Delivered straight to your door, the 10 beauty boxes we’re obsessing over
The outbreak of Coronavirus means we’re only going out when absolutely necessary, so rather than letting our beautifying routines suffer, we’re citing the services that’ll bring the products to you.
By Jenny Brownlees
Beauty subscription boxes offer a perfect, no-stress solution to get your hands on all the best products from your favourite brands, without leaving the comfort of your sofa.
Even without the current staying-home situation, these curated boxes of goodies give you the flexibility to try the latest launches and discover new gems – plus, it can’t just be us who gets excited something arriving in the post? Bills aside, a feel-good package is a surely the pick-me-up we all deserve right now.
Whether you want to satisfy your make-up addiction, are a skincare obsessive or a nail polish aficionado, there’s a subscription that’s perfect for you. Since there are an abundance of different services out there, we decided to share our favourites that will save you time, effort and money. Pampering session, this way…
GLOSSYBOX, from £8.50
GLOSSYBOX provides its subscribers with five must-have beauty products worth over £50 each month, delivered in their iconic and très Instagramable pink boxes. It’s a truly fool-proof investment, as each month is brimming with products from top beauty brands including Huda, ELEMIS, bareMinerals and more. Better yet, plans start from just £8.50 (+P&P) with a package to suit everyone’s desires and budget. Members can also collect GLOSSYCredits, which are redeemable on future boxes or are able to be spent on online beauty retailer Look Fantastic. If that wasn’t enough, you get access to The GLOSSY Lounge – full of exclusive offers, giveaways and competitions with major beauty brands.
This month, GLOSSYBOX are bringing back their limited edition beauty Easter Egg, following a sell-out in thirty minutes in 2019. In three chic pastel colours, it’s full of divine beauty treats worth over £75. As much as we love our chocolate eggs, we think this is far more exciting. At only £25 for subscribers and £30 for non-subscribers, it contains ten products from premium beauty brands St.Tropez, bareMinerals and GLAMGLOW. We can’t wait to dive in.
‘SCENTADDICT’ from The Fragrance Shop, £12.00
If perfume’s your beauty buy of choice, this is the subscription service for you. The Fragrance Shop found that “55% of consumers wear a different fragrance each day, meaning the demand was there for an affordable way to try new scents without the long term commitment of buying a full bottle.” Knowing this, they created the ScentAddict service, allowing you to flirt with a new fragrance for just £12 per month, (including P&P.) Gone are the days of investing a large sum of money in perfume without trying it out-and-about first. There’s an impressive range of over 200 designer scents from brands Viktor & Rolf, Paco Rabanne, Gucci and more, with ScentAddict offering members exclusive discounts, not to mention huge savings. Each month, an 8ml reusable atomiser (which equates to approximately 100 sprays) is filled with your chosen fragrance and delivered direct to your door. If you fall in love with a new scent, there’s more good news – you can redeem the £12 subscription cost against the price of a full-sized bottle either in-store or online.
Beauty Pie, from £5
Next-level makeup, skincare, haircare, body care, fragrance and candles – Beauty Pie does it all. And boy, do they deliver the goods. If you haven’t already heard, Beauty Pie is the members-only club from industry guru Marcia Kilgore, who started the brand with the aim to offer every beauty junkie insider access to shop from the world’s best labs – without the mark up on packaging, promotion, shop overheads or middlemen.
Think of your Beauty Pie membership as the key to an exclusive club, ‘Like the Costco of luxury beauty.’ For a subscription of either £5, £10, or £20 month, you get either a £50, £100 or £200 spending limit on Pie’s premium products, but at members-only prices. You simply add to bag (and trust us, you’ll be adding) and the spending bar will guide you on your savings. Any unused limit rolls-over to the next month, when your limit automatically renews. We’re obsessed with their Super Stem Cell Moisture Shot Serum (typical price £75, members pay £9.94) and Everyday Great Skin Foundation (typical price £30, members pay £12.71) and love that the brand’s Instagram account is a truly interactive community, with members commenting their reviews and founder Kilgore asking for feedback from the #PIEFAM.
Cohorted, £39.99
Cohorted is on the pricier side when it comes to subscription services, but the quality of products makes this the crème de la crème of luxury beauty boxes. For £39.99 per month, you’ll get to trial the trends with the best hand-picked, premium products selected by beauty experts. A great way to discover new favourites, Cohorted contains a secret selection of must-haves from new and established brands, packaged in their elegant all-black boxes. You’ll get a premium curation of skincare, haircare, make-up and fragrance you would otherwise only discover at a high-end beauty counter, with a handy booklet on how to get the most out of your selection. This makes for a lovely gift from you, to you.
Lookfantastic, £15.00
Considered by industry insiders as the beauty box OG, Lookfantastic gives subscribers six beautifully boujie products in every box, worth a minimum of £50 – meaning you’ll be making savings as you shop. Brands range from cult classics to new, niche picks – offering you the chance to satisfy your beauty craving each and every month.
RoccaBox, from £10
Roccabox champion the importance of you-time, by providing a selection of beauty products that allow you to relax and recharge in the comfort of your own home. Their monthly beauty box gives you the opportunity to discover exciting new launches, but also try products before you buy in an easy, inexpensive way. Each month you’ll receive five products – spanning nailcare, skincare, make-up, body care and even hair accessories. What’s more, most products are generously-sized, making the value for money in this box unrivalled. The longer you sign up for, the more you can save, with a monthly subscription starting at just £10.
We were treated to a sneak peek of their brand new HoneyBunni Box, launching this month. Its contents are all vegan and cruelty-free, and we guarantee it’s going to delight. Think of this as your very own, ‘just because’ present through the post.
Birchbox, from £12.95
Birchbox’s Shop features 200 prestige beauty brands, from mainstream bestsellers Benefit, BECCA and Smashbox to our under-the-radar favourites Lumene and Coco & Eve. The subscription is a total treat, allowing you to try a range of these beauty products at home, then buy the ones you (will) fall in love with online at 10% off, (VIPs who’ve been subscribed for 6 consecutive months get 15% off.) Your monthly beauty treats are matched to your skin, hair and style, and packaged in a beautiful keepsake box containing a ‘menu’ all about how best to use the products. Birchbox even provides a features section, to teach you the tips and tricks to master new beauty techniques or update your routine. Membership also gives access to exclusive offers, treats on your birthday, referral rewards and competitions. One month’s subscription is priced at £12.95 including delivery, with three monthly at £38.85. Plus, students get 50% off their first box. We’re sold!
FabFitFun, £50 (every three months)
Taking beauty subscription boxes beyond makeup and skincare, Los Angeles brand FabFitFun launched in the UK this year, and its pick of products has left us seriously impressed. Rather than a monthly box, FabFitFun brings you premium, full-size beauty products four times a year. For £50 every three months, you are treated to £200 worth of products. Members get to choose 3-5 products in their box, and can save between 30% and 70% on exclusive beauty sales. FabFitFun also offers year-round perks including FabFitFunTV, a streaming service that includes on-demand videos on fitness, cooking, DIY and more.
MINTD, £70
If you appreciate the finer things in life, MINTD is the beauty box for you. Expertly curated and full of lesser-known high-end skincare brands such as beauty editor favourites Votary and Sunday Riley, each box offers 4-5 deluxe, full-sized products with a minimum RRP of £160, so you really are getting your money’s worth. At £70 per month, MINTD’s contents will leave your skin glowing. This month MINTD have collaborated with luxury skincare brand Aurelia, so you get free gift worth £48 when you sign up for a subscription. Win-win.
Meebox, £30.00
If you’re a nail polish addict, Meebox offers a box full of nail-art ready goodies curated by nail enthusiasts, for nail enthusiasts. Choose from a variety of polish colours, treatments and wraps, from boxes Femme Fatale, Pool Party, Material Girl and more. There really is something for everyone’s preferred style. For products that will give your nails some much-needed TLC, each box is priced at £30 with no delivery charges. We don’t know about you, but since we can’t get to the nail salon RN, we’re turning our attention to an at-home mani, and the products provided in Meebox’s are just what we need.
Cult Beauty Starter Kit, £30.00
A deluxe edit of beauty superstore Cult Beauty’s bestsellers makes an ideal introduction to some their top-rated skin, hair and makeup essentials. This box offers both full and travel sizes to pamper neglected complexions, alongside two clutch bag-compatible make up must-haves and an undisputed hair care hero. If you usually find yourself wandering the beauty aisles overwhelmed by the choice of products, or unsure what to buy from the vast choice online, this kit is an easy way to try the buys the beauty editors rate, including much-loved brands Living Proof, The Ordinary, NARS, Glow Recipe and more.
Smashbox Nic and Sam Edit, £28.00
We’ve followed makeup artist sister duo Sam and Nic Chapman for many years, from their Pixiwoo YouTube tutorials to their ever-successful Real Techniques beauty brand launch. Now, they’ve created their very own beauty box, filled to the brim with their must-haves. If you’re a beauty box newbie, this pick of products is a great place to start. Not only is every item in this beautifully designed box sure to please, but 10% from the sale of each box will be donated to Breast Cancer Haven and Look Good Feel Better.
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