Is Beauty Box 5 Worth It?

Update 3/19/18: Beauty Box 5’s website has closed down, they have not updated their social media accounts since August 28, 2017, and they are not responding to customer emails. 

In the world of beauty subscription boxes, there seems to be two different camps: cheaper ($10 or less), mostly sample-sized boxes like Ipsy and Birchbox vs. more expensive boxes ($20+) like GlossyBox and BoxyCharm that offer more deluxe and full-sized items. However, Beauty Box 5 seems to be one of the very few happy mediums — for just $12 a month (or as low as $8.25 monthly if you subscribe for an entire year), Beauty Box 5 offers a mix of full-size and sample/deluxe-sized beauty products.

My first impression of Beauty Box 5 was definitely positive, but when you really break down the value of this box, is it worth the money? Here’s a look at the products I received in two different months of BB5.

Box #1 Total Value: $56.50

The theme of this box was “Birthday Sweets,” in honor of BB5 celebrating their fourth birthday. The products included:

• Manna Kadar Beauty 3 in 1 Shadow, Highlight & Blush (in Fantasy): full-size/$19 value
• Elizabeth Mott Thank Me Later Eye Shadow Primer: $10 value ($20 for full-size)
• Starlooks Custom Lip Liner (in Sultry Sangria): full-size/$16 value
• Epic Blend Premium Lip Balm (in Blueberry): full-size/$3.49 value
• Hemp Nation Kiwi-Mango Body Wash: $8 value ($17 for full-size)

I was definitely impressed that the majority of the products in this box were full-size instead of samples. With the exception of the body wash and the lip balm (the scents were a little strange for me), all of the products were easy to work into my makeup routine and seemed to be good quality.

The best part about this box was the value — at $56, it was nearly five times the actual cost of the box. Since even some of the more expensive boxes still tend to have a value that hovers around $40, this was a huge selling point to me.

Box #2 Total Value: $65

The theme of this box was “Road Trip Ready” and the products included:

• Hikari Cosmetics Eye Shadow (in Coal): full-size/$13 value
• Beauty Box 5 Round Blending Brush: full-size/$10 value
• Skinny Tan Mini Mitt: full-size/$5 value
• Sweep Rose Gold Tweezers and Compact Mirror: full-size/$19 value
• Chella Tantalizing Taupe Eyebrow Color Pencil: full-size/$18 value

All of the products in this month’s box were full-sized! Additionally, the inclusion of unique and fun products like the rose gold tweezers and matching winky-face compact mirror is a huge bonus — this is not something you would typically receive in a beauty box at this price point. I also liked that the products in this month’s box were completely different than the products I received in the first box. One problem I’ve had with subscriptions such as Ipsy and Birchbox is ending up with a stockpile of similar items such as lipstick and nail polish instead of getting the chance to try a wider variety of products I wouldn’t normally get for myself. One example of this is the mini mitt used for self-tanning on the facial area — this is a very interesting product that I never would have thought to try on my own.

Obviously, the total value of this month’s box well surpassed my expectations — it seems like Beauty Box 5 just keeps getting better!

The Verdict: Is Beauty Box 5 Worth the Money?

When the value of your box is consistently four or five times the price you paid, I think it goes without saying that Beauty Box 5 is well worth the money. Not to mention, even though it’s $2 more than Ipsy and Birchbox for a single month, the price drops when you subscribe for multiple months at a time. If you opt for a 3-month subscription, the price is $10/month (which is exactly the same as you’ll pay for Ipsy or Birchbox), and for a 12-month subscription, each box will only cost you $8.25 (which is about the cheapest beauty box you can find).

If you don’t mind the lack of personalization that you would receive with boxes like Ipsy and Birchbox and want your money to stretch a little further, then Beauty Box 5 is an excellent option for your monthly beauty product fix. The amazing value that comes with this beauty box is a lesson to do your research when searching for the perfect subscription box for you, instead of simply jumping on the bandwagon of the most popular boxes.