Are Beauty Subscription Boxes Worth It?
The pitch is always the same: pay a fraction of the retail price, get a box of curated beauty products every month, discover new favorites. The reality? It depends on your budget, your bathroom storage, and how honest you are about what you actually use.
We compared five of the most popular beauty subscription boxes on what you pay, what you get, and whether the math works out.
The Five Boxes at a Glance
| Box | Monthly Cost | Products per Box | Advertised Value | Full-Size? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IPSY Glam Bag | $14 | 5 | Up to $70 | Mostly deluxe samples |
| Birchbox | $25 | 5-6 | ~$80 | 1 full-size, rest samples |
| BoxyCharm (IPSY Extra) | $32 | 5 | Up to $200 | All full-size |
| FabFitFun | $79.99/season | 6 | Up to $350 | All full-size |
| Allure Beauty Box | $25 | 6+ | $100+ | 3+ full-size |
IPSY Glam Bag: Best for Budget Discovery
Cost: $14/month (shipping included)
At $14, IPSY is the cheapest option here. You get five deluxe-size samples in a themed makeup bag and pick one product yourself through a personalization quiz. The mix is usually skincare minis, lip products, small primers, and the occasional hair sample.
IPSY claims each bag is worth up to $70, putting the value ratio at about $4.60 per dollar spent. But subscribers regularly report that usable value is closer to $30-$40 once you toss the random brushes and palettes from brands you have never heard of.
Verdict: Worth it if you enjoy sampling. Skip it if you prefer full-size products.
Birchbox: The Middle Ground
Cost: $25/month ($22/box on annual plan)
Birchbox includes 5-6 products per month: samples, travel sizes, and one full-size item. They also offer a Signature tier at $50 every other month with 4 full-size products. Birchbox leans toward skincare and haircare over makeup. Expect moisturizer sachets, shampoo minis, and one anchor product.
At $25, that one full-size item needs to carry the value. If it is something you would have bought anyway, the box pays for itself. Their loyalty program (10 points = $1 toward products) sweetens the deal over time.
Verdict: Good for skincare-curious subscribers. The annual plan at $22/box makes the math work better.
BoxyCharm (Now IPSY Extra): Best Value
Cost: $32/month
Five full-size products every month, with the ability to choose three of them. Full-size palettes, serums, foundations, and tools from a mix of established and indie brands. Over a six-month analysis, the average retail value landed around $135 per box.
At $32 for $135 worth of product, you are paying about 24 cents on the dollar. The catch: you need to actually use at least two items to break even. Brands tend to be subscription-friendly names clearing older shades or formulas.
Verdict: Best if you want full-size products and enjoy experimenting. Cancel when the unopened pile grows.
FabFitFun: More Than Just Beauty
Cost: $79.99/season ($64.99/box on annual plan)
FabFitFun ships quarterly and is not strictly a beauty box. Each seasonal box includes 6 full-size products spanning beauty, wellness, home, and accessories. Annual members customize everything; seasonal subscribers pick 4 of 6 items.
FabFitFun claims up to $350 in value, but that includes things like throw blankets and tote bags. If you only care about the beauty items, you might be paying $80 for two or three products you wanted. The annual plan saves about $60 per year.
Verdict: Worth it if you like lifestyle variety. Not worth it if you want beauty products only.
Allure Beauty Box: Best Curation
Cost: $25/month ($21/month on annual plan)
Curated by Allure magazine editors, each box includes 6+ products with at least 3 full-size items. Expect brands like Charlotte Tilbury, Tatcha, and Sunday Riley. The full-size-to-sample ratio is one of the best at this price point.
At $25 for $100+ in products, the value is competitive. But curation is subjective. Some months feel like a gift. Others feel like inventory clearing.
Verdict: Best for people who trust editorial picks and want quality at a fair price.
What You Actually Use (The Honest Math)
Most subscribers use about half of what they receive. Research shows about 45% of beauty box subscribers go on to purchase full-size versions of products they discovered. That means more than half the items end up gifted, tossed, or forgotten.
Here is the real per-product cost when you factor in usage:
- IPSY: $14 for 5 products, use 2-3 = $5-$7 per product used
- Birchbox: $25 for 5-6 products, use 2-3 = $8-$12 per product
- BoxyCharm: $32 for 5 full-size, use 2-3 = $11-$16 per product
- FabFitFun: $80 for 6 items, use 3-4 = $20-$27 per item
- Allure: $25 for 6+ products, use 3-4 = $6-$8 per product
Allure and IPSY give the best per-product value. BoxyCharm wins if you count full-size product quality.
When to Cancel
You have a backlog. More than two months of unopened products means you are paying for clutter.
You only like one item per box. Buy that one product at full price instead.
You have found your routine. Once you know what works, discovery boxes lose their purpose.
You forgot you were subscribed. If the credit card charge surprises you, that is your answer.
The Bottom Line
Subscribe for 3 to 6 months, discover products, then cancel and buy the winners at full size. For budget discovery, IPSY at $14/month. For best value, Allure at $25/month. For full-size products, BoxyCharm at $32. For lifestyle variety, FabFitFun quarterly. Birchbox works best on the annual plan.
Your bathroom drawer has limits. Respect them.