Cult Beauty Advent Calendar 2025 Review

My review today is about the Cult Beauty Advent Calendar 2025 (worth over £1100). I always look forward to these calendars because they’re some of the best. This year, I got my hands on the Classic Curation edition, which is worth over £1100 and contains 35 products, 20 of which are full-size. Let’s see what’s included.

SUMMER FRIDAYS Jet Lag Skin Soothing Hydration Mist (50ml, worth £21.00, Full Size) – a refreshing facial mist formulated with glycerin, panthenol, ceramides, ectoin, allantoin, squalane, shea butter, olive oil, glycolipids, aloe leaf juice, green tea extract, cucumber extract, and centella asiatica extract. I have been using this mist for a month, and it delivers a fine, refreshing spray that instantly soothes and hydrates. I have also noticed that it absorbs into the skin without leaving any sticky residue.

Saie SuperSuede Radiant Blush Powder (Full Size, worth £24.00) – a baked blush in the shade Bella, a soft cool baby pink. This colour is lovely, giving a natural pink flush, but unfortunately it doesn’t last long on the skin.

Gisou Honey Infused Lip Oil (Full Size, worth £24.00) – a lip oil in the shade Cherry on the Cake, a limited-edition sheer red shimmer. I already own it in the shade Strawberry Sorbet, and it’s amazing. It keeps my lips hydrated and looks beautiful on the lips.

LANEIGE Bouncy & Firm Serum (15ml, worth £22.00) – a fast-absorbing and nourishing serum formulated with niacinamide, adenosine, vitamin C, beta-glucan, peptides, ferulic acid, soluble collagen, apricot kernel oil, peony extract, green tea extract, and yarrow extract. I haven’t tried this one yet, but I’m glad it was included in the advent calendar and I’m looking forward to trying it.

Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Intensive Exfoliating Treatment (60ml, worth £69.00) – a triple-action exfoliator featuring AHA, BHA, and fruit enzymes to dissolve dead skin cells. It provides instant results, leaving the skin feeling smooth and soft. However, the product is quite strong, so if you have thin skin, I recommend using it cautiously — leave it on for just one minute and avoid using it too frequently.

Philip Kingsley Overnight Scalp Barrier Serum with Triple Balancing Action (60ml, Full Size, worth £31.00) – an overnight scalp serum that helps strengthen the natural skin barrier for improved scalp health. It contains lactic acid, piroctone olamine, menthol, menthyl lactate, aloe leaf juice, betaine, witch hazel water, glycerin, saccharide isomerate, xylitylglucoside, and oat kernel oil. It seems promising, so I’m looking forward to trying it.

Hourglass Travel Size Unlocked Instant Extensions Mascara (worth £16.00) – a mascara that lengthens and thickens the lashes, creating a dramatic, high-impact look with easy application. I love this mascara. It makes my lashes look longer with no smudging or clumping, and it’s easily buildable.

True Botanicals Phyto-Retinol Anti-Aging Sleep Serum (30ml, worth £75.00, Full Size) – a face serum with a new patented phyto-retinol, Peptilium® (composed of natural biopeptides purified to 95%), which works to visibly brighten, firm, and smooth the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It also contains astaxanthin, green tea extract, oat bran extract, primrose extract, aloe juice, jojoba oil, seabuckthorn oil, buriti oil, avocado oil, chia seed oil, and sweet briar oil. I’ve tried this serum before, and honestly I’m not convinced. It leaves my skin soft and hydrated, but it doesn’t do much for wrinkles or texture.

Dr Dennis Gross Skincare DermInfusions Plump + Repair Lip Treatment (4ml, worth £25.00) – a lip treatment that immediately and visibly plumps and defines while restoring the moisture barrier for hydrated, younger-looking lips. I’ve tried this before, and it provides a flattering plumping effect, leaving the lips hydrated, smoother, and softer. But it’s important to apply the product directly to your lips, staying within the natural lip border, as going beyond that may cause redness and itching.

PATRICK TA Major Headlines Double-Take Cream and Powder Blush Duo (Full Size, worth £34.00) – a compact featuring both powder and cream blush in the shade ‘She Know Who She Is’, a terracotta shade. I already have it in Not Too Much and think the formula is amazing. I only wish the blusher in the calendar was in a different shade.

Elemis Pro-Collagen Toning Mist (30ml, worth £13.00) – an ultra-lightweight toning mist to prep, replenish, and refine the skin. The formula is enriched with PHA, glycerin, collagen amino acids, probiotics, yucca extract, padina pavonica extract, pseudoalteromonas ferment extract, wild yam extract, and mimosa bark extract. Facial mists have been a constant part of my skincare routine for many years, so I’m always happy to try a new one.

K18 Biomimetic Hairscience Leave-in Molecular Repair Hair Mask (50ml, worth £70.00) – a leave-in treatment that repairs hair damage at the molecular level in just 4 minutes. I really love this product, it makes such a difference to my hair, reducing breakage and leaving it shiny and soft.

Paula’s Choice Resist Barrier Repair Advanced Moisturiser (50ml worth £41.00 Full Size) – an intensely nourishing, creamy moisturiser that visibly strengthens, smooths, and improves the skin’s barrier. It is enriched with squalane, shea butter, ceramides, cholesterol, hyaluronic acid, trehalose, peptides, adenosine, and watermelon seed oil. It seems promising, so I’ll save it for this winter.

Krave Beauty Oil La La Serum (15ml, worth £14.00) – an oil-serum hybrid that supports healthy sebum composition to soothe and help prevent current and future breakouts. The formula is enriched with rosehip oil, Cicatide Complex (a blend of five skin-soothing peptides and madecassoside), hyaluronic acid, and a blend of oils rich in fatty acids. I’ve tried this serum before and it didn’t work for me. I noticed small whiteheads developing in clusters near my nose, which I don’t usually get.

Medik8 C-Tetra Advanced (30ml Full Size worth £69.00) – a potent vitamin C serum that helps brighten and even out the complexion. It combines 20% vitamin C with phyto exosomes to target dullness, uneven tone, and blemishes while supporting the skin barrier. I’ve wanted to try this serum for some time, so I was really excited to see it included in the AC.

Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Light Wand (worth £30.00, Full Size) – a liquid highlighter in the shade Spotlight, a champagne shade. This is my HG highlighter, it blends seamlessly into the skin, giving a radiant, luminous glow without looking too glittery.

BYOMA Phyto-Mucin Glow Serum (40ml worth £14.99 Full Size) – a daily serum that helps improve the skin’s bounce and supports the skin barrier. The formula is enriched with glycerin, polyglutamic acid, arginine, panthenol, betaine, phytosphingosine, ceramides, cholesterol, hyaluronic acid, peptides, and phyto-mucin.

In the next window, we have two products:

• Augustinus Bader The Eye Patches Single Sachet (worth £19.00) – hydrogel patches that help reduce puffiness while hydrating, brightening, and smoothing the skin. The formula includes TFC8®, allantoin, niacinamide, panthenol, adenosine, hyaluronic acid, hydrolysed rice protein, shea butter, green tea extract, squalane, and ceramides. I’ve used these patches before and really enjoy them, though they are quite pricey. I love how they leave my under-eye area well moisturised, smoother, plumper, and noticeably less puffy.
• Augustinus Bader The Eyebrow and Lash Enhancing Serum (8ml Full Size worth £120.00) – a dual-purpose serum for brows and lashes that promotes fuller-looking results. The formula contains TFC8, biotin, sunflower seed oil, London rocket seed oil, castor oil, hydrolysed rice protein, aloe leaf juice, glycerin, hyaluronic acid, green tea extract, safflower extract, hibiscus extract, and algae extract. It seems promising, and I’m looking forward to trying it.

Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dewy Flush (12ml, worth £22.00, Full Size) – a tinted cheek serum in the shade Watermelon Flush, a soft pink. I’ve wanted to try this for a while, so I was happy to see it included in the advent calendar. It gives a natural look with a hint of colour, perfect for no-makeup days.

In the next window, we have two products:

• Danessa Myricks Beauty Linework Eyeliner (worth £20.00, Full Size) – a waterproof, smudge-proof, intense black, demi-matte fluid eyeliner.
• Natasha Denona Mini Xenon Eyeshadow Palette (worth £24.00, Full Size) – a palette with five shades, including creamy mattes and a highly foiled metallic. I love the formula, but this one seems a bit too dark for me.

In the next window, we have two products:

• RMS Beauty Legendary Lip Oil (1.6ml) – a lip oil in the shade Lucia, a pinky-peach nude. It feels nice on my lips and is comfortable to wear.
• MAKE UP FOR EVER Artist Color Pencil Extreme (1.2g, worth £20.00, Full Size) – a lip liner in the shade Limitless Brown, a rich chocolate brown. It glides on beautifully and feels very creamy and comfortable on the lips, but unfortunately the shade doesn’t really work for me.

In the next window, we have three products:

• U Beauty Resurfacing Flash Peel (5ml) – a multi-tasking face peel that resurfaces, renews and restores the complexion while smoothing texture and brightening dark spots. It is formulated with glycolic acid, salicylic acid, tartaric acid, vitamin C, stabilised retinol, peptides, hyaluronic acid, betaine, and antioxidants.
• Dr. LEVY Switzerland Eye Booster Concentrate (7ml, worth £99.00) – a lightweight eye serum that targets puffiness, fine lines, and dullness around the eye area. The formula contains niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, panthenol, caffeine, peptides, prebiotics, argan tree stem cell extract, Swiss apple tree stem cell extract, and borago oil. I’m glad to receive it, as I’ve used this serum before and I’ve noticed a real improvement in the fine lines under my eyes. Since only a small amount is needed, this travel size will last quite a while.
• Sisley Paris Black Rose Cream Mask (10ml, worth £22.00) – a hydrating mask designed to help reduce signs of fatigue. It has a lovely creamy texture and is a pleasure to use, leaving my skin soft, well-hydrated, and refreshed with a healthy glow.

Huda Beauty Faux Filler Extra Shine Lip Gloss (Full Size, worth £19.00) – a hydrating, non-sticky lip gloss in the shade She Flirty, a sheer rosy pink. It gives a lovely glossy finish, feels comfortable on the lips, and isn’t sticky. I’m really impressed with the formula, as it’s hydrating, plumping, and very comfortaable to wear.

Sol de Janeiro Delicia Drench Body Butter (75ml, worth £21.00) – a body butter infused with the sweet floral Cheirosa 59 fragrance. This fragrance features notes of sugared violet and vanilla. The body butter leaves my skin feeling soft and hydrated, and the fragrance is lovely.

In the next window, we have five products:

• BYOMA Hydrating Body Wash (100ml) – a body cleanser that provides intense hydration in the shower, leaving the skin soft and comfortable. The formula is enriched with squalane, beta-glucan, rhamnose, glucomannan, xylitylglucoside, anhydroxylitol, xylitol, glucuronic acid, and glucose.
• VIEVE Skin Nova (5ml) –  a multi-tasking primer that hydrates the skin, gives a radiant glow, and helps makeup stay put. It works well under a skin tint for added luminosity or as a base under foundation.
• By Terry Hyaluronic Hydra-Powder 8HA (4g, worth £20.00) – a mattifying pressed powder enriched with hyaluronic acid, formulated to set, blur, and hydrate the skin.
• L’Occitane Almond Shower Oil (75ml, worth £8.00) – a luxurious shower oil that transforms into a softening milk on contact with water. The formula contains grape seed oil, sweet almond oil, and sunflower seed oil. I’ve used this for years, especially in the colder months, as it’s so moisturising, and the scent is absolutely lovely.
• Hair By Sam McKnight Love Me Do Nourishing Oil (50ml, worth £32.00, Full Size) – an ultra-lightweight hair oil that restores softness and shine. It absorbs quickly without weighing the hair down and helps to smooth frizz and flyaways.

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