Advent calendars are no longer just about being able to have chocolate at breakfast time (although we’re very much fans of that seasonal practice). Some of our favourite spa and beauty brands have created magical advent calendars with a beauty product for every day leading up to Christmas. Starting off the season of giving with a little something for yourself, it’s the perfect way to get in the mood and give you a little inspiration for all those spa gifts you plan to bestow on your loved ones over the holidays. Here are a few of our spa gift and advent calendar favourites for 2019…
Rituals Advent Calendar - the gift of slowing down
From this gorgeous spa product line built on the idea of turning everything down to washing your hands into a beautiful mini ritual, Rituals Advent Calendar is all about bringing a little tranquility to your day. They have a couple of options to choose from, starting with The Ritual of Advent Calendar with a unique selection of 24 little luxuries including four special Advent candles - one for each Sunday before Christmas.
It’s fast become one of the most anticipated beauty products of the year, the Charlotte Tilbury advent calendar is a total indulgence, but very much worth it. nside each of the 12 boxes is a one of the make-up artist’s best-selling products which, when used together, are designed to offer you two complete looks, from lashes to lips.
Tailored to his grooming rituals, Mr Porter have done themselves proud this year with their 12 Days of Grooming calendar. The perfect Christmas gift, treats range from Hanz de Fuko’s cult styling pomade to Dr Dennis Gross’s skin-renewing moisturiser. It’s an entire hair, skin and body routine in one.
If you’ve been to the spa at Bath Priory, where they have L’Occitane’s first and only UK spa, you will know what a treat this advent calendar really is. Perhaps something to give in advance of a spa gift voucher for Bath Priory itself on Christmas Day, L’Occitane’s advent calendar is filled with bath and body treats from Cherry Blossom Shower Gel to Almond Milk Concentrate as well as a travel-size perfume.
One of the spa world’s most celebrated brand’s, Elemis have outdone themselves this year with a full sized tub of one of their prized products behind door 25 of their 25 days of beauty calendar… we don’t want to spoil the surprise though. The other treats are equally impressive, ranging from new, innovative skin serums to long-loved bath oils and fragrant lotions.
An oligarch of the spa world and master of the art of spa gifts, ESPA’s Beauty Advent Calendar is about total relaxation through December. From soothing bath oils to the cult Pink Hair and Scalp Mud, it’s a feast for the senses.
Fans of Decléor’s essential-oil skincare won’t be disappointed with this beautiful advent calendar. It contains eight full-size products as well as 16 deluxe travel sizes, from the classic Aroma Cleanse Cleansing Milk to the soothing Rose D’Orient Night Balm.
A collection of Temple Spa products and a spa break for two
Of course, Temple Spa products are a treat at any time and if you speed your way over to Spabreaks.com’s competition page you still have just enough time to be in with a chance to win a spa break for two at the magical Ragdale Hall, along with a bundle of Temple Spa products for a little spa gift just for you. It includes a Drift Away bath and massage oil, In The Beginning deep cleansing melt, Breakfast Smoothie gentle exfoliator, Becalm soothing face mask, Toning Essence essential mist tonic, Windows of The Soul eye treatment gel-cream, Be Still moisturiser, AAAHHH! soothing balm, Repose aromatherapy resting cream.
For presents that can be delivered with a Temple Spa gift box, gift card or (if you’ve left it a little late) by email, spa gift vouchers are the big gift that can be given easily. The real beauty of this is not just the meaning behind it (giving someone you care about real, quality time), but also the choice and flexibility that these spa gifts offer. From vouchers that let someone choose when and where they want to go without ever having to know the cost, to those that let you choose somewhere specific because you loved it and you want someone else to experience it too.
There's one thing that we can all agree on this Christmas - everybody needs a break. For a little Christmas shopping inspiration, here's where to find our spa gifts for everyone from couples to mums-to-be.
Perhaps you have a loved one with an upcoming birthday, or perhaps you're getting ahead of the game when it comes to purchasing Christmas presents - either way, we want our hard earned cash to be spent on something meaningful, we want to make maximum impact at a level of spending we feel comfortable with, and we want to give our friends and family something they will love.
Crystal healing is one of the most popular spa treatments available, helping you to reconnect with yourself and your body. Here, one of Devon's most beautiful spa hotels, Gaia Spa at Boringdon Hall, shares their take on this ultra holistic therapy with a deep dive into the Gaia Crystal Therapy spa treatment.