Best Beauty Subscription Boxes of 2023

If we know anything about the beauty and skincare industry, it’s that trends move fast, so innovation must move faster. Any beauty editor can tell you that from veteran companies trying to keep pace with the ever-changing market to the new kids on the block with the latest and greatest, it seems there’s a new product launch almost daily.

Keeping track of the latest drops can be difficult for even the most seasoned influencers. But with beauty subscription boxes delivered right to your door for a monthly fee, you can easily stay up to date on trends while keeping a handle on your budget. Oh, and they make a great gift. 

Best beauty box subscriptions overview

• Best overall: Allure Beauty Box
• Best budget: Birchbox 
• Best skincare: BeautyFIX
• Best value: Walmart Beauty Box 
• Best for variety: FabFitFun
• Best splurge: Ipsy Glam Bag
• Best for full-size products: BoxyCharm
• Best vegan beauty: Kinder Beauty Box
• Best for fragrance: Scentbird
• Best K-beauty: FaceTory

How we chose the best beauty box subscriptions

To compile this list, we researched beauty box subscriptions for their contents, brands offered, sizes, and pricing to create a short list of the top beauty box subscriptions. Then, we combed through detailed product descriptions, ratings, and reviews to find the best beauty box subscriptions for each category.

Our picks for the best beauty box subscriptions

First launched in 2012, the Allure Beauty Box is a regular in the beauty subscription box world — and understandably so. When each box is curated by beauty editors and jam-packed with the latest beauty finds, it’s kind of hard to go wrong. When you pair everything the Allure Beauty Box has to offer with its reasonable price, you have our pick for the best beauty subscription box overall. 

Every month, Allure editors scour the far reaches of the beauty and skincare industry to find (and vet) each item they add to the brand’s beauty box. That means you get six or more products (including at least three full-size products) valued at a minimum of $100. Not only are you getting the goods, but you’re getting them from beauty editors who keep a pulse on the industry, so you’re almost guaranteed to get the latest and greatest — which is the point of the subscription, right? 

Additionally, an Allure Beauty Box subscription also affords you members-only discounts on some of the editors’ favorite luxury products, limited-edition boxes, and exclusive access to Allure events. And if that weren’t plenty, new members get a free gift for signing up. 

If you’re new to beauty box subscriptions, repeats (aka a waste of your money) are a valid concern. Allure tracks your box history, so your chances of a repeat performance are usually eliminated. If you do get a repeat, just contact them for a fix. 

The Allure Beauty Box subscription plans start at $23 per month, but there are discounts for quarterly and annual billing — $20 and $19, respectively. The Allure beauty box ships free within the contiguous U.S.

What’s included: Skincare and makeup products with at least three full-size items in each box

As far as beauty box subscriptions go, Birchbox is the OG. First on the scene in 2010, Birchbox has held the line against some pretty fierce competition and is still going strong 12 years later — undoubtedly due to its incredible pricing and high-end samples. 

In each box, subscribers will find a nice assortment of sample-size products from fan favorites like Benefit, Kiehl’s, and Oribe, as well as new and niche beauty brands. To get the party started, new users must fill out a detailed questionnaire noting complexion, skincare concerns, skin tone, hair color and texture, level of beauty knowledge, and more. After that, each box is curated based on your profile.

Moreover, you can customize your monthly box by choosing one specific sample or adding full-size products to your delivery. After trying out your new samples, you can purchase them directly from Birchbox to earn loyalty points. The subscriptions start at $15 per month, and like many other beauty box brands, you can choose a six-month plan or an annual package for cost savings.

What’s included: A mix of 6 beauty samples, including makeup, skincare, haircare, and fragrance items

While plenty of beauty box subscriptions focus on makeup, BeautyFIX walks it back a bit, starting with the foundation of great makeup — skincare. Curated by skincare experts at Dermstore, each BeautyFIX box is chock full of aesthetician-approved skincare. Digging into each box, you’ll find at least six full-size and deluxe travel-size products.

While BeautyFIX focuses on skincare, you’ll also find nourishing haircare products and cosmetics. Incidentally, the contents of each box add up to a value of $100 or more. Like many subscription boxes, BeautyFIX lets you choose your billing preference to lower the price. Prices start at $24.95 per month, but if you choose three-, six-, or 12-month advanced billing, you can shave a few dollars off the monthly price.

What’s included: 5+ products, including skincare, haircare, and cosmetics

Beauty boxes are great, but what happens when you discover a product you love that’s way out of your budget? It looks like Walmart has the answer with a beauty box subscription that’s budget friendly any way you look at it.

A modest $7 fee gets you some great samples of drugstore beauty products, like Colgate, Curel, NYX, Cetaphil, and Neutrogena, and like other subscriptions, it’s shipped right to your door. Unlike other beauty boxes, however, buying a full-size version of the product you love won’t pull too hard on your purse strings. 

While the Walmart Beauty Box isn’t customizable, new users are required to fill out a questionnaire regarding ethnicity, hair color, skincare concerns, and more, and the answers are used to curate a more personalized box. It’s worth noting that Walmart’s questionnaire asks some more granular questions, like whether you have a shower or tub and how you shop for your makeup and skincare. It even asks whether you use a tablet or desktop — no doubt this helps ensure that you’ll get usable products in your seasonal box. 

While this box is ultra-affordable and allows you to try new products, you’re not necessarily going to find anything particularly cutting-edge. Another notable difference with the Walmart Beauty Box is that it ships quarterly (think four seasons, four boxes).

What’s included: Beauty brands sold at Walmart

For those interested in a more holistic approach to their health and wellness, FabFitFun might be worth a closer look. The brand not only features a nice blend of new products and notable fan favorites but also includes products across categories. Along with full-size makeup, nail, and haircare products, you’ll find candles, notebooks, and even clothing items. 

The FabFitFun subscription box is a bit pricey, but when you consider all that you’re getting, it might be the best bargain ever. These boxes typically have some pretty big names in fashion, home, beauty, and wellness, including the likes of Coach, Kate Spade, Nars, Glossier, and Sur La Table — surely, that’s nothing to sneeze at. 

The FabFitFun subscription box start will hit your wallet for $59.99 per box, but you can sign up for the seasonal membership to knock it back to $54.99 per box. Just note that shipments are quarterly. New members also receive a luscious gift with sign-up, like a Too Faced Better Than Sex Volumizing Mascara or Perricone MD Cold Plasma Plus+ Advanced Eye Cream. Even better, subscribers can customize their boxes. Annual membership allows you to customize your entire box, while seasonal members can select up to four items.

What’s included: 6-8 quality full-size products

In terms of popularity, the Ipsy Glam Bag steals the show. This fan-favorite beauty box is typically packed with top-rated brands, including Anastasia Beverly Hills, Tatcha, Pear Nova, Korres, and Fenty. 

In terms of the brands offered, Ipsy is similar to Birchbox, but the two differ in product sizes. Ipsy’s Glam Bag may include full-size products, whereas Birchbox is limited to travel sizes.

To get the ball rolling, new users will fill out a questionnaire to log in their beauty habits and preferences. By disclosing your skin tone, eye and hair color, makeup experience level, and favorite beauty stores, Ipsy can better customize your box. 

There are various levels to the Ipsy Glam Bag subscription, including:

• Glam Bag: $13 per month and includes five deluxe-size beauty samples worth $50+.
• Glam Bag Plus: $28 per month and includes five full-size products worth $120+.
• Glam Bag X: In 2021, Ipsy also rolled out its Glam Bag X, which includes eight full-size products (worth up to $350) specially curated by influencers and celebrities. Glam Bag X is only available to members with a monthly Glam Bag or Glam Bag Plus plan. It costs $58 a quarter and replaces your usual monthly bag in February, May, August, and November.

What’s included: Skincare, haircare, and makeup from top-rated beauty brands

With five beauty products from high-end brands with a total retail value of $175 or more, BoxyCharm hits our list as the best beauty subscription for full-size products. 

Under the lid each month, you’ll find lip colors, eyeshadow palettes, skincare, and beauty tools from favorites like Too Faced, MAC, Glow Recipe, and Sunday Riley, just to name a few. The BoxyCharm box is curated based on emerging trends and your answers to a beauty quiz. 

Like some of the other entries on our list, BoxyCharm offers membership levels, too:

• Base: For $27.99 per month, you get five products (valued at $175), one of which subscribers can choose.  
• Premium: For $39.99 per month, you get six products (valued at $215), two of which subscribers can choose.
• Luxe: For $57.99 per month, you get eight products (valued at $395), two of which subscribers can choose. (The Luxe replaces the Base box every three months.)

New subscribers receive a free gift with sign-up, and shipping is free within the contiguous U.S.

What’s included: 5+ beauty products from high-end brands

If clean beauty tops your list of nonnegotiables, there’s a beauty box subscription for that. Shipped in eco-friendly packaging, the Kinder Beauty Box features vegan and cruelty-free skincare, haircare, nail polish, cosmetics, and accessories. So, not surprisingly, it hits our list as the best makeup subscription for vegan products. Brands to look forward to include Kopari and Derma E. 

Each Kinder Beauty Box contains up to $165 worth of ethical and clean beauty products, including full-size products and an assortment of sample-size goodies. If you want to feel even better about where your money is going, a portion of Kinder’s sales goes toward animal rights and environmental causes. 

The Kinder Beauty Box starts at $23 per month, but biannual and yearly payment plans do have their perks and can save you some money. With a six-month prepay, you get a free bonus box ($138 value) with your first shipment. A 12-month prepay also earns you a free bonus box with your first shipment, and for a limited time, your first box is on the house.

What’s included: 5+ beauty products from high-end brands

If fragrance is your bag (or box), you might consider Scentbird’s monthly fragrance subscription to keep things fresh. 

To start, users are required to take a quiz, and with that information, the Scentbird experts create a list of custom recommendations for your first box. After that, you can browse Scentbirds’ comprehensive fragrance list and build your queue. This subscription box is much more affordable than buying luxury perfumes from department or specialty stores — and you get to test out a variety of fragrances over time.

Each box comes with an atomizer and an 8-milliliter bottle (about 120 sprays) of designer perfume from brands like Prada, Versace, and Acqua di Parma. Monthly plans to receive two or three fragrances are also available, and you’ll be happy to know that Scentbird ships to both the U.S. and Canada.

What’s included: 1-3 8-milliliter bottle(s) of designer perfume with atomizer

If you’re a fan of snail mucin, double cleansing, and sheet masks, then FaceTory’s K-beauty subscription box should probably top your short list. This beauty box features sheet masks galore as well as specialty items and full-size beauty products. Even better, new users will find that each box includes companion guides to help you safely use the products and up your K-beauty game. 

FaceTory offers two subscription plans:

• 7Lux: For $19.90 per month, you get seven different sheet masks and two bonus items.
• Lux Plus: For $49.95 per month (billed/shipped every three months), you get four full-size skincare products and seven sheet masks.

What’s included: Sheet masks, specialty items, and full-size beauty products

A makeup and skincare concierge? 

With new beauty and skincare products hitting the virtual shelves almost daily, even die-hard beauty enthusiasts can find it hard to keep up. Since many subscription boxes are curated based on the latest trends, they’re an excellent way to streamline your research and shopping. For a monthly fee, you’ll have new favorites (and maybe some oldies but goodies) delivered right to your doorstep — no fuss, no muss. If you’re new to beauty box subscriptions, you might consider our best overall pick, Allure’s Beauty Box. With boxes curated by beauty editors, you’re guaranteed to snag the newest and trendiest beauty products for a budget-friendly $23 per month.

How to pick the right beauty subscription box for you

Subscription boxes come in all shapes and sizes, so to speak. Before you commit to a monthly membership, consider the finer points and offerings of each. 

Size

Beauty box subscriptions offer an assortment of product sizes, ranging from samples to full sizes. And as you might have guessed, sample-size boxes are typically less expensive than those that offer full-size products. So when choosing yours, you might keep that at the forefront of your decision-making process. 

Price 

From $7 to upward of nearly $60, beauty boxes are also offered in a range of price points. It should go without saying that your subscription box should jibe with your budget. 

Product offerings 

Just as beauty boxes differ in price and product size, they also differ in product offerings. So, if you want more skincare and less makeup or vice versa, there’s a box for that. Likewise, if you want a box with only vegan beauty products or a box specializing in K-beauty items, there are options for that, too. We’d venture to guess there’s a box out there for everyone — you’ll just have to do some research to find what works best for you. 

FAQ

Does Ulta have a beauty subscription box?

Ulta doesn’t have a monthly subscription box. However, the beauty retailer regularly curates and offers beauty boxes available in stores and on its website. 

Does Sephora have a monthly box?

Sephora used to have a monthly subscription box called Play, but it was discontinued in 2020.

What are the main differences between Birchbox and BoxyCharm?

While Birchbox and BoxyCharm offer name-brand items in their boxes, the main difference is that BoxyCharm offers full-size products, while Birchbox only offers sample sizes. That, of course, means there’s a significant price difference. Birchbox starts at $13 a month, while BoxyCharm starts at $27.99.