Boots has launched a trio of beauty crackers priced at £25 each, with each containing six beauty treats worth up to £75.20. Two of our beauty writers opened the JOY and MAGIC crackers to assess whether they offer good value.
What's inside the JOY cracker
The JOY cracker, worth £75.20, includes six products: two full-size items from No7 and Sacheu, plus miniatures from e.l.f. SKIN, amika, MILK Makeup and Bobbi Brown. The line-up features the No7 Pro Artist Powder Highlighter in Gold Silk (5g), Sacheu Eyeshadow Stay-N in Sp-Ice (4ml), e.l.f. SKIN Holy Hydration! Clean Freak Daily Cleanser (30ml), amika Frizz-Me-Not Hydrating Anti-Frizz Treatment (30ml), MILK Makeup Mini Hydro Grip Set + Refresh Spray (50ml) and Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base (15ml).
Our writer praised the MILK setting spray for holding makeup in place for over eight hours and the Sacheu eyeshadow for its warm brown shade that blends easily. The No7 highlighter was described as adding a light, flattering shimmer. The e.l.f. cleanser removed makeup without stripping moisture, and the Bobbi Brown face base was a familiar favourite for hydrating and priming skin.
The amika anti-frizz treatment did not impress, however, as the writer's naturally curly hair still ended up with a frizzy halo. The Sacheu eyeshadow shade cannot be predetermined, which may not suit the recipient.
Testing the MAGIC cracker
The MAGIC cracker contains six items: Kylie Skin Lip Butter in Toasted Marshmallow (10g), R.E.M Beauty Dreamglow Highlight Serum (30.7ml), e.l.f Cream Glide Lip Liner in Baddest Beige (1g), Missha Glow BB Boomer Primer (20ml), Sol De Janeiro Cheirosa 76 Perfume Mist (30ml) and Glow For It Lash Recharge Mascara (3ml). The R.E.M Beauty serum is on sale for £23 at Sephora, making it worth nearly as much as the whole set.
The writer applied the products as a full makeup routine and achieved a polished look within minutes. The Dreamglow Highlight Serum was the standout, giving a subtle shimmer and lasting glow. The Kylie Lip Butter and e.l.f Lip Liner paired well for a dewy look, and the Cheirosa 76 mist left a tropical scent on clothes the following day.
Less impressive were the Missha primer, which offered less coverage than expected, and the Glow For It mascara, which darkened lashes but added no length or curl. Overall, with products working out at just over £4 each, the MAGIC Cracker was deemed an absolute steal for beauty lovers or those topping up their collections.
