Beauty boxes have been a thing for years now, with brands like Look Fantastic and Boots dropping seasonal edits throughout the calendar. Valentine’s Day, in particular, is prime time for them. There’s no shortage of makeup and skincare boxes aimed at women, but when it comes to men, the options still feel pretty thin on the ground. That’s starting to change, though. This year, Next has stepped into the mix with a special Grooming Box for men as part of its Valentine’s Day line-up.
There are other retailers dipping their toes in too, with the likes of John Lewis and ASOS releasing their own men’s beauty and grooming gift boxes. Still, they’re far rarer than the huge selection available for women. With the day of romance creeping up fast, if you’re stuck for a gift idea, a grooming box could be a solid shout for the man in your life who deserves a bit of well-earned me-time. Better still, it won’t break the bank.
The Next Grooming Box retails for £22, but according to Next, it is worth over £73 based on the cost of buying the products individually. That marks a £51 saving – roughly 69%.
As with most beauty boxes, you get a mix of full-size and travel-sized products. It’s ideal if the person you’re buying for likes trying new things without the commitment, or if there’s something they’ve been eyeing up but haven’t quite taken the plunge on yet.
And Next has also released a women’s beauty box to match. You can read my full review of the Beauty Lovers box from Next here.
To put it to the test, I enlisted my partner for the very serious job of unboxing it and giving each item a proper once-over. He considered what you actually get, whether it feels worth the money, and if he thinks it would make a good gift.
The Grooming Box arrives with everything packed neatly inside a sturdy cardboard box. This isn’t your standard plain brown packaging, though. Instead, it’s a vibrant shade of green with a modern yellow and green checkerboard pattern running down the sides. It feels fresh and contemporary, but while it’s been released alongside the Beauty Lovers Valentine’s Box, it’s a little disappointing that the design doesn’t lean more into the Valentine’s theme if you’re planning to gift it on the day itself. That said, on the other hand, it’s neutral enough to work for pretty much any occasion — or even as a self-gift.
One small 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 want to keep.
Inside the box, there are six products spanning haircare, skincare and fragrance. A few familiar names jump out straight away, including ESPA, Bath and Bodyworks and Murdock — the latter being a product range from the London-based barbershop chain of the same name.
The first full-sized product is a foaming hand wash from Bath & Bodyworks in the woody, grown-up scent of mahogany teakwood.
“Truthfully, I’m not hugely fussed about hand soap, but since my girlfriend loves this brand, it’s an instant win for us all,” my boyfriend, who has requested to remain anonymous, said.
“Soap is a nice, versatile option, and the unisex scent means it’s something we can pop in the bathroom and all use. I also really like the way these soaps foam.”
Sticking with the theme of freshening up, there’s also a travel-sized body wash from ESPA. “The shower gel is a great size for popping into my bag when I go to the gym or even to chuck in my toiletries bag when we’re going on holiday,” he said.
“You can’t go wrong with a shower gel. That said, this one does have quite a strong smell, and I personally prefer scented products that are a little more subtle as I have fairly sensitive skin.”
Without hesitation, my partner named his standout favourites as the two travel-sized products from Murdock: the 10ml Patchouli cologne and the 50ml Sea Salt Spray.
“Again, the travel size of these two products means they’re super handy for on-the-go,” he said.
“The aftershave smells decadent and woody, and would be a great one for holidays.”
He added: “Sea salt spray is something I already use day-to-day, so it’s great to have a top-up.”
Rounding off the box are two skincare products, both full-sized and fairly easy to slot into most routines. There’s a hydrating sheet mask, which the brand claims will leave skin looking visibly brighter, alongside an age-defence serum from Percy Nobleman, infused with vitamin C and collagen.
“The face sheet mask is a fun addition as it’s not something I’d usually think to do,” said my partner.
“It would make a fun Valentine’s activity to do together with my girlfriend – I’d just have to make sure to buy her one in return.
“I’m also trying to work on a better skincare routine, so along with the Age Defence Serum, it’s nice to be able to try things out. My only concern with both of these items is that I have fairly sensitive skin as so I’d have to test both of them out to see if they work for me.”