Bring back the magic of the holidays with these fun Advent calendars for your teen or college student. They’re exciting because your teen will get a little surprise each day leading up to Christmas. Based on previous years, many of these sell out so don’t wait if you see something you think they would LOVE.
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Popular Advent Calendars for Teens
1. Target Surprise Punch Box
Here’s Target’s punch surprise box to fill with 12 personalized treats so you can make your own special 12 days of surprises. This is the ultimate DIY holiday countdown calendar.
Games and Toys Advent Calendars
2. Thames and Kosmos EXIT: The Game Advent Calendars (Amazon)
Thames and Kosmos is an award-winning publisher of science kits, board games and craft kits and it is no wonder that their EXIT: The Game Advent calendars were among the very most popular Advent calendars purchased by Grown and Flown families last year. Players must solve riddles and puzzles in a certain amount of time to escape from an imaginary room.
The Mystery of the Ice Cave was the top choice but here are three others that might be fun for your family:
The Missing Hollywood Star
The Hunt for the Golden Book
The Silent Storm
3. Lego Movie Theme Advent Calendars (Amazon)
Advent calendars with Lego sets are also wildly popular and there are dozens to choose from. Lego Star Wars was the top choice for many G&F families last year and it’s available again with a 2024 version with 368 pieces.
If your teen is a fan of any of these movie franchises, you might want to consider this as an early Christmas gift idea. In addition to the Star Wars sets, here are three others.
Marvel Spider-Man
Harry Potter
Disney
4. Jigsaw Puzzle Advent Calendar (Amazon)
This jigsaw puzzle could be the ultimate family activity as it contains 1008 pieces – find 24 boxes that each hold 48 pieces for 24 different sections of the puzzle. Complete the upper left hand section on December 1 and, by December 24, finish the section in the lower right corner and the puzzle will be complete!
Health and Beauty Advent Calendars
5. L’Occitane Classic Advent Calendar Gift Set (Amazon)
A selection of 24 most-loved skin care products from L’Occitane packaged in a beautifully designed Advent calendar.
6. Revolution Beauty Advent Calendar
Revolution Beauty, a cosmetics company based in the UK, has 24 lip, eye and skin products in their 2024 Advent calendar. Included are super-sparkly lip glosses, nourishing lip masks, brushes and brow gel.
7. ChapStick 12 Days Holiday Advent Calendar (Amazon)
We love this cute idea from Chapstick — get 12 different chapsticks in both holiday and classic flavors, including Candy Cane, Vanilla Icing, Cake Batter, Sugar Cookie, Classic Strawberry, Vanilla Mint, Graham Cracker, Clover Honey, Milk Chocolate, Cotton Candy, Green Apple and Classic Original.
8. Burt’s Bees 12 Days of Joy Advent Calendar (Amazon)
If you’re a fan of Burt’s Bees, instead (we LOVE this lip balm)fFind 12 full size lip balms in this holiday set. Discover favorites and holiday flavors, too.
9. Sephora Favorites 25 Days of Beauty Advent Calendar (Sephora)
Available only online, the Sephora Advent calendar for 2024 includes 27 mini and full-size cosmetics making every day a chance to explore different brands and products for hair, makeup, skincare and fragrances. This is a $366 value.
10. Sephora Advent Calendar (Sephora)
Twenty-four Sephora products are available in this more-affordable Advent calendar than the “Favorites” one above.
11. W7 Beauty Blast Advent Calendar 2024 (Amazon)
Individually boxed, makeup and cosmetic surprises. Assortment of non-toxic full size and travel products including: Hair Accessories, Bronzing Glow Drops, Lip Liners, Eyeliners, Eyeshadow, Blusher, Peachy Clean Cleansing Balm, Lipstick, Gloss, Mascara, Strawberry Lip Scrub, Bronzer, Travel Mirror and Hair & Body Mist.
12. The Body Shop 24-Piece Holiday Beauty Advent Calendar (Amazon)
This Advent calendar gift set includes 24 skincare, haircare, bath and body items from The Body Shop.
13. Benefit Cosmetics Gorgeous Grocer Advent Calendar (Sephora)
We are fans of Benefit Cosmetics and think that this cute Advent calendar filled with $321 worth of skin care and cosmetics is even nicer given that it is packaged in a reusable grocery basket.
14. Charlotte’s Beauty Treasure Chest Of Love (12 Door Beauty Advent Calendar) (Charlotte Tilbury)
A twelve drawer beauty advent calendar. In each drawer is an award-winning, globally-loved beauty secret for everyone. Check the link for what’s included. A worthy splurge.
15. Toiletry Advent Calendar for Men (Amazon)
This toiletry advent calendar has everything a guy could need regarding toiletries. Some things included are a comb, toothbrush, nail clippers, tweezers, lotion, and more.
Tasty Treats Advent Calendars
16. Lindt Bear Advent Calendar (Amazon)
Lindt is fine Swiss chocolate and top-tier quality with a smooth, rich, gourmet taste. This advent calendar has foil-wrapped milk chocolate and hazelnut chocolate balls.
17. Pukka Tea Advent Calendar (Amazon)
Your tea-loving student, friend, or other family member will enjoy a different flavor of tea throughout December with this Pukka organic tea sampler. Blends include Three Ginger; Winter Warmer; Night Time; Chamomile, Vanilla & Manuka Honey; Wild Apple & Cinnamon and Supreme Matcha Green.
18. Williams Sonoma Christmas Popcorn Advent Calendar (Williams Sonoma)
This advent calendar is perfect for anyone who enjoys popcorn! For 24 days, check behind each door and get surprised by finding popping corn, seasoning, sweets, nuts, and recipes.
19. Bonne Maman Limited Edition Advent Calendar (Amazon)
Find a new flavor of jam each day with this delicious advent calendar! This is always a crowd favorite. It contains 24 limited edition spreads. New varieties include Caramel with Coffee, Apricot with Orange Blossom, Guava and Raspberry & Rose and more!
20. Sugarfina 2024 Gingerbread House Candy Advent Calendar (Amazon)
Twenty-four new candies-all delicious. Candies inside: holiday presents, Heavenly Sours, Christmas Trees, Snowman Gummies, Walk of Fame Stars, and many more candies.
21. Williams Sonoma Peppermint Bark Advent Calendar (Williams Sonoma)
What could be better than this? Peppermint bark in four festive shapes, this charming advent calendar is a delicious way to count down to Christmas. Twenty-four doors reveal a snowman, toy soldier, Christmas tree, or Santa. Each crunchy treat is rich semisweet chocolate and creamy white chocolate with crushed peppermint candy. Fun for kids of all ages, the calendar makes a great holiday gift.
22. Reeses Advent Calendar (Amazon)
This advent calendar is an easy way to get your teen excited about the holidays, featuring 24 doors with a Reeses behind each door.
23. Walker’s Shortbread Cookie 2024 Holiday Advent Calendar (Amazon)
Heavenly shortbread cookies made with butter, flour, sugar, and salt – that’s all.
24. Keurig Advent Calendar Variety Pack (Amazon)
This festive and flavorful collection of 24 K-Cup pods for coffee lovers helps you brew holiday magic each day leading up to Christmas. This advent calendar includes all the top brands, including Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, The Original Donut Shop Coffee, McCafé, Peet’s Coffee, Caribou Coffee, Cinnabon, Newman’s Own Organics, Kahlua, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Panera Bread, and Swiss Miss.
Other Fun Advent Calendars
25. National Geographic Rocks, Minerals & Fossils Advent Calendar (Amazon)
If your student is into geology, crystals, or rocks, this is their ideal advent calendar! Some gems featured are Geode, Pyrite Blue and rose Quartz, Indigo Gabbro; Red, Black, and Green-Spotted Jasper; Agate; and Tiger’s Eye.
26. Funko Pop! Disney: Advent Calendar – Holiday (Amazon)
Funko POPs are small figurines with exaggerated features like giant bobbleheads and oversized eyes (they are popular characters from a wide range of leading franchises).
Funko Pop! Advent Calendar: Stranger Things 2024
Funko Pop! Advent Calendar: Star Wars
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