If you’ve been following me on Instagram throughout December, you’ll know I’ve been diving headfirst into the SpaceNK Advent Calendar each morning. Now that the wrapping paper has been cleared and Christmas is but a memory, I wanted to take stock and share my thoughts on their 2024 offering.
First off, let me say this: I was genuinely impressed. The calendar boasted a carefully considered balance of skincare, makeup, haircare, and body care, with a clear emphasis on the former. For me, this is ideal – though I’ll admit I still long for an advent calendar that’s unapologetically dedicated to skincare alone. While I completely understand the inclusion of makeup (these calendars are often marketed to beauty enthusiasts who like a bit of everything), it would be a welcome change for those of us who prefer to go bare-faced and focus on skin. The few makeup items I unwrapped have already been earmarked for friends and family who’ll love them more than I do.
Included in this years calendar was:
1. Sol De Janeiro Pistachio & Salted Caramel Perfume Mist
2. Skin Rocks The Cream Cleanser (Fragrance Free)
3. K18 Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask
4. Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm (Shade Brown Sugar) & Rare Beauty Soft Pinch (Shade Hope)
5. Medik8 Hydra B5 Intense
6. Chantecaille Geek Gelee Hydrating Gel-Cream Blush (Shade Vibrant) & Rodial Glass Highlighter (Shade Champagne Glow)
7. Supergoop Glow Screen SPF30
8. The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + HA Serum & Laneige Bouncy & Firm Sleeping Mask
9. Sunday Riley CEO Glow Vitamin C + Turmeric Face Oil
10. Tatcha The Serum Stick, Sisley Black Rose Cream Mask & Sisley Velvet Sleeping Mask
11. Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Intensive
12. Naturium Vitamin C Complex Serum
13. Lisa Eldridge Luxuriously Lucent Lip Colour (Shade Painterly)
14. Hair By Sam McKnight Happy Endings Nourishing Balm, Amika Dream Routine Overnight Hydration Treatment, Olaplex No7 Bonding Oil
15. Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant
16. Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Primer
17. Hour Glass Ambient Lighting Blush
18. SpaceNK Nordic Wilds Body Wash & Eve Lom Cleansing Balm
19. Charlotte Tilbury Colour Chameleon Eye Shadow Pencil (Shade Pinch), Ilia Mascara, Kosas AirBrow
20. Drunk Elephant Lala Retro Whipped Cream
21. Glossier G Suit (Shade Jet)
22. Augustinus Bader The Serum
23. Color Wow Dream Coat
24. D.S. & Durga I Don’t Know What Eau De Parfum
25. Ultra Violette Queen Screen SPF50
My one quibble? The final day. Don’t get me wrong, I think Ultra Violette’s sunscreens are excellent, and I’ll happily champion the necessity of daily SPF until the cows come home. But for Christmas Day? It didn’t quite hit the celebratory mark. A beautiful sunscreen, however essential, doesn’t pack the same punch as, say, the Augustinus Bader serum – which would have felt far more decadent and festive for a grand finale. If I were calling the shots, I’d have swapped them around to leave users with a suitably luxurious high note on December 25th.
At £250, though, it’s hard to argue with the value. This was a thoughtfully curated calendar that truly delivered. My only hope is that next year, they keep things fresh and resist the temptation to rely too heavily on past hits. Advent calendars have a habit of becoming repetitive if brands don’t shake things up, and Space NK has the potential to lead the charge with innovation and variety.
Would I buy it again? Absolutely, assuming they keep the formula as strong – and as skincare-focused – as it was this year.
