For almost a year now I have been subscribed to two very similar companies. Both provide five samples a month for $10 that are shipped right to your door. This is something that is very convenient to have for someone like myself who enjoys experimenting with different products and different brands, but is too afraid to buy the full size. They both ask for your preferences to find products that best fit you and your style or likes. They both allow you to rate the samples you receive in order to earn points. Those points you can use toward stuff in their store for full size versions of products that you may or may not have received. Two very similar ideas that are fantastic, but if you had to choose which one, which would be a better fit for you?

Birchbox sends you an adorable customized box every month with mostly sample sized items. Sometimes you get lucky and receive full sized items which is fantastic. I have found that Birchbox mostly focuses on something a lot of us wouldn't which is skin care. We think of makeup, but what we also really need to be focusing on is the wellness of our skin before emphasizing it with the makeup. Yes, they still send makeup as well. Anything from nail polish to brushes to eyeliner to perfume and bronzer. Mostly, however, I receive hair masks, face masks, primers, cleaners, and facial lotions. This I find nice because I tend to stick with the same cleansers over and over. I don't tend to reach out to other brands and through Birchbox I have been able to find cleansers and lotions that don't irritate my skin and help prevent breakouts making my makeup application less of a hassle. I have also found a lot of makeup that I really enjoy and have even bought full sizes through them as well. Their point system for reviews is wonderful. The points actually equal cash so I can buy whatever I want from their shop. I bought a highlighting stick that I fell in love with thanks to a sample.

Ipsy is basically all makeup. You get a super cute customized makeup bag every month which is nice because you never can have enough storage for your accumulating makeup. I have gotten quite a bit of brushes from them which is nice because I have no clue what brushes to buy for myself. I love experimenting with makeup but that doesn't mean I know what everything is and what it's used for. I have gotten a whole mixture of makeup products and they tend to give a lot of mascara and eyeliner along with bronzers, highlighters, eye shadow, and lipstick or lip gloss. I really enjoy all of the products they provide. They tend to stick with well known brands and they really listen to your reviews of products. If there's a brand I rate high, I seem to get a lot from that brand. Same goes for the types of products I receive. They also correlate well with my style and give me some bolder products along with more subtle products as well. Their point system is a little different. You can still use the points to buy things but they only have a handful of items you can choose from and those change monthly. So, if you don't see something you wish to use your points on one month, the next month may have something more up your ally.

Again, two similar yet different companies competing in the same market. It really just depends if you are looking for something that is just makeup based, or something that really touches all the bases with perfume, skin care, makeup, nail care, and hair care products. For me personally, I have loved having both because I tend to neglect my skin care and just focus on makeup. But, it is also fun experimenting with all of the products I most definitely wouldn't buy myself. What it comes down to is what purpose you are looking for and what you would look forward to each month.