6 Spectacular PR Packages Unveiled: A UGC Creator's Journey Filled with Joy and Fashion Delights
There are a lot of perks to being a UGC creator, and the parcels are one of my favourites. Some weeks my doorstep looks like a second Christmas.
This is a running list of the brands that have sent me PR, from the early collaborations that started my journey to the beauty, fashion, jewellery and wellness names filling my shelves in 2026. Everything here was gifted, every word is my own, and it is all filmed and styled here in Buckinghamshire.
The short version
- An honest, disclosed record of the brands that have gifted Velena Lifestyle PR.
- It began with six brands and now spans beauty, fashion, jewellery, food, wellness and home.
- Gifted PR earns awareness; paid UGC gives you content you own and can run as ads.
- Velena Lifestyle creates UGC across every one of these categories, from indie labels to major beauty houses.
Want content like this for your brand? Get in touch or pick a package below.
How a love of fashion became Velena Lifestyle
I did not set out to build an agency. It started the way a lot of these things do, with a love of fashion, a phone, and a habit of filming everything I tried.
I began sharing content as a creator and posting the brands I genuinely liked, and slowly a community grew around it. The more I created, the more I noticed what actually worked: not glossy, perfect adverts, but real, relatable content that looked like a friend's recommendation.
Brands started sending PR, then asking me to make content they could use themselves. That was the moment Velena Lifestyle was born. Today it is a UK social media and content agency based in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, and I have been lucky enough to be featured in Women's Health and to create content for brands from independent labels to names like L'Oréal and Estée Lauder.
The mission has not changed since day one: content that feels real and actually converts. If you want to see it in action, browse my UGC portfolio or read about the social media management we run for brands.
Beauty and fashion UGC, made for your brand
This is exactly the kind of content I create for beauty, skincare and fashion brands. Pick a package and send your product, or get in touch for something bespoke.
Browse the full beauty UGC portfolio and fashion UGC portfolio.
Gifted PR vs paid UGC: what is the difference?
Both put your product in front of an audience, but they do very different jobs. Here is how I explain it to brands.
| Gifted PR | Paid UGC | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Product sent to a creator as a gift | Content you commission and pay for |
| What you get | Organic posts and exposure, at the creator's discretion | Owned, ad-ready video you can use across your channels |
| Disclosure | Marked as gifted, per ASA | Marked as an ad or paid, per ASA |
| Best for | Awareness and building relationships | Performance, paid ads and product pages |
The first six PR packages
The collaborations that kicked everything off, from art-led fashion to sustainable everyday swaps. Rewritten, but every one of these genuinely earned its place.
GalArtsy
GalArtsy turns fine art into something you can actually wear. They sent me four pieces: a Van Gogh denim jacket, matching trainers, a jumper covered in those iconic brushstrokes and an avant-garde corset top. Wearing them feels like carrying a gallery on my shoulders, and they were some of the first pieces that made me fall for art-led fashion.
Realta the Label
Realta the Label is jewellery with meaning. My favourites were the Cosmic Hoop Earrings, the elegant Chiara Hoops and the Irish Blessing Bracelet, a delicate nod to Irish culture that I still reach for. The craftsmanship and attention to detail are beautiful.
Code VELENA for 10% off
Cheeky Panda
Cheeky Panda won my eco-conscious heart. Their Bamboo Bestseller Bundle is full of sustainable everyday essentials, from ultra-soft bamboo toilet tissue to gentle facial and pocket tissues. Made from renewable bamboo, they have quietly become a staple in my home, with no compromise on quality.
Sum of I
Sum of I makes accessories that are as clever as they are pretty. The Fulton Links Bracelet and Biome Hoop Earrings, both in gold, are showstoppers, and they arrive in reusable pouches that transform into a cardholder with a leather-feel chain. Thoughtful, sustainable design through and through.
Code VELENALIFESTYLE for 10% off
Ohne
Ohne slid into my DMs with the loveliest message and sent me their Raspberry Sorbet High-Waist Period Pants from their pink line. I had wanted to try period pants for ages, and paired with my cup they have made that time of the month genuinely worry-free.
House of Cutie
House of Cutie menstrual cups come in a range of sizes, beautifully packaged in sustainable materials with a pouch for each cup. If you want the honest detail, I wrote a whole piece on my three-month switch to a cup.
Read my menstrual cup journeyMore brands, more PR packages
Since this post first went live, a lot more has landed on the doorstep. Here are the beauty, fashion, jewellery, food and wellness brands gifting me PR in 2026, grouped by what they do.
Luxury beauty and skincare
The luxury houses that have trusted me with their newest launches this year.
L'Oréal
I love L'Oréal because their products always leave my hair and skin feeling healthy, polished and effortlessly put together. From the Age Perfect serum to the Glass Skin mask, they are the products I reach for when I want to feel my best.
Estée Lauder
Estée Lauder skincare and makeup are some of my favourite easy products. They always leave my skin feeling refreshed, hydrated and ready for the day.
Armani Beauty
I love Armani Beauty for its luxurious formulas that make every makeup look feel elegant and effortless.
YSL Beauty
YSL Beauty sent me a mascara in the most stunning box and my jaw dropped. It is one of my favourites for adding a touch of luxury to my routine, and the box is now a keepsake.
Lancôme
Lancôme always leaves my skin feeling nourished with that healthy, natural glow I love. The serum arrived with a refillable design, so you keep the pretty bottle and simply swap in a new refill.
Bobbi Brown
Receiving Bobbi Brown was a real milestone and I could not believe it. I love them for makeup that enhances my features and gives my skin a radiant finish.
See the content I create for beauty brands in my beauty and skincare UGC portfolio.
Everyday beauty and skincare
The fun, easy brands that earn a permanent spot in my routine.
Maybelline New York
Maybelline is my go-to for everyday makeup because it gives me that fresh, natural look without ever feeling heavy.
The Beauty Crop
The Beauty Crop was such a lovely surprise. The bag was so cute and full of the cutest makeup goodies, and I was amazed by how much they included. Their products are easy to use and genuinely perform.
Sassy Saints
I love Sassy Saints because their skincare is fun, effective and always makes me feel like the best version of myself.
More everyday beauty content lives in my beauty and skincare UGC portfolio.
Hair
The haircare that genuinely changed how I style and care for my hair.
Dyson
Dyson has completely changed my hair routine. I love the scalp treatment, it has really helped soothe my scalp.
MONDAY Haircare
I love MONDAY Haircare because my hair always feels soft, shiny and fresh after every wash. The packaging is so cute and the products are great.
Hair UGC sits within my beauty and skincare UGC portfolio.
Fashion
The labels building out my wardrobe one delivery at a time.
Peppermayo
Peppermayo is one of my favourite fashion brands because their pieces always make me feel confident, feminine and effortlessly stylish. They send me a package every month and I am so glad I could build my dream wardrobe with them, especially their dresses.
Also gifted: Micas, my go-to for chic everyday fashion that looks elevated but still feels comfortable enough to wear all day.
See fashion content in my fashion and clothing UGC portfolio.
Jewellery and accessories
The finishing touch that elevates everything.
Abbott Lyon
Abbott Lyon jewellery is my favourite finishing touch because it instantly elevates even the simplest outfit. I have built a whole collection, as they sent me a package every month. It felt like Christmas every month.
See jewellery content in my jewellery UGC portfolio.
Food and drink
The brands that make eating and drinking well genuinely easy.
Itsu
Itsu is perfect for busy days when I want something quick, healthy and genuinely delicious. My jaw dropped when I saw the huge box full of noodles at my door, I felt like a child.
Also gifted: Air Up, which turns drinking water into something I actually look forward to, with so many flavours including my favourite mojito. And HelloFresh, which makes cooking so much easier and has helped me discover new recipes I now make regularly, with a lovely affiliate programme too.
See food content in my food and drink UGC portfolio.
Health and wellness
The brands that support how I move, recover and feel day to day.
Sweet Bee Organics
Sweet Bee Organics stands out for its gentle, natural approach to wellness, with products that feel good to use every day.
Also gifted: Ultrahuman, whose ring gives me helpful insight into my sleep, recovery and overall wellbeing, and I genuinely do not like to take it off. Prozis, which fits perfectly into my active lifestyle and makes it easier to stay on top of my nutrition and fitness goals. And AKT, which keeps me feeling fresh through the day and feels more like skincare than deodorant.
See wellness content in my wellness and fitness UGC portfolio.
Home and sustainable living
The thoughtful swaps that make everyday routines feel a little better.
Fussy
Fussy is one of my favourite sustainable swaps because it works brilliantly while helping reduce unnecessary plastic waste.
Also gifted: Purdy & Figg, which makes cleaning feel a little more luxurious with beautiful scents and natural ingredients that leave my home feeling fresh, lovely for anyone who wants a more natural home with fewer harsh chemicals.
See home and lifestyle content in my home interiors UGC portfolio.
UGC and PR myths, busted
A few things brands often get wrong about gifting and creator content.
Ongoing social media management
PR gifting gets product in front of a creator. Ongoing management keeps your brand showing up. Here are the monthly plans.
Rolling monthly, 2 months notice to cancel. Compare all tiers on the social media management page.
PR packages and UGC: common questions
Are these brand collaborations paid or gifted?
Can my brand send products for UGC content?
What is the difference between gifted PR and paid UGC?
What product categories does Velena Lifestyle create UGC for?
Where is Velena Lifestyle based?
Does Velena Lifestyle only work with big beauty brands?
Velena Nikolova
Velena is a UGC creator, lifestyle influencer and co-founder of Velena Lifestyle, a UK social media and content agency based in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. She has been featured in Women's Health and creates user-generated content for beauty, fashion, jewellery, food and wellness brands, from independent labels to names like L'Oréal and Estée Lauder. Her work centres on content that feels real and actually converts.
References and further reading
- Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), guidance on recognising ads and disclosing gifted content. asa.org.uk
- Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), social media endorsements: a guide for influencers. gov.uk
Have a product you would love to see created?
Whether you want to gift PR or commission paid UGC that converts, I would love to hear from you.