Martin Lewis and his team of deal hunters certainly know a thing or two when it comes to saving money and bagging a bargain. And at Christmas, those looking to get the most bang for their buck would do well to heed some of the Money Saving Expert advice to spend less, but get more.
One of MSE’s most popular tips - and one I’ve been using for years - is to snap up beauty bundles and split their contents to create smaller gifts and stocking fillers. And there’s currently a way Boots shoppers could save hundreds of pounds by doing just that.
The Best of Beauty Christmas Showstopper Beauty Box launched at Boots last week after selling out in 2022. Coming in at £80, it contains £328.43 worth of high-end and bestselling products, essentially getting £248.43 worth for free.
While not talking specifically about the Boots box, the MSE team previously said: “Beauty bundles can be a great way to save money on your favourite brands, or try new products without having to shell out full-price. They're also a brilliant way to shop for presents, as you can split up a bundle to make your own beauty boxes or hampers to gift.”
Heeding their advice, I have taken a look at the contents of the box and split them up for different members of my family - and even managed to save some of the best products for myself.
Launching as part of the high street favourite’s popular Star Gifts, which often give shoppers savings of over half price, the limited edition box contains 18 high-end and viral products from brands including NARS, Too Faced, Fenty, Huda Beauty, Sol De Janeiro and more, with 10 of them being full-sized. And here’s how I divvied them up for my friends and family this Christmas:
For the boys
This box may not contain a tonne of male-centric products, but there are definitely some they’ll appreciate. I’ve picked out the Paco Rabanne 1 Million fragrance for my boyfriend, because he is obsessed with aftershave and can use a full bottle in a matter of months, so these miniature fragrances are perfect for him to keep in the car for a quick spritz, and so he can try out a new scent before I commit to buying him the full sized bottle.
Meanwhile, my dad spends more time in the mirror styling his hair than I do, so I know the Arkive The Veil Hairspray, worth £13, will be gratefully received by him. The multi-functional finishing spray gives long-lasting hold with a flexible finish and is lightweight to avoid that crispy finish. On the Boots website, one shopper said: “It held my hairstyle perfectly all day without any stiffness or residue. The fine mist application was easy, and the scent was pleasant.”
While it has zero one-star reviews, some people weren’t sold on the scent, adding: “I did not enjoy the scent of this hairspray it is too overpowering which puts me off using it”
And coming to the end of my boys' picks, my brother is about to become a first-time dad this Christmas, with his baby due on Boxing Day. As such, I think he’s going to need these Patchology FlashPatch Illuminating Eye Gel singles after a few sleepless nights with their new bundle of joy.
For my mum
My mum has spent 26 years spoiling me so Christmas is the perfect time to give back and treat her to some products she wouldn’t necessarily buy herself. She’s previously commented on how much she loves my Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser, so this 30ml sample and cloth are such a fab stocking filler duo for her. This is my all-time favourite skincare product, I’d say, and I love to share with my friends and family when I can.
Another product I love and use a lot is the Fenty Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Gloss. My sister-in-law bought me this last year, so I’m passing on the love and giving this one to my mum this Christmas. At £18, it's not something she’d have typically treated herself to, and this box is perfect for snagging a lot of high-value products without the costly receipt to match. The gloss has more than 400 five-star reviews from shoppers praising it for leaving lips ‘plump and juicy’, though some have found the formula ‘sticky’ as can often be the case with gloss.
And finally, I’ve been raving about Grown Alchemist of late, and I think my mum will enjoy using this Hydra-Repair Day Cream, worth £35. And already, with just the products mentioned above, we’ve already exceeded the price you pay for the box, making everything else ‘free’.
For my nan
Proving that there’s something for everyone, the BareMinerals Ageless Phyto Collagen Cream is such a great little mini stocking filler for someone with more mature skin, like my nan. She usually likes to use No7 and Olay, but it’s always nice to give something new a go.
For my sister
My sister is a real makeup lover and Urban Decay is one of her favourite brands. She has long raved about how good the All Nighter setting spray is, and there are over 4,000 shoppers who have left five-star reviews in agreement. One wrote: “100% worth the hype, your makeup will not budge wearing this, it is truly perfection.”
Another added: “I used this for the first time for my son’s wedding. My makeup still looked fresh and just applied after crying, hugging and dancing.” Though some say if you have oily skin it may not be as suitable.
I also think she’ll like the Huda Beauty SILK BALM ICY, which is an ‘injection-free lip enhancer’ that can make lips look smoother and more plumped over time.
For my niece
My niece is turning nine this December and is just starting to get into beauty products. As such, I think this PIXI Hello Kitty Glow Tonic, worth £18, is a great introduction to skincare. It’s the cult-loved exfoliating toner that everyone knows and loves, with the fun and nostalgia of Hello Kitty. This tonic really helps to remove the excess oils, dirt and grime of the day while gently exfoliating dead skin to help you achieve an otherworldly glow. It really is worth the hype it gets on social media.
For my sister-in-law
My sister-in-law is currently eight months pregnant and so I want to make sure she has some pamper products to open up on Christmas morning ready for when baby arrives. I know she’s previously used the TikTok viral Sol de Janeiro Bum Bum Cream and was a huge fan, so this little 25ml pot is a great stocking filler. Meanwhile, for a skincare saviour, I’m hoping she’ll enjoy trying out The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + HA Serum, which is said to ‘improve skin smoothness and target multiple signs of ageing at once’.
For my friend
It’s not just family you can give to this Christmas either. My friends and I usually say ‘no presents, let’s go out instead’, but gift-giving is my love language and I simply can’t help myself. As such, this Dr Jart Ceramidin Complex and Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel will be finding their way to my bestie this December.
For me
And there were even some gifts left over for myself, too - and they happened to be some of the highest-value items. One of the products inside, the REN Glow & Protect Serum 30ml, is worth £50 alone, while the Too Faced Born This Way The Natural Nudes Skin-Centric Eyeshadow Palette has a £48 price tag, exceeding the price you pay for the box in just two products. Depending on how you look at it, you could buy these two items for yourself and get all your festive stocking fillers free.
The eye shadow palette in particular is super pretty and with it being full of versatile and wearable nudes, I think I’ll find myself reaching for this a lot over the next 12 months.
But as I said, I really think this box is going to sell out quickly. Boots has warned shoppers that they won’t want to miss out, and said: “It's what you've been eagerly waiting for! Our spectacular Christmas Showstopper Beauty Box is back for another year. You are going to want to get your hands on this one! A fabulous well-deserved self-treat or gift for a loved one, this box contains firm fan favourites and some popular beauty gems.”
Here’s everything that’s inside the Best of Beauty Christmas Showstopper Beauty Box:
REN Glow & Protect Serum 30ml - FULL SIZE - £50
Too Faced Born This Way The Natural Nudes Skin-Centric Eyeshadow Palette - FULL SIZE - £48
Grown Alchemist Hydra-Repair Day Cream: Camellia, Geranium Blossom 65ml - FULL SIZE - £35
Benefit Free Brow Wax Service Voucher - £27
Huda Beauty SILK BALM ICY 3ml - FULL SIZE - £20
Fenty Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Gloss - Fenty Glow 9ml - FULL SIZE - £18
PIXI Hello Kitty Glow Tonic 250ml - FULL SIZE - £18
The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + HA Serum 30ml - FULL SIZE - £14.30
Arkive The Veil Hairspray 250ml - FULL SIZE - £13
Dr.Jart+'s Ceramidin™ Complex 15ml - £13
NARS Powermatte Lip Pigment - American Woman 2ml - £12.30
Sol De Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream 25ml - £11
Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel 7.85ml - FULL SIZE - £10
Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish 50ml and Cleanser Cloth - £10
BareMinerals Ageless Phyto Collagen Cream 8ml - £9.30
Paco Rabanne 1 Million EDT 5ml - £8
Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray 15ml £7.50
Patchology FlashPatch Illuminating Eye Gel singles - FULL SIZE - £4
Other money-saving deals available this week at Boots, which are part of its ‘biggest ever Black Friday sale’, include a haircare heroes box that offers customers the opportunity to try over £130 worth of premium and professional haircare for £45, or the Winter Skincare edit for under £30, with seven of the 10 products inside being full-sized, many from brands we all know and love, such as No7, Bioderma and La Roche Posay.
Beauty fans also won't want to miss the Superdrug Black Friday deals, with the retailer promising to ‘make Christmas more affordable’ for shoppers by running their deals for four weeks - including saving £100 on skincare with this ‘ultimate haul’.
Or you can buy the Best of Beauty Christmas Showstopper Beauty Box here.
