'I unboxed Next's beauty advent calendar which contains £385 worth of products'

I have been covering Next extensively this year, particularly its fashion releases. I am particularly a fan of Rochelle Humes' edits, as I think she consistently knocks it out of the park each season.

When I think of Next, clothes and homeware come to mind, but the retailer also has a beauty department and releases limited-edition beauty boxes throughout the year. To ring in the Christmas season, the high-street favourite has released two beauty advent calendars this year.

Shoppers can choose between the 25 Days of Beauty Advent Calendar and the Luxury Beauty Advent Calendar. The former is priced at £95 and contains goodies worth more than £385.

As a fashion and beauty writer, I had the opportunity to unbox and test the products in the 25 Days of Beauty Advent Calendar ahead of the Christmas season. Firstly, let's talk about the packaging; the festive countdown comes in a traditional red box with a matching ribbon.

The box has a lid which lifts up like a jewellery box, and each of the goodies is encased in a numbered box. It's weighty and feels special. It feels like a treat to open up each day.

Hydration is key for winter skin routines, and I love vitamin C and gel formulas. So, I was delighted to discover a mini tube of Emma Hardie's Vitamin C Radiance Gel Moisturiser in Next's 25 Days of Beauty Advent Calendar. The face cream promises to 'brighten skin, hydrate, provide antioxidant protection, and boost radiance'.

I've not been away for long, and my skin could do with a little TLC. The gel formula sinks into my dry skin immediately and feels like a drink for my much-needed complexion. It's also really nice to wear under makeup as the vitamin C gives my skin a glow-from-within look. A similar product worth mentioning is This Works In Transit Vit C Serum, which offers similar complexion-boosting properties.

As I began unboxing some of the other beauty treats, I realised I had used a few of the products before, some of which I love dearly. One of my favourites is NUXE's Multi-Purpose Dry Oil, and once applied, leaves a glowy, non-sticky sheen on my skin. Although this product is typically associated with summer body care, it's great for the party season when I want my decolletage, shoulders, and legs to have a glow on festive nights out.

Another tried-and-true product featured in the calendar is Sanctuary Spa Body Lotion; the product has a clean scent that remains timeless, regardless of the season. Plus, the travel size means I can pop it in my suitcase the next time I go away.

One product I wasn't keen on was Bath & Body Works' A Thousand Wishes body mist; it has a cheap synthetic smell which reminds me of the Impulse body sprays I used to douse myself in as a teenager. I have been wanting to try something from the brand since Next started stocking it a couple of years back, and I was a bit disappointed with my introduction to its products.

Another product I enjoyed using was Dr PAWPAW's Original Balm. I drench my lips in the balm before bed, and in the morning, my dry and chapped lips are nourished and hydrated.

In keeping with lip products, the Pixi Hydra Lip Treat in Nectar is worthy a mention. It's a nude rosewood type of shade that will suit most skin types. The tinted chubby stick is made with hyaluronic acid and natural oils, which made my lips feel nourished while also adding a subtle pop of colour.

Another product I was really pleased to find in the Christmas countdown was OPI's iconic Bubble Bath Nail Lacquer. I don't tend to do my own nails as they never last longer than a day or two, so I'll be taking this with me on my next visit to the nail salon.

In conclusion, Next's 25 Days of Beauty Advent Calendar is a suitable option for consumers who love beauty but don't typically treat themselves to new products frequently throughout the year. It's packed full of some festive-ready goodies from leading brands, such as Pixi, Emma Hardie, and Iconic London. Additionally, many of the makeup and skincare products will remain popular going into 2026.

However, if shoppers have been wanting to snap up a beauty countdown for some years now, I think this calendar might be underwhelming because many of the inclusions are similar to those you may have had in previous years. For example, I have received the Percy and Rees haircare product twice before in previous Advent calendars (the same goes for Philip Kingsley and This Works).

Elsewhere, Anthropologie has just released its 24 Days of Beauty Advent Calendar, it costs £98 and is worth £365. It contains products from Natasha Denona, L’Occitane, Malin + Goetz, OPI and more.

Other beauty advent calendars available for purchase include the Boots Macmillan 24 Doors of Joy Beauty Advent Calendar, priced at £90, and the Neom 24 Days of Wellbeing Advent Calendar, priced at £190.

• Bath & Body Works A Thousand Wishes Travel Size Fine Fragrance Body Mist 2.5 fl oz / 75 ml (Worth £10)
• Delilah Colour Gloss Ultimate Shine Lipgloss in Minx (Worth £24)
• Dr.PAWPAW Original Balm 10ml (Worth £4.25)
• BEAUTYPRO Retinol Eye Mask (Worth £2)
• Korres Santorini Grape Shower Gel 40ml (Worth £5)
• OPI Nail Lacquer in Bubble Bath 15ml (Worth £15.60)
• Percy & Reed Give Me Strength Strengthening Shampoo 50ml (Worth £10)
• Percy & Reed Give Me Strength Strengthening Conditioner 50ml (Worth £10)
• Pixi Hydra Lip Treat in Nectar (Worth £8)
• Bloom & Blossom HANDS UP Anti-ageing Hand Cream 25ml (Worth £12)
• Nails inc. Superfood Repair Oil 14ml (Worth £15)
• Brush Works Skinny Satin Scrunchies (Worth £4.99)
• Emma Hardie 20ml Vitamin C Radiance Gel Moisturiser (Worth £22)
• NUXE Huile Prodigieuse® Multi-Purpose Dry Oil for Face, Body and Hair 50ml (Worth £23)
• Floral Street Sweet Almond Blossom 10ml (Worth £29)
• Sanctuary Spa Signature Collection Body Lotion 75ml (Worth £3.50)
• Spectrum Collections Pink Blending Makeup Sponge (Worth £7)
• ICONIC London Warming Lights Eyeshadow Palette (Worth £24)
• Philip Kingsley Elasti-Styler 5 in 1 40ml (Worth £13)
• Benefit Badgal Bang Mascara Mini (Worth £15)
• This Works In Transit Vit C Serum 30ml (Worth £40)
• Hello Sunday Dark Spot Oil Serum SPF 40 with Hexylresorcinol - 30ml (Worth £25)
• Aromatherapy Associates De-Stress Muscle Gel 40ml (Worth £10)
• Bondi Sands Pure Self Tanning Sleep Mask Renew 75ml (Worth £15)
• The Flat Lay Co. Tropical Leaves Oversized Satin Sleep Eye Mask (Worth £14)
• Stoneglow Sea Salt & Oakmoss Votive (Worth £13)
• Rituals The Ritual of Jing Salt Body Scrub 125g (Worth £11.50)