Note – link below is for Cult Beauty advent calendar special edition, signature edition can be found hereI opened all 25 drawers of the 38-strong advent calendar (Lucy Smith/The Independent)As ever, the contents of Cult Beauty’s 25-day countdowns span make-up, skincare, haircare and bodycare, with the special edition also featuring fragrance. It’s worth noting that, unless you’re averse to having your scents chosen for you, the special edition advent is better value for money, with a worth of £1,185 versus £1,105 for the signature edition. You’ll also take home an extra five products and, as mentioned in my video above, the special edition skips out on brands such as Augustinus Bader, which are arguably overdone at this point. In both calendars, one product has sparked debate among the beauty community. While the Patrick Ta blush was an exciting inclusion in last year's calendar, its return in a different shade has left some beauty fans underwhelmed. Several have taken to social media to question the colour choice. TikTok creator @fashionableforecast even described it as “possibly the most unwearable shades I've ever seen”. That aside, Cult Beauty promised “more customer favourite brands than ever”, and it has seemingly delivered, with the likes of Vieve, Medik8, Gisou and more in the mix. Similarly, it has included a range of high-value full-size products. Namely, Allies of Skin azelaic & kojic advanced clarifying serum (worth £94), Sulwhasoo first care activating serum (worth £45) and, to satisfy Korean skincare lovers, Anua PDRN hyaluronic acid 100 moisturising cream (worth £24).Upon unboxing the products, I particularly enjoyed the Huda Beauty lip contour and found the formula to be soft and creamy when applying, but hardwearing and drink-proof in practice – exactly what you want. I’ve also previously reviewed a number of the items included in the line-up. For example, in my review of the Gisou honey gloss shampoo and conditioner, I described how “the shampoo ensures a thorough clean from root to tip without dryness” and praised the conditioner for its “perfect amount of hydration and nourishment.” Likewise, in my guide to the best setting sprays, I found that the Charlotte Tilbury airbrush flawless setting spray “kept my make-up intact for at least six hours” – which is no easy feat. I tested the items inside, including formulas that I've previously used (Lucy Smith/The Independent)My main criticism of the calendar would be the choice of products it has put forward from some excitement-worthy brands. Companies such as Westman Atelier, Hourglass and Elemis are always great to see in a beauty advent calendar. However, I’d argue complexion products are more Westman Atelier’s forte (versus mascaras) and beauty buffs aren’t looking for yet another red lipstick for Christmas. Similarly, if there’s one repeat inclusion I’m happy to see, it’s the Elemis cleansing balm...not an SPF. Admittedly with the Elemis SPF, it rounds off the selection of skincare nicely, but I wish CB would give a little more attention to the truly ‘cult’ products from these brands and others included. That said, Cult Beauty has hit the mark from a product curation standpoint, and considerably better than other calendars I’ve tested in this price range, namely Harrods and Liberty. It has expertly selected which items are better suited to miniature quantities – such as bulky shampoos, if travelling – and the inclusion of nine new launches from the past year shows a strong effort to keep things fresh. The brand selection isn’t recycled from previous years (something I felt Harrods and Liberty let buyers down with in 2026) and the fact that you’ll take home a full skincare routine from cleansing through to retinol impressed me.The advent calendars are now live and, if you’re considering shopping them – particularly the special edition – now’s not the time to hang about. Historically, the Cult Beauty advent calendar sells out fast.