A strong advocate for personal indulgence, a particular writer believes that everyone should regularly enjoy small treats. A monthly beauty box subscription ensures the arrival of a delightful package at one’s doorstep each month. Depending on the service chosen, these boxes may contain sample sizes, full-size products, makeup, skincare, or bath and body items. After trying various popular services for several months, the writer identified the top recommendations. (The evaluations for Ipsy and BoxyCharm are pending, with updates expected in the future.)
Readers are encouraged to explore related guides on the best subscription boxes for kids, snack boxes, and meal kit subscriptions for more recommendations.
In exploring whether beauty boxes are worthwhile, WIRED suggests that they offer an excellent way to discover new products and generally provide good value compared to purchasing items separately. The excitement of receiving a monthly package adds to this offering. Products that do not suit the recipient can be given as gifts or donated. However, some downsides include the environmental impact of small plastic packaging and the possibility of receiving products that are unsuitable for one’s hair or skin type. Additionally, most boxes do not offer customization, making the contents a surprise.
To provide thorough evaluations, the writer reached out to popular services to test at least one month’s box, preferably three. They compared the value of the items included to the cost of the box, considered the variety, and assessed the likelihood of the products being usable by the average person. Specialty products were weighed against more universally applicable ones. All products were personally tested on the writer’s face, hair, and skin. It is noted that some brands offer one-time purchase boxes outside of a subscription, though these were not included in this evaluation.
