Here’s the thing about Advent calendars: they’re not just for kids anymore, and if you wait until December 1st to shop, you’re already too late. The most popular ones vanish from virtual shelves faster than holiday cookies at a family gathering. This year’s Black Friday sales have dropped prices on everything from beauty must-haves to brick-building adventures, and the smart shoppers are already filling their carts.
The Countdown Starts Now—And So Do the Deals
The tradition of opening a little door each day started centuries ago, but modern Advent calendars have evolved into something entirely different. Instead of simple chocolate pieces, today’s calendars hide lip balms, gemstones, science experiments, and yes, those beloved tiny Lego builds.
Retailers have caught on that people will gladly pay for 24 days of surprise and anticipation, which is why these calendars routinely sell out weeks before December arrives.
Beauty Meets Bargains: Burt’s Bees And Beyond
Burt’s Bees has dropped their 12 Days of Joy Lip Balm Advent Calendar to just $21, down from the regular $30 price tag. That’s 12 full-size lip balms—featuring seasonal flavors like Mint Cocoa, Cranberry Spritz, Salted Caramel, and even Fruitcake—for less than the cost of buying a standard four-pack.
When you consider that winter air typically wreaks havoc on lips, stocking up through an Advent calendar suddenly makes financial sense. Beauty enthusiasts on a budget should also check out the E.l.f. The 12-day Advent calendar is sitting at $20. It packs both makeup minis and full-size favorites, covering everything from primers to eyeshadow sticks, plus essential tools like blending brushes and an eyelash curler.
Parents shopping for makeup-curious tweens and teens have been snapping these up, praising the quality-to-price ratio.
Building Excitement: Lego’s Limited-Time Offers
The 2025 Lego Star Wars Advent Calendar has dropped to $26.99 while the Lego City version hit a new low of $17.99—representing discounts up to 40% off their regular prices. These aren’t just random bricks thrown into boxes. The Star Wars calendar includes C-3PO and Holiday Jawa minifigures, plus buildable droids and pieces to construct Babu Frik’s workshop. It’s 263 pieces of intergalactic fun designed for ages six and up.
The catch? Several Lego Advent calendars, including the Minecraft collaboration, have already sold out at major retailers. Once they’re gone, resellers swoop in with inflated prices, so hesitation costs you actual money.
National Geographic Surprises
National Geographic’s Gemstone Advent calendar offers young geologists aged eight and up a polished stone each day, complete with jewelry settings to turn discoveries into wearable treasures. The calendar includes 24 specimens plus a collector’s pouch and encourages kids to learn about rocks and minerals while counting down to Christmas.
Their Magic Advent calendar takes a different approach, combining 15 classic magic tricks with nine science experiments. Kids learn to create water balls, make coins vanish, and produce fizzy color-changing solutions—all with instructional videos from professional magicians included.
The lesson here is that December 1st arrives in less than a week. These deals won’t wait for you to finish your Thanksgiving leftovers. Add them to your cart now, or watch them disappear into someone else’s holiday plans.
