Yes, I still have an advent calendar every year, even at my age. I’ve had chocolate calendars to countdown the days until Christmas for as long as I can remember. And I probably had a printed cardboard calendar even before then. I love opening a door every day, bring me one step closer to the big day with every chocolate treats I eat. Even my cats have advent calendars so that every member of the household can join in with the festive fun.And no, it’s not just for kids – you see, advent calendars have grown up. I can’t walk into a store or browse online without seeing calendars for adults too; mini bottles of booze, candles, jams, beer and (my favourite calendar idea of all) beauty. So this year I chose to plump for a slightly more grown-up countdown to Christmas with a calendar from The Vintage Cosmetic Co. Of course, I still have my Father Christmas chocolate calendar to enjoy too (!) but this beauty countdown is an extra special treat just for me.Once I started looking for a beauty calendar I found many different options. Some focus on nail polishes, some offer ‘seasonal specials’ from a cosmetics range, others have bath bombs, lip balms or skincare. Considering that I’ve got sensitive skin, a difficult-to-shop-for pale skin tone and will only buy 100% cruelty-free cosmetics, many of the beauty advent calendars weren’t right for me. Luckily I did find one that was perfect for my needs – and just in time for the start of December too!I picked the 12 Days to a Beautiful Christmas advent calendar for a number of reasons. Firstly, The Vintage Cosmetic Company is a cruelty-free producer – brushes are made from super-soft synthetic hair and their products are accessories rather than make-up. Secondly, there were items in the calendar that I actually needed, such as tweezers, make-up brushes, hair styling equipment and a foundation sponge. I didn’t have to worry about make-up shades not matching my skin tone or skincare products causing a reaction on my skin because each item in the box was a practical accessory, not a cosmetic product. Thumbs up so far…

The brand always delivers a sense of 1950s glamour in their packaging, and this calendar was no exception. I especially loved how the box resembled a vintage beauty salon, and the glittering gold accents dressed the powder-pink box for Christmas. Obviously, I didn’t want to open all the doors before the 1st December, but I did want to let you know what it looks like inside. So I popped open a couple of doors to take a sneaky peek, and found that the box was printed inside too with lovely messages about the products behind each door.Another reason that I chose this calendar is because it’s a money-saving option. I don’t just mean that it’s on sale right now (and you can earn beauty points too), I mean that it works out cheaper to get this calendar than if you bought all the accessories individually. If you add up the price of each product, you’re making a considerable saving on the RRP by buying them in this set rather than separately. So it’s not just a treat, it’s a thrifty shopping solution too!Let me know if you’ve got a “grown-up” advent calendar this year and what you’ve decided to go for by leaving me a comment below or tweeting me @Cassiefairy. And help me solve this problem if you can – when do I start to open a 12 days advent calendar?? Is it on the 1st December, or do I count 12 days back from Christmas day and start then? I’m not sure I can wait!