I am one of those people who really REALLY hate spending money.
“But Kaleigh…” you ask; perplexed.
“You spend a ton of money on makeup, skincare, clothes, and all that hoity-toity stuff”
You are entirely correct. I should mention that I don’t mind spending money on things that I will use, and make my life easier. The saddest thing in my house is the box of forlorn and unwanted products just waiting to be gifted to friends. The thing is, things that I hate (most glosses, sweet smelling fragrances, things that make my skin dry out), might be a holy grail item for a friend or co-worker. However, I don’t see a box of unused goo and paint. I see a box of money I’m not getting back.
This is where beauty boxes come in! There are products in my repertoire that I would never have even considered trying unless I had gotten them in one of my beauty boxes first. Not only that, but I struggle to ‘stray’ from brands I already know and love, so boxes like this make it easier to dip a toe out of my comfort zone. My Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray (Birchbox), YSL Mon Paris Perfume (Sephora Play!), Lottie London Shader Brush (Ipsy), and my everyday moisturizer, Embryolisse (Birchbox again) are all things I use every single day.
Since those items are on the pricey side, I am indebted to the following boxes for showing me what my beauty routines were sorely missing before I spent my hard earned money on things I would, potentially, never use.
Birchbox
I’m starting with Birchbox because I have been a member for FIVE years. I start my day every day with products that I found in my Birchboxes over the years. My favorite exfoliate is the Real Chemistry 3 Minute Peel that I received in my January Birchbox. I got the first Benefit mascara I ever tried in my very first box. I have a hairclip that looks like a medieval torture device that is the only hairclip in the world capable of containing my mop. Birchbox again!
So, what do you get?
Birchbox comes with five samples and, more often than not, a bonus sample as well. It’s ten dollars a month which includes shipping. The box includes makeup, hair, fragrance, and skincare products. You fill out a little survey on birchbox.com with your skin tone, eye color, skin type, and preferences so that your box is completely catered to you. You wanna know the weird part? One of my favorite parts? I LOVE the boxes themselves. They’re sturdy cardboard with gorgeous designs that I have a horde of saved in my closet because I use the tops and bottoms to organize my odds and ends in my desk drawers and table tops.
Birchbox is also, in my experience, the easiest and most fun gift to give; mainly because it keeps giving every month! I re-up subscriptions for my mom each Christmas and Mother’s Day. This is what I give to bosses and my children’s teachers. It’s so, so, simple!
Their curated boxes are a total steal. I got their Cult Classics box is has a beauty blender, an acrylic makeup holder, and a Laura Gellar highlight, and that’s just the beginning. The price you pay is less than half of what you would pay purchasing all of the items separately.
Guess what?
They also have Birchbox for men.
Rocksbox
Does anyone else wear a piece of jewelry a few times and then get entirely bored of it and never wear it again? Or work up the nerve to buy a trendy necklace just in time for it to go out of style?
I am sheepishly raising my hand.
Rocksbox is like a monthly service for jewelry rental, except better. They only charge you once a month, but you can change out your pieces as often as you like. Which I do, often.
Basically, you online shop through their online catalogue, and add things to your list, and a stylish will choose a set for you. You get three high quality pieces for 19 dollars a month.
Best part? You can get your first month free with the code poiseandpurposexoxo
Ipsy
Ipsy is for you if you don’t really care about anything other than makeup. Like Birchobx, you receive five samples, but they’re all makeup! I have a Lottie London Shader Brush that I use for my lid color every day that I received in my first Ipsy bag. The little makeup bags the samples come in are just as irreplaceable to me as my Birchbox boxes are. I use them to hold the touch up products I carry around in my purse, and they’re different every month! Ipsy is $10 dollars a month.
Sephora Play!
Sephora Play! Is more similar to Birchbox in the sensse that you receive hair, makeup, and fragrance samples- all from brands you can find on the shelves in Sephora. I am a full blown liquid lipstick hater, but once I tried the Smashbox liquid lipstick in Driver’s Seat that I received in my Play bag, I immediately went out and bought it full size. My go-to perfume, YSL Mon Paris, is also a Play bag find! You get five samples, it’s $10 dollars a month, and you also receive Sephora Beauty Insider Points!
Those are all the subscription boxes that I’ve tried so far. Something you want me to try? Tell me in the comments!
Can you try boxy charm? I’m signed up for ipsy & birchbox and I have been debating boxycharm!