The best beauty box subscription depends on whether you want samples or full-size products, how much choice you want, and what you will actually use—not the box’s advertised retail value. WIRED’s August 2025 comparison covered 14 services, from sample-heavy makeup bags to quarterly skincare, fragrance, Korean beauty, and bath boxes. Prices and some brands’ plan names have since changed, so treat WIRED’s figures as historical and check the linked checkout terms before paying.
Choose by size, choice, and spending pattern
Start with the kind of purchase you want to make. A sample box can be a lower-commitment way to try products, while full-size boxes can suit people who already know they will use the category. Customization reduces unwanted surprises but may require selecting items during a specific window. A themed box—such as fragrance, Korean beauty, or bath products—narrows the mix but may be a poor fit if you dislike scents, have ingredient sensitivities, or already have a full routine.
- For samples: compare the number and type of samples, any full-size item, and whether a pouch or other packaging is useful to you.
- For full-size products: consider how quickly you use products and whether the box’s category mix fits your routine.
- For control: check how many items you select, when the selection window opens, and what happens if you miss it.
- For predictable costs: calculate the full amount charged per delivery, including shipping, and note whether payment is monthly, quarterly, every other month, or prepaid.
Prices below are from WIRED’s August 2025 reporting unless a current official price is specifically identified. They are not guaranteed current quotes. WIRED’s author, Louryn Strampe, said the publication requested at least one month of boxes from popular services, ideally three, compared listed contents value with price, considered variety and usefulness, and tried products. She wrote, “And yes, I put all of these pretty little potions on my actual face and hair and skin.” These are WIRED’s reported tests, not independent testing for this guide. Read WIRED’s full comparison.
Compare the 14 subscriptions
The table distinguishes the services by the practical questions that affect a budget: what arrives, how often it ships, and the reported price. Prices and terms for services other than the specifically noted current official figures were not independently confirmed after WIRED’s 2025 article.
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#1 Best Overall
| Service | Best fit and typical contents described by WIRED | Cadence and price reported by WIRED (2025) | What to weigh |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allure Beauty Box | Trending products; at least six editor-selected items, a mix of full-size and sample-size products, an information pamphlet, and member store. | Monthly: $30; quarterly: $26 per box; annual: $287, or $24 per box. | WIRED valued its example box at over $150, but that is an example, not a promise for future boxes or a measure of what you will use. |
| IPSY Glam Bag | Deluxe samples; five samples, a makeup bag, a beauty profile, and monthly choice of one item from five options. | $14 monthly in WIRED’s 2025 article. | WIRED cited a stated value of up to $70 and cautioned that pouches can accumulate. The current official plan and price differ; see the current IPSY note below. |
| PinkSeoul | Korean beauty selected using a quiz; tiers include different quantities of full-size products, masks, and accessories. | Every two months: Mini $30, regular $40, Plus $50 per box. | Full-size items may accumulate faster than you can use them. |
| NoMakeNoLife | Japanese and Korean beauty discovery; eight to nine products, including a tool and beauty products. | $35 monthly; WIRED reported lower per-box prices for longer plans. | Availability of products locally depends on your market. |
| Margot Elena | Giftable, quarterly, full-size, fragrance-forward box with presentation and non-beauty extras. | $60 per quarter plus $7 shipping; $80 one-time seasonal box. | WIRED cited a $200 minimum stated value and a $212 value for its example box. Fragrance sensitivity and limited advance visibility matter. |
| Macy’s Beauty Box | At least five deluxe samples, one full-size product, and a coupon; contents vary. | $15 monthly in WIRED’s 2025 article. Macy’s official page also displayed a $15/month offer when checked, alongside a temporary issue notice. | Confirm the subscription is available and review the actual terms at checkout. Macy’s Beauty Box page. |
| FabFitFun | Quarterly, customizable mix of at least six items across beauty and lifestyle categories. | $80 quarterly or $260 annually ($65 per box); WIRED said annual members customize earlier. | It is a broader lifestyle box, not a beauty-only subscription. |
| LuxSB / Luxury Scent Box | Fragrance selection in a 9 ml travel atomizer, with a scent quiz. | Starts at $17 monthly; WIRED reported $5–$30 premium-fragrance upcharges. | Check the selected scent, size, and any upcharge rather than assuming every scent is available at the base price. |
| Lush Kitchen Box | Bath and body; standard boxes contain four or five full-size products, with shower-only or bath/shower choices. XL has six or seven items but no bath-versus-shower choice. | Standard subscription: $50 plus $8 delivery. | WIRED’s author said the value after US shipping was roughly comparable with buying items individually; limited-edition products may be the reason to subscribe. |
| Love Goodly | Mostly full-size, vegan and cruelty-free products, sometimes with non-beauty items. | Essential $35; VIP $49. | WIRED reported recyclable packaging and a portion of sales donated to rotating charities; verify current claims and terms with the merchant. |
| BoxyCharm / IPSY Extra | Five full-size products; profile-based selection, with three subscriber choices after IPSY selects two. | WIRED listed BoxyCharm at $32 monthly in 2025. IPSY’s current page lists IPSY Extra at $32. | WIRED described BoxyCharm as owned by IPSY. The current IPSY plan name is IPSY Extra; confirm the plan shown at checkout. |
| Dermy Doc Box | Quarterly skincare focus, curated by board-certified dermatologist Dr. Fatima Fahs; at least five full-size skincare or haircare items. | $55 per quarter by subscription or $65 for a one-time purchase. | Specialty products may not suit every skin condition; a curated box is not medical advice. |
| NewBeauty TestTube | Quarterly full-size products and a magazine. | $59 quarterly or $201 annually. | WIRED valued its example box above $350. The article said cancellation required emailing the brand at publication; verify the current cancellation method before subscribing. |
| Birchbox | Profile quiz, monthly customization window, and five to six items including one full-size item. | $25 monthly, $72 for three months, or $264 annually, as listed by WIRED and confirmed on Birchbox’s US help page. Signature: $50 every other month; three-box and six-box prepaid options were also listed. | Selections may be missed if you do not use the customization window. Birchbox says prepaid plans are nonrefundable and automatically renew unless paused or canceled; check the billing terms. |
What current official pages say about price and renewal
IPSY
IPSY’s official subscription page, accessed October 4, 2026, lists IPSY Original at $15 for five deluxe-size samples and IPSY Extra at $32 for five full-size products. It lists US shipping at $1.99, says subscriptions renew automatically until canceled, and says cancellation must be submitted by the 25th to avoid the following renewal-period charge. The page also shows annual Original at $171. These are live-page figures that can change; check the plan and checkout total for your location before enrolling. Check IPSY plans and terms.
Birchbox
Birchbox’s US help page lists monthly rebilling at $25, three monthly boxes at $72, and twelve at $264. It says prepaid memberships are nonrefundable and renew automatically unless paused or canceled. Treat a prepaid price as a commitment, not simply a lower monthly rate, and review the renewal date and cancellation options before paying. Birchbox billing and subscription terms.
Rank #2
- Ideal for Gifting
- Ideal for a bookworm
- Compact for travelling
Macy’s
Macy’s official page displayed a $15/month offer, pouch, deluxe samples, and a coupon when checked, but also showed a temporary technical issue notice. The displayed price and inclusions do not confirm that enrollment is currently available or establish all billing and cancellation terms. Confirm both in checkout. Check Macy’s Beauty Box page.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Calculate value by what you will use
A box’s stated retail value is not the same as savings for you. If it includes products you would not otherwise buy, cannot use, or already have enough of, the advertised total may have little personal value. A sensible comparison starts with the amount actually charged and then asks what the included products replace in your usual spending.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- It can be a gift option
- Comes with secure packaging
- Helpful in various ways
Rank #4
- Find the full delivery cost. Add the subscription charge and shipping, and note taxes or other checkout charges shown for your location.
- Match cadence to consumption. A monthly sample bag, quarterly full-size box, and box every two months create different rates of product accumulation.
- Assess fit, not just retail value. Consider your skin and hair needs, fragrance preferences, ingredient sensitivities, and whether you want products from the box’s category.
- Price the commitment. For prepaid plans, compare the total upfront payment with the per-box figure and check refund and automatic-renewal terms.
- Check flexibility before the first charge. Find the customization deadline, pause option, cancellation route, and date by which cancellation must be submitted to avoid renewal.
Which box fits which reader?
- Choose a sample-oriented service if trying smaller quantities matters more than receiving a drawer of full-size products. Compare the current IPSY Original, Macy’s offer if enrollment is open, and the sample mix described for Birchbox.
- Choose a full-size mix if you already use products across the box’s categories and can keep pace with deliveries. Allure, IPSY Extra, Dermy Doc Box, and NewBeauty TestTube are among the options WIRED described with full-size items or full-size-focused assortments.
- Choose a specialist theme when the category itself is the point: PinkSeoul or NoMakeNoLife for Korean or Japanese/Korean discovery, LuxSB for fragrance, Lush Kitchen for bath and body, or Love Goodly for a vegan and cruelty-free focus as described by WIRED.
- Choose more customization if you prefer making selections over receiving a surprise. FabFitFun and Birchbox were described as offering customization; check selection timing and whether the plan lets you choose enough items to matter.
- Choose a gift format only after checking whether the purchase is a one-time box or a recurring plan. Margot Elena’s one-time seasonal box was listed at $80 by WIRED, while its subscription was quarterly; those are different commitments.
Before you subscribe
- Confirm the current plan name, price, shipping, cadence, and contents at checkout.
- Check whether the displayed amount recurs, whether a prepaid plan renews, and whether prepaid payments are refundable.
- Save the renewal date and any cancellation or customization deadline.
- Review the actual month’s spoilers or product categories when available, especially if you avoid certain ingredients or fragrances.
- Judge the box by the products you expect to use, not solely by the merchant’s or publication’s stated retail value.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
