Discovering new beauty products is a challenge right now. We're in an unprecedented time where IRL retail experiences have come to an abrupt halt and finding beauty products is happening exclusively online. Here at Who What Wear Beauty, we're committed to introducing you to the best hair, makeup, and skincare products in the game, but we understand that there's nothing like sampling and swatching things for yourself to see if you really like them.
Although shopping for our favorite items online is nothing new (we do it all the time), samples are an integral part of the beauty discovery experience. That's where skincare subscription boxes come in. These membership programs offer intermittent shipments of curated samples to introduce you to beauty items you haven't heard of yet or maybe just to keep you stocked up on minis to use for travel. Either way, they're a fun way to get new beauty products into your regimen without spending hundreds.
Now, more than ever, these handy boxes are the perfect solve for sampling beauty products before taking the plunge and purchasing the larger versions. To find out exactly which options are worth the coins, we tapped our Facebook community of readers from the Who What Wear Insiders group to get their thoughts on the best beauty boxes out there. Ahead, check out the nine they raved about most.
BeautyFix by Dermstore
The perks: Each month you'll receive a curated selection of full- and travel-size products worth at least $100. You can also purchase individual boxes without subscribing for $35.
Insider intel: WWW Insider Jen told me that she's a longtime subscriber of this box: "I have reactive skin so I set aside the things I want to hold off on trying and space all new products out about a week so I know what I'm having a reaction to, if I have one. I love it though!"
Sample spotlight:
This clean, ulta-hydrating night cream targets hyperpigmentation issues with an encapsulated algae complex to even out the complexion without lightening unaffected areas.
This firming, puffiness-reducing eye cream is one of our favorites. It has caffeine, resveratrol, peptides, and Viniferine, which all work in tandem to lift and firm the eye area.
This fruit acid peel sloughs away dead skin cells using, purée, lactic acid, and other fruit acid AHAs.
FabFitFun
The perks: This hefty box contains over $200 worth of fashion, beauty, and lifestyle products. You'll receive a shipment every season containing tons of full-size products to add to your routine. Membership also gains you access to fitness content, box add-ons, exclusive sales, and more.
Insider intel: Many members of our community commented on vast number of products that are included in the box, some even pointing out that it can get overwhelming. But as WWW Insider Whitney points out, you can hack this box and use it for gifting. "Once I got how to do the customization and add ons I was golden," she told me. "Literally got all my teacher gifts, grandma gifts, and MIL and sis gifts from their add on’s in the winter box!"
Sample spotlight:
This sea salt bath soak is one of my absolute favorites. It's lightly scented with eucalyptus to help you achieve deep relaxation.
This luxe cream supports your skin's natural collagen by infusing it with amino acids and ultra-hydrating hyaluronic acid.
This pulsing silicone cleansing brush has 1300 intricate touchpoints that help draw out impurities, gently remove dead skin cells, and unclog the pores of dirt, oil, and makeup.
Play! by Sephora
The perks: If you like to keep a consistent stock of minis on hand for travel or to learn about new products, this might be the subscription for you. For just $10 per month, you'll receive six samples valued at just over $20. Sephora also keeps a selection of the boxes available for one-off purchases in case there's a specific one you want to see without committing.
Insider intel: While some did complain about how small the samples are here, Insider Jessica is a fan. "Sephora play is my favorite. Lots of good samples for cheap," she says.
Sample spotlight:
This gentle sugar scrub also features strawberry and black currant fruit extracts as well as grape-seed oil for smooth, hydrated skin.
This moisturizer earns high marks from those who prefer rich cream formulas. It supports your skin's barrier and imparts intense hydration via rare African oils and a ceramide complex.
Argan oil is a multi-use beauty product we love for our skin and hair. This organic option from Josie Maran is one of the best we've ever tried.
Petit Vour
The perks: Petit Vour showcases only the best nontoxic, cruelty-free, and plant-based beauty products. Each month, you'll receive four products valued at over $50.
Insider intel: Surprisingly, Insiders who responded to our query didn't mention PV. But since we know our audience is super interested in clean, vegan beauty products, we knew it was worth mentioning.
Sample spotlight:
This hydrating cream keeps your skin quenched from head to toe. It smells minty and fresh and contains sustainably harvested bladder wrack seaweed, vitamins, and minerals that promote skin elasticity.
This natural, foaming cleanser combines African black soap with a luxe combination of oils to thoroughly clean the skin without stripping it.
Pacifica is an OG vegan and cruelty-free brand with a robust offering of makeup, skincare, and bodycare products. This blurring primer smooths the skin while controlling oil with cherry extract.
FaceGenius
The perks: Instead of a monthly collection of random samples, FaceGenius builds you a custom skincare routine based on specific data about your skin. It sends you its SkinScanner, a high-tech camera that attaches to your phone to analyze your skin and prescribe a skincare regimen based on the results. For a monthly fee, it'll monitor your skin's progress, tailoring the routine as you go, and refill your products as you run out.
Insider intel: None of the Who What Wear Insiders mentioned this relatively new service, but it's such a cool, customizable option that we just had to share it.
Sample spotlight:
These gel eye patches are seriously soothing and instantly minimize under-eye puffiness.
This water-based moisturizer is perfect for those who prefer the hydration imparted by hyaluronic acid over the outer moisturizing effects of oils. It attracts moisture to lock in hydration and plump up the skin.
This serum visibly lifts and firms the skin using polyamine growth factor and eggshell membrane, which moisturize and plump form the inside out. It also uses encapsulated retinol to exfoliate and refine fine lines and wrinkles.
Birchbox
The perks: Birchbox is perfect for the subscriber who wants to discover new products and brands to add to their beauty repertoire. Each month, you'll receive a mixture of deluxe samples of the best hair, makeup, and skincare selects, along with helpful tips on how to use them.
Insider intel: "I subscribed to Birchbox for a few months years ago," Insider Hannah says. "I really liked trying new brands and ended up discovering some of my favorite products from it."
Sample spotlight:
This invisible sunscreen not only provides incredible SPF protection but also acts as a makeup primer. It smooths onto the skin with ease with no greasy residue or white cast.
If you've never tried this lactic acid skin serum, now is the time to give it a go. It targets a number of imperfections like fine lines and wrinkles, pores, and dark spots all at the same time. Aside from the AHA element, it also contains brightening licorice, lemongrass, and calming prickly pear extract for an all-in-one skin treatment.
This nighttime oil features a luxe blend of botanicals oils like lavender, squalane, and evening primrose to smooth and refine the skin while you sleep.
Birchbox Limited Edition: Clean Beauty 2.0
The perks: Aside from its regular monthly deliveries of sample-size products, Birchbox also curates deluxe boxes of full-size products centering around themes like clean beauty, women-owned brands, you-time, and more. The value is unreal since you get a collection of products that specifically serve your interests—in full sizes.
Insider intel: Our community members didn't specifically call out this box, but Birchbox lovers will be able to appreciate the value and utility of this elevated offering from the subscription service.
Product spotlight:
This gentle cleansing gel provides great slip without stripping detergents. It has seaweed, vegan lactic acid, and a plant-based probiotic to cleanse, resurface, and balance the skin. Plus, it's totally clean.
If you're a lover of clean beauty, then you probably already know about UK-based skincare company, Pai. Among its most beloved products is this luxurious, concentrated, organic rose-hip oil that smooths and detoxifies the skin.
The hyaluronic acid night cream delivers moisture deep into the skin to plump it up and improve bounce and elasticity while your skin regenerates overnight.
Beauty Heroes Beauty Discovery
The perks: Each month, natural beauty retailer Beauty Heroes shines the spotlight on an emerging clean beauty that adheres to its strict list of ingredient standards. This means that, among other things, the brand of the moment doesn't use any GMOs or ingredients banned in the U.S., Europe, Japan, or Canada, nor does it perform any animal testing. On top of this, the monthly delivery contains full-size products valued around $100 as well as an information card to get acquainted with the presented brand.
Insider intel: Our community members didn't mention this box either, but knowing that many of you are natural-beauty lovers, we knew you'd want to know about this awesome means of discovering clean beauty.
Product spotlight:
This gentle, all-natural exfoliator resurfaces the skin both chemically and physically. It employs AHA fruit acids, finely ground bamboo, and jojoba esters to safely renew the skin.
Josh Rosebrook is another brand Beauty Heroes has featured that's beloved for its signature botanical formulas. This day cream features organic sea buckthorn, burdock, ginkgo, neem, rose hip and chamomile, and zinc oxide sunscreen.
This gentle, detoxifying cleanser hails from Ravanat, an Ayurvedic-inspired line that was featured in a previous Beauty Heroes discovery box. The balm cleanser uses superfood manjistha and a mix of botanical ingredients to remove impurities from the skin while hydrating and balancing at the same time.
Allure Beauty Box
The perks: This monthly box features eight editor-approved hair, makeup, and skincare products curated by Allure's team of beauty connoisseurs. Each delivery will also include at least two full-size products.
Insider intel: "I subscribe to the Allure box and have been with it for three years plus," Insider Juju told me. "I decided to keep Allure for the value and size of products. In comparison [to other subscription boxes], Allure is more generous."
Sample spotlight:
K-beauty lovers, here's a product you need to know about. It's a bouncy, lightweight cream with nourishing coconut oil, artemisia extract, and berry extracts to nourish the skin and protect its delicate moisture barrier.
This color-correcting treatment cream helps neutralize redness caused by rosacea and sensitization by calming the skin with a protective layer of centella, herbs, and minerals.
This hydrating mist is a French pharmacy favorite for a reason. It imparts moisture and alleviates redness and irritation with a soothing antioxidant water that's present in all Avène skincare products.
Up next, 19 highly praised products our beauty editors rave about.
