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It's like a present from you, to you.
Everyone loves receiving packages — and that's a fact. The joy of seeing the mailman walk up to the door with a package is almost Pavlovian, and let's be real, the best kind of packages to get are the ones you totally forgot about. Subscription boxes are the best way to experience the unboxing pleasure of your favorite gift-giving holiday every single month.
If you love testing out the latest false eyelash trends and are constantly in need of a new lip gloss (they're so easy to misplace!) you'll want to check out beauty subscription boxes. Perhaps you've seen your favorite influencer post about their favorite subscription, or maybe you have a friend who raves about her monthly box and is constantly showing off her new finds. They're onto something — a monthly beauty subscription box is one of the best ways to explore new brands, stock up on products at a discount, and test out samples before investing in full-size items. And if you've been meaning to curb your spending, add a makeup subscription box to your Christmas wishlist. Hint: They make great gifts for your friends, too.
Here are a couple things to consider as you pick out the best makeup subscription box to try out.
We've rounded up the best makeup subscription boxes to help you find the perfect one. Here are our top picks.
Type of product: Makeup, Skincare
Brands you might receive: Benefit Cosmetics, Cocokind, First Aid Beauty, Item Beauty
Each month your five samples (one of which you get to select!) arrive in an adorable, collectable makeup bag. Once you receive your goodies, you'll rate what Ipsy sent you and they'll take that feedback into account for next month's shipment.
Product size: 8mL bottle (about 120 sprays)
Subscription plans: $16.95/month, $8.47/month for your first month
Brands you might receive: Gucci, Prada, Marc Jacobs, Versace
Can't commit to buying a full bottle of a new perfume? Enter Scentbird, the subscription that lets you wear designer spritzes on a budget. Take a quick quiz (Feminine or masculine fragrances? Warm or fresh? Sophisticated or playful?) and let the site analyze your answers — they'll give you personalized recommendations for your next fragrance. You'll get to test out a new fragrance for a month and see how the perfume interacts with your unique pH levels and body chemistry.
Type of product: Makeup, Skincare
Subscription plans: $27.99/month for the Base box, $35/month for the Premium box
Brands you might receive: Too Faced, Wander Beauty, Glow Recipe, Rare Beauty
Yes, you read that right — Boxycharm will send you an entire box of full-size products every month. This particular box tends to have more makeup than skincare or other beauty products, so if that is what you're searching for, this is the box for you. You'll be able to upgrade your box with BoxyLuxe to get 3 extra full-size products for an additional $24.99.
Type of product: Skincare, Makeup
Product Size: 5-8 full-size products
Subscription plans: $40/every other month, $32 for your first box
Brands you might receive: EM Cosmetics, COSrx, Eyeko, Gerard Cosmetics
Every 2 months you'll receive a box of full-sized products from indie, woman-owned beauty brands that you might not have heard of before. It's the perfect way to test out new brands while supporting female-owned businesses.
Type of product: Skincare, Makeup
Product size: At least 3 full-size and 3 deluxe samples
Subscription plans: $23/month, $16 for your first month
Brands you might receive: Sunday Riley, Rare Beauty, Elemis, Milk Makeup
This box is a real treat, because each product is editor-tested and approved. You'll be able to get out of your beauty comfort zone with popular, award-winning skincare and makeup products that you might not have otherwise been able to try.
Type of product: Skincare, Makeup
Product size: 2-6 items in full and travel sizes
Brands you might receive: Oribe, Kiehl's, Stila Cosmetics, Sunday Riley
One of the perks of Birchbox is that you have two options — receiving a curated monthly Birchbox or receiving a box customized to you, including a product you select. Getting to hand-pick some of your items is one of the best parts of this subscription, because that minimizes the risk of ending up with accidental duplicates, products you don't want, or lipstick colors you would never wear.
Type of product: Makeup, Fashion, Skin, Hair, Life
Product size: 8 items, you pick 3
Subscription plans: $49.99/season, delivered 4 times a year, or $179.99/year at $44.99/box
Brands you might receive: Kate Spade, Fenty, Coach, Living Proof, Free People
The best way to describe FabFitFun? Christmas morning, every single month. Not only does the brand offer makeup, haircare, and skincare products that you'll love receiving, but they also include everything from candles to hot tools to bags to jewelry. If you're a shopaholic from head-to-toe, this box will help curb your spending and satisfy that urge to shop by delivering your monthly dose of newness right to your door at a discounted price.
Type of product: Makeup, Skincare
Product size: 5 sample products worth $75+
Subscription plans: $21/month, $18/month with a 1 year commitment, $17.50/month with a 1 year commitment and upfront payment of $210
Brands you might receive: TONYMOLY, Benefit Cosmetics, Becca, Burberry
GlossyBox has over 500 partners and ships to ten countries: USA, UK, Canada, France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Ireland, Norway, and Sweden. There is a new theme for each month's box, and you'll get a Glossymag in each box with articles, makeup tips, and beauty advice to go along with your products.
Type of product: Skincare, Beauty
Product size: 6 sample- or full-size products
Subscription plans: $19/month, $16/month with a 1 year commitment
Brands you might receive: Ole Henrinksen, Bare Minerals, Bobbi Brown
LookFantastic started out as a European site that is now available in the USA, so if you've been wanting to try out European beauty brands (for that French girl vibe, ofc) and luxurious, higher-end products, this is the monthly themed box for you. Some reviewers report that you're less likely to receive full products in this box, but will get plenty of expensive travel sizes — and typically at least one full size item.
Type of product: Skincare, Makeup
Product size: 6 sample- or full-size products
Subscription plans: $26/month, or $23/month with a 1 year commitment
Brands you might receive: Osea, Juice Beauty, Pacifica
The Kinder Beauty box promises that every single product you receive will be vegan, cruelty-free, and free of most common toxins (no parabens, sulfates, talc, or formaldehydes, to name a few). This box is the perfect way to discover new beauty brands that don't test on our furry friends or use any sort of animal product in the manufacturing process.
Type of product: Skincare, Makeup
Product size: At least 6 sample- or full-size products
Subscription plans: $24.95/month, or $21.95/month with a 1 year commitment
Brands you might receive: Elemis, Tocca, Boscia, Caudalie
The skincare junkie in your life will absolutely love this gift. High-quality samples are the perfect way to discover which hot new products really live up to the hype — so that you can invest in the full-size versions for your dewiest skin ever. This box is put together by beauty experts who curate a monthly selection that's bound to please.
Type of Product: Makeup and Skincare
Subscription plans: Deliveries every 1, 2, or 3 months
If you know you’re going to keep repurchasing your faves, why not get a 15% discount while you’re at it? For the kind of makeup shopper that knows exactly what you want, no surprises involved, Ilia just launched a subscription that allows you to receive monthly (or bi- or tri-monthly) deliveries of their bestselling products like their famous Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40 to their Limitless Lash Mascara.