Boots has brought back its Joy Beauty Christmas Cracker for 2026, priced at £25 but containing beauty products with a combined value of £75.20. The festive set includes six beauty items, two of which are full-sized, and is designed to work as a stocking filler, a Christmas table centrepiece, or a gift to open on December 25.
The cracker contains a mix of makeup, skincare and haircare essentials. The standout item is the No7 Pro Artist Powder Highlighter in the shade 'Gold Silk', worth £16.95, described as a silky and feather-light powder that creates a weightless, lit-from-within glow. Also included is the Sacheu Stay-N Liquid Eyeshadow in the shade 'Sp-Ice', valued at £16, a long-wear, crease-proof formula with a shimmer finish that can be applied to the lid or lash line.
Full Contents of the Joy Beauty Christmas Cracker
The full list of items inside the Joy Beauty Christmas Cracker includes:
- No7 Pro Artist Powder Highlighter in 'Gold Silk' 5g – full size
- Sacheu Stay-N Liquid Eyeshadow in 'Sp-Ice' 4ml – full size
- 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
- Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base 15ml
Other Boots Christmas Crackers Available
Boots also offers two other Christmas crackers. The Cheer Boots Beauty Christmas Cracker costs £25 but is worth £74.46, offering a saving of £49.46. It features six beauty treats, including three full-sized products: a full-sized bottle of Biodance Collagen Peptide Jelly Serum Mist, a Laneige Cream Skin Milky Hydration Sheet Mask, and the Dr Reju All All Advanced Retino-Mela Serum. It also includes the Elemis Pro-Collagen Hydrating Cleansing Mouse, the Skin1004 Madagascar Centella Tone Brightening Capsule Ampoule, and a travel-friendly bottle of Cosrx 5 PDRN B5 Vital Soothing Toner 80ml.
The Magic Boots Beauty Christmas Cracker is also priced at £25 but worth £72.32. It includes three full-sized beauty items: a tube of Kylie Skin's Lip Butter in the shade 'Toasted Marshmallow', R.E.M Beauty's Dreamglow Highlight Serum, and the e.l.f. Cream Glide Lip Liner in the shade 'Baddest Beige'. The set also features a mini version of the Missha Glow BB Boomer Primer, Sol de Janeiro's Cheirosa 76 Perfume Mist 30ml, and the Glow For It Lash Recharge Mascara in a travel-friendly size.
Other Beauty Crackers from Retailers
Elsewhere, Jo Malone London has released a range of Christmas gifts, including the Silver Cracker, priced at £40. It features three miniature fragrance favourites: the English Oak & Hazelnut Cologne, the Cypress & Grapevine Hair & Body Wash, and the Wood Sage & Sea Salt Hand Cream. Jo Malone also offers the Cream Ornament, priced at £34, which includes the Wood Sage & Sea Salt Cologne and a Lime Basil & Mandarin Hand Cream.
The White Company's Winter Cracker Hand & Nail Gift Set costs £20 and includes a foaming hand wash and a soothing nail and hand cream, featuring the brand's classic winter scent with notes of cinnamon, clove, and zesty orange.
Shopper Reviews of the No7 Highlighter
Back at Boots, the Joy Beauty Christmas Cracker is yet to receive any reviews from shoppers. However, the No7 Pro Artist Powder Highlighter, available to buy on its own for £16.95, has an overall star-rating of 4.5 out of five based on 19 reviews.
One satisfied shopper said: "I bought this highlighter on a whim as I usually steer away from anything shiny near my face — I am 54 with the usual fine lines so anything shiny tends to highlight these. However, this was lovely to use and very subtle so the shimmer could be built up in layers." They added: "I applied a bit on my brow bones and to my cheek bones…anywhere where the sun or light would naturally hit. The result was a bit of subtle luminosity which was very pretty."
Another wrote: "Subtle highlighter that enhances but still looks natural. I don’t usually use a highlighter as they shine too much but love this natural glow." A third review said: "This is the best highlighter powder I’ve ever used. It’s so subtle but a really nice glow, not too sparkly or glittery, just a healthy gorgeous glow that seems to come from within."
One shopper, however, gave the highlighter a three-star review, stating: "Okay product to use on the cheeks and face. Nothing different to things I’ve used before." A two-star review read: "I bought this item today. Very disappointed, I thought it only came in one colour, wasn't told there was three. I've put it on and you just cannot see it at all. Would have purchased a darker one if I knew."
Nevertheless, someone else loved the purchase, adding: "This highlighter is really lightweight, blendable and has a subtle shimmery finish. I love the luminous glow it gives my skin. As with the rest of the No7 Pro Artist range, the packaging is super luxurious and looks more expensive than it is." Another five-star review reads: "Love this highlighter. It gave a natural glow to my make up and I would use again. As with the other products in this range, beautiful packaging."
