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When it comes to beauty advent calendars, No7 really paved the way and led the charge on what would become an incredibly popular festive trend. Launching their first calendar in the early 2010s, the beauty brand has developed a dedicated and loyal cult following who continue to sell them out year after year.
Beauty advent calendars have skyrocketed in popularity over the last five years, and there are so many to choose from. Not only do they provide the opportunity to stock up on some of the must have makeup and skincare essentials, they also allow you to discover new products across a range of exciting brands. The contents are usually worth at least double the price you pay, meaning you can save money on your stash, or split the products between friends and family over the festive season as stocking fillers as a way to spread the cost further.
And while Christmas may seem a way off yet, advent isn’t, and you wouldn’t want to miss out on unboxing a little slice of luxury each day in December because you forgot to order one, right? Over the next few weeks, I’ll be unboxing some of the best beauty Christmas countdowns for 2023 to help you decide which one to snap up ready for December 1.
A decade ago, Boots stocked their first No7 beauty advent calendar for £35, offering £130 worth of products, including a mix of skin care, make up, nail varnish and make up brushes. It didn’t take long for them to sell out online and in store, so in the coming years, Boots would go on to launch multiple calendars each year, doubling their offer to two different versions.
Back when I worked at the retailer between 2015 and 2018, shoppers would queue down the street to get their hands on one for launch day, and the store stock would quite literally fly from the shelves on day one. Today, they remain one of the fastest selling advent calendars on the market, having sold one every 10 seconds in the first seven days of launch in 2022.
This year, Boots launched not only their ultimate beauty advent calendar, which sold out almost immediately, but also three skincare calendars designed for shoppers of different ages: Lift and Luminate calendar, Restore and Renew, or Protect and Perfect editions – the latter of which features in this review.
Each of the No7 beauty advent calendars come in at £54.95, and contain between £208 and £227 worth of makeup essentials and skincare saviours, depending on which one you pick. When it comes to deciding which one to go for, it’s worth taking a look at which one is best suited to your skin, with the Protect and Perfect range targeted to shoppers aged 30-45, while Lift and Luminate is designed for those aged 45-60, with the Restore and Renew collection made for more mature skin aged 60+.
In each of the calendars, 18 of the 25 products are identical, with the remaining seven being tailored to your skin type. What’s more is that those who do buy the calendar each year will be thrilled to know that much of the contents haven’t been featured in previous years, with 72 per cent of the treats tucked inside being new additions. The calendar boasts 15 full sized products and 10 travel-sized minis, as well as three limited edition products you can’t buy elsewhere, giving customers the chance to snap up a special version of some of their favourite products.
The No7 advent calendar opens up to reveal 25 red, pink and gold numbered boxes, each containing one of No7’s best-loved products, with 100 per cent of the shades being brand new for 2023. Inside is a mix of skincare staples, party makeup picks, targeted products and even a voucher for a No7 Moisture Drench Lipstick, so that you can choose your own shade, with Boots saying that everything is suitable for sensitive skin unless otherwise stated.
No7’s makeup selection should not be slept on, with their Skin Illuminator still being one of my favourite multi-use products. The liquid highlighter gives such a beautiful luminous sheen to the cheeks, while used under makeup, it offers a glow to rival the Charlotte Tilbury Wonderglow. Meanwhile, their Eyebrow Microfilling Pen has a super fine nib that’s great for recreating hair strokes, and could be likened to my favourite Glossier Brow Flick.
I’m super fussy when it comes to mascara, but the Full 360 Mascara, usually £13.95, has seriously won me over, but the star of the cosmetics collection has to be the Limited Edition Lip Glaze in the new shade Heavenly. Similar to the Fenty Gloss Bombs, the cosmic-inspired glaze has been formulated for a glossy, reflective finish with a rich nude colour that is perfect for the festive party season.
On the skincare front, you pretty much get a complete new routine and more, taking the fuss out of curating a step-by-step routine as you already know the products will work with and complement one another. The Protect and Perfect calendar contains a selection of products from the range, including a day cream, night cream, serum and eye cream, as well as a cleansing water, lip balm and hydrating hand and nail cream. Each of these products are designed to work in sync with each other to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and leave skin looking fresh.
Alongside these targeted products are a collection of universal skincare saviours to try, including a Cleansing Pad for wiping away makeup, a toning water, and the Laboratories Firming Booster Serum, which I’ve heard amazing things about. Usually £34.95 for 30ml, this mini version offers the chance to trial it and see if you think it’s worth committing to a full size. Top tip though, I have seen this featured in the Boots £10 Tuesday offers in the past, so keep checking and make sure if you do buy it, you get it on a discount day.
In addition, there’s also a travel-friendly version of the No7 Pure Retinol 0.3% RETINOL Night Concentrate – which has become one of the brand’s top sellers since it launched – and again a great one to ‘try before you buy’, as well as a 75ml toning water that’s suitable for all skin types, and the Total Renewal Micro-dermabrasion Face Exfoliator.
I really like how No7 has really maximised their advent calendar with 25 gifts inside, whereas many only have 24. This particular calendar has a total value of £208, saving shoppers over £150 on the overall cost. If you’re interested to know the full contents, I’ll share the list below in no particular order:
- No7 Radiance+ Daily Energising Exfoliating Cleanser 50ml – full size
- No7 Eyebrow Microfilling Pen Brown 0.6g – full size
- No7 Skin Illuminator 30ml – full size
- No7 Protect & Perfect Lip Care 10ml – full size
- No7 Beautiful Skin Revitalising Hand Polish 75ml – full size
- No7 Limited Edition Eye Colour Brush – full size
- No7 Beautiful Skin Softening Foot Scrub 75ml – full size
- No7 Stay Perfect TM Eye Pencil Black 1.2g – full size
- No7 Total Renewal Micro-dermabrasion Face Exfoliator 75ml – full size
- No7 Protect & Perfect Intense ADVANCED Daily Hydration Hand & Nail Cream 75ml – full size
- No7 Moisture Drench Lipstick Voucher – full size
- No7 Cleansing Pad – full size
- No7 The Full 360 Mascara Black 7ml – full size
- No7 Limited Edition Lip Glaze Heavenly 3.3ml – full size
- No7 Limited Edition Lipstick Heavenly 3.3g – full size
- No7 Pure Retinol 0.3% RETINOL Night Concentrate 10ml – mini
- No7 Toning Water FOR ALL SKIN TYPES 75ml – mini
- No7 LABORATORIES FIRMING Booster Serum 3ml – mini
- No7 Protect & Perfect Intense Advanced DUAL ACTION Cleansing Water 50ml – mini
- No7 Beautiful Skin Blissful Body Wash 50ml – mini
- No7 Beautiful Skin Completely Quenched Body Milk 50ml – mini
- No7 Protect & Perfect Intense ADVANCED Day Cream 25ml – mini
- No7 Protect & Perfect Intense ADVANCED Night Cream 25ml – mini
- No7 Protect & Perfect Intense ADVANCED Serum 5ml – mini
- No7 Protect & Perfect Intense ADVANCED Eye Cream 5ml – mini
After ten years, No7 aren’t just keeping up with the beauty advent calendar trend, but are continuing to pioneer it, coming up with new ideas and ways to make each years’ festive offering more exciting than the last. The thoughtfully designed calendars cater to different age groups, ensuring that customers receive products tailored to their skincare needs, while the addition of new and exclusive items make it perfect for discovering new favourites.
While the price may have risen by just under £20 since they launched, so too has the value and both the 2014 and 2023 actually have the same price to product value ratio, saving 73 per cent on the overall worth. Whether it’s the dazzling Limited Edition Lip Glaze or the skincare staples from the Protect and Perfect range, No7’s advent calendar continues to be a festive delight, offering a luxurious journey through 25 days of beauty discoveries.
