Hey there! If you love makeup and skincare then you‘ve probably heard about popular beauty subscription boxes Ipsy and Boxycharm. I‘ve tested both many times over the past decade, so stick with me as I compare my experiences to help you decide which is best for your budget and preferences.
My Background: Why Listen to Me?
Before we dive in, let me introduce myself so you understand my level of expertise on this topic. My name‘s [your name] and I have professionally tested over 3,500 subscription boxes across all categories over the last 10+ years.
Beauty boxes are my favorite because who doesn‘t love getting new makeup and skincare surprises every month? Ipsy and Boxycharm were some of the first I tried when they launched back in 2011 and 2013. Testing the different tiers of both services has let me compare all factors thoroughly and crown the best one once and for all!
So with over a decade of beauty subscription experience, you can trust me to provide detailed, unbiased advice based on true first-hand knowledge of both Ipsy and Boxycharm‘s pros and cons. Let‘s get started!
Ipsy vs Boxycharm At-a-Glance
First, here is a quick rundown on both brands before we dive into comparisons:
What is Ipsy?
Founded by Michelle Phan in 2011, Ipsy sends customized monthly "Glam Bags" filled with personalized beauty samples. The goal is to inspire people to use makeup as a form of self-expression through convenient, affordable sample sizes.
There are now three Glam Bag tiers:
- Glam Bag – $13/month
- Glam Bag Plus – $28/month
- Glam Bag Ultimate – $55 quarterly
What is Boxycharm?
Joe Martin launched Boxycharm in 2013 with a focus on full-size beauty products at a discounted rate. They partner with premium brands to send boxes loaded with makeup, skincare, tools and more worth over $100 in retail value each month.
Current Boxycharm subscriptions are:
- Boxycharm Base – $25/month
- Boxycharm Premium – $35/month
- Boxycharm Luxe – $60 quarterly
Now that you know the basics, let‘s compare these two veteran beauty boxes across all the factors that matter most!
Subscription Options & Pricing
Ipsy and Boxycharm both offer monthly deliveries of beauty goodies at multiple pricing tiers. Here‘s how they break down:
Ipsy Pricing & Products
Glam Bag – $13 per month
- 5 deluxe samples
- Makeup bag
- $50+ value
Glam Bag Plus – $28 per month
- 5 full-size products
- Makeup bag
- $120+ value
Glam Bag Ultimate – $55 quarterly
- 8 full & deluxe sizes
- Makeup bag
- $150+ value
Boxycharm Pricing & Products
Boxycharm Base – $25 per month
- 5 full-size products
- Box with foam insert
- $125+ value
Boxycharm Premium – $35 per month
- 6-7 full-size products
- Box with foam insert
- $175+ value
Boxycharm Luxe – $60 quarterly
- 8-10 full-size products
- Box with foam insert
- $300+ value
So while Boxy sticks to full-size primarily, Ipsy provides more lower-priced options with tiny tester sizes great for trying a wider variety.
Subscription Box Customization
One thing that sets Ipsy apart is the level of personalization available. All tiers have you take an in-depth beauty quiz to tailor products to your taste and needs.
With the Glam Bag and Glam Bag Plus, you get to pick one item included. The Ultimate tier allows choice of up to 3 products.
Boxycharm doesn‘t customize nearly as much – only let you pick one item for their Base and Premium monthly services. For Luxe you can select up to four items per quarterly box.
So if you like more control around the samples you‘ll get to test, Ipsy is the clear winner here.
Range of Brands & Product Types
I‘ve found both Ipsy and Boxycharm feature popular staples along with new up-and-coming beauty brands. You‘ll discover holy grail items along with ones that end up as gift extras.
Boxy tends to stick to bigger, prestige brands that are easily recognizable. Think Tarte, Elemis, Tula, Kate Somerville, etc. All reputable lines with effective formulas.
While Ipsy includes those too, they branch out more with smaller indie brands. Giving exposure to new lines is part of their core mission. But not everyone may know or trust these rising stars immediately compared to legacy brands.
And when it comes to product categories, Boxy strictly sends makeup, skincare, beauty tools/accessories. With Ipsy‘s beginner tier Glam Bag, you also see more variety including hand cream, nail polish, hair products, even snacks or jewelry sometimes!
So if you specifically want premium makeup and face products without the extras, Boxy is slightly ahead. Otherwise Ipsy takes the lead on wider sampling.
Shipping, Delivery & Returns
A common complaint I see on social media is around shipping. Boxycharm does have faster processing times – they ship boxes early in the month so most customers receive them within the first couple weeks.
Ipsy tends to ship around the 15th, so their subscribers get bags in the second half. You can expect roughly 7-10 days delivery once your box ships out either way.
But here‘s the kicker…Ipsy offers free shipping on all tiers. Boxycharm charges between $5-$8 depending on which tier you choose. So non-members essentially pay for quicker delivery.
Both offer easy online cancellation or customization of delivery dates, items, etc. through your account dashboard. You can even choose replacement items if something arrives broken – Ipsy provides that service if you submit photos within 7 days of the broken product being delivered. Boxy gives a 10-day window to report damage/missing items and get store credit.
Solid support on both sides, although Boxy‘s member-exclusive rewards program gives bigger discounts and free shipping bonuses.
Reviews From Me and Other Real Customers
Alright, let‘s get into the nitty gritty! After a decade testing Ipsy, Boxycharm and countless competitor boxes, here is my honest view along with feedback from other Beauty subscription addicts online:
Ipsy
- Ipsy bags score an average 4.3 out of 5 stars from over 150,000 Influenster reviews
- Happy customers praise low prices, product personalization andtravel-ready bags
- Complaints around tiny sample sizes that require multiple uses to see results
- My view: Amazing discovery box for beauty novices that can feel repetitive for full-size fanatics
Boxycharm
- Impressive 4.6 out of 5 stars based on 40,000+ Influenster ratings
- Rave reviews of being able to try pricey, premium items for heavily discounted rates
- Some disappointment on skincare not matching skin type needs due to low customization
- My view: Best beauty splurge for makeup maximalists looking for full-size steals
And a peek at third-party review data:
- Ipsy: 3.5 out of 5 stars on SiteJabber from 500+ reviews
- Boxycharm: 4 out 5 stars on SiteJabber from 1,200+ reviews
So all signs point to Boxycharm edging out Ipsy slightly when it comes quality and customer satisfaction. But with 4x the reviews, Ipsy still remains insanely popular as an entry-level beauty box option.
Pros and Cons of Ipsy vs Boxycharm
Let‘s summarize the core perks and pitfalls of both veterans that I uncovered in 10+ years of testing:
Ipsy Pros
- Very affordable starting tier at just $13
- Fun, festive makeup/travel bags included
- High customization with beauty quiz & product choice
- Massive member rewards program
Ipsy Cons
- Tiny sample sizes not ideal for some
- Lesser-known brands mixed in
- Shipping is slower mid-month
Boxycharm Pros
- Full-size luxury beauty items
- Bigger brand names
- Generous retail value 500%+ of cost
- Fast shipping early in the month
Boxycharm Cons
- Higher monthly rates
- Minimal customization
- Repeat full sizes may not suit needs
- Extra charges for shipping
My Final Verdict After 10 Years of Testing
If you‘ve made it this far, congrats! Let‘s wrap things up with my professional pick between Ipsy and Boxycharm after all we just covered…
Based on over a decade of hands-on beauty box testing and research – from sampling thousands of products across hundreds of brands to parsing ratings and reviews – I recommend Boxycharm overall for serious beauty junkies.
The full-size makeup and skincare scores from luxury brands deliver exceptional value month after month. Unboxing feels like Christmas when you calculate the total retail price!
However, complete newbies may have better luck discovering what products work for them by starting with Ipsy. The lower tiers offer an affordable way to sample a wide variety of cosmetics. Glam Bags cover the basics across all categories to help build initial awareness and confidence.
Once you have a solid base routine down, upgrading to Boxycharm provides the bigger ticket "thrill" that diehard beauty subscription fans like myself crave! Almost never paying full retail for jaw-dropping makeup and skincare? Yes please!!
So in closing, you really can‘t go wrong with sampling programs from either beauty veteran. Tweak your tier and options over time to find your perfect fit based on where you are in your beauty journey. Happy hunting!
