Today’s advent calendars give countdown enthusiasts chocolate, games and decorative objects. And in recent years, advent calendars have become increasingly diversified, with special varieties offering surprises for kids and adults alike. Cosmetics brands are tapping into the trend too, offering cosmetics fans a chance to get their hands on some miniature sizes or exclusives in a fun format. Nail polish, lipstick, shower gel and even tweezers and nail files, today’s advent calendars also allow women to test and discover new products. Here’s a selection of some of this year’s offering.

Last year, brands opted for mini formats, much easier to fit in an advent calendar, but this year, certain beauty labels have even included classic-sized bottles and tubes in luxurious calendars.

The Body Shop 24 Happy Days Advent Calendar

The cosmetics brand presents a high-end version of the advent calendar that includes lots of its best-selling products. Skincare, body care, shower gel, brushes, perfumes and makeup are all hidden inside small box-drawers which also bear messages.

Feline Calendar 2015 by L’Oréal Paris

Just like last year, the L’Oréal Paris brand will present an advent calendar for the end-of-the-year festivities. The calendar will contain an entire collection of "Color Riche Nail" in different seasonal colors, 23 to be exact. As an extra surprise, the brand’s Volume Million Lashes Feline Mascara will be hidden away behind one of the days of the calendar. The calendar will be available at the end of October in select retail points, on the online L’Oréal boutique and on Amazon.

The Feline Calendar 2015 by L’Oréal Paris © L’Oréal Paris

L’Occitane Advent calendar 2015 edition

To help beauty divas remain patient until Christmas, the cosmetics brand presents a new edition of its advent calendar, drawn by Kanako, illustrator of the popular French "My Little Paris" website. Very colorful, the calendar has been designed to resemble a snow-covered building that also lodges a L’Occitane boutique on the ground floor. The brand’s best-selling products wait to be unveiled and include items like the Ultra Rich face cream to the Verveine body lotion and the Extra Gentle soap.

2015 Advent calendar by Dr. Hauschka

The natural ingredients-based cosmetics brand gives beauty addicts a chance to reconnect with their inner child with their new advent calendar. Through the day before Christmas, each small calendar window will deliver a mini-sized sample of an iconic product, with a classic-sized extra treat special on Christmas. The calendar will be available at Dr. Hauschka boutiques and institutes and in a number of select department stores.

2015 Advent calendar by Dr. Hauschka © Dr. Hauschka

Party Poppers Advent calendar by Benefit Cosmetics

The makeup and cosmetics label presents an advent calendar combining beauty with music. The Party Poppers edition has revisited the lyrics of the popular and seasonal "Twelve Days of Christmas" song and transformed it into "The Twelve Things at Parties". The calendar opens like a book and plays the music every time you open it up. Amongst the many products to discover: mini-sized versions of the POREfessional balm and the They’re Real! Mascara.

Mini Mani Month Advent calendar by Ciaté

Like every year, the English brand will present its Mini Mani Month advent calendar, marked by a typically London decoration. Inside, a number of nail polishes and top-coats are hidden away including a nail file and a classic-sized sparkle varnish for the big day. The calendar has been a classic offered by the Ciaté label for some time.