Getting in on the Subscription Box Trend
You can find a subscription box for just about anything these days. For just beauty products alone, there are tons of options for a monthly delivery of products. Since this has become such a big trend, I decided to give one of them a try. I subscribed to one of the cheaper options, Ipsy, to start.
Ipsy sends you five beauty samples a month. (Photo: Ipsy)
For only $10 a month, Ipsy will send you five beauty samples, including some full-size products, in a unique makeup bag. I signed up for Ipsy in January and was immediately placed on a waitlist. I was a little bummed, since I was so excited to try it out, but after looking into it, it seems that most subscribers have to wait at least a few weeks before their subscription goes into effect. I was taken off the waitlist in about three weeks and got my first Ipsy bag in February.
I received a wide range of products in my first bag. (Photo: Allison Lundy/DC on Heels)
I was pleasantly surprised with the amount and quality of products I that received in my first bag. I was expecting the very small, one-time use sample sizes that beauty products often come in. All of the products were decently sized, and I am still using some of them months later. I got two full-sized products – The Balm’s Mr. Write (Now) eyeliner and an eyeshadow pigment from Naked Cosmetics. I also received a mini blush stick from Trestique and a leave in conditioner from My Amazing Leave-In Secret. The last product I received is my newest favorite concealer, It Cosmetics Bye-Bye Under Eye Anti-Aging Concealer.
The value was around $40, excluding the bag, which I will definitely use when I travel. So for the $10 that I paid I was very happy with what I got. The bags I have received every month since I started have all contained a wide range of products from skincare to hair care to makeup to brushes. This is a great subscription plan for makeup lovers who want to try out new products without committing to paying for the full thing. If you are just getting into makeup, this can be a perfect way to introduce yourself to using new products.
Each month with Ipsy you get a unique bag and new products. (Photo: hellosubscription.com)
There are a lot of other makeup and beauty subscription boxes that I have yet to try, but so far the bags that I have gotten from Ipsy have shown me that the cost is worth it. For a similar price you can also try out the new Play! box by Sephora or Birchbox. If you are more interested in growing your makeup and beauty collection and getting all full-size products, you can also try Boxycharm, which sends all subscribers five full-size products for only $21.
Whatever your makeup and beauty preferences, give this subscription trend a try. I have not been disappointed with my Ipsy experience and look forward to getting my bag in the mail every month. I have gotten to try out so many new products and found some of my favorites through this subscription.
Allison Lundy is a recent college grad, writer, area professional and lover of all things beauty. Raised in southern Virginia, Allison moved to the DMV to pursue her aspirations of a career in politics. She attended George Mason, where she discovered her love of writing at the student newspaper. During the day, Allison works in government affairs for a small trade association in northern Virginia. When she isn’t busy working and/or being a political junkie, Allison focuses on her other passions – beauty and fashion. She is always looking for the newest trends and trying out new products.
