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This year’s crop of beauty advent calendars has been highly competitive, with dozens of retailers going head to head to offer the biggest and best countdowns to the festive season. But sometimes, less is more, and 17 Cosmetics has released a vibrant and fun calendar that will inject an extra dose of joy into your December days.
There’s something incredibly charming and nostalgic about this calendar. Coming in a playful, star-shaped box holding 24 colourful, numbered boxes, 17’s countdown feels fun and festive from the off. Originally £30, it’s down to £24, meaning every item inside works out at exactly £1 each, so it’s one of the most budget-friendly picks of the year.
Among the highlights are a nude lipstick and lip oil, both of which are wearable, practical, and perfect for daily use. The clear brow gel is another strong addition, with beauty accessories like the compact mirror and stretchy makeup headband, making for genuinely useful and well thought out inclusions. And, leaning into the festive spirit, there are some some top party hero picks, including a red lipstick and gold shimmer eyeshadow, as well as a mini red nail polish, which I’ll no doubt give myself a last-minute pedicure with on Christmas eve.
However, despite the cheerful presentation and a few truly useful products, there are some drawbacks that prevent this advent calendar from shining this season. Firstly, all of the products are limited edition, which means even if you fall in love with a particular formula, you won’t be able to repurchase it once it runs out. Considering that 17 Cosmetics has released some impressive items in their regular lineup since their 2022 relaunch, namely, their Extreme Extension Mascara – it’s a shame that this calendar doesn’t use the opportunity to showcase those products. Instead, the focus on limited edition minis might leave some feeling a little disappointed, especially since the quality across all products isn’t consistently strong and doesn’t accurately reflect 17 as a brand, in my opinion.
Another drawback is that some items, such as the mini tweezers and mini nail clippers, feel a little bit Christmas cracker-y rather than pampering. Instead, they could have been replaced with more exciting or unique beauty products that could have made the calendar feel more special. But, if you want to take a peek at what’s inside for yourself, here’s everything inside the 17 Cosmetics beauty advent calendar:
- Mini eye shadow – Lilac 2.5g
- Mini eye shadow – Gold 2.5g
- Mini Bronzer 2.5g
- Mini Blush 2.5g
- Mini Highlighter 2.5g
- Beauty blender
- Mini nail varnish Red 3ml
- Eye pencil black 0.25g
- Mini Mascara 2.5ml
- Mini lip Gloss 3.5ml
- Mini Setting Spray 10ml
- Lip balm 7g
- Mini Face Primer 10ml
- Mini Clear Brow Gel 3.5ml
- Emery board nail file
- Lipstick pink red lipstick 3.5g
- Nude lipstick 3.5g
- Lip Oil 3.5ml
- Eyeshadow brush
- Mini tweezers
- Mini nail clippers
- Mini bath fizzer – pink 25g
- Blush/bronzer Brush
- Mini Compact Mirror
- Stretchy Makeup Headband
Despite a couple of criticisms, the 17 Countdown of Joy Advent Calendar still manages to deliver plenty of positives. The fun design, paired with some genuinely nice surprises like the mini eyeshadows and mascara, plus on-the-go-friendly setting spray adds enough charm to make it a worthwhile holiday treat, especially for first-time beauty advent calendar owners and younger beauty fans. If you can overlook some of the less thrilling inclusions, there is still plenty to enjoy here, and at this price point, it’s a playful and affordable way to spread holiday cheer.
