Mr Viral
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I’m a big proponent of treating myself. I think everyone should have more little treats, all the time, always. A monthly beauty box subscription guarantees that once per month you will receive a little box of joy on your doorstep. Whether that joy is centered on sample sizes, full-size products, makeup, skin care, or bath and body items is largely dependent on the service you choose. But I tried a few months of the most popular services, and these are the best I’ve found. (Note that we’re still waiting on our Ipsy and BoxyCharm shipments to arrive, so look out for our thoughts on those and more popular services in a future update.)
Be sure to check out our related guides on the Best Subscription Boxes for Kids, Best Snack Boxes, and Best Meal Kit Subscriptions for more recommendations.
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Are Beauty Boxes Worth It?
WIRED: Beauty boxes are an excellent way to discover new products, and they usually offer excellent value compared to buying the items separately. You can’t put a price tag on the sheer dopamine rush of getting a present in the mail every month. (Or maybe in a literal sense, you can, but I still think it’s priceless.) Products that don’t work for you will make good gifts or donation items.
TIRED: Some beauty boxes have a whole lot of little environmentally unfriendly plastic bottles and tubes, which can be bulky and hard to recycle. You’ll likely receive some products that aren’t right for your hair or skin type, or just don’t work out. Most beauty boxes don’t allow for any customization—what you get is truly a surprise.
I reached out to popular services and asked to test at least one month’s box but ideally three months’ worth. I compared the value of the included items to what the box itself cost. I also took notes on the overall variety and likelihood of the average person being able to use them—weighing specialty products against those that would work for most people. And yes, I put all of these pretty little potions on my actual face and hair and skin. Please refrain from asking me about the state of my bathroom countertop at this trying time.
Note that some brands offer one-off boxes that are available for purchase outside of a subscription. I didn’t test these or consider them as part of the criteria for this guide.
Photograph: Louryn Strampe
Best for Trending ProductsAllure Beauty Box
To our sister site Allure: I admit I was not familiar with your game. My Allure Beauty Box was filled with three products that could almost complete a no-makeup-makeup look on their own: a full-size Nudestix blush-lipstick-combo, a full-size creamy Dear Midnight lip liner, and a glittery, vanilla-scented, full-size Beauty for Certain lip gloss. I tried on all three together and was immediately in love with the combination. I raised my eyebrow a bit at the included bar of Dove soap, but my skin was softer after the first use. There was a full-size under-eye cream that works well underneath makeup; a tiny jar of melty, creamy Banila Co cleansing balm; and a Red Flower palo santo shampoo (I’m not a fan of shampoo in beauty boxes because my neon-pink hair requires specific upkeep, but I can absolutely attest to this shampoo smelling good.) All in all, my box was valued at over $150.
Each beauty box includes at least six items, a little pamphlet with information on every single product, plus a coupon code that you can use if you decide to purchase a product on your own. You can’t see what you’re getting ahead of time, but every item in the box is handpicked by the editors at Allure. If you’re interested in a mix of full-sized and sample-sized products, and you want to know what’s next in beauty and skin care trends, I think this is an excellent option.
Plans and Pricing: The Allure Beauty Box costs $25 per month or $250 per year (less than $21 per box). There’s also a quarterly plan that drops the price to about $23 per box. There’s usually promotional pricing and a free gift for new members. Subscribers get access to the Member Store with special deals, exclusive products, and limited-edition bundles.
Photograph: Louryn Strampe
Best for Full-Size FanaticsNewBeauty TestTube Beauty Box
When I first received my NewBeauty TestTube, I was floored by the sheer weight of it. Every single product in the box was full-size. I received a cooling eye cream—perfect for the warm weather I’ve had lately—and a giant Grande Lash MD Serum, which I swear contains magic and witchcraft considering how long and lustrous my lashes have been looking. There was an EOS Cashmere Shave Oil—it only costs $8 at the drugstore, but I never would’ve purchased it for myself, and I’m a convert. There was a Wander Beauty On-the-Glow blush and highlight duo, which immediately went into my makeup bag. Not everything was up my alley—the Pour Moi rose mask was too scented for my taste, the Perfect Clean Scalp Scrub wasn’t right for my hair, and the Babor Collagen Ampoules made my skin feel nice, but I couldn’t tell if they were working or not. In total, though, my box would have cost $382 if I purchased everything separately. And I can guarantee that my friends will be happy to take the products I didn’t love off my hands.
Each box also includes a NewBeauty magazine which is fun to pore over while you wait for the various potions and products to absorb into your skin. There are also various promotions for the different included brands. You can’t see what you’re getting ahead of time, but the amount of items included varies by quarter, but boxes are always worth at least $350.
Plans and Pricing: $59 per quarter or $200 per year. You can cancel your subscription at any time, but note that you’ll have to email the brand to do it.
