Beauty Subscriptions for a College Budget
By: Sophia Pei ‘22
Want to explore new beauty products but don’t have the time for retail? Shopping for beauty products can be a pain with a hectic college schedule and LA traffic. Solution: try out the my favorite subscription services that deliver sample and full sized products straight to your dorm.
Ipsy
Only $10 a month, Ipsy is a beauty subscription bag that lets you try 5 sample-sized beauty products each month. Each bag is personalized based off of your beauty profile where you can let the curators know what type of products you would like to try.
Pros: The packaging is super cute and the little makeup bags each subscription comes with are super versatile. They not only are great for travel sized beauty products but also make great pencil cases. Furthermore, the Ipsy review system is great not only so you can get some experience reviewing beauty products but also because your reviews affect what products you’d likely get in the future, allowing for further personalization. I also love that each month’s bag is themed.
Cons: One complaint that I have is that this bag ships out typically the 2nd or 3rd week of the month rather than the first week. Additionally, the bags often do sell out causing new members to wait a month before they can join. Furthermore, the customer service isn’t as great as the next two.
Some of my favorite testers from my bags:
Laura Sanchez Moods Eyeshadow (Rose Gold Woman)
I AM IN LOVE WITH THIS SHADE. It blends super well and is simply beautiful.
Yensa BC foundation
As someone who favors skincare over makeup I love BB and CC creams and this foundation is both!
Want to try Ipsy? Click here!
Birchbox
At $10 a month Birchbox let’s you try 5 deluxe sized products worth $20-$40. Each month you can choose between a personalized curated box or a choice box where you get to choose one of samples. I love Birchbox because it focuses more on skincare rather than just cosmetics.
Pros: I’ve found that Birchbox carries a greater range of options than Ipsy. As a college student who mostly has 9AM classes, I don’t have time to put on makeup every morning and would much rather invest in healthy skin rather than cover-ups. Though the products do tend to be small, I like that I get to sample a lot of products; since I don’t wear makeup that often, usually the products included do last the entire month (if not longer). Also Birchbox caters to the other half of the population too. Check out their grooming box for men!
Cons: Not as much customization/personalization as I would like. There’s also a lot of packaging so it’s not the most sustainable option.
A few of my favorite products from my Birchboxes:
BLAQ Peel Off Mask ($29 for full sized)
I love peel off masks. This charcoal mask is perfect for getting rid of acne without over-drying the skin.
My Clarins RECHARGE Relaxing Sleep Mask (full sized is $27)
This overnight mask smells SO good and makes your skin super smooth and glowy.
Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Botanic Cleansing Oil
Great for getting off the day’s makeup as well as simply cleansing the face. It’s perfect if you tend to have dry or sensitive skin.
Want to try Birchbox? Visit https://www.birchbox.com/invite/FIGHTON
FabFitFun
At $49.99 per season (3 months), Fabfitfun contains $200-300 worth of products. Unlike Birchbox and Ipsy, Fabfitfun gives you 8-10 full sized products. Want to get get the box for only $29.99? Use code FIGHTON40 on check out!
Pros: While the sample-size products are nice for exploring a range of options, the quarter-annual full sized products cuts down the clutter in limited dorm space. It’s my favorite out of all the subscriptions services because the level of customization and choice. While the other subscription services are personalized to your beauty profile, Fabfitfun lets you directly choose what products you want in your box. If you prefer surprises or don’t have time to choose, you can simply wait for the box to arrive. The range of products from makeup to wellness items to jewelry and clothing is quite refreshing. Their customer service is also amazing! Honestly even just getting one or two of products makes the price completely worth it.
Cons: It is slightly on the pricier side if you’re thinking per box, but this box definitely gives you the most bang for your buck.
My favorites from the 2019 Spring Editor Box:
Yumi Kim’s Hanging Train Case (58$)
I love the design. It’s such a pretty shade of sakura pink with a beautiful floral design that’s absolutely perfect for spring. It’s surprisingly spacious and is perfect for travel.
this works deep sleep pillow spray ($29)
As someone with chronic insomnia, this product honestly has helped so much. It may be just the placebo effect but I love the lavender scent.
Want to try Fabfitfun? Get 40% of your first order using the code: FIGHTON40 at check out!
Final Thoughts
I love all of these services. For a greater variety of sample products I would recommend Birchbox or Ipsy but for less clutter and value I prefer Fabfitfun. Honestly, getting boxes full of customized lifestyle, cosmetic, and skincare products is just so fun. Not only are these great investments for self-care but they also make great gifts! I hardly ever shop in retail beauty stores anymore (it stresses me out) and I’m perfectly happy with that.
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