Makeup Your Mind: Birchbox or IPSY?

By Olivia Kavadias

     A subscription box… The thought fills the air. Maybe that’s what I need. The tired, same old beat-up makeup products sit on the table in between you and the mirror. The price tags, half-covered in product, the expensive number printed on them. Soon, the answer is clear- You need a monthly makeup delivery service.
 
     IPSY and Birchbox are the two of the most popular makeup subscription boxes in the United States.They each deliver a package at the beginning of the month, which is filled with makeup samples, customized for your personal preferences and skin type. Every box or bag comes complete with five products to try for ten dollars a month, and if liked, the customer is able to buy the product online. But the question remains of which service should be bought? Which is better for you? Birchbox or IPSY?
 
     Birchbox lets you explore makeup, distributing samples of unpopular, but high-end brands. For a person who has shelves full of makeup sitting at their house, but they want to try out new styles, Birchbox is probably the better choice. Also, if the customer likes to explore and experiment with makeup, Birchbox gives a wide variety of products to try and use, making it easy to go out and find the full size product if enjoyed, or throw it out without wasting a lot of money and product. This is a plus if the buyer is picky with makeup, and aids in the problem of makeup never looking the way it does in stores- a very relatable issue.
 
     While half of makeup subscription box consumers purchase Birchbox, the other half are sworn to IPSY. IPSY gives out mainly full size products rather than sample size, which is rare in Birchbox. But not all of this merchandise is high end- in fact, some can be found at the drugstore. Rather than arriving in an attractive box like Birchbox, IPSY comes in a decorated bag and is better for those who prefer minimal time makeup routines, and maybe not as advanced. Since most of the makeup you get with IPSY is full sized, you don’t need to go out and purchase another full sized product. Also, if a customer doesn’t have much makeup or a variety of products to use, IPSY products will last longer than Birchbox due to the larger sizes.
 
     The last factor to consider is lifestyle. Are most nights spent at home, hanging out with friends, or going out to a dinner and a movie? Every customer should think about what will most suit them and their daily life. If you go out more, maybe you would prefer more options to pair with an outfit at every event. Think about what you would use most, more reliable makeup or new and exciting looks to try.  If you prefer to have a more consistent schedule and use more reliable makeup, maybe you would rather have one bag of bigger products to get more uses out of. After going over this final consideration, you’ll be ready to hit the purchase button on the website you have chosen to use.