roonee As summer draws to a close, my mind has immediately skipped forward to Christmas — and more importantly, advent calendars. Every year I write about the ones I buy (and sometimes the ones I’m kindly sent), but I this year I want to start with a firm favourite: the Holland & Barrett Advent Calendar.
This is now my third year in a row buying it, which tells you everything you need to know! At just £50, I think it’s an absolute steal, especially considering how much value you get inside. The website tells me that the value of the contents is a whopping £232! As soon as I spotted it was available for 2025, I popped it straight in my basket — and, impressively, it actually arrived less than 12 hours later. I can’t promise that’s the standard turnaround, but it was a nice surprise.
What I love most about this calendar is how it feels like such an easy, curated way to try out new products. I don’t get overwhelmed with the “what should I try next?” dilemma — the decision has been made for me, and it’s usually spot on. Many of the products are cruelty free, vegan, or eco-friendly, which is exactly what I like to support.
Over the last couple of years, I’ve discovered so many gems from these calendars — not just nice one-off samples, but products I’ve gone on to repurchase again and again. My top two favourites have to be the Beauty Kitchen night cream and the Ecodenta toothpaste. Both are now staples in my routine thanks to past advent calendars. I actually use lots of Beauty Kitchen products now, and it was all sparked from the advent calendar!
Another thing that always impresses me is how many full-size products they include. It never feels like a box full of tiny sachets you’ll forget about — there’s real value here. And the presentation? Gorgeous. This year’s box is no exception: beautifully designed and nice enough to leave on display right through December.
I’m resisting spoilers for now, but if you want to peek at exactly what’s inside, the full contents are listed on the Holland & Barrett website. Personally, I prefer the surprise, but it’s nice to know you can check before you buy if you want.
I can’t wait to start opening the goodies on December 1st. If the past two years are anything to go by, this calendar is going to be an absolute treat.
