At around the same time each year, multiple beauty outlets will release limited edition value for money bags. As these sell-out quite fast, I have highlighted a few (including those sold-out ones). But how do I decide which to buy?
Its pointless buying these bags if you are not going to use the most expensive products
For example, this is cultbeauty’s goody bag, which you get for free if you spend £150. Per cultbeauty, the products are worth £270.
As I am a self-confessed geek, I actually calculate the unit price of the sample/ product.
This bag is absolutely pointless if you are not going to use the following most expensive products
- Natasha Denona eyeshadow palette (full size for £41)
- Odacite Pimple serum (full size for £32)
- Augustinus Bader rich cream sample (7ml for £29)
- Zoeva travel brush set (£22)
- 111 Skin sub-zero de-puffing mask (full size for £20)
- Innersense hydrating mask (full size for £28)
The only thing that really interests me is the Augustinus Bader sample for £29 and at this point, I’ll ask myself if its not better to just get the full size product for £205 instead of spending £150 on other products I may not want now.
SELFRIDGES Project Earth beauty bag ($61.00 or £46)
I like the Selfridges bag, as its a fashion forward departmental store that’s promoting sustainability. I am happy to try it and glad that big fashion is (finally) making some of the right sounds where beauty is concerned.
Also, buying this bag is less taxing. I pay £46 for the bag, that’s supposed to be worth £150. Essentially, I am buying the products at 30% of their retail price.
(Starting clockwise from the left: Indie Lee Essential Body Lotion 30ml, REN Jelly Cleanser 100ml, SKIN SAPIENS Lip Balm 10ml, FEKKAI Brilliant Gloss Shampoo 60ml, FEKKAI Brilliant Gloss Conditioner 60ml, Dame Organic Tampons pack of 2, Summer Fridays Overtime Mask 28g, Truthbrush bamboo toothbrush, Awake Organics Hydrate & Protect 15g, Farryn Amber Superfruit Face Milk 30ml, Georganics Peppermint Natural Toothpaste 60ml, FOAMIE Body Bar 80g, The Natural Deodorant Co. Lemon + Geranium Clean Deodorant Balm 10g, Face Halo Original, LastSwab Original Swab)
Net-a-porter’s beauty bags
Net-a-porter have 3 beauty bags for which you pay £57, but with varying products. I am seriously eyeing the Summer Essentials Beauty kit
The Summer Essentials Beauty Kit (£57 for products worth approx. £340)
The bag includes Costa Brazil Kaya Jungle Firming Body Oil, Rahua Enchanted Island Salt Spray, Soleil Toujours SPF30 Mineral Sunscreen, 111SKIN Meso Infusion Day Defence Hydration Mask, VENN Age-Reversing All-In-One Concentrate, Omorovicza’s 60 Peachy Micellar Cleanser and Code8 Express Lip & Cheek Colour’ in Off Broadway.
The City Essentials Beauty Kit (£57 for products worth £332)
The bag includes Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Lips Matte Contour Liquid Lipstick, Wander Beauty Exquisite Eye Liquid Shadow, Dr. Barbara Sturm Sun Drops SPF50, U BEAUTY Resurfacing Compound, Decree Light Cleanse, Hampton Sun SPF45 Mineral Face Stick, Philip B Peppermint Avocado Shampoo, Oribe Matte Waves Texture Lotion
The At-Home Facialist Kit (£57 for products worth approx. £150)
The bag includes: Shani Darden’s Daily Toning Essence, Joanna Vargas’ Cloud Bar soap, Sarah Chapman’s vitamin-rich Skinesis Overnight Facial serum, Angela Caglia’s face mask, Anne Semonin maks, Angela Caliglia rosebud eye rollers.
Sold-out beauty bags, but worth every penny, so sign onto the relevant newsletter
Caroline Hirons is a skincare influencer with a cult-following. Her summer kit sold out in what feels like hours. Her kit cost c£200 it had full-sized products worth over £500+. You can sign up at her website and I’ll post here the next time one of the kits goes on sale.
I hope that helps, but if you prefer subscription beauty boxes and I’ll do a short blog on the best options.