Let’s Be Real: Beauty Advent Calendars Can Be a Scam—I Found 7 With an Actually Good Value

Total value: $1,147Total products: 24Full-size products: 13 (!!)Why we love it: The Cosmo beauty team was floored at this advent calendar last year, fully reviving our love for advent calendars as adults. And I’m happy to report that it’s just as good of a value in 2026. Complete with 13 (!!!) full-size products, this has a wildly good value. Just the full-size products alone have a value of $832... with that in mind, the minis and deluxe samples are really just a bonus.And this is chock-full of some of our editors’ favorite skincare products of all time (many of which have been awarded Cosmopolitan beauty awards). Among our picks are the Bioeffect EGF Serum, Medik8 Crystal Retinal 3, U Beauty Resurfacing Compound, Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm, and Sweed Lash Lift Mascara... but there’s truly so much here to dive into. An eyeshadow palette, a deluxe sample of our favorite EltaMD UV Clear sunscreen, a foundation brush, a dry texture spray for hair—the list goes on.Total value: $300Total products: 24Full-size products: 4Why we love it: I get excited for Benefit’s advent calendar every year, knowing I’ll have another year’s worth of mini mascaras and brow products to bring on every trip I take. And 2026 is no exception. Complete with a total of 24 mini and full-size products, this is packed with skincare and makeup that anyone would want. There are full sizes in here of some of my favorite Benefit products: Bad Gal Bang! Mascara, 24-HR Brow Setter, Cookie Golden Pearl Highlighter, and Benetint in Original Rose. That alone is worth $124! But the minis are also a star, from a few more mascaras to try, the new Play Daze Airy Liquid Blush, and Hoola Powder Bronzer.Advertisement - Continue Reading BelowTotal value: $153Total products: 24Full-size products: 18Why we love it: Including 24 products, 18 of which are full-size, this e.l.f. advent calendar is filled with products a beauty lover will actually use. There’s a beauty sponge, a lash curler, a mini primer, eyeliners, a lip stain, and even an eyeshadow palette. It’s guaranteed to please any fan of the e.l.f. brand, but pretty much all beauty lovers too.Total value: Over $39Total products: 12Full-size products: 3Why we love it: Instead of gifting someone a $15 bath bomb, spend an extra $5 on this full self-care day set. It comes with a mix of facial skincare (like our favorite Hero Cosmetics pimple patches), bath products (a bath bomb and Dr. Teal’s Foaming Bubble Bath), bodycare (ahem, the OG Aquaphor Healing Ointment and Hempz Original Body Lotion), as well as some wellness goodies to help you relax. At only $20, it’s easily the most affordable advent calendar I’ve found, but what I really love is that it’s filled with products someone will actually use.Advertisement - Continue Reading BelowTotal value: $316Total products: 24Full-size products: 24 (!!!!!)Why we love it: If there’s a nail lover in your life that are so lucky to get $139 dropped on them this holiday season, please get them this. Every single product in here is full size, meaning you actually are getting the $316 value. Tucked in this cute box is eight Green Nail Polishes (some of our go-tos for a long-lasting manicure without needing a UV light), three Active Polishes (which I love for a sheer manicure), eight manicure essentials and tools, three nail treatments, and two nail art accessories.Total value: $34Total products: 7Full-size products: 1Why we love it: Our editors are loving Anua’s Korean skincare for smooth, dewy skin, and this seven-piece advent calendar is the easy way to try a few favorites from the brand. In fact, you get a whole skincare routine to test out. There’s a cleansing oil, cleansing foam, milky toner, redness-soothing serum (which just won a Cosmo Acne Award), moisturizing cream, and a full-size lip serum. If you’re new to K-beauty, this is a great way to try a bunch of the most popular ingredients (hi, salmon sperm!).Advertisement - Continue Reading BelowBeth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers skincare, makeup, hair, nails, and more across digital and print. She can generally be found in bright eyeshadow furiously typing her latest feature or hemming and hawing about a new product you "have to try." Prior to Cosmopolitan, she wrote and edited beauty content as an Editor at The Everygirl for four years. Follow her on Instagram for makeup selfies and a new hair 'do every few months.