Podcast 191: The Rise and Impact of Beauty Advent Calendars

As the festive season approaches for many of us, one trend that has captured the beauty industry’s attention is the rise of beauty advent calendars. These calendars go way beyond traditional paper or chocolate calendars and have become a significant phenomenon in some branches of the beauty industry, and in certain countries.

In this episode, Formula Botanica CEO and host Lorraine Dallmeier, in discussion with colleague School Education Manager Ana Green, delves deeper into the intricacies of this trend. They explore the rationale for these calendars, what their production entails and their impact on consumer behavior, with a special look at the sustainability challenges they present.

Join them for an engaging and slightly controversial discussion on whether beauty advent calendars are a delightful treat or a consumption trap that simply adds to the waste mountain the beauty industry produces.

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In this episode, you will hear:

• About the evolution of advent calendars from simple paper designs to elaborate beauty product collections.
• A detailed look at how beauty advent calendars are used and who makes them, including their pricing and target audience.
• The marketing strategies behind the early advertising of these calendars and their burgeoning popularity.
• A critical analysis of the sustainability concerns associated with beauty advent calendars, such as excessive packaging and product wastage.
• Discussion on the parallels between advent calendars and beauty boxes, and the shift in consumer preferences.
• The potential impact of beauty advent calendars on brand reach and customer engagement.
• A balanced view on whether investing in a beauty advent calendar is a worthwhile endeavour for consumers.

Key takeouts include:

• The role of beauty advent calendars in driving both excitement and overconsumption in the beauty industry.
• Insights into the psychological appeal of these calendars and the marketing genius behind them.
• The environmental considerations that consumers and brands need to be aware of in the context of these calendars.
• A critical view on the long-term value and utility of the products included in these calendars for both consumers and brands.

If you enjoyed this episode on beauty advent calendars and sustainability issues, do delve back into the podcast archives. Go and listen to these related episodes and topics:

Episode 135 – Sustainable beauty alternatives to Black Friday
Episode 141 – The controversial rise of celebrity beauty brands
Episode 111 – Are beauty samples sustainable?

We hope this episode has given you a new perspective on the beauty advent calendar trend. As always, we’d love to hear your thoughts. Have you ever indulged in a beauty advent calendar? What are your views on their impact on consumption and sustainability? Share your opinions with us on our social channels.

Thank you for joining us for this episode of the Formula Botanica Green Beauty Conversations podcast. If you enjoyed listening, please share, subscribe and review this episode on iTunes, Spotify or Youtube so that more people can enjoy the show. Don’t forget to follow and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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Lorraine Dallmeier is a Biologist, Chartered Environmentalist and the CEO of Formula Botanica, the award-winning online organic cosmetic science school. Read more about Lorraine and the Formula Botanica Team.