Which Monthly Beauty Box to Gift
If you’ve been thinking about gifting someone a monthly subscription to one of the beauty boxes out there, you, like me, might be trying to figure out which one would be the best fit. Thinking about my experience the past year, here’s a quick guide I put together to make it easier for myself.
Glossybox is a great fit for someone who’s interested in trying high end or trendy brands that might not even be in stores yet. A great way to hear about new products from unfamiliar brands. Many of the selections I received had just launched and the only way to buy was through their website. The items also tend to be larger (though still travel size) and higher-end with a nice sprinkling of Bulgari throughout the year. $21 a month.
See recent boxes: November   October  Favorite box of all time
Birchbox provides more affordable beauty samples, mostly from well known brands. Items retail for a little more than drugstore prices, so it’s a great opportunity to test out slightly nicer products without an upfront investment. Whereas Glossybox will send a $149 facial cream that I love but can never afford, Birchbox helps you figure out if the splurging on a $30 item is worth it.They also offer points redeemable for discounts for taking short surveys and purchasing items through their store. Only downside is the selection of brands sometimes feels limited.  $10 a month.
See recent boxes: November   October  Favorite box of all time
Sample Society by Beauty Bar might strike the best balance between the two. They offer higher end selections than Birchbox, but also offer more familiar brands than Glossybox, with a smattering of newcomers thrown in. Like Glossybox, the sample sizes also tend to be more generous. Each box also comes with a $15 off $50 purchase, so if you like any of the items in the box, there’s a discount for getting a full size. $15 a month. (If you want to give me referral credit, please use savings code KERI2337 at checkout)
See recent boxes: November   October  September
Note: I might receive points for subscriptions purchased via some of the links above, but the opinions expressed, as always, are completely my own 🙂
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I decided on birchbox for myself and one friend. I may give Sample Society to another just for a comparison. How small are the samples in Birchbox? Is it enough for a week? 2 weeks?
It depends on the product. For face creams, they’re usually little packets, for hair, etc it’s usually at least a week’s worth. Lip gloss is often full size.