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I am a big one Proponent of self-medication. I think everyone should always, always, behave a little more. A monthly beauty box subscription guarantees that once every month you will receive a small box of joy on your doorstep. Whether that pleasure is focused on sample sizes, full-size products, makeup, skin care, or bath and body items largely depends on the service you choose. But I’ve tried a range of different services over the months, and these are the best I’ve found.
Don’t forget to check out our related guide Best subscription box for kids, The best snack boxAnd Best meal kit subscription For more recommendations.
Updated December 2024: We added Ipsy, Boxycharm and LuxSB to our list of recommended services. We checked accuracy throughout.
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What is beauty box worth?
Wired: Beauty boxes are a great way to discover new products and they usually offer great value compared to buying the items separately. You can’t put a price tag on the sheer dopamine rush of getting a gift in the mail every month. (Or maybe literally, you can, but I still think it’s priceless.) Products that don’t work for you would make good gift or donation items.
Tired: Some beauty boxes contain large amounts of environmentally unfriendly plastic bottles and tubes, which are bulky and difficult to recycle. You’ll likely find some products that aren’t right or don’t work for your hair or skin type. 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 price of the included items to the price of the box. I also took note of the overall variety and the likelihood that the average person would be able to use them – weighing against specific products that would work for most people. And yes, I put all these cute little potions on my actual face and hair and skin. Please refrain from asking me about the condition of my bathroom countertop during this difficult time.
Note that some brands offer one-off boxes that are available for purchase outside of the subscription. I have not tested them or considered them part of the criteria for this guide
