I tried Liz Earle's '12 Days of Beauty' advent calendar and it's a must for skincare fanatics - The Mirror

The 12-day calendar is a festive countdown full of goodies to get you into part ready this Christmas season

Christmas might be months away but in the beauty world it is advent calendar season. Now is the time when all the must-have releases hit stores, and there are lots of fabulous options this year - including offerings from Benefit, Harrods and Beauty Bay to name a few.

However, if you're after an advent calendar solely packed full of skincare goodies Liz Earle's 12 Days of Beauty countdown is worth popping on your wishlist. The iconic beauty brand prides itself on creating products containing 'naturally active ingredients', using botanical extracts to make effective skin care products for all skin types.

Priced at £79, this year's Christmas countdown can be bought from both LookFantastic and John Lewis. It contains £178 worth of products. The advent calendar is £4 more expensive than last year's release, which was priced at £75. I got into the Christmas spirit early this year and tested it out.

READ MORE: Benefit launch 'gorgeous' beauty advent calendar filled with nearly £300 worth of products

READ MORE: Beauty fans can bag £1,300 worth of free products with Harrods 2024 advent calendar

First up I gave the iconic Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser a whirl - it's a cult classic for a reason after all. Admittedly, I have used this cleanser several times and it is one of my favourites which is why I picked it up first. One of the original hot cloth cleansers on the market, it has a thick, creamy texture that emulsifies once you apply water.

To use, simply rub a pea-sized amount onto a dry face, then follow up with hot water and work the product into your skin. If I'm wearing heavy make up, I use it twice, and then follow up with a third cleanse using a different product.

I love the Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser as a nighttime cleanser and have gone through many tubes over the years. It lasts ages and a little goes a long way. It also leaves your skin feeling moisturised.

Next up I tried the Cleanse & Glow Cleanser, which was also a joy to use. The gel-to-oil consistency makes it feel luxurious. It's a great product for dry or combination skin, especially in the colder months if you suffer from flakiness or dry patches.

I've used it to remove make up and also on a bare face as a morning cleanser. It leaves my skin feeling hydrated and supple, which is great during the colder months as my skin tends to feel dry.

I have been trying out the Eyebright Soothing Eye Lotion for a few weeks although I am not entirely sure what it does. For me this product misses the mark, it's marketed as an eye makeup remover - which it does - but I cannot see any brightening benefits.

In keeping with under-eye products, I've really enjoyed using the Superskin Eye Cream. Much like the rest of my face, in the colder months, my underye area tends to get dry and concealer looks cakey and patchy.

I found this eye cream incredibly moisturising, with a silky sheen finish - I've enjoyed using it day and night. It also has a pleasant spa-like smell.

Other notable mentions include the Orange Flower Body Wash. The citrus aroma is pleasant without being overpowering and the pure essential oils in the body cleanser prevent your skin from drying out.

There's also a matching body cream in the same scent, which has a rich texture that sinks into the skin quickly. The advent calendar also carries an accompanying hand cream, perfect for popping into your handbag.

What's inside?

• Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser 100ml (full size)
• Liz Earle Cleanse & Glow Cleanser 30ml
• Liz Earle Smooth & Glow Tonic 50ml
• Liz Earle Gentle Face Exfoliator 15ml
• Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic 50ml
• Liz Earle Eyebright Soothing Eye Lotion 50ml
• Liz Earle Orange Flower Body Wash 200ml(full size)
• Liz Earle Orange Flower Body Cream 200ml (full size)
• Liz Earle Skin Repair Light Cream 15ml
• Liz Earle Orange Flower Hand Repair 50ml
• Liz Earle Skin Repair Hydrating Night Cream 50ml (full size)
• Liz Earle Superskin Eye Cream 15ml (full size)
• 1 Pure Cotton Cloth

You can buy the Liz Earle advent calendar here for £79. Meanwhile, Boots has released its Limited Edition 24 Days of Beauty Christmas Advent on sale £99, worth £357.83.

British skincare brand Elemis launched its festive countdown this week too. At £199, it contains £537 worth of skincare and bodycare products.