Allure Beauty Box is a $29.99 monthly beauty subscription from Allure magazine that ships six or more editor-picked products.
It’s a good fit if you like trying new skincare and makeup without researching every launch yourself. It’s a weaker fit if you want to choose every product or if your skin reacts to new formulas easily.
I’ve spent years testing beauty subscriptions, and the question I hear most is simple: “Am I paying for products I’ll actually use?” This review answers that, along with price, box contents, cancellation and how the box compares to IPSY.
Quick Verdict
| Our rating | 4.8/5 |
| Monthly price | $29.99 (lower per box on prepaid plans) |
| Items per box | 6 or more, with at least 3 full-size |
| Product choice | Editor-selected; no pick-your-own step |
| Best for | Skincare-curious buyers who trust editor picks |
| Not ideal for | Sensitive skin, strict budgets, people who want control |
What Is the Allure Beauty Box?
The Allure Beauty Box is a monthly subscription run by Allure, the beauty title owned by Condé Nast. Each month, Allure’s editors pick a set of skincare, makeup, hair and body products and ship the same box to members.
Who Runs It
The box sits under the Allure brand. Allure has covered beauty for decades and runs the Best of Beauty awards. That editorial background is the main selling point. You are paying for someone else’s product screening, not just the products.
How the Subscription Works
You sign up on the Allure Beauty Box site and pick a plan: monthly, three-month prepaid or annual. The box ships once a month. New members usually get their first box within about ten days, and monthly boxes go out around the second week.
Allure Beauty Box Price: How Much Does It Cost Per Month?
The monthly plan costs $29.99. Prepaid plans cut the per-box cost, which is where most of the savings sit if you already know you’ll stay for a while.
Monthly vs Longer Plans
- Monthly: $29.99, cancel any time before the next billing date
- Three-month prepaid: lower per box, paid up front
- Annual: lowest per-box cost, best only if you’re sure you’ll use the products
Shipping and Extra Costs
Shipping is free for members within the contiguous US and Puerto Rico. Sales tax is added where it applies. There’s no separate membership fee on top of the box price.
Value Per Box
Allure lists a retail value for every box, and it’s usually several times the $29.99 price. Treat that number with care. Retail value only means something if you use the products. A $60 serum you’ll never open is worth nothing to you.
A fairer way to judge a box: add up the retail value of only the products you’ll use, then compare that to what you paid.
What’s Inside? Full-Size Products or Just Samples?
Each box has six or more products, and at least three are usually full-size. The rest are deluxe samples, which are larger than the foil packets you’d get at a store counter.
Typical Product Mix
Most boxes lean toward skincare, with a steady rotation of:
- Serums, moisturizers and cleansers
- Lip products, mascara or eyeliner
- Hair treatments, masks or styling products
- Body care, sunscreen or fragrance samples
Is the Allure Beauty Box Worth It? Pros and Cons
It’s worth it if you use at least half of each box and enjoy editorial product discovery. If you already have a steady routine and rarely switch products, the box will likely pile up in a drawer.
Pros
- Products are picked by beauty editors, not by an algorithm
- At least three full-size items in most boxes
- Free shipping and no extra membership fee
- Good mix of prestige and newer indie brands
- Skip and pause options on most plans
Cons
- No say in what you get
- Everyone receives the same box, whatever their skin type
- Monthly boxes are non-refundable once billed
- Some months repeat categories, such as two moisturizers
- Shipping is limited to the US and Puerto Rico
What Real Customers Say in Allure Reviews
Across Reddit threads, subscription forums and review platforms, customer feedback tends to split into two camps.
Common Praise
Long-time members often mention finding a new favorite product they wouldn’t have tried on their own. Many also like the higher share of full-size items compared to cheaper sample bags. Skincare fans tend to rate the box higher than makeup fans.
Common Complaints
The recurring complaints cover:
- Shipping delays, especially around holidays
- Repeat product types within the same box or across months
- Shade mismatches on makeup, since the box isn’t personalized
- Billing timing, with people charged for a new month after meaning to cancel
That last one is the most avoidable. The billing cycle matters, and it’s covered in the cancellation section below.
Is Allure Beauty Box Good for Sensitive Skin or Beginners?
For beginners, yes. It’s an easy way to learn what textures, finishes and ingredients you like. For sensitive or reactive skin, be careful, because you can’t filter products by skin type.
Ingredient and Skin-Type Considerations
If your skin reacts to fragrance, retinoids, strong acids or essential oils, patch-test every new product. Apply a small amount behind the ear or on the inner arm for two to three days before using it on your face. Keep the ingredient list, even if you give the product away.
Can You Choose or Customize Your Products?
Not on the standard box. Every member gets the same editor-selected set. If product choice matters to you, a service with a pick-your-own step will suit you better. See the comparison below.
Allure Beauty Box vs IPSY Original vs IPSY Extra (Formerly BoxyCharm)
BoxyCharm now runs under IPSY as IPSY Extra, and the old Glam Bag is now IPSY Original. Here’s how they line up against Allure.
| Allure Beauty Box | IPSY Original | IPSY Extra | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | $29.99 | $15 | $32 |
| Items per box | 6+ | 5 | 5 |
| Full-size items | At least 3 | Mostly deluxe samples | All 5 |
| Choose your products | No | Choose 1 | Choose 3 |
| Personalized | No | Yes, by quiz | Yes, by quiz |
| Best for | Editor-led discovery, skincare | Low-cost sampling | Full-size makeup with some control |
Quick take on each:
- Allure Beauty Box: best if you trust editor judgment and lean toward skincare.
- IPSY Original: best if you want to sample on a tight budget.
- IPSY Extra: best if you want full-size products and the ability to pick some of them.
For skincare in particular, Allure usually has the edge because its boxes lean that way. For makeup shade-matching, IPSY’s personalization is the stronger choice.
Can You Trust Allure Best of Beauty Winners?
Mostly, yes, with one caveat. The Best of Beauty awards are one of the better-known product rankings in the industry. They’re decided by editors and testers, not by customer votes.
How the Award Picks Are Made
Allure editors and outside experts test products across categories over several months, then choose winners by category. The winners carry a red seal that brands later use on packaging and in stores.
Editorial Picks vs Paid Placement
Awards and ads are separate at established titles, but keep one thing in mind. Allure’s commerce business, including the Beauty Box and affiliate links, benefits when readers buy. That doesn’t make the picks wrong. It just means you should still check the ingredients and your own skin needs before buying.
How to Subscribe (and How to Cancel) the Allure Beauty Box
How to Subscribe
- Go to the official Allure Beauty Box website.
- Click Join Now.
- Choose monthly, three-month or annual.
- Add a promo code if you have one.
- Enter billing and shipping details, then confirm.
How to Cancel
- Log in to your Allure Beauty Box account.
- Open Manage Subscription.
- Select Cancel and follow the prompts.
- Save the confirmation email or take a screenshot.
- If the online option doesn’t work, email BeautyBox@Allure.com and ask for cancellation plus the effective date.
Timing matters: Billing happens around the start of each month. Cancel before the month ends to avoid the next charge. Monthly boxes aren’t refunded once billed, so if you cancel late, you’ll still get that month’s box.
Skipping is not cancelling. A skipped or paused month keeps your subscription active.
Final Verdict: Should You Buy the Allure Beauty Box?
The Allure Beauty Box is a solid pick for people who enjoy trying new skincare and like having editors do the screening. It loses value fast if half of each box goes unused.
Buy it if you:
- Enjoy discovering new brands each month
- Lean toward skincare over makeup
- Don’t mind giving away products that aren’t for you
Skip it if you:
- Have sensitive or reactive skin
- Want to pick your own products
- Already have a routine you’re happy with
If you’re unsure, start on the monthly plan for two or three boxes before committing to a prepaid plan. Check the current price and promo offers on the official Allure Beauty Box site.
FAQs
Is Allure Beauty Box legit?
Yes. It’s run under Allure magazine, part of Condé Nast, and has operated for years. Boxes ship monthly to the US and Puerto Rico, and billing, cancellation and customer support run through the official Allure Beauty Box site.
How much is Allure Beauty Box a month?
The monthly plan costs $29.99 with free shipping. Three-month and annual prepaid plans lower the per-box cost, so they’re worth considering once you know you like the boxes.
Does Allure Beauty Box give full-size products?
Yes. Each box usually has at least three full-size products out of six or more. The rest are deluxe samples, which are larger than standard store samples.
Can I skip a month?
Yes. Most plans let you skip or pause a box through your account or by contacting customer care. A skipped month doesn’t cancel your subscription, so billing continues afterward.
How do I cancel Allure Beauty Box?
Log in, go to Manage Subscription and select Cancel. You can also email BeautyBox@Allure.com. Cancel before the month ends to avoid the next charge, since monthly boxes aren’t refunded once billed.
Is Allure Beauty Box better than IPSY?
It depends on what you want. Allure is better for editor-led skincare discovery. IPSY is better if you want personalization and product choice, with IPSY Original costing less and IPSY Extra offering all full-size items.
