Subscription Services

There are a lot of monthly subscription services out there, and I've tried many of them.  Before I sign up for one, I like to read other peoples' reviews to see if it's something I'd like.  I created this page so that you could access all of my reviews easily from one place, and see a quick rundown of the services.  Check back often, since I'll be adding more as a I try them!

Birchbox

Monthly beauty box / $10 per month

What - You'll receive 4-5 deluxe beauty samples from high-end brands

How - You can sign up for a monthly subscription, or pay $110 for a whole year at their website

Option to skip a month? - No

Shipping? - Included in the $10

Ease of cancellation - Very easy, just click a link on the website

Special points - You fill out a beauty profile, and Birchbox uses that to match you up with samples each month.  You can also earn points to use towards full-sized products.

Pros - For only $10, it's a good value if you like your samples

Cons - Shipping for me was painfully slow.  I live in Rochester, NY and boxes ship from NYC.  It still took me an average of 7 days to receive my box.  I also received too many samples that I didn't want.

Why I cancelled - I have tried other services that I liked more and that sent me products that I liked on a consistent basis.  Birchbox fell short on pleasing me too many times.

Overall grade: B, read all of my reviews

Conscious Box

Monthly lifestyle box / $19.95 per month

What - You'll receive 10-15 lifestyle samples that are cruelty-free and eco-friendly

How - Monthly, 3-month, and yearly subscriptions available at the website

Option to skip a month? - No

Shipping? - $7, so the box ends up costing $19.95 total

Ease of cancellation - Mostly easy, you have to email them and request cancellation

Special points - You can receive a bonus item each month for posting on their Facebook page

Pros - Exemplary quality and quantity of products.  They also have vegan and gluten-free box options.

Cons - None that I can think of, honestly

Why I cancelled - I cancelled after being subscribed for a year because while I loved this service, I felt that I had seen everything they had to offer and wanted to try different services.

Overall grade: A+, read all of my reviews

Cravebox

Monthly lifestyle box / $10 per month

*Note: Cravebox has changed quite a bit since I first reviewed their service.  It's very confusing to me now and I'm not even sure if they still have the monthly delivery.  My understanding is that now they release certain "specialty" boxes and you have to enter a lottery to receive one.

What - You'll receive 5-6 lifestyle samples

How - Sign up for a monthly subscription at their website

Option to skip a month? - No

Shipping? - Included in the $10

Ease of cancellation - I don't remember exactly how I had to cancel, but I remember it being difficult

Special points - They also have limited edition boxes once in a while

Pros - Lower price for those who are looking for an inexpensive monthly service

Cons - So many.  I didn't enjoy this service at all.  The products were cheap and unimpressive to me.

Why I cancelled - I didn't enjoy anything about this service.

Overall grade: D, read all of my reviews

Daily Dose of Green

Monthly lifestyle box / $15 per month

What - You'll receive 5-7 eco-friendly lifestyle samples

How - Sign up for a monthly subscription at their website

Option to skip a month? - No

Shipping? - Included in the $15

Ease of cancellation - I haven't attempted to cancel at this time, but I can't find an explanation on how to cancel on their website

Special points - You fill out a profile survey so that they can cater items to your interests

Pros - Lower price and so far I've received an excellent variety of items

Cons - Difficult to discern how to cancel

Why I cancelled - n/a, I am currently subscribed

Overall grade: A, read all of my reviews

Eco-Emi

Monthly lifestyle box / $15 per month

What - You'll receive 8-10 lifestyle samples that are cruelty-free and eco-friendly

How - Sign up for a monthly subscription at their website, you pay through PayPal

Option to skip a month? - No

Shipping? - Included in the $15

Ease of cancellation - Easy, a link is provided on the website at the "Join" page

Special points - This is one of the few services I've found that ships internationally

Pros - Always had a great variety of samples, and I was consistently happy with what was included

Cons - Lots of tea samples and lip balms.  I like both, but others might not as much.

Why I cancelled - My cancelling had nothing to do with the service, because if it was up to me I would stay subscribed forever.  I just had to rearrange my finances and decided to cut out Eco-Emi for a while.

Overall grade: A+, read all of my reviews

Flicker Box

Monthly candle box / $32 per month, $96/three months, $165/six months, $300/year

What - You'll receive a box of artisinal, handcrafted candles from all across the U.S.

How - Sign up for a monthly subscription at their website, you pay through PayPal

Option to skip a month? - No

Shipping? - Included in the fee

Ease of cancellation - Easy, send them an email at flickerboxcandles@gmail.com

Special points - There is an option for a 12-month subscription that is bi-monthly for $165, as opposed to receiving 6 months right in a row

Pros - I love that they feature artisanal candles from smaller companies in the U.S.

Cons - It may be a lot of candles each month for some, so if you don't love candles this probably isn't the subscription for you

Why I cancelled - I did not cancel, I only received one box to review

Overall grade: A, read all of my reviews

Goodebox

Monthly eco-friendly beauty box / $16 a month

What - You'll receive 6-7 eco-friendly beauty samples

How - Sign up for a monthly subscription at their website

Option to skip a month? - No

Shipping? - Included in the $16

Ease of cancellation - Easy once you find the cancellation page, which is not easy to find at first.  Navigate to their FAQ page and then find the question that says "Can I cancel if I need to?," or just click here.

Special points - None

Pros - All of the items are eco-friendly and the samples are decently sized

Cons - The box is a bit expensive in my opinion

Why I cancelled - I didn't feel that the box was worth the $16.  The samples were nice, but it wasn't better than Conscious Box, so I didn't keep it.

Overall grade: B+, read all of my reviews

Hammock Pack

Monthly lifestyle box / $25 a month

What - You'll receive 5-6 artisan lifestyle items that are based on a theme

How - Sign up for a monthly subscription at their website, you pay through PayPal

Option to skip a month? - Not sure (I think the answer is no)

Shipping? - $5

Ease of cancellation - Not sure

Special points - Most of the items are full-sized

Pros - Very high-quality of items and a good variety to go with the theme

Cons - $25 + shipping may be a bit pricey for some

Why I cancelled - I didn't cancel this service, I wasn't actually subscribed.  I received the inaugural box to review on this blog.

Overall grade: A, read all of my reviews

Indie Gift Box

Monthly handmade goods / $20 a month

*Note: Indie Gift Box will be closing after May 2013, boxes for April and May will be available for purchase

What - You'll receive 5-6 handmade items that are based on that month's theme

How - Boxes are released on specific dates throughout the month and only a limited number are available.  The easiest way to make yourself aware of when boxes are released is to either follow their blog via RSS or sign up for an email subscription (visit the website to do so).

Option to skip a month? - n/a, boxes are a one-time purchase

Shipping? - $6 for US, $22 for Canada

Ease of cancellation - n/a, boxes are a one-time purchase

Special points - The contributors to each box will be announced prior to their release (with links to their shops), but you won't know exactly which items will be included.

Pros - Excellent source for handmade goods from a variety of independent makers

Cons - One of the two boxes I bought didn't contain items that suited my fancy, so not knowing what will be included can be a con for some.

Why I cancelled - n/a

Overall grade: B+, read all of my reviews

Influenster

Lifestyle boxes / Free

What - If you qualify for a box, you'll get 5-7 products based on the box's theme

How - Join at the website and earn badges that reflect your lifestyle, and hope you get picked to receive a box

Option to skip a month? - n/a

Shipping? - Free

Ease of cancellation - If you are selected for a box and you don't want it, you just have to click a link saying you are opting out of that box

Special points - The best part is that this service is free!

Pros - No charge for boxes, and the badge surveys are fun to fill out

Cons - Boxes don't come out at a regular interval, and you have to hope that you qualify.  The products featured are also usually not higher-end, such as in Birchboxes, etc.

Why I cancelled - n/a, I'm still a member

Overall grade: C, read all of my reviews

Julep Maven

Monthly nail polish box / $19 a month

What - Products vary, but you will always receive nail polish + another item

How - Join at the website

Option to skip a month? - Yes

Shipping? - Included in the $19

Ease of cancellation - Fairly easy, you just have to email them

Special points - Selections are based on a beauty profile you fill out, but if you like a different profile better you can always switch to that selection.  You can also gift one of your months to a friend.

Pros - This is the ultimate subscription service for nail polish junkies

Cons - I felt that the quality of the nail polishes was not worthy of their retail price

Why I cancelled - I just wanted to give this a try and I had a coupon, but I didn't care for the formula of the nail polishes so I cancelled.

Overall grade: B, read all of my reviews

Kara's Way

Monthly beauty box / $15 per month

What - You'll receive 5-10 eco-friendly beauty samples

How - Sign up for a monthly subscription at their website

Option to skip a month? - No

Shipping? - Included in the $15

Ease of cancellation - Not sure, I received this box for free to review

Special points - This is one of the newest subscription services I've found (as of June 2012) 

Pros - Fantastic value and great quality of products in the box I reviewed

Cons - None that I can think of

Why I cancelled - I didn't cancel; I was never subscribed.  I received only one box to review.

Overall grade: A, read all of my reviews

KLUTCHclub

Monthly fitness/health box / $18 per month

What - You will receive $50 worth of health and wellness products, according to their website

How - $18/month for monthly, $17/month for a 3 month commitment, and $16/month for a year's commitment.  Sign up for a subscription at their website

Option to skip a month? - No

Shipping? - "Free," included in the price you pay for your box

Ease of cancellation - Easy, deselect the Auto Renew option on your account page

Special points - Each month they include a coupon for a free fitness class

Pros - The free fitness class would be a great draw for those who are interested in trying new workouts

Cons - Not the box for someone who isn't highly interested in fitness and healthy lifestyles

Why I cancelled - I was able to try this box for 50% off so I wanted to see what it was about, but I'm not interested enough in their niche to stay subscribed.

Overall grade: B+, read all of my reviews

Little Black Bag

Monthly fashion/beauty box / price varies

What - Choose one item from the gallery, and depending on the price/value of your bundle you will receive 1-2 more items that are selected for you.  You can then trade your items for a period of seven days, so there theoretically no limit to how many items you can receive.

How - Sign up for a monthly subscription at their website.  You will then be charged $9.95 a month and receive $10 credit for use on the site, or you can skip that month and receive no charge (if you are a VIP member, see note below).

Option to skip a month? - Yes, if you are a part of the VIP membership.  I was grandfathered into this VIP program so I don't know if you are able to skip if you joined after April 1, 2013.

Shipping? - $5.95 for economy, $8.85 for UPS standard, and $18.95 for UPS expedited.  I am not sure what the charges are for Canadian shipping, but I do know it is expensive due to customs.

Ease of cancellation - With the old system you could skip one bag as a courtesy, but I don't know if it is so easy to do now.

Special points - This is a unique service in that you can choose your items and then trade.  You can also purchase more than one bag per month, if you so choose.

Pros - The trading part is addicting!  And the value of the items is well worth the $50 price tag.

Cons - If you aren't able to trade well and you get stuck with items you don't like, it can seem like a waste of money.  Their customer service has a reputation for not being the best, but I personally have not had any major issues with them.

Why I cancelled - I am still a member.

Overall grade: B+, read all of my reviews

The Look Bag

Monthly beauty bag / $12.95 per month

*The Look Bag has been discontinued.

What - You'll receive at least 2 full-sized products and 3 deluxe samples per bag

How - Sign up for a monthly subscription at their website, $10 per month or $110 for a year

Option to skip a month? - No

Shipping? - Included in the $12.95

Ease of cancellation - Easy, click a "Cancel Subscription" link on your account page

Special points - Members receive 10% off all purchases at The Look Store

Pros - At leaset 2 full-sized products

Cons - None that I can think of

Why I cancelled - I only received one Look Bag before the service went on a few months' hiatus. They grew too big too fast, so they stopped the service so they could focus on making it better.  I only "cancelled" because I didn't have a choice.  I'm looking forward to re-subscribing to this service again in the future, though.

Overall grade: B+, read all of my reviews here

Luv My Box

Monthly adult intimacy box / $34.95 per month

What - You'll receive a themed box of adult intimacy products

How - Sign up for a monthly subscription at their website (you'll need to create an account first), $34.95 per month or $99.85 every 3 months

Option to skip a month? - Not sure

Shipping? - Included in the fee

Ease of cancellation - Fairly easy, email info@luvmybox.com to cancel.  You must cancel before you are charged for that month (they charge on the 15th).

Special points - Option to gift boxes to friends

Pros - Fun and creative themes

Cons - Boxes ship from Vancouver, Canada so in order to reach me in the U.S. they had to include a shipping list on the outside of the box that lists the products, but they use creative names so it isn't obvious that you are receiving intimacy products

Why I cancelled - I was not subscribed to this service, I received a box for free to review.  I have not signed up for a subscription because I don't have a need for monthly intimacy products.

Overall grade: A, read my review here

MyGlam/Ipsy

Monthly beauty box / $10 per month

What - You'll receive 4-5 beauty samples in a collectible makeup bag

How - Sign up for a monthly subscription at their website, $10 per month or $110 for a year

Option to skip a month? - No

Shipping? - Included in the $10

Ease of cancellation - I don't remember exactly how I had to cancel

Special points - None

Pros - Lower price, and they usually send out more cosmetics than other services (as opposed to skincare)

Cons - The customer service has been a nightmare in the past

Why I cancelled - I only received one bag, and at the time of my cancellation they were going through a lot of customer service problems.  I decided it wasn't worth the headache.

Overall grade: C, read all of my reviews

The Natural Beauty Box

Monthly beauty box / $20 per month

What - You'll receive 10-15 all-natural beauty samples

How - Sign up for a monthly subscription at their website.  US rates are $29.95 for one month, $168 for six months, or $299 for one year.

Option to skip a month? - n/a (see "special points" below)

Shipping? - Extra fee depending on where you live, they ship to the U.S., Canada, and the U.K.  You can view all countries they ship to here.

Ease of cancellation - Only applicable to multiple-month subscriptions, view their explanation on their FAQ page here.  It doesn't explicitly say how to cancel, but I assume you would email them.

Special points - If you purchase a box, it is only for that month.  This is not a recurring monthly subscription, so it's easy to try it for one month and not have to worry about being charged again.  If you want to subscribe for multiple months, they have 6- and 12-month options available.

Pros - Foil samples don't count toward the 10-15 sample count (although you may still receive some), and all of the products are all-natural and (usually) cruelty-free.

Cons - They ship from Canada, so U.S. and U.K. subscribers like me have to wait a few weeks to receive the box--but it's well worth it!

Why I cancelled - I was not subscribed to this service; I only received one box to review for free.  I look forward to purchasing more boxes in the future though because this one is fantastic!

Overall grade: A+, read all of my reviews

Petit Vour

Monthly beauty box / $15 per month, $43/three months, $82/six months

What - You'll receive 5-6 beauty "minis" that are cruelty-free and vegan

How - Sign up for a subscription at their website, as of 5/31/13 you need to request an invite

Option to skip a month? - No

Shipping? - Included in the fee

Ease of cancellation - Fairly easy, email contact@petitvour.com before the 1st of the month to ensure you aren't charged.  3- and 6-month subscriptions can't be cancelled.

Special points - All of the items are cruelty-free and vegan.  You fill out a beauty profile so they can better tailor products to your needs, and you can earn points to purchase products by reviewing the items in your box.

Pros - All items are entirely cruelty-free and vegan

Cons - Texas residents are charged tax

Why I cancelled - I did not cancel, I only received one box to review

Overall grade: A+, read all of my reviews

PopSugar Must Have Bag

Monthly lifestyle box / $35 per month

What - You'll receive 7-8 items worth over $100

How - Sign up for a monthly subscription at their website: $35/month, $90/3 months, $190/6 months, $380/year

Option to skip a month? - no

Shipping? - Included in the $35

Ease of cancellation - Very easy, you just have to click a link in your user profile

Special points - The box is curated with different "sugars" in mind, i.e. Beauty, Fit, etc. and the retail value of the items adds up to at least $100

Pros - Full-sized, high-quality items

Cons - The box is a bit more expensive than other subscription services

Why I cancelled - I wasn't thrilled with my only box (December 2012) and I decided that it was too expensive to receive items that I may or may not like each month

Overall grade: B, read all of my reviews

RocksBox

Jewelry box, unlimited shipments / $19 per month

What - You'll receive 3 jewelry pieces that you can keep for 60 days or purchase at a 20% discount

How - Sign up for a subscription at their website

Option to skip a month? - Not sure, but I think no

Shipping? - Included in the $19

Ease of cancellation - Easy, email members@rocksbox.com or include a note in your last box when you ship it back

Special points - You can receive unlimited shipments for as long as you are a member.  Each time you send back a RocksBox, they'll curate a new one for you and have it shipped.  Shipping is very quick, I live in NY and the boxes arrive from CA in about three days.  You also fill out a style profile to let them know what kind of pieces you like.

Pros - Unlimited shipments, ability to earn credits to use to purchase pieces, and discounted member prices

Cons - The pieces are often on the more expensive side ($100-$200 range is what I've experienced so far), so I haven't purchased any outright yet.

Why I cancelled - I am currently a member with a 6-month subscription

Overall grade: A, read all of my reviews

Sample Society

Monthly beauty box / $15 per month

What - You'll receive 5 deluxe beauty samples and a $15 off coupon (with stipulations)

How - Sign up for a monthly subscription at their website

Option to skip a month? - No

Shipping? - Included in the $15

Ease of cancellation - Easy, I clicked a link on my profile page

Special points - Comes with a bonus year's subscription to Allure magazine

Pros - The magazine was a plus, and I felt that the brands were higher-quality than other services

Cons - A bit pricey for what you receive

Why I cancelled - I didn't think the products I received justified the $15.  It's basically a more expensive Birchbox, but with slightly better products.

Overall grade: B+, read all of my reviews

Sindulge

Monthly beauty box / $12 a month

*Note: It looks as though Sindulge is no longer a subscription service.  Sindulge.com takes you to a cruelty-free beauty shop.

What - You'll receive 5-7 beauty samples

How - Join at the website, $12 a month or $132 for a year

Option to skip a month? - Not sure

Shipping? - Included in the $12

Ease of cancellation - Easy, just click a link in your profile

Special points - You can have a beauty consultation each month with a Sindulge staff member

Pros - I received one bag for a penny, but other than that I found none

Cons - The beauty profile is a total rip-off of Birchbox's, variety of brands featured is very small

Why I cancelled - I wasn't impressed by this service at all.  Of all that I've tried, I felt it was the most obvious knockoff of Birchbox.  They also didn't have enough variety in their brands.

Overall grade: D-, read all of my reviews

Spicy Subscriptions

Monthly adult intimacy box / $19.99 or $34.99 a month

What - You'll receive an intimate toy and an assortment of massage oils, beauty products, lubricants, fragrances, and more each month

How - Join at the website, $24.95 for the premium box and $34.95 for the deluxe box

Option to skip a month? - Not sure

Shipping? - Free within the U.S., $3 for Canada

Ease of cancellation - Fairly easy, email info@spicysubscriptions to cancel

Special points - Packages arrive very discreetly, so you won't have to worry about others seeing your package and knowing what's inside

Pros - Beautiful packaging and a discreet way to shop for intimacy products

Cons - The price has increased from $15.99 and $24.99 from when I sampled the box

Why I cancelled - I was never subscribed to this service; I received one box to review for free.  I didn't order a subscription because I don't have a need for a monthly delivery of intimacy products.

Overall grade: A, read all of my reviews

Square Hue

Monthly nail polish box / $21 a month

What - You'll receive three limited-edition nail polishes (.50 fl oz) that are cruelty-free and Big 3 free.

How - Join at the website, $21 a month

Option to skip a month? - Yes, you can suspend your account for as long as you'd like

Shipping? - Included in the monthly charge

Ease of cancellation - Easy, you just have to click a cancel option under your account status

Special points - The fact that the nail polishes are limited-edition is really cool.  They're only made for that month's box and you can't purchase them retroactively.

Pros - The polishes have an amazing formula and are cruelty-free, and I love that I can skip as many months as I want.

Cons - Not knowing what colors you'll be receiving may be a con for some.

Why I cancelled - I am still currently subscribed.

Overall grade: A+, read all of my reviews

*Disclaimer: some of the links provided to join are referral links