September is prime time for beauty advent calendar launches, and the latest release is the Elemis Ultimate Skincare Advent Calendar. Packed with products costing a whopping £537, it retails for £199 and is packed with a range of bestselling skincare and bodycare products that are the perfect luxury self-care treat for any Elemis fan.
A hot pick for 2024, there are 25 luxury treats discounted to £338. This is a great chance to stock up on some of your Elemis favourites for a fraction of the price.
As a beauty journalist, I've tested my fair share of beauty advent calendars over the years and, as an Elemis fan, I was eager to get my hands on this one to see if it's worth spending nearly £200 on to start the countdown to Christmas.
£199 at Elemis
I was also curious to see how this calendar compares to other luxury calendars from this year, such as the Liberty Beauty Advent Calendar (which was also tested by the Yahoo UK team) and is similarly priced.
The 2024 Elemis offering is more expensive than the 2023 version, which cost £189, but its contents are better value: last year it was worth £551. But is the price hike justified?
Elemis is a globally recognised brand that has become popular with luxury skincare enthusiasts thanks to its sought-after products such as the Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm, Marine Cream Moisturiser, Superfood Facial Oil and Frangipani Monoi Shower Cream.
Shop Now
For starters, there's no denying the excellent value this calendar offers. Behind a door is a large tub of Elemis' Pro-Collagen Marine Cream (£95) - the skincare brand's most popular moisturiser, designed to smooth fine lines and leave your skin plump and hydrated.
And if that wasn't enough, there's also the chance to win an Elemis Golden Ticket worth £1,000 across 15 beauty advent calendars this year.
There is a good variety in the products; it includes six different skincare and body lines, but if you are already an Elemis fan like me, there is nothing new. Instead, Elemis has focused on their most popular products, which I think is meant to serve existing customers rather than new ones.
⭐ My 5 Elemis Advent Calendar highlights ⭐
I'm already a fan of many of the Elemis products inside, and many of them come in handy mini sizes, which are great for travel. The minis are also a great opportunity to try out some of Elemis' most popular products without having to pay for a full size version.
Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm | available for £49 for 100ml
Nothing removes makeup like a cleansing balm, and Elemis is by far my favorite. It's a buttery balm that, when massaged into dry skin, transforms into an oil, melting makeup away in seconds.
Nourishing and soothing for all skin types, the formula is rich in fatty acids, lavender, chamomile and eucalyptus oils, leaving your complexion clean, soft and soothed. It also smells like a luxurious spa, thanks to the essential oil blend, so it's instantly calming.
Frangipani Monoi Body Cream | retails for £30 for 200ml
This is without a doubt the best smelling body cream I have ever used, packed with macadamia, sesame, tahitian monoi and coprah oils. It is rich but not overpowering, lasts for hours on the skin.
While I would have liked a full size version in the calendar, the 50ml tube is perfect for travel. Regardless of how much time I have, I always apply moisturizer after every shower.
Pro-Collagen Marine Cream | retails for £95 for 50ml
Elemis' top product is without a doubt this moisturiser, which takes centre stage in the entire calendar and can be found behind lot number 25.
I love the texture the most, as it strikes the perfect balance between a rich moisturizer that feels nourishing without being greasier. Designed to target fine lines, wrinkles, and uneven texture, it also absorbs quickly. It also layers really well under makeup, so you can use it as a day and night cream.
It is also the highest value product in this calendar, worth almost 50% of the total cost. For just over £90 more you can unbox another 24 products in December.
Superfood Facial Oil | retail price £54 for 15mlWhen my skin feels dry, this is one of the first products I use in my evening skincare routine. It doesn't leave a greasy film on the skin, but feels light and calming.
While it would have been nice to see the full size version of this (which is normally 15ml), I have to say that I have never used a face oil before as I use it very sparingly on my combination skin, so I think I will get a lot of use out of this mini bottle.
Superfood Glow Priming Moisturiser | retails at £46 for 60mlI always want a glowing complexion when I apply my makeup in the morning. This hydrating primer hydrates and softens my skin and is the fastest way to prep my skin for foundation.
Don't be put off by the peachy cream, it melts seamlessly into the skin without leaving a tint and absorbs incredibly quickly. I love a multi-functional product so for me this ticks all the boxes.
🪫 My 3 Elemis Ultimate Skincare Advent Calendar Lowlights 🪫
I'm always a little disappointed when I see accessories incorporated into beauty advent calendars, like the Elemis Headband and Cleansing Cloth, as they often feel like filler products.
Luxury Cleaning Cloth | available for £10 for two
At a price tag of almost £200 I'd like to see more product, such as a larger shower gel or body cream, but some will appreciate this useful addition to their beauty routine.
A headband is definitely not essential to my skincare routine, so I don't consider this an unnecessary item.
Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm | available for £49 for 100ml
Don't get me wrong, I love this cleansing balm, I just don't need three cleansing balms in one advent calendar. Inside is a mini original balm, the rose version and a fragrance free version.
It's overkill and I would have preferred one full size version rather than three mini versions. But I think because this is an individually branded calendar, Elemis has a more limited product range than calendars that are available from multiple retailers, such as Liberty.
If you're an Elemis fan and want to repurchase your tried and true favourites, such as the Pro-Collagen Marine Cream (normally £95), then the Elemis Advent Calendar could be a great value for money product for you.
Buy Now: Elemis The Ultimate Skincare Advent Calendar | £199 (worth £537) from Elemis
Shop Now
However, I think Elemis missed a trick by including a lot of similar products and fewer full-size products than I expected. So you're better off just buying the individual products you like (incidentally, Elemis also sells many of the miniature sizes in this calendar on their website).
In my opinion, for variety and value for money, you are better off buying a multi-brand calendar. The Space NK Beauty Advent Calendar is more expensive this year at £250, but has a value of £1,200 and contains 34 products, 23 of which are full-size.
Meanwhile, the Liberty Beauty Advent Calendar costs £260 but contains an impressive 28 products, 18 of which are full-size. The products inside are also from super-luxury brands including Augustinus Bader, La Mer, Ren, Sunday Riley, Lisa Eldridge and more. You can read our full review here.
£260 at Liberty London