8 of the best summer beauty boxes of 2023 including Boots, LookFantastic and M&S

One box could save shoppers more than £300 on beauty products to last them the whole year

The sun is shining, the flights are booked, and your skin is screaming out for some TLC ahead of your summer social calendar. It's okay, we get it. We're all guilty of neglecting our skincare routine until four weeks before we need to to glow.

But as the cost of living crisis continues, we've not all got the cash to splash on expensive products that promise results in a matter of days, nor the professional treatments or spa days that would help get our skin summer-ready.

That's where beauty boxes come in - and thankfully, some of our favourite retailers have been pulling out all the stops to offer us huge cosmetic hauls and affordable pricepoints, allowing us to stock up on everything we need at a snip of the RRP.

READ MORE: Best Boots deals of 2023 that will save you money on skincare, perfume and more

Beauty boxes (or bags) typically feature a range of products - this list sees as many as 16 in one box, for a fraction of the actual price. One could even save shoppers more than £300.

This year, the likes of Boots, M&S and LookFantastic have all released summer skin and beauty edits, with some great options from Glossybox, Debenhams and Selfirdges, too.

We've taken a look at some of the best value that get you the best-loved brands without breaking the bank.

LookFantastic has revealed their new Summer of Skin Edit, which features more than £130 worth of summer skincare for just £40.

Complete with SPF, suncare, self-tan and skin-smoothing products, it truly is the ultimate way to prep your skin for the rays to come.

The box features nine iconic products - five of which are full size - from best-loved and viral brands like Piz Buin, Sol De Janeiro, Isle of Paradise and REN. Some are worth as much as £25 each - more than half the value of the haul.

What's in the LookFantastic Summer of Skin box:

Mio Heavenly Body Purifying Scrub 275g (full-size) – worth £25

Isle of Paradise HYGLO Hyaluronic Self-Tan Serum for Face (full-size) – worth £21.95

Erborian CC Red Correct SPF25 (full-size) – worth £20.50

Ren AHA Smart Renewal Body Serum – worth £16

Piz Buin Moisturising Lotion SPF 30 (full-size) – worth £15.48

Disciple Healthy Boundaries SPF lip balm (full-size) – worth £12

Sol De Janeiro Bom Dia Cream – worth £10.00

NUXE After Sun Hair and Body Shampoo – worth £6.50

Vita Liberata Untinted Fabulous Gradual Tanning Lotion 50ml – worth £3.75

Our favourite products include the Mio Heavenly Body Purifying Scrub which exfoliates to promote cell renewal for glowing skin, while the Ren AHA Smart Body Renewal Serum smells like Calypso lollies.

Sol De Janeiro Bom Dia Cream has been going viral on TikTok, and after trying it for ourselves, we can understand why - it's summer in a tub and makes skin super soft. You can read our full review of the LookFantastic Summer of Skin edit here.

Alternatively, they've got the LookFantastic beauty bag, which is said to be worth over £200, but is on sale for £40. From NEOM's Perfect Night Sleep Body Butter to the ELEMIS relaxing and purifying Hydra-Gel Eye Mask, this box is everything you need for a complete body cleanse.

Shoppers can purchase the Summer of Skin edit for £40 here, or, if you are a LookFantastic subscriber you can get £10 off .

LookFantastic Summer of Skin Edit - nine products - £40, worth £130.

Marks and Spencer have launched their coveted Summer Beauty Bag for 2023, packed with more than £150 worth of premium products for just £25.

The hotly-anticipated beauty bag, which sells out year after year, contains everything you need to refresh your beauty routine for summer, including a variety of make-up, skincare and haircare products.

The bag features no fewer than 11 beauty buys from best-loved brands like Clinique, Pixi and Phillip Kingsley, seven of which are full sized.

What is inside M&S' Summer Beauty Bag 2023 :

Aveda Botanical Repair Overnight serum, 30ml (mini) - worth £21

Bloom & Blossom Rejuvenating facial mist, 100ml (full-size) - worth £15

Clinique Dramatically Different moisturising lotion, 50ml (mini) - worth £22

Discover Soft Iris eau de toilette, 30ml (full-size) - worth £6

Dr Paw Paw tinted peach pink lip balm, 25ml (mini) - worth £7.25

Eyeko Beach waterproof mascara, 4ml (mini) - worth £9.50

Living Proof Triple Bond Complex, 15ml (mini) - worth £19

Nails Inc . Coral Street nail polish, 14ml (full-size) - worth £11

Philip Kingsley Elasticizer treatment, 40ml (mini) - worth £12

Pixi Lip Lift Max, 2.7g (full-size) - worth £12

This Works Perfect Legs Skin Miracle, 30ml (mini) - worth £10

The most expensive item featured in the Summer Beauty Bag 2023 is the Clinique Dramatically Different moisturising lotion , which is usually £22 at Boots. I used the gel version of this moisturiser after receiving it in the M&S Advent Calendar for 2022, and loved the way it made my skin feel, so the lotion - which is better suited to those with very dry skin - is a welcome addition as the weather heats up.

Meanwhile the Discover Soft Iris eau de toilette is reportedly a dupe for Chanel Coco Mademoiselle, with shoppers saying it smells very similar to the £84 fragrance.

In order to access the offer, shoppers have to spend £30 on clothing, beauty and/or homeware to get the Summer Beauty Bag for £25. However, the £30 spend excludes sale and clearance items

This means that you will still need to spend at least £55 in one transaction at M&S to get the beauty offer, but you do get triple the amount in products, saving £100 altogether, which isn't so bad if you were already planning to purchase something already - like this Celine bag dupe everyone's been raving about .

You can shop the M&S Summer Beauty Bag 2023 here.

M&S Summer Beauty Bag 2023 - 11 products - £25, worth £155.

Boots have been prolific in their beauty box launches in 2023, selling out their Spring Skincare Box, The Icons Fragrance Edit and REN Skincare box. But fear not, because there are still plenty to sink your teeth into.

Firstly, the Indiyah Premium Beauty Box - curated by popular ITV Love Island star Indiyah Polak - has recently come back into stock at the reduced price of £40, instead of £55. The box is filled with a dreamy line-up of premium make-up and beauty items worth over £164.

It includes cult beauty favourites like the MAC Magic Extension Mascara, and the HUDA Beauty Rose Quartz 18 Eyeshadow Palette – which alone costs more than the entire box itself, as it's worth £58.

The full list of everything inside the Boots X Indiyah beauty box:

Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Deluxe sample – Fenty Glow, 2ml

Fenty Skin Butta Drop Body Cream sample, 8ml

Eylure Indiyah Amethyst Lashes (full size)

MAC Magic Extension Mascara, 11ml (full size)

HUDA Rose Quartz 18 Well Eyeshadow Palette, 17.35g (full size)

Boucleme Scalp Exfoliating Shampoo, 30ml

Philip Kingsley Elasticizer , 40ml

Nivea Q10 Power Day Cream, 50ml (full size)

YSL Libre Fragrance sample, 1.2ml

Benefit Save 20% on Benefit Services Voucher

ICONIC Illuminator Highlighter mini, 2.8ml

Schwarzkopf got2b Glued Hairspray, 300ml (full size)

The Fenty Gloss Bomb was a product that was adored by Islanders on the dating show, and as a satin-lipstick girly, let me tell you - it turned me into a gloss convert. It's stunning.

Meanwhile the Schwarzkopf got2b Glued hairspray is, in my opinion, the best money can buy, and the MAC Magic Extension Mascara has got more than 1,000 five star reviews attesting to its lash lengthening abilities.

Boots has warned shoppers that the expiry date on the Benefit voucher will have passed, however this is still redeemable until the end of June 2023.

But it's not the only beauty box that Boots currently has in stock. The high street favourite has also released two branded edits with Elemis and Elizabeth Arden this May.

The Elemis box comes in at £55, featuring more than £100 worth of Elemis goodies, including a £35 travel version of the coveted Pro-Collagen Marine Cream , as well as the dreamiest lavender toner that's perfect for using before bed. You can read Beauty Editor, Sarah Bradbury's, verdict of it here.

Then there's the Elizabeth Arden box, which is priced at £48, containing £117 worth of products. Its biggest pull is the full sized Advanced Ceramide Lift and Firm Night Cream, which retails at £70 - more than the cost of the box itself - not to mention the cult-loved Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant.

You can shop all of the Boots Beauty Boxes online here.

Boots Indiyah Premium Beauty Box - 12 products - £14, worth £164.

Boots x Elemis - five products - £55, worth over £100.

Boots x Elizabeth Arden - five products - £48, worth £117.

Face The Future 's May Travel Edit boasts a whopping value of more than £400 but costs less than £60 to buy - and it contains everything you need to get your glow on for summer.

The May Travel Edit retails at £59.99 and features no fewer than 15 products ranging from skincare and makeup, to haircare saviours and sun protection, and one serum is worth over £100 alone despite being only 7ml.

Designed to allow you to take your skincare and beauty saviours with you on the go, all 15 products come packaged in a ziplock cosmetics bag from Dermalogica , making it ideal for the airport.

The May Travel Edit includes:

Bioderma Sensibio Micellar Water 100ml - worth £5.30

HydroPeptide Travel Cleansing Gel 50ml - worth £15

Augustinus Bader The Serum 7ml - £115 for 8ml

Dr Levy Eye Booster 7ml - £165 for 15ml

Allies Of Skin Firming Daily Treatment 12ml - worth £34

SkinCeuticals Advanced Brightening UV Defence 15ml - worth £16.88

Eucerin Actinic Control SPF100 80ml - worth £25

Revitalash Eyebrow Gel in Clear 3ml - worth £33 for 7.4ml

Avant Skincare Face Primer 30ml - worth £85

Eyeko Black Magic Cocoa Edit Mascara in Brown 2ml - £19 for 8ml

Innersense Hydrating Cream Hair Bath and Hydrating Cream Conditioner 60ml - worth £18

Gatineau Gradual Tan 75ml - worth £20

Grow Gorgeous Repair Strengthening Hair And Scalp Mask 30ml - worth £6

Ameliorate Exfoliating Body Mitt - worth £10

Eucerin Hyaluron-Filler Sheet Mask - worth £8

The Face The Future May Edit is one of the most luxurious skincare hauls I’ve seen at such an affordable price.

The Eucerin Hyaluron-Filler Sheet Mask was a big winner for me. I hated sheet masks but decided to give this one a go and it's completely changed my view on them. This one is a five-minute wonder, fits like a dream, and provided instant results of glowing, brighter skin. I loved it so much I’ve already ordered three more from Boots on three for two.

The most expensive products in the box included the Augustinus Bader The Serum, Dr Levy Eye Booster and Avant Skincare Face Primer , all of which I would never have been able to afford at full price, so it's a great way to try out premium products for a fraction of the cost. The serum reminds me of a little perfume atomiser and feels really high-end, so hopefully its £100 price tag pays off and makes my skin look glorious.

You can purchase the Face The Future May Travel Edit here for £59.99.

Face The Future May Travel Edit - 15 products - £59.99, worth over £400.

Debenhams has slashed the price of their Skin Discovery box from £30 to £24 . Bursting with the biggest names and must-have routine essentials, it boasts the season's top picks for beauty beginners and gurus alike.

The Debenhams Skin Discovery Box contains no fewer than 16 products with an estimated value of £184, meaning shoppers can save around £160 on the RRP.

From serums to moisturisers and nourishing lip balms, the box sees a number of big name brands like Lancome, Elizabeth Arden and Dr Paw Paw that will help you get your skin in check ahead of the summer season.

Here's every product included in the Debenhams Skin Discovery box for £24.

Bloom & Blossom - Bath Oil 100ml

Dr Paw Paw - Tube Mocha 25ml

Peter Thomas Roth - Pumpkin enzyme mask 14ml

Elizabeth Arden - Elizabeth Arden Retinol Capsules

Filorga - Time Filler 7ml

Oh K - Oh K! Sheet Mask - Avocado

This Works - Morning Expert Hyaluronic Serum 15ml

Starskin - Gold eye mask

Korres Greek Yoghurt Moisturiser 20ml

Lancome - Genefique 7ml deluxe sample

Mario Badescu - x6 drying patches

SVR sensifine AR micellar water 75ml

Earth Harbour - Calypso

Huxley - Cleansing Oil

Patchology - Face illuminating mask

Diego Dalla Palma cleansing cream makeup remover 50ml

Some of the standout products featured in the edit include the Bloom and Blossom Bath Oil, which is usually £20 alone , as well as the This Works Morning Expert Hyaluronic Serum , worth £18.50.

The Huxley cleansing oil is a luxurious cleanser made to remove make-up residue and daily dirt, featuring cactus pear seed extract which nourishes skin instantly, while Filorga Time Filler is a powerful anti-wrinkle face cream for combination to oily skin, usually £66 for a full-size pot.

With 16 products priced at £24, it works out at just £1.50 per product - which is some pretty insane value. They also have a May Beauty Box, Birthday Box, Father's Day Box and Makeup Discovery Box, all priced under £20 each, the majority of which are worth more than £100.

You can shop the Debenhams Skin Discovery box online here.

Debenhams Skin Discovery Box - 16 products - £24, worth £184.

If you're searching for a skincare routine that keeps both your complexion and the planet in check, Selfridges’ Project Earth skincare gift set contains more than £300 worth of skincare that ‘harnesses the power of the fruits of our motherland’.

It's a little more expensive than some of the others in the list, coming in at £75 , but features 11 products from premium brands like REN, Paula's Choice and Dermalogica.

This assortment of blends uses minerals and nutrients to reveal your natural radiance and care for your skin, with some serious fan favourites featured for less than a third of the cost.

Every product inside the Selfridges Project Earth skincare gift set:

REN Brightening Dark Circle eye cream 15ml

Scientia moisture barrier balm 65ml

Pai Skincare rosehip seed and fruit universal oil 10ml

Wild Coconut and Vanilla refillable natural deodorant 40g

Costa Brazil Óleo Para O Corpo Kaya Jungle Firming Oil 30ml

Sunday Riley Good Genes Glycolic Acid Treatment 30ml

Dermalogica Daily Milkfoliant facial exfoliant 13g

Paula's Choice Ultra-Light Daily Hydrating Fluid 15ml

Nursem Caring hand cream 75ml

Plant Apothecary Be Well body wash 66ml

The Ordinary Squalane cleanser 50ml

The Sunday Riley Good Genes Glycolic Acid Treatment is worth £70 alone, so you can see just how great the value is, with the REN eye cream retailing at £44.

I’ve been using the REN Brightening Dark Circle Eye Cream for a number of months and absolutely adore it. A little goes a long way and it renews the eye area in as little as seven days.

Wild's refillable deodorant is perfect for those looking to cut down on their waste and make more eco-friendly choices, while the Nursem hand cream will keep skin hydrated and free from chapping all summer long.

You can shop the Selfridges Project Earth skincare gift set here.

Selfridges Project Earth skincare set - 11 products - £75 worth over £300.

One of the most affordable hauls is this discovery box from Glossybox - and you don't have to be a subscriber to get it, though you do get a discount if you’re a member.

Perfect for anyone just starting out on their beauty journey or those wanting everyday core essentials to bulk out their makeup bag, it contains nine products worth over £108, for £25.

The box is complete with eight full-size and one deluxe-size sample, including brands like Elf, Eyeko and P Louise.

Here's what £25 gets you in the Glossybox Beauty Discoveries box:

e.l.f Bite Size Eyeshadow (Shade Truffles) - Worth £4

Give Them LaLa Lip Quencher ( Shade Drenched) - Worth £15

Vegan By Happy Skin Original Essence - Worth £34.99

Eyeko Black Magic Eyeliner - Worth £9

P Louise Eyebrow Paint (Shade Hazelnut Latte) - Worth £10

Style Dry Coconut & Fig Hair Mask - Worth £10

Nanshy Angled Brow Brush - Worth £5.95

Daily Concepts Body Scrubber - Worth £16

Bilou Shower Foam (Lucky Dip of Scents) - Worth £3.99

These are all pretty affordable brands in their own right, but this limited edition box allows shoppers to stock up on their cosmetics on a budget - and boy, does the Bilou shower foam range smell dreamy.

This is the cheapest of the Glossybox limited edition boxes available. They also have a £35 box with a value of £155, and a number of collaborations to rival Boots, including edits with Rodial, Rituals and Living Proof.

You can shop all of the Glossybox Limited Edition edits here.

Glossybox Beauty Discoveries Limited Edition - nine products - £25, worth £108

Over at our sister-site OK!, they’ve put together the All About You Edit, with six products to serve up a fabulous feel good ritual.

It contains three rejuvenating facial treats, as well as a lucky dip nail polish and a delicious green skin drink loved by celebrities, all for just £20. There are also vouchers for two copies of OK! Magazine.

What's in the OK! All About You edit?

Pixi Milky Remedy Mask 300ml (full size) - worth £20

Figs and Rouge Ginseng overnight eye mask 25ml (full size) - worth £38

Espa tri-active regenerating moisture complex 15ml (travel size) - worth £19

Korres Santorini grape body cleanser 40ml (travel size) - worth £2.40

Nail HQ nail lacquer 10ml (full size) - worth £6.99

8greens skin effervescent tablets, tube of 10 - worth £15.99

Worth around £105, the £20 spend is already covered in just one product - the Figs and Rouge Ginseng overnight eye mask, which retails at £38.

If you want a mask to smooth and soothe your skin in one, you’ll love the £20 Pixi Milky Remedy Mask, which features a blend of coconut, oat, chamomile and sea buckthorn to quench thirsty skin and immediately target redness.

Meanwhile the 8Greens Skin drink is loved by celebrities and make-up artists, often hailed as a ‘facial in a glass’. It contains eight real greens from kale to spinach, plus marine collagen and biotin.

You can shop the OK! All About You Edit here. Or, if you’d like to treat yourself month after month, there's currently a deal to get your first OK beauty box subscription for £7.50 instead of £15. The subscription gets you at least £80 worth of products delivered to your door each month.

OK! All About You Edit - six products - £20, worth £105.

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8 of the best summer beauty boxes of 2023 including Boots, LookFantastic and M&S