Favorite Subscriptions Boxes – The Short List

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Everyone always asks me, what my favorite subscription boxes are, so I thought I’d do a little breakdown on it. The real answer on what my favorite boxes are depends on the month.  Some months I love ipsy.  Some months I love Birchbox.  I just don’t know which one I will like better until I get it that month!  Luckily since I get a bunch of boxes every month to review (along with the ones I subscribe to on my own) I don’t have to necessarily pick, but if I had $100/month to spend on subscription boxes (*), here is what I’d get:

~PopSugar ($36/month): I have always been a huge PopSugar cheerleader and probably always will be.  I love the different categories they use, the high quality, on trend products and they provide a great bang for your buck (boxes retail value are > $100). I just love them!
~Citrus Lane ($19/month): Citrus Lane might not always be my favorite baby box, but they also rarely disappoint me.  They send high quality brands, up and coming products and things that my little guy will use!
~Birchbox ($9/month):  Some people prefer ipsy and some people prefer Birchbox and I am generally more of a Birchbox fan.  They have a giant variety of brands they use and their point system for reviews cannot be beat.
~Nerd Block Jr.: ($19.99/month):  This one is L’s favorite at the moment.  He loves all of it, but gets so so excited when they have Minecraft stuff inside!
~Wantable Intimates ($36/month):  I’d have to skip this one every other month to stay within the $100, but they make that easy to do online.  I love the loungewear and other items they send so this would make the cut.

I came up just a tad over limit at $101.99 (I counted Wantable at $18/month since I would get it every other month), but I thought I did pretty well!  I was this close to swapping Wantable for GLOSSYBOX, but I already had one makeup box in there so I wanted to give it a little variety!  I believe I did this a while ago and put together the boxes I would spend $100 on and I know my answers have changed, but that is to be excepted since tastes change, needs change, etc.

Now it’s your turn!  What are your favorite boxes?  If you had $100/month, what boxes would you spend it on and why?  And who wins the Birchbox / ipsy battle for you?  Or does it depend on the month like it does for me?

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(*) Box prices are based on the annual subscription box price without any additional coupons. I use coupon codes and discounts offers as often as I can and I also will try and prepay for an annual subscription to save even more money. I will only prepay on a well established subscription though – just in case!
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Jennifer

Jennifer is the author and founder of Subscription Box Ramblings. She first discovered subscription boxes in 2012 and has been addicted since. Current favorites include CAUSEBOX, Boxycharm and Beachly!

This Post Has 57 Comments

  1. Ooohhh. Well first of all your list adds up to exactly 100 without the Nerd Block!
    PSMH, CL, Birchbox, and I’d shove my budget around to accommodate FFF and a Hamptons Lane or Fancy Food box sometime, although the Wantable boxes fit right in to the $36 slot. I’d prob get accessories, especially in the summer. I love accessories 5 times as much in the summer than the winter.

    1. Jennifer

      It’s so hard to pick! I tried to get a box for everyone in the family in there. Except B…….

      1. ohhhh i see. i didn’t read everything. i didn’t feel the need to pick stuff specifically for my daughter. she steals half my stuff anyways.

  2. Stacie

    Ohhhh good list!
    Here’s mine:
    Stridebox $15 (runner box)
    Ipsy $10 (makeup)
    Boodle Box $24.99 (for 3 month sub) (girly box)
    My Cotton Bunny ($13.75) (t.o.t.m. box)
    Doggyloot Toy of the month ($8.99 (for small dog))
    I guess that’s it for my faves (I stayed under 100!)

    I had two others I really loved, but they seem to not be doing them anymore:
    Pretty Power Box which I think was 15 though I can’t remember
    Ophelia’s Apothecary which I think was also 15.
    It was sad to see them go, great products!

    1. Jennifer

      I don’t even think you should have to count the TOM one in there. That is necessary ;). I love that you get Boodle Box! That is an awesome one! Even if you aren’t a teen.

  3. Jill

    I allow myself about that much every month. Although, my parents buy citrus lane for my daughter. I buy popsugar must have, social bliss, and ipsy. Occasionaly, I buy julep too.

    1. Jennifer

      That’s a good round up!

  4. Cristi Marashi

    Ipsy is 1000 times better than Birchbox imo.

    As far as what boxes I would chose if I had $100 to spend-

    Tyler Florence Fancy Box $39
    Wantable Accessory Box $36
    Conscious Box $19.99

    1. Jennifer

      I would have to try to rearrange every once in a while for a Fancy box too!

  5. Krista

    I’d get Pop Sugar, Wantable Intimates, Ipsy, and Boxycharm. A tad over $100 but that’s ok.

    1. Jennifer

      It’s hard to get it on the nose!

  6. Lauren

    Hmmmm. For me for sure PSMH, socialbliss, & Glossybox. Exactly ! 100.

    1. Jennifer

      Nice work!

  7. Shawna

    This is hard! I wish I had $100 to spend on boxes a month. Right now I just get ipsy, bb, wantable intimates and splendies. So if I kept all of those it would be $68. I’d add in Olive Box (I have been wanting to try it), subtract splendies, and add in pop sugar. That would be $117, but I never come in under budget. 😉

    1. Jennifer

      I know the feeling!

  8. Lori

    PSMH, Birchbox (especially for the points), Citrus Lane, Wantable Intimates (which I don’t currently get but would like to try!)

    1. Jennifer

      Love this list!

  9. Chris

    That’s a tough call! At the moment, Birchbox, Julep, Popsugar, BeautyDNA ($25 every other month), and occasionally Wantables (4x a year) intimates are my current list. I got Pashbox last month and I am getting a tea box next month, so that’s about it! I just cancelled Ipsy…too many makeup products I just don’t use. 🙂

    1. Jennifer

      How do you like BeautyDNA? Have you been getting amazing stuff?

  10. Julia

    I would definitely say PSMH, Birchbox (points system and deals are AWESOME- NOT a fan of ipsy) FFF….and that’s all I really Love Love. Maybe Nerd Block!

    1. Jennifer

      I would want to sneak FFF in there too……..

      1. Julia

        This will be my first FFF this time around and I’ve liked the spoilers so far..and I’ve always kicked myself for never trying it!

  11. Leana

    Popsugar, ipsy, barkbox, glossybox. I get those plus like 6 others I think (plus all the ps special edition ones).

    1. Jennifer

      LOL!!! It’s hard to narrow it down isn’t it???

  12. mary m

    I can’t look up all of the prices right now, but I’d go with Loot Crate, Citrus Lane, Whimseybox and Darby Smart. And probably ipsy.

    1. Jennifer

      That would probably get you in right about $100!

  13. Sarah

    Currently, here’s how mine are:

    * PopSugar: Gimme. All the time. Every month.

    * Bugsy’s Box and/or BarkBox: I prefer Bugsy’s Box for my dogs, because it reminds me of the former Pawalla. It feels like better quality items with more of a variety. I really enjoy it. I’ve ordered 3 months, but recently hopped on a Groupon for BarkBox for 3 months. I usually get one or the other, depending on the deals offered.

    * Ipsy: I’ve never had an Ipsy box and am on the waitlist. I’m excited for it. I’ve subscribed to Birchbox in the past, but have had issues with their shipping taking forever. While I have a few products I love from Birchbox that they introduced me to (Harvey Prince: Hello, The Beauty Protector spray – OMG, smells delicious!) and their point system is AMAZING, I’m just not thrilled enough with the box to spend the $10 on it. I have sensitive skin and they often send me skin products that state that they’re not for sensitive skin or there’s an alternative on their site for sensitive skin. I get that I’m probably asking too much or thinking it’s possible, but it’s often items I can’t use. Plus, some of the *little* amount of product that I’ve got in their sample sizes drives me nuts. Rant! I might not be an Ipsy fan, either, but excited to get off the waitlist.

    I’m going to look at Wantable tonight! I’m also considering trying out Pashbox.

    1. Jennifer

      I love Harvey Prince Hello! How long have you have been on the ipsy waitlist?

      1. Sarah

        Not too long! 3 weeks or so. 🙂

  14. Beth Rang

    I’m not very experienced with sub boxes yet. However, we really, really enjoy our Love With Food deluxe box, and I like to have at least one beauty box whether it’s birch box or beauty box 5. I still haven’t tried ipsy yet.

    If Nerdblock or Lootcrate had something like Wantables where you could mark which fandoms you love, like or dislike, I would totally want to get those. My son is super picky. He loves Minecraft, Dr. Who, Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, and some phone games like Plants Vs. Zombies. He likes Star Wars, and dislikes superhero franchises. Yes, strange! So, without a preference thing, I don’t think either of those subs would work for him. Oh well!

    1. Jennifer

      You are on to something with Nerdbock and Lootcrate! That would be so awesome!

  15. Laura K

    Despite canceling around 20 boxes with more to go, my fav really comes down to the one aimed at men, Bespoke Post. I like that I can skip, and I did in April and May, but when I get a box, I tend to be very, very happy with the majority of what I receive. If I can’t skip, I consider myself lucky if I like the box half the time. My friends are sick of the freebies I’m handing out, and it’s an expensive way to add stuff to the donate/garage sale piles. My dream would be trade boards that also allowed you to sell the stuff outright.

    1. Jennifer

      They do put together a great box! Such high quality things in there!

  16. Jennifer Cochran

    Probably very similar to your list – but with Naturebox instead of Wantable. I need to start Citrus Lane now that I have a baby! He’s 9 days old now. Time for his first box! (There aren’t boxes for teenage boys, so my other two don’t get anything!)

    1. Jennifer

      Ahhhh, congrats!!!!!!! He does need a box! Start him young 😉

  17. Lynsey

    PopSugar
    Ipsy
    Kiwi Crate
    Wantable Intimates – makes me a bit over the $100 mark.

    I have yet to have a BirchBox as good as even my least favorite Ipsy but I am still getting both to try and get a great Birchbox!

    1. Jennifer

      I think the points are what get me for Birchbox!

  18. Elizabeth A

    100/mo would be:
    36 PSMH because it has never disappointed me & I have found things I truly love
    17 (200 yr/12 mo) FFF Every single time I wear the turband, I get a ton of compliments
    15 Petit Vour is my absolute favorite for makeup/skin care
    11 Pennie Post because I’m a stationary addict!!
    10 Ipsy fun/cheap and a great into to new products

    1. Jennifer

      I was this close to putting Petit Vour in mine because they have been awesome lately!

  19. Shannon N.

    Hmm…this is hard. But I’d probably go with:

    $20 – Green Kids Crafts
    $20 – Julep
    $36 – Popsugar
    $15 – Whimsey Box
    $10 – Rainbow Honey Mini (because it is new and exciting to me)

    I’d also consider Yuzen on there, which is quarterly and breaks down to around $12 a month. I’d probably switch out Rainbow Honey. Maybe.

    1. Jennifer

      I am so loving seeing everyone’s lists!!!

  20. Michelle

    I was going to order the Mom Treat mystery box for a friend but, can’t find it on their website. Was it a special link sent for subscribers?

    1. Jennifer

      It’s sold out now. It was one of their mystery boxes.

  21. Bethany

    So fun reading your list and everyone else’s! Mine is similar in part: Popsugar, Citrus Lane, Birchbox, SocialBliss… plus all the quarterly/semi-regular boxes (PS special editions, FFF, Nina Garcia). Oh and sometimes Golden Tote. I’m over the limit, but screw it.

    1. Jennifer

      I couldn’t even count those quarterly and special edition boxes. I wouldn’t have any money left for monthly ones.

  22. Sasha

    When I was reading through the comments I was surprised I didn’t see Lip Factory…. It is definitely on the top of my list. So I guess my list would be:

    1)Lip Factory $30 CND for Lip Products and Make-up
    2)ipsy $15 CND for trying out new products in general
    3)Julep $22 CND because I love my polish (but I wish there was a subscription service that mixed polish brands)
    4)Wantable Intimates $47 CND for my lounge needs

    (I go a bit over because of Canadian shipping prices)

    1. Jennifer

      I am surprised there isn’t a service in Canada with a variety of polish brands!

  23. Nicole

    What would be your favorite box for jewelry?

  24. Nicole M

    I thought I posted this earlier but I can’t find it so sorry if this is repeated somewhere. What is your favorite box for jewelry?

    1. Jennifer

      I saw that but I can’t remember if I replied. Your Bijoux box seems to be a popular one. They have great customer service. You could also do wantable accessories and just specify jewelry. No risk there!

  25. Mallory B

    I’d be happy getting PopSugar, Barkbox, ipsy, and Glossybox every month. Right now I just get ipsy monthly, with PSMH and Glossybox occasionally, like for my birthday or as a reward for doing something awesome.

    I was subscribed to both ipsy and Birchbox for a while, and while the BB point system is really fantastic, I just didn’t like what they sent me enough to continue with both subs. Ipsy has rarely disappointed me. They may be cheaper brands, but that just means I’m more likely to buy the things I liked.

    1. Jennifer

      I so love reading everyone’s lists of what they would get!

  26. Monica

    I don’t know the cost breakdown but each month to my mailbox…. we get

    Ipsy
    Bluum
    Treatsie
    Glossybox
    Stride

    All of them thru ur links… we have tried mantry birchbox goodies n love wight food…
    I will be getting pennies post n want to try

    1. Jennifer

      Thanks for using my links!

  27. Hilda

    I just started learning about these subscription boxes so I don’t quite yet have that many but here goes…

    PopSugar Must Have – I got my first one this week and was thrilled!
    Julep Maven – My first box is coming this week!!
    Ipsy – I finally got off the waitlist
    Citrus Lane – I’m about to order that using your link!

    You’re now making me consider Birchbox to see how it compares to Ipsy.

    This is so much fun!

    1. Jennifer

      I do think you need to compare them to see which you like best!

  28. Heather

    I actually just cancelled several boxes to fund my growing Memebox addiction! I don’t count those as a sub box though

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