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i am big I am in favor of treating myself. I think everyone should have more little treats all the time, all the time. A monthly beauty box subscription guarantees that you will receive a little box of joy at your doorstep once a month. Whether that joy centers on sample sizes, full-size products, makeup, skin care, or bath and body products depends largely on the service you choose. But I’ve tried using different services for a few months and these are the best I’ve found.
Be sure to check out our related guides The best subscription boxes for kids, The best snack boxesand Best Meal Kit Subscriptions for more recommendations.
Updated December 2024: We added Ipsy, Boxycharm and LuxSB to the list of recommended services. We also checked for accuracy throughout.
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Are beauty boxes worth it?
RELATED: Beauty boxes are a great way to discover new products, and they usually offer great value compared to buying items separately. You can’t put a price tag on the sheer dopamine rush of getting a gift in the mail every month. (Or literally, 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 contain lots of small, environmentally friendly plastic bottles and tubes that are bulky and difficult to recycle. Chances are you’ll buy some products that aren’t right for your hair or skin type, or just don’t work. Most beauty boxes don’t allow for any customization – what you get is a real surprise.
I reached out to popular services and asked to try at least one month’s worth of boxes, but ideally three months’ worth. I compared the cost of the included items to the cost of the box. I also took notes on the overall variety and the likelihood that the average person could use them – weighing specific products that might work for most people. Yes, I put all these lovely little potions on my actual face, hair and skin. Please feel free to ask me about the condition of my bathroom counter during this trying time.
Note that some brands offer one-time boxes that can be purchased outside of a subscription. I have not tested these or considered them part of the criteria for this guide.
