13 Best Beauty Box Subscriptions, Tested and Reviewed (2025)
The best skin I’ve ever had was a result of this 10-step Korean skin care routine that Costco used to sell. (And best believe if the store ever brought it back, I’d purchase a lifetime supply. Just saying, Costco buyers reading this article.) I’ll also never forget visiting an Olive Young store in Seoul, wandering around the aisles absolutely mind-blown at how many steps a skin care routine could have. I walked out of that store laden with bee propolis, with snail mucin, with sheet masks and serums and all sorts of potions that looked fantastic on my bathroom counter and worked even better on my skin. In my opinion (and many others’), Korean skin care products are some of the best in the world.
The PinkSeoul box is full of such products. Every subscriber receives a Welcome Box as their first box filled with skin care basics. Mine had ceramide and aloe sheet masks, a reusable grocery bag, an eye cream, a cleansing foam, a glow serum, a toner, and a moisturizer. It was basically an entire skin care routine in one little box.
When you first sign up, you’ll take a little quiz talking about your skin and what you’re focused on. After the Welcome Box arrives, you’ll get customized boxes based on your quiz answers. There are three sizes available—The PinkSeoul Mini Box ($30/box) is suitable for all ages and contains two full-size products and five mask products. The standard PinkSeoul box ($40/box) is recommended for ages under 35, and PinkSeoul Plus ($50/box) is recommended for ages 35 and up. The latter two boxes include at least four full-size K-beauty products, two masks, and one accessory item. PinkSeoul ships every two months.
It can be tricky to find the right skin care routine for you, and this box may be overkill if you don’t have a bunch of friends and family members willing to take products off your hands. Since everything is full-size, you’ll build up a backstock quickly. But if you’re a skin care fanatic who loves trying new ingredients, or you’re still trying to nail your skin’s perfect regimen, this box is worth a try. I also appreciate the brand’s Pay It Forward initiative, which sends skin care boxes to women battling cancer.
Plans and Pricing: PinkSeoul costs $30, $40, or $50 per box depending on the tier you choose. Each box includes a mix of full-size items, accessories, and masks (again, depending on the tier you choose). Shipping is free.
Each NoMakeNoLife box has two beauty items, one tool, and five beauty products, with a mix of Japanese and Korean brands. There’s something so exciting about beauty products from Japan and Korea. The packaging tends to be bright and colorful, the shades and ingredients are trendy before the trends have even started in the US (like snail mucin, for example), and they’re generally a great way to discover new things you wouldn’t be able to find easily if you were shopping local.
The My Blooming Radiance box I received had an informational leaflet about the various inclusions, with highlights on ingredients and an emphasis on self-care. Camellia and rice oils were featured in the Omamori Nail Oil and Now & Than Hair Oil, and the rest of the products were also interesting. I got a lip mask, an eyeshadow palette, and lipstick, as well as Sanrio blotting papers and a pair of wrist cuffs to prevent water from rolling down my arms while washing my face. Absolutely adorable. If your city has enough diversity that you’ve got Japanese and Korean beauty products around, this discovery box might contain things that are down the street from you. But if your Instagram feed (like mine) is full of products you’ve never seen before from these two countries, NMNL is a fun monthly treat. There’s also a rewards program called Streaks that lets you earn points toward goodies and discounts. Each box has a Streak Code that you can enter on the website to earn your points.
Plans and Pricing: NoMakeNoLife costs $35 per month (or less per month if you purchase longer subscriptions; $34 per box for three months, $32 per box for six months, or $31.50 per box for 12 months). Each box contains two beauty items, one beauty tool, and five or six beauty products—so eight to nine items in total. Gift subscriptions are available. They cost $100 for three months, $192 for six months, and $378 for a year. Shipping is free.
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