BoxyCharm shutdown: What happened and what it means for beauty box lovers

When BoxyCharm, a popular beauty subscription box that delivered full-size makeup and skincare products monthly. Also known as BoxyCharm beauty box, it was one of the first companies to make luxury beauty samples feel like a gift shut down in 2024, it wasn’t just a business closing—it was the end of a ritual for millions. For years, subscribers looked forward to their monthly box like a birthday present: full-size products, surprise launches, and real value. But behind the glossy unboxing videos and influencer hauls, the model was cracking. Rising costs, shifting consumer habits, and growing competition from smarter, more personalized services like IPSY, a customizable beauty subscription that uses a quiz to pick products based on your skin type and preferences. Also known as Glam Bag, it focuses on personalization over volume made it harder for BoxyCharm to stay profitable. Unlike IPSY, which lets you choose your products or skip a month, BoxyCharm sent the same box to everyone. That one-size-fits-all approach worked when beauty boxes were new, but today’s shoppers want control, transparency, and relevance.

The beauty subscription box, a monthly service delivering curated cosmetics, skincare, or haircare products to subscribers. Also known as beauty box, it became a cultural phenomenon in the 2010s market didn’t disappear—it evolved. People aren’t buying boxes anymore because they’re trendy. They’re buying them because they deliver real results, save time, or help them discover products they’d never pick off a shelf. That’s why services like Birchbox, an early pioneer in beauty sampling that shifted to more targeted, value-driven deliveries. Also known as Birchbox monthly box, it now focuses on niche brands and skin concerns and IPSY, a customizable beauty subscription that uses a quiz to pick products based on your skin type and preferences. Also known as Glam Bag, it focuses on personalization over volume are still growing. They’re not just sending products—they’re sending solutions. BoxyCharm’s downfall wasn’t bad products. It was bad timing. Consumers started asking: Why pay for five full-size items I might not use when I can get three perfect ones tailored to me? And why pay $25 a month when some brands now offer free samples with purchase? The rise of refillable packaging, direct-to-consumer brands, and TikTok-driven discovery made the old model feel outdated.

If you’re wondering what to do now that BoxyCharm is gone, you’re not alone. The good news? The market has more options than ever. You can still get full-size products—just smarter. Look for services that let you rate what you get, skip months, or swap items. Check out beauty box alternatives that focus on your skin type, not just your gender. Some now include scalp treatments, clean ingredients, or eco-friendly packaging—all things real users care about. The next wave of beauty boxes won’t be about surprise. It’ll be about precision. And that’s exactly what you’ll find in the posts below: honest breakdowns of what’s still working, what’s not, and how to make your beauty subscription actually worth your money.