Best Advent Calendars 2025: Ireland Buying Guide

There’s a certain magic to opening a little door each morning in December, and in Ireland the choice of what’s behind those doors has never been bigger. Whether you’re after a budget chocolate calendar from the local supermarket or a €300 beauty bonanza from Brown Thomas, the 2025 Advent calendar lineup is packed with options.

Number of doors in a classic Advent calendar: 24 or 25 ·
Typical start date: December 1 ·
Most common type sold: Chocolate Advent calendars ·
Average price of beauty Advent calendars (2025): £150–£250 ·
First known Advent calendar created: In Germany, circa 1850

Five facts stand out when you look at the landscape: the first Advent calendar dates to 1850s Germany, the standard door count is 24, and beauty calendars now dominate the Irish market.

The implication: if you’re shopping for a beauty calendar in Ireland, you’ll pay between €170 and €290 (at current exchange rates), and the decision often comes down to whether you want full-size products or a mix of samples.

What is the best Advent calendar to buy?

The best Advent calendar depends on your budget and what you want behind each door. Here are the top picks across categories.

• Best beauty overall: Sephora Favourites – 25 days, 41 products, 24 full-size, £225 (The Independent)
• Best budget beauty: Lookfantastic – 25 days, 28 products, 17 full-size, £105 (The Independent)
• Best for skincare: John Lewis – £235 (The Independent)
• Best for make-up: Cult Beauty – £240 (The Independent)
• Best for fragrance: Space NK – £160 (The Independent)

Best beauty Advent calendars

For 2025, beauty calendars dominate the market. The Sephora Favourites Advent Calendar, named best overall by The Independent, packs 41 products behind 25 doors – 24 of them full-size. At £225, it offers strong value per item, though shipping to Ireland may add cost. For a more affordable option, the Lookfantastic Beauty Advent Calendar at £105 still delivers 28 products, 17 of which are full-size (The Independent).

Irish shoppers can also consider the M&S Beauty Advent Calendar 2025, which scored 4.6 stars from 1,743 reviews on the Marks & Spencer Ireland site, with a 74% recommendation rate (Marks & Spencer Ireland). P. Louise offers the “Cruising Home For Christmas” calendar for €315.95 on its Irish site (P. Louise Ireland). Clarins provides two sizes: a 12-day version at £167 and a 24-day at £282 (Clarins Ireland).

Best chocolate Advent calendars

Chocolate calendars remain the most bought type in Ireland, typically priced between €5 and €30. Cadbury, Lindt and Nestlé are the dominant brands, available at supermarkets like Tesco, Dunnes and SuperValu. While exact 2025 product details are not yet released, seasonal launches typically appear in late October. For a premium option, Hotel Chocolat’s calendars – sold through its Irish website – offer higher cocoa content and more elaborate packaging.

Best luxury Advent calendars

Luxury beauty calendars push well beyond €200. The Brown Thomas Advent Calendar is a perennial favourite, though its 2025 contents and price have not yet been officially announced. Competitors include Harrods (ranked second in a 2026 reader poll by Really Ree, with over 10,000 votes) and Selfridges (Really Ree). Rituals offers the Wreath Advent Calendar at €98.90 (worth €166) and the Diorama at €131.90 (worth €194.60), both available through Irish stockists (The Gloss).

Best religious Advent calendars

The Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference runs a free digital Advent calendar each year, launching on the First Sunday of Advent. For 2025, that’s 30 November. The four weeks draw on the themes of love, joy, hope and peace (Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference). Physical religious calendars with Bible verses or nativity scenes are available from church bookshops and online retailers, typically under €25.

What are advent calendars used for?

• Religious origins: counting down the liturgical season of Advent
• Modern secular usage: a daily treat or gift leading to Christmas
• Types of contents: chocolate, beauty products, toys, alcohol, jewellery

Religious origins

The tradition began in 19th-century Germany. The first known Advent calendar was handmade around 1850 by Gerhard Lang, who later produced the first printed version in 1908 with Reichhold & Lang. The practice spread across Europe as a way to mark the four weeks of Advent, the season of preparation for Christmas. The Catholic Church observes Advent from the fourth Sunday before Christmas (Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference).

Modern secular usage

Today, most people buy Advent calendars simply for the fun of daily doors. Chocolate versions boomed in the 1950s when mass production made them affordable. In the 2000s, beauty brands began offering luxury calendars filled with samples and full-size products, turning the category into a major Christmas retail event (The Independent).

Types of contents

Beyond chocolate and beauty, you’ll find calendars featuring tea, cheese, wine, beer, Lego, jewellery, and even dog treats. The variety now mirrors the gift market itself. Beauty calendars remain the fastest-growing segment in Ireland and the UK, with average prices climbing to £150–£250.

The pattern: the shift from religious to commercial has expanded choice dramatically, but it also means buyers need to navigate a crowded market where price does not always equal value.

Is the M&S Advent calendar worth it?

The M&S Beauty Advent Calendar 2025 is listed on the company’s Irish site at an estimated retail price of around £50–£80 (exact price not confirmed at time of writing). With 25 products and a 4.6-star average across 1,743 reviews, it’s one of the most popular mid-range options (Marks & Spencer Ireland).

Compared to competitors: the Lookfantastic calendar at £105 includes more full-size items, while the Boots No7 calendar (if launched) targets a similar price bracket. The Brown Thomas calendar, when available, typically costs over €200 and contains high-end brands. For the price, M&S offers solid curation and reliable delivery to every county in Ireland.

What date do advent calendars start?

• Most commercial calendars: December 1
• Religious calendars: First Sunday of Advent
• 2025 First Sunday of Advent: 30 November

Traditional start date

The vast majority of chocolate and beauty Advent calendars begin on December 1, with door numbers 1 through 24. Some calendars include a 25th door for Christmas Day. The start date is consistent across brands sold in Ireland – from Cadbury to Clarins (Clarins Ireland).

First Sunday of Advent variation

The Catholic Church uses the liturgical calendar, so Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas. In 2025, that falls on 30 November. The Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference digital calendar goes live on that date (Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference).

Why some calendars start earlier

Beauty Advent calendars often go on sale in September and October, and some brands – like Rituals – physically ship the calendars to arrive by 1 October (The Gloss). This early release lets shoppers start opening doors in early November, a trend driven by social media unboxing culture.

The pattern: if you want a specific beauty calendar, buy by mid-October. Religious and chocolate calendars are usually available into December.

What is the most bought advent calendar?

Exact sales figures are not publicly available, but recurring best-sellers in Ireland include:

• Cadbury Advent Calendar – the dominant chocolate calendar, sold in almost every Irish supermarket
• Lindt Advent Calendar – a premium chocolate alternative, often the most searched
• M&S Beauty Advent Calendar – consistently one of the most reviewed calendars in its category (Marks & Spencer Ireland)
• Lookfantastic Beauty Advent Calendar – named by The Independent as best budget option and widely bought online
• Brown Thomas Advent Calendar – the luxury pick for Irish beauty shoppers

Really Ree’s reader poll of over 10,000 votes ranked Space NK first and Harrods second for beauty calendars in 2026, suggesting online buzz differs from in-store sales (Really Ree).

Comparison: Top Beauty Advent Calendars at a Glance

Six beauty calendars, one pattern: the more you spend, the higher the proportion of full-size products – but the best value per product sits in the mid-range.

The trade-off: Sephora delivers the most items per pound, but shipping to Ireland may eat into savings. Lookfantastic and M&S offer free delivery to Ireland above certain thresholds.

Specifications Table: Door Counts, Prices and Launch Details

Seven calendars, one takeaway: door count alone tells you little about value – you have to check product count and full-size ratio.

The implication: the best value per product is Sephora (€5.48 per product), followed by Lookfantastic (€3.75). But if you want a luxury name, Clarins charges €11.75 per door for its 24-day version.

Pros and Cons of Buying a Beauty Advent Calendar

Timeline: The Evolution of Advent Calendars

• 1850s: First known Advent calendar created in Germany by Gerhard Lang
• 1908: First printed Advent calendar published by Reichhold & Lang
• 1950s: Mass production of chocolate Advent calendars begins
• 2000s: Luxury beauty Advent calendars emerge, led by M&S and Harrods
• 2025: M&S, Brown Thomas, Lookfantastic, Clarins and others release their 2025 beauty Advent calendars in Ireland

The signal: from a simple handmade cardboard sheet to a €315 beauty box, the Advent calendar has become a major retail event. The next frontier is personalisation – calendars tailored to your skincare profile or dietary preferences.

Clarity: What We Know and What’s Unclear

What Buyers Are Saying

“Count down to Christmas with our advent calendars for the whole family.”

— Boots.ie product description

“We are delighted to be bringing you our digital Advent Calendar again this year.”

— Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference, announcing the 2025 online calendar

“The Sephora Favourites Advent Calendar is the best overall beauty calendar for 2025, offering 41 products in 25 doors.”

— The Independent, 2025 beauty advent calendar guide

The pattern: retailers emphasise family fun and variety, while reviewers focus on product density and value for money. The Catholic Bishops keep the spiritual dimension alive with a free offering that contrasts the commercial frenzy.

For beauty lovers in Ireland, the choice between M&S, Brown Thomas and online-only calendars like Lookfantastic or Sephora comes down to budget, brand preference, and how early you shop. The early bird doesn’t just get the worm – they get the calendar they actually want. For anyone still debating, the best advice is simple: decide now, bookmark the page, and buy as soon as you see it in stock.

Frequently asked questions