The Charlotte Tilbury beauty advent calendar has had a bit of a makeover for 2026, with more products and a lower price tag than last year. For anyone choosing between the best beauty advent calendars on offer this year, that’s worth knowing – although calendars from the likes of Harrods and Cult Beauty typically boast better value for money (more on this below). That’s not to say you should rule out Charlotte Tilbury’s Hollywood beauty wonderland advent calendar, though. It seems the brand has finally listened to feedback, adding more beauty buys while cutting the price by £5.

The 12-door calendar still centres on the brand’s bestselling make-up and skincare, with some full-size favourites among the contents, and there’s more to discover than in previous years, including exclusive items and new launches from 2026.

So, is this the year Charlotte Tilbury’s calendar finally gives its luxury retail rivals a run for their money? I’ve opened every drawer to work out exactly what you’re getting for your £170 – and whether the year-on-year changes make it better in practice as well as on paper.

Read more: I’ve had a first look at Boots’s 2026 beauty advent calendars – here’s what to expect

  • Price£170
  • Worth£323
  • Number of days12
  • Number of products15 (three full-sizes)
  • Advent calendar highlightsCharlotte Tilbury unreal blush healthy glow stick, Charlotte Tilbury lip cheat lip liner in 'pillow talk', Charlotte Tilbury magic cream
  • Available3 September from the 'easy beauty for you' app, 10 September via Charlottetilbury.com
  • Why we love it- Three more products year-on-year
  • Make-up colour selection is useable year-round (versus bold reds)

  • New launches from past two years

  • Take note- Only one more full-size product than last year

  • Roughly 50 per cent saving, with some competitors offering nearly 80 per cent

There’s a familiar feel to much of the Charlotte Tilbury’s 2026 advent calendar, with several products returning from last year, including the beauty light wand, magic cream, magic serum crystal elixir and airbrush flawless setting spray. Admittedly, the repeat items are fan favourites, but they're repeats nonetheless. Because of this, it's super easy to spot the newcomers – the unreal blush healthy glow stick, for example, is a particularly timely drop in given it’s one of the brand’s newer launches. It’s even been spotted on the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders, if you fancy recreating their stadium light-approved glow (I’ve used it, it’s really lovely).

The brand has made more of an effort is with the non-beauty additions in this year’s haul and, for the first time, the calendar contains an exclusive accessory – a mini pillow talk charm make-up bag – plus a limited-edition white quartz gua sha (inspired by those used at the brand’s Covent Garden skin spa). Given the calendar can’t compete with the value offered by the likes of John Lewis and Sephora (to name a few of big-name advents), these inclusions give the calendar allure beyond shopping in-store or online.

Still, I think Charlotte Tilbury could push the concept further. There are no complexion products, despite the exciting launch of the airbrush flawless concealer this year. No7, for example, is giving calendar buyers a gratis voucher to head in-store for a shade match and full-size foundation, while Harrods has included a CurrentBody cash discount voucher. Rather, the calendar feels weighted towards familiar lip, eye and skincare favourites – and the brand has docked the number of full-sizes versus 2025.

I can’t fault the performance of the products – the lip liner is buttery, the big lip plumpgasm seriously does give you pout extra oomph and the magic cream is intensely nourishing, albeit not for my oily skin type. But, ultimately, this calendar is more for the true Charlotte Tilbury devotees than those looking to expand their make-up and skincare horizons.