Birchbox

What's in the box: A monthly selection of beauty, skincare, and hair products that you choose or that Birchbox matches to your profile, in sample, travel, or full sizes.

Birchbox was one of the companies that made beauty sampling boxes popular in the US when it launched in 2010. Its ownership has changed twice in recent years. FemTec Health acquired it in November 2021, and Retention Brands bought its assets in May 2023 and restarted shipping. The current site describes a monthly, customizable box built around choice. New members answer a short questionnaire about their skin, hair, and style goals. They then either pick each product themselves or let Birchbox build a tailored box. The site says members can choose from samples, travel-size, and full-size options, and favorites can be bought through its Shop and Members Market. That level of control is the main selling point. It also deals with a common complaint about sample boxes, which is receiving items you would never use. The downside is that the public pages say little about pricing, box size, or which brands are currently stocked, so you have to start the sign-up process to see the details. The ownership changes and the earlier pause in shipping may make some former members cautious, and the service has a short track record under its new owner. Birchbox used to offer a men's grooming line, but the current homepage covers beauty in general, so check what is available for men before subscribing.