Sephora UK one off beauty box review

In a cost of living crisis, it's good to know that you can buy a beauty box without being tied into a subscription - thanks to Sephora UK.

Not only that, you can actually choose what's in your box!

For a beauty lover living on a tight budget, a no-subscription box sounds like a real treat.

We decided to give it a go and ended up with a mini haul of premium skincare goodies. Think of Charlotte Tilbury, Lancome and Benefit, to name a few.

The cost of our box was under £14 and delivery was free.

About Sephora UK

Sephora is a brand synonymous with the US beauty market. In fact, it is the market leader. However, Sephora’s roots are firmly in France. That's where the business was founded. It is owned by LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton.

A relatively young brand, Sephora returned to the UK in late 2022 with the opening of a flagship store in London. A second is due to open soon.

Its destination stores are where you will find the very best in skincare and makeup.

The Sephora UK beauty box

While the box is available on subscription for three or 12 months, it can also be purchased as a one-off. So, if you want to sample what Sephora UK has to offer, it's a great introduction to the brand - not to mention some of the biggest names in the beauty business.

After signing up online, you can choose five luxury items from several pages of products. At the same time, you can stipulate whether you want to sign up for a monthly box or simply buy a single box.

The process was effortless. No hidden clauses or nasty surprises.

What we chose for our box

Choices, choices... There were so many great products to choose from that we really had to take our time. In the end, we went for iconic products that most beauty lovers crave - including the world's most popular anti-ageing serum.

All of the products were sample sizes, with the biggest offering 30ml of product.

• Lancôme Advanced Génifique Youth Activating Concentrate - 7ml

• Charlotte Tilbury Magic Serum Crystal Elixir - 3.6ml

• Charlotte Tilbury Collagen Superfusion Facial Oil - 3.5ml

• Aurelia Miracle Cleanser - 30ml

• Benefit Roller Lash Mascara - mini

Other products available included samples from REFY, VIRTUE, Wild Science, Living Proof, Dr Botanicals and CeraVe, to name just a few.

We ordered the box on a Monday afternoon and it was with us at lunchtime on Wednesday - less than two days!

It arrived in a plain brown box, but what a surprise when we opened it. A real 'experience'. The inside of the box was dramatically branded. It reminded us of our experience of buying direct from Tarte in the US.

We ticked a box to receive our goodies in a branded Sephora UK bag. This option did not cost anything extra - it was free. The option is there for those who already have a drawstring bag and don't need another.

Our Sephora UK beauty box experience

The process of ordering and receiving the box was seamless. No faffing about. No waiting.

Almost in the blink of an eye, our box was with us.

What we received was exactly what we ordered. The value of our box was in excess of £60 - not bad for under £14!

Yes, the products were all sample sizes - but big enough to get a good insight into each product. We've been able to discover how the different products smell, their consistency, texture and how they feel on the skin.

While they are unlikely to last more than a few days or so, they are great for simply trying or for travel.

If you are savvy, you can bag yourself a collection of travel goodies that will take care of all your skincare needs.

This is a great way to sample a premium product before buying a full-size version.

We thought Sephora UK's beauty box delivered on value, choice and the overall experience.

Learn more about the box here.

We have no connection to Sephora UK and our review is based on personal experience.