Unwrapping the Magic: The Estée Lauder Beauty Box for Christmas

If you're hunting for the ultimate festive gift for beauty lovers (or treating yourself, we're not judging), the Estée Lauder beauty box – often released as their Blockbuster or limited-edition Christmas set – is one of the most talked-about seasonal must-haves in the beauty world. Here’s everything you need to know, plus tips to make it sing under the Christmas tree.

What is the Estée Lauder beauty box?

Each holiday season, Estée Lauder curates a luxurious gift set—often called the Blockbuster, Beauty Box or Beauty Favorites Collection. The idea: a beautifully packaged set containing a mix of full-size and deluxe-size skincare and makeup bestsellers. The 2025 edition, for example, includes 11 beauty favourites, with 5 full-size items and more, all housed in a deluxe train-case made from 100% recycled fabric. 

The result? A “wow” gift that feels indulgent, but often delivers more bang for your buck than buying each item separately.

What’s typically inside?

While each year’s box is different, certain themes stay consistent:

Signature skincare heroes — Expect to see items like Advanced Night Repair or hydrating serums. 

Cleansers or masks — A way to reset the skin. 

Makeup favourites — Lipsticks, mascara or palettes often make an appearance.

Luxurius packaging — Something reusable or decorative, which adds to its appeal as a gift.

In past years, there have also been collaborations with beauty-box subscription services. For example, the LOOKFANTASTIC × Estée Lauder Limited Edition Beauty Box (2023) included six curated products, with a value over £113, for just £50. 

LOOKFANTASTIC

 This kind of partnership gives beauty-box fans a chance to sample Estée Lauder’s offerings in a more compact format.

Why it makes a perfect Christmas gift

Immediate "wow" factor

Between the festive packaging and the collection of beloved luxury products, it feels special right out of the box.

Better value than buying individually

Because Estée Lauder is bundling full-size star items with minis, you often come out ahead in terms of value.

A way to try new products

Even if you already know some of the items, these boxes often introduce you to new lines or shades you might not have tried.

Sustainability nods

The 2025 edition’s outer case is made from recycled fabric, and the brand has been gradually pushing its packaging ethos. 

Makes for gorgeous content

If you’re a blogger or social media creator, these boxes lend themselves beautifully to unboxing photos and Instagram reels.

Things to watch out for / tips

Limited quantities — These sets often sell out fast. If you’ve got your eye on one, sign up for alerts or shop early.

Check the full-value — Sometimes a few items are minis, so read the fine print to see how much of the “value” is real.

Not all products will suit every skin type — A skincare set heavy on rich creams might be too much for someone with oily skin, for instance.

Gift timing — Many of these boxes launch in late autumn or early December. If you're in the UK, it’s wise to grab one before stock vanishes or postage slows down.

Incidentally you might have seen an earlier version of this post. It had to be removed because my html training was long ago and my attempt at html work broke the blog!