15 of the Best Advent Calendars for 2016
Updated: Nov. 23, 2016
The best Advent calendars and 12-Days-of-Christmas gifts for everyone on your list – including you.
The countdown is on!
Over the past couple of years, beauty Advent calendars have become a major highlight of the holiday season. We’ve rounded up our favourites, plus a few traditional edible options and a couple for the kids – because there’s room for all the calendars at this Christmas table.
12-Day Beauty Advent Calendar, $39, thefaceshop.ca as of November
For the cool girl
This calendar puts all of Benefit’s bestselling beauty products in one place – and in travel-sized containers for the gal on the go. Our faves include the They’re Real! Mascara and They’re Real! Remover, plus the Ultra Plush Lip Gloss in Lollibop. Bonus: The calendar plays a song when opened.
Benefit Girl O’Clock Rock, $56, at Shoppers Drug Mart
For the traditionalist
Prefer a calendar you can use year after year and even pass down to your children? This Christmas Street wooden Advent calendar is the perfect option. Each season, fill ‘er up with candies, tiny toys, Chinese-cookie fortunes or accessories.
Christmas Street Wooden Cabin Advent Calendar, $70, thebay.com
For the homebody
A new day, a new tea! Every morning of December leading up to Christmas can start with a different warm bevy in your loved one’s mug.
David’s Tea 24 Days of Tea, $40, davidstea.com
For the Sephoran
Okay, that’s not a real word. But it might as well be, for all the Sephora faithfuls in the ‘verse. Whoever the Sephoran is in your life, give her a ton of sweet minis, from face masks to eye shadows to lippies.
Sephora Collection Advent Calendar, $56, sephora.ca
For the sweet tooth
For a daily sweet treat, stash this chocolate calendar at your loved one’s desk – or even his bedside for a riff on nightly turndown service.
Lindt Teddy Advent Calendar, at Shoppers Drug Mart as of November 5
For the mani maven
Girls and women of all ages will love this nail polish calendar filled with every shade they’ll ever need to create a polished manicure or trendy nail art.
Ciaté Mini Mani Month, $59, sephora.ca
For the DIYer
If you live in a crafty home (or love the DIY aesthetic), make or purchase an empty felt Advent calendar and create your own giftables to fill each pocket.
Whole Home Felt Advent Calendar, $25, sears.ca
For the skin-care lover
Variety is the spice of life, and this Clarins calendar is filled with a huge mix of beauty delights, including the iconic Beauty Flash Balm. Inside, find three regular-sized products, 17 small and trial-sized items, plus four accessories.
Clarins 2016 Advent Calendar, $132, at Hudson’s Bay and clarins.com as of November 1
For the bath connoisseur
Whomever you gift this delectable bath set to will be blissed out for days on end. The 12-day Christmas clock contains four bath bombs, two bars of soap, two shower gels, a mini body lotion, a mini body conditioner, a bubble bar and a “Yog Log Roulade” – whatever that is.
Lush 12 Days of Christmas, $100, lush.ca
For the trendy tyke
Tsum Tsums are these little rounded plush characters that started out in Japan. Now your tiny pal can have 25 of the minis – cutesy versions of popular Disney characters – with this holiday calendar.
Tsum Tsum Advent Calendar, $175, at The Disney Store
For those “in the know”
Jo Malone is the best. Period. Every fragrance is delectable (think Wood Sage and Sea Salt or Velvet Rose and Oud); the packaging is perfect; and it’s still niche enough to be cool. Give this 24-day bundle of surprises (such as mini colognes and body crèmes) to someone who will know just how lucky she is.
Jo Malone London Christmas Advent Calendar, $485, jomalone.ca
For the girly gal
A pink Advent calendar filled with Kinder chocolates is sure to go over well with the under-10 set.
Kinder Advent Pink, at Shoppers Drug Mart as of November 5
For the discerning shopper
From German beauty brand ArtDeco comes a 24-day calendar filled with beauty treats – worth a whopping retail value of $224. Major steal.
ArtDeco Holiday Beauty Secrets Advent Calendar, $86, at Shoppers Drug Mart
For the pampered princess
This giftable set of 12 drawers with tiny Charlotte Tilbury skin-care and makeup treats (including her coveted Magic Cream) is a definite splurge, so make sure it goes to someone extra special on your list… though you may want to keep it all for yourself.
Charlotte’s World of Legendary Parties Advent Calendar, $250, charlottetilbury.com/ca
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