Hello all! Tamara here to share a glimpse into my subscription box addiction. Over the last few years, I have subscribed to just about every beauty related subscription box out there. Birchbox, Allure, Lip Monthly, Glossy Box, Beauty Box 5, and others that I’ve forgotten have all graced my mailbox. Many of these were short lived due to my self imposed 3 month “love it or leave it” policy. If after 3 months, I’m not using or at least trying a majority of the products, if I’m not excited to see it arrive, it’s off with their heads! Ok, that was dramatic but it is time to let it go. Of all of these different subscriptions that I’ve had, there have been four boxes that have lasted the long haul…BoxyCharm, BeautyFix, Ipsy, and Sephora Play. These are the ones that I can’t imagine ever giving up. I look forward to them every single month. I do occasionally skip a month, and sometimes I swap or gift items, but these four boxes consistently make me happy.
So, without further ado, here is a little peek into each subscription box and the reasons why I just can’t quit them:
BoxyCharm ($21.00/month)
If I had to limit myself to just one sub box, (just the thought gives me major fomo!) it would be BoxyCharm. Hands down. This box promises 4-5 (usually 5) FULL SIZE items every month and almost always has a retail value over $100. It’s a good mix of well known and indie brands and it’s mostly makeup and brushes. Occasionally there will be a skin care item. My makeup and brush collection has grown exponentially since joining this sub. I’ve discovered so many brands and product that I love thanks to BoxyCharm. I’m a sucker for eyeshadow palettes and this sub definitely feeds that addiction. You don’t get a palette every month, but you get them often enough and I’ve heard that they are promising a palette a month through the end of the year! Another thing I love about BoxyCharm is that, for the most part, everyone gets the same thing. There are occasionally variations, but they do a really good job of keeping things even and eliminating box envy. I can’t see myself ever leaving BoxyCharm. I’d seriously consider selling body parts to afford it if I had to. I’m kidding…maybe…do we really need two kidneys?
My August BoxyCharm included the following:
- Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Volume II Eyeshadow Palette (Seriously!)
- Pür Pro Eyelashes in Diva
- Moda Pro 3-Piece Brush Set by Royal & Langnickel
- The Beauty Corp #GRLPWR Matte Liquid Lipstick in Date Night
- BellaPierre Waterproof Gel Eyeliner in Black
BeautyFix ($24.95/month)
BeautyFix is sold through DermStore and promises at least 6 full or deluxe sample sized items each month with a retail value over $100. You won’t see much makeup in this box and when they do include it, it’s usually only one item. I love that they often include a tool or device of some sort. There is no box envy since everyone gets the same thing and their customer service is amazing. A while back, I got an eye cream that was basically empty so I sent them an email asking for a replacement…they sent me another entire box! This box totally feeds my fixation on skin care but, I do occasionally skip a month if the spoilers don’t excite me. I love trying new skin care, but those types of products tend to pile up quickly. Even though I occasionally skip a month, I just can’t seem to quit this box. They always find a way to reel me back in.
My August BeautyFix included:
- Foreo Luna Play Cleansing Device
- Juice Beauty Blemish Clearing Cleanser (Full size)
- DermaBlend Loose Setting Powder in Translucent
- DCL Hydra Boost Finishing Serum
- DCL Skin Renewal Complex
- MDSolarSciences Mineral Tinted SPF 30 Sunscreen
- Keranique Daily Essentials Dietary Supplement
- Perricone MD Super Berry Dietary Supplement Powder
Ipsy ($10.00/month)
This box is such a great deal for the price. Each month, you get 5 deluxe size samples of a variety of well known and indie brand makeup, skin care, and hair care items plus a cute makeup bag. This box is tailored to you through your profile and beauty preferences selected under your account info. The concept is good, but it took a several months of filling out product reviews before I felt like ipsy really “got me”. Now however, I feel like my best friend could be the one picking my items because they are, for the most part, perfect for me. It also doesn’t hurt that they allow you to email in and request one of their spoiler items (no promises, but they do try and they haven’t let me down yet) and they let you opt out of any two categories (like highlighter or mascara). Ipsy was the first beauty sub box that I ever subscribed to so it has a special place in my heart and I honestly can’t imagine not receiving those cute pink bags in my mailbox every month.
My August Ipsy Bag included:
- SLMissGlam T35 Precise Blending Brush
- Pacifica Coconut Infused Blush Duo in Beaming & Tenderheart (Full size)
- Naked Cosmetics HD Translucent Loose Finishing Powder
- The Balm Voyage Vol. 2 Eyeshadow in Kuwakaribisha
- Two Vitamasque Yoghurt Masks
Sephora Play! ($10.00/month)
This box is obviously sold by Sephora and promises five samples plus a perfume sample in a reusable bag every month. The samples are all items that are available at Sephora so you get a lot of high end makeup, skin care, and hair care samples in this box. There are several versions of this box each month and the box you receive is based on the answers you provided in your profile. For a brief moment, I was on the verge of quitting this sub because the samples they were sending were teeny tiny. But, thankfully, they listened to their customers and I’m glad to say that over the last several months, I’ve been very impressed with the sample sizes. This box also comes with perks such as a 50 point bonus card you can take to a Sephora store and redeem for Beauty Insider bonus points and even a free tutorial with a purchase. I am bummed that this cannot be used online as my nearest Sephora is over an hour away so I seldom get there. I wish I could use that card to get the bonus points with my many online purchases. Regardless, I still love this sub because it allows me to try items that I would otherwise probably not spend the money on. I’ve found quite a few favorites in my Play boxes and for that reason, I’m committed to this box too.
My August Sephora Play included:
- Kopari Coconut Mini Melt -Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo
- Kat Von D Lock It Concealer in Medium
- Too Faced Mascara Melt Off Cleansing Oil
- Beauty Blender Micro.Mini Sponge
- Kat Von D Saint AND Sinner Perfume (Two samples this month!)
As you can clearly see, I’ve got a problem. Hi! My name is Tamara and I’m addicted to beauty subscription boxes. It all started when a friend suggested I try ipsy… What subs are you obsessed with? What subs would you like to try? Would you be interested in monthly reviews or comparisons of any of these? Leave me a comment below and let me know about your subscription addictions so I won’t feel so guilty about mine 🙂
What’s your favorite beauty subscription box?
*These products were paid for by Tamara. Some affiliate links are used in this post.
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Those are such awesome boxes, you’ve totally sold me to get back in on the beauty boxes! I think I might try the Beauty Fix box from DermStore.
If you love skin care, it really is the bomb! I feel like I’ve really stepped up my skincare game since joining 🙂
If you love skin care, it really is amazing! I’ve found so many awesome products in those boxes 🙂
The Beautyfix and Boxycharm boxes look absolutely incredible!
I know right?!?! Im a long time subscriber but they had me at Tarte AND Foreo!
Blimey, they sent out a Tarte palette? I would never quit a box like that!
I know! It’s one of my favorite brands and I’ve used the palette since getting it and it’s pretty awesome! Plus, them promising a palette each month for the rest of the year means I’m not quitting any time soon 🙂
I received Boxycharm for a few months and I really liked it. I’ve subscribed to Sephora Play (wish I got Saint & Sinner instead of the scent I got) and Ipsy for a long time now. I still like Ipsy the best coz of the bags, the indie brands and the frequent MU brushes.
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Ipsy really is great! It’s pretty impressive what you get for only $10 and the bags have been super cute lately! My teenager has stolen my last few. She especially liked the Gudetama one 🙂 The perfume with Sephora is hit and miss with me but I consider that a bonus item and my teenager steals them often too. 😂
I keep wanting to try Ipsy just to get it, but I don’t think I’d use half the things that come. haha
I sometimes end up with a few products that aren’t for me, but it does sometimes encourage me to try things that I normally wouldn’t. I also gift items to my sister and if she doesn’t want them, there are swap groups that I use to trade them for items that I will use.
Boxycharm seems like the best choice for me. Great to know your faves
If you’re a makeup lover, it really is great! Thanks for stopping by 🙂
I have tried and loved everything except Beautyfix! I need to try that one next!
If you like skin care, I think you’ll love it!
I’ve cut my many subscriptions down to just Ipsy and Boxycharm. I can’t rave about Boxycharm enough. Ipsy is touch and go for me and I haven’t had good CS with them at all. With Beauty Fix there are just too many hair items that I won’t use. You’ve described these all very well.
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Thank you! I don’t know how BoxyCharm does it, but they amaze me! Do you do the reviews of the items you received on the ipsy website? Even if you just give them a star rating and don’t actually write a review, it helps them figure out what you like and dislike more. My items have gotten so much better since I started doing that.
We got some similar products in my Sephora Play – I didn’t get the hair product, but got some face serum instead. I’m jealous of all your boxes!
I would’ve loved to get the Serum, but I’m happy with the dry shampoo because I will use it. My sub boxes are a little out of control, but like I said…I can’t seem to give these up. Lol
I’ve always been very wary of beauty boxes, for there are sooooo many and I’m always afraid of one that’s a scam or overall has a “meh” product output. Though your post has peaked my interest to investigate them further. I’ve heard many great things about BoxyCharm, but I thought perhaps it was hit and miss because *surely* the products they put out can’t be *that* amazing at only $20 a month. Yet your enthusiasm has convinced me to reconsider it. Thank you for sharing!
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Hi! If you like trying new makeup, you should definitely look in to BoxyCharm. I do occasionally get a box that I don’t find amazing, but the value is still there. Thanks for reading!
I haven’t tried any of these but thniking about BoxyCharm after this review. Thanks for sharing!!
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BoxyCharm is so awesome! I’m seriously obsessed with it. Lol
I’ve never tried any of these but I think I might try the IPSY for $10 dollars a month it might be worth a try.
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Ipsy has improved so much in the last year or so! It’s definitely worth $10 in my opinion. Thanks for reading!
I love this post! I don’t subscribe to beauty boxes anymore (I was frustrated because I found that, despite filling out preferences and such, they always sent me things that I’d never use), but I always enjoy reading about them. Boxycharm looks extremely tempting-I’m definitely going to look into it!
Thank you! BoxyCharm is my favorite! I actually prefer boxes where everyone gets the same thing because they seem to include more products that are appropriate for everyone.
Love the Sephora Play box but my CC changed and they cancelled mine before I realized. I am waiting again on the invite. =( I had IPSY years ago and I stopped getting BB when they stopped with the review points…really thinking about trying one of the others. <3
Oh no! You might want to check the Sephora website occasionally because they do open the waitlist every so often and I’ve heard of people not getting notified. I really enjoy my Play boxes!
I subscribed to Boxycharm a couple of months ago and it quickly became my favorite! it’s amazing!
Welcome to BoxyCharm anonymous! The addiction is real! Lol
Love this so much! I’ve been wanting to try different subscription boxes. I love this post because you’re honest about what you think about them! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Thank you so much! 😊
Ugh, I’ve only ever gotten Ipsy & Birchbox but I NEED BoxyCharm! Eventually I will be subscribing to that one 😍
It’s honestly my favorite! I really do look forward to it every single month and it never disappoints. Thanks for reading!
I love my Ipsy bag, but I think I may need to check out boxycharm now!
Ipsy is great but BoxyCharm really is my favorite! I’m always impressed with my box. Thanks for reading!
I’ve had Birchbox and Glossybox subscriptions in the past and have loved them both. I love trying new makeup, so I like the sound of BoxyCharm.
BoxyCharm is were its at if you’re looking for makeup! There is another eyeshadow palette coming in November! 😍. Thanks for reading!
Ahhh man now I want more subscription boxes 😱 but at least I know these are good thanks
Haha! The struggle is real! Thanks for reading!
Subscription box fan here, too. Allure, Sephora, and Ipsy are my mainstays, but I’ve bought the Boxycharm box off and on. They tend to offer too many highlighters for my liking, but some of the full-size products were really great (like the Dr. Brandt Microdermabrasion scrub).
I love that we get full size items in BoxyCharm! I’ve gotten Allure in the past but it’s been on my radar again here lately. They’ve featured some awesome items! Thanks for reading!
I get Boxycharm which I just started 3 boxes now amazing! I also have ipsy I had Sephora but I’m more of a makeup girl and they just had to many hair and skin things for me so I opted out and replaced with boxycharm which worked out well for me personally
There are so many great boxes out now. It’s great that everyone can find something that works well for them. Can’t go wrong with BoxyCharm 😉
My mailbox is just like yours every month! Lol! I get all those exact subs. I’ve also tried plenty more most recently Lip Monthly and Morpheme (I didn’t care for Lip Monthly but am legit in love with Morpheme) but the other ones ( Boxy,ipsy,play and beautyfix) I can’t live without! Hi I’m Renee I also have a problem! Lol 😂 😋
Welcome to beauty subscription addiction anonymous. Lol. I haven’t tried MorpheMe and I’m honestly afraid to…the struggle is real. Lol. Thanks for sharing!
I like how you share a bunch of different subscription boxes and say what you like about each one. My wife has been obsessed with subscription boxes lately. She’s been getting them weekly and is always looking forward to the next one. She keeps telling me how she wants to look into ordering another kind of subscription box. They’re really an interesting way to get and try new products and see what you like.
I have been wanting to try some subscription boxes for a while now. It is cool that there are so many different options for makeup boxes. I wonder if there is a lot of different types of subscription boxes you could get. Personally, I love reading and it would be great to get a different book each month from a subscription box.
Thanks for sharing so wonderful selection.
I love subscription boxes, but they are kind of addictive, once you start you cant stop…
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