Benefit's £135 advent calendar nails festive fun factor and contains something for every beauty fan

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Benefit Cosmetics can take a bow because this year, they have delivered what is hands-down the most fun-to-unbox countdown of 2025. So fun, in fact, I had to surrender the empty box to my almost two-year-old nephew almost immediately after filming my review.

The brand has nailed the festive fun factor with its packaging. Housed in an interactive Rubik’s cube-style box, the three layers twist and spin, with drawers that open to reveal 24 numbered boxes containing some of Benefit’s most loved and iconic products.

Inside is everything you need to create a full face of glam, and to take it all back off again at the end of the night. Containing over £266 worth of premium makeup and skincare, beauty lovers can expect to find a range of full sized and mini staples, including a mix of newer releases and OG favourites, all for £135.

One of the hero products is the 24 Hour Brow Setter – one of the best clear brow gels on the market for ensuring unruly brows stay put all day. It can be worn alone, or teamed with the included Gimme Brow mini and Fluff Up Brow Wax for the ultimate laminated look.

If you’re a mascara lover, you’ll be spoiled for choice, with a full sized BADgal BANG mascara, alongside four fun-sized versions of They’re Real, Rollerlash, Fan Fest and Bounce, which provides the ultimate opportunity to discover your favourite formula.

No Benefit set is complete without the Hoola bronzer, with an array of blush options to pair it with, including everyone’s favourite lip and cheek stain, Benetint. There are also four powder options in an assortment of shades which are such a great size. Big enough to make an impact, but small enough to travel – plus blushes last such a long time, so there’s really no need for anything larger.

There are a few extra surprises like eye patches, makeup remover pads, and even a Benefit scrunchie, all very usable and even practical. I must admit, while there’s always at least one Benefit makeup product in my cosmetics bag, I’d not tried any of their skincare range until I got the calendar. The POREfessional Get Unblocked pore-clearing makeup-removing cleansing oil is ideal for melting off makeup, with the Good Cleanup featured for those who prefer a foaming formula.

Here’s everything inside the Benefit Glam Cube Calendar:

BADgal BANG! BIGGER, BADDER volumizing mascara in intense pitch black | full-size
Benetint rose-tinted lip & cheek stain | full-size
24-HR Brow Setter 24-hour invisible shaping & setting gel for brows | full-size
Hoola powder bronzer in original | mini
Willa soft neutral-rose blush | mini
Shellie warm seashell-pink blush | mini
Dandelion baby-pink brightening blush | mini
Crystah strawberry pink blush | mini
The POREfessional smoothing primer to minimize the look of pores | mini
The POREfessional Smooth Sip lightweight smoothing moisturizer for pores | mini
They’re Real! beyond mascara in jet black | fun-size
Roller Lash super-curling & lifting mascara in black | fun-size
Fan Fest fanning & volumizing mascara in hyper black | fun-size
BADgal Bounce FULLER, FLUFFIER volumizing mascara in pump’d up black | fun-size
The POREfessional: Super Setter long-lasting makeup setting spray | fun-size
The POREfessional Deep Retreat pore-clearing clay mask | fun-size
The POREfessional Good Cleanup pore-purifying foaming cleanser | fun-size
The POREfessional Get Unblocked pore-clearing makeup-removing cleansing oil | fun-size
Dew-la-la liquid glow in luna | fun-size
Fluff Up Brow Wax flexible brow-texturizing wax | fun-size
Gimme Brow+ brow-volumizing fiber gel in shade 3 (neutral light brown) | fun-size
Eye Gotta Glow hydrogel undereye mask
Makeup Removers makeup-removing pads
Scrunchie hair scrunchie

Benefit’s advent calendars have always been crowd-pleasers but this one feels especially generous. It’s the perfect mix of makeup and skincare, faithful favourites and new discoveries and the variety means there’s something for every beauty fan, whether you’re a mascara devotee or a blush collector (I happen to be both). Playful, beautifully branded and loaded with products you’ll actually use, Benefit’s Glam Cube has cemented itself as one of the most-exciting countdowns of the season.