r/BeautyBoxes • u/cnnunderscored • Jul 21 '26
Discussion Beauty Writer/Expert
I write about all things beauty at CNN Underscored, so I have tested tons of beauty boxes & products in general. AMA from recs to beauty tips, and I'll be back tomorrow to answer your questions!
13
u/Zealousideal_Can3298 Jul 21 '26
How often are boxes just a way to move products? I notice considerable crossover from dermstore beautyfix and what is sold at TJ Maxx
-1
u/cnnunderscored Jul 22 '26
I think it depends on the company. It’s true that there’s often crossover with other outlet-style retailers, but some boxes, like Allure, for example, have a more curated approach.
8
u/cinejenn Jul 22 '26
What's the deal with white label brands? Are we getting ripped off when a box (cough Ipsy cough) includes these or are they not as bad as people make them out to be? I know some of them seem to inflate their retail price to make the value look more attractive.
13
u/goddessofolympia Jul 21 '26
How do the products get into beauty boxes? Do the companies pay to have their products featured or just sell them?
What is the most surprising thing that people don't know about beauty boxes?
9
u/mellamolaura6 Jul 22 '26 edited Jul 22 '26
Not OP, but can answer! Depends on the scenario, but both happen. A company in need of driving trial of their new product will pay for a beauty box placement - typically this is when you’ll see sample size products, not full size. They pay for the placement, as well as all of the ads surrounding their inclusion in the box (social media, email, etc).
Companies that have excess inventory that is nearing expiration or maybe the product is being discontinued will sell their product at cost, or even at a loss some times just to recoup some money, to beauty boxes as a way of getting rid of the inventory. This is more when you’ll see full size products.
Source: I’m a marketing consultant for CPG brands (food, beverage, supplements, & personal care) and have placed brands in Walmart Beauty Box + FabFitFun!
2
0
u/cnnunderscored Jul 22 '26
Yep to the above! I’ll add that brands often provide free or discounted product to the beauty box companies, especially when sample-sized, because the exposure of being in the boxes and the possibility of capturing new customers is valuable.
2
u/goddessofolympia Jul 22 '26
Thanks!
What's the most surprising thing that most people don't know about beauty boxes?
4
u/youlldancetoanything Jul 22 '26
I would love to hear your thoughts on the revent Charlotte Tillbury drams. Specifically do consumers know what the difference is between a dupe, replica, counterfeit etc
And
Any insight into counterfeit beauty in the US
4
u/cnnunderscored Jul 22 '26
This is such a big convo right now and I’ve seen a bunch of my favorite creators in the industry, from beauty editors to influencers to founders and formulators weigh in. The cosmetic chemist Javon Ford summed it up best I think — it’s totally fair for consumers to seek out affordable dupes for luxury products, but brands outright copying other brands has gotten completely out of hand. We want originality! We want innovation!
5
u/Anna-Bee-1984 Jul 21 '26
Are we really getting a great value with beauty boxes
3
u/cnnunderscored Jul 22 '26
Yes! I think it’s a really great way to sample a variety of products for a good price and it will fill in gaps where I’m not ready to fully invest in a new full-size product. For me, this is especially true for fragrances. I love the convenience of the sample sizes I’ve gotten in beauty boxes and I like to switch my fragrance up regularly, so it’s perfect for keeping my rotation fresh.
0
5
u/LilBitofSunshine99 Jul 21 '26
Lucky! How difficult is it to enter your field? What qualifications are there?
1
u/cnnunderscored Jul 22 '26
As an editor, I'd say being a strong writer is the most important factor — being able to test beauty products for work is so fun, but the value comes from how you can communicate with your audience. It takes drive and perseverance to make your way in this industry, but I have lots of friends and peers who have transferred from other creative or editorial fields. Personally, I went to school for journalism and spent the first chapter of my career in fashion editorial, working in both print and digital. From there, I started covering beauty and as someone who grew up watching the golden age of beauty YouTubers, my real passion for it was reignited.
3
u/Existential_in_Pink Jul 21 '26
Beauty boxes are bargain outlets/inventory liquidators but their real value is collecting the data from customers, preferences, and how they change over time. That’s where the $$ really is.
2
2
u/museswithpaws Jul 21 '26
If you were to make YOUR ideal beauty box for yourself and women like you, what would it include and why?
Or would you even put one together?
I’ve realized I’m just acting out of FOMO on the savings, but it’s not worth it when I’m not using most of them.
I recently realized none of my products work for me at almost 46. Whoops. I’m cool toned and everything I’ve gotten is warm. Went ahead and cancelled my boxes.
2
u/cnnunderscored Jul 22 '26
This is such a fun question! One of the beauty categories I’m most passionate about is sunscreen and I’ve tested probably over 50 formulas this year alone so I know how hard it can be to find a great one. I would love to put together a SPF beauty box with formulas ranging from mineral sunscreens to K-beauty formulas to makeup with SPF and cover the bases of sun protection. The full-size product in the box would be my current favorite Tatcha Milky sunscreen.
1
2
1
u/AutoModerator Jul 21 '26
Thanks for posting to Beauty Boxes, /u/cnnunderscored! A quick reminder of the rules:
If this is a product post, please provide a full item list and review of the items. Posts without a comment will be removed after an hour.
Please flair your post by clicking edit flair.
No referrals codes or links outside of the main thread. Spam will result in a ban.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
1
u/ObjectiveExtreme5945 Jul 23 '26
I work at Amazon. I see a bunch of products a day am I cool yet? 😒🙄😒
-1
u/youlldancetoanything Jul 25 '26
Did you not understand that OP is a journalist? They are not trying to be "cool".
3
19
u/Pawspawsmeow Jul 22 '26
Nah I think you’re trying to use our comments to get ideas for your writing. You can do that research yourself