Frequently asked questions

To apply to join Boots Volunteers, go to Register Now. Under 'Register Now', enter your information in the boxes provided.

In order to register, you must read through and agree to the Terms and Conditions.

Absolutely! To recommend someone else, you can direct them straight to the 'Register Now' page using this link Register Now.

Alternatively, go to Portal and sign in to your profile. On your homepage, locate 'Things You Can Do' and select 'Refer A Friend'. Here, you'll need to enter both yours and your friend's information.

Your friend will then receive an email with an invitation to join Boots Volunteers. They'll need to select 'Join' from the email and complete the sign-up process.

Boots Volunteers is only open to those who are aged 18 and over.

Anyone can take part in our studies. When we have a study which you may be suitable for, you'll be invited to complete a short screening questionnaire to check if you meet the criteria for that study.

Completing the survey doesn't guarantee you a place on the study, as this is determined by various factors such as age, gender, product usage and current skin concerns. These criteria vary for each study depending on the product being tested.

As a member of Boots Volunteers, you'll have the chance to test a range of Boots products which could include skincare, cosmetics, sun care and more.

We exclusively test Boots products, but this can include items from our exclusive ranges such as No7, Liz Earle, Soap & Glory and other brands.

You may also be asked to take part in research surveys, on-site workshops, online focus groups or interviews. All of these help us understand you better and create products you'll love.

To ensure our products are inclusive and provide great results for everyone, we have a diverse testing panel that allows us to trial products on a wide range of skin tones, types and ages. This means that, at any given time, we're looking to address particular gaps in our panel.

Boots Volunteers is extremely popular and we receive hundreds of requests each month to join. Unfortunately, we can't say yes to everyone.

We need your address to send products out to you for testing.

If you live within 30 miles of our testing centre in Beeston, Nottingham, you'll be eligible to take part in on-site research studies, which means you can be invited to join us for paid testing studies, interviews and focus groups.

Whilst there's no limit to how many studies you can take part in, generally, you'll only be allowed on one study at a time.

Some of our studies require a short rest period once completed, which means you won't be able to sign up to other studies during that time.

SurveyMonkey is a web-based platform which allows us to create our feedback questionnaires.

After you've entered your details on the register page, you'll get an email asking you to activate your account. You won't be fully registered on the panel and won't receive study invitations until you've done so.

Click 'Activate Account' in the email and follow the instructions. You'll be asked to complete a short survey to provide additional information about yourself, including about your skin, the products you use and more.

This will allow us to match you with studies that fit your profile.

If you're having any issues applying, please get in touch with us and we'll try our best to help where we can.

When you sign up, you must use an email that's not already being used for an account on our system. We require every member of Boots Volunteers to have their own unique email address.

Unfortunately, we don't allow Boots employees to join. This policy is in place to keep feedback independent, helping us avoid any potential bias in our product testing.

If your employment status with Boots changes, and you're no longer associated with the company, you're welcome to reapply at that time.

Your confirmation email should arrive shortly after you sign up. Please check your junk, spam and trash folders in case the email has ended up in there. If that's the case, once you've located the 'Activate Account' email, please add bootsvolunteers@boots.co.uk to your trusted senders list to make sure you receive all our emails in the future.

If you've received the confirmation email but the link isn't working, please get in touch with us.

If you've previously registered to the Boots Volunteer panel using the same email address, you won't be allowed to sign up again. Please check your inbox for the 'Activate Account' email to complete the registration for that email.

If you previously activated the account and wish to access the account created with that email address, please select 'Forgot your password?' at the sign in page. You'll be asked to enter your details and you'll receive an email with instructions on how to reset your password.

Alternatively, please sign up with a different email address and let us know you'd like to remove the account associated with the other email address, as you're only allowed to have one account per person.

You can check if you're successfully registered to Boots Volunteers by logging in. If you're able to log in, then your profile is activated. If you need to reset your password, please select 'Forgot your password?' at the log in page and follow the instructions to reset it. If this doesn't work then your account may not be activated. Please get in touch with us if you're unsure.

Once you've completed your profile and fully registered, we'll let you know by email when we have a study which you may be suitable for. You'll also be able to see these on your account homepage, so log in and check back regularly to find the latest studies.

If you'd like to sign up to a study, complete the online screening questionnaire to see if you're eligible to take part. Completing the questionnaire doesn't guarantee you a place on the study. If selected, you'll receive your product in the post. We don't send you products unless you're taking part in a study.

Our studies often have between 50 - 400 product samples available which are allocated to those who best fit the study criteria. While you may be suitable, limited spaces may prevent everyone from taking part due to high rates of interest in our studies.

We use Royal Mail to send our products to you.

If you live within 30 miles of the Boots Evaluation Centre in Beeston, Nottingham, we'll let you know of on-site study opportunities by email. If you'd like to sign up to a study, complete the online screening questionnaire to see if you're eligible to take part. Completing the questionnaire doesn't guarantee you a place on the study. If you're suitable, you may be given a slot on the study depending on the number of spaces available.

Only those who live within 30 miles of the Boots Evaluation Centre can take part in our on-site studies. If you live further than this, you'll only be invited to take part in home user testing studies. This is because the payment for on-site studies includes a fixed rate amount to cover travel expenses within the 30-mile radius.

Each member of Boots Volunteers has a unique identification number. Your panelist ID can be found on any email communications we send to you.

You can update your address at any time by following these steps:

  1. Log in to your account
  2. Go to your profile
  3. Select the 'Update Profile' option.Within your profile, you can edit both your 'Basic Information' (such as your name and address) and 'Additional Attributes' (including details about your skin sensitivity, skincare products you use, facial treatments, skin concerns etc.)
  4. Select 'Basic Information'
  5. Enter your new address
  6. Click 'Continue' and then exit the survey

Alternatively, you can update your address in the screening questionnaire.

You may not be receiving email invitations for the following reasons:

  • You may be in a 'washout' period after taking part in a study
  • The studies we're running might not be suitable for you/you might not fit the criteria
  • Our emails may be landing in your spam or junk inboxes

If you're still unsure why you might not be receiving any invitations, please get in touch with us and we'll be happy to look into this for you.

Products you're sent to test are for your personal use only and shouldn't be passed onto anyone else unless you're told otherwise. As a member of Boots Volunteers, you're prohibited from offering a test product to any other person.

Feel free to contact us at any time. We're open from 08:00 to 17:00, Monday to Friday. If you contact us outside of these hours, you'll receive a response during our next business hours. If we're not available to answer the phone, please leave a voicemail and we'll get back to you.

Phone us on: 0115 959 4158

Email us at: bootsvolunteers@boots.co.uk

You can opt out of being part of Boots Volunteers at any time by using the unsubscribe link in your account portal or contacting us via email. Your membership and participation are voluntary, and you can choose not to participate at any point. If you decide to withdraw or are removed from the panel, your personally identifiable information will be deleted from the database.

The products sent to you will be in blank plastic or glass packaging (with no branding). Your product will have a label on with the study number, product name and any reference numbers we may use to identify the product.

As part of our product development, we carry out studies at our testing centre in Beeston, Nottingham where we have a range of high-tech devices that allow us to look at various aspects of the skin in closer detail and gather objective measurements. Not only does this help us develop new products, but it also ensures our claims are backed up by real, scientific evidence.

You mustn't share any details of the products you test with anyone else, under any circumstances, including posting about them on social media.

To become a member of Boots Volunteers, you must agree to our terms and conditions. If you share any details of the products with anyone other than the staff at the Boots Evaluation Centre, you may be removed from the panel.

Only our on-site studies involve medical restrictions which may prevent you from taking part. We screen for the following medical conditions due to the possible effects these may have whilst on the study:

  • Cancer
  • Allergies
  • Skin conditions (including psoriasis, rosacea, dermatitis and acne)
  • Diabetes
  • Sensitivity to light (including migraines and epilepsy)

Whilst there's a very low risk to you or your baby, the products being tested are still under development so we do not test on volunteers who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

We will include a list of the ingredients when you receive the product. Please check the ingredients carefully and let us know if you've previously experienced a reaction or have an allergy to an ingredient (or similar ingredient) in the product.

Most of our products are suitable for vegans. However, if this is something you're concerned about, please check the ingredient list before testing or get in touch if you have any queries. If you're unable to test the product because of this, please let us know.

We do not test on animals in any way, shape or form during our testing.

Our products are still under development, so we can't fully guarantee there won't be any side effects (this may include redness, tingling, itchiness, etc.). Every precaution is taken to minimise the risk of any reactions through raw material assessments and safety profiling.

If you experience a reaction (including redness, itchiness, tingling, etc.) that you find uncomfortable while testing a product, you should stop using it immediately, and if required, seek medical assistance.

In each feedback questionnaire, you'll have the opportunity to let us know that you've had a reaction and if you had to stop using the product. If you feel you need to contact us before you can complete the feedback questionnaire, then please get in touch.

Yes, you're able to keep the products you test once the study has ended. There's no need to return products to us. For studies where we require anything back, you'll be sent a postage bag and pre-paid enevelope.

Feel free to keep the product until the expiry date (which can be found on the label on the product) and then dispose of it along with your household waste.

Expiry dates are clearly labelled on the product as we can't guarantee the safety or effectiveness of the test product once this date has passed. Once it's past its expiry date, please dispose of it along with your household waste.

Once the products have launched, you'll be notified in our newsletter. It can take anywhere from 6 months to 2 years for a product to launch. Please keep a note of the study number (which starts with a 'U') until then and get in touch with us.

If you haven't received your product in the post yet, please check your inbox for an email with tracking information from Royal Mail and use this to check the status of your parcel. If you're concerned about not receiving the product in time, please get in touch.

If your product doesn't arrive, please let us know in your first feedback questionnaire, but note that we can't guarantee we will be able to send a replacement sample in time.

Please check your junk or spam folders in case it's ended up in there.

If you're no longer able to test the product (e.g. because of a change in circumstance, illness etc.) please let us know in your first feedback questionnaire or get in touch with us. We completely understand that circumstances can change, and you're free to withdraw from the study at any point.

It's fine to take your product sample on holiday. Most of our samples are under 100ml and can be taken in your hand luggage.

Please let us know at your earliest opportunity if your product has arrived damaged, broken, has leaked or is missing from the parcel. While we often have spare samples and may be able to send a replacement out, we can't always guarantee we can send a replacement.

If you need to cancel your appointment, please let us know at your earliest opportunity by phone, text or email. You can also cancel your appointments by logging into your account, going to 'Upcoming Schedule', selecting the calendar icon to edit your appointments and selecting 'I wish to cancel my participation in this study'.

We ask for as much notice as possible, although we understand that things come up on the day. If that's the case, please let us know.

You'll receive a text reminder the evening before your appointment where you'll be asked to confirm if you're still planning to attend.

If the study involves taking images at any point, you'll be asked to sign an image consent form at your first appointment. Your images will only be used if you consent. Any images taken might be used for marketing purposes.

We'll let you know of any clothing requirements in the study information sent to you before your appointment. Generally, you should come in clothing you feel comfortable in and ideally wear something loose-fitting to make taking measurements easier.

If you're participating in an SPF study, you'll be required to remove the clothing from your upper body and wear a gown provided by the study evaluator.

Our studies at the Evaluation Centre may involve subjective assessment and/or objective assessment.

Subjective assessments involve sharing personal opinions and thoughts about a product.

Objective assessments involve measurable, quantifiable data which is free from personal thoughts, opinions and bias. We gather this by taking measurements using high-tech equipment.

We carry out extensive testing on the Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of our sun care products. We have a range of specialist equipment and methods which allow us to assess the quality and level of protection provided by the products.

These types of studies involve exposing your skin to simulated sunlight with and without a test product on multiple small areas (approx 1cm2) of the back. To qualify for these types of studies you must have fair skin and an area of the back which has no freckles, moles or tattoos.

Focus groups involve taking part in a discussion with other people about a product before it's launched or providing feedback on concepts, ideas, campaigns, packaging, etc. Focus groups last between 60 and 90 minutes.

You may be able to change your appointment if there are other slots still available. To change your appointment, go to 'Upcoming Schedule' and select the calendar icon next to your appointments. Then select 'I wish to change my current session by reviewing the available sessions and making a new choice'. If no slots are available you'll see the message 'Sorry, there are no sessions available at this time'

If you're taking part in a home user study, we don't offer payment.

However, if you're participating in an on-site study you'll receive a compensation payment which is calculated specifically for that study, taking into account things like the number of visits required, the number of measurements taken, etc. This amount also covers travel expenses which is a flat rate amount that accounts for volunteers travelling within 30 miles of the Evaluation Centre.

Payments for on-site studies can range from £50 to £400, depending on the study, and you'll find out details of the amount before signing up.

You'll receive payment once the study has finished. If you've completed the full study you'll receive the full payment, but if you've only completed part of the study (i.e. you were unable to attend all appointments), your payment amount will be changed to reflect this. You'll be notified if there's any change to the payment amount.

You can check your balance by logging in to your Boots Volunteers account. Once signed in, scroll down on the homepage until you see 'Rewards' and then select 'Redeem'. Here, you'll be able to see your balance. If the balance isn't what you think it should be, please get in touch with us.

If you've completed an on-site study with us, an online survey (no product) or won a prize in a prize draw, you'll be paid directly into your Boots Volunteers account. This will appear as credits in your account which need to be withdrawn onto a pre-paid Mastercard giftcard.

  1. Once you've completed a paid activity, your account will be credited with the payment
  2. To access your rewards, sign in to your Boots Volunteers account
  3. Scroll down on the homepage until you see 'Rewards', then select the 'Redeem' button
  4. Your current total (or balance) will be displayed at the top. If you've not yet completed any paid activity, this will be £0.00. If you've completed a paid activity, you should expect to see the total amount in your balance. Please note, if you've previously been paid for an activity and haven't yet withdrawn the funds, you'll see the cumulative balance
  5. You can withdraw however much you'd like (all or part of your total credit amount) to a pre-paid Mastercard, or you can keep the credits in your account for later (you can withdraw credits at any point)

Each study has different restrictions for eating and drinking while in the Evaluation Centre, depending on the length of your appointments. We'll let you know before your appointment when you can eat and/or drink.

Generally, you won't be allowed to drink caffeine because our instrumental devices that we use for testing are extremely sensitive to changes (i.e. caffeine can cause the moisture levels in your skin to change) which can affect the measurements taken.

If you’re expected to be in the Evaluation Suit for a long period of time, we will provide lunch and refreshments for you to cater to any dietary requirements. If you have lunch provided, this will be in your Study Information. However, you’ll only be allowed to eat and/or drink at specified times. The study evaluator will let you know when you can do so. If your visit is shorter, you may not be allowed to eat or drink at any point during the study depending on the study restrictions, this will be outlined in the Study Information.

The facilities at the Evaluation Centre include:

WiFi, magazine, changing facilities, lockers for personal belonging and toilets.

We recommend bringing something to keep you occupied during the study such as a book, tablet, laptop, headphones (if you want to listen to music or watch anything), smartphone or knitting/sewing etc.

The Evaluation Suite is a controlled environment where the temperature and humidity are standardised, so they don't affect the measurements taken during the study. There may be a period before the study starts called an 'acclimatisation period' to allow you to adjust to the environment. This means we can rule out any changes in the skin which could be caused by the environment. You won't be able to leave the building during your appointment.

Unfortunately, we don't have the facilities to accommodate any additional visitors at the Evaluation Centre (this includes your friends and/or family/children). If you need support from a friend or family member to get to the Evaluation Centre (i.e. to drive you to your appointment), please make them aware they have to wait outside the building in Car Park E if they wish to wait for you until the end of your appointment.

Yes, you can use your mobile phone at your appointment, as long as it doesn't interfere with the study in any way. If you need to take a personal phone call, listen to music or watch anything, please bring your own headphones to avoid disturbing the study evaluator.

We have a no smoking policy at all times whilst at your appointment which includes cigarettes, E-Cigarettes and vapes.

Please use Car Park E, which is our nearest car park located next to the Evaluation Centre. You'll need to follow the signs and walk from the car park to the building.

At your appointment(s), we'll ask you to complete some documentation which could include a consent form, medical form and a compliance form (follow-up visits only). The study evaluator will guide you through what's needed and you'll use an iPad to sign an electronic form on DocuSign.

You'll be sent a copy of the signed documents to your email address for your records.

When you arrive at the Evaluation Centre, please enter through the double doors. Follow the signs guiding you to the Evaluation Suite where you'll be welcomed by the study evaluator and asked to sign in on the iPad. Then, take a seat and the evaluator will be with you shortly.