Hi beauties! Have you guys ever heard of beauty box subscriptions? These monthly or quarterly boxes deliver personalized beauty samples right to your doorstep. They come filled with deluxe sample or full-sized beauty products from a variety of different brands. I have never subscribed to any of them myself but I do have a few friends that have and they’ve enjoyed trying out different products every month in hopes of finding ones that work for them. I recently received 2 beauty boxes for review so I thought I’d compare them and let you know a bit about each company and what they offer in case you were ever interested in gifting the service or subscribing to it yourself?

Birchbox, the popular, well-known beauty box in the USA has finally arrived in Canada! Launching right in time for the Holidays, Birchbox is now offering Canadians the opportunity to learn about and buy premium beauty products that were once unavailable to them. Their philosophy is “try-learn-buy” which allows consumers to test out a product before committing to making a full-size purchase on their site. The subscription service costs $14.95 CAD per month (price includes shipping & handling) OR $159.40/year. Each Birchbox contains a personalized selection of 5 luxury beauty samples for women, with products spanning the categories of hair, makeup, nails, skincare, and/or body. With over 600 products and 50 brands to choose from – including a wide variety of Canadian-made products and international brands that have yet to make their mark in Canada (i.e. Cynthia Rowley Beauty, Harvey Prince) – there are many great product options available. Some of the brands included are: Smashbox, Caudalie, Jouer, Supergoop!, Baxter of California, Lab Series, and Art of Shaving. From life-changing hair treatments and on-trend nail lacquers to addicting scents – Birchbox invites us all to discover something new.

My box contained the following products:

Benefit High Beam (2.5ml) – This cult-favourite highlighter is no stranger to the beauty community. Dab and blend a touch of illuminating product onto your cheekbones, cupids bow or brow bone to accentuate those areas.

Cynthia Rowley Creamy Lip Stain in “Heartthrob” (2.25g) – This product offers the moisture and shine of a lip gloss and the ultra long wear of a stain. The classic red colour is perfect for the Holiday season!

Juice Beauty Green Apple Peel Sensitive (7.8ml) – A powerful skin peel – appropriate for even the most sensitive skin types – tingles as it exfoliates to reduce breakouts and even out skin tone. Contains a trio of antioxidant rich vitamins – A, C & E, algae extract, organic, fruit-derived hydroxy acids and raw sugar cane.

amika Nourishing Mask – A deeply hydrating hair mask that uses Obliphica oil (sourced from rare sea buckhorn berries) to amp up the shine & vibrancy of your hair while helping to repair split ends. The lush mask works as a weekly treatment or an everyday conditioner. I’m looking forward to trying this as I’ve heard that you can see/feel a difference in your hair after just one use?

Noir Long-Wear Eyeliner (Full size/1.2g) – A waterproof eyeliner that combines the ease of a pencil with the drama of a liquid liner. This liner is incredibly smooth and has a great intense black pigment! I’ve been enjoying this!

Luxe Box is currently the leading beauty membership service offered in Canada. It is a quarterly service whereby members receive 7-8 trial-sized beauty and lifestyle products every season (March, June, September & December). To subscribe, consumers set up a beauty profile online before they start receiving boxes that are personally tailored to their personal style and/or preferences. A luxe box costs $26 CAD every season (price includes shipping) and you can cancel your subscription anytime. Members also receive exclusive access to private events, product launches and beauty tips/tutorials to help them stay trendy every season. Limited Edition Boxes are also available every season (see below for an example) for an upgrade fee of $6-8. These limited edition boxes are great gifting options and can also be purchased separately from the Luxe Boutique. 

Luxe Box also offers a referral program to its members. By participating, each member shares their unique invite code with friends and family for a discount on any membership plan. With every 2 successful referrals made, members can earn themselves a FREE Luxe Box!

Limited Edition Enchantress Box – Winter 2014

Nicole by OPI Mer-maid For Each Other (3.75 ml sample, $3.99 value) – A gorgeous shimmery-green mini nail polish

Loose Button Eyelash Curler ($20 value) – This is a wonderful addition to the box…very functional. Who doesn’t need an eyelash curler?

suki Transformative Purifying Masque (7.5ml/$16.95 value) – This mask helps unclog pores, draws out impurities & reduces the appearance of redness, discolouration and blemishes. It also claims to give skin a more balanced complexion.

So Susan 8-hour Cheek Stain (Full Size, $24.96) – A long-lasting moisturizing gel blush that gives you a healthy glow-from-within flush. It has a unique balm-like texture that lasts up to 8 hours. This water-resistant cheek stain is also 100% cruelty free. 

amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo (30ml/$10.00 value) –  A dry shampoo without any talc or aluminium. Use it to freshen up your unwashed hair, to create volume or to extend your style. This is a great size for travel! 

Red Flower Illuminating Rose Collagen Renewal Face Serum (3ml/$10.00 value) –  Chalk full of vitamins (B1, B2, C, D, E), sterolins, ellagic acid, omegas 3, 6 & 9 fatty acids and an antioxidant rich berry-complex, this serum claims to boost skin’s elasticity, restore its radiance and fortify the complexion. It is also supposed to help with fine lines and wrinkles. 

So Susan Flutter Mascara (Full Size/$17.46 value) – A carbon black mascara formulated with hyaluronic spheres to help you achieve dark, curvy lashes! This mascara has a long brush & extra stiff bristles that helps you achieve voluminous, multi-dimensional lashes in just one coat. Love this! 

So Susan Wonderlight in Bronze Wonder (Full Size/$14.96 value) –  A cross between an eye primer, a luminizer, an eyeshadow-enhancing base and an under-eye perfector. One side of this product is a water-based eye primer while the other is a creamy under-eye corrector. 

*My friends at Luxe Box provided me with a special discount code so MomsMakuepStash readers can save on their subscription –click here to use it!

Do you subscribe to any beauty boxes?

Which of the two boxes above do you think is a better value?