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 June 2017 (Check out the full Birchbox review)
Number of items: 5
Full-size items: 0
Deluxe size items: 0
Brands featured: Murad, Mellow, Benefit, Davroe, Davines
Categories featured: Skincare (1) Makeup (2) Haircare (2)
Total Value: $40
Favorite item in the box: Davroe Ends Repair
This was the only new-to-me brand in the box, and I was happy that it was a large sized sample, too. The leave-in treatment smells lovely, didn’t weigh down my hair, and is ingredient conscious. It also helped give a little moisture back to my hair and manage frizz.
Ipsy June 2017 (Check out the full Ipsy review)
Number of items: 5
Full-size items: 3
Deluxe size items: 0
Brands featured: NYX, Trust Fund Beauty, TheBalm, City Color, Delectable
Categories featured: Makeup (3) Nailpolish (1) Skincare (1)
Total Value: $26.50
Favorite item in the box: City Color Shimmer Shadow in Cheers to Life
Check out my swatch of this shimmer shadow in the review - it is stunning! This eyeshadow is so impressive! It is intensely pigmented and shimmery! The texture of the formula almost feels creamy, too. (I can't believe it only costs $4!)
Play! by Sephora June 2017 (Check out the full Play! by Sephora review)
Number of items: 6
Full-size items: 0
Deluxe size items: 0
Brands featured: Tarte, Thierry Mugler, Bumble and Bumble, Briogeo, Murad
Categories featured: Makeup (2) Skincare (1) Haircare (2) Fragrance (1)
Total Value: $37
Favorite item in the box: Tarte Tarteguard Tinted Moisturizer in Medium
I've been skippingfull foundationation look on the weekends and going with this moisturizer instead!
Verdict: Even though it has the lowest value, my favorite this month is Ipsy. The eyeshadow plus the bright orange nail polish are two standout products for me. (Otherwise it would have been difficult to pick a 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 June? And what was your favorite product?
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