Health and beauty retailer Boots has their finger on the pulse when it comes to trending skincare, and has released a limited edition beauty box dedicated to Korean ‘skinnovations’ for £40. The edit is worth £126, saving more than £85 on the RRP.
The popularity of K-Beauty speaks for itself, with one Korean skincare product selling every 30 seconds at Boots with K-Beauty representing over a tenth of everyday skin sales at the retailer. Now, the new edit offers customers a chance to try out a selection of popular Korean skincare brands for a fraction of their usual price.
Whether you’re new to Korean skincare, or want to stock up on some favourites, the edit features nine gentle but effective products from brands such as Beauty of Joseon, Isntree, and SKIN1004. From hydrating toners designed for sensitive skin, to lightweight SPF and anti-ageing eye creams, there’s essentially a complete routine inside, with formulas to cleanse, hydrate, protect, and nourish the skin.
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Each product has been carefully selected to work well together for glowing, healthy skin, with the majority of the products in the edit being worth between £15 and £20 each. The Biodance Bio Collagen Sheet Mask is the only exception, and costs around £3.73 based on a four pack being £14.90. As part of the edit, each product averages at £4.44 each.
The Haruharu eye cream, usually £16, is expected to be a hit with shoppers. Made with fermented Black Rice, Bamboo Shoot Bark extract, and plant-derived Bakuchiol – a gentle, retinol replacement ingredient, the dual-functional eye cream helps improve wrinkles around the eyes, while also helps to get rid of dark circles and brighten the dark eye area. It has a milky and light cream type texture which absorbs quickly while giving a light finish without stickiness.
Another product we expect will draw people to buy the edit is the Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun : Rice + Probiotics, which has around 100 five-star reviews on the Boots website. One said: “One of the only spfs that don’t leave a white cast on your face. Sits beautifully under makeup and gives you a refreshing glow on its own without looking shiny and oily.”
Another added: “I love this spf for holidays! No white cast or mega oily skin, gives a sheen but not a thick shine. Best facial sunscreen I’ve ever used. Goes on well and lasts through the day.” But for others, it hasn’t lived up to its social media hype, with one underwhelmed customer commenting: “Bought this after seeing the trend on TikTok. It’s okay nothing special.”
The benefit of edits like this is that you get to try out a variety of products to work out what you like, without having to spend a fortune. However, since the box is pre-curated, you can’t swap out products to better suit your specific skin type or concerns. For example, if you already have a favourite sunscreen or moisturiser, you might end up with duplicates.
And as a beauty writer, there are a couple of brands I expected to see in the box that are notably missing, such as Dr Jart and Cosrx, both of which are popular brands when it comes to K-beauty. That said, it certainly allows customers to discover some of the lesser-known brands in the space.
What’s Inside theBoots K-Beauty Box?
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Mixsoon Bean Cleansing Oil 195ml – worth £20
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Round Lab 1025 Dokdo Cleanser 150ml (FULL SIZE) – worth £15
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Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Hyaluronic Toner for Sensitive Skin Alcohol and Fragrance Free 150ml (FULL SIZE) – worth £16
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SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Ampoule 55ml (FULL SIZE) – worth £17
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Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Moist Cream 100ml (FULL SIZE) – worth £18
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Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun : Rice + Probiotics 50ml (FULL SIZE) – worth £15.50
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Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Bakuchiol Eye Cream 20ml (FULL SIZE) – worth £16
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Biodance Bio Collagen Sheet Mask (singular sheet) – worth £3.73
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Laneige Lip Glowy Balm Berry 10g (FULL SIZE) – £17.50
Other retailers have also been shining a spotlight on Korean beauty, too, with Debenhams and Sephora both having dedicated landing pages for customers to browse the best brands in one place.
Some K-beauty products not in the Boots edit that we love include the COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence, a serum that boasts 96.3% snail secretion filtrate and is a powerhouse at revitalising skin, combating everything from parched patches to the pesky signs of ageing. A vegan alternative, also from a Korean brand, is Byoma’s Phyto-Mucin Glow Serum, starring a non-sticky formula packed with plant-based peptides and three types of hyaluronic acid, promising deep hydration and a glossy finish.
For those suffering from redness, Dr Jart’s Cicapair Tiger Grass Color Correcting Treatment has been praised by rosacea sufferers claiming it helps reduce the flushed look of their complexions, with Erborian’s cc red correct having a similar effect, applying green before seamlessly blending into your skin’s tone.
Or you can shop the Boots K-Beauty limited edition edit for £40 here.