Stay healthy in the run-up to Christmas with alternate Advent calendars

IF you’re in good health, the last thing you want is to enjoy chocolate from your discovery schedule every morning in the run-up to Christmas.

But there are healthier alternatives available. We’ve reviewed the best 2021 health and beauty calendars.

6

PEANUT BUTTON Vegetarian-friendly, gluten- and palm-oil free, Pip & Nut’s debut calendar is appealing enough yet feels healthier than conventional confectionery.

Behind each door is a large, individually wrapped, delicious chocolate chip filled with almond butter or smooth peanut butter from the delicious Pip & Nut line. It looks adorable and the kids can color in the calendar after you’ve eaten all the goodies inside. In addition, the company sends a jar of peanut butter to the food bank for every calendar sold.

• Pip & Nut, The Nut Butter Cup, £20, pipandnut.com – Buy now

TEA – This is brilliant, beautiful and healthy. Coming in loose leaf and tea bag versions, it folds up and stands upright, with a different tea behind each window.

6

From Chinese jasmine for detox to strawberry and cream, each has an inspirational and uplifting quote on the packaging. A perfect way to start a day during December. My favorite of the three.

• T2’s 24 reasons to laugh, £22, t2tea.com – Buy now

PROTEIN – If you have a fitness lover in your life, this is a great gift for them. It features 24 of the company’s must-have health and fitness products – a dietary supplement, 21 bars and snacks with sugar and sweeteners, and two fitness accessories.

6

It features Danish cinnamon whey powder, vegan chocolate-orange candies, multivitamin gummies, layered chocolate caramel protein, and a recovery ball to help relax tight muscles. Expensive but great for serious exercise bunnies.

• MYPROTEIN, £74.99, myprotein.com – Buy now

Beauty with Tara Ledden

BUDGET – Showcase some of the best street brands, old and new, for much less than you would buy individually. There’s everything from mascara to blush, day cream to gel polish, plus cleansers, eye creams, wipes, masks, and body lotions.

6

There are four products from the popular Protect & Perfect line that I like. But it would be lovely if they shoved a few more. Very stylish to look at, too black and gold.

• Boots No7, £47 but worth £184, boots.com – Buy now

MID-RANGE –Contains some brilliant products, plus it’s beautifully designed and sleek. A wide range of travel products and sizes, from top names like Elemis, Nivea, Elizabeth Arden, Neal’s Yard and CeraVe, plus nail polish, eye primer and blusher.

6

The Christmas Eve Window reveals a fantastic Foreo Luna mini facial brush with an RRP of £99. A great gift for a loved one, with an incredible savings.

• Amazon Beauty, £70 but worth £260, amazon.co.uk – Buy now

LUXURIOUS –This is really a joy to look at its pop-up with festive characters and three sleek drawers. And there’s a great list of good products, from body washes, body butters and scrubs to face creams and lip butters.

6

Plus you get the best-selling Drops Of Youth sheet mask and 30ml of Drops Of Youth concentrate. This will also last for years, as you can refill the boxes with your own goodies. Not the biggest savings but still my favorite.

• The Body Shop Share Love & Joy, £140 but worth £204, thebodyshop.com – Buy now