As a beauty editor I'm lucky enough to get sent lots of lovely products from brands to test and review, but there's still something undeniably exciting about beauty advent calendars around this time of year. Nowadays there's a calendar for every beauty preference, but there's one brand's offering that's almost legendary every year – Charlotte Tilbury's.
2024's Charlotte's Beauty Treasure Chest of Love is now available to buy on the Charlotte Tilbury website, priced at £170, where you can see a full list of the contents inside. It sells out super-fast each year, so I feel honoured that I've been able to get my hands on one – I genuinely squealed with delight when I opened it. This is a feeling that I know is echoed by a lot of other beauty editors, who regularly share that, out of all of the calendars they receive, Tilbury's is always the one they keep for themselves.
If you're thinking of splashing out one (and if you are, don't hang about, as it'll fly off the shelves) I've opened every drawer and shared my thoughts, so you can decide if you think it's worth the money...
READ MORE: ‘I buy my mum this beauty advent calendar every year – 2024’s is the best yet’
- Charlotte's Beauty Treasure Chest of Love, £170 from Charlotte Tilbury (worth £243)
- Looks stunning and is very sturdy – you could reuse it for years
- The products inside will suit everyone
- Its 12 drawers aren't numbered so it doesn't have to be opened in December
- A good mix of skincare and make-up inside
- Contains lots of Charlotte Tilbury bestsellers
- Its cost vs value isn't as big as some of the other advent calendars
- Most of the products are travel size (nine out of the 12)
- Only 12 drawers instead of 24 or 25
First up, a moment for the packaging – and a big moment. This year's is a heart-shaped box in this season's trending burgundy shade, with gold detailing, 12 gem-handled drawers with and an additional compartment in the top for storing larger items. Even if you're not normally a fan of Charlotte Tilbury's very glam, very feminine aesthetic, you can't help but be wowed by this box, which is unlike any I've seen before.
It's really well made and sturdy too; this, plus just how gorgeous it looks, means you'd get plenty of use out of it after Christmas, either as a make-up or jewellery box or for refilling and giving to someone else next year.
The productsI was happy to find some of my all-time Tilbury favourites inside: Charlotte's Magic Lip Oil, Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray (honestly one of the best) and a 15ml pot of Charlotte's Magic Cream.
Charlotte's Beauty Treasure Chest of Love, £170 from Charlotte Tilbury (worth £243)
This calendar offers a really good mix of make-up and skincare, and there isn't a single dud, filler or scary shade – I honestly think that almost everybody would use everything inside.
As someone who's not a big lipstick wearer I actually don't mind that two of the three lipsticks are travel size (the dinky cases are very cute). I do love a mini for travelling, but I'd have liked to see one or two more full size items in this, or a bigger jar of Magic Cream, which is probably going to be one of the the most popular products inside. The Elemis advent calendar, by comparison, gives you a 50ml pot of Pro-Collagen Marine Cream in its final drawer.
The value for moneyAt £170, Charlotte Tilbury's certainly isn't the cheapest, and doesn't offer the greatest value for money compared to, say the Cult Beauty advent calendar – but you are saving over £70 on the products inside. It is of course subjective, but I don't think it's crazily expensive for what you get. What you are paying for is its absolute wow factor; it's a real showstopper, and guaranteed to delight even low-key beauty lovers. As the drawers are unnumbered, this would also make a lovely Christmas present for someone special.
