Amid all the beauty Advent calendar launches and beauty boxes around at this time of year, there is one I always hold out for: Boot’s Showstopper Beauty Box, which has just gone on sales It costs £90 but the retailer says its worth £448.06, which is close to an 80% saving if the products were bought separately.
It’s designed to give shoppers a mix of cult classics, trending formulas and premium treats all in one go, which is ideal for anyone wanting to try new products without spending hundreds, or after a Christmas gift that looks incredibly generous for the price.
Unlike many other boxes out there the majority are full-size products. The brands are also top-notch; from some of the biggest names in skincare, makeup, fragrance and haircare. Among the full-size goodies are The Ordinary Niacinamide 5% Face & Body Emulsion, Fenty Beauty Suede Powder Blush, Ole Henriksen Pout Preserve Lip Treatment in Strawberry Glimmer, Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream, and Morphe Continuous Prep & Set Mist. These products alone are worth over £90.
I’m excited about the 200ml Round Lab Dokdo Toner. It’s normally priced at £17 (Boots has reduced it to £13 at the time of writing), and it has a water-like texture that absorbs into the skin instantly. I’ve used it before and and it exfoliates dead skin cells, leaves my face moisturised, and there’s no sticky finish.
Another firm favourite is the No7 Future Renew UV Defence Shield SPF 50. If there’s one product every person needs, it’s a great facial sunscreen, and this No7 cream comes highly recommended. It’s rich enough to be a standalone moisturiser but is formulated with factor 50 SPF and is suitable for all skin tones as it doesn’t leave a white cast.
For anyone who bleaches, colours or has simply let their hair get a bit dehydrated, the Amika The Kure Intense Bond Repair Mask is a miracle worker. I started using it before my wedding earlier this year, and my hair was in the best condition it had ever been in. It’s suitable for different hair types and thickness, and deeply hydrates and repairs strands.
Once again, the Showstopper includes a full-size pot of the iconic Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream, which smells like summer — pistachio, salted caramel, and vanilla — and helps visibly firm the skin. Although it’s branded for the derrière, you can use it all over your body, including legs, tummy, and arms.
It has only revieced a few reviews so far but all are five star. One shopper wrote: Stunning packaging. Superb Value. Better than an advent calender! Bought because most products were new to me , and the ones that I already enjoy cost more than the box! I will use some as gifts and thouroughly enjoy the rest. The scent on opening the box from the Neom candle is just beautiful. I’m perimenopausaul and everything is just perfect for my skin.”
Of course, bear in mind that the contents might not work for all skin tones or types. We’ve outlined everything in the box below for guidance.
In addition to all of the full-size products, it has a long list of premium minis, including Kayali Yum Boujee Marshmallow, two Kérastase Gloss Absolu products, Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye, Carolina Herrera La Bomba, Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray, Neom’s Perfect Night’s Sleep candle, and more.
Although Boots hasn’t put an end date on the Showstopper Beauty Box, it is a limited edition and tends to sell out every year. Once it’s gone, and with this level of value, it’s likely to disappear quickly. The box is online-exclusive, but you can order it for free click and collect, or choose home delivery (standard is free, next-day is £5.95).
