SkinStore is a one-stop shop for everything you need in the premium beauty world. They feature everything from luxury skincare to french pharmacy products and everything in between. They definitely know their skincare- and they just released a limited edition Holiday Edit box. The Holiday Edit features over $500 worth of high-quality skincare with multiple full-size products
The SkinStore Holiday Edit is still available (while stocks last), and it's even 50% off- grab it for just $75 now.
This box was sent to us at no cost to review. (Check out our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we review boxes.)
First Impressions
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The Holiday Edit comes packaged in a fun white and gold box- you slide back both sides in order to be able to lift up the middle flap that then shows you all of the products inside. There is also a small insert with the products listed on one side and a QR code listed on the other- now let's get into the products that will help us with self-care this holiday season.
The Breakdown- What's Inside This Limited Edition SkinStore Box
Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm, 50 g - Retail Value $38
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This is one of my favorite cleansing balms, and I’m so happy that a larger jar was included in this set. It’s a thick oil-based balm that some may find to be too heavy, but I love it because it feels like a nourishing hug to my skin when I massage it in to break up and remove makeup and dirt from my face. I personally find the user experience to be luxurious thanks to the texture, but it’s also incredibly effective as a first cleanse. Sometimes cleansing balms with this texture leave residue that can be difficult to fully rinse away, but I don’t have that issue with this. When I add water it emulsifies beautifully, and it leaves my skin feeling really nourished when I’m all done. Formula-wise this is made with a blend of oils, butters, and waxes, and it has an essential oil blend that gives the balm a slight herbaceous scent, too.
PCA Skin Collagen Hydrator, 1.7 oz - Retail Value $50
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I have been able to try more products thanks to PCA skin, and I have yet to be disappointed. This is definitely the thickest moisturizer I’ve tried from the brand, but I love it for the cooler winter months where blustery winds and heaters have dried out and chafed my skin (though as I sit and type this, it’s still 76 degrees here in south Louisiana… maybe in the new year I’ll get my winter vibes?). The texture is rich and creamy, and it feels like it’s locking in your entire evening skincare routine when you apply it as the final step. Contrary to what the name would have you believe there isn’t actually any collagen in this moisturizer, but it does have hyaluronic acid, Shea butter, sweet almond oil, and vitamin C.
EltaMD Skin Recovery Serum, 1 oz - Retail Value $56
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I’ve only tried sunscreens from this brand (which I have loved) so I was stoked to try out a serum from them for a change. This was a lightweight, almost milky serum that soaks into your skin quickly once you start to massage it in. It’s made with a propriety blend of ingredients like panthenol, cica, and vitamin A to help stressed, irritated skin prevent damage, and I have been using it in my evening routine without any issue or irritation. I trust the science behind the brand so I am going to keep using this, but I'll be honest and say nothing has really wowed me about this so far considering the price tag.
Wander Beauty Baggage Claim Gold Eye Masks, 6 ct - Retail Value $25
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If you’ve been receiving subscription boxes for a while chances are you’ve tried these before, but even though this is my fourth or fifth box I am still happy to see them because I am always happy to use them. The gold foil makes these prettier than your standard eye mask, and they’re formulated with amino acids, aloe Vera, hyaluronic acid, and botanical extracts to hydrate, brighten, and reduce the appearance of dark circles. I like to wear these under my eyes when I’m getting ready and doing my makeup because they can catch any eyeshadow fall out, and then when I’m done I remove the foil, pat in the remaining essence, and I’m good to go with the rest of my routine.
111SKIN Nocturnal Eclipse Recovery Cream NAC Y2, 0.5 oz - Estimated Value $82.84 (buy the 1.69 oz version for $280)
I really appreciate that when Skinstore curated this kit, they didn’t make a 111Skin product one of the full-size products. Personally, while I love the hydrogel masks this brand makes, I find the rest of their skincare to be lacking. That being said, this was my first time trying their recovery cream, and I liked it. It has an even higher value than usual for its products, and I’m not sure why it needs to have hydrogenated palm oil. But it does have horse chestnut seed extract, Centella Asiatica extract, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin C, and I like the way it felt on my skin. In theory, this helps your skin retain moisture while giving it an additional boost, and it fights the effect of environmental stressors. I don’t know about all of that, but it felt nice on my face and I’ll use this sample up.
Babor Hydra Plus Ampoules, 7 ct x 2 mL - Retail Value $29.95
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This is not my first rodeo with Babor ampoules, though I’m not sure if I’ve tried the Hydra Version before. Each of the seven glass vials (yes, real glass- be careful when opening!) contains a concentrated blend of hyaluronic acid and a plant-based polymer moisturizer that work together to hydrate skin and lock it in for last moisture. I like reaching for these ampoules when I want to pamper myself a little more than usual- there’s just something so luxurious to me about taking the time and care to open the glass ampoule and apply the contents to my face, décolletage, and hands (there’s enough in there for me to apply it multiple places, and I don’t want it to go to waste!). Be careful when snapping open the glass vial- one time I was too aggressive and there were a little more shards than I would have liked, but I’ve only had that issue one time when at this point I’ve tried over 25 vials.
U Beauty Resurfacing Compound, 0.33 oz - Estimated Value $58.67 (buy the 0.5 oz version for $88)
This is an exfoliating treatment that is designed to improve your skin's tone, brightness, and texture without causing irritation. I have rosacea I work hard to keep at bay, so even if a skincare brand says their chemical exfoliant is safe for daily use I am going to use a bit more caution. This serum has a laundry list of ingredients, but honestly, I like what I see- glycolic acid is your chemical exfoliant, and you also have stabilized vitamins C and E, retinol, peptides, hyaluronic acid, and antioxidant-rich botanical extracts. I didn't experience irritation or an increase in redness when I used this, and I do like how it operates as a do-it-all serum so you can apply this and a moisturizer and call it a night if you're so inclined.
Verso No.5 Super Eye Serum, 20 mL - Retail Value $65
I'm more of an eye cream than an eye serum person, but I can appreciate how lightweight this is. If you suffer from milia (little bumps around your eyes usually caused by thicker creams), a serum may be much more your speed. This eye serum doesn't actually have a serum texture- it's a lightweight cream formulated with hydrating squalane, glycerine, and hyaluronic acid, retinol 8 fights fine lines, and botanical extracts give your skin a boost of antioxidants. I only needed a little bit to cover my entire eye area, and I really liked the texture of this for my morning skincare routine.
Medik8 Clarity Peptides Serum, 1 oz - Retail Value $55.20
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I’ve been seeing Medik8 gain popularity on Instagram, so I was excited to finally try this brand out for myself. So far, I’ve been really impressed. The texture is that of a light cream serum with a milky texture, and it absorbs into my skin pretty fast. The formula features 10% niacinamide with zinc PCA and a peptide complex, and it’s designed to do it all: even out your complexion, get rid of congestion and clogged pores, and give dull skin radiance. I’ve been using this in my nightly routine the past few days since getting this serum, and I do feel like my skin looks nicer when I wake up in the morning. I’m going to keep using this serum, and I’m really intrigued about what it could do for my skin long-term.
Knesko Diamond Radiance Face Mask - Retail Value $45
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This mask annoyed me before I even used it purely for the fact I knew I was going to love it but repurchasing it would absolutely be out of my budget. $45 for a single-use mask? This is one of the reasons I love the Skinstore Edits- where else can you try such a fancy item at such a steep discount? I was even more annoyed after using the mask because I absolutely loved it, even more than I was expecting it to. This mask has the thickest hydrogel material I have personally ever seen in a mask, and that hydrogel technology stayed cooling for hours. Literally, I wore this mask for two hours, and only then did parts of the mask start to dry out. I also had a mini photoshoot because, well, I was feeling myself in this iridescent mask.
Ingredients-wise, this mask is made with Knesko’s proprietary complex that has ingredients like Diamond powder, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, CoQ10, marine collagen, and rose oil. It’s formulated with their proprietary GEMCLINICAL®️ Technology, which means all of those great ingredients in the mask will actually be delivered into your skin. When I was done wearing this mask, my skin looked significantly more calm with less visible redness and it also looked brighter-even the massive cystic pimple I've been dealing with for over a week and have affectionately nicknamed Mount Vesuvius was calmed. I’m accepting more of these masks as Christmas presents 😉
NEOM Perfect Night's Sleep Hand Balm, 30 mL - Retail Value $10
This is a very, very fragrant hand cream. I like the strong scent for aromatherapy purposes, but if you’re sensitive to smells I don’t think you’ll enjoy this (the scent does linger even after the hand balm is massaged in). The Perfect Night’s Sleep line uses lavender, chamomile, and patchouli in their scent profile to help get you ready for bed while the Shea butter, cocoa seed butter, and sweet almond oil create a thick, nourishing hand treatment that did leave my hands feeling slightly greasy. The trade-off for the nourishment this gave my hands was worth it, though, especially since this is meant to be applied before bedtime when you’re usually not using your hands. I do really love the scent and how strong it is, and if these scent notes speak to you I just have to say the Perfect Night’s Sleep candle is absolutely divine.
Nest Fragrances Bamboo Mini Votive, 1 oz - Estimated Value $8.50 (buy a 2 oz votive for $17)
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I love Nest candles, and I will never be unhappy about seeing a candle in a box (even if it's a mini). Bamboo is a very clean, floral scent. It has notes of "white florals, lush greens, and sparkling citrus," and the end result is lovely, though not what I usually reach for. This is the perfect size (and scent) for a bathroom or powder room, and while I do think Nest candles have some pretty great throw there is only so much this little guy can do.
Value – Was This Box Worth It?
The Cost: $150 + Free Shipping (currently on sale for $75 for a limited time)
Cost Breakdown:
- Elemis: $38 → $10.87
- PCA Skin: $50 → $14.31
- Elta MD: $56 → $16.02
- Wander Beauty: $25 → $7.15
- 111 Skin: $82.84 → $23.71
- Babor: $29.95 → $8.57
- U Beauty: $58.67 → $16.79
- Verso: $65 → $18.60
- Medik8: $55.20 → $15.80
- Knesko: $45 → $12.88
- NEOM: $10 → $2.86
- Nest: $8.50 → $2.43
The total value of everything in this limited edition box is $524.16, which is a savings of more than 70%.
Key Takeaways
Wow- the Holiday Edit from Skinstore was a lot to go through, but boy did I enjoy it. I don't actually think any of the 11 products were misses for me, and I love how so many of the products were full-sized. I am slightly annoyed at how much I loved that Knesko mask (oh to live in a world where a $45 single-use sheet mask could easily fit into my budget), but that is one of the reasons I do love curated sets like this- the ability to discover and try new luxury products I wouldn't normally be able to afford. The normal retail price of $150 isn't outlandish considering the contents, but the box is almost a downright steal if you are able to grab it while it is on sale considering everything added up to $524.16. All of the products come in their original packaging, too, so if you want to keep a few items for yourself and use the rest as stocking stuffers, this would be a great set to do that with.
Other Things You Should Know
Is this box still available? Yes, this limited edition set is still available for purchase while stocks last (did I mention it's on sale).
Are you going to pick up the Skinstore Holiday Edit Limited Edition box? Should I buy a second one (yes, I am actually considering it)?
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