The Boots own-brand 17 beauty advent calendar is packed with products that’ll have your entire beauty routine covered – and it doesn’t break the bank
Gifting your significant other – or yourself – with a beauty advent calendar is a luxury that often costs well over £50. However, you cannot beat a classic formula and Boots’ own 17. Countdown of Joy calendar is a real treasure trove that contains all you need to keep your cosmetics topped up this festive season.
Costing £30, the calendar contains 24 different boxes filled with full and travel size versions of some of its best-selling pieces, from mascara and eyeliner to lipstick and blush. And the quality is top notch – which is often to be expected for Boots’ own brand 17. Which is why I was buzzing to open it I got my hands on it.
When the calendar arrived, I loved that it was neatly packaged in a unique star-shaped box decorated with a bright pink background and 70s-style border. To add some Christmas sparkle, the 17. the logo is written in glittering silver, which is a lovely touch.
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Removing the lid, the boxes were all triangular to be tetris-ed securely into the star-shaped box and, upon opening the advent calendar – to see if it’s worth your money – I was pleased to discover a selection of beauty treats that cater for most of my make-up needs.
While there are some classic products in there, including gorgeous lilac and gold eye shadows and lip glosses, there are also a handful of tools that’ll help you perfect your look. Although you often find a make-up brush or two inside a beauty advent calendar (as I’ve experienced from a handful of brands), you don’t usually come across one which has all the tools one needs to keep prim.
But that’s not the case here; inside the calendar, you can expect to find mini tweezers, nail clippers (to use before applying the calendar’s bright red mini nail polish), an emery board nail file, eye shadow brush, blush brush, beauty blender, mini compact mirror and a stretchy make-up headband. Being a smaller size, they’re ideal to just chuck in your hand- or weekend bag for primping on the go.
As for the actual make-up products, there is quite literally everything (bar foundation and concealer) you could possibly need to create a gorgeous, natural look. Create your ultimate glow with 17’s blush, bronzer and highlighter – all of which are pigmented just enough to not need to load your brush to get the desired effect. The blush is a deep pink colour, while the bronze offers a lovely warmth.
The eye shadows, which come in lilac and gold, are light and go on the eyelid relatively easily for a lovely shimmer and are great options for when you want a warm, gold-toned look or a more subtle pinky, purple finish.
The eyebrow gel is strong hold and leaves your brows looking neat and tidy for hours on end (pictured below) – without the need for touch-ups. As for the mascara, it left my lashes looking lengthy and full but still natural, which is what I love.
Although it’s not confirmed which mascara version it is, from the wand design, my guess is the brand’s Another Level Volume Mascara and, after a few coats, it had my lashes looking fluttery. While the vast majority of products in the calendar were a hit with me personally, I wasn’t the biggest fan of the nude lipstick – it didn’t quite suit my skin tone and didn’t sit well on my lips.
Nor the eyeliner, which initially felt soft on my hand but when applying it to my eyes, trying to give them definition and a dramatic border, it didn’t really take and took a few attempts to make a difference. That being said, the line (once applied) blended well, making it ideal for a smokey eye.
With the calendar containing two lipsticks, it was inevitable one would stick and the more red-pink shade was more my forte, as a red lippy kinda gal; it went on silkily and was a vibrant, Christmas red colour that I’m certainly going to be wearing for all my Christmas parties.
It’s even got something in there for a bath lovers with a mini bath fizzer to truly indulge in some self care.
Here’s what’s inside the 17. Countdown of Joy Beauty Advent Calendar 2024:
- Mini eye shadow – Lilac 2.5g
- Mini eye shadow – Gold 2.5g
- Mini Bronzer 2.5g
- Mini Blush 2.5g
- Mini Highlighter 2.5g
- Beauty blender
- Mini nail varnish Red 3ml
- Eye pencil black 0.25g
- Mini Mascara 2.5ml
- Mini lip Gloss 3.5ml
- Mini Setting Spray 10ml
- Lip balm 7g
- Mini Face Primer 10ml
- Mini Clear Brow Gel 3.5ml
- Emery board nail file
- Lip stick pink red lipstick 3.5g
- Nude lipstick 3.5g
- Lip Oil 3.5ml
- Eyeshadow brush
- Mini tweezers
- Mini nail clippers
- Mini bath fizzer – pink 25g
- Blush/bronzer Brush
- Mini Compact Mirror
- Stretchy Makeup Headband
The Verdict:
Considering this calendar costs only £30, and is packed with 24 different products, you get a real make-up haul that’ll sort you right out this holiday season and I’m really impressed by the quality of these products. Whether you’re getting it for yourself or a loved one, it’s a treat that lovers of the brand will go wild for.
It’s also ideal if you’ve been wanting to try 17. out for some time but haven’t wanted to commit to buy the mascara, primer, eyeshadow or liner full price. Elsewhere, if you’re looking to spend a little more and want a few bits of skincare thrown in too, Glossybox’s epic 2024 Christmas offering is £85 and contains brands such as Aveeno, ICONIC London, Glow Hub and Kate Somerville.
However, if you want a make-up haul but are more of a Revolution Beauty fan, its advent calendar is available here for £39.99. Alternatively, snap up the 17 Countdown of Joy Advent Calendar here for £30.
