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Last Updated on November 15, 2023 by Steal the Style
If you are truly a beauty buff, a beauty subscription box is definitely the way to go to be trying new products on a consistent basis for an affordable price. But with so many options on the market, how do you know which one is the right one for you?
We’re going to look at the pros and cons of Birchbox and Ipsy so that you can make the best decision for you. There are great things about both brands, so it really comes down to personal preference. Let’s take a look at two of the long-time most popular beauty boxes!
In This Post:
Birchbox vs Ipsy
Price
Let’s begin with one of the most important questions: What is the price difference?
Birchbox costs $15 per month, whereas Ipsy costs $12 per month. So, while there is a $3 difference, they are essentially the same and in the same price category if you’re in the market for a beauty subscription.
Winner: Ipsy with lower price
Value
Ipsy’s 2 main subscription models offer you either 5 big sample sizes or five full-size products.
On the other hand, Birchbox gives you one subscription option providing five to six items each month, just depending on what’s in that month bundle. Ipsy tends to be more makeup heavy, but Birchbox has samples from really trendy beauty brands, especially in the skincare department.
Winner: Birchbox for the luxury samples
Personalization
Both of these popular subscription brands offer personalization to make the products you receive actually pertain to your beauty routine, skin types, make up routine, and more, but Ipsy is considered the leader in personalization, each box is tailored to you based on a quiz you take at the time of joining.
This is a great thing, because it will guarantee that you won’t receive anything that doesn’t make sense for your routine. Both also ask you for your color palette, which means that even the colors of items you receive will be cohesive with your aesthetic. They are very similar in this aspect and their curators are great at tailoring these things to your needs.
Winner: Ipsy for the personalized products
It’s About What You Need
The great thing about both these brands, is that they are both high quality services. Some benefits of Birchbox are that you get samples of really high-end products for an affordable price. Because they only have one subscription model, these aren’t large samples, but they are samples of products you might not otherwise have the opportunity to try.
Ipsy is more makeup based, but has a wider range of subscription models. Even if you want full size items to come straight to your door, personalized to you, they have that availability. Ipsy tends to send very well-known makeup brands, while Birchbox likes to spotlight smaller brands and more luxury brands.
What’s the Verdict?
When looking at the two of them, Ipsy tends to be a better deal with the product quantity and sizing. However, Birchbox is great for luxury samples and finding new products that work great for you. The difference between the two is mostly that you need to decide which program sounds better for you and go with that. Either way, you will have high quality products and plenty of new beauty things to try!
Winner: Tied! Ipsy for the better deal, and Birchbox if you want luxury brand samples
Ready to try Birchbox? Subscribe here
Ready to try Ipsy Glam Bags? Subscribe here
Every month, I’ve been comparing my beauty subscription boxes. I share which beauty box I think is better between Ipsy and Birchbox. Both beauty subscriptions are affordably priced at, so I have hard time picking!
IPSY wins again!
Ipsy usually wins, but I still think Birchbox is a good value, too. I prepaid for a year of Birchbox, so it’s costing me under $10 per month, but I may cancel when my year is up until they make a comeback and can beat Ipsy!
Which beauty box subscription is your favorite? Leave me a comment if there are other beauty boxes you think I should try.