Packing your skincare and beauty essentials for a trip—even a short one—can be an annoying and arduous task.
It probably means buying miniature bottles of your favorite products before every vacation; or worse, filling those travel-size containers with your preferred brand of face wash or lotion, going through a round of complex calculations to determine exactly how many ounces you’ll need.
Making your beauty regime portable is too often complicated and time-consuming. And somehow, without fail, will require way too much space in your carry-on.
While some road warriors may recommend using that ambiguous hotel bathroom amenity that’s somehow shampoo and face wash and also body lotion, some of us with problematic or sensitive skin don’t think it’s worth the risk.
To make sure you never have to compromise your skincare routine while traveling, try subscribing to a monthly beauty box. With free shipping—which sometimes includes territories outside of the United States—and products that typically come in sample sizes (read: travel-friendly), it really is a no-brainer if you’re a frequent flyer.
From vegan and natural options for the environmentally conscious to high-end makeup and grooming products from cult favorite brands, nothing is off limits. We rounded up the best subscription beauty boxes (including beard grooming and shave kits), because your skin deserves its daily dose of TLC regardless of where you are on Earth.
Birchbox
If you love a good deal, you’ll love Birchbox. At only $10 a month, subscribers get a curated beauty or grooming box that features five samples tailored to your skin and hair type. Inside, you’ll find both well known as well as emerging brands. The company has also expanded its services to France, Spain, and the United Kingdom.
Sample box: ARDENCY INN MODSTER Smooth Ride Supercharged eyeliner; Balance Me Tinted Wonder eye cream; Number 4 Jour d’Automne smoothing balm; Benefit They’re Real! lengthening mascara; Not a Perfume by Juliette Has a Gun
To buy: birchbox.com, from $10 per month
Fab Fit Fun
This seasonal subscription box will feel like Christmas now comes four times a year. You can expect a curated array of beauty, fashion, fitness, wellness and home products that “help you feel good from the inside out.”
Sample box: D.L. & Co candle in Bergamot Woods; Gorjana Taner Toggle Lariat necklace in Gold; Marie Mae thank you card set; Moleskine weekly notebook, Butter London Iconoclast mega volume lacquer mascara; O.R.G. Skincare mineral peel face; Lilley Winter in Manhattan beach body cream
To buy: fabfitfun.com, $50 for three months
Wantable
Wantable’s makeup box (they also offer subscription plans for intimates, fitness, style, and accessories) is perfect for the beauty-obsessed. After filling out a short survey, you will receive four to five premium-brand makeup products handpicked to match your preferences. Not happy with what you got? Wantable lets you return one of more products for credit you can use toward your next box.
Sample box: Lord & Berry bronzer brick; Doucce all-day mineral foundation; PLĀ Glam lip Gloss; Doucce Maxlash volumizer mascara
To buy: wantable.com, $36 per month
Vegan Cuts
Fact: It’s not easy to maintain a vegan lifestyle when you’re away from home. And that’s where Vegan Cuts comes in. The Canadian-based company relies on a team of “vegan sleuths” to discover the best plant-based beauty products and deliver them to you in their monthly beauty or makeup box. You may also want to stock up on their vegan snacks if you’re about to head on a long trip.
Sample box: Palmetto Derma facemask; The All Natural Face lip gloss; Revive bat and body soap; Juice Beauty body moisturizer; EDEN Bodyworks shampoo
To buy: vegancuts.com, from $18.50 per month
Glossybox
Similar to other beauty boxes, Glossybox will mail you a curated selection of five expert-approved beauty and skincare products. Glossybox focuses on sourcing luxury brands from all over the world—France’s Maison Francis Kurkdjian, the United Kingdom’s Figs&Rouge, and Japan’s Koh Gen Do, to name a few. Think of their boxes as a beauty and cultural experience.
Sample box: Psssst! Instant dry shampoo; Lycopene Crema Rinnovante; Borghese Fango body refining polish; De Bruyere Beaute jumbo eye pencil; Palmetto Derma rejuvenating antioxidant mask
To buy: glossybox.com, $21 per month
Target
Fair warning: you need to act very fast to snatch one of Target’s monthly beauty boxes—they sell out quickly. And the reason for that is very simple: You pretty much get all of your makeup and skincare essentials for only $10. Best of all, each box comes with a coupon for $3 off your next beauty purchase at Target.
Sample box: L’Oréal Advanced HairCare Volume Filler thickening shampoo; Andalou Naturals 1000 Roses beautiful day cream, HASK Keratin Protein soothing deep conditioner; Laneige Water Bank soothing mask; W3LL People Bio brightener stick; L’Oréal Voluminous primer; Revlon ColorStay eyeliner
To buy: target.com, from $7
Jini Beauty
If you’re already addicted to Korean beauty products (or K-beauty, as us fans call it), then you’re going to love Jini. The great thing about their box is that you can customize it with past favorites—so once you know something works for you, just add it to next month’s box. Each shipment comes with eight to 10 full size and deluxe sample-size products, including two sheet face masks.
Sample box: B-LAB I Am Sorry Just Cleansing Water; Label Young Shocking Toner Season 2 Special Love Version; Real Beauty One Shot All Kill in White Jade; SKIN79 Golden Snail hydro gel mask in Red Ginseng; JAYJUN Skin Fit mask; ETUDE HOUSE Honey Jelly moisturizing lips patch; ETUDE HOUSE Honey Cera creamy body wash; ETUDE HOUSE Honey Cera creamy body lotion
To buy: jinibeauty.com, from $44.95 bi-monthly
Dermstore
If you are all about professional hair and skincare, then the BeautyFIX box is what you need in your life. It’s a collection of innovative beauty and hair products handpicked by experts in their respective fields. Expect six or more items in every box, many of which are spa exclusives.
Sample box: Caviar Anti-Aging Miracle Multiplying Volume Mist by Alterna, Evercalm™ Global Protection day cream by REN, 24K gold-plated nail clipper by Danielle Creations, The Sensual Lip Satin in Velvet by Kevyn Aucoin, Velvet Skin Coat by DHC, multi-usage dry oil shimmer by NUXE, mild cream cleanser by Glytone, Kale Cocktail Bionic Tonic by Color Wow, Charcoal Rescue Masque by Dermalogica, ME nail polish by Dermelect
To buy: dermstore.com, $24.95 per month
Love Goodly
You’ll only find vegan and natural products in inside these bi-monthly boxes, with an emphasis on non-toxic (brands are carefully selected to ensure the featured items are safe and cruelty-free). They even have a list of banned ingredients on their website that you will never find in their products. Beauty and skincare aside, their box also features packable healthy snacks and wellness items.
Sample box: Linne Botanicals Purify face wash, Blissoma scentless Stick natural deodorant, Lippy Girl eyeshadow, Love Goodly tattoo, Rawxies lemon poppy seed heart bar
To buy: lovegoodly.com, $29.95, bimonthly
Goodbeing
A perfect fit for eco-conscious travelers worried about how beauty products affect the planet (and your health), Goodbeing delivers a fully customizable box of natural products—often from on the verge and little-known brands. In addition to skin and hair care items, Goodbeing boxes might include natural makeup, supplements, and other sustainable goods.
Sample box: 100 percent pure hand cream; American Botanics SuperC+ skin perfecting pads; Bella Aura instant lifting eye countor; SLAB soap in basil mint + coffee grounds; Balanced Guru Optimist in Intuitive
To buy: joingoodbeing.com, from $18
