Shopping for makeup is like chicken soup for the soul. Stepping into Ulta or Sephora and seeing all the new beautiful displays is intoxicating, something I’ll never tire of. My interest in beauty took off during the pandemic–and I’m sure a lot of other folks can say the same. But another fun aspect is subscription boxes, where makeup is delivered right to your door without you having to lift a finger (…except to sign up). Two of the most enormous subscription boxes on the market are Ipsy and Boxycharm. Let’s take a closer look at the individual subscriptions, prices, and content to see which one is right for you.
Before we start, I would like to point out that Ipsy acquired Boxycharm in October 2020, and the two continued operating as separate subscriptions.
WHAT COMES INSIDE
Ipsy offers 5 deluxe-size beauty samples in the original Glam Bag. These are not quite travel-size but not quite full-size either. You’ll get to pick out one of these yourself and everything comes with a cute themed makeup bag that’s different every month. The Glam Bag Plus, meanwhile, has 5 full-size goodies (3 that you choose yourself) that come with a drawstring bag. The Glam Bag X has 8 full size products (also 3 you choose yourself). Ipsy stays up-to-date on the hottest trends and has popular brands like Natasha Denosha, Glow Recipe, Elemis, Peach & Lily, Tarte and Bobbi Brown.
Ipsy offers an online shop where you can browse sales, bundles, offers and perks. The products come in limited quantities, so you need to act fast to secure your picks! Ipsy announces new offers on their Facebook and Instagram pages.
In the base Boxycharm box, you’ll get 5 full-size products, but you won’t get to customize any of these. The premium option includes 6 full-size goodies, and 2 of those you can pick. The luxe box has 8 full-size beauty and lifestyle items, and you can also pick 2 of these. This option includes things like hot hair tools, makeup brush sets and bath products. Like Ipsy, Boxycharm features a lot of the big players in beauty like MAC, Hourglass, IGK, Huda Beauty, Tatcha and Marc Jacobs.
Boxycharm subscribers get access to members-only online shopping events, daily deals and flash sales where you can snag up to 70% off retail prices. These events will be posted regularly to the calendar on the website homepage.
PRICING
Ipsy offers three subscription plans to choose from:
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Glam Bag: $13/month, worth over $50
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Glam Bag Plus: $28/month, worth over $120
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Glam Bag X, a quarterly upgrade to an existing Glam Bag or Glam Bag Plus membership: $58/quarter, worth up to $350
Alternatively, you can sign up for annual billing to pay for 12 months of shipments, which will automatically renew.
Boxycharm also has three plans:
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Base box: $27.99/month, worth up to $200
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Premium box: $39.99/month, worth up to $240
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Luxe box: $57.99/month, worth up to $395
Like Ipsy, you can opt for annual billing to take care of 12 months of boxes, and it will automatically renew.
SHIPPING
Ipsy – Once you purchase your first Ipsy bag, you’re billed right away. After that, it will take place on the last day of the month for next month’s bag. The bag ships about two weeks after that. Ipsy ships anywhere in the U.S (including territories and PO boxes), Canada (including all territories and military locations) and Mexico.
Boxycharm – You’ll be billed for your box on the first day you subscribe. The next payment will be scheduled for the first day of each following month. The box will ship out within 15 days of purchase. Boxycharm ships to all of the U.S. (including territories and PO boxes) and all of Canada. They also ship to all military bases with APO, FPO or DPO shipping addresses.
WHICH IS RIGHT FOR YOU?
Both Ipsy and Boxycharm offer top-notch selections with a different variety each and every month, so quality is no issue here. It all comes down to your budget and how often you’d use these types of products.
Ipsy would probably be best for those who prefer to sample a lot of different brands and like to take things on-the-go since they’re a lot smaller (looking at you, travel lovers).
Boxycharm
Boxycharm is more expensive and the products are bigger, so that subscription may be ideal for folks who are more obsessed with beauty and skincare and go through bottles much faster. No matter what, makeup is for everyone and anyone, so don’t be afraid to test out new things and express yourself!
