The 5 Best Beauty Subscription Boxes, Vetted By Our Beauty Editors

Forbes

2 days ago

Beauty subscriptions are a great way to try different products from both established and smaller indie brands that you may not have picked up for yourself while browsing. These services, like our top pick for best beauty subscription box from BeautyFix By Dermstore, deliver a curated selection of travel- and full-size products right to your doorstep. While most options offer a nice mix of makeup, skincare and haircare products, some subscriptions, such as Scentbird, specialize in fragrance.
The best beauty subscription boxes allow you to try different skincare and haircare products for an ... More affordable price. ILLUSTRATION: FORBES/IMAGES: RETAILER
To narrow down the list of winners, I considered the overall value for each subscription, brands included, categories covered, product sizes and quality of formulas before making the final selections. 'These boxes are great for those who are too busy to spend hours in Sephora testing products,' says makeup artist Alexa Rae Johnson. 'They allow you to try new things you may not have picked up or formulas you may not have thought worked for you.' From an expert-curated assortment to a fragrance subscription service, here are the best beauty subscription boxes in 2025. Our Top Recommendations Best Beauty Subscription Box Overall: BeautyFix By Dermstore
Best On-Trend Beauty Subscription Box: Allure Beauty Box
Best Fragrance Subscription Box: Scentbird
Best Variety Beauty Subscription Box: Macy's Beauty Box
Best Value Beauty Subscription Box: Ipsy Glam Bag
Subscription period: Monthly, 3-month, 6-month, 12-month | Product size: Travel-size, full-size | Value: Over $100
What you'll love: Travel- and full-size products
Great variety of brands and formulas
Flexible cancellation
Keep in mind:
BeautyFix By Dermstore earned the top spot on our list for its affordable price, great assortment of products, and mix of travel and full sizes. For $25 per month, subscribers will receive five or more products from top brands like Korres, R + Co, Oribe, Tocca and more. Shipping is free after your first box, and we like the fact that there's a nice mix of makeup, skincare and haircare. Plus, you can cancel your subscription at any time.
Allure Beauty Box
Subscription period: Monthly, 3-month, 12-month | Product size: Sample-size, full-size | Value: Over $100
What you'll love: Products handpicked by industry experts
Three affordable plan options
Includes beauty products and tools
Keep in mind:
Each item in this beauty box is curated by a beauty editor, so you can rest assured that you're getting the best of the best. All boxes ship free, and notable brands that you might find include Tower 28, Glow Recipe, Olaplex, Tatcha and more. There are three plans to choose from, and you can cancel at any time.
Subscription period: Monthly | Product size: 8ml | Value: 130 sprays
What you'll love: More than 700 fragrances and colognes to choose from
Includes both designer and lesser-known brands
Features a 30-day supply
Keep in mind: Each 8ml bottle includes about 130 sprays
Perfumes and colognes can be pricey, and each scent can change or smells slightly different from person to person, which is why it's important to test a fragrance before committing to a full-size bottle. Here's where Scentbird comes in: You receive a 0.27-ounce designer fragrance every month that's handpicked based on your scent profile (fill out a quiz to get started, and re-take it as your preferences change). Scentbird has more than 700 fragrances and colognes to choose from, and you can pause or cancel your subscription at any time.
Subscription period: Monthly | Product size: Sample-size, full-size | Value: $46
What you'll love: Wide variety of skincare, makeup and fragrances
There's a coupon and a surprise item in each shipment
Fun, seasonal themes for each box
Keep in mind:
Most beauty boxes include skincare or makeup, but Macy's Beauty Box stands out because it includes skincare, makeup and fine fragrances—making this one of the more well-rounded options available. Many of the boxes are centered around a theme (for example, a seasonal refresh or glam date night), so the products included feel relevant and work well together. Subscribers also get a coupon for their next beauty purchase, plus a surprise item that fits the box's theme.
Subscription period: Monthly or quarterly | Product size: Deluxe size samples, full-size | Value: $70 to $270
What you'll love: Affordable plans
You can choose one (or more) products in each shipment
Deluze-size samples and full-size products
Keep in mind: Can only upgrade quarterly
Ipsy lets you discover new brands for less than $15 per month, making this an excellent value with some customization options. The Glam Bag, which is the entry-level subscription, gives you five deluxe-size samples, and you can choose one product in your bag. The other plans—BoxyCharm ($32 a month) and Icon ($65 a quarter)—allow you to choose up to three full-size products in each shipment. Like other options in this guide, you start by completing a questionnaire to help personalize each box.
At Forbes Vetted, we've researched and written dozens of skincare stories, including ones about the best face moisturizers , vitamin C serums , hyaluronic acid serums and more.
To narrow down our options for the best beauty subscription boxes, our editorial team tapped into our market knowledge and extensive testing experience, highlighting reputable brands that send high-quality beauty products right to your doorstep. We considered the price for each subscription, product sizes, quality of formulas and overall value before making our final selections.
The makeup artist we spoke with made recommendations based on her professional experience, while customer reviews were examined for standout product traits. As everyone's budget looks slightly different, we included a wide range of prices.
All the products selected for this story were also reviewed and approved by Sung.