Best Beauty Boxes

Birchbox launched in 2010 and is headquartered in New York City. The company now operates in the United States, United Kingdom, France, Spain and Belgium and has subscription boxes designed for both women and men. Customers subscribe to receive one box of five sample-size products each month.

Ipsy was founded by Michelle Phan, whose YouTube makeup tutorials went viral several years ago. Each month, subscribers receive a Glam Bag with five sample-size or full-size products.

GLOSSYBOX launched in Germany in 2011 and has since expanded to 10 countries, including the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Subscriptions range from one month up to one year. Consumers receive at least five deluxe- or full-size beauty products of premium or niche brands in keepsake boxes.

Beauty Box 5 (BB5) was founded in 2012 and is headquartered in Austin, Texas. The company offers subscription boxes containing five deluxe sample-size or full-size beauty products to customers in the contiguous United States and Canada.

• General products: BB5 does not currently customize different boxes. Instead, they select products appropriate for all skin and hair types, so consumers don’t need to worry about getting makeup shades that are completely wrong for them.
• Allergen help: Customers with allergies can contact a customer service representative with inquiries about ingredients. If a BB5 representative can’t help the customer, the company will reach out to the product manufacturer.
• Blog and social media: Interested consumers can follow BB5’s blog to read about beauty trends, popular products, makeup tricks and more. They can also follow the company on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube and Instagram.
• Gift: Consumers can give a subscription to their loved ones. They can choose a three-, six-, or 12-month subscription and have it delivered to the recipient’s home.
• Store: Customers who loved an item included in their BB5 box can order full-size products directly from the Beauty Box 5 website. The site has regular sales, and all orders ship with additional free samples.
• Best for: BB5 offers boxes designed for women and is best for makeup lovers, selective consumers, budget conscious consumers and those with sensitive skin.

SEPHORA is a specialty retailer offering cosmetics, haircare products and other beauty accessories. It was founded in France in 1970 and now operates nearly 2,000 stores around the world. The company’s beauty box includes five samples from prestige brands and a bonus fragrance sample. They ship to the contiguous United States.

Walmart started selling their own beauty box subscription a few years ago. The boxes ship once each season and contain sample-size or full-size beauty and cosmetics products sold in Walmart stores.

Allure magazine focuses on beauty and fashion advice and news. The company also gives Best of Beauty Awards to cosmetic products. Their beauty boxes ship the contiguous United States and include at least six sample products.

Scentbird was founded to give consumers a chance to try fragrances for an extended period of time before purchasing a full-size bottle. Users select perfumes they want to try and then receive a 30-day sample each month.

• Choice: Customers can always choose which perfumes or colognes they receive. They can even create a scent queue and set up future month’s selection in advance. Scentbird’s selection includes more than 450 designer fragrances. Those with allergies or sensitive skin can read the ingredients list before adding a product to their queue.
• Recommendations: After consumers sign up for a subscription, they take a fragrance quiz so that the website can recommend products they will like. As they review products, they will receive more customized recommendations.
• Shop: Consumers can order full-size bottles of perfume or cologne on the Scentbird website. Subscribers receive a $15 coupon every month valid on the purchase of a full-size version of the product they received that month.
• Gift: Consumers can set up gift subscriptions for their loved ones. Subscriptions are available for both women and men and are available as three-, six- or 12-month gifts.
• Scentbird for Men: Scentbird for Men offers subscriptions for men. However, any customer, regardless of gender, may select any perfume or cologne available on the site.
• Best for: Scentbird is best for selective consumers and those with sensitive skin.

COCOTIQUE is a beauty box subscription service designed for women of color. Subscribers receive five to eight sample-size and full-size products each month. The company’s beauty boxes ship to the contiguous United States.

• Rewards: Customers can earn COCOHearts for purchasing boxes, reviewing products and referring friends. They can then redeem points for free boxes.
• Gift: Individuals can send loved ones gift cards for a one-month, six-month or one-year subscription. The gift giver can opt to receive an e-mail once the recipient receives their gift card.
• Blog: Interested consumers can follow COCOTIQUE’s blog to learn more about the brands included in the company’s subscription boxes. They can also follow COCOTIQUE on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, YouTube and Tumblr.
• Discounts: Consumers can find discount codes for products and brands that have been included in previous COCOTIQUE boxes on the company’s blog. New codes are posted monthly.
• Past boxes: Consumers can see the items included in past boxes online. Depending on availability, they can order past boxes from the COCOTIQUE store.
• Best for: COCOTIQUE has beauty boxes designed for women of color and is best for makeup lovers, selective consumers, budget-conscious consumers and gift givers.

POPSUGAR operates a technology and publishing company, an online retailer, called ShopStyle, and a product discovery subscription box. The company’s subscription service delivers Must Have boxes each month to customers in the United States.

• Sample size: Must Have’s boxes include only full-size products. The items in the standard box always have a value of at least $100.
• MINI: The MINI box is Must Have’s less expensive option. The MINI includes fewer items than the standard box but all are full size.
• Product variety: Must Have boxes contain a variety of products, including beauty products. The box may also include snack foods, jewelry, handbags, small electronics, accessories, home decor and more.
• Referral program: Subscribers who refer three new customers who sign up for Must Have will receive one free box. For each additional completed referral, the existing customer will receive a $10 credit.
• Gift: Individuals can order gift subscriptions for friends and family members for one, three or six months. They can also send a special gift box designed for particular occasions.
• Best for: Must Have boxes, designed for women, are best for selective consumers.

Orglamix is a cruelty-free, vegan cosmetics manufacturer. The company started on Etsy as an eyeshadow manufacturer and now sells more than 600 products through an online store and in select spas and apothecary shops. Orglamix boxes deliver four to six Orglamix products to customers on a monthly basis.

• Products: The company manufactures all their products in small batches in Chicago. Orglamix products do not include any sulfates, synthetic dyes, petrochemicals, parabens or phthalates. The ingredient list for many products is available on the company’s website.
• Cruelty-free: Orglamix does not test its products on animals and appears on PETA’s Cruelty-Free list. The brand is also vegan.
• Donations: Orglamix donates one meal to Rice Bowl, which provides meals to orphaned children around the world, for every subscription box sold.
• Other boxes: In addition to their full boxes, Orglamix has a monthly eyeshadow subscription box, a monthly pressed glitter subscription and a monthly essential oil subscription.
• Facebook group: Orglamix has a private Facebook group where members can recommend themes for future boxes and access exclusive sales. Anyone can join the group.
• Best for: Orglamix boxes are designed for women and are best for cruelty-free shoppers, makeup lovers and those with sensitive skin.

Petit Vour is an online specialty retailer offering cruelty-free cosmetics, haircare products, skincare products and other beauty accessories. It offers a beauty box subscription containing at least four products with a total value of no less than $35.

• Cruelty-free: All of the products available on Petit Vour and included in their beauty box are cruelty-free and vegan.
• Customized: When customers sign up for a Petit Vour subscription, they are prompted to complete a beauty survey. Their responses are used to customize boxes when supply allows the company to do so.
• Blog: Those who prefer cruelty-free and all-natural products will enjoy Petit Vour’s blog, which has articles about non-toxic brands, makeup tutorials, interviews with beauty experts and more. Petit Vour is also active on social media.
• Rewards: Petit Vour’s rewards program gives customers points for reviewing products from their subscriptions and interacting with the company on social media. When they purchase additional items from the website, they’ll receive points equal to 20 percent of their purchase.
• Ingredients: Petit Vour is dedicated to providing safe, non-toxic products. The company has a list of ingredients that consumers will never find in their products because they have been linked to health problems. Many, though not all, products in the boxes use only organic ingredients and are hypoallergenic.
• Best for: Petit Vour designs beauty boxes for women and is best for cruelty-free shoppers, selective consumers and those with sensitive skin.