FabFitFun in 2020
Some of our favorite products, the best brands we saw inside, and our hopes for this subscription in 2021.
FabFitFun is a seasonal/quarterly lifestyle box that has some of the most varied curations of anything we review here at MSA. Literally, you never know what is going to arrive in this one! It is also one of our favorite boxes for treating yourself and others as it is a wonderful way to shop for gifts for those special folks in your life. Because subscribers can choose some of the items in each box, it allows for a level of customization not often seen in many boxes and also allows you to transform this box into more of a skincare box, or more of a home goods box, an accessory box, or even just a great mix of stuff you like! The value here is great too! FabFitFun promises to deliver over $200 worth of trend-savvy, full-size beauty products, accessories, decor, and more every season, though the value can calculate to a lot more than that depending on your choices. In a year where my retail shopping adventures were pretty limited, FFF was a really great way to gift myself and others in my life little treats and surprises!
Gallery: Our 2020 FabFitFun Deliveries
About FabFitFun
The Subscription Box: FabFitFun
The Cost: $49.99/box sent every quarter
The Products: The hottest seasonal items (worth at least $200) selected by the FabFitFun team
Ships to: The US and Canada
What FabFitFun Got Right in 2020
Value
FabFitFun can be hard to quantify in value because the different choice items and surprises you get can cause it to vary! In the 4 seasonal boxes we received in 2020, our values had a range of $266.98-$467 with the average value of the 4 boxes landing at $336.37 (for a total value of $1,345.48). I did have to rely on some listed values for items I could not track down and I do believe some of the prices are a little inflated. But the numbers show a box that does have a lot of value inside, especially when you consider you get to pick some of the items yourself.
Variety
FabFitFun is one of those subscriptions where you might find almost anything inside! From skincare to makeup, cute mugs and bathrobes to tooth whitening kits, literally anything goes. This adds a lot of fun to this box because instead of just getting one type of item in multiples, you get anything and everything.
We received a wide variety of product types in 2020. Here is a breakdown:
- Makeup/Beauty Tools: 3
- Skincare: 7
- Fashion/Accessories: 8
- Bath/Body: 3
- Haircare: 1
- Home Goods: 10
Of course, your totals might look a lot different depending on what you like and your choice picks!
Good Gifting Opportunity
FabFitFun isn't just a "treat yourself" subscription. It is also one of my faves to "shop" from, especially during the holiday boxes. I can literally choose presents for specific people if anything from a category appeals to me as something they might love. This was actually super handy in 2020 when I was leaving the house less. I really leaned into the Winter box being a gift box (though I still totally spoiled myself too!). I could see this being a great quality throughout the year when I consider birthdays, housewarming gifts, and just random just-because gifting for my friends and family.
What I Would Like to See in 2021
I think FabFitFun delivers so many fun things, but I especially love the items from designers and brands I know and recognize. I would like to see this box lean more into items like this for 2021!
I also think there is an opportunity here for the FFF picks to be a little more exciting. Sometimes they are incredible and other times they are just a bit 'meh' and I wonder if it might be more fun to have the choice to pick another single item over the other smaller random extras. What do you all think?
Our Favorite Brands and Products from FabFitFun in 2020
FabFitFun has some real winners this year! My faves include Tula, Botkier, Lily Pulitzer, Avene, and Volition.
Here are a few items that stood out in 2020:
Caravan Diamond Woven Rug
From Liz's Spring 2020 Review:
This was an easy pick for me because I needed a new bathroom mat, and as soon as I saw this was 100% cotton and machine washable, that was that! (Also, I’ve been reviewing boxes for over 8 years now, and this is the first time I can remember a subscription box sent a rug, so props to FabFitFun for keeping things interesting!) I like the geometric print and the white and black colors work well with our bathroom, too. One word of caution – I do recommend getting a grippy rugpad for underneath!
Aria Beauty Luxe Detangling Electroplated Brush – Retail Value $34.99
From Liz's Spring 2020 review:
For this category, nothing was calling my name, so I decided to go with the brush to have a backup for my WetBrush. (Plus the rose gold metallic finish is fancy!) Well, after using this to detangle my hair post-shower, I think it might be even better than the WetBrush! (Or at least at the same level of being able to detangle my hair without pain.)
Business & Pleasure Co. Cooler Bag – Listed Value $59.00
From my Summer 2020 review:
Will and I do a ton of fishing in the spring and summer, and we are always lugging around lukewarm water since we have never invested in a decent cooler. Well, I guess we will be enjoying chilled refreshments from now on! This cooler bag is just plain cute! I love that happy yellow stripes and the heavier canvas fabric. The inside is lined in a plastic that will keep everything chilled and the canvas strap feels very sturdy. I love that this is also a great size for a lunchbox if you tend to take an oversized meal with you (as Will always does!).
Isaac Mizrahi Loves xo, Sienna Vase – Listed Value $28.00
From my Summer 2020 review:
Since I will likely be working from home for quite a while, I have been taking an extra-long look at my office space and trying to make it, well, prettier! This vase grabbed my attention because I loved the pale pink and white combo, and I thought the chubby design was very cute. I am excited to stash spring and summer flowers inside to brighten up my office.
Botkier New York Bond Tote – Retail Value $128.00
From my Fall 2020 review:
I am a sucker for a tote and this one looks downright classic. Admittedly, I would have preferred leather, but I actually already own a leather tote and I can’t argue with how easy this one is to spot clean if need be. Inside there is a large zipper pocket as well as two pouches for your tech or lipsticks. The straps are plenty long so I can toss them over my shoulder and go.
Volition Beauty Celery Green Cream, 1.7 fl oz – Retail Value $55.00
From my Fall 2020 review:
This was an easy pick for the skincare hoarder inside my brain. I have always found Volition formulas to be nice and soothing, and free of lots of things that cause me redness or irritation. This gel-cream formula is so soothing! It is packed with skin goodies like celery seed, green tea extract, and raspberry fruit extracts that are all super high in antioxidants. You will also find lactic acid (a gentle exfoliant), cucumber, and glycerine inside. This feels a little heavier than I expected, but I don’t mind. It is also nicely cooling, making it very appropriate for the summer sun. It has a light and clean scent and is free of alcohol and essential oils.
Summer & Rose Cozy Robe – Retail Value $70.00
From my Winter 2020 review:
I was really, really tempted to select this robe for myself, but with it being so close to Christmas, I did make a few gifting choices in my assortment this month. This robe was one of them. My mom has been wanting a super plush robe for a while now, so I snagged this for her in the Plus size option. While this will be a gift, I still tried it on. It feels like wearing a cloud and it’s just the right amount of oversized.
TULA SKINCARE Rose Glow & Get It Cooling & Brightening Eye Balm – Retail Value $30.00
From my Winter 2020 review:
This was another ‘me’ pick. Hey, the whole box can’t be gifts! I really like TULA and they make some fantastic eye sticks. This one has a very subtle pearl shimmer to it that serves to brighten the undereye while inside, goodies like caffeine, aloe, watermelon, rosewater, and rosehip oil add hydration and strengthen that delicate and often dull skin. The stick is super easy to use and adds instant coolness to my skin with just a few pats!
Changes to FabFitFun in 2020
FabFitFun announced a security issue in September 2020. FFF sent emails to those subscribers affected, but if you need to know more, read our post here.
FabFitFun launched FabFitFun reFills in October 2020. This new subscriber perk allows you to select from an assortment of skincare and other items that they will deliver to you every season, automatically, at a massive discount. Curious? We have deets here!
Who do I recommend FabFitFun for?
FabFitFun is an excellent box for someone who likes a broad mix of skincare, makeup, and lifestyle items. If you are into variety, this is the box for you! It would also be ideal for anyone who likes to gift shop through their subscription boxes and for subscribers who prefer a quarterly delivery cadence over a busier monthly option.
What were your fave FabFitFun products this year? Let me know in the comments!
Did you have a favorite box this year? Show it some love by casting a vote in The 2021 Subscription Box Awards!
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