Add thelocalreport.in As A Trusted Source
M&S Beauty Advent Calendar Packaging
As always, M&S’s calendar features 25 products – this year, eight are full size and 17 are travel size. Moving away from its usual packaging (a velvet vanity case), the 2025 calendar has been designed by Bella Freud, who collaborated with M&S on a sell-out fashion collection last year. The box is filled with glimpses of the designer’s signature aesthetic, from recognizable typography to gold stars. The categories in the calendar – hair care, skin care and makeup – are divided into themes, including “relaxed”, “rich”, “silky” and “glow”, written on different boxes.
The numbered boxes are layered within and on top of each other, making it easy to count down to Christmas. After the 25th day, you can reuse the calendar as storage due to its sturdy, evergreen design.
What’s in M&S’s beauty advent calendar for 2025?
Besides the packaging, there’s a lot to be excited about. There are spoilers ahead, but this year’s calendar is particularly strong for hair care and body care. The perfect tonic during party season, Cowshed’s relaxing bath and shower gel (£22, marksandspencer.com) and Calming Body Lotion (£22, marksandspencer.com) – which has a relaxing lavender and eucalyptus scent. I also enjoyed using This Works Deep Sleep Body Cocoon (£25, johnlewis.com), which is a nighttime moisturizer that has a lavender scent.
30ml L’Occitane Almond Hand Cream (£10, marksandspencer.com) is the perfect size to throw in your bag to nourish your hands on the go, while Nakse’s famous multi-purpose dry oil (£33, marksandspencer.com) is equally travel sized for extra hydration while on the go.
When it comes to hair care, it’s time for you to try Color Wow’s Dream Cocktail Carb Infused Thickening Treatment (£25, colorwowhair.com), a leave-in treatment that adds density to flat hair. Another hair highlight is Living Proof Full Shampoo (£14, marksandspencer.com) and conditioner (£14, marksandspencer.comThis duo works wonders on flat hair, gives extra charm to the hair and makes the hair shiny and smooth.
The premium skin care offering is less impressive than in years past, but you can sample some seriously good products – including Estée Lauder’s Advanced Night Repair (£18). marksandspencer.com) and Emma Hardie’s Renewal Treatment Mask (marksandspencer.comAffordable favorites like Weleda Skin Food (£14, marksandspencer.com) – People like Hailey Bieber and Victoria Beckham swear by this ultra-hydrating formula – and Dr. Paw Paw’s Hyaluronic Acid-Infused Multi-Purpose Balm (£7.50, marksandspencer.com) are also in the mix.
The make-up line-up is small but offers great value for money – Clinique’s High Impact Mascara (£26, marksandspencer.com) is included and costs £26 alone. The large brush helps give volume and length from root to tip, creating a doll-eye, soft-focused effect with a blended finish of black and brown. Stila Gel Brown Eyeliner (£18, marksandspencer.com), meanwhile, for smoky eyes, boasts a slightly rounded tip for lining up along your lids and waterline – the formula is pleasantly long-lasting and waterproof too. Benefits Cult Benetint (£26, marksandspencer.com) completes the line-up, providing a rosy glow on your lips or lids – simply dot with your fingers and smudge.
To help keep your nails looking fresh, you’ll also get Nails Ink polish in a rich burgundy shade (arguably the perfect Christmas color). Nails Ink’s polishes are some of the best drugstore varnishes you can buy, as they don’t chip as quickly as other formulas.
M&S goes viral for its perfume (see). Sold out Le Labo Sental 33 option), and the calendar gives you a taste with the soft Gardenia Toilette (£7,). marksandspencer.com), which is reminiscent of Marc Jacobs Daisy scent. Additionally, you should get Floral Street Sweet Almond Blossom Eau de Parfum (£29, marksandspencer.com) inside the calendar, which has a warm and sweet scent.
To top it all off, there are three beauty accessories and tools – my favorite is Gua Sha (£8, marksandspencer.comThe stainless steel device is effective in massaging your face in the morning using lymphatic drainage techniques, cooling the skin and removing puffiness.