Beauty subscription boxes have existed long enough for all of us to get burned once. A random foil packet here, a mystery perfume you’ll never wear there, trauma. But the good ones? The ones with full-size products, thoughtful curation, and zero “gift-with-purchase” energy? They’re basically monthly serotonin deliveries.

Here are the beauty subscription boxes that are actually worth it. The ones that feel like a treat instead of a monthly disappointment you forget to cancel.

IPSY Glam Bag Plus — $28/month

IPSY’s upgraded tier is the closest thing to a custom beauty box you’ll get. Full-size products, brand variety, and a shockingly good sense of what you’ll actually use.

Perfect for: people who want the excitement of surprise without the chaos.

Subscribe: www.ipsy.com

BoxyCharm (Base Box) — $30/month

BoxyCharm is for makeup people. Full-size palettes, lipsticks, highlighters, and the occasional truly excellent skincare moment. High reward, minimal risk.

Perfect for: people who treat Sephora like a playground.

Subscribe: www.boxycharm.com

BeautyFIX by Dermstore — $75/month

This one is skincare heaven. Clinical, derm-approved, not fluffy. Retinol, serums, moisturizers the good stuff.

Perfect for: people who know the difference between hyaluronic acid and glycerin.

Subscribe: www.dermstore.com

Allure Beauty Box — $25/month

A cult favorite for a reason: editor-approved products, luxury samples, and frequent full-size surprises. Skincare-heavy, but in a good, adult way.

Perfect for: people who want a little luxury without crying at checkout.

Subscribe: beautybox.allure.com

Which Box Should You Actually Get?

For makeup: BoxyCharm or IPSY Glam Bag Plus

For serious skincare: BeautyFIX

For luxe but not expensive: Allure

Beauty subscription boxes only work when the curation works, and these are the ones that consistently deliver. Everything else is just a monthly reminder that sample tubes are forever haunting us.

Written by: Wika Soto-Hay