Ipsy, Allure, Sephora, or Birchbox?
For the last year or so, I've been getting the $10 monthly subscription boxes that all compete with each other: Ipsy Glam Bag, Allure Beauty Box, Sephora Play!, and Birchbox. Each one offers the same subscription idea: -trial sized product samples in: cosmetics, skincare, haircare, grooming, or fragrance. -somewhat customized (or so they claim) for the needs and likes of each subscriber -automatic shipment monthly -information on each product, how to use it, etc I'm going to break down each one in depth to help you decide which one (if not all) works best for you. Warning: I have not seen any brands that are ONLY available in certain boxes. What I mean is, nothing I've seen is "Birchbox only" or "Ipsy subscriber only"... keep that in mind, as I say this, I am sitting on three Ciate liquid eyeliners that came to me within a few months of each other in one box or another. There's only so much makeup you can use at a time. Remember that- because I have enough skincare samples and eyeshadows to start my own cosmetics counter at this point. And that brings me to a good point: What the hell do you do with the stuff you don't like, don't want, didn't try, etc.? For me, I have given them away to readers, to family, and donated them to women's shelters. DO NOT throw them away. Someone out there could use them. Pay it forward! Now, let's talk about each program. Ipsy Glam Bag: Overall: I like Ipsy. It's one that I'll keep indefinitely. Here's why: What I love: -Every month, you get a bag full of samples. -Usually, it's 5 products ranging from cosmetic brushes, skincare, cosmetics, hair care, you name it. -I do notice that I've received more brushes in this subscription than any other program. (Maybe you like that, maybe you don't. I have received some of my favorite brushes from Ipsy.) -Ipsy seems to be more on the fun side than some of the others as far as selection. I get a lot of bold colors here. -Ipsy has a points program that allows you to earn bonus products for referring friends, reviewing products, points for each purchase, and more! I get a bunch of points because I review frequently. -There is a wealth of information available online with Ipsy. -You can often buy the full size product at a discount after getting the sample in your bag. -$10 and totally worth it. -Cash back on certain products from that month's bag. What's meh: -Several repeat products over the last year... which is great- IF you loved the product. If you don't, it's kind of like- "Oh, you're here again?" -Packages have arrived opened before- or missing products. (Ipsy has been great about sending new ones out but sometimes, they run out and can't give me what was supposed to be in the package.) -You get a new cosmetic bag EVERY month. For someone who has a need for these, I guess it's wonderful- but I've been an Ipsy member for 15 months now. I have 15 cosmetics bags from them, and no, they aren't super high quality- but they don't break before the next one comes. It's kind of excessive and wasteful. I haven't liked the style of every one of them. It's a nice extra- again- if you can put them to good use. -A few of the items make NO sense for me. If the products were truly customized 100% of the time, I'm certain I wouldn't get nearly as much of one thing or another than I have. I happen to love eye colors and lip- but not so much blush and highlighter- but damned if I don't get a new one every month or so. I can't use them fast enough before I get another one! What totally sucks: -I'm really not a fan of the packaging. The metallic mailer has come to me opened a few times. Products aren't protected as well as other packages, and they arrived ruined. -Not all sample products are available to purchase. In the case of one of my favorite items (outlined below) I'd be inclined to buy SEVERAL of them in various colors- but Ipsy doesn't sell them. Bummer. All in all, I really love Ipsy. I've found a TON of products that I have added to my "can't live without it" list as well as other products that I may have spent a fortune to try that I'll NEVER buy again. This is a really affordable and fantastic way to test out some products that are insanely expensive in the full size options if you're not going to love them. I'm also non-committal to any one cosmetic brand- so it really expands your horizons to try new things. One of my favorite items actually came in my August bag- the Hikari eyeshadow that was included was SO gorgeous and compliments my eye color (green) so well. It's a great shade that adds depth and smolder to my night time look. It's blendable and super pigmented too. LOVE! If you'd like to try Ipsy, click the image to be taken to the site. (affiliate link)
Allure Beauty Box: Overall: Not bad. I could give or take it. Here's why: What I love: -$10 box (or sometimes $7.50?? It depends on what page you click) for the first box just like the others. (then it goes up to $15) -Comes in a nice, shiny red cardboard box that unlike the Ipsy bags, I can find good use for these. (Actually, one Allure box actually holds all my UNUSED Ipsy bags. It's kind of funny if you think about it. All those unused Ipsy bags will be delivered in an Allure box to a women's shelter soon.) -Each month, coupon codes for some of the full size versions of your samples are included in the box. The codes are on each page of a brochure that outlines details of how to use the product and where to buy it. -Allure.com offers a ton of cool makeup tips and tricks as well as articles about other trends and information in the beauty realm. -Some full-size products mixed in with trial sized. They claim you get up to $90 worth of products in each box. -You get a free gift when you sign up. (I quit Allure for a minute due to issues with the website and updating my credit card on file- this month, I started again and got a gorgeous matte lipstick included in my box.) -7 products in this month's box. What's meh: -You can't buy the products on Allure.com at all. -After the first box, it's $15. -It's not customizable. -No reward points for continuing your subscription. -It's kind of more...how do I say this... *serious* than the rest of them. The box feels more grown up and more 'rounded' in many beauty categories versus being more cosmetic or skincare. What totally sucks: -No shopping on the site means no reward points. -The website is very NON-user friendly. Multiple login attempts, hard to get referral code, not sure how to track how many referrals I get. Weak referral rewards. (The current offer is a "free full size Mally volumizing mascara" when your friends sign up... but there's no way to see who, if anyone signed up. When do I get the mascara? Is there a limit? Will it ship with my next box or by itself?) -I'm still trying to find out how to refer people... So far, I have found a link in my email to spread the word. That link generates a pop up, the pop up asks me to sign it, then it makes THIS link... but who knows if that works? All in all, I would love this box a lot more if I could know what is going on with the website and referrals. Since referrals are kind of my thing, it's important to know who is joining because I shared. I really hate that they seem to have dropped the ball on that. I also think because it's a comparable product to the other boxes but is MORE expensive, it should offer something more than the other programs do. With rewards points missing, you aren't really being rewarded for your loyalty to the box. If they could fix this, the box would be SO much more valuable to me. If you decide to give this box a try, please let me know because I want to see how many Mally mascaras I do (or don't get). I love Mally products and I'd love to have a stockpile of them for free. :p
Sephora Play!: Overall: It's pretty good!
What I love: -It's Sephora... aka makeup Mecca. -$10. All the time. -It comes with bonus Insider Points (you collect points toward free products) Just bring it into your local Sephora and have them scan it into your account. Yes, these add up, and YES it's worth using them. Use points on purchases to get extra samples and bonus products sent to you with every regular Sephora online order. Totally awesome rewards too that range from 100 points for a skin mask to a bazillion (not really, but lots) for things like jackets, designer sunglasses, and a trip to Paris. Yep. Paris. Save those points! -Videos, how to articles, SO MUCH information on what you're getting in each box. -Did I mention that it's Sephora? So you know they have all the things. So that you can go back online and buy the things. Pretty, pretty things. #thisiswhyImbroke -I feel like Sephora is on the pulse of trend and this box is just super fun. I get really excited when this one comes. From the newest Kat Von D fragrance to that bad-ass Stila cream shadow you were eyeing... yeah... I was too... anyway, chances are- it's in this bag. -Everything you buy, including the box, earns you Sephora points. Points means free stuff. Free stuff means happy. Happy, happy, happy. What's meh: -That fucking fabric bag it comes in. More below. What totally sucks: -Enough with the 'collectible bags'. Sephora's aren't like Ipsy's. These are always a cottony or silky drawstring bag. (Similar to a jewelry pouch) Not big enough to store much of anything. I repurpose them with scent booster beads and throw them in drawers, between couch cushions, and in clothing storage bins to keep them fresh. BUT STILL... how many of these fucking things do you need? At least with Ipsy, they actually close and are literal cosmetic bags. These don't hold anything securely unless you knot them. -If you get referral points for friends signing up for Play!, I don't know a thing about it.
Apparently, Sephora is also psychic or telepathic. They must have heard my screaming in my mind about the stupid and useless bag. Either that, or many others were also bitching about the insanely unusable sack-like pouches... So they launched two more programs that feature bags too, just slightly less-useless ones this time around. I hope to try the luxury subscription when it's not sold out. Not for the bag, but for the brands... More below:
Anyhoo... I love Sephora (if you couldn't figure that out) and this month's Play! was not a good example of how awesome it can be. But, here it is anyway. May not be the most awe-inspiring, but for 10 bucks, that lipstick makes it worthwhile all by itself.
BirchBox: Overall: The O.G. subscription box takes the cake... but it's close between Sephora and Ipsy. I love you, BirchBox. I'll never leave you. I promise. BirchBox was the cherry-popper on the subscription box addiction I now have. At first, I was like- why do I need to pay for sample-sized products. But now I understand. Thank you, BirchBox. Thank.you. What I love: -$10. -Because it's the O.G., I feel like it's got some pretty new and slightly obscure brands that you might not know about yet. In fact, I'd venture far enough to say that BirchBox is making brands. Like Tommy Mottola did in music- BB produces superstars. Thinking back to Deco Miami polish (that I la-la-la- love) and this Winky Lux green (yes, it starts off green) PH-reactive disco ball glitter gloss that turns hot pink when you put it on... (My inner 8 year old is so tickled by this gloss, I bought a 4 pack) Yeah... BirchBox makes products into must-haves or total flops. I feel like this box is where you go for a big break- and those of us that are adventurous in beauty care LOVE this. -A good mix of cosmetics, skincare, haircare, and fragrance. -Kind of customizable. -Minimal surprised "why the hell did they send me this shit?" type of responses. (Twice in 18 months) -So much fun happens- but in a surprise way. I feel like I open this box and say- "Cool," "cool," "meh," "ok," and "holy shitballs, this is awesome!!!" And that isn't bad at all for $10. -Most of my beauty loves of my life came in this box originally. -You can buy the products you try right on BB's site. -Mucho informaccion about the sample sized awesomeness. -No shitty bag to toss away- instead, you get a colorful, totally reusable box that is worthy of gift giving. -Kind of like FabFitFun, BirchBox now offers discounted items as add-ons for the monthly boxes. -Referral program on point. You get points on purchases, points on friends joining, and those points mean dollars off on full size products. And we already learned how much FREE means when it comes to beauty. Give us all the free, amirite? Here's my link, and please and thanks: https://www.birchbox.com/invite/j1kks What's meh: -Not much, though occasionally my samples can be boring. But again, there's that one product in each mailer that just does me in. What I hate: -Absolutely nothing.
To recap, Birchbox takes the cake- followed by a tie between the dual shitty useless bag clubs of Sephora and Ipsy, and Allure is in third place- mainly because their website is the worst Goddamned thing ever. Tell me what you think in the comments!