I tried the Space NK Advent calendar — it contains £1,200 worth of beauty and TEN extra products

Credit: Emma Hobday AFTER 10 years working in the beauty industry, it’s fair to say that I’ve become pretty picky when it comes to beauty Advent calendars. I can spot a standout in an instant – and one that’s certainly caught my eye this year is the Space NK Beauty Advent Calendar. 26 out of the 35 items inside are full size. Credit: Emma Hobday Space NK Beauty Advent Calendar, £275 (worth £1,200) The main reason is that it has a whopping 35 products inside. Sign up for the Shopping newsletter Thank you! That’s 10 more than the standard Advent calendar, with one product for each day leading up to Christmas. Not only that, but 26 of those are full size, meaning only nine are mini sizes. In my opinion, the Space NK Beauty Advent Calendar is up there with the rest of the greats. Space NK Beauty Advent Calendar: Quickfire Q&A How much is it? It’s priced at £275, but it’s worth just over four times that, at £1,200. Who’s it best for? Everyone! There’s a great mix of tried-and-tested beauty heroes alongside newer brands, like Saltair and Phlur. What we loved: The days of finding just one product in a drawer are over. This calendar stars 35 products, 26 of which are full size. What we didn’t love: The packaging is slightly teen, but as a 30-something, this really didn’t bother me. There’s a great mix of everything, although skincare, makeup and haircare feature the most, followed by a few fragrance and body care options, and even a tool – a Refy Lash Curler. I don’t know about you, but I would much rather find something new than find repeat products from last year’s Advent calendar. I’m pleased to report that Space NK has answered my beauty wishes, with every product being a new addition to the 2026 Advent calendar. Most read in Shopping Just some of the haircare, skincare and makeup treats inside Credit: Emma Hobday Beauty fans can expect generous sizes across the board, such as a 150ml Summer Fridays Pink Dew Gel Cleanser, a 150ml BYOMA Hydrating Milky Toner, and a 30ml Sunday Riley Good Genes Lactic Acid Treatment. Glowing, healthy skin at Christmas? Big tick. The VIEVE Skin Nova Instant Radiance Primer went in my makeup bag quicker than you can say ‘VIEVE’, alongside the Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Light Wand in Pinkgasm and the Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Lip Gloss in Fu$$y – which also make the grounds of a pretty makeup look. Those looking to create bouncy waves or sleek strands for the festive season will no doubt make use of the 118ml K18 HAIR HeatBounce Conditioning Heat Protectant, as well as the 200ml Color Wow Dream Cocktail Carb-Infused Thickening Treatment. An impressive 500ml of The Booster Hyaluronic Acid Body Wash from Naturium Credit: Emma Hobday Winning the prize for the largest beauty product I’ve ever seen in an Advent calendar is the 500ml The Booster Hyaluronic Acid Body Wash from Naturium. Although it’s worth only £19, it will help to keep the barrier on your body in check over the freezing winter, helping skin stay hydrated and more resilient to dryness (it’s also something the whole family can use, if you’re happy to share). Body care also made another appearance in the form of a 100ml Augustinus Bader The Body Cream, worth a whopping £92. Fragrance goodies are also included. Credit: Emma Hobday Space NK also made sure to include some fragrance – and the D.S. & Durga Debaser In Bloom Eau de Parfum and Phlur Missing Person Eau de Parfum will be ideal for travel in their 7.5ml sizes. There’s also a hit of decadence (it is Christmas, after all) with a mini 15ml La Mer Crème de la Mer Moisturising Cream, worth £85 alone. There are no ‘filler’ products to speak of (although as a lash-curler-phobe, I need to get the hang of using the Refy Lash Curlers). Dare I say that this is Space NK’s best Advent calendar yet. The Verdict It genuinely takes a lot to impress me in beauty, but Space NK’s 2026 Advent calendar has nailed it. All of the products are from quality, high-end brands that you may love already or have been meaning to try. The total of 35 products means it really stands out from the crowd – and you don’t usually get as many as 26 full sizes either. Want it? You know what to do. Shop the Space NK Beauty Advent Calendar, £275 (worth £1,200) – buy here Comment now