Aldi's Lacura beauty advent calendar 2026 - what I think of the budget calendar that costs just £1.60 a day

Aldi has brought back its 12 Days of Lacura Beauty Advent Calendar, and this year’s offering costs just over £1.60 a day and has a new and exciting addition.

The limited-edition calendar features a mix of skincare, make-up and haircare products from Aldi’s super popular and affordable Lacura range, including an exclusive plumping lip gloss that shoppers won’t find elsewhere in the collection.

With a combination of everyday beauty staples and little self-care treats, it could be an appealing option if you want to get into the festive spirit without spending a fortune. At less than £20, it costs considerably less than many of the premium beauty advent calendars on the market.

But is it worth picking up before it sells out? Here are my thoughts on it now I have unboxed it. Remember that Aldi doesn’t sell items on their website, so if you dio want the 12 Days of Lacura Beauty Advent Calendar you’ll have to head to your local store.

What I like about the Aldi Lacura beauty advent calendar

The biggest draw is the price. At £19.99, the 12 Days of Lacura Beauty Advent Calendar works out at just over £1.60 a day. That’s a lot less than a daily coffee shop run or lunch meal deal, and it is a very affordable way to discover a selection of beauty products.

There’s a good variety included in the calendar too, making it even better value for money. Rather than focusing solely on skincare or make-up, the products behind the 12 doors are for your lips, lashes, brows, hair and complexion, alongside accessories to help complete your routine.

The standout addition is the new and exclusive Lacura Perfect Peach Plumping Lip Gloss, which is exclusive to the calendar. The pretty gloss contains hyaluronic acid and vitamin E, and has been designed to help create a fuller-looking pout. I’ve been wearing it most days for a couple of weeks and I do think it enhances the look of my lips, but don’t be expecting a striking difference. Having said that, I love the subtle colour and the shine it adds, and I feel it performs just as well as much more expensive lip glosses so I am impressed.

I really appreciate brands that add products to their calendars that can only be purchased by buying it as this makes the calendar feel unique and extra special.

There are also familiar Lacura favourites included in the calendar, including the Vanilla Lip Balm, Girl Gone Bad Mascara and Hair Repair Oil. The lip products are my favourite from Lacura, I love the scent of the lip balm and it moisturises my lips with a small amount. I find the hair oil useful to smooth my frizz and boost shine.

Skincare fans have plenty to look forward to, too. The calendar includes a hyaluronic acid and pomegranate face mask, hydrogel eye pads containing aloe vera and caffeine, and a jade gua sha tool for an at-home pampering session. I love that while this is a very affordable calendar, the products still include highly-sought after beauty ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, and therefore still feel very luxurious.

I also like that there are practical extras behind some of the doors, such as silk scrunchie and claw clip, so you really do have everything you need to carry out a full beauty routine by the time you’ve opened the full calendar.

What I don’t like about this beauty advent calendar

The main thing to bear in mind with the 12 Days of Lacura Beauty Advent Calendar is that this is a budget beauty calendar, so you shouldn't expect every product to be full-sized. The collection includes a mixture of sizes, and while a few are full-size some items are small enough to be better suited to trying out a formula than replacing an everyday staple for long. But, this is only what I expected for a calendar that costs less than £20.

Finally, availability could be a drawback. As with all of Aldi’s Specialbuys, the stock of this calendar is limited, with stock varying between stores, so if you are keen to get your hands on the calendar I’d recommend shopping early rather than leave it until closer to December.

My Verdict

Aldi’s 12 Days of Lacura Beauty Advent Calendar is ideal for anyone who wants an affordable beauty countdown without stretching their Christmas budget.

For £19.99, it brings together a varied mix of skincare, make-up, haircare and accessories, with the exclusive Perfect Peach Plumping Lip Gloss giving it that little bit of festive sparkle. The combination of familiar Lacura favourites and products designed for an at-home pamper session is perfect for a little December treat.

It won't necessarily satisfy shoppers who want a luxury calendar filled with full-sized products, but that's not what it is so it’s not fair to compare it. This is instead an accessible way to try different beauty treats and enjoy a little festive self-care without spending a fortune.

Another Aldi advent calendar

Another alternative Aldi advent calendar that’s available to buy right now is the Hotel Collection Candle Advent Calendar (£24.99). It contains 25 festive scented candles, meaning that it costs just £1 per day and you get something for every day of December, so that’s incredible value.

Behind its 25 doors, fragrance fans will discover a 50g candle each day, with each one offering a burn time of up to eight hours. The line-up includes several seasonal scents, such as warm gingerbread, hot cocoa, frosted fir, white christmas, cinnamon spice and iced berries. The names alone make me feel festive, and the actual scents are warming and inviting without being overpowering, and now I want to put my Christmas decorations up.

I wouldn’t expect large candles for the price, but an eight hour burn time is very generous. I have found that burn time to be accurate, and I am pleased that it’s long enough to keep my home smelling beautiful all day long. Plus, it’s great that my home can smell different every day of December. It’s the ideal advent calendar choice for a house proud person who loves to feel warm and cosy.