Heading off on holiday soon, shopping writer Lucy Addicott found a way to sort her summer skincare and makeup for a fraction of the price
For me, stocking up on summer-ready skincare and makeup is all part of the fun of going on holiday, but after navigating paying for flights, travel insurance and luggage fees, it can soon start to add up. With SPF, after-sun and moisturiser on my must-have list, I found an impressive way to bag all these items and more, saving £170.
OK! Beauty Box, a beauty subscription service, have just launched a one-off summer beauty box packed with goodies worth over £220. Having received mine in the post, I was delighted to discover it contains 12 products, with eight of them being full sized.
The box is priced at £49.99, so after a quick calculation, each item essentially comes in at £4.16 each. When you consider that just one of the products (the Mudmasky Glow-Up Cleanser) costs £40 alone, you’re effectively getting ten products for free. And, if you can save money off your toiletries, that means more in the budget for cocktails, right?
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This beauty box is filled with products from stand-out brands including Bondi Sands, Trinny London, Hello Sunday and more, but the first item that caught my eye had to be the Nuxe multi-purpose dry oil for your face, body and oil. The travel size bottle is the ideal size for taking away as a little goes a long way.
It leaves your skin with the most glorious shimmer and as it smells lovely and floral, it doubles up as a body scent, too. I would warn however that the applicator is a little tricky to use so be careful to not overpour and waste any of the product.
Speaking of summery scents, the Bondi Sands Body Moisturiser enriched with vitamin E and jojoba has a tropical rum fragrance. I was a little wary at first that I might end up smelling too much like a Pina Colada, but the lotion has a subtle pineapple scent which is really pleasant.
I personally use a gradual tan and the moisturiser has been specifically formulated to help prolong the life of your tan and be self-tan friendly. If you don’t use self-tanner, it is still a hydrating, lightweight moisturiser that leaves skin smooth and radiant.
If you’re a fan of the summery scent from the best-loved Sol de Janiero Brazilian Bum Bum Cream, shoppers can find it included in the LookFantastic The Summer Heroes Edit. The box is worth more than £150, retailing for £45, and includes items from ESPA, Eucerin, Iconic London, Caudalie and more.
Next up in the OK! Summer Beauty Box are two makeup products that work wonderfully in union – Trinny London’s Golden Glow Bronzer and the Bellapierre All Eyes On You Eyeshadow Palette. Both are worth £25 individually, so the subscription is worth getting for just these two items alone, and they are ideal for a golden goddess summer beauty look.
I applied the bronzer across my nose, forehead and the tops of my cheekbones and it gave me a sun-kissed finish. The eyeshadow quad allowed me to create a bronzed, smokey eye look, however, I could have done with a pale brown matte shade in the selection. I was pleasantly surprised to find removing the glitter eyeshadow quick and easy.
Worth £20, the Hello Sunday The Take-Out One Invisible Sun Stick SPF30 really intrigued me as I’d never used a clear sunscreen product before. While I’m yet to test it out in high temperatures, I did pop it on for a sunny day in the UK and it felt lightweight and non-sticky. It’ll be perfect for topping up areas prone to burning on holiday, such as the tops of shoulders and on the face.
What’s inside the OK! Summer Beauty Box?
- Hello Sunday The Take-Out One Invisible Sun Stick SPF30 – full size, worth £20
- Gruum Solstaler After Sun Face Oil – full size, worth £15
- Glow Core Gua Shua – full size, worth £10.80
- Trinny London Golden Glow Bronzer in shade Naomi – full size, worth £25
- KVD Beauty Tattoo Pencil Liner – travel size, worth £13
- Nuxe Hulle Multi-Purpose Dry Oil – travel size, worth £4.40
- Bondi Sands Tropical Rum Scent Body Moisturiser – full size, worth £5.99
- Bellapierre Cosmetics All Eyes On You Eyeshadow Palette – full size, worth £25
- Avant Reconstructing Keratin Complex Ultra Shine Hair Cream – travel size, worth £17
- Mudmasky Glow-Up Cleanser – full size, worth £39.99
- Balance Me Super Firming Body Oil – travel size, worth £12
- Amphora Aromatics Mint and Deas Sea Salts Deep Cleansing Face Mask – full size, worth £14
Overall, the quality of the items included in the OK! Summer Beauty Box, versus the £49.99 price tag, makes for an exceptional bargain. For a cheaper option, consumers can consider the Boots Self Care Beauty Box priced at £34 but worth £137. Inside, expect delights from brands such as No7, Estee Lauder and Philip Kingsley.
I would have liked to see a lip product in the OK! Beauty Box, however, I found the variation of products you receive meant I could stock up on most of my summer beauty essentials such as SPF, after-sun, moisturiser, body glow and more, in one.
Each product felt really luxurious to use, so even testing them out at home I felt like I was already on holiday. With my travel toiletries bag now packed with Trinny London, Bondi Sands and Nuxe for less than £50, I feel ready to jet off in style.
