Top 10 Beauty Box Subscriptions to Get You Through Lockdown (and Beyond)
Receiving post with surprise gifts is always a lovely feeling - even if its from yourself to yourself. Now Subscription boxes have the advantage in lockdown that they’re delivered straight to your door, allowing you to try items that you wouldn’t otherwise be able to with all the department stores closed. That’s why we’ve rounded up the top beauty box subscriptions on the market so you can get acquainted and begin ordering your necessities.
Cohorted Beauty Box
1. Cohorted - £39.99 per month
Who it’s for & Why we love it: For those passionate about luxury products, willing to spend a little more for high-end discovery items, the Cohorted subscription box is definitely worth the cash, even though it’s one of the more expensive boxes on our list - the box value is always at least £100, with at least one item around the price of the box itself. Every box offers something new with limited edition boxes. The new elegant all-black exterior beauty box is now hand-wrapped in 100% sustainable packaging. The box comes with a handy guide each month on the handy items in the box with the RRPs and how to use.
Our experience: We tried the exclusive Vegan and Cruelty-Free edition box, filled with: Kester Black nail polish in do gooder - an appealing rusty brown, with a matching matte lipstick, the Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Cream Kit in Medium (containing 3 highlighters and contour shades with a matte finish), Codex Beauty Bia Exfoliating Wash, Generation Clay Brightening Purple Clay Mask, Bybi buffer lip scrub, Memi Eyeshadow Palette and Lebon Villa Noacarlina Toothpaste. Overall our box was worth £146.49.
Use the code COHORTEDGIFTME for a free Too Faced Soothing Face Primer worth £10 when you subscribe.
Friction Free Shaving Subscription Box
2. Friction Free Shaving - from £9 per month
Who it’s for & Why we love it: For those who shave often but are tired of using low-quality blades, at extortionate prices for blades that are specifically made for women. Friction Free Shaving offers the alternative; a sturdy metal ergonomic handle which removes the majority of hairs in a single stroke. Cruelty free, recyclable, with flexible plans - FFS makes sure all your shaving needs are satisfied in one box.
Our experience: We received the Friction Free Shaving Set - with a rose gold weighted shaving handle (name engraved to personalise the gift), 4 weeks worth of sharp blade attachments that create a nick-free experience when shaving - each with six blades, a blade cover to protect your blades, Post-shave balm and natural deodorant. All products are organic and cruelty free. All the products are high quality and perform much better than the blades off the high street!
Order now to receive a free weighted metal razor handle from their spring collection.
Glossybox ‘Wild Thing’ Edit
3. Glossybox - From £8.50 per month
Who it’s for & Why we love it: For the department store beauty junkie and luxe lover. Glossybox is one the OG beauty box, being on of the most trusted beauty box brands on the market, you can be sure to get your money’s worth. Not only are the high end products a catch, the box itself is always instagrammable.
Our experience: The May “Wild Thing” Edit is filled with 5 incredible beauty products, filled with sultry eye makeup, taming haircare and playful skincare that allows them to embrace their wild side. Included within this edit is a newly-launched 3-in- 1 haircare treatment by MUDMASKY worth £21, a nine-hued eyeshadow palette by Steve Laurant worth £31 and much more.
Subscribe now to get 10% off using your May Glossybox using the code “roar”.
4. The Facial Box, By MB - £49.99
Who it’s for & Why we love it: For the those missing their salon appointments. Just because we can’t visit our beauty therapist, does not mean we can’t have facial recommendations from Michaella Holder, facialist to the stars and skincare expert. The seasonal box is curated from Michaella’s cult favourites that have been personally tried and tested over the years.
Our experience: While this box is on the more expensive side - as it’s seasonal, it comes to average at around the price range for other boxes. We received 7 products in this season’s box, all approved for ultimate summer skincare, along with directions on which products work together from Michaella herself. Each box includes products that will make up part of your daily optimal skincare routine and will include cleansers, exfoliators, masks, spf, self tan and lip balms.
5. The Latest In Beauty from £9 per month
Who it’s for & Why we love it: For the those who want complete control on what they try and how much they receive. Latest in Beauty offers each user the chance to choose between a 3 (£9), 6 (£15) and 9 (£18) product plan per month, and complete personalisation of the product by letting you choose the product you receive each month. With both full size and sample products available and over 134 product to choose from, there’s certainly something for everyone.
Our experience: Opting for the brand of the month, we explored Molton Brown and went for products we don’t receive in other boxes, like the Jurlique Activating Water Essence, Patisserie De Bain Hand Cream, Brush Works Multi Tasking Sponge and hair masks from Hask. Picking the products for your box is half of the fun - but it can be time-consuming.
Use the code Fab25 for £5 off your first beauty box.
6. LookFantastic - from £13 permonth
Who it’s for & Why we love it: For those who want universally loved classics and niche picks all at once. Lookfantastic always find the perfect items for your box worth at least £50. Lookfantastic often collaborate with some fantastic brands offering special edition boxes containing a handful of their bestsellers, meaning you get to try before committing to buy.
Our experience: The Spring Box dubbed the “at home pamper” edit was everything to make you stay at home and stay happy. Not only this, each box comes with a copy of the Beauty Box Edit; the exclusive magazine to subscribers, which is filled with tips, tricks and the latest in beauty trends. The highlight of this box was the gorgeous Bellapierre Peach Blossom Palette alone worth £28.99.
New subscribers can us code TREATBB at the lookfantastic check out to get £10.00 off the first box on a 3, 6 or 12- month subscription.
7. The Natural Beauty Box - from £24.95 per month
Who it’s for & Why we love it: For those who put the planet and good ingredients first. The Natural Beauty Box stands out from other subscription boxes in the market because it’s 100% natural, vegan friendly and cruelty-free. All boxes are themed and each theme is tailored towards the skin's needs during the changing seasons. The brand also is the only one to offer a quarterly plastic-free edit.
Our experience: We had the pleasure of trying the Cleanse February Edit and the Bedtime Bliss Plastic Free edit - both of the boxes had a value of £60+ filled with natural, vegan and cruelty free skincare and beauty products from ethical and eco-luxe British artisans. Each item was free from harsh chemicals, known skin irritants and cheap fillers ingredients so that customers can really try the best brands on the market that are also good for you.
8. Roccabox - from £10 per month
Who it’s for & Why we love it: For those that want to make their staycation a little bit more instagrammable, Roccabox is one of the most affordable boxes around, filled with some very suave brands. Every month Roccabox collaborates with a beauty blogger to curate a box of their hero beauty finds- so you know that everything you receive has been endorsed by those in the know!
Our experience: The April Box contained all full-size products to give you the value of your order back and a little self-care in the form of a bonus Offfblak tea. With many people being left anxious in the time of lockdown, Roccobox helpfully included a pillow spray for those suffering from insomnia. Staying inside has never been so relaxing.
Who it’s for & Why we love it: For those missing their dermatologist. Get Harley works differently to other subscription boxes. Schedule an online consultation with an expert a Get Harley practitioner, which can all be done online straight from your home. You can then discuss with your practitioner your skincare need and concerns and after a skin analysis, you will receive a curated list of products to order for your specific needs. When it’s time to top up on your products, Get Harley will remind you.
Our experience: Get Harley is a smooth service to get in touch with your dermatologist remotely, and continue replenishing your skincare routine with a touch of a button - even in the midst of a global pandemic. The products are always chosen specifically to your skin concerns, tailored to your needs - but you get the final say to decide whether you wish to buy a recommended product or not.
10. Scent-Addict - from £10 per month
Who it’s for & Why we love it: For fragrance lovers missing department store testers. From the powerhouse that is the Fragrance Shop comes a monthly subscription service; Scentaddict. Available as a 3 months (£36), 6 months (£66) and 12 months (£120) subscription, it couldn’t be easy to purchase, or to redeem it. In your first order, Scentaddict will send a beautiful, travel-sized atomiser in black or white straight to your door, wrapped in a chic, black gift-box and filled with a 30-day supply of your first chosen fragrance.
Our experience: There’s no better way to decide if you like a scent than trying it for a month, in sleek, easy to carry packaging. Ordering is just as easy as trying samples in the store - but they last longer!