The Birchbox vs Ipsy vs Sephora post series compares my Birchbox and Ipsy subscription every month to give you a good idea what you can expect from the three most popular beauty subscription boxes. (And since all 3 boxes are $10 a month, it seems fair to stack them up against each other).
If you are interested in finding other great beauty boxes, check out our Top 31 Beauty Subscription Boxes for 2017!
FYI – I pay for these subscriptions, and as a regular customer, I get one of many variations available each month. So while one month alone might not be enough info to make a decision, looking at the results over several months should give you a good picture of what to expect with each box.
Birchbox May 2017 (Check out the full Birchbox review)
Number of items: 5
Full-size items: 0
Deluxe size items: 0
Brands featured: Ouai, Coola, Clarins, MAC, Manna Kadar
Categories featured: Skincare (2) Makeup (2) Haircare (1)
Total Value: $26.50
Favorite item in the box: COOLA SPF 50 Sport Fresh Mango
COOLA makes the best scented sunscreens! If you love tropical, fruity scents, I recommend checking out their line. (I just wish my sample was larger!)
Ipsy May 2017 (Check out the full Ipsy review)
Number of items: 5
Full-size items: 2
Deluxe size items: 1
Brands featured: Urban Decay, Luxie, City Color, Pixi, South Mane
Categories featured: Makeup (3) Tools (1) Haircare (1)
Total Value: $47
Favorite item in the box: Pixi by Petra Endless Silky Eye Pen in Black Noir
I see a lot of black eyeliners in subscription boxes, and this one really impressed me!
The “silky” part of the name of this eyeliner is accurate – it just glides on. The pigment is stunning, too. You’re not going to get super accurate precision, though. (Even sharpening the pencil provided a pretty thick line.)
Also, excellent staying power! No smudges after I let it set for a few seconds.
If if you’re looking for a bold statement eyeliner – I recommend it. (Not good for barely-there looks!)
Play! by Sephora May 2017 (Check out the full Play! by Sephora review)
Number of items: 6
Full-size items: 0
Deluxe size items: 0
Brands featured: Tata Harper, Rahua, Trestique, MILK, Clean Fragrances, Grande Lips
Categories featured: Makeup (3) Skincare (1) Haircare (1) Fragrance (1)
Total Value: $38
Favorite item in the box: Tata Harper Resurfacing Mask
This box was worth it for this sample alone.
This mask is a gel that dries and tightens as you wear it for 20 minutes. I didn’t think I noticed a difference at first after removing the mask – but then I touched my face. My skin has NEVER been smoother!
It gets great reviews for helping with acne, too. (And smells so natural and lovely!)
Verdict: My favorite this month is Play by Sephora. The samples in Birchbox this month were small, and the MAC mascara was a bust, so it was out of the running. Ipsy was a good contender, but I'm really loving my Tata Harper Mask, and MILK Makeup Blur Stick (a new discovery for me), so Sephora is the winner this month!
Of course, my favorite box varies every month, so here are my general suggestions for which box to pick:
Birchbox: Birchbox allows you to pick one of your samples or the curated box for each month, so if you want to have a little more control over your box, this is a good choice. They also have a ton of great high-end brands. If you are concerned about the value of your boxes, I recommend going for the curated box each month - the values with those boxes seem to be consistently good.
Ipsy: This will likely be the highest value out of all 3 boxes every month. It's also the best of the 3 if you are looking for full-size items. The one thing to keep in mind is that Ipsy samples both high-end, mid-tier, and drugstore brands, so you're going to get a mix of price point brands.
Sephora: I recommend this box for the brands - if Sephora carries the brand, it may appear in the box, which means they have a ton of inventory to pick from, and you're going to get great brands across the board. Sample sizes may be small for some products, but you get 5 beauty samples PLUS a fragrance sample.
What was your favorite box for April? And what was your favorite product?
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