It’s tiiiime! In the lead up to this year’s festivities, ELLE have announced their coveted 2026 beauty advent calendar. Designed in collaboration with Chopova Lowena, this year’s luxurious collectors box is brimming with 25 beauty, skincare and haircare products (20 of which are full sized), bringing together cult favourites with some names that may be new to your beauty shelf.
With so much packed inside, Noctis Magazine beauty editor Charli Avery was tasked with picking eight products to put to the test across from restorative face oils, serums and nourishing creams, to glossy lip oil and an office-party-ready eyeshadow palette.
Get first-look access below as we take a closer look at inside this year’s calendar and Charli shares her verdict on the ones that caught her attention.
Almora Restorative Night Face Oil 30ml, £125 RRP
A lovely routine addition for anyone whose skin is craving a little extra nourishment. The oil has a light, subtle scent and melts into the skin rather than sitting heavily on the surface, leaving it feeling soft and comfortably hydrated.
The formula is built around sunflower and sesame seed oils, both rich in fatty acids and antioxidants, alongside grape seed and borage oils to nourish and support the skin.
It’s the kind of evening skincare step that feels indulgent without being overly complicated, just add a few drops before bed and you’re done.
For me, the texture is the real appeal: nourishing but not greasy, making it an easy one to incorporate into a night-time routine.
Charli’s verdict – A simple, luxurious-feeling facial oil for every skin type and texture, especially those sensitive to smells or essential oils
BIOEFFECT EGF Eye Serum, £75 RRP
The first thing that caught my attention was the beautiful packaging and clever roller applicator, which makes the product feel particularly luxurious. The serum itself is cooling and pleasant around the eye area. (Top tip – be careful with your placement, it can slightly sting when applied too close to the eye!)
The formula centres around EGF (epidermal growth factor), a protein that helps support the skin’s natural renewal process and is used here to target the delicate eye area.
Overall it’s a lovely-feeling eye treatment and the kind of product that makes a skincare routine feel even more indulgent. This product works best over time, so don’t expect instant results.
Charli’s verdict – A sophisticated eye treatment with great packaging. Pleasantly hydrating without feeling too sticky.
Zelens Melatonin B12 Advanced Repair Serum 30ml, £120 RRP
This advanced repair serum feels lavish from the very first use, sitting elegantly on any bathroom shelf. The serum itself has a beautiful, slightly more substantial texture than a traditional serum. It feels creamy and silky rather than thin or watery, and instantly hydrating, especially in dry weather.
The formula is built around melatonin and vitamin B12, which Zelens claims work together to support the skin’s natural repair and renewal processes. It also contains a peptide aimed at supporting the appearance of skin firmness, alongside hyaluronic acid and sodium hyaluronate for hydration.
It’s the texture that makes this product stand out. It feels more like a luxurious treatment cream-serum hybrid, so I wouldn’t necessarily feel the need to layer under moisturiser (unless your skin is particularly dry).
Charli’s verdict – Despite a fairly hefty price tag, this is a real treat for the skin, and fantastic value included within the advent calendar.
Votary Super Barrier Balm 30ml, £35
This was a little different to what I expected from a product called a balm. Rather than feeling thick or waxy, it has a silky, surprisingly lightweight texture that melts easily into the skin. The formula is designed to support the skin barrier, with cica, vitamin B5 and squalane among its key ingredients, alongside nourishing plant oils.
If your skin is feeling dry and irritated, this is the kind of product I’d reach for particularly at night when you can give it time to work without layering make-up over the top. I added a little of this around the nose and cheeks on top of the Zelens serum, and woke up with cushioned and hydrated skin.
Charli’s verdict – A great travel sized cream and handbag staple to help combat those pesky dry patches throughout winter.
VIEVE – Soul Shadows Eyeshadow Palette, £29 RRP
VIEVE has a few cult products, but these eyeshadows are not talked about enough!
Inspired by nature, this neutral palette quad can be used and adapted on every skin tone. They are all matte in texture too – often hard to find in small palettes.
The shadows have a beautifully soft buttery texture, which makes them incredibly easy to blend and build without losing their intensity.
Charli’s verdict – So easy to blend with a light touch, stunning colours for all skin tones.
Gisou ‘Mango Passion Punch’ Lip Oil, RRP £24
This is a really tactile little product, from the interestingly shaped packaging, which makes it easy to hold, to the silky texture. Mirsalehi Honey is one of the key ingredients, alongside hyaluronic acid and Gisou’s Bee Garden Oil Blend, helping to nourish and hydrate the lips without that sticky feeling some glosses can leave behind.
The Mango Passion Punch shade gives a sheer orangey-red tint, and has a subtle sweet scent, but not in a sickly way. There are many other colours to collect if you enjoy this as much as I did.
Charli’s Verdict – It feels nourishing without being heavy, leaving a glossy, comfortable finish. Wear it alone for a hint of colour or layer it over lipstick when you want extra shine.
Champo Leave-in Perfecting Cream 30ml, RRP £28
Champo is a brand quickly making a name for itself in the world of luxury haircare.
The first thing I noticed is how lightweight it feels, and it gives the hair softness and shine without leaving it coated or weighed down. It also has a lovely scent, which makes it feel more like a styling treat than a functional leave-in.
The silicone-free formula is designed to smooth, moisturise and strengthen the hair, making it suitable for different hair types and textures.
Charli’s verdict – Conveniently travel friendly product to smooth hair before styling, one I’ll be keeping with me while jetting between London, Paris and Milan fashion weeks.
Verden Herbanum Hand Cream, RRP £25
The chic, understated packaging immediately gives this hand cream a premium feel, but it’s the texture that won me over. It’s rich enough to leave hands feeling nourished, yet absorbs quickly without any greasy residue.
The herbaceous botanical scent is quite strong, and best suited for anyone who enjoys a more noticeable fragrance from their hand care. Personally I think the scent adds to the sense of luxury, making it feel more like a little ritual than a basic hand cream.
Charli’s verdict – A lovely, practical addition to the calendar, and one that makes a lovely gift if it’s not quite your fragrance.