Twelve doors has a charm all of its own. It’s the calendar you can open from the thirteenth and finish on Christmas Eve, or save for the twelve days after, and the Clarins 12 Day Advent Calendar 2026 fills each one with something from the brand’s most-loved shelves: a Lip Perfector, a Hydra-Essentiel day cream, the Total Eye Lift, a little Lip Comfort Oil and a hand cream made for winter.
The box is a pretty red and gold affair that Clarins describes as eco-designed, and the line-up inside feels considered rather than crowded. Three of the twelve are full size, a cleanser starts things off softly, and there’s enough lip care to see you through every party from the office drinks to New Year’s Eve.
At a glance: £98 | 12 face, body and make-up treats | Worth over £173 (Clarins’ figure) | Available now at Clarins UK
The numbers
The Clarins 12 Day Beauty Advent Calendar is £98 for 12 products, all from Clarins, and Clarins puts the contents at a worth of over £173.
Three are described as full size: the Lip Perfector in 01 Rose Shimmer (12ml), the Hydra-Essentiel Day Cream (30ml, listed in the set as the Hydra-Essentiel [HA²] Silky Cream) and the Hydra-Essentiel [HA²] Lip Balm (15ml). The other nine are travel sizes and minis, from a 1.4ml Lip Comfort Oil to a 50ml Velvet Cleansing Milk.
By our count, that’s four make-up pieces, six for the face and two for the body. It’s on sale now at Clarins UK, alongside its bigger sister, the Clarins 24 Day Beauty Advent Calendar at £165.
Does it pique our interest?
It does, and the lips are where it starts. The Lip Perfector arrives as a full 12ml tube in 01 Rose Shimmer, a soft, shimmering pink for everyday wear. The Hydra-Essentiel [HA²] Lip Balm is full size too, and a tiny Lip Comfort Oil in 04 Pitaya brings a juicier pop of colour. That’s a little lip wardrobe for the party season: balm by day, Perfector at dinner, a slick of oil on top when the night calls for it.
The skincare is quietly clever. The Velvet Cleansing Milk is a gentle way into the routine, the Hydra-Essentiel [HA²] Silky Cream is a proper 30ml pot for the mornings, and the Hydra-Essentiel [HA²] Night Cream sits beside it for the evenings. For a moment of spa at home, there’s the Cryo-Flash Cream-Mask, an icy gel-cream Clarins designed with its treatment rooms in mind, and the Total Eye Lift, the brand’s lifting eye serum, which we’d save for a morning after a late one.
The make-up beyond the lips is small but useful: a mini Wonder Volume Mascara XXL for the handbag and the SOS Primer in White to brighten a winter base. And for the body, the Moisture-Rich Body Lotion and the Hand and Nail Treatment Cream are two of the most practical things a December calendar can give; we’d keep the hand cream by the front door.
We also like how usable it all is. Nothing here is a novelty destined for the back of a drawer: the cleanser, creams, primer and hand cream all slot into a normal December morning, and the minis are just the right size for a weekend bag or a trip home for Christmas.
As an introduction to Clarins, the Clarins 12 day advent calendar is a lovely one. It shows off the Hydra-Essentiel range, the lip care Clarins is known for and a couple of its treatment-room favourites, all without asking you to clear a whole shelf.
What we’d change
If we could tweak one or two doors, we’d start with the body. The Tonic Body Oil is the product many people picture first when they think of Clarins, and even a small bottle would feel right at home here.
The Lip Comfort Oil in 04 Pitaya is a sweet 1.4ml taster, and we suspect it’ll run out before the twelfth day. The 7ml would make it a keeper.
And with the day cream, night cream and eye serum all in place, a little Double Serum would round off the skincare beautifully.
Full contents list
Clarins groups the calendar as face, body and make-up, and here is the full line-up arranged that way. Full sizes are Clarins’ own description.
Make-up
- Lip Perfector, 01 Rose Shimmer, 12ml (full size)
- Wonder Volume Mascara XXL, 01 Black, 3ml
- Lip Comfort Oil, 04 Pitaya, 1.4ml
- SOS Primer, White, 10ml
Face
- Velvet Cleansing Milk, 50ml
- Hydra-Essentiel [HA²] Silky Cream (Day Cream), 30ml (full size)
- Hydra-Essentiel [HA²] Night Cream, 15ml
- Hydra-Essentiel [HA²] Moisture Replenishing Lip Balm, 15ml (full size)
- Cryo-Flash Cream-Mask, 15ml
- Total Eye Lift, 7ml
Body
- Moisture-Rich Body Lotion, 30ml
- Hand and Nail Treatment Cream, 30ml
Who it’s perfect for
The Clarins 12 Day is perfect for anyone meeting Clarins for the first time and wanting a gentle introduction, and for lip-care lovers who never leave the house without a balm. It suits someone who likes a shorter countdown, whether that’s the run-up to Christmas or the twelve days after, and it makes a thoughtful gift under £100 for a friend, a colleague or a mother-in-law who deserves something a little luxurious. If you’d rather have the whole Clarins routine, body oil and all, the 24 Day is the one to look at. And it’s a kind way to treat yourself after a busy year: twelve small, lovely moments feel just about manageable in the rush of December.
Our Pique Verdict
Perfect for: Clarins newcomers, lip-balm devotees and anyone looking for a beauty advent calendar under £100.
Best product: Hydra-Essentiel [HA²] Silky Cream, 30ml, full size.
Biggest drawback: The Lip Comfort Oil is a 1.4ml mini; we’d love the 7ml.
Value for money: ★★★★½ (4.5/5)
Shop the Clarins 12 Day Beauty Advent Calendar 2026 — £98
It’s one of our picks in The Best Beauty Advent Calendars Under £100 in 2026, if you’d like to see it alongside the others at this price.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Clarins 12 day advent calendar 2026 worth it?
We think it’s a lovely buy, especially if you’re new to Clarins. The Clarins 12 day advent calendar 2026 is £98, Clarins puts the contents at over £173, and three products are described as full size: the Lip Perfector, the Hydra-Essentiel [HA²] Silky Cream and the Hydra-Essentiel [HA²] Lip Balm.
What’s inside the Clarins 12 Day Advent Calendar 2026?
Twelve products: four make-up pieces, six for the face and two for the body. They include the Lip Perfector in 01 Rose Shimmer, Total Eye Lift, Cryo-Flash Cream-Mask, a mini Wonder Volume Mascara XXL and the Hand and Nail Treatment Cream. The full list is above.
Are the products in the Clarins 12 day advent calendar full size?
Three are, according to Clarins: the Lip Perfector (12ml), the Hydra-Essentiel Day Cream (30ml) and the Hydra-Essentiel Lip Balm (15ml). The other nine are travel sizes and minis.
Where can I buy the Clarins 12 day advent calendar in the UK?
It’s on sale now at Clarins UK. At the time of writing, we haven’t seen it at other UK stockists.
Should I choose the Clarins 12 Day or 24 Day advent calendar?
The Clarins 24 Day Beauty Advent Calendar is £165 for 24 products, with four described as full size, and adds the cleansing oil, toners, serum and a full body care section including the Tonic Body Oil. The 12 Day is the lighter choice, with a lip-led line-up and three full sizes. Read our Clarins advent calendar 2026 review for the 24 Day line-up.
When should you start a 12 day advent calendar?
Most people open the first door on 13 December so the last lands on Christmas Eve, but you can just as happily start on Christmas Day and carry on into the new year.
