The Harrods beauty advent calendar 2026 is available to pre-order now – here's my honest review

★★★★☆What we love: Premium brands such as Augustinus Bader, Sisley Paris, Shiseido, Tatcha and LYMA, generous full-size offering, skincare variety – from eye creams to serums and masks – beauty tools, useful everyday formulas, haircare heroes, and travel-size minisTake note: Limited fragrance offering, mostly skincare, multiples of the same skincare products (eye creams and moisturisers), no trending beauty, and limited pampering products Compared to the likes of Liberty, Charlotte Tilbury and Fortnum & Mason, the Harrods calendar box is bland at best. The foiled paper finish mimics the London department store, but won’t add anything special to your festival display at home. If you did want to use it for year-round storage, the recycled board box is sufficiently sturdy. It’s inside where the calendar gets exciting. Once again, Harrods proves that luxury doesn't have to follow the latest TikTok trends – instead, it’s carefully curated an edit of premium, results-driven beauty. Among the best options for skincare devotees, 25 drawers reveal coveted names including Augustinus Bader, Sisley Paris, Shiseido, Tatcha, LYMA and Clé de Peau Beauté. The calendar is packed with high-performance formulas that would be difficult to justify buying individually – see AB’s rich eye cream, which costs £170 alone. Many of the top formulas are full-size – including Shiseido’s eye and lip cream, and Medik8 C-tetra serum – adding genuine value rather than relying on tiny sample sachets.While there is some repetition, such as multiple eye creams, moisturisers and SPFs, it’s an opportunity to discover different formulations from premium brands. For anyone looking to elevate their skincare routine, this is where the calendar truly shines. Vouchers are like marmite in beauty advent calendars: some appreciate, and others would rather have a product than an excuse to spend more money. Alongside a CurrentBody skin hydrogel face mask and eye mask, Harrods throws in a £75-off voucher for a CurrentBody device.The makeup offering is more limited, but the luxe brands again make up for it. Highlights include Charlotte Tilbury’s classic pillow talk lipstick, Sync’s liner in an everyday mauve, a Sisley Paris £50 lipstick and Huda Beauty’s gloss. The roster is padded out with a gorgeous Hourglass blush, Nar’s eyeshadow stick (great for on-the-go) and a Gucci face gloss (not essential but nice). The By Terry tea-to-tan liquid bronzer is a personal favourite for creating a winter glow.Fragrance lovers will be left wanting more, as the only inclusion is a travel-sized Montale Paris eau de parfum. The haircare offering is propped up by a full-size Color Wow hairspray (it’s excellent), while a hair mask and Philip Kingsley shampoo and conditioner duo are sure to give your tresses some party-season TLC.