The best beauty subscription boxes in 2026 are Allure Beauty Box if you want editors to choose for you, IPSY if you want the most plan options, Birchbox if you want to pick every product yourself, and FabFitFun if you'd like beauty mixed with home and lifestyle things. We checked each one on its own website in October 2026, and all four are still taking new members.
A box is a fun way to try new products, but it's still a subscription. So for each one we've looked at what actually arrives, how much say you get, and how easy it is to skip or cancel. We don't list prices: they change with plans and promotions, so we link to each brand's current terms instead.
Our top picks
Details ↓- Best editor-picked boxAllure Beauty BoxVisit Allure Beauty Box
Affiliate link: we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
- Most plan choicesIPSY (Original, Extra and Ultimate)
- Most say in what's insideBirchbox
- Best beauty-plus-lifestyle boxFabFitFun Seasonal Box
Quick picks
| Badge | Box | Why we picked it |
|---|---|---|
| Best editor-picked box | Allure Beauty Box | Six products a month chosen by Allure's editors; gift plans end on their own |
| Most plan choices | IPSY | Three plans, from deluxe samples to full-size boxes, with skip and every-other-month options |
| Most say in what's inside | Birchbox | You can choose every product, or let Birchbox build the box |
| Best beauty-plus-lifestyle box | FabFitFun | A seasonal box that mixes beauty with home, fashion and wellness |
Which boxes are still running in 2026
Beauty boxes come and go, so we checked each brand's own site before writing this.
- Allure Beauty Box: running. Its site showed the October 2026 box.
- IPSY: running, with three plans: IPSY Original, IPSY Extra and IPSY Ultimate.
- BoxyCharm: no longer a separate box. The boxycharm.com address now redirects to IPSY, and IPSY's own /boxycharm page is its IPSY Extra plan.
- Birchbox: running. Its home page was promoting its October box.
- FabFitFun: running, with a Fall 2026 seasonal box.
- Sephora Play!: closed. Refinery29 reported that Sephora ended it after the April 2020 box, and the old sephora.com/play page now returns an error. We've left it out.
Allure Beauty Box
Best for: someone who likes being surprised and trusts a magazine's beauty editors to choose.
What we love
- Allure says each month's box has six picks chosen by Allure's editors, the team behind its Best of Beauty awards. Its gift page says the products are full-size.
- You can try a single box with no renewal, subscribe month to month, or give a gift subscription of 3, 6 or 12 months.
- Gift subscriptions are paid once and, Allure says, end on their own after the last box, with no surprise renewals. That makes it one of the easier boxes to give.
- Cancelling is straightforward on paper. Allure's terms say you can cancel online from your account (Account, then Manage Subscription), you don't have to talk to anyone or accept an offer to stay, and cancelling takes effect at the end of the current billing cycle.
- Members also get access to a members-only shop.
Keep in mind
- There's very little personalization. Allure says every subscriber gets the same editor-curated box, and that gift subscriptions can't be customized. If you have very sensitive skin or strong shade preferences, some products may not suit you.
- Free shipping is for the contiguous US, according to Allure. It's a US box.
- The box is run under license: Allure's site says the Allure Beauty Box name is used under license by MarZ Licensing, LLC.
Skip or pause: Allure's gift page says gift subscriptions can be paused at any time. For a monthly plan, check the options in your account before your next billing date.
Allure
Allure Beauty Box
Affiliate link: we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
IPSY
Best for: anyone who wants to choose how much arrives and how often.
What we love
- Three plans on IPSY's site: IPSY Original sends five deluxe samples a month, IPSY Extra sends five full-size products a month, and IPSY Ultimate sends eight full-size products every three months.
- It's built around personalization. IPSY starts you with a beauty quiz, and its blog explains how members can choose some of their products each month.
- The skip options are spelled out clearly. IPSY's subscription terms say you can Skip a Month or Adjust Frequency so a box arrives every other month, both from Your Memberships in your account.
Keep in mind
- Deadlines matter. IPSY's terms say a skip or frequency change has to be made by 11:59 pm Pacific time on the 25th of the month to affect the next box.
- To cancel, IPSY's terms say to go to Your Membership in your account and choose Cancel Membership, and to cancel before your plan renews to avoid the next charge.
- "Deluxe samples" on IPSY Original are smaller than full-size, so check which plan you're joining.
Birchbox
Best for: someone who knows what they like and doesn't want surprises.
What we love
- Birchbox calls itself "a customizable box of premium beauty products delivered monthly."
- You get the most control here. Birchbox says you can "choose exactly what you want from samples, travel-size, and full-size options," or let it build a box for you.
- It starts with a few questions about your skin, hair and style, so the suggestions are matched to you.
Keep in mind
- Because you can pick samples or travel sizes, what arrives depends on your choices. Read each product's size before you confirm your box.
- Birchbox's help center has articles on skipping a month and cancelling, but it blocked our research tools, so we couldn't confirm the exact steps. Read them on Birchbox's site before you join.
FabFitFun
Best for: someone who wants beauty plus a few home, fashion or wellness surprises, four times a year.
What we love
- FabFitFun's Seasonal Box arrives every three months with six full-size products, according to its site.
- Beauty is only part of it. The Fall 2026 box mixed fragrance, hair care and skincare with home and fashion items.
- On the annual plan, FabFitFun says you choose all six products. Its site also says you can swap box products for store credit.
Keep in mind
- It's not a pure beauty box. If you only want makeup and skincare, IPSY or Allure is a better match.
- It's billed by the season, or once a year on the annual plan. Check your billing date in your account before you skip or cancel, because the cut-off comes before the box ships.
How to choose a beauty subscription box
Start with how much choice you want.
- "Surprise me": Allure Beauty Box. The editors choose, and everyone gets the same box.
- "Let me set some preferences": IPSY. The quiz shapes your box, and you can choose some products.
- "I'll pick everything": Birchbox, or FabFitFun on its annual plan.
Then think about size. Full-size products last longer and are easier to give away if something doesn't suit you. Samples are better for trying a new foundation shade or a fragrance before you commit.
Finally, read the cancel and skip terms before you enter a card. Note the cut-off date for each month, and take a screenshot when you cancel.
Beauty subscription boxes compared
| Box | How often | What's inside | Personalization | Skip or pause | Cancel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allure Beauty Box | Monthly (or one box, or a 3, 6 or 12-month gift) | Six editor picks, full-size | None: same box for everyone | Gift plans can be paused | Online in your account; ends after the current billing cycle |
| IPSY | Monthly (Original, Extra) or every three months (Ultimate) | Five deluxe samples, five full-size, or eight full-size | Beauty quiz, plus some product choices | Skip a Month or every other month, by the 25th | Your Membership, then Cancel Membership, before renewal |
| Birchbox | Monthly | Your choice of samples, travel and full-size | Choose every product, or let Birchbox pick | See Birchbox's help center | See Birchbox's help center |
| FabFitFun | Every three months | Six full-size beauty and lifestyle products | Choose all six on the annual plan | In your account, before the season's billing date | In your account, before the next billing date |
Is a beauty box a good gift?
Yes, if you pick one that doesn't need the recipient's input. A gift subscription that ends on its own is the safest kind: Allure Beauty Box gift plans are paid once and stop after the last box, so the person you give it to never gets an unexpected charge. For more ideas, see our holiday beauty gift guide, and if you're shopping in November, our Black Friday beauty picks.
FAQs
What is the best beauty subscription box?
It depends on how much you want to choose. Allure Beauty Box suits people who like editor-picked surprises, IPSY has the widest range of plans, Birchbox lets you choose every product, and FabFitFun adds home and lifestyle items to the beauty.
Is Birchbox still in business?
Yes. When we checked in October 2026, Birchbox's site was taking new members and promoting its October box. It describes itself as a customizable monthly box.
What happened to BoxyCharm?
BoxyCharm is now part of IPSY. The boxycharm.com address redirects to IPSY's site, and IPSY's /boxycharm page is its IPSY Extra plan, which sends five full-size products a month.
Does Sephora still have a subscription box?
No. Sephora ended its Play! box after the April 2020 edition, Refinery29 reported, and the old Play! page on sephora.com no longer loads.
Can you cancel a beauty subscription box anytime?
Usually, but timing matters. Allure's cancellation takes effect at the end of your current billing cycle, IPSY's skip and frequency changes have a cut-off on the 25th of the month, and FabFitFun bills ahead of each season. Check the date in your account before you cancel.
Pick the box that matches how much you like to choose, read its cancel terms once, and enjoy the unboxing.
