PART 2
We continue the hunt for the advent calendars that actually deserve a place in your home in the run-up to Christmas. This time, we’ve opened the doors at The Body Shop, Lyko, Vita and Rituals.
In part one of this year’s big advent calendar test, we took a closer look at some of the season’s most talked-about beauty calendars. Now we’re ready with the next round. Feel free to read part 1 HERE to compare them all.
Because even though 24 little surprises sounds lovely, expectations also rise as prices keep climbing. We want products we’ll actually use, enough variety to keep things interesting and ideally more full-size favourites than travel sizes.
Here are the calendars we’ve tested this time. Note: the article contains some spoilers about the contents!
The Body Shop Ultimate Advent Calendar25 surprises, 19 full-size products and enough body care to get through the winter.
The Body Shop turns 50, and is marking the anniversary with “Celebrating 50 Years of Gifting”. The Ultimate Advent Calendar is the brand’s most lavish version and contains a mix of bestsellers, new launches and limited editions for body, face, hair, lips and hands.
Highlights include Born Lippy Matcha Latte, Vitamin E Barrier Boosting Cream, Edelweiss Cleansing Gel, Shea Shampoo & Conditioner and Almond Milk Body Yogurt. Classics such as Shea Body Butter and Camomile Cleansing Balm have naturally also made the cut.
The price is NOK 1,998, while The Body Shop states a total product value of NOK 3,695.
Who it’s for: Anyone who loves body care, classic The Body Shop scents and products you can actually use up. Also a good choice if you want a bit of everything but don’t necessarily need makeup behind the doors.
What we like: 19 full-size products is a big plus. The calendar offers good variety, while the contents stay within categories most people actually use. You get products for your whole beauty routine – not a pile of samples left at the bottom of the bathroom drawer.
Could be better: It’s a lot of body, hair and skincare from one and the same brand. If you mainly want makeup, fragrance or the chance to discover several different brands, the calendar may feel a little one-sided.
M&H verdict: ★★★★½
19 full-size products and a 46 per cent saving? The Body Shop clearly knows how to celebrate turning 50.
The Body Shop Classic Advent Calendar
For those who want 24 proper products without spending half the Christmas gift budget on themselves.
Classic is the more affordable of The Body Shop’s two advent calendars, but that doesn’t mean the doors are filled with samples and random accessories. The calendar contains only beauty and wellness products for body, face, hair, lips and hands.
Here you’ll find Dewberry, Shea Body Butter, Camomile Cleansing Balm and Vitamin E Sheet Mask, among others.
The price is NOK 998, while the stated product value is NOK 1,806.
Who it’s for: Anyone who wants a classic beauty calendar for under a thousand kroner, or who wants to give 24 small doses of wellbeing without going completely overboard before December has even started.
What we like: No samples and no random accessories added just to fill a door. The contents are versatile, the price is relatively accessible, and you get a good mix of products from several of The Body Shop’s best-known ranges.
Could be better: Naturally, Classic doesn’t have the same luxury feel or number of full-size products as Ultimate. If you’re already a keen The Body Shop customer, several of the products may also feel a bit too familiar.
M&H verdict: ★★★☆☆
No keyrings, no decorations and no disappointing samples. Just 24 products we can actually use.
VITA Advent Calendar 2026
24 full-size products, one mini and a value that makes the price tag look surprisingly modest.
After what VITA itself describes as a smash hit last year, the chain’s own advent calendar is back. Behind the 24 doors are hand-picked beauty favourites from the VITA universe, with a mix of bestsellers and other selected products. The calendar launches on 16 October.
The calendar contains 25 products in total. As many as 24 of them are full size, while only one is a mini. The stated product value is approximately NOK 6,200.
The price is NOK 1,899. That’s a saving of around NOK 4,300, provided you actually get use out of the contents.
Who it’s for: Anyone who likes discovering different beauty products and would rather avoid a calendar full of tiny tubes that are empty after two uses.
What we like: 24 full-size products is hard to argue with. You get considerably more than a collection of samples, and the stated value is very high compared with the price.
Could be better: A high product value doesn’t automatically mean a full payoff. With so many products, there will almost always be some colours, scents or categories that don’t suit everyone.
M&H verdict: ★★★★½
24 full size and just one mini! VITA has also understood that December is not the time to be stingy.
Rituals Premium Advent Calendar
For when the run-up to Christmas should smell like a spa, and the advent calendar itself should feel like a decoration.
Rituals has turned this year’s Premium Advent Calendar into a decorative Christmas train with 24 stops. Behind the doors is a curated mix of bath, body and home products, in both travel and full sizes.
The scents move between warm spicy notes, soft florals and fresh citrus. In other words: just about everything you need to pretend December is one long spa weekend, even when the calendar says Christmas parties, gift shopping and time crunch.
The price is NOK 1,969, while Rituals states a total product value of NOK 2,979.
Who it’s for: Rituals fans, or anyone who likes fragrance, body care and little products that make the bathroom and home a little cosier throughout December. Also a good choice if you care about the calendar actually looking nice.
What we like: The presentation. The train design makes the calendar part of the Christmas decorations, and the mix of body, bath and home products gives more variety than a pure skincare calendar. This is a calendar that really succeeds in creating a pre-Christmas mood.
Could be better: The saving isn’t as impressive as with several of the other calendars we’ve tested. Fragrance is also very central, so this is hardly the best choice if you’re sensitive to scented products or want makeup and active skincare ingredients.
M&H verdict: ★★★★☆
Half advent calendar, half Christmas decoration and a whole lot of Rituals. We’re getting on board that train.
Rituals Classic Advent Calendar
A little Christmas house with 24 doors, and just enough wellbeing to keep December stress at bay.
The Rituals Classic Advent Calendar unfolds into a decorative Christmas house, designed to be left out as part of the Christmas decorations. Behind the 24 doors are bath, body and home favourites, mainly in travel sizes, plus two full-size products.
The price is NOK 1,189, while Rituals states a total product value of NOK 2,181.
Who it’s for: Anyone who already likes the Rituals universe but doesn’t want to spend close to NOK 2,000 on the Premium edition. Also a nice calendar for those who travel a lot and actually use up products in smaller sizes.
What we like: The price is considerably lower than the Premium calendar, while the stated saving is higher. The mix of bath, body and home products creates variety, and the Christmas house design means the calendar can happily stay on display all December.
Could be better: Only two products are full size, and at a price of over a thousand kroner we’d have liked to see a few more. Travel sizes are practical, but the calendar risks feeling less luxurious as the doors are opened, especially compared with alternatives that offer far more full-size products.
M&H verdict: ★★★½☆
A very cosy Christmas house, but we’d have liked slightly bigger housewarming gifts.
Mind Glown Advent Calendar by LYKO
24 doors of makeup, fragrance, skin and hair care, and almost NOK 5,000 between the price and the stated value
Lyko’s bestselling Mind Glown calendar is back, once again offering a broad mix of beauty. Behind the 24 doors are products to suit every taste.
Lyko itself calls it “this year’s ego-boost calendar”, and it’s easy to see what they mean. This is a treasure chest for anyone who wants to try a bit of everything, rather than committing the whole of December to one brand or one product category.
The price is NOK 1,525, while the stated product value is approximately NOK 6,498.
Who it’s for: The beauty enthusiast who wants to discover new products and would rather have variety behind the doors.
What we like: The variety. The mix of several beauty categories gives the calendar a good chance of staying exciting throughout December. The stated product value is also very high compared with the price. The case it comes in is absolutely gorgeous, too!
Could be better: With so many categories and products, some doors are almost guaranteed to hit the mark better than others.
M&H verdict: ★★★★½
Makeup, fragrance, skin and hair – Mind Glown has decided we shouldn’t have to choose.
MAKE UP STORE 30Y Advent Calendar
24 full-size products, one silver-shimmering toiletry bag and zero attempts at being discreet.
Make Up Store turns 30, and is celebrating with an anniversary calendar that goes all in on makeup. Under the theme “Celebrate Your Icon”, 24 burgundy satin parcels are tucked inside a large silver toiletry bag. The calendar has already launched at LYKO, and you’ll find it HERE (Adlink)
Behind the doors, you’ll find both new makeup launches and classics that have long been part of the Make Up Store universe. All the products are full size, and the toiletry bag can easily be used long after December is over.
Make Up Store has also revealed the contents of the last door, but we’re not going to!
The price is NOK 1,480, while the stated product value is approximately NOK 5,217.
Who it’s for: The makeup enthusiast who loves experimenting with new products, or who wants to build up their makeup collection with more than just minis. This is also the calendar for anyone who already likes Make Up Store.
What we like: That absolutely everything is full size. Lots of makeup for the money, and the stated saving is among the best in the test. The reusable toiletry bag is also a plus – the whole calendar doesn’t end up in the cardboard recycling on Christmas Day.
Could be better: This is makeup, makeup and even more makeup from one and the same brand. If you’re more interested in skincare, hair or fragrance, the contents quickly become one-sided. Makeup is so personal, and not all colours and products will necessarily suit your skin tone or style.
M&H verdict: ★★★☆☆
24 full size, a 72 per cent saving and a toiletry bag we actually want to keep? Make Up Store is celebrating its 30th birthday in style.
24K Advent Calendar by LYKO
24 doors of luxury, and a product value that tops NOK 10,000.
Lyko’s 24K calendar is made for those who think “perfectly fine” is a completely uninteresting description of December. Behind the 24 doors awaits an exclusive selection of skincare, hair care, makeup and fragrance.
This is all about premium products and the feeling of unwrapping something extra lavish every day in the lead-up to Christmas. Lyko itself calls it “this year’s calendar for connoisseurs”, and with a stated product value of over NOK 10,000, the ambitions are clearly high.
The price is NOK 2,840, while the stated product value is approximately NOK 10,809.
Who it’s for: The dedicated beauty enthusiast who likes premium products and wants to discover luxury across several categories. Also for anyone considering the calendar as this year’s big pre-Christmas gift to themselves.
What we like: The calendar combines skincare, hair care, makeup and fragrance, which gives more variety than the single-brand calendars. The big saving also makes the price seem more justifiable, at least if the contents hit the mark.
Could be better: This is still a very expensive advent calendar, and high value means little if several of the products end up unused. We expect more than luxurious brand names in small packages.
M&H verdict: ★★★★★
An investment in a luxurious December!
Part 3 of the big advent calendar test is coming soon! LYKO’s calendars launch tomorrow at 12:00.