Beauty Advent Calendars

Start with who's opening it. For a skincare fan who loves luxury, the Augustinus Bader 12 Days of Bader is hard to beat. Gatineau's 12 day calendar covers a full routine, from cleanser to night cream. If you want a door for every day of December, go for KORRES or ESPA. And for someone who'd rather look after themselves from the inside, there's the Zooki collagen calendar.

Most calendars show what the products would cost bought separately, and it's usually well above the price of the calendar. The more useful question is whether you'll use what's inside. Check how many products are full size and whether the brand suits your skin. A calendar full of things you'll finish is worth more than one with a bigger headline value.

A 24 day calendar gives you something every day of December, so the products tend to be smaller. A 12 day calendar has fewer doors, but a bigger share of what's inside is usually full size. If you'd rather have products you can use for weeks, a 12 day calendar is often the better pick.

Most people open the first door on 13 December, so the last one lands on Christmas Eve. There's no rule, though. Some people start on 1 December and open one every other day.

Yes. Most skincare calendars aren't made with one gender in mind. Augustinus Bader and Gatineau focus on everyday skincare, like cleansers and moisturisers, that suits anyone. The Zooki collagen calendar is another easy choice. For more ideas, browse our men's skincare.

You can, but go carefully. Patch test each new product on a small area first, and introduce them one at a time so you can tell what your skin is reacting to. The full ingredient list for each calendar is on its product page. Our products for sensitive skin are a good place to look for gentle everyday options.

There are 23 individual sachets behind the doors, then a five-sachet Variety Pack for Christmas Eve, so 28 servings in total. Each one has 11,000mg of liquid marine collagen with vitamin C and vitamin E. Vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of skin. Take one sachet a day, straight or mixed with water. If you're pregnant, breastfeeding or taking medication, check with your GP first.

They often do. Calendars are made in limited numbers for the season and usually aren't restocked once they've gone. If you have one in mind, it's worth buying early. It also gives you time to decide whether it's a gift or one for you.