Why would someone need monthly beauty subscription boxes? Or, more specifically, luxury beauty box subscriptions?
Well… as a beauty editor, I usually have about 6936549345 products waiting on my desk at any point of time. With that comes the thrill of discovery. And I can’t deny that I wouldn’t have it any other way.
But — and that’s a huge BUT — it’s possible to have the same experience without being a beauty guru / editor / blogger / influencer (whatever the cool kids are calling it nowadays!).
The solution: Monthly beauty subscription boxes. Basically, beauty boxes that arrive up at your doorstep every month, filled with cool beauty products to try out at a fraction of their full cost.
To take one example: My favorite Beauty Heroes beauty subscription box had a full size jar of Ayuna’s limited edition Terra Bella, a lush, gorgeous, super-potent moisturiser that retails for US$455. The cost for Beauty Heroes annual subscribers? US$39.95.
Tell me if that isn’t a deal?
I love beauty subscription boxes because they allow me to explore a variety of products. Yes, even with the 6936549345 new beauty products already waiting on my desk, I still love playing with more.
It’s because the best luxury beauty subscriptions boxes are helmed by some of the world’s top beauty curators who come up with the coolest discoveries.
And many of my favorite ones work with some super-niche and new brands, which would otherwise fly under the radar.
Plus… at the end of it… I just love the thrill of opening a box and finding something unexplored inside! Don’t you?
Interested in the thrill of discovery?
These are the very best beauty subscription boxes. And they are are truly worth your money.
Allure Beauty Box Subscription
As one of the leading beauty publications in the world, it’s not surprising that Allure editors gets their hands on the top launches way before they hit the shelves — which makes for one of the best beauty subscription boxes in the landscape.
One of my favorites from the Allure Beauty Box was the full size Sunday Riley CEO Glow Vitamin C + Turmeric Face Oil, which popped up in the box about three months before it became available for retail sale.
Each one of the monthly Allure Beauty Boxes contains 6 or more products, out of which at least 3 are full size.
One of my favorites in recent history included (among other things) a full size 111SKIN Vitamin C Brightening Booster (US$155), Eyeko Double Act Shadow Stick (US$25) and Rodial Glamolash XXL Mascara (US$29).
Added bonus: As an active Allure Beauty Box subscriber, you also get member discounts on luxury products (think a mere $25 for Shani Darden’s Retinol Reform, which normally clocks in at $88, or $15 for the Solawave Advanced Skincare Wand that otherwise costs $145) and exclusive access to Allure beauty events.
Allure Beauty Box Cost: US$228 for annual membership, US$60 for 3 months, US$23 for one month
Scentbird Fragrance Beauty Box
Looking for a signature scent? Or love discovering new fragrances without taking constant trips to the stores? Luckily, there is Scentbird — a beauty subscription service that concentrates exclusively on perfumes.
You start with a quiz that helps nail down your scent fragrances, or you can simply choose the fragrance you want to sample from a very extensive catalogue. Next, you receive the handpicked fragrance in an an 8 millilitre bottle (which supposedly lasts about 120 sprays) and an atomiser case with your monthly subscription box.
This box of fabulous finds contains high-end brands that range from Bvlgari and Balenciaga to Prada and Parfums de Marly.
Cost: $16.95 per monthly box
New Beauty Test Tube Beauty Box Subscription
First of all, if you are not reading NewBeauty — an editorial site dedicated to everything cutting edge in the world of beauty — you need to change that asap.
Secondly, take a look at TestTube, which is a luxury beauty box curated by editors of said site, which delivers a wow-inspiring collection of full-size products from top brands to your home four times a year.
With a mix of skin care and makeup products, subscription starts at $59 per quarter and the products included average out at $350… which far outweighs the cost of the box.
The current TestTube, for example, contains (among other products) a full size Elemis Pro Collagen Oxygenating Night Cream ($100), Florasis Blooming Rouge Porcelain Lipstick ($39), Sakara Life Detox Water Drops ($39) and the Naturopathica Face Mask ($48).
TestTube subscribers also receive a print subscription to NewBeauty magazine AND exclusive one-on-a-kind offers for full-size items at a super discounted price.
My favorite in recent times was the SkinCeuticals Discoloration Defence for $12.95 — it retails for $102. Enough. Said.
Cost: $200.60 for one year (four boxes), $59 for three months (one box)
The Detox Market’s Detox Beauty Box Subscription
As is implicit in the name, the Detox Box aims to serve up the best in clean beauty products.
Each monthly edition contains at least one full size product along with several sample sizes from the Detox Market’s “holy grail” of brands, which include the likes of Pai Skincare, Kora Organics, Josh Rosebrook and RMS Beauty.
All top notch, all luxe, all clean. All cult.
Cost: US$39.50 upwards per month depending on duration chosen
Beauty Heroes Monthly Discovery Box
Not only did Beauty Heroes hit it straight out of the park in the aforementioned Ayuna Discovery Box, they have built a solid reputation for coming up with one blockbuster after another.
The focus is on small batch and niche brands, which means the products featured in the Beauty Heroes boxes usually involve natural ingredients and hand-blended formulas.
Healthy beauty expert (yes that’s a thing) Jeannie Jarnot has almost impossibly high standards where ingredients and efficacy are concerned — and if a brand makes her cut, you know it’s clean, sustainable and lives to every single promise it has ever made.
Every month the focus is on one single brand and you will get one full size ‘hero product’ and 1-2 ‘sidekicks’.
Besides the Ayuna, another of my favorite boxes was the Josh Rosebrook one, with the Daily Acid Toner, Hydrating Accelerator and Tinted Nutrient Day Cream.
Cost: US$479.40 for annual subscription, US$251.70 for 6 months, $137.85 for 3 months, $58.95 for a single month (plus, all subscribers get 15% on products in the Beauty Heroes store)
Petit Vour Plus Beauty Box
Though the Petit Four Plus Beauty Box contains specifically vegan beauty products, it’s equally interesting for non-vegans (me!) as well.
Each month you will get 5-7 travel and full-sized products from conscious beauty brands like Osea, French Girl, 100% Pure, Leahlani and Jane Iredale. All vegan, all cruelty-free, all non-toxic.
You can also go with the regular monthly beauty subscription box but the super-curation of luxe brands in the Plus version is worth the extra dough for me (it’s only US$7 extra).
Cost: US$25 for one month
Margot Elena Discovery Box
Margot Elena is the parent company of Library of Flowers, Love & Toast, TokyoMilk, Lollia and The Cottage Greenhouse, which makes this THE subscription for lovers of products that look, smell and feel super-gorgeous.
The Discovery Box is delivered four times a year — basically, with the advent of spring, summer, autumn and winter — which means you get full size and deluxe samples of the most seasonally relevant beauty treats every three months.
And it doesn’t just stop at beauty… previous boxes have also included some super-luxe stationery, wearables and other lifestyle accessories.
Cost: US$59 for one quarter
Boxwalla Beauty Box
A firm favorite for indie beauty lovers, the bi-monhtly Boxwalla Beauty Box focusses on clean, high performing formulas from small batch and indie brands like Votary and Blüh Alchemy.
Each month’s beauty subscription box contains at least two full size products that focus on natural ingredients, usually from two different brands, with an approximate value of us US$250.
My favorite till date has been the Lovinah box, with its super-generous inclusion of a full size Lovinah Dragon’s Blood Cleansing Oil and Votary Super Seed Serum, along with a 15ml sample of the Votary Intense Night Oil. Total steal!
PS: Boxwalla also has the best customer service amongst all subscription beauty boxes!
Cost: US$49.95 for one month
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