Boots Launches Free Virtual Beauty Consultations This Week, and We Got an Exclusive First Look

Boots is turning its attention to the virtual world with a new 1:1 beauty consultation service. As of 8 June, you'll be able to speak with an experienced beauty specialist either on the phone or via video call to discuss any beauty questions and queries you have — entirely for free. And we were lucky enough to be one of the first to try the new consultation service.

The service comes amid the coronavirus pandemic, which has prompted brick-and-mortar retailers to shift gears onto digital platforms. Of course, many Boots stores have remained open during lockdown to continue to offer pharmacy services and offer essential items, but for those wishing to peruse the beauty aisles for new products, online is where it's at.

Appointments can be booked on the Boots website and caters to anyone looking for personalised advice and product recommendations. You'll have the choice of three different 15-minute appointments: skin care, cosmetics, and self-care. So whether you're looking for the next buzzy line-smoothing ingredient, a new foundation to try, or bath-time treat suggestions, the team of Boots experts will be able to give you 1:1 advice, without needing to scroll through endless online reviews. And with over 40 beauty brands — including Huda Beauty, The Ordinary, Morphe, Fenty Beauty, and Ole Henriksen — launching in Boots over the past 18 months, it's fair to say there won't be a lack of products to recommend.

My consultation was with Boots beauty educator Charlotte Horne, who was not only a total beauty product fanatic like me but also incredibly open and friendly. Unlike other more traditional consultations, Boots (and Horne) have found that sweet spot between a professional appointment and an informal set up. It felt like a video chat with a friend who has a beauty recommendation for anything, rather than giving off any sales-pitch vibes.

During my 1:1, I asked for recommendations on eye creams and concealers, which will help to hide my dark circles without making my skin even drier. Horne first asked me to chat through products I'd previously tried and what formulas I liked. She then talked through her product recommendations and tips for using them. We also spoke about price points, and as Boots stocks brands that range form inexpensive to high-end, there's an option for whatever your budget.

Following the consultation, I was sent a personalised, bullet-point breakdown of each product we talked about (and why Horne had recommended them) with direct product purchase links included at the bottom, with absolutely no obligation or pressure to buy.

The Boots virtual consultation service is ideal for anyone wanting to discover new, tried-and-tested products without having to leave the house. The platform is incredibly easy-to-use and is accessible to many, especially those with disability or access issues, who might otherwise have difficulty getting the same level of help in-store, post-lockdown.

The Boots virtual consultations is one of the few great digital experiences that has come as a result of the pandemic, one that I hope will continue well beyond when lockdown restrictions are lifted.

The Boots online beauty consultation service launches 8 June, and appointment slots can be booked here.