I've already got the £120 LOOKFANTASTIC Beauty Advent Calendar worth more than £665 - it's worth waiting for

The LOOKFANTASTIC Beauty Advent Calendar is arguably one of the most eagerly anticipated beauty calendars on the market.

For 2026, it offers something it has never done before and puts the product selection in the hands of beauty insiders, industry names and members of the LOOKFANTASTIC team.

So, this year’s offering has been curated by big names in the business including Sarah Jossel, Ash Holme, Dom Seeley, Molly-Mae, Sam McKnight and Olivia Attwood. That gives the line-up a more personal feel, almost like having a group of beauty experts recommend their own favourites to you.

It’s a very impressive collection that they have chosen too. The calendar costs £120 but is worth more than £665, with 19 full-size products and several deluxe size products among the contents. On paper, that makes the stated saving 82%, which is particularly impressive for a beauty calendar featuring so many recognisable names.

There is something for almost every part of a beauty routine too, from cleanser, moisturiser and eye cream to mascara, brow products, lip colour, haircare, bodycare and fragrance. There is even a home fragrance addition from The White Company.

With big-name favourites such as Medik8, Clinique, MAC, Elemis, Benefit, Anastasia Beverly Hills and The Ordinary sitting alongside newer or less familiar names, I was intrigued to see whether the LOOKFANTASTIC Beauty Advent Calendar 2026 could offer the right balance of familiar favourites and exciting discoveries.

What I like about the LookFantastic advent calendar

The first thing that stands out is the sheer variety or products included. If you get bored of advent calendars that feel like 24 variations of the same few products, this one is much more exciting to open.

One door could bring you the Medik8 Total Moisture Cleanser, while another contains a LANEIGE Vanilla Lip Glowy Balm. There is also beloved favourites from the Color Wow Kale Cocktail, Clinique Moisture Surge 100H Auto-Replenishing Hydrator, MAC Fix+ Setting Spray and Benefit Roller Lash Mascara. That's a strong collection of beauty staples before you even get to some of the more unusual additions.

The mix of full-size and deluxe-size products is another big positive. With 19 full-size products included, you are getting considerably more than a collection of the tiny samples seen in some calendars. Some of the full-size products also have impressive individual values, including the £42 Clinique moisturiser, £47 Aveda Cherry Almond Softening Shampoo and Conditioner duo and £78 Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Night Cream, which makes the £120 price tag extremely attractive.

The £98 RRP of the Avant Hyaluronic Acid Molecular Boost Eye Cream also makes that particular door stand out. Considering the entire calendar costs £120, that one product alone represents a substantial chunk of the purchase price.

I also like that there are plenty of different categories represented. There is skincare from Medik8, Clinique, Elemis, Avant and The Ordinary, make-up from MAC, Benefit, Anastasia Beverly Hills and Made By Mitchell, haircare from Aveda and Hair by Sam McKnight, and bodycare from Aveeno and Ameliorate.

Then there are the fun extras, such as the Sol de Janeiro Cheirosa 40 Perfume Mist, The White Company Amalfi Lemon Home Spray and Spectrum Collections Sponge Duo. It feels like a calendar designed to keep surprising you rather than one that follows a predictable formula.

The insider-curated concept is probably my favourite part. Knowing that each product has been chosen by a beauty insider, industry name or member of the LOOKFANTASTIC team gives the contents more personality and means I trusted it, even if I wasn’t familar with it before I opened one of those magical little doors.

In that way, I like that it has introduced me to products I would not necessarily have picked for myself - but the beauty insiders have definitely got it right. The even better news is, because these are all generously sized products and there is such a broad variety, I won’t have to re-stock my beauty cupboard for quite a while now.

What I don’t like about the LookFantastic advent calendar

The biggest downside is that £120 is still a significant amount to spend on an advent calendar. Yes, the stated value of more than £665 makes the saving look excellent, but you still have to be willing to spend £120 upfront.

There isn’t really a downside apart from that, in my view. It’s worth noting that because the calendar has such a broad mix, there will inevitably be products that appeal more to some people than others. A beauty lover who is particularly interested in skincare, for example, may not be as excited by a home spray or make-up sponge, while someone who loves discovering make-up might be thrilled by those additions.

If you find something that isn’t your favourite in and amongst the collection, you can always gift it to a loved one. Plus, the exceptional value will still be maintained even if you’re not keen on a handful of the products.

My Verdict

I think LOOKFANTASTIC has done something interesting with its 2026 Beauty Advent Calendar. The insider-curated concept makes this stand out against any other calendar on the market this year, while the combination of big beauty names, cult favourites and newer discoveries means there is plenty to get excited about.

The value is arguably the biggest reason to consider it. At £120 for contents worth more than £665, with 19 full-size products and several deluxe size products included, there is a substantial amount of beauty packed inside. The fact that some individual products have RRPs running into the £40 to £98 range makes the overall saving even more eye-catching.

What I particularly like is that it doesn't feel predictable and it truly is a surprise what’s behind each door. You get skincare, make-up, haircare, bodycare, fragrance and even home fragrance, so there should be something different waiting behind each door.

Of course, £120 isn't an impulse purchase, and you should only buy it if you think you will actually use a good proportion of the contents. But if you love beauty advent calendars and enjoy discovering products recommended by people who work in the industry, the LookFantastic 2026 Beaury Calendar is particularly strong contender for Christmas 2026.

Buy the LookFantastic 2026 Beauty Calendar now. Please be aware, it will begin shipping from September 22.

• Please note that delivery charges may apply.