One of the things that I enjoy is finding new makeup. However, purchasing full size products can be an expensive gamble when trying to find new beauty products. I have found that subscribing to monthly subscription boxes can be a cheaper alternative to finding out about new beauty products.
The way that monthly subscription boxes work is that you pay a monthly fee, this fee varies from box to box, and in return you receive randomly selected samples of beauty products. The number of samples, size of samples, and how random the selection is also varies from company to company.
Birchbox
Birchbox costs $10 a month and you get 4 to 5 samples and sometimes a lifestyle extra. The samples can range from foil packets to actual full size products, however, they tend to lean more towards deluxe size. The samples that you receive are completely random, the only influence that you have on your box is that you can check to get only 6 perfume samples per year. One of the bonuses with Birchbox is that you can review your samples before the end of the month and get 10 points per sample you review. Once you get 100 points you get $10 to the Birchbox store, these do stack, and can be used as $10-off or to pay for your order if you have enough points.
Birchbox Reveals
- November 2014 Unboxing
- October 2014 Unboxing
- May 2014 Unboxing
- April 2014 Unboxing
- March 2014 Unboxing
- January 2014 Unboxing
- December 2013 Unboxing
- November 2013 Unboxing
- October 2013 Unboxing
Birchbox Limited Edition Boxes
Misc. Birchbox Posts
Wantable Beauty
Wantable is unique in that they have 3 different subscriptions a beauty, an accessory, and an intimate subscription. The Wantable beauty subscription is either $36 a month or $40 for an individual box without a subscription. Wantable sends you 4 to 5 full-sized beauty products based on the profile that you fill out and you can get very in depth with your profile. However, what brands you receive and the exact products are random though.
Wantable Reveals
Ipsy
Ipsy also costs $10 a month and again you get 4 to 5 samples beauty samples, however, Ipsy promises that these 4 to 5 samples will be deluxe to full size samples that come in a different cosmetic bag each month. They do not give out foil samples. Like Birchbox they are completely random and they just started a points-for-reviews system as well. Ipsy also does giveaways throughout the month to win products from the companies featured that month and offers discounts to subscribers for orders through those companies for that month.
Ipsy Reveals
- November 2013 Reveal
- October 2013 Reveal
- June 2013 Reveal
- April 2013 Reveal
- March 2013 Reveal
- February 2013 Reveal
- January 2013 Reveal
- December 2012 Reveal
Julep
Julep originally cost $19.99 a month and you were able to choose between different boxes. The different boxes available are Modern Beauty (two beauty products), Boho Glam (two “free-spirited” inspired nail polishes and one beauty product), Bombshell (two “thrill-seeker” inspired nail polishes and one beauty product), Classic with a Twist (two “timeless” inspired nail polishes and one beauty product), and It Girl (three nail polishes). After picking your box you could add-on up to 3 polishes from the other boxes and other featured products selected for that month. However, Julep has now added the ability to move up to the My Maven Tier and the Maven Luxe Tier. The My Maven is $24.99 a month and allows you the ability to completely customize your box. If you want the It Girl but instead of three polishes you’d rather have one polish and two beauty products you can do that for no extra charge than your monthly membership. The Maven Luxe is $39.99 a month and several add-ons are automatically added to your box each month, like the My Maven the Maven Luxe is 100% customizable. Like before there is still the option to do the full upgrade of the month at an additional cost.
Julep Reveals
Julep Sneak Peeks
- January 2014 Sneak Peek
- November 2013 Sneak Peek
- October 2013 Sneak Peek
- September 2013 Sneak Peek
- August 2013 Sneak Peek
Julep Mystery Boxes
Misc. Julep Posts
Beauty Box 5
Beauty Box 5 offers 5 samples each month ranging from foil packets to full size products. They tend to use similar brands to Ipsy and a few Independant brands as well. A Beauty Box 5 subscription costs $12 a month.
Beauty Box 5 Reveals
People VIP Gift Box
People VIP Gift Box costs $204.66 a year paid in one lump sum. However, with that subscription price you get a one-year subscription to People magazine, a six-month digital AND print subscription for a friend, AND three gift boxes that are sent out throughout the year filled with items. If you break down the price of the subscription it is actually the price for 52 issues of People Magazine so the six-month subscription for your friend and the three gift boxes are just additional bonuses.
People VIP Gift Box Reveals
Glossybox
Glossybox costs $21 a month and you get 5 luxury items that range in size from deluxe sample size to full size. Glossybox‘s packaging is super luxurious and they are often running specials to get an extra item in your first box.
Glossybox Reveals
Walmart Beauty Box
The Walmart Beauty Box is a free subscription box that you only pay $5 for the shipping of it. It comes with products that you can readily buy at your local Walmart.