Hey there beauty lover! If you‘re like me, you‘re always on the hunt for the latest and greatest in makeup, skincare, and hair care products. But with so many options out there, it can be hard to know where to start – not to mention, affording to try every new release can seriously strain your wallet. That‘s where beauty subscription boxes come in!
Two of the most popular choices are Ipsy and Boxycharm, but how do you decide which one is right for you? Never fear – I‘ve put both to the test and I‘m here to give you the full scoop in this ultimate Ipsy vs Boxycharm showdown. We‘ll compare everything from pricing and customization to brands and customer reviews to help you find your perfect match.
By the end of this article, you‘ll know:
- The key differences between Ipsy and Boxycharm
- What to expect in terms of products, sizes, and retail value
- Pros and cons based on real customer feedback
- Which subscription is the best choice for your preferences and needs
So grab a snack, settle in, and let‘s dive in to the battle of the beauty boxes!
Meet the Contenders
First, let‘s meet our two competitors. In the pink corner, we have Ipsy! Ipsy was founded in 2011 by YouTube beauty guru Michelle Phan along with her co-founders Marcelo Camberos and Jennifer Goldfarb. Ipsy‘s mission is to inspire self-expression and confidence through the joy of beauty.
Each month, Ipsy sends its signature Glam Bags filled with deluxe samples and full-size products personalized to your profile. It‘s a great way to discover new brands and find your holy grail products at an affordable price.
In the navy corner, we have Boxycharm! Boxycharm was created in 2013 by Joe Martin with the goal of making luxury beauty accessible to all. With their slogan "Beauty, Redefined", Boxycharm promises at least 5 full-size products in every box from a mix of established and up-and-coming brands.
If you love the thrill of unboxing and getting the most bang for your buck, Boxycharm might be your dream come true. But does it live up to the hype? Let‘s find out!
Tale of the Tape: Plans & Pricing
Let‘s start with the nuts and bolts. How much does each subscription cost and what do you actually get? Here‘s a quick breakdown:
| Ipsy | Boxycharm | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | $13/month | $27/month |
| Shipping | Free in the US | Free in the US |
| # of Products | 5 | 5-6 |
| Product Sizes | Deluxe samples & some full-size | Full-size |
| Total Retail Value | $50+ | $125+ |
As you can see, Ipsy is the more affordable option at just $13 per month (including free US shipping) for 5 products that are mostly deluxe sample sizes. You also get a cute, reusable makeup bag with each delivery! Ipsy does occasionally include a full-size item as well.
Boxycharm rings in at $27 per month with free US shipping, but you‘re getting 5-6 full-size products valued at $125 or more. If you do the math, that means you‘re paying around $5 per full-size item, which is a crazy good deal.
It‘s also worth noting that Boxycharm offers discounts if you pre-pay for longer terms, while Ipsy is month-to-month only:
- 3 months of Boxycharm: $26.33/box
- 6 months of Boxycharm: $25.67/box
- 12 months of Boxycharm: $24.92/box
So what‘s the verdict on value? If you‘re looking for the most affordable way to try new products and aren‘t worried about sample sizes, Ipsy is a great pick at just $13. But if you want the thrill of getting full-size items at a major discount, Boxycharm‘s value is unbeatable at $125+ worth of products for $27.
What‘s Inside? Brands & Products
Of course, a beauty box is only as good as the actual products inside. Both Ipsy and Boxycharm include a variety of makeup, skincare, haircare, and beauty tools, but there are some differences when it comes to the specific brands and items.
Ipsy works with over 200 brands ranging from drugstore to high-end. Some examples of brands that have been featured in past bags include:
- Tarte
- Huda Beauty
- Benefit Cosmetics
- Colourpop
- Purlisse
- Ouai
- Youth to the People
- Pixi by Petra
- Glow Recipe
In contrast, Boxycharm tends to feature more prestige and luxury brands like:
- Fenty Beauty
- Tatcha
- Too Faced
- Becca Cosmetics
- Dr. Brandt Skincare
- Natasha Denona
- Farmacy
- Elemis
- Sunday Riley
- Iconic London
Boxycharm still includes affordable and mid-range brands as well, but you‘re more likely to get high-end or "bougie" items in your monthly boxes.
In terms of product variety, both subscriptions offer a good mix, but I‘ve noticed some trends. Ipsy bags seem to include one or two makeup items, one or two skincare products, and one "wildcard" that could be tools, hair products, nail care, or fragrance. Boxycharm, on the other hand, skews more heavily toward color cosmetics – you can usually expect 3-4 makeup products (like eyeshadow palettes, blushes, lip colors, etc.) and 1-2 skincare, haircare, or tool items.
So if you‘re a real makeup junkie, Boxycharm might be your jam. But if you like more of a balanced mix, Ipsy could be the way to go.
Customization & Control
Alright, I know what you‘re thinking: "That‘s great and all, but what if I get stuff I don‘t like or won‘t use?" This is a totally valid concern – after all, no one wants to open their box and feel majorly disappointed. The good news is that both Ipsy and Boxycharm offer some level of customization so you can tailor your boxes to your preferences. However, the level of control differs between the two.
With Ipsy, you start by taking a beauty quiz that covers your skin tone, eye and hair color, favorite brands, and product preferences. Your bag will be curated based on your quiz responses. You can also update your beauty profile anytime to improve your matches.
Each month, Ipsy will reveal some of the products you might receive and let you choose one (for the regular Glam Bag) or three (for the Glam Bag Plus). The rest are kept a surprise until your bag arrives. Here‘s a peek at what the choice process looks like:
[Insert screenshot of Ipsy choice]Boxycharm also has a beauty quiz to better understand your preferences, but historically, they‘ve offered less control over what you receive. In most cases, you couldn‘t choose any of your items. Instead, Boxycharm would curate multiple variations of each box and assign you one based on your profile and inventory.
Recently, Boxycharm has been stepping up their customization game. They now offer "Choice" for one of your items, where you can pick between 3-5 options. You have to log on to your account during a certain window to make your choice, and it‘s first come, first served. There‘s also "Add-Ons" which let you purchase extra deeply discounted products to tack onto your monthly box.
But for the most part, Boxycharm is still more of a surprise compared to Ipsy. Some people love the excitement of not knowing what they‘ll get, while others prefer the comfort of choosing their own products. It‘s all about your personality!
Shipping & Tracking
Now for the boring but essential details. When will your box actually arrive? Both Ipsy and Boxycharm ship to the US and Canada, with US shipping included in the monthly price. Canadians typically pay an extra $5 or so for shipping.
Ipsy usually charges your account on the 1st of the month and starts shipping bags by the middle of the month. Standard shipping takes 7-10 business days, so most subscribers get their Glam Bags between the 10th to the end of the month. You can track your bag via email once it ships.
Boxycharm, on the other hand, processes renewals on the 1st, then generates shipping labels over the next 10 days based on your location. Most boxes are delivered within 5-10 business days from the ship date. You‘ll get a shipment confirmation email with tracking info when your box leaves the Boxycharm warehouse.
Both subscriptions have been plagued by shipping delays in the past, but in my experience over the last year, they‘ve gotten much more consistent with their timelines. I typically get my Ipsy Glam Bag around the 15th of each month and my Boxycharm around the 20th. But your mileage may vary depending on your location and the whims of the postal service.
Customer Feedback & Ratings
You know I love to research before I hit that subscribe button, so I‘ve scoured the web for customer reviews to see how Ipsy and Boxycharm stack up in the court of public opinion. Let‘s look at some data from popular review platforms:
| Review Site | Ipsy Rating | Boxycharm Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Influenster | 4.3 / 5 | 4.6 / 5 |
| My Subscription Addiction | 4.0 / 5 | 3.8 / 5 |
| Highya | 4.2 / 5 | 4.1 / 5 |
| Trustpilot | 2.1 / 5 | 3.8 / 5 |
| Better Business Bureau | A | A |
As you can see, both subscriptions have fairly high ratings across the board, with most customers reporting positive experiences. People consistently praise the excitement of unboxing their bag or box each month, the opportunity to discover new holy grail products, and the unbeatable value for money (especially with Boxycharm‘s $125+ worth of full-size goodies).
However, no subscription is perfect. On Trustpilot, both Ipsy and Boxycharm have lower ratings – but I take these with a grain of salt, since Trustpilot tends to attract more disgruntled customers compared to other review sites. The most common complaints for both subscriptions include:
- Receiving products that don‘t match your profile or preferences
- Getting repeat items or too many products from the same brand
- Slow shipping or missing boxes
- Difficulties with customer service
- Issues cancelling the subscription
Personally, in my 6+ months of subscribing to both, I‘ve been thrilled overall. Sure, I‘ll occasionally get an eyeshadow that‘s not my color or a skincare item I‘m not jazzed about, but that‘s the nature of the beast with any subscription box. And often I end up loving the surprises I would‘ve never picked for myself!
I‘ve only had to contact Ipsy customer service once (for a leaking sample) and Boxycharm once (for a missing box), and in both cases they responded quickly and sent a replacement. But I know customer service can be hit or miss, so it‘s something to keep in mind.
FAQ
To wrap things up, let‘s go over some frequently asked questions about Ipsy and Boxycharm:
Q: How easy is it to cancel each subscription?
A: Both Ipsy and Boxycharm let you cancel online under your account settings. Make sure to do it before the end of the month to avoid renewal.
Q: Do I get to choose my box variation with Boxycharm?
A: No, you‘ll be assigned a box variation based on your profile and the items you chose during "Choice". But you can see spoilers for most of the items in each variation before it ships.
Q: Can I skip a month of Ipsy?
A: Yes! Ipsy allows you to skip up to three months in advance through your account page.
Q: What if I get a damaged or missing product?
A: Take a photo of your damage or incomplete box and email it to the brand‘s customer service. They‘ll work with you to send a replacement.
Q: Are the trials/sample sizes in Ipsy Glam Bag really that small?
A: It depends. Some samples are very generous and last a long time, while others are tiny single-use foil packets or mini tubes. The total value is there, but you might not get a ton of use out of every item.
My Final Verdict
Phew, you still with me? We covered a lot in comparing Ipsy vs Boxycharm, but I hope this helped you parse out the differences to find your ideal beauty box. Of course, I have to give you my honest take as someone who‘s tried both extensively.
If you‘re new to beauty subscriptions and want a low-commitment way to play with new products, go with Ipsy. The $13/month Glam Bag is a super affordable treat that will expose you to all kinds of brands, and you can pick one product each month for a little customization. Plus, the cute cosmetics bags are great for organizing your growing stash.
On the flip side, if you‘re a certified makeup addict who wants the best value and most full-size products for your buck, Boxycharm is a no-brainer. You really can‘t beat 5-6 legit full-size items for $27. Sure, it‘s more of a gamble since you don‘t get as much control over what you receive, but I‘ve found so many new faves through Boxycharm that I never would‘ve tried otherwise.
And there‘s always the nuclear option – just get both! Treat yourself to an Ipsy for those trial-size treasures and a monthly dose of Boxycharm for full-size indulgences. Then you can experience that addictive unboxing high two times a month. Just don‘t blame me if you wind up needing a bigger vanity to store all your new goodies.
I hope this helped you navigate the wild world of beauty boxes to find your perfect fit. Whichever you end up choosing, I wish you all the makeup magic and skincare sorcery. If you want more tea on all things beauty, be sure to check out my other posts here on [blog name]. And let me know in the comments which box you went with and what you think!
Happy unboxing!
[Your Name]
