Best Walmart Beauty Box Alternative (2025)

Are you tired of opening your quarterly Walmart Beauty Box only to find sample packets that are too small to use properly? You’re not alone. Many Walmart Beauty Box subscribers feel let down paying for excitement but receiving miniature mass-market products that barely last a week.

At under $7, Walmart Beauty Box makes it easy to dip your toes into beauty subscriptions. But if you’re regularly disappointed by tiny samples and brands that you can find at any grocery store, it’s worth looking at options that deliver genuine value and excitement.

Today we’ll share the best alternatives to Walmart Beauty Box, from budget-friendly upgrades to premium healthy beauty subscriptions that actually transform your routine into a mindful ritual.

What Makes Walmart Beauty Box Limiting?

Walmart Beauty Box costs $6.98 plus tax quarterly, making it one of the most accessible beauty subscriptions available. Although it’s an affordable introduction to beauty subscriptions, this ultra-low price point comes with many compromises.

Many subscribers find themselves seeking alternatives as their budget journey evolves, because here’s what that budget actually funds:

• First, the samples. Over 75% of products arrive in sample sizes—think 0.17 oz mascara tubes that provide maybe five applications. That’s barely enough time to determine if a formula works with your skin or preferences.
• Second, the mass-market focus. The box primarily features drugstore brands like CoverGirl, Dove, and EOS. These do serve a purpose, but they don’t offer the ingredient innovation or unique formulations many beauty enthusiasts seek, and they often aren’t clean, green, or healthy.
• Third, the inconsistent value. Walmart advertises retail values of $15–$20 per box, but this includes full retail pricing for tiny samples. The actual value typically falls between $8 and $10, assuming you use everything before it expires.
• And finally, environmental impact. Sample packets create disproportionate packaging waste compared to full-size products, and many containers don’t get completely emptied before being discarded

Best Walmart Beauty Box Alternatives

When evaluating beauty box alternatives to Walmart Beauty Box, we focused on several factors that deliver superior value and experience:

• Product size and quantity (prioritizing full-size over samples)
• Brand quality and exclusivity (featuring prestige or indie brands not found in drugstores)
• Ingredient standards (clean, healthy forumations)
• Customization options (personalization based on your preferences)
• Overall value (retail worth versus subscription cost)
• Customer satisfaction (reliable service and positive user experiences.)

The following comparison shows how each alternative stacks up across some of these criteria:

Service	Price	Products/Month	Focus	Best For
Walmart Beauty Box	$6.98/quarter + tax	5–7 (mostly samples)	Drugstore brands	Ultra-budget conscious
Allure Beauty Box	$29.99/mo	4–6 (mix of sizes)	Prestige brands	Mainstream beauty lovers
Birchbox	$22/mo or $44 bimonthly	6 (1 full size or 4 full-size)	Personalized discovery	Sample preference
FabFitFun	$79.99/quarter	6 full-size	Lifestyle and beauty	Full-size product lovers
Beauty Heroes	$58.95/mo	2–3 full-size	Healthy beauty	Ingredient-conscious consumers
Petit Vour	$25 to $30/mo	4 (mix of sizes)	Vegan-ethical	Ethical beauty focus

1. Beauty Heroes

Price: $58.95/month ($45.95/box quarterly, $41.95/box semiannually, $39.95/box annually)

Focus: Healthy beauty with full-size products

Trustpilot: 4.5/5 stars

Beauty Heroes pioneered “clean,” “green,” and now “blue” beauty movements and maintains rigorous standards that exclude over 2,000 potentially questionable substances. It’s also the highest-rated beauty box service on Trustpilot.

Jeannie Jarnot, the founder, championed healthy beauty long before it became trendy.

The service spotlights indie artisan brands you won’t discover elsewhere. Each month brings one full-size Hero product plus complementary items from the same carefully vetted brand.

The products are extensively screened for ingredient integrity and environmental impact and come with educational content that helps you understand how each ingredient supports your skin’s well-being.

Pros:

• 100% full-size products worth $120+ retail value
• Rigorous ingredient screening (2,000+ banned substances)
• Focus on luxury healthy beauty brands
• All products work together harmoniously
• 15% member discount on all store purchases
• Detailed usage guides and brand education

Cons:

• Premium pricing not accessible for all budgets
• No product customization available
• Single-brand focus may not appeal to variety seekers

Users’ Reviews:

Long-term subscribers consistently praise transformative skin results and the discovery of luxury healthy beauty brands.

• On Reddit, one user noted, “After a few months with Beauty Heroes, I’m starting to feel like it’s one of my favorite subscriptions. The products have really leveled up my routine and this month's is especially good.”

On Trustpilot, 81% of the reviews are 5-star. The remaining 19% are one-star reviews where users complained about shipping issues—usually problems beyond Beauty Heroes’ control, such as international shipment delays. The company acknowledged the challenges and provided refunds to the clients.

However, other users on Reddit do note the premium price as an obstacle for casual healthy beauty enthusiasts.

• On Reddit, another user noted, “It's definitely a luxury beauty subscription and not for people who want the best bang for their buck.”

While the investment is substantial compared to the alternatives, members appreciate supporting ethical brands and receiving products they actually finish and repurchase. They also often recoup costs thanks to the 15% member discount.

2. Allure Beauty Box

Price: $29.99/month ($26.33/box quarterly, $23.92/box annually)

Focus: Prestige beauty brands and editor picks

Trustpilot: 2.5/5 stars

Allure Beauty Box is backed by Allure magazine’s editorial expertise.

This box typically includes 4 to 6 prestige products per month. The selection spans skincare, makeup, and hair care from both established and emerging brands, all following current beauty trends and editor recommendations.

It gives you access to upscale brands rarely found in drugstores.

Pros:

• Mix of full-size and deluxe sample products
• Features prestige brands not found in drugstores
• Strong brand recognition and editorial credibility
• Good value relative to retail pricing

Cons:

• Still includes sample sizes alongside full products
• Limited focus on clean or ingredient-conscious brands
• No customization options available
• Occasional customer service and cancellation difficulties

Users’ Reviews:

Subscribers appreciate the consistent, upscale brand lineup and editorial trust factor. Reviews differ from one website to another. Some threads on Reddit praise the service and the product selections.

• “I think Allure would be a perfect box for you. I have been subscribed for a year now (skipping some months) and I think it’s really great if you’re not super into makeup. They have some makeup items, but I feel like it’s mostly skincare, body, and hair.”
• “I've been an annual subscriber for 10 years now - not every box floats my boat, but overall it's a been a consistently good value with good products.”

Meanwhile, on other websites and Reddit threads, several users report cancellation difficulties, price hikes, and occasional product repeats that reduce excitement.

• For example, Jeremiah Prince on Trustpilot claims, “Company won’t answer phones. Has a 48 hour SLA on emails so when we called a day before to cancel and then emailed on the first to cancel they said we still have to pay.”
• On Reddit, one user noted, “I really like the Allure Beauty Box but lately I feel like they just give the same stuff every month. There's always a lip gloss there's always some kind of a mask... There's not tons of variety anymore”

3. Birchbox

Price: $22/month (Birchbox Monthly), $44/bimonthly (Birchbox Signature)

Focus: Personalized beauty samples

Trustpilot: 3.7/5 stars

Birchbox was very popular in many countries. It pioneered the personalized beauty subscription model with curated selections based on a detailed beauty profile quiz. The standard Monthly box contains 6 products (including 1 full-size), while Signature delivers 4 full-size items every other month with up to $210 retail value.

Pros:

• Customization based on beauty preferences and goals
• Strong partnerships with quality brands like Dirty Lamb and Sunday Riley
• Loyalty program for earning full-size products
• Educational content and tutorials included

Cons:

• Sample-heavy format limits product testing
• Reported fulfillment errors and customer service delays
• Monthly commitment with subscription lock-in frustrations
• Personalization sometimes misses the mark

Users’ Reviews:

Subscribers praise the personalization concept and discovery aspect, but many criticize operational issues, including missing items, misshipments, and uneven service experiences that negatively affect the overall satisfaction. There’s the good and the bad.

• DD, on Trustpilot, explains, “First box, item missing. Customer service wanted proof via photo which tbh felt like a snub already but I did this. Promised delivery of item and two months later no item has ever arrived, even after several chases. Constantly told it will be dispatched shortly.”
• Differently, Lisa A. Kreager comments, “My experience with my years of membership with Birchbox, almost since its beginning, has been genuine. The products are carefully chosen with current trends in mind”
• LisaG’s review is more balanced: “I would give 5 stars but Birchbox loses 1 star because the shipping takes forever and the tracking never updates right, so it's a guessing game on when I will see it in my mailbox.”

4. FabFitFun

Price: $79.99/quarter ($64.99/box annually)

Focus: Lifestyle products, including beauty

Trustpilot: 3.7/5 stars

FabFitFun delivers seasonal boxes with 6 full-size products worth $200+ spanning beauty, wellness, home, and fashion.

Before you sign up, you answer several questions to build your own profile, including what your priorities are, which brands you like most, and where you typically shop. This lets you customize product choices each season to make the box truly yours.

Pros:

• Excellent value with full-size products
• Customization menu with early access for annual members
• Strong social community and seasonal themes
• Lifestyle variety beyond beauty

Cons:

• Quarterly delivery schedule means longer waits between boxes
• Beauty products mixed with non-beauty items
• Higher price point than beauty-focused boxes
• Customer service and shipping inconsistencies reported

Users’ Reviews:

Most subscribers enjoy the community aspect and product diversity, though some encounter fulfillment issues, including missing items and billing surprises.

• Sara on Trustpilot noted, “I had to call for two of my items being damaged in my yearly subscription fall box.”
• Shari Crawford adds, “Missing my fall box that was shipped over two weeks ago. Looks like they are now using a very sketchy delivery service that has many negative reviews stating packages posted as undeliverable when they are, stolen packages etc.”

However, users report positive customer support experiences and strong community bonds.

• Donna Ghedotte, on Trustpilot, reports, “My seasonal box never arrived, though an email said it was delivered. My cameras showed that nothing was delivered that day. I contacted FFF online support and the problem was solved. I now have my box. YAY!”
• Lauren Harris reports, “I've been a member for about 5 years now. I love picking products that I've used before and discovering new brands in the process. Not only do I love the fact that I can fully customize my box, but I enjoy interacting with the FFF community. The connections I've developed over the years is phenomenal.”

5. Petit Vour

Price: $25/mo (USA), $28/mo (Canada), $30/mo (Worldwide)

Focus: Vegan and cruelty-free beauty

Trustpilot: 3.4/5 stars (one review only!)

Petit Vour specializes in ethical beauty products. Each box features 4–5 items blending full-size and deluxe samples from indie brands committed to sustainability and ethical practices; the products are vegan and cruelty-free.

The selection includes skincare, makeup, and lifestyle products and is designed to match your personal beauty profile, which you create before subscribing.

Pros:

• Affordable entry point into ethical beauty
• Strong ethical and sustainability focus and
• International shipping availability
• Supports small and indie beauty brands

Cons:

• Heavy emphasis on samples over full sizes
• Limited brand recognition outside ethical beauty space
• Curation sometimes misses personalization preferences
• Packaging inconsistencies reported

Users’ Reviews:

Most subscribers admire the ethical mission and product quality, though some note packaging inconsistencies and misaligned profiles that reduce perceived value. Petit Vour is best for budget-conscious consumers prioritizing values over luxury.

• On Reddit, one user commented, “Great starter box if you are looking to try samples of green beauty products. Better boxes if you are willing to pay more for full size.”

However, the inconsistencies referred to above are exemplified by some Reddit user comments and the only Trustpilot review on Petit Vour.

• “When the box arrived, it was completely dirty, I would not be surprised if it was dropped a few times on the way to me, luckily not many things could break in it. (It was the July box 2022).”
• On Reddit, one user noted, “They did not follow my beauty profile which they stated they would base the box around for the regular box. I got an oily, comedogenic facial product for the full-sized item when I have oily, acne-prone skin.”

Which Walmart Beauty Box Alternative Is Right for You?

There are a lot of beauty box subscription providers out there, so it helps to narrow down your options based on your preferences and budget.

If you’re ingredient-conscious and seek luxury, Beauty Heroes is your go-to option. It stands alone with its rigorous screening standards and exclusive indie artisan brands. The investment pays off through transformative discoveries, high-value products you won’t find elsewhere, and the 15% member discount.

If you prioritize full-size variety, FabFitFun delivers great value with substantial value across lifestyle categories. However, you have to be patient; the boxes are delivered on a quarterly basis.

For prestige brand access, Allure Beauty Box provides reliable editorial curation and upscale brand exposure at a reasonable monthly investment. But if you’re looking for personalized beauty, choose Birchbox. It offers customization and educational content, though operational inconsistencies may impact the experience.

Finally, if you’re budget-conscious, Petit Vour makes clean, cruelty-free beauty accessible.

Final Thoughts

Walmart Beauty Box is an affordable entry point to beauty subscriptions but, unfortunately, most subscribers eventually outgrow its sample-heavy, mass-market approach. The alternatives above offer various upgrade paths depending on your priorities, budget, and beauty goals.

For those ready to invest in full-size products from innovative brands with transparent ingredient practices, services like Beauty Heroes are the premium end of beauty subscriptions. However, options such as Petit Vour or Birchbox provide meaningful upgrades without breaking your bank.

The key is to match your beauty goals, values, and budget to the service that best supports your routine and discovery preferences.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Are beauty boxes worth the investment?

Beauty boxes are worth it when they introduce you to products you genuinely love and integrate into your routine, offer retail value that exceeds the subscription cost, and save you from making uninformed full-price purchases.

A box filled with unusable samples isn't worthwhile at any price; a thoughtfully curated service with full-size products can transform your beauty routine.

Is Beauty Heroes worth the premium price difference?

The value becomes clear when you consider the complete experience: guaranteed retail value over $120 in full-size products you'll actually finish, access to rigorously vetted indie brands unavailable elsewhere, and ongoing 15% store discounts.

Many subscribers find long-term savings by avoiding impulsive retail purchases since their routine stays consistently stocked with expertly curated, high-performance products.

Can I customize the products I receive?

Most services offer limited or no customization, and that's often intentional. The curation process is designed to introduce you to discoveries you might not choose yourself but will love.

Services like FabFitFun and Birchbox offer some personalization, while Beauty Heroes focuses entirely on expert curation for surprise discoveries.

What if I don't connect with a month's selections?

Reputable services offer flexibility through skipping options, satisfaction guarantees, or responsive customer service.

Beauty Heroes, for example, keeps an allergy list of customers with specific ingredient allergies and sensitivities - and their customer service focused on member satisfaction, while FabFitFun offers customization to reduce disappointment.

How flexible are these subscriptions?

Most quality services prioritize subscriber control with easy cancellation, skip options, and transparent policies.

Avoid services with complicated cancellation processes or hidden fees; your subscription should enhance your routine, not create stress.