Boots £20 beauty box rivals some expensive skincare brands

Boots has just dropped its latest range of beauty boxes, and among them is the Viral Icons Box: a beauty box packed with 10 full-sized items from its own ranges that have been standout stars on social media over the last year. After opening the box and testing some of the products myself, I can definitely see why they’ve been so popular.

The box itself costs just £20, but according to Boots, the value of everything inside adds up to more than £55. All of the items are from Boots’ various own-brand ranges, though I’d honestly say they give some high-end brands a real run for their money at a fraction of the price. In fact, a few of the products instantly reminded me of big-name brands, including Laneige, Glossier and La Roche-Posay. While you might have to shell out upwards of £20 per item for those higher-end options, this Boots beauty box offers a whole lineup of skincare staples for a cut of the price.

Shoppers on the Boots website have already praised the box for its value for money, which offers a £35.65 saving compared to buying the products individually – that’s roughly 64%. In a review, one Boots customer said: “Absolutely worth it. Lots of good things, and full size too. Very pleased, great value for money.”

The items come packaged in a pretty light blue box with a lilac sleeve, which is gorgeous enough to gift but also feels like a real treat to open yourself. As is often the case with Boots beauty boxes, though, we don’t know how long it’ll be around – and it’s only available online.

Many of the products are packed with hydrating and moisturising benefits too, which, let’s be honest, we could all do with a bit more of at this time of year thanks to the dry, cold weather. So, I delved into the box to see exactly what’s inside.

You’ll find 10 full-size items, which is pretty impressive for a beauty box. I’ve tested dozens over the last year, and often you’re lucky to get one or two full-size products, with the rest being travel or mini versions. While there are no big brand names here, there’s a solid mix from Boots’ own ranges, including the Boots Traditional Range (a classic, affordable line designed with simplicity in mind), the Boots Modern Chemistry range (which the brand says is fully backed by scientific research and designed to look just as good on your nightstand as it does on your skin), and the Boots Habi range (their fun, colourful and affordable skincare line for all skin types, including teens).

The first few items that really caught my eye, however, were those that reminded me of much higher-end products on the market. I’m not saying these are like-for-like replacements (some have slightly different ingredients) but they definitely stood out as more affordable alternatives.

It might seem like a small thing, but the first product that piqued my interest was the Boots Lip Sleep Mask Vanilla. Why? Because it reminds me a lot (and I mean a lot) of the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask, which has been on my wishlist for ages but, at £21 a pot, has always felt just a bit too expensive. I was really keen to try the Boots alternative (which is just £4.50 when bought individually). It has a sweet but subtle vanilla scent, comes with a little applicator, and is infused with coconut oil and shea butter. I loved how soft and slick it felt on my lips, and given mine were seriously in need of some TLC thanks to winter weather, I was really happy with how soft they felt afterwards.

The box also contains a Boots Glossy Lip Balm in a coconut scent. This is actually already the lip balm I keep in my handbag, so I was happy to stock up. The packaging initially caught my eye because it reminded me of Glossier’s Balm Dotcom, which used to be my go-to but retails for £16 at full price – quite a lot for a lip balm, even if the scents are delicious. The Boots balm does exactly what it says on the tin: it’s not too thick or gloopy, but still adds a nice shine (though not quite as glossy as a lip gloss). My only downside is that it doesn’t really smell much like coconut, but that could be a plus if you don’t like strong scents or flavours.

Alongside the two lip products, there are eight skincare items. One is the Boots Traditional Glycerin and Rosewater Toner, which the brand claims is designed to be cooling, refreshing, and moisturising for the skin. It has a subtle rose scent, and I really like the simple, no-fuss packaging of this range too.

Another product that stood out to me is the Boots Ingredients Deep Moisture Spray (RRP £5.50), which has been a bit of a hit online and has been likened to the Curel Deep Moisture Spray (RRP £19.50). I first heard about it on Instagram from skincare influencer Eilidh Moffat, who recommended it as a more affordable alternative. “I know loads of [people] love the Curel Deep Moisture Spray,” she said in a video. “It’s an amazing way to get an instant hit of hydration. Now, what makes the Boots Deep Moisture Spray different is one very key ingredient, hypochlorous acid. Hypochlorous acid is an antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory ingredient. An amazing ingredient to use if you suffer with breakouts, maybe acne, redness from rosacea or eczema or even the dreaded perioral dermatitis.”

She continued: “The key to getting the benefits of a hypochlorous acid is to let it dry on the skin.” The Boots spray itself is a really refreshing spritz, and I’ve been enjoying using it in the mornings for a quick hydration boost – especially with the current cold temperatures.

Two products immediately stood out to me due to their packaging: the Habi Sunny Shield and the Boots Aqua Hydrating Cleanser. The Habi SPF comes in bold, bright packaging that isn’t miles away from BYOMA, one of my go-to skincare brands (I use their moisturising gel cream daily). The Habi range is suitable for all skin types but is specifically tested on teen skin. It’s well known that wearing sunscreen daily is one of the easiest ways to protect your skin, not just from sun damage but also from premature ageing, and this makes it an easy step to add to your routine. Although it’s an SPF 40, I found it melted into the skin easily and didn’t leave any white marks. I also really like the pump packaging, which makes it easy to use.

The Aqua Hydrating Cleanser, meanwhile, instantly reminded me of La Roche-Posay’s cleansing gel. On closer inspection, the ingredients differ, so it’s not a like-for-like product; however, the blue bottle and white pump do resemble each other. That said, the Boots cleanser is suitable for sensitive skin and doesn’t have an overpowering scent, which is ideal if you struggle with fragranced products.

The Viral Icons Beauty Box also includes a collagen cleansing balm, designed for overnight use. Some shoppers have even said they’ve swapped from Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm, which retails for £31. In a review, one shopper said: “Very good cleansing balm, I usually use Elemis, I wanted something cheaper, so I tried this, it is a very nice balm, then put water on and it turns to a milky consistency, then rinse off with a cloth.”

I’ve never tried the Elemis balm myself, so I can’t comment on how similar they are, but I really like the silky texture of this one and felt my skin looked soft and dewy after using it.

There’s also a 10% Vitamin C Serum from the Modern Chemistry range, which the brand says is designed to help boost your natural glow. It’s suitable for morning and night use, and when I lined it up in my cupboard next to my The Ordinary products, I couldn’t help but notice the similarities in the frosted glass bottles with pipettes.

Rounding out the box is a full-size retinol eye cream and fragrance-free eye remover pads, which are ideal for throwing in your bag, taking on holiday, or popping into your carry-on if you don’t want to travel with a bottle of makeup remover.