These are the best beauty advent calendars for women over 50 – packed with anti-ageing products worth FOUR TIMES as much as the calendars cost
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Gone are the days when a sickly little chocolate bar behind an advent calendar door – or even just a vaguely festive image – would get us excited, now we all need some blockbuster beauty. Perhaps the need is a little too strong; It’s certainly not easy to come up with extra cash ahead of Christmas, especially as we’re all gearing up for the Budget this year. But if you’re obsessed with beauty and use enough products throughout the year to make it worth it, advent calendars can give you a lot of bang for your buck. The trick is to scan the contents like a hawk before you buy and choose one filled with things you’ll actually use (as opposed to obscure items you’ll never open).
To me, that means it has to be multi-branded and full of adult labels. That’s why this film from John Lewis is my top pick. Okay, so £235 is a lot of money, but the ingredients list reads like a guide to the entire Peter Jones beauty salon and it’s worth £1095. Highlights for me include the full size Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour creamChantecaille mascara (what a wonderful thing!), Laura Mercier eyeshadow, Kate Sommervile peeling and a Rodial lip oil, and a Le Labo perfumeA. Charlotte Tilbury lipstickA. Trinny eyeshadow, and a cuddly toy (not really but you get the idea…)
Other hits include a full-size viral ‘Bum Bum’ cream from Sol De Janeiro – your daughter will love you – and mini scents from both Killian and Frederic Malle (yes, that’s Portrait of a Woman – it doesn’t work on me, but I know most middle-aged women love it). Also, there is Full size eyelash and eyebrow serum from The Ordinary that people rave about (haven’t tried it yet) and Rituals foaming shower gel I confirm it is deliciously creamy and smells divine. Happy Advent!
Boots are my second choice. Again, I’m talking about full-size products that I would actually buy. Deep breath, here we have it… humidifier Drunk Elephant, Nars primer (great for giving that glow we’re all after this time of year), caudalie mask (I’ve been a fan of this excellent French brand for a long time), that cult Laneige lip balm, Estee Lauder cleanser, Fenty liquid lipstick, ONE Aveda authorized treatment and a Philip Kingsley elasticizer (If you’ve never tried this, you should!). Do you feel selfish for keeping all this to yourself? you can pass Sol De Janeiro perfume And Benefit Hoola to a younger family member.
When it comes to price, M&S is the winner. As for full size products, Clinique Mascara, and a Stila eyeliner (importantly, this is in a very wearable shade of Espresso which suits me best) a bath oil and a bottle of Benetint (I used to love this but the pigment is too much for my 49 year old cheeks and I don’t like the feel of it on my lips anymore) and Deep Sleep body lotion from This Works. When it comes to minis, there are some great ones Weleda Skin Food (dry hands began), Estee Lauder’s famous Night Repair Serum , Nuxe Huile Prodigeuse (going to a party with bare legs? Not without a spritz of this!) and gorgeous Emma Hardie Moringa Care Mask (throw this in your toiletry bag for your next mini break, your skin will thank you). This calendar really nails it when it comes to hair products – something I always think about when I go to the M&S beauty section – their hair game is impeccable. The brands here are all excellent; I love it Percy and Reed And Living Proof and Color Wow If you have thin hair like mine, the products listed here will help you increase your attractiveness. Stainless steel also available Gua Sha tool – useful for the morning after mulled wine.
