much – the cost of the two full-size products alone comes to £57, which is just £8 less than the price of the calendar.
Origins is a brand that brings together science and nature for effective skincare, and it’s one of our favourites. This advent calendar features a wide range of products, including bestsellers from the GinZing range powered by ginseng, which is said to have skin-brightening and potential wrinkle-reducing properties. You’ll find a glow-boosting mask and refreshing eye cream concealed within the calendar.
The bestselling line of products produced with Dr Andrew Weil (known for his use of medicinal plants) also features – the mega-mushroom soothing lotion is a highlight.
Although there is a wide range of products, they are all mini versions, but this calendar is still a great option for the man who wants to hone his skincare game and try several new formulas before investing in full-size favourites.
The Liberty men’s advent calendar is definitely one of the most exciting grooming gifts available at the moment. With 25 luxurious products from premium and luxury brands, it was truly a joy to open and it’s stunning visually. The high price point might put off some shoppers but the calendar’s contents are exceptionally curated.
For a great array of skincare products, the Kiehl’s limited edition holiday advent calendar offers everything from retinol and vitamin C treatments to eye cream and dark spot serums. Your whole skincare routine is covered with this calendar, and it’s great for choosing which full-sized products to purchase or request from Santa.
Read for our guide to some of the best gifts for men that will be perfect for Christmas