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4 min read
Discover new products and restock some old favourites with these brilliant beauty discovery boxes… no subscription required.
If you’re into beauty, there’s nothing quite like discovering buzzy new products or – better yet – a brilliant new brand. Whether it’s an uplifting new fragrance, the perfect nude lipstick or a rich soothing moisturiser, new beauty discoveries make it feel like Christmas every day. And this is where beauty boxes come in.
Having gained popularity throughout the late 2000s, beauty boxes allow consumers to test out products before committing to a purchase. Packed with travel-size, miniature samples, these traditional beauty boxes often followed a subscription method, whereby you’d be sent a new box every month to discover the beauty treats inside. And while this is great for some, fast-forward to today and it’s not the most sustainable of beauty business models. Many of the products included are sample-sized, creating a lot of packaging and waste.
Luckily, there’s been a recent shake-up of the beauty box industry, with new brands like The Beauty Standard emerging. These discovery boxes ditch the subscription method, meaning you only receive the box you want. Better yet, boxes are filled with more full-size products, making them perfect for gifting.
So whether you’re looking for a beauty gift or you want to treat yourself, we’ve rounded up the best beauty discovery boxes currently on the market. Happy shopping…
Latest in Beauty x Stylist: The Prep & Party Edit
We love the idea of beauty discovery boxes so much that we’ve partnered with Latest in Beauty to create our very own Stylist-approved edit. This jam-packed kit of beauty favourites have been hand-picked by our beauty team and includes everything you need to get ready for the party season ahead. There’s cult best-sellers from Shiseido, The Outset and James Read – plus party make-up must-haves from 3INA, Delilah and Spectrum Collections.
Shop Latest in Beauty x Stylist: The Prep & Party Edit, £60 (worth £312!)
The Beauty Standard Be Well Box
Launched by two beauty industry experts, The Beauty Standard offers curated monthly boxes focusing on pillars such as wellness, ethical brands and sustainability, and the boxes showcase smaller, emerging brands and indie favourites like Verden, Shoreditch Nails and Haeckels.
Lookfantastic Science Meets Skincare Edit
Lookfantastic offers brilliantly edited beauty boxes, allowing you to discover a whole host of brands in one. The Science Meets Skincare Edit is one of our favourites, packed with expert-approved essentials like Dr Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel, Bioderma Sensibio H20 Micellar Water and Vida Glow 6 Day Marine Collagen.
Shop Lookfantastic Science Meets Skincare Edit, £45 (worth £144)
Mintd The Birthday Edit
Perfect for gifting, this curated birthday box offers luxury skincare – ideal for beauty enthusiasts. There’s MZSkin’s Brighten and Hydrate Eye Ampoules and Darphin’s Intral Inner Youth Rescue Serum, plus other goodies designed to hydrate, brighten and boost skin’s appearance ahead of any celebrations.
Bon Voyage Discovery Box Party Prep
This pleasingly affordable edit is a great way of getting your beauty fix without forking out a fortune. Packed with award-winning beauty faves (like Tan Luxe’s The Face Tanning Drops and Sand & Sky’s Pink Clay Mask) it contains everything you need to get your party prep on.
Next Welcome Home Beauty Box
Next offers a whole host of beauty discovery boxes – each targeted to a different audience or need. However, it’s this Welcome Home beauty box that we love. Containing wellness and self-care favourites (like Espa Natural Fitness Bath Salts, Espa Natural Fitness Bath Salts and Yankee Candle Autumn Sunset Candle) it’s a gorgeous gift to make a house a home. The price tag is also an absolute steal.
Naturisimo The Mum to Be Starter Kit
A great gifting option for new mums, this little hamper contains seven gentle, natural and nourishing treats for mum, bump and baby. The ideal starter kit to follow them through pregnancy and beyond.
Selfridges The Haircare Heroes Beauty Kit
Selfridges is home to a whole host of brilliant beauty brands so it makes sense then that their curated beauty boxes contain an edited collection of award-winning favourites. This Haircare Heroes box is packed with cult products including Sam McKnight Lazy Girl Dry Shampoo, Olaplex No.3 Hair Perfector and Color Wow Dream Coat Supernatural Spray.
Shop Selfridges The Haircare Heroes Beauty Kit, £90 (worth £244)
Sephora Favourites Beauty Has No Age Gift Set
A gorgeous introduction to some of the best brands in the business, this luxury collection of edited skincare picks contains a complete skincare routine that’s suitable for mature skin. There are miniatures of cult products like Estee Lauder’s Advanced Night Repair, Clinique’s Take The Day Off Balm and Lancôme’s Rénergie Lift Ultra Moisturiser and a full-sized 111Skin Celestial Black Diamond Eye Mask.
Shop Sephora Favourites Beauty Has No Age Gift Set, £59 (worth £115)
Space NK Glow Edit Box
If your skin’s in need of a boost, Space NK’s Glow Edit has you sorted. Containing six skincare heroes designed to brighten and add radiance to your skin, this expert edit is a must-have for any skincare junkie out there.
Images: Stylist Loves; courtesy of brands
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