Treating your loved one, or indeed yourself, to a beauty advent calendar is an indulgence that often comes with a pretty hefty price tag. However, the 17 Countdown of Joy calendar is a true gem, packed with all you need to replenish your makeup collection this festive season and it’s priced at just £24 – having had £6 knocked off its usual £30 pricetag.
The calendar – created by the Boots own brand that prides itself on producing affordable make-up – features 24 individual boxes filled with full and travel size versions of some of its top-selling items, from mascara and eyeliner to lipstick and blush. And, having unboxed it to see if it was worthy of your – and my – hard-earned cash, as you would expect from the cosmeceutical company, I can confirm the quality of everything inside was exceptional.
Upon its arrival, I was delighted by its neat but stylish packaging. It came presented in a unique star-shaped box adorned with a vibrant pink backdrop and a 70s-style border. To inject some Christmas sparkle, the 17 logo is rendered in glittery silver font, adding a charming, festive touch. Lifting the lid, the boxes were all triangular and fit securely into the star-shaped box.
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While you’ll find classic items such as stunning lilac and gold eye shadows and lip glosses inside the 17 Advent Calendar, you’ll also be met with a selection of tools to help you perfect your look. Unlike other beauty advent calendars that may include a makeup brush or two, this one provides all the necessary tools for priming (8 tools to be exact), reports the Mirror.
Inside, you’ll find mini tweezers, nail clippers (to be used before applying the bright red mini nail polish included), an emery board nail file, an eye shadow brush, a blush brush, a beauty blender, a mini compact mirror, and a stretchy makeup headband. These smaller-sized items are perfect for tossing in your handbag or weekend bag for on-the-go touch-ups.
As for the actual makeup products, they cover almost everything needed to create a beautiful, natural look – except for foundation and concealer. The 17 calendar’s blush, bronzer, and highlighter are all pigmented just enough so you don’t have to overload your brush to achieve the desired effect.
The blush is a deep pink colour, while the bronzer provides a lovely warmth and the highlighter delivers a lovely shimmer.
The eye shadows, available in lilac and gold, apply easily to the eyelids for a delightful glittery finish and are excellent choices for when you desire a warm, gold-toned look or a more subtle pinkish-purple finish.
The eyebrow gel offers a strong hold, ensuring your brows remain neat and tidy for hours without the need for touch-ups. The mascara, on the other hand, gave my lashes a lengthy, full yet natural look, which I adore.
Although it’s not confirmed which version of mascara it is, judging by the wand design, I suspect it’s the brand’s Another Level Volume Mascara. After applying a few coats, my lashes looked fluttery and is an ideal size for just popping in your handbag to top up throughout the day (if wanted).
While most products in the calendar were a hit with me personally, I wasn’t particularly fond of the nude lipstick – it didn’t quite match my skin tone and didn’t sit well on my lips. Similarly, the eyeliner initially felt soft on my hand but when applied to my eyes, it took several attempts to make a difference.
However, once applied, the line blended well, making it perfect for a smokey eye look. With two lipsticks included in the calendar, it was inevitable that one would be a hit and the more red-pink shade was more to my liking; as a fan of red lipstick, it applied smoothly and was a vibrant Christmassy scarlet hue that I’ll definitely be wearing to all my Christmas parties. There’s even something for bath lovers – a mini bath fizzer for some indulgent self-care.
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 is priced at £30 – although it’s currently on sale for £24 – and comes packed with 24 different products, it offers a real makeup haul that’ll sort you out for the festive season. I’m genuinely impressed by the quality of these products.
Whether you’re buying it for yourself or a loved one, it’s a treat that fans of the brand will absolutely love. It’s also perfect if you’ve been wanting to try out 17 but haven’t wanted to commit to buying the mascara, primer, eyeshadow or liner at full price.
Alternatively, Sephora’s Moving Lights advent calendar is £49.99 and features 24 different make-up and skincare products here. Happy to spend a bit more? Charlotte Tilbury’s Beauty Treasure Chest of Love is £170 and contains a handful of its best-selling products from the brand’s Magic Cream to its Beauty Light Wand in Pinkgasm.
Grab the 17 Countdown of Joy Advent Calendar here for £24, down from £30.