artil’s Guide to Beauty Subscription Boxes
- Caitlin Thorn
- Apr 3, 2021
- 5 min read
Beauty subscription boxes have been popping up everywhere over the last few years. Influencers and brands are continually advertising these boxes, but what are they? And most importantly, are they worth your money?
What is a beauty subscription box?
You sign up and make a monthly payment, for which you get a box filled with a random assortment of beauty products — makeup, skincare, haircare, and sometimes lifestyle products. It’s a great way to treat yourself to a little surprise each month. You don’t know what you’re getting in advance, but it can be a perfect way to try new products, whether you’re a makeup lover or looking to grow your product collection.
Most of these boxes work on a subscription plan. Usually, you can buy a box as a one-off or with a flexible monthly cancellation period. Still, if you commit to an extended period (6-12 months seems to be standard), the monthly price declines. Often boxes offer extra gifts for signing up, and most have discount codes available for new members, so keep an eye out for those!
So what do you really get in the boxes? How much do you actually pay? And is it even worth it?
Let’s compare five different boxes!
Image via Instagram: @goodieboxde
Price (flexible): €19,95
Price (12-month subscription): Not applicable
February 2021 contents:
The Multitasker Brush 113 by Niré Beauty RRP: €20 (full-size)
Decollete Mask by Miqura RRP: €8 (full-size)
Repairing Shampoo by Ecooking RRP: €23 (full-size)
Mini Solid Face Cleanser by Respire RRP: €8,90 for 50 g (sample size 16 g)
Peel Off Mask by Jorgobé RRP: €26,90 (full-size)
Total value: €80,75
Review: This is a box I’ve personally tried and love. The products look and feel high quality. Goodiebox guarantees a value of over €70 in each box. The focus is usually on skincare and is full of brands I haven’t seen before. Most of the products are full-size, which is a massive plus for me. The packaging and presentation of the box definitely make it feel like a beautiful treat. I’d be happy to recommend this is anyone who wants to try a box.
Image via Instagram: @glossybox_us
Price (flexible): €15,00
Price (12-month subscription): €12,50
February 2021 contents:
Velvet Perfecting Rose Sugar Lip Scrub by Avant Skincare RRP: €64,25 (full-size)
RoseRose Gua Sha Beauty-Tool by Glow-On-5th RRP: €12 (full-size)
Flutter Mascara by Manna Kadar RRP: €16 (full-size)
Arnika Repair Conditioner by L’Oreal Botanicals RRP: €6,25 (full-size)
Nourishing Night Cream by N.A.E. RRP: €8,99 (full-size)
It’s worth noting the products do vary a little by box.
Total value: €107,49
Review: I’m a previous subscriber to this box. The value is excellent, but it’s often inflated by one product — I would never pay €65 for a lip scrub. So while it’s a fun way to try items like that, the box is generally filled with other products you can buy at the drug store. After a few too many L’Oreal and Essie products, I canceled my subscription. I would still highly recommend this to anyone who just wants to try some new things. I’ve noticed there is generally more makeup than in other boxes. The price is also a little lower than others.
Image via Instagram: @caudaliefrance / @my_little_box
Price (flexible): €17,90
Price (12-month subscription): €16,25 (in one payment of €195)
February 2021 contents:
Glowrious Days Highlighter by My Little Beauty (6 g)
Age-Purify Mask by Laboratories Filorga Paris (7 ml)
DermatoCLEAN [HYALURON] Micellar Water 3 in 1 by Eucerin (30 ml)
Rehab + Revive Deep Repair Shampoo by John Frieda (250 ml)
Marble Necklace by My Little Paris
Cosmic Dishes by My Little Paris (Two dishes for accessories with moon designs)
Canvas Tie Bag by My Little Box (OK, I’m not sure if this counts — the beauty products came inside, but I plan on using it!)
Tarot Cards by My Little Box
Total value: This box was harder to value. Unlike other boxes, the prices weren’t listed, and My Little Box themselves produced many of the items.
Review: My Little Box contains products from Paris — three beauty items and two accessories, although in this month’s box there are more, and a beautiful illustration is included. While the other brands had a monthly theme with their packaging, this box was the first that really took a theme and ran with it. February 2021 was celestial-themed, and this was reflected not only in the packaging but also in the accessories and products included. The small size of the beauty items was a little disappointing, but this is still one of my favorite boxes. It’s clear that the curators put a lot of thought into the products and design. The accessories are lovely, and if there’s anything you don’t want, they make perfect gifts!
Image via Instagram: @beautylove_de_
Price (flexible): €39,95
Price (12-month subscription): €31,95
This box is only shipped once every two months.
February 2021 contents:
Bamboo Powder by Paese RRP: €12,00
Perfect Skin Peeling by Flora Mare RRP: €19,75
Beeswax + Propolis Lip Care By BureBee RRP: €4,50
Night Time Organic Herbal Tea by Pukka RRP: €3,99
Plastic-Free Cotton Swabs by Bambuswald RRP: €2,99
Ekos Murumuru Care Mask (Hair Mask) by Nature RRP: €25,00
Serum Infused Eye-Mask by Mudmasky RRP: €49,00
Cuthera Turmeric Serum by JEJUON RRP: €24,30
All products appear to be full-size.
Total value: €141,53
Review: While a little more pricey than others on the list, this box guarantees more products (6-8 each month) and, of course, an all “natural” selection. They aim to make your bathroom a little bit greener, so if you’re trying to make your lifestyle more sustainable, ordering this box could be a great way to start swapping out the products you use.
Image via Instagram: @lookfantastic_ru
Price (flexible): €20,00
Price (12-month subscription): €15,50
February 2021 contents:
Galactic Lid Gloss by Eyeko (sample-size)
Beyond Veil Primer by Illamasqua (mini-size)
AHA Glow Mask by Balance Me (sample-size)
Wipeout ‘Swipes’ Eco-Friendly Makeup Remover Pads by Magnitone London (two-pack)
Strawberry Macaroon Body Butter by Bubble T (full-size)
SOS Hydra Recharge Cream by Mádara (sample-size)
It’s worth noting the products do vary a little by box.
Total value: Over €55 according to their website — individual products were hard to quantify as they’re mostly sample sizes.
Review: The Look Fantastic box contained a lot more sample-sized products compared to the other boxes. This can be a good thing if you want to reduce waste and know you won’t use up full-size products. This box featured a mix of well-known brands and others I hadn’t heard of. One great bonus to this box is if you like a particular product, you can purchase it through the Look Fantastic website.
Which box should you try?
There are options out there for everyone, whether you prefer natural products, sample sizes, or beauty products mixed accessories — and this list isn’t exhaustive. There are many different boxes available. It’s not just about the price, but where do you see the most value for yourself? If you want to receive a fun surprise in the mail next month, I recommend trying one out. You can always cancel! Personally, I’m looking forward to getting Goodiebox and My Little Box next month!
Disclaimer: This article is not sponsored or paid for by any brands or companies mentioned.
Comments