When Ruth Crilly puts her name to something, you know it’s worth listening. For years, she’s been one of the most trusted (and funniest) voices in beauty – sharp, unfiltered, and always with a knack for finding products that really work. Which is why we’re so excited to have her curate this special beauty box. Fourteen products, handpicked by Ruth, that cover the full routine from morning SPF to your end-of-day bath. And of course, Ruth being Ruth, she’s shared her personal take on each one.
"Alpha-H Liquid Gold was one of the first beauty products that truly blew my mind when it came to results. It's an overnight wonder-worker. It gives an instantly brighter, smoother, glowier skin and all you need to do is swipe it on before bed!"
"My favourite gradual tanner. I think this may be the ONLY gradual tanner I've used on my body for many years! I find it foolproof and it truly does give a golden glow, not an orange one. Bravo Gatineau Golden Glow Gradual Tan and so glad to have you in my special beauty box!"
"Ah, my faithful Weleda friend: Skin Food Light.
Massage into dehydrated skin for a minute or so (it smells incredible) and you're left with a plumped, juicy, quenched face. Like a ripe fruit! The perfect end-of-summer skincare staple."
"Super Facialist Vitamin C Cleansing Oil is sublime. Proof that you don't need to spend ridiculous amounts of money to get a gorgeous-smelling luxury oil cleanser."
"Another absolute marvel, the Hada Labo Super Hydrating Lotion. A MASSIVE bottle of one of the most effective hydrating serums money can buy. Just slip it on beneath the moisturiser, or if you like to keep things light then straight before SPF and skip the moisturiser altogether. This beautiful product does all the heavy lifting!"
"The suit-all face cream to smother on top? Curél Intensive Moisture Care Facial Cream. OH MY GOD, I AM SPOILING YOU WITH THESE MOISTURISER OFFERINGS!"
"I am utterly fixated with rose products; I find them so comforting and love to travel with at least one amazing rosey treat. The Wild Rose Beauty Balm (Vegan) from Neal's Yard Remedies is one hell of a treat. Nourishing and soothing, this balm is brilliant on dry and rough skin but I also love to use it almost like a solid perfume, rubbing it all over my wrists so that I can continuously sniff at them! OH! This also makes an incredible make-shift moisturising mask when applied after cleansing in a good layer. You can massage in and then blot off any excess with a warm flannel. It's just lovely."
"There are three excellent exfoliants in the beauty box: Alpha-H Liquid Gold, a dynamite-level face mask (coming up!) and then these WICKEDLY good swipe-over pads from First Aid Beauty. These Facial Radiance Pads with Glycolic and Lactic Acids are gentle enough to use on sensitive skin."
"And here's the mask. This is not for the faint hearted, it's absolutely LASER-FOCUSED at getting in there, resurfacing the skin and giving truly instant smoothness and radiance. A proper problem-solver if you have dull, dry skin and need a fast-working pep-up! Peter Thomas Roth Pumpkin Mask was another of my early blogging finds. I was just wowed at how effective skincare products could actually be!"
"Erm, hi there slinky, silky sunscreen that feels virtually undetectable on the skin apart from the intense hit of hydration it imparts.
This is an absolute BEAUTY of a facial SPF. A joy to use. So, so chuffed to have this Ultra Violette Fave Fluid SPF 50+ Ultralight SKINSCREEN™ included in the beauty box - and it's worth £37! Almost covers the price of the box on its own!"
"...and then the Queen of Highlighters. Can I even describe VIEVE Skin Dew as a highlighter? It almost cheapens it! It's just the most delectable slick of sheen that's non-glittery and so amazingly grown-up. It looks like the sort of natural radiance only achieved by those people who do stuff like drink green shots and get up at 4.30am to jog. Why bother when you can buy a tube of this?!"
"All hail the absolute BOSS of all mind-transporting bath products, the Aromatherapy Associates Revive Morning Bath & Shower Oil. I swear by these magical little bottles of precious oil blends; the Revive genuinely makes you feel energised and uplifted and ready for the day. You need a TEENY amount at a time; pour into a bath that's finished running to get maximum benefits."
"I know, you can't believe it, can you? We're STILL going with the contents of the Latest in Beauty box! These REHAB. Mini Dose 1.0 Hair Oil capsules are perfect for travel. I am now fully dependent on them and cannot travel without. You get JUST enough oil to leave a silky, non-greasy sheen to your hair - so impressed with these. One of my favourite discoveries in recent years!"
"I cheered when Heights kindly agreed to include their new Hydrate⁺ Starter Pack sachets in the beauty box. I love Heights as a brand (they do an amazing, very high-end supplement to support brain health) and their new electrolytes are an instant fix if you're dehydrated. (My friend Hannah runs marathons a lot and uses electrolytes all the time: for me they're more for if I've been travelling or (ahem) if I’m little hangover."
"And you get all of them! So many things! Fourteen products in the box. I'm so over-excited by this. How do people who create boxes regularly manage to control themselves?!
If you're still unsure about the beauty box then I don't know what else to tell you. It is literally the box of beauty dreams."
That’s the full line-up: fourteen products, all chosen because they’ve earned a permanent place in Ruth’s world. It’s smart skincare, everyday heroes, and a few “wow” indulgences, all in one box. Honestly? It’s the sort of routine you’ll actually stick to. And if Ruth’s this excited about it, we think you will be too.
