Building up a bank of skincare products can quickly prove to be an expensive hobby, with high-quality products often carrying premium price tags. But that’s where carefully curated beauty boxes like LookFantastic’s Glow ‘n’ Go Edit come in.
Offering £130 worth of popular skincare products for £35, it delivers serious value for money as well as being a convenient way to try out a selection of trending products without having to have paid full price. As for the brands? As a beauty writer, I was highly impressed, with top names like REN, Laneige and Pai skincare featured in the edit.
But beauty boxes can sometimes be a bit of a gamble, and £35 – while much cheaper than the RRP – can still be out of budget for those holding out for January’s payday. So to see if it really is worth it, I took a good look at edit and tested out the products to find out.
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Immediately, the LookFantastic Glow ‘n’ Go Edit pays for itself in one product – and it’s one I already know, use and love. The REN Clean Skincare Radiance Brighten Dark Circle Eye Cream has been a firm favourite in my routine over the years, however, I never, ever buy it for myself due to how much it usually costs.
The rich yet lightweight formula absorbs beautifully into the delicate under-eye area, leaving my eyes looking more awake and refreshed. It’s completely non-irritating which makes it ideal for the sensitive-skinned, and features elderberry flower extract to smooth, tone and brighten.
With a price tag of £49 when sold separately, it single-handedly justifies the cost of the entire box. And since I’m coming to the end of my current bottle, it couldn’t have come at a better time.
Another highlight is the Laneige Water Bank Intensive Moisturiser. I’ve previously used the regular version and I’m very near the end of my pot, so I was excited to try this more intensive formulation. And let me tell you – it didn’t disappoint, battling winter dryness with a silky finish that left my skin feeling plump and nourished.
The Pai Skincare Light Work Cleansing Oil is one I’ve used before, too. The formula effortlessly melts away makeup and impurities without stripping my skin, and feels super luxurious, so it’s no wonder beauty enthusiasts like Georgia Toffolo swear by it. But, seeing as I have a larger sized bottle of this on the go already, I figured I could spread the skincare love and give this to a family member who is on the hunt for a new cleanser.
I did find that the product sizes for some items – such as the Shiseido serum – are on the smaller side. While this makes them great for travel or sampling, those who fall in love with them may find themselves wishing for larger quantities. I also found some duplication, with two cleansers featured in the edit, one from Pai and the Youth To The People Superfood Cleanser, which some shoppers may find disappointing if they were looking for more variety.
Additionally, some of the products may not be suitable for all skin types, such as the Mario Badescu Pore Minimizer Powder Mask, which is best suited for oily skin types, meaning it was not ideal for my dry complexion. However, if you do have a different skin type to a friend or family member, you could always go halves on the price of the edit and keep the products that are best for your skin. Or, buy the edit and save the products you won’t use to use as Christmas stocking fillers later in the year.
The set, which launched last week, has already earned a 4.83 star rating on the LookFantastic website, where it’s been praised for its ‘fab value’.
One shopper wrote: “Comes in a cute little bag – full of goodies! Everything is decent sized, even the “minis” as they are not they mini. Already added some full size stuff on my watch list ready to buy on payday!”
Another added: “Love this edit, fab value for REN Eye Cream alone. I hope Look Fantastic look towards these highly rated edits and keep it coming – or improve on there monthly subscription boxes as these edits are much better!”
However, one shopper knocked off one star due to the packaging, commenting: “Bought this as a gift and although my daughter will be delighted with the products, I was disappointed they didn’t come in a box but in a plastic bag for delivery. Most of the individual boxes inside the drawstring bag were damaged.”
Here’s everything inside the £35 Glow ‘n’ Go Edit:
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REN Clean Skincare Radiance Brighten Dark Circle Eye Cream 15ml (worth £49)
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Shiseido Vital Perfection LiftDefine Radiance Serum 7ml (worth £20)
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LANEIGE Water Bank Intensive Moisturiser 10ml (worth over £6)
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Mario Badescu Pore Minimizer Powder Mask 16g (worth £12)
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Pai Skincare Light Work Cleansing Oil 10ml (worth £10)
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Magnitone Wipeout Swipes Full Size (worth £8)
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Hello Sunday The Matte One SPF50 Oil Control Moisturiser 30ml (worth £22)
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Youth To The People Superfood Cleanser 15ml (worth over £3)
Whether the edit is ‘worth it’ will be down to personal preference. For me, it offered an opportunity to restock my favourite eye cream for £14 less than its usual retail price, effectively getting me seven freebies in the process, perfect for discovering new products, or gifting to loved ones. Despite some doubling up, it’s still a well-rounded selection of skincare heroes, with premium products at a fraction of their usual cost.
In other beauty deals, this Clarins beauty advent calendar is a great way to stock up on high performing products at a more affordable price point – even if you can’t use it as a Christmas countdown. Worth £162, the calendar was originally priced at £95, and is currently cheapest at Debenhams at £57.
Meanwhile, The Luxe Edit Beauty Box at Next has a total value of £228, but is priced at £50, saving around 78% on the RRP. Inside are eight beauty and skincare treats, including five full sized products designed to refresh your regime and your skin for the New Year.
If you prefer something even more budget friendly and well-rounded, M&S has the Beauty Wellness Box, priced at £30. This contains 10 products that have a combined value of over £100, which work out at £3 each as part of the deal. Inside, shoppers will find a range of wellness classics and new launches, including luxuriously rich creams, a restorative hair treatment, a self-care beauty tool, calming candle, restful fragrance, and more.