Macy's 12 Days of Lip Advent Calendars Look Like a Great Flip

We have a novel take on the recent advent calendar makeup kit trend. Macy’s 12 Days of Lip Calendars feature a host of lipsticks from brands like Benefit Cosmetics, Carolina Herrera, Clarins, Clinique, and Too Faced.

Beauty advent calendars have been crushing it on resell markets. We regularly cover Sephora’s popular 25-day makeup calendars (including their 2025 calendars that just went live).

Here’s the thing about beauty advent calendars: they’re not massive profit plays, but they’re consistent. Previous Macy’s 25 Days calendars with $293 values were moving on eBay for around $150, so expect modest margins rather than moonshot returns. Buying in bulk can raise your profit potential considerably.

The math looks decent on paper – these are valued at $192 but retail for just $99, giving you a starting point with built-in value. These aren’t reselling yet since they just dropped, so you’ll need to hold inventory for weeks or months before seeing any profit.

Current eBay activity shows previous Macy’s advent calendars listed as “SOLD OUT” items, with 2023 versions getting positive buyer feedback. The pattern is there.

The lip focus helps. Lipstick doesn’t expire as fast as skincare, and brands like Armani and Benefit hold value better than drugstore alternatives. You’re not dealing with random indie brands nobody’s heard of.

Risk factor is low since Macy’s offers standard returns, so if the resell market doesn’t materialize, you can return within their policy window.

Best case scenario: grab these now while they’re in stock, hold through to December when advent calendar hunting peaks, then list individually or as complete sets. Past Macy’s luxury calendars saw 30% markdowns during clearance periods, but that was months after release.

Secondary market timing matters here. Early November through mid-December is when people actually want advent calendars. January to September, you’re holding dead inventory.

Platform-wise, eBay and Mercari work better than StockX for beauty items. Facebook Marketplace could work locally if you’re in an area with beauty enthusiasts.

This isn’t going to fund your next vacation (unless you’re planning a trip to Kensington), but it’s a solid play for anyone already shopping beauty. The lip-only concept is different enough to generate interest, and Macy’s has the brand recognition to move units.

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