11 Best Beauty Subscription Boxes 2021

We all know that self-care is important, especially for us busy parents and in uncertain times. Self-care that’s delivered right to your front door makes it even easier to take some time to put on a face mask (the fun kind) or try a new lip product. Here are our 12 top beauty subscription boxes that’ll help give you a “glow up,” even in the midst of bedtime battles, homework negotiations, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

1. Birchbox

A well-known and popular beauty box subscription option, Birchbox creates custom boxes based on users’ preferences listed in the profile they create after joining. Monthly boxes feature makeup, skincare, and haircare samples from prestige and niche brands, and you can easily purchase full-sized versions of any favorites. Subscribers get free shipping for those purchases, plus $1 in Loyalty Points for every $10 spent in the Birchbox Shop. Birchbox Grooming offers a similar type of subscription box filled with more male-centric products like beard washes and oils and hair pomades.

Related: Best Travel-Inspired Subscription Boxes for Families

2. Allure Beauty Box

This subscription box from the popular women’s magazine features at least five editor-tested and -curated makeup and beauty samples from luxury and indie brands worth at least $50. (Boxes also sometimes include bonus freebies from mass-market brands.) Priced at $15 a month, each Allure Beauty Box also includes a mini-magazine with beauty tips, product reviews, and exclusive offers. Subscribers can skip a box or cancel at any time, and new members receive a bonus gift with at least a $15 value. Purchase a one-year subscription and you also get a free “Mega Bundle” featuring 25 products valued at more than $254.

3. FabFitFun

You’ve probably seen FabFitFun subscription boxes pop up on your social media feeds or promoted by a favorite celebrity. An annual subscription of $179.99 sends out four seasonal boxes each year, which are valued at around $200 and filled with full-size, premium products from brands like Tarte, Rodial, and Skinvolve. Members get to choose up to five of the eight to 10 products in each box and also get access to exclusive sales and promotions.

4. BeautyFIX by Dermstore

Skincare junkies might want to sign up for the BeautyFIX by Dermstore subscription box. Annual subscriptions cost $24.95 per month for monthly boxes valued at $100-plus, featuring at least six expert-picked premium and prestige products in either full or deluxe travel sizes. There’s an emphasis on skincare, but boxes can also include makeup and hair care product samples. Subscribers can also get special savings and offers on full-sized versions of products they want to purchase.

6. Glossybox

Each month Glossybox fills its signature pink boxes with five premium beauty products worth more than $60 from brands like Floss Beauty, Avant, and Steve Laurant. Subscribers can choose one-, three-, six-, or 12-month plans with prices starting at $21 a month. Members also get info on beauty trends and tips and the opportunity to earn “GlossyCredits” for use toward future purchases by answering surveys.

7. Macy’s Beauty Box

For $15 a month, Macy’s Beauty Box delivers five deluxe samples plus one bonus item in a stylish pouch for holding all your new self-care treats. Samples are chosen by Macy’s beauty experts and tied to a monthly theme. Subscribers also get coupons for at least $5 off their next in-store or online Macy’s beauty purchase with each box, plus access to online videos that show you how to use the products in each month’s package.

8. FaceTory

If you’ve been curious about the world of K-beauty (otherwise known as Korean beauty products), consider a FaceTory subscription. Options include an intro-level plan that features four face masks a month, a monthly “lux” plan ($19.90 each month) offering seven sheet masks plus one or two bonus items, or a seasonal “lux plus” subscription ($49.95 per season) that sends members five to six skincare products and five to six sheet masks. All products are cruelty-free and tested by company experts.

9. Walmart Beauty Box

On a budget? The Walmart Beauty Box is a good option for looking good at a low cost. Pay just $5 for shipping and handling for each seasonal box, which is sent out four times a year and filled with free samples from beauty brands sold at Walmart stores and Walmart.com. Boxes also include helpful tips and information on products and are a fun way to try out the whole beauty box concept at a minimal price.

10. Kinder Beauty Box

The Kinder Beauty Box lives up to its name. Available in three- and six-month subscriptions, the monthly boxes include an array of vegan and cruelty-free makeup, skincare, and haircare products, including at least two that are full-sized, from brands like INIKA Organic and Andalou Naturals. The box itself is made of 100-percent recycled materials (packing materials inside the box are too) and is biodegradable and compostable. Even the ink used for the company logo is an eco-friendly, soy-based option. And a portion of sales each month gets donated to animal rights and environmental causes like the ASPCA and Los Angeles County Animal Care Foundation.

11. Lip Monthly

Want to put your money where your mouth is? Try a Lip Monthly subscription box. Monthly subscriptions starting at $12.95 a month feature four full-sized glosses, balms, stains, or other lip products from both niche and big brands valued at more than $50. Or take things to the next level with the Lip Monthly PLUS Box ($19.95 a month) and get six or seven products in each delivery. And if you like what you get, you can earn points for future purchases by referring friends.

Related: Best Subscription Boxes for Kids

Beth Luberecki is a Florida-based freelance writer who writes about travel, business, and lifestyle topics for a variety of publications and websites. She enjoys exploring destinations close to home and farther afield with her husband and teenage daughter. Visit her website at bethluberecki.com or find her on Instagram at @bethluberecki.

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