Lately, I feel like Boots has really been knocking it out of the park with its beauty boxes and bags. Every time I think they’ve peaked, something new drops that gives competitors like LookFantastic and Next a real run for their money. So when I spotted their new holiday-themed beauty bag just as the weather started warming up, I was instantly intrigued.
I’d already tried their SPF and Skin box (which leans more into summer skincare), so I was curious to see how this one compared. This time around, it’s all about makeup, fragrance, and those little extras you actually want to take away with you. But what really caught my eye was the lineup. We’re talking big, viral names like Sol de Janeiro, Fenty Beauty, Bobbi Brown and Floral Street. Not bad at all for a travel bag.
Then I saw the value. Boots says everything inside adds up to £139.81 if bought individually, but the bag itself is just £35. That’s a saving of £104.81.
As the name suggests, everything inside is travel-friendly (all 100ml or under), so there’s no stress when it comes to airport liquid limits. There are nine items in total, including two full-size products, which feels like a solid mix for something designed to be tossed into your hand luggage.
Since it had only just launched and there weren’t any reviews yet, I decided to give it a go myself and see if it is worth buying.
The first thing I noticed was the packaging, which gives nod to the summer holiday season. It comes wrapped in a postcard-themed sleeve stamped with “Bon Voyage”. The bag inside is a pink translucent pouch, which is actually far more practical than it sounds. I can easily see myself using it in my hand luggage at the airport, and because it’s made from waterproof plastic, it would double up perfectly as a beach-day essentials bag too.
Only two of the nine items are full-size, which is slightly less generous than some of Boots’ other boxes (their SPF and Skin box, for example, includes nine full-size products). But given this one is designed specifically for travel, the smaller sizes do make sense, and they all feel genuinely useful.
One of the full-size products is a lipstick from Fenty Beauty, owned by singer Rihanna. The Gloss Bomb Stix in the shade Two’Lip Kiss is a soft, warm nude that feels like it would suit pretty much anyone. I’ve been wanting to try Fenty Beauty for ages, so I was genuinely excited to find this inside.
The other full-size product is a Philip Kingsley Swimcap Water-Resistant Mask, designed to be applied before sun exposure or swimming to protect your hair from UV rays and chlorine. It’s one of those products I probably wouldn’t have thought to pick up myself, but it makes perfect sense for a holiday.
One of the standout minis for me was the 15ml Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base. This product has been everywhere online, and it’s a great way to try it without committing to a bigger (and pricier) pot — especially considering the 15ml version alone retails for £19.
I was also really excited to find the Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Floral Gold Shimmer Multi-Purpose Dry Oil. I’ve seen this all over social media recently, and it’s just as pretty in person. It gives your skin that subtle, glowy shimmer, exactly what you want for evenings on holiday.
Then there’s the travel-sized Sol de Janeiro Cheirosa 59 body spray. Sol de Janeiro scents are instantly recognisable, and for good reason. While their Cheirosa 62 fragrance has had countless dupes pop up everywhere, I still don’t think anything beats the original brand. Cheirosa 59 has notes of velvet plum, sugared violet, vanilla orchid, and sandalwood, and it smells incredible — warm, slightly sweet, and perfect for summer evenings. The 30ml size is ideal for travel and worth £11 on its own, which feels like a nice little bonus.
There’s also a Floral Street perfume in the scent Wonderland Peony, which is perfectly handbag-sized, plus a 7ml Huda Beauty Mini 1 Coat Wow! Mascara that’s great for saving space in your makeup bag.
The bag is finished off with a peach body scrub from First Aid Beauty and some Mediheal Madecassoside Blemish Pads, two skincare extras that feel genuinely useful rather than just filler.
Overall, for me, it’s the mix of big-name brands that really makes this bag feel worth it. When one product alone is worth £19, it doesn’t take much to justify the £35 price tag. Everything inside feels considered, practical, and genuinely handy for travel, whether that’s for your hand luggage, your beach bag, or just throwing into your handbag while you’re out exploring on holiday.