I opened Next’s £25 Valentine’s beauty box worth £101

The season of love is here, and whether you’re already thinking ahead to February 14 to buy a gift for your Valentine, planning a galentine’s treat for a friend, or just fancy showing yourself a little self-love this Valentine’s Day, a beauty box is a really lovely way to do it. They’re one of those gifts that feel a little different from the usual fare and are a collection of little treats bundled together.

Beauty boxes pop up from all kinds of retailers for all sorts of occasions, but they tend to shine around seasonal moments like Easter, Mother’s Day and, of course, Valentine’s Day. Next is one retailer that’s particularly good at them, and to celebrate the season of romance, they’ve launched a vibrant pink box filled with makeup and skincare goodies.

The box itself retails for just £25, but according to Next, the cost of the items inside, if bought individually, adds up to over £101. That works out at a £76 saving (approximately 75%).

As is the case with most beauty boxes, inside you’ll find a mix of full-size and travel-sized products. That makes it a great way to try out items you might not usually buy, or ones you’ve been curious about for a while, before committing to a full-size version later on.

I’ve taken on the very serious task of opening the Next Beauty Lovers Box to see exactly what you get inside, whether it’s worth the money, and whether it would make a nice gift.

The beauty box, as the name suggests, comes packaged in a pretty, vibrant pink box. I’ve opened a few different seasonal boxes from Next over the last year, and this might be my favourite packaging so far. The exterior sleeve, which holds the box together, has a cute, seasonally appropriate heart-shaped cutout that reveals a swirly font reading ‘Beauty by Next’. The box itself also has a stylish pink and white checkerboard design down the side. It’s attractive enough that you don’t really need to wrap it or pop it into a gift bag before giving it. The only slight downside is that, unlike some other Valentine’s beauty bundles (such as the LookFantastic one, which comes in a reusable makeup pouch), the packaging isn’t something you’d necessarily re-use afterwards.

Lift the lid and the items are neatly packed inside. Most of them lean into the Valentine’s theme, whether that’s through pink-toned packaging or because they work well as part of a relaxing date-night getting-ready routine. There are some big-name brands included, too, which immediately caught my attention: Elemis and Neal’s Yard Remedies. Both of these are travel-sized, but they’re versatile products that most people could make good use of. From Elemis, there’s a Superfood Midnight Facial, which costs £48 at full price if you buy the full-size version. It’s designed to hydrate and revive tired skin overnight and is used as an overnight moisturiser, making it a great way to test whether it’s something you’d want to add to your regular skincare routine.

From Neal’s Yard Remedies, you’ll find a 100ml Women’s Balance Massage Oil, which feels like a very romantic addition. It’s infused with essential oils, so it instantly has that spa-like feel and leaves the skin feeling lovely and nourished.

Two makeup products are also included. The first is a 10ml Dr PawPaw True Coral Lip Balm. It’s designed to keep lips feeling soft throughout the day, but it also has a subtle coral tint that adds a touch of colour without feeling too much. I really like this kind of product for everyday wear. As an added bonus, the balm can also be used on the cheeks or even the eyelids. The size is ideal for just chucking into your handbag during the day, too.

Then, shoppers either get a Nudestix all-over-place blush or a Delilah Eyeshadow Stick. For me, this is one of the main things that lets the box down – not because either product is bad, but because the selection is random, with no way for shoppers to choose or know exactly which one they’ll receive. In the reviews on the Next website, one shopper explained how they had hoped for one product but ended up getting the other. They said: “I purchased the box specifically because the photos suggest the blush is included, but I received the eye crayon instead, which I didn’t want.” It’s definitely something to think about if only one of the two would suit you.

When I opened the box, I got the Delilah Eyeshadow Stick, which I actually really like. It comes in a versatile brown shade that isn’t too over-the-top and works well as a neutral eye colour for a range of skin tones. The application is really easy too – you simply swipe it onto the eye and blend with your finger for an effortless smoky effect. It’s also very handy for popping in your bag for on-the-go makeup top-ups.

The final beauty item in the box is a travel-sized tanning mousse from Coco & Eve, which the brand claims is lightweight and fast-drying. It’s a nice addition for anyone who likes to keep a year-round glow, especially in February when much of the UK is crying out for a bit of vitamin D. That said, it’s probably the least versatile item in the box, as not everyone (myself included) uses false tan.

But that’s not all — there’s also a super-handy pouch from The Flat Lay Co in a vibrant hit of pink and orange, and it’s arguably one of the most useful pieces in the beauty box. Made from wipe-clean plastic, it’s perfect for inevitable makeup spills and ideal for everyday use in your bag, or even as a chic holiday toiletry pouch for travel.