[unpaid/sample/prioradrelationship/affiliate/ad] Here’s hoping that you don’t have a long shopping list for this advent calendar, because purchasing is limited to one per customer. The Body Shop Advent Calendars are something of a phenomenon in that they sell so quickly and are in such demand that the brand has to ‘manage’ sales. Why don’t they just make more? Well, they do and they have and here we are – in the same position!

I’ve got the luxury version at £145 but there are two more – one at £55 and one at £95. They all look lovely regardless of price – it’s the same quality, different colours and each with their own pop-up scene. I do love a pop-up because it reminds me of the (normal!) advent calendars we used to have as children where a pop up one was the absolute goal especially if it had glitter too 🙂

Given that this is the more expensive version, there are three drawers, each filled with boxes of beauty bounty. You’ll find plenty of full sizes and a good cross-section of categories, from masks to hair to body to face. Each box has a message that takes us a little bit beyond the goodies and either suggests something you can do to put back into your life/community or a reminder of The Body Shop’s ethical practices and sourcing.

One of the focuses this year for The Body Shop is to highlight the world of waste pickers from Bengaluru in India where they source their recycled plastics and use the materials in some of the products found in the advent calendars. Believe it or not, there are roughly 1.5 million waste pickers because of inadequate waste management around the world. Waste pickers are vulnerable to exploitation and The Body Shop works actively with local NGOs to ensure that workers are fairly paid, have access to sanitation and training. How this bring dividends is that instead of working as individual pickers, they can form organised waste management units that become better positioned to avoid exploitation.

I make sure my sample Advent Calendar goes to a local school after I’ve reviewed and photographed where they run a raffle to raise funds for their own charities which feels like exactly the circle of life this calendar should have.

Personally, my favourite box is the £55 one (value £95.50) HERE that contains 24 minis because they’re always so useful! But if you prefer to supersize you can find the Ultimate Box (value £219) that I’ve shown HERE. If you’re tempted, I’m not joking when I say you need to get a crack on 🙂

Non-affiliate HERE.