Would you spend $50 dollars on a makeup advent calendar? What about $60? Better yet, what about $75? If you shivered at those numbers, you’ll also shiver at the fact that these are actual prices of 2024’s makeup advent calendars from Sephora, Maybelline and Makeup Revolution.
Even though Halloween has just passed, social media users are reviewing makeup advent calendars on TikTok, warning people about which products are a waste of money. Most viral is Sephora’s $50 advent calendar…that came without makeup. Out of its 24 days of surprises, there were cheap eye masks, grippy socks, hair clips and more.
Some TikTok users have also been unimpressed with Maybelline’s 12-day makeup advent calendars. Users on TikTok say that Maybelline’s calendars arrived broken and ripped and that their products are likely expired or overstock from 2023.
Though Makeup Revolution’s 24-day makeup calendar received better feedback than Sephora and Maybelline’s, it still didn’t fulfill makeup-lovers due to downsizing of product sizes.
So, if you’re planning to put together a makeup advent calendar for your boo or friends, consider adding these products to your gift instead, whether you want a 12 or 24-day calendar of surprises. For 12 days of surprises using these products, your basket will total just over $19 dollars, saving you big bucks.
Sally Hansen Nail Polish
At just $3.50, this nail polish comes in over 50 colors, is vegan and specifically made to provide “x-treme” color. You can find it at practically any drug store like Walgreens, CVS, Dollar General and the makeup section in Target.
Wet n Wild Eyeliner
If you know your girl or BFF loves smooth and long-lasting eyeliner, this product is for you. It’s my go-to liquid, felt-tip eyeliner at just $4, so it’s definitely a steal. You can also buy this product at any drugstore and even some grocery stores like Jewel Osco.
Elf’s Bite-Sized Eyeshadow Palette
Another one of my favorite on-the-go makeup products is Elf’s mini eyeshadow palettes, which are perfect for vacationing and saving room in your makeup bag. This four-color collection of shades is just $3 and includes shades that are perfect for layering and blending. If you’re looking for this product, head to Target or Ulta, or consider ordering it online because it’s often out of stock in person!
L.A. Colors Blush
Next, we’ll get into products from my favorite store — Dollar Tree. Now, I know Dollar Tree is called “dollar” for a reason, but these products don’t irritate my skin and have good pigmentation, so I’d say they’re well worth the $1.25 they cost.
Start this haul by heading over to your local Dollar Tree’s beauty and makeup section for this little L.A. Colors blush palette which, though small, lasts a long time. I’ve had mine for years and it’s still full.
Ioni Lashes
This is my all-time favorite beauty product from Dollar Tree. Though I’d love to gate keep this gem, I won’t. These $1.25 lashes come in so many varieties and are reusable, durable and fluffy (the best part). The packaging is cute and even has special edition holiday designs with colored wisps. These lashes are usually in stock at all brick-and-mortar Dollar Trees, so you can pick them up on your next visit!
Ioni Lash Glue
Now, how could I recommend lashes without lash glue? Conveniently, Ioni also has their own lash glue, which easily glides on with a mini brush. It comes in clear and black if you want it to blend it with your eyeliner. It holds pretty well, though the bottle is small, so consider getting multiple to pop into your calendar.
B. Pure Blush
Also at Dollar Tree is B. Pure’s blush, which comes in orange and hot pink hues. Also $1.25, this palette is probably the most vibrant and saturated blush I’ve used, meaning it’ll last a long time.
Smoke & Mirrors Eye Essentials Kit
To wrap up your collection of goodies, go to Five Below and buy Smoke & Mirrors’ $5 11-piece eye essentials kit. It’s basically its own advent calendar. For $5 dollars, it’s a deal.
As a former Five Below employee who has used their makeup lines, I can honestly say the quality of these kits is pretty good. This one comes with a brow gel, contour brush, eyeshadow brush, eyeshadow palette, brow highlighter and palette, an eyebrow brush, eyeliner and sharpener, tweezers and mascara.
Simple staples like tweezers and brushes can be paired with other products and the eyebrow products can also be gifted for one day, giving you more products for less cost.
Assembling Your Calendar
Now that you have a basket of makeup goodies, you might be wondering how to plan out your calendar and how many items to give each day. For a 12-day calendar leading up to Christmas, here’s my suggestion.
Day One: Sally Hansen Nail Polish
Day Two: Eyeshadow and contour brush from Smoke & Mirrors Palette
Day Three: Elf’s mini eyeshadow palette
Day Four: Smoke & Mirrors’ eyebrow brush, tweezers and gel
Day Five: Smoke & Mirrors’ eyebrow highlighter and palette
Day Six: Wet n Wild’s liquid eyeliner
Day Seven: L.A. Colors Blush palette and Smoke & Mirrors’ contour stick
Day Eight: Smoke & Mirrors’ eyeshadow palette
Day Nine: Smoke & Mirrors’ pencil eyeliner, sharpener and mascara
Day Ten: B. Pure blush
Day Eleven: 2-3 bottles of Ioni’s lash glue, both clear and black
Day Twelve: Ioni Lashes
This chronology makes each product a good build-up to the next, leaving whoever receives the calendar to be excited for what product will be paired with the brushes and lash glue. Of course, you don’t have to gift these products in this order, but it certainly plans out an exciting 12 days of Christmas!
Let us know if you have any other calendar recommendations or advent calendars you enjoyed this year!
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