Holiday Gift Guide: Subscription Boxes

What do you get someone who has it all? I always get major anxiety shopping for friends whom I think of as trendsetters, because I never know if my gift will be “old news” to them already, or just not exciting. That’s why giving the gift of a subscription box monthly delivery is perfect when you are just all out of ideas but want to impress.

In the past several years, a plethora of subscription box services have popped up, offering a range of different items sent to you for a low monthly price, and you usually get way more than you pay for. Many have monthly, 3-month, 6-month and yearly bundles, making it the gift that will keep on giving.

I’ve tried several of these across genres, and these seven are some of my favorite based on the value and quality of products you receive every month.

1. Boxycharm – Beauty – $21/mo
This is my very favorite subscription box I’ve tried. The biggest thing that sets it apart is that they always send you full-sized products, and you won’t have to hoard packet samples that you’ll never use. I’ve received everything from full palettes to bottles of hair serum, all that have been well-loved in my routine. They incorporate many well-known brands, but once in a while will throw in awesome high quality indie brands. Every single box of products has a much higher value than what you pay, so it’s money well spent each month.

2. Popsugar Must Have – Lifestyle – $39.95/mo
The Popsugar Must Have Box has something for everyone! With goodies from beauty and accessories, to food, to books to home decor, you’ll get a whole new slew of things every month that keeps you in style and entertained! You’re mostly getting products from high-end brands and so again, this is a great value for what it is.

3. Glossybox – Beauty – $21/mo
This monthly beauty subscription is dedicated to high-end and designer beauty. With a mix of full sized products and deluxe samples, you get a nice taste of the good life without having to break the bank. When I was subscribed, I found the selection to be mostly color cosmetics and skincare, with fragrance samples here and there.

4. Beauty Box 5 – Beauty – $12/mo
As one of the more inexpensive subscription boxes, Beauty Box 5 delivers five beauty products in each box— from my experience, they range from makeup, to skin and hair care to beauty tools that were mostly from indie brands. Every now and then I’d be surprised with a hot new drugstore item. You usually break even in terms of the cost of the box, since on average they send 1-2 full sizes with the rest being samples.

5. Prospurly – Lifestyle – $44.95/mo
For the entertainer in your life, Properly sends 6-8 artisan products including gourmet foods, handcrafted bath & body essentials, and awesome gifts and games. This one’s definitely a grab bag (or, box) of new types of gifts each time, so you’ll never be bored.

6. Try the World – Food – $39/mo
For the ultimate foodie, Try the World delivers 7-8 delicacies from a new country every two months! Curated by expert chefs from their country of origin, it’s like you get to go on a culinary vacation and expand your cultural palette. You’ll even get a Culture Guide with the story behind each product, recipes to make the items and tips to best enjoy them.

7. ipsy – Beauty – $10/mo
For the true makeup junkie, ipsy will send 5 makeup items, both full size and deluxe samples, plus a new makeup bag every month! You’ll always get well known brands and the most on-trend products to add to your routine.