10 different beauty subscription boxes… which one is the best?

Wondering how you can try trending beauty products from hundreds of brands without the eye-watering price tag?

This guide will tell you everything you need to know about beauty box subscriptions, how much they cost, what you’ll get, and which are our favourites.

We’ve got the lowdown on our 10 favourite beauty boxes to help you decide on the ideal subscription for you. Keep reading to discover our top boxes for trending beauty, luxury products, eco-friendly brands and more.

Whether you’re a beauty pro or just looking to up your self-care game, monthly beauty subscription boxes are a fun way discover new favourites.

You can get carefully curated boxes filled with beauty must-haves, beautifully packaged and delivered straight to your door. What's not to like?

Beauty boxes are generally bought on a subscription basis, although you can sometimes buy them as one-off purchases.

You’re likely to get better value for money if you subscribe, as many companies offer a slight discount on each box bought through a subscription. In many cases, the longer you’re tied in, the more you’ll save overall.

The best trending beauty subscription boxes

If you’re a beauty box beginner, you might want to start with one of the boxes in this section. They each offer a wide range of popular products (usually in smaller sizes), so you can try lots of different things for a relatively low cost.

Who will like it? People in their twenties and thirties who want trending beauty, particularly make-up.

GLOSSYBOX subscribers get to try out the latest beauty must-haves, from Grace & Stella eye masks to Daily Concepts silicone scrubbers, all for a reasonable price.

These monthly beauty boxes contain a range of skincare, hair care and body care treats. They’re particularly good for trying make-up products, from cheek tint and face primer to lip products.

How does the subscription work?

GLOSSYBOX beauty box subscriptions are flexible, with the option to purchase a one-month rolling subscription which can be cancelled or paused at any time.

You can opt for a 12-month subscription and pay for monthly, or pay upfront for a three, six or 12-month subscription.

This will slightly reduce the price of each box (three months will cost you £12.92 per box, six months is £11.50 per box and it's £10.83 per box with the 12-month option).

What’s good about it?

A GLOSSYBOX subscription is a great way to try trending, new products each month without being faced with a hefty price tag. The small product sizes mean you get to try out a sample of a product before buying a full-size version.

Are there any cons?

Nearly all of the products in each GLOSSYBOX are samples or travel-sized, which you can’t usually buy elsewhere. This might make you question whether you’re genuinely getting £50 worth of value from each box.

Other subscription services offer full-sized products at an overall discounted price in their beauty boxes, making it easy to see the value you’re getting.

Who will like it? People who want trending beauty, particularly skincare.

LOOKFANTASTIC are passionate about bringing trending products to their customers, from Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream to REN AHA Glow Tonic.

You’ll also get to try popular make-up products like Ciaté London highlighters, as well as sheet masks from the likes of Beauty Pro.

The products are often travel-size but not always. Past full-sized beauty products have included an Umberto Giannini scalp scrub and an Australian Bodycare tea tree oil.

How does the subscription work?

Just like GLOSSYBOX, LOOKFANTASTIC offer flexible one-month rolling beauty box subscriptions, which can be cancelled or paused at any time.

Choose the best plan for you out of their one, three, six and 12-month subscription plans. Delivery is free with 12-month plans and on any other order over £25. If you're buying a one-off box and nothing else, delivery will cost you £3.95.

Paying upfront for longer will reduce the price you pay for each box (three months will cost you £14 per box, six months is £13.33 per box and it's £12 per box with the 12-month option).

What’s good about it?

A LOOKFANTASTIC subscription is perfect for any beauty lover looking to try out the latest products as soon as they launch. They also offer really great limited edition unboxed collections and mystery boxes.

Are there any cons?

LOOKFANTASTIC’s beauty boxes are very similar to GLOSSYBOX (in fact, they’re owned by the same company).

You get different products in each one, so they’re not identical by any means, but GLOSSYBOX is slightly cheaper. If you were to pick one based on price, you might want to go with GLOSSYBOX over LOOKFANTASTIC.

Roccabox

Who will like it? Anyone looking for a general introduction to trending beauty. They're particularly good for students as there are discounts to take advantage of.

With a Roccabox subscription plan, you can enjoy some of the latest beauty releases from a range of premium and discovery brands. Items include hair products, make-up and skincare from the likes of Beauty Pro, Eyeko and Daily Concepts.

From lip products like gloss and lip tint to pillow spray, product selection is carried out by their team of beauty experts. You’ll get a variety of full-size products and sample sizes too.

How does the subscription work?

Choose a rolling monthly contract (which you can cancel at any time) or pay upfront for a six or 12-month subscription.

Unlike other upfront plans, Roccabox don't offer a discount per box if you choose to lock in. You'll also have to pay a shipping fee of £3.95 per box.

What’s good about it?

A Roccabox subscription is a great way to discover new brands at a reasonable price. Past boxes have claimed to be worth over £180, which is definitely decent value for money.

Each Roccabox has a theme, which can make the box feel more cohesive. Past themes have included Wake Up and Make Up and Rest, Relax, Reset.

Are there any cons?

It’s quite hard to find a con for Roccabox when the value is this good (we’re talking £15 for a beauty box worth up to £100).

However, their minimum value guarantee is only £65 per box, so it could be that some boxes aren’t worth as much as others.

You also have to pay a £3.95 shipping fee per box, which will add up if you’re getting one delivered every month.

OK! Beauty Box

Who will like it? People who want to know exactly what they’ll be getting in each box, including the product sizes and monetary value. Readers of OK! Magazine may also be fans, as you get a voucher to redeem for two free copies.

With an OK! Beauty Box subscription, you’ll receive a themed box of beauty goodies each month.

Past boxes have included the Hit Refresh Edit and the Best of British Edit, featuring brands like Aromatherapy Associates, Kate Somerville and Pixi.

You can also sometimes treat yourself to an OK! Mystery Box at the checkout, although this is subject to availability.  These boxes are generally a little cheaper than the usual monthly edits, too. When we checked, we saw a Mystery Box available to buy for £12.50.

How does the subscription work?

Each OK! Beauty Box costs £15 with free UK delivery. You can pause, skip or cancel your subscription at any time, with no minimum commitment required.

In fact, OK! make it as easy as they can for you to cancel your subscription with no hassle. They’ll give you 10 days' notice of your upcoming payments, so you’ll never be taken by surprise by a bill.

Boxes will be cheaper if you're able to lock-in and pay upfront. Three months upfront means you'll pay £14 per box, six months will cost you £13 per box and it's £12.50 per box with the 12-month option.

What’s good about it?

We also love their transparency. Each beauty box is clearly described both on their site and in the leaflet they include with your box. They not only tell you what products you’ll get, but also the size of the product and how much it’s worth.

And if all that wasn’t enough, they also provide information about the benefits of each beauty product, how to use it and why their team loves it.

Are there any cons?

They’ll really push for you to add extra products to your order, so you’ll need to have a strong resolve!

When we ordered an OK! Beauty Box to try for ourselves, they tried to entice us with three separate offers during the checkout process: First, they offered a Mystery Box for £12.50, then the Step Into Spring beauty edit for £15, and finally a lucky dip mystery beauty product for £4.95.

If you’re easily swayed by a bargain, you might find your basket total quickly climbs as you accept these extra offers.

The best eco-friendly and vegan beauty boxes

Whether you only buy vegan beauty or you’re just trying to make more eco-conscious choices, there are some fantastic beauty boxes out there that might suit you.

The Natural Beauty Box

Who will like it? Eco-conscious shoppers looking for natural, cruelty-free beauty.

Past products have included the Awake Organics Brightening Serum and the Lucky Cloud Skincare Hydrating Super Body Balm. You may sometimes receive anti-animal cruelty make-up products too.

They also offer a plastic-free box every quarter, which you’ll automatically receive if you’re a monthly subscriber (or you can buy them on their own).

How does the subscription work?

You can buy a one-off Natural Beauty Box or pay upfront for a three, six or 12-month subscription.

When you pay upfront for three months, you'll pay £23.70 per box, six months upfront means you'll pay £23 per box and it's £22 per box when you pay for 12 months. Whichever option you go for, delivery is always free.

What’s good about it?

If you want to make your beauty routine more eco-friendly, The Natural Beauty Box could be your answer. You can trust all of the products have been ethically sourced and carefully curated by people passionate about clean beauty.

If you’re not keen on having your products chosen for you, there’s also the option for you to curate your own pick-and-mix box of three or four clean beauty products (three products will cost you £15 and four products will cost you £20).

Are there any cons?

Because the focus is on natural, cruelty-free and vegan beauty, you might not have heard of many of the brands featured in your monthly box.

However, this doesn’t mean they’re not fantastic products, or that you won’t fall in love with something completely new.

Who will like it? People looking for premium beauty that’s cruelty-free and vegan, with no harsh chemicals.

Featured brands include Huda Beauty, Benefit Cosmetics, MZ Skin and Marc Jacobs. Cohorted beauty boxes are sometimes designed to showcase one particular brand. Previous edits have included Color Wow, Monuskin, Avant and Laura Geller.

Each box has a minimum guaranteed value of £100, with a mix of full-size and mini products.

How does the subscription work?

A Cohorted beauty box subscription will cost you £39.99 per month on a rolling monthly contract. Shipping is free for all UK customers and you can cancel at any time.

What’s good about it?

Cohorted send you natural, vegan and cruelty-free products that are all free from harsh chemicals. Their packaging is also 100% sustainable and ethically sourced.

Cohorted often release subscription boxes on their online shop towards the end of the month so you can buy them without a subscription too.

You can also collect loyalty points when you create an account, make a purchase or refer a friend. These points can be redeemed as discounts on future purchases. Enter free competitions to win bundles like the Aromatherapy Associates prize bundle worth £280.

Are there any cons?

You pay a month in advance for your Cohorted box, so if you sign up in January, your first box will be the February edition. This means you can’t just pick and choose which months you’ll pay for based on the contents of the box, despite Cohorted being a monthly rolling subscription.

They also don’t reveal the contents of each box before you receive it, which could be positive or negative, depending on whether or not you like surprises.

The best beauty boxes for self-care indulgence

Check these out if you’re looking for premium products. While the beauty boxes in this section are pricier than many of your other options, they do offer excellent value for what you spend, so don’t rule them out.

Who will like it? Frequent buyers of beauty products, and anyone looking for a high-quality quarterly beauty subscription box.

You’ll receive four beauty boxes each year, with a combined value of more than £300. Each curated Beauty Drop box comes filled with a range of beauty classics and cult favourites.

Past products including MZ Skin sheet masks, Dr. Barbara Sturm Anti-Aging Body Cream, Kiehl’s Creme de Corps and an Augustinus Bader foaming cleanser.

How does the subscription work?

A Liberty Beauty Drop subscription will cost you £25 per month with free shipping on each quarterly box.

You’ll pay a total of £75 per box (£25 each month for three months), but you’ll get £60 of that back in store credit to spend on Liberty.

What’s good about it?

A huge bonus of a Liberty Beauty Drop subscription is that the money you spend on your membership fee each month doesn’t just disappear.

You’ll get the majority of your subscription fee back in vouchers to spend on more Liberty products. You’ll pay £25 per month and receive a £20 Liberty London voucher each month (this is why we've said the value of each box is equal to £75 plus £60 worth of store credit!).

If you’re someone who regularly buys beauty products, this is a really good way to get the most value for your money. You can spend your credit at any time, which means you can save it up to use on a big purchase if you want to.

As a Liberty Beauty Drop member, you’ll also get access to members-only offers and rewards, plus free delivery on all beauty orders.

Are there any cons?

The products in each Liberty Beauty Drop subscription box are all sample and travel-sized, which could make you question the genuine worth.

However, a year’s worth of boxes has a combined worth of more than £300, and considering the £20 store credit you’ll receive each month, you’re definitely getting great value.

TOYL (Time Of Your Life)

Who will like it? Women over 40 looking for beauty products that celebrate them.

With premium brands like Aromatherapy Associates, Kate Somerville and REN, there will be a mix of names you’ve heard before and those you haven’t (which is all part of the fun). What’s more, every product you receive will be full-size or luxe travel-size, so you don’t have to settle for tiny sample bottles and sachets.

How does the subscription work?

You can subscribe to TOYL on a rolling monthly basis, or go for a three, six or 12-month subscription. Delivery is always free of charge.

A one-off box will cost you £49.99, but all other subscription types equate to paying £39.99 per box.

What’s good about it?

TOYL work hard to make sure the brands they work with are ethical and sustainable.

Many of their beauty brands are certified cruelty free and they have recently introduced a few vegan brands. None of the products in any TOYL box will have been tested on animals for the UK markets.

While surprise is all part of the fun of beauty boxes, the team at TOYL understand that nobody likes to spend money on something they won’t use. Because of this, TOYL share a preview of the contents of each box on their blog on the 18th of every month.

You’ll then have until 6pm the next day to pause or cancel your subscription if you don’t want to receive that particular box. Simply resume your subscription within the next month to make sure you receive the next month’s box.

Are there any cons?

TOYL subscriptions are pricey and they don’t offer a discount when you pay for your monthly beauty box subscription upfront. However, with each box worth around £100, you get a lot of value for what you pay.

Best beauty boxes for gift-giving

These boxes are particularly great for giving as gifts to loved ones as they make a lovely self-care treat for anyone (including yourself!).

ToppBox

Who will like it? ToppBox boxes make great grooming gifts for men.

The contents of each box will have a value of between £50 and £70 and past brands have included Nip + Fab, Cornerstone and Anatomicals.

How does the subscription work?

With a ToppBox subscription, a grooming box will be delivered to you or your recipient every two months. The subscription costs £34 per cycle, so you’ll pay £34 every other month.

Shipping is £3.95 per box and you can pause, change or cancel the subscription at any time.

What’s good about it?

Each ToppBox is specifically tailored to the recipient based on answers to a short profile quiz. If you’re ordering for yourself, this will be easy, but it may involve a bit of thought if you’re buying a box for someone else.

Questions you’ll answer include which age bracket they fit into, their skin type and what level of facial hair they maintain.

Are there any cons?

The value of each ToppBox varies between £50 and £70. If you’re buying a £34 box that’s worth somewhere in the region of £50, you won’t be getting as much value for money compared to some other boxes.

You also have to pay a shipping fee. In light of the costs, ToppBox might be better for one-off gifts than a rolling subscription.

Oh Mumma

Who will like it? Oh Mumma boxes make great gifts for new, experienced and expecting mums, offering flexible subscriptions for all preferences.

Founded by two mums, Oh Mumma are all about finding a way to make taking time for self-care a bit easier.

Oh Mumma boxes offer a variety of mid-range and premium brands, including Cultured Biomecare, Benefit Cosmetics and Living Proof. All of the products have been hand-picked and most are full-sized.

The Oh Mumma box comes once every two months and will contain a range of luxurious skincare products, hair care, bath and body products and other beauty treats. You can choose whether you want to add a baby product to each box too.

You can also build your own Oh Mumma beauty box by selecting all the individual products you want it to contain.

Products include body wash, bath oil, body butter, nail polish, dry shampoo and more, from all your favourite brands (including This Works, Dr Paw Paw and Bloom & Blossom). You can also add baby products, including bamboo baby toothbrushes and gentle bubble bath.

Oh Mumma beauty boxes are delivered every other month. You can pay bi-monthly on a rolling subscription or upfront for three or six subscription boxes.

When you pay upfront for six or 12 months' worth of boxes, you'll pay £25 per box, rather than £26.

Delivery costs £4.50 per box. This means a six-month upfront subscription will come with £13.50 in upfront delivery fees and a 12-month upfront subscription will have £27 in delivery fees added.

What’s good about it?

A great thing about Oh Mumma is the flexibility they offer. With subscription boxes, one-off gift boxes and the chance to build your box yourself, there’s something for every type of mum to enjoy.

From the Ultimate New Mumma Box to the Vegan Mumma Box, choose the perfect gift box for an important woman in your life.

There’s even an Oh Pappa box for dads which includes a facial cleansing gel, natural deodorant and caring hand cream.

Oh Mumma are all about supporting mums through encouraging self-care. In keeping with this, they donate £1 from every single box sold towards creating a box for a mum staying at Ronald McDonald House while their child receives medical treatment nearby.

Are there any cons?

You don’t get as much value for your money with Oh Mumma compared to most of the other beauty boxes mentioned in this guide. However, these boxes fulfil a very specific niche, so they have their own unique value.

They’re a great idea for one-off gifts or treats for yourself, although the costs will quickly add up if you commit to a monthly subscription.

How to save money on your beauty box subscription

There are plenty of ways you can save money on beauty boxes, whether you go for a one-off box or a monthly subscription. The discounts and deals available will vary between companies, but here’s a list of a few money-saving options you might have.

 Earn cashback

Cashback is a commission we get from retailers and pay back to our members. Each time you make an online purchase with one of our brands via our site, we get paid a commission, and we give 100% of it back to you, as cashback. This means you can get free money back, just for adding one extra step to your shopping journey.

Our TopCashback retailers include GLOSSYBOX, LOOKFANTASTIC, Cohorted and Liberty London (although this list may change over time and extra brands may be added).

Don’t forget to take advantage of our £15 sign-up bonus if you’re not already a TopCashback member. All you have to do is sign up by clicking the green button below, then spend £15 or more with any of our retailers.

 Mailing list and new customer discounts

Some brands, including Oh Mumma and TOYL, offer exclusive discount codes for those who sign up for their mailing list.

Others have more general discounts for new customers (we’ve seen these on GLOSSYBOX, OK! Beauty Box, TOYL and ToppBox). Both of these types of offers will get you a percentage or set price off your first beauty box order.

 Student discount

Because so many young people take an interest in beauty in a big way, lots of beauty brands offer student discounts. We saw these on GLOSSYBOX, LOOKFANTASTIC and Roccabox, although the exact offer varied between each brand.

Some require a Student Beans or UNiDAYS account, so make sure you’re signed up to all the student discount sites available to you if you want to maximise your chance of saving.

 Friend referrals

Some beauty box sites offer exclusive bonuses for customers who spread the word about their products. This usually comes in the form of £5 off your friend’s first box and £5 account credit for you. GLOSSYBOX, LOOKFANTASTIC and OK! Beauty Box are particularly well-known for doing this.

Which beauty box subscriptions offer the best value for money?

Whatever you’re looking for when it comes to beauty boxes, getting reasonable value for money is always an important factor.

The table below shows how the value offered by each beauty box compares to the upfront cost you pay.

Where there's a rolling monthly option and a one-off box option, we've displayed the rolling monthly price as this is often cheaper. You may pay more if you're only buying one box rather than a subscription. We’ve ordered them from best value to worst.

Value might not be your main concern if you’re in need of something specific from your box subscription.

For example, Cohorted and The Natural Beauty Box both specialise in vegan and cruelty-free beauty, while ToppBox is a subscription service for men and Oh Mumma is specifically designed for mums and mums-to-be.

Whichever service you choose, there’s an element of risk with every box if you don’t know what you’re getting each month.

But, as you can see from the table, you’re always getting more value than the price you’re paying for the box, so everyone’s a winner really.