PART 4
Small beauty treats or something tasty to eat? In part four of this year’s advent calendar test, we take a closer look at Xlash, Nilens Jord, MakeupMekka and Lakrids by Bülow.
An advent calendar doesn’t need 24 doors to be a good one. This time, the options include both daily surprises and bigger advent gifts. We look at the contents, the price and who each calendar suits, because a good buy is first and foremost a calendar you’ll actually enjoy.
Xlash Advent Calendar
12 surprises, 14 beauty favourites and a toiletry bag that sticks around long after Christmas.
Xlash is counting down to Christmas with a limited-edition calendar. You get ten full-size bestsellers, two new products and two exclusive accessories from the brand.The surprises come in numbered fabric pouches, gathered in a 100 per cent cotton toiletry bag. The bag has a water-repellent surface and a zipped inner pocket, which is handy once the calendar is ready to come along on your travels.
The price is NOK 1,399, while the stated product value is NOK 4,055.
Who it’s for: Xlash fans who want to stock up on favourites while trying something new. Also worth a look if you’d rather have fewer doors with bigger products.
What we like: Ten full-size products is a big plus. Two new launches also give even those who know the range well something to look forward to. The fact that both the pouches and the toiletry bag can be reused is a thoughtful touch.
Could be better: With 12 surprises, the daily countdown doesn’t quite last until Christmas Eve. Two of the 14 products are also accessories, so if you mainly want beauty products, keep that in mind.
M&H verdict: Provisionally ★★★★☆
Fewer doors, but plenty of full size. Here, the toiletry bag is part of the gift.
Nilens Jord Advent Calendar
Four advent gifts and a secret bonus! Perfect if you’d like a little less to unwrap, but time to actually use what’s behind the doors.
Nilens Jord has made a calendar with one gift for each Sunday of Advent, plus an extra fifth door. The four revealed products cover both skincare and makeup: Hydra Glow Vitamin C Eye Cream, the tinted day cream Hydra Glow Magic Tint Release SPF 15, Tinted Lip Balm in Rose Nude and Infinite Length 38° Mascara.
The latter is a tubing mascara that can be removed with warm water at 38 degrees. All the products in the calendar are stated to be allergy-certified, fragrance-free and vegan. The contents of the bonus door are a secret.
The price is NOK 599. You’ll find the advent calendar HERE (Adlink)
Who it’s for: Anyone who likes a simple beauty routine and prefers fragrance-free products. Also a good alternative if 24 new products feels like a bit much.
What we like: A good mix of skincare and makeup that can be used in the same routine. Lip balm, mascara and tinted day cream are versatile everyday products, and the bonus door makes sure there’s still a surprise in store.
Could be better: There are few gifts compared with a traditional advent calendar. We miss a bit more excitement. The tinted day cream is also worth looking into before you buy, as one shade won’t necessarily suit everyone.
M&H verdict: Provisionally ★★★☆☆
An option for those who would rather open one advent gift at a time than fill the bathroom shelf before Christmas Eve.
Lakrids by Bülow Large Advent Calendar
Four pieces a day make this calendar easy to share. Whether you actually want to is another matter.
Lakrids by Bülow counts down to Christmas with 24 doors and a total of 690 grams of chocolate-coated liquorice. Behind each door are four pieces, or the equivalent amount, with a new flavour every day. The contents range from winter favourites to new flavour combinations, including exclusive flavours that haven’t been launched before. This year’s calendar also has a design inspired by the brand’s signature liquorice tin.
The price is NOK 775.
Who it’s for: Liquorice lovers who enjoy the combination of sweet, salty and chocolate. Also a nice choice for couples or others who want to share one calendar.
What we like: Four pieces behind each door give you both a proper taste if the calendar is shared between two. A new flavour every day adds variety, and the exclusive varieties offer something to discover even if you know the range well.
Could be better: NOK 775 is quite a lot to pay for an edible advent calendar. You also need to be fond of chocolate-coated liquorice. The variety lies mainly in the flavours, while the combination itself stays the same.
M&H verdict: ★★★☆☆
A calendar we’d happily share. Just agree on how to split it before 1 December.
Makeup Mekka Advent Calendar 2026
A wrap-it-yourself calendar with no set order. This is a DIY calendar where the contents are ready, but you decide the order yourself. Anything you might want to add to the gifts is entirely up to you.
Makeup Mekka’s wrap-it-yourself calendar contains 24 full-size products: 13 makeup products, nine accessories and two skincare products. We get a good mix of bestsellers and limited-edition launches. There are also makeup products for base, eyes and lips, among other things.
The calendar comes with 24 bags, number stickers and a large bag to give away the whole calendar in. You do the wrapping and choose what gets opened when.
The price is NOK 649, while the stated product value is NOK 2,835. You’ll find it HERE (Adlink)
Who it’s for: Anyone who wants to give a personal wrap-it-yourself calendar but would rather not come up with 24 small gifts on their own. Also worth a look for the makeup enthusiast who wants full-size products at an affordable price.
What we like: NOK 649 is an accessible price compared with many beauty calendars. You can customise the order and save a favourite for Christmas Eve. We also really like that the bags and numbers are included – that’s a lot of time saved!
Could be better: Nine of the 24 products are accessories. So “24 full-size” doesn’t mean 24 makeup and skincare products, which is worth noting. The calendar also requires a bit of effort on your part before it’s ready to open.
M&H verdict: ★★★★☆
A nice compromise between homemade and shop-bought. You can make it personal without spending hours hunting for small gifts.