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Whether you’re a skincare fanatic, love a good manicure, or are all about clean beauty, there’s a subscription beauty box for you. Delivered straight to your front door, these boxes contain a handful of either deluxe sample-size or full-size products. One of the best parts? You pay a lot less for the box than you would if you bought each product individually. That means this is a great (and affordable!) way to try new things.
Most of the best subscription beauty boxes are offered on either a monthly or quarterly basis. Depending on the one you sign up for, you can expect to receive everything from must-have basics like shampoo and face moisturizer to fun cosmetics like lipsticks and eyeliners. Oh, and some even come in a makeup bag you can reuse over and over again. Here, some of the very best subscription beauty boxes on the market.
Our Top Picks:
- Best Overall: Ipsy Glam Bag
- Best Affordable Option: Walmart Beauty Box
- Best for Brand Names: BirchBox
- Best for Vegan Products: Petite Vour
- Best Value: FabFitFun
- Best for Skincare: BeautyFIX by DermStore
- Best for Nail Polish: ORLY ColorPass
- Best for Women of Color: Cocotique Beauty Box
- Best for Lipstick: Lip Monthly
- Best for Korean Beauty Fans: FaceTory
1
Ipsy Glam Bag
Take a short quiz on your preferences, shopping habits, and other glam-related needs and you’ll receive five products each month that fit your personal profile. Sign up for the Glam Bag at $12 a month and those items will be sample size, or opt for the Glam Bag Plus for $28 a month and you’ll get full-size items. Past brands that have been highlighted include Tatcha, Bobbi Brown, and Origins.
2
Walmart Beauty Box
An affordable beauty box that gives you samples for each season? Yes, please! From shimmery bronzers for summer to hydrating moisturizers for winter, this option from Walmart is all about making the most of whatever time of year it is. It ships quarterly and is filled with drugstore staples. The best part? It’s only $7 per quarter.
One of the original subscription beauty boxes, Birchbox focuses on luxury haircare, skincare, and makeup from brands like Jane Iredale, Oribe, Amika, and more. When you subscribe, you’ll be asked to fill out a quick beauty questionnaire and provide info like what your skin type is, what type of makeup you love, and more. From there, you’ll receive a box of samples each month that are curated for your needs.
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4
Scentbird
Get a whiff of this! For just under $16 a month you can switch up your fragrance every 30 days. With your first order, you will receive a chic silver atomizer case. From there, you will be prompted to choose a new scent each month from a catalog of over 500 designer perfumes. Your selection will come in a trial-size vial that fits in the atomizer and is filled with about 140 sprays.
If nontoxic, cruelty-free products are a priority, this is the box for you. Each month, you’ll receive samples of products from vegan brands like Osea (an Oprah fave!), Lily Lolo, and Axiology. Be sure to take time to rate the products after trying them. If you do, you’ll rack up points that can be used to purchase full-size items.
6
BoxyCharm
Snag five full-size beauty products worth $215 for only $28 a month—what’s not to love about that?! But, there’s more—you’ll be sent notable brands like Nars, Sunday Riley, Tarte, and Laura Mercier. You also get control of what goes into your box. Each month, you’ll be able to choose from a number of options to ensure you love what you get.
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FabFitFun sends quarterly boxes for just under $50 per box—but they’re packed with six to eight full-size products worth up to $300. But you won’t just receive beauty goodies—you’ll also receive lifestyle items (think cozy socks or even cute wineglasses!). If you join on a quarterly basis, you can preselect one of the products included. Sign up for an annual membership and you can customize even more of the items you get.
If you’re skincare obsessed, look no further! Every month, this subscription will send you six or more deluxe samples of beloved skincare products from brands like Babor, Vichy, Dr. Brandt, and more. Plus, you’ll get exclusive access to discounts so you can purchase full-size versions of the stuff you fall in love with.
Each month, for $18, you’ll be excited to open a themed box filled with five full-size hair, makeup, and skincare products from brands like Korres, Elemis, and First Aid Beauty. But the perks don’t end there. You’ll also score access to exclusive sales and additional limited-edition boxes curated by cool beauty personalities.
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Look good and support other women in the process. This box features all indie and female-founded brands and is owned by Bili Balogun, who is a woman of color. The bi-monthly subscription includes five full-size products. From hand sanitizer to bold and bright eyeshadow palettes, each box will cover all your beauty needs.
A good manicure never goes out of style. Created by beloved nail brand ORLY, this membership offers four seasonal boxes for $36 each. Each shipment contains six of-the-moment polish shades, plus a bonus nail care item (like cuticle oil or a base coat). Considering that ORLY polishes retail for about $10 per bottle, the savings cannot be overstated.
Receive three plant-based skincare products to pamper your complexion with on a bi-monthly basis. A recent box included Votary’s Radiance Reveal Mask, Arcana’s Glasswing Ceramide Serum, and Arcana’s Nine Herbs Charm—which have a combined retail value of $205.
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Why We Love It
What to Consider
Created with women of color in mind, you’ll receive between five and eight full-size or deluxe sample-size beauty and self-care products each month if you sign up for this beauty box. The focus is primarily on female and BIPOC-founded brands—like Carol’s Daughter and Urban Hydration. Buy a single box for just over $30 or sign up for multi-month packages starting at $88.
Calling all lipstick lovers! For $15 a month, you can get four to five full-size lip products personalized to your skin tone. They come packaged in a cute, reusable makeup bag and have a retail value of over $50. This is perfect for the person who loves to try new lip shades but doesn’t want to be shelling out for multiple new full-priced products a month. Brands that are often highlighted include Mirabella, Cargo Cosmetics, and Naked Cosmetics.
Calling all face mask lovers! Korean beauty is known for having a plethora of sheet mask options and this box gives you access to them! In each quarterly box, you’ll get five to six sheet masks, along with an additional five to six skincare products—like pimple patches, toners, and such—for a retail value of $160.
Bethany Heitman
Bethany Heitman has spent 15 years producing content for women; she is the former editor-in-chief of PeopleStyle and has held senior leadership positions at Cosmopolitan and Seventeen. She currently lives in Brooklyn, New York