Birchbox is a makeup and grooming subscription box service. It is a New York-based online subscription box service that was launched in 2010 by Katia Beauchamp. It offers customized beauty boxes to its customers as well as a wide range of brands to choose from and shop. Birchbox offers its customer a wide range of products in the makeup and grooming segments. It also specializes in offering clean beauty products.
Birchbox is one of the leading subscription boxes offering companies in the US. It has many competitors offering similar subscription boxes and beauty products.
What is Birchbox?
Katia Beauchamp founded Birchbox in 2010. It offers beauty products including skincare, haircare, perfumes, organic products, and other beauty items to its customers. It currently sells products in the US, UK, France, and Spain.
Birchbox offers products through subscription boxes mainly. However, its customers can also buy products directly. The box contains 5 items in different categories such as makeup, skincare, haircare, perfumes, and organic products. The customers can customize the order by purchasing other products of their choice as well.
The subscription business model for beauty products works differently than e-commerce stores. Birchbox uses customers’ feedback to customize its boxes. It also uses advanced analytics to find out customer’s preferences and trends.
Unlike most of its competitors, Birchbox offers some customization choices to its customers. The beauty product box contains 5 items that are selected by matching the customer’s profile. Customers need to update their preferences regularly. It helps the company to offer customized beauty boxes to its customers. However, not all items are chosen by the customers themselves.
Birchbox Key Products/Services
Birchbox has a wide range of beauty and makeup brands. It means customers can directly purchase these products or use them as ads-on for their monthly subscription boxes. Birchbox also offers a significant discount of up to 25% for sales above $100.
Birchbox offers products in various ways. Customers can subscribe for monthly beauty boxes, choose from the shop, use the gift card, or buy from the organic products listed as clean beauty products. Birchbox also offers a curated box of beauty products named under the “limited edition” segment. The limited-edition costs $62 for a box with a total value of $200 purchased otherwise.
Here are some of the top products and services offered by Birchbox.
Subscription Plans
Birchbox offers monthly, 3-month, and 12-month subscription plans to its customers. The basic plans come at $ 15 per month and the annual plan offers a discounted price of $ 13 per month (paid annually). With these subscription boxes, customers receive a monthly box of beauty and grooming products.
Source: birchbox.com
Shop – Direct Purchases
Customers get a box of 5 beauty items with their chosen subscription plans monthly. Birchbox uses expert opinions and advanced data analytics to choose the right items matching its customers’ preferences. Customers can buy items directly as well.
Direct purchases can be used with the monthly beauty box as ads-on or separate purchases. Currently, there is a 25% discount on all purchases of above $100.
Birchbox also offers a loyalty program that offers reward points to its customers. The reward points can be redeemed for shopping discounts. For every spending of $10, customers get 1 reward point. 10 reward points equal $1 for shopping on Birchbox, which means the program offers a 10% cashback reward.
The Clean Beauty Shop
The Clean beauty shop is a flagship program offered by Birchbox. This section includes beauty products and cosmetics that contain only organic ingredients. These products can also be purchased directly or as ads-on with the monthly subscription box.
Range of Products
Birchbox offers cosmetics and beauty products in mainly two categories; beauty and grooming. We can further explore the product range.
Beauty:
- Makeup
- Complexion
- Eye
- Cheek
- Lips
- Hair
- Wash and Care
- Style
- Treat
- Extend
- Skin
- Cleanse
- Moisturize
- Treat
- Protect
Grooming:
- Hair
- Wash
- Style
- Face and Body
- Wash
- Moisturize
- Protect
- Beard and Shave
- Wash
- Preparation
- Aftershave
Top Brands at Birchbox
Birchbox offers products with a wide range of beauty and grooming concepts. Both of these sections include several top-rated brands.
Some of the top brands available at Birchbox include:
- MAC
- Cartier
- L’oreal Professional
- Sunday Riley
- Kiehl’s
- Beauty Blender
- Ouai
- DDF
Who are the Top Birchbox Competitors and Alternatives?
Birchbox works with a business model that is replicated by many these days. It faces stern competition as more brands adopt a similar business model.
Here are the top 5 competitors and alternatives of Birchbox.
- Ipsy
- GlossyBox
- Boxycharm
- Allure Beauty Box
- BeautyFIX by Dermstore
Let us discuss the product range and services offered by the Birchbox competitors.
1) Ipsy
Ipsy offers similar products and services to Birchbox. It comes with similar subscription box packages. Its beauty box contains 1,2 full-size beauty products and 3,4 deluxe size beauty items.
Ipsy’s subscription packs start at $ 12 per month for its regular beauty box called Glam Bag. Customers can choose from different packages. Customers can buy beauty products directly from the Ipsy store as well. These items can also be included as an add-on in the regular monthly subscription bag.
Price Plans
Ipsy offers different subscription boxes that are charged differently.
- Glam Bag – at $12 monthly
- Glam Bag Plus – at $25 monthly
- Glam Bag X – at $55 quarterly
Key Products/Services
Ipsy offers a wide range of products and includes similar services like Birchbox. You can expect a variety of beauty products, skincare, haircare, and fragrances in your beauty bag.
Ipsy lets its customers choose a portion of the beauty bag. A customer can choose 1 beauty item from a choice of 10 items with a Glam Bag subscription. You can 3 items with the Glam Bag plus and the Glam Bag X subscriptions.
Here are some of the top products offered by Ipsy.
- Makeup
- Face
- Lips
- Eyes
- Skin
- Skincare
- Anti-aging
- Acne
- Hair
- Haircare
- Hair Styling
- Hair color
- Nails
- Nail Polish
- Nail care
- Nail art
2) GlossyBox
The Glossybox is also a prominent competitor of Birchbox. Customers can view Glossybox as an alternative option offering similar products and services. The Glossybox subscription plans start at $21 that contain beauty products worth $60.
Customers can buy beauty products and makeup items directly at discounted prices as well. Glossybox sends beauty boxes that contain deluxe as well as full-size beauty products. These products include familiar brands to customers. Each month’s box contains different products, and with a wide range of brands, you’ll receive repeated products less often.
Price Plans
Glossybox offers four different price packages to its customers. The first month’s price package starts at a discounted $16 for new customers.
- Monthly package at $21
- 3-month package at $58.50
- 6-month package at $111
- 12-month package at $210
Key Products/Services
Glossybox offers a comprehensive range of beauty and makeup products. It also offers unique products that come under the limited-edition banner. Customers can subscribe to regular packages or buy directly at discounted prices.
Some of the top products offered by Glossybox include:
- Makeup
- Haircare
- Skincare
- Nails
Glossybox sends a box of 6,7 items based on customer preferences. Customers need to maintain a profile account that provides information about their choices on beauty products.
3) Boxycharm
Boxycharm was founded in 2013. It followed the same business model that many of its competitors were already following. Boxycharm is a popular alternative to Birchbox and its rising popularity means it’s a stern competitor as well.
Boxycharm offers beauty boxes with different pricing packages starting at $25. The box contains valued beauty products with a total worth of up to $270. Customers can buy these products directly from the Boxycharm store and use them as ads-on with regular boxes.
Pricing Plans
Boxycharm offers three different pricing plans. However, its pricing strategy is based on the number of items included in the monthly subscription boxes rather than time.
- Boxycharm (regular) at $25 with 5 items
- Luxe Package at $ 49.99 with 8 items
- Premium Package at $ 35 with 6 items
Customers can choose 1 item with the regular package and 2 for the premium and Luxe packages respectively.
Key Products/Services
Boxycharm offers a variety of beauty and makeup products that are included in the beauty box with monthly subscriptions. However, you can buy these products directly at the Boxycharm store as well. Boxycharm also offers a referral program that you can use to earn some extra cash.
Some of the top products available at Boxycharm include:
- Makeup and Beauty
- Skincare
- Haircare
- Nails
- Lipsticks
- Beauty tools
- Applicators
4) Allure Beauty Box
Allure is a popular name in the beauty industry, with its popular beauty magazine launched in 1991. The Allure company offers the Allure beauty box. It is another great alternative for Birchbox and a stern competitor with an established fan following.
Allure beauty boxes start at $25 with a monthly subscription plan. However, some of the features at Allure are limited as compared to Birchbox. For instance, customers do not have the personalization option to choose beauty items for the monthly beauty box. Similarly, there is no return box option for customers if they do not like the products.
Pricing Plans
Allure monthly subscriptions come with different pricing plans.
- Allure Fragrance Box at $50 (Limited-Edition)
- J-Beauty plus K-Beauty Box at $60
- Luxury-at-Home beauty boxes
- $23 monthly
- $65 3-months
- $210 yearly
Key Products/ Services
Allure offers a unique chance to its customers for newsletters, magazine subscriptions, events, and promotions. The beauty magazine is another added advantage for its loyal customers. However, the magazine subscription is charged separately.
Some of the top products at Allure Beauty Box include:
- Makeup and beauty products
- Skincare
- Haircare
- Nails
- Fragrances
5) BeautyFIX by Dermstore
BeautyFIX is offered by the popular beauty store Dermstore. Customers can shop a wide range of beauty and grooming products directly from the Dermstore online shopping store. They can also subscribe to its monthly subscription plan that starts at $24.95. Customers can also buy previous months’ beauty boxes at discounted prices.
BeautyFIX offers a wide range of full-size and deluxe products within the box. Each beauty box contains at least 5 items. These items include luxury brands as well as mass brands.
Price Plans
BeautyFIX comes with only one pricing package that is offered at $24.95. The beauty box contains at least 5 beauty products with luxury brands and mass brand items mixed. However, customers can buy any products directly from the Dermstore shop.
Key Products/Services
BeautyFIX also offers a reward program for its loyal customers. It’s unique branding with Dermstore means customers have a wider range of brands and products at their disposal. Customers can subscribe to monthly beauty boxes that offer great discounts or buy at regular prices at the online store.
Some of its top products include:
- Makeup and Beauty
- Skincare
- Haircare
- Bath and Body
- Gift Sets
- Shaving and Grooming
- Anti-aging products
- Beauty tools and items
