Is It Illegal to Make Canceling Beauty Subscription Boxes Hard?

Ever tried to cancel your beauty box only to end up stuck in a loop of endless emails and sneaky web forms? You’re ridiculously not alone. Subscription boxes—especially in beauty—love making it hard for people to break up with them. But if you’re wondering whether that’s just bad business or actually illegal, you’re about to get some solid answers.

Here’s the kicker: in the U.S., cracking down on companies that set up 'subscription traps' is now a real thing. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) tightened the screws in 2024, telling all subscription businesses that customers must be able to cancel as easily as they sign up. No secret links. No calling during a three-hour window. No more endless “are you sure?” pop-ups. If you’ve fought through this before, you know exactly how frustrating it gets.

So, yes, there are real rules backing you up. If a beauty box company drowns you in hoops, they might be crossing the legal line. But what does that actually mean for you? Let’s get into the signs of shady tactics, what your next steps should be, and how to make sure your ‘unsubscribe’ finally sticks. No more subscriptions haunting your monthly budget—promise.

• Why Cancelling Beauty Boxes Feels Impossible
• What the Law Says About Hard-to-Cancel Subscriptions
• The FTC’s Latest Moves You Should Know
• Classic Tricks Subscription Companies Use
• Tips for Getting Out Cleanly
• How to Fight Back if You Get Stuck

Why Cancelling Beauty Boxes Feels Impossible

If you’ve ever tried saying goodbye to a beauty subscription box, you probably ran into weird barriers. These companies know exactly how to keep people locked in, and it’s not by accident. They use a mix of confusing websites, hidden cancel buttons, and endless “Are you sure?” guilt-trips—all designed to make you give up and stay subscribed.

Here’s a wild fact: according to a 2024 survey by the Consumer Reports National Research Center, 42% of people who tried to cancel a subscription box said it took them at least three attempts before they actually got out. That’s not just bad luck. Companies study shopper behavior to find the pain points that make you abandon a cancellation attempt.

Let’s break down the most common tactics that beauty box companies use to make quitting a headache:

• They hide the cancel option under multiple menus or small print links at the bottom of emails.
• They force you to email customer service or call during limited hours instead of offering a one-click online cancellation.
• You might have to answer lengthy exit surveys before getting to the actual cancel button.
• Some keep charging even after you cancel, blaming “system errors.”

These sneaky moves are sometimes called "subscription traps." The goal is simple: delay cancellation long enough that you give up or forget. The cost to consumers adds up.

With the rise of online shopping, beauty box subscriptions jumped during the pandemic, but so did complaints about hard-to-cancel services. Ripped straight from Reddit and complaint forums, stories of endless loops, ignored emails, and months of double charges are all over the internet.

If you’re struggling with canceling, you’re not alone. The next section explains whether making it this hard crosses any legal lines—and what you can do about it.

What the Law Says About Hard-to-Cancel Subscriptions

If you’ve ever wondered whether there are real rules protecting you from complicated cancellation tactics, here’s the deal. In the U.S., both federal and state laws are catching up to companies making it a pain to cancel any kind of recurring service—especially beauty subscription boxes. The most important law right now is the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) Negative Option Rule.

This FTC rule, updated in 2024, says companies must make it just as easy to cancel a subscription as it was to sign up. If you could start your beauty box on a single web page, they can’t make you go through ten steps or call a phone number to quit. The FTC also says companies must:

• Give clear, easy-to-find cancellation instructions
• Let you cancel through the same method you signed up (if you joined online, you should be able to cancel online)
• Avoid sneaky extra questions or guilt-trips just to slow you down
• Get your permission before any further charges if you decide not to cancel immediately

Some states—like California, New York, and Delaware—go even further. They require companies to send reminders before they auto-renew your subscription and make it super simple to stop.

Here’s the kicker for subscription cancellation—if you run into endless roadblocks, you can report it right to the FTC or your state’s attorney general. These reports can lead to real fines for companies that don’t follow the rules. So if you feel like a beauty box company is playing sneaky or outright blocking your exit, the law’s on your side—and it’s worth speaking up.

The FTC’s Latest Moves You Should Know

If you’re stuck with a beauty subscription you can’t shake off, the FTC’s new rules are about to feel like a breath of fresh air. In March 2024, the Federal Trade Commission dropped some serious changes targeting the hardest part of any subscription cancellation: actually getting out.

The FTC’s “click to cancel” rule is the main game changer. Basically, if you can sign up online, you have to be allowed to cancel just as easily—no more jumping through hoops or calling customer support in the middle of your workday. Beauty box brands can’t hide the cancel button or bury you in confusion just to hang onto your dollars.

Here’s what the rule demands:

• Easy Cancel Option: The cancel process must be clear and simple—like a one-click button or direct account link. No complicated email chains or forms that make you want to give up.
• No Sneaky Upsells: When someone tries to cancel, companies can’t stall the process with pushy offers or endless 'Wait, don’t go!' pop-ups. If you want out, they have to let you out—fast.
• Clear Communication: Terms and conditions? Changes to your plan? Any updates must be explained clearly, so you’re not caught off guard.

And the FTC isn’t just making threats. They’ve fined big brands for breaking these rules. For example, in 2024, a major beauty subscription company had to pay out $4 million after deliberately hiding their cancellation page and giving customers the runaround. When the FTC steps in, companies pay attention—nobody wants to be outed as a subscription trap on social media.

If a company ignores these rules, you have every right to file a complaint online with the FTC. They really do go after repeat offenders. So, if the cancel button is hidden or the process feels like a circus, know you’ve got backup.

Classic Tricks Subscription Companies Use

Ever notice how easy it is to sign up for a beauty subscription box, but nearly impossible to leave? These companies know what they're doing—and it's all about keeping you locked in. Let’s break down some of the most common tricks so you know what to look out for.

• Hidden Cancel Buttons: Some sites tuck the cancel option deep inside account settings, or even behind several unhelpful pop-ups. You end up clicking through a maze just to find the exit.
• Forced Phone Calls: Instead of letting you cancel online (even though you could sign up online in seconds), they make you call. That usually means waiting on hold, talking to someone trained to guilt-trip you, and sometimes being told you need to call again during “business hours.”
• Endless Surveys: You want to cancel, but first, they make you fill out a survey or explain your reason three different times. It’s designed to wear you down, not to improve their service.
• “Special Offers” Roadblocks: In a last-ditch effort, you’ll get a pop-up: 'Wait! Here’s 50% off your next box if you stay.' Sometimes, saying yes restarts your subscription without warning, causing you to miss out on cancellation entirely.
• Mandatory Email Requests: Some brands refuse immediate online cancellations. Instead, you have to email support and wait days for a reply—if it comes at all. Stalling tactics are nothing new.

Here’s a snapshot of how common these tricks are based on a 2024 consumer survey:

Whether it's a puzzle of hidden options or pushing you to call, these tactics are all about making subscription cancellation feel like more trouble than it's worth. Spotting the signs early can save you time and stress—and give you a better shot at keeping your money (and sanity) intact.

Tips for Getting Out Cleanly

If you’re tired of beauty subscription boxes eating up your money every month, getting out cleanly is the goal. New FTC rules from 2024 put you in a far better spot, but companies still try to get clever. Here’s how to come out on top—and keep your dollars where you want them.

First things first: Know your rights. As of July 2024, any subscription service in the U.S. has to offer a cancellation process that’s as easy as signing up. That’s not a loophole—companies that make you jump through phone calls or hunt down hidden web pages can easily get flagged for breaking the law. If you feel scammed, you probably are.

• Subscription cancellation should only take a few clicks. Look for a visible “Cancel” button in your account dashboard. If it’s not there, take screenshots for proof.
• Use the same method you signed up with. If you joined online, you don’t have to call. This is now required for most companies under FTC rules.
• Keep every email or chat log about your request. Sometimes, companies “lose” cancellation requests, so having proof helps if you need to dispute charges.
• Set reminders. Beauty boxes often auto-renew just before shipping. Mark your calendar a week before the renewal date so you don’t get caught off guard.

Wondering which companies play fair? Here’s a quick look at some major beauty boxes and how they stack up for cancellations, based on a 2024 survey of 1,200 subscribers:

If a company fights your request, don’t threaten—just file a complaint with the FTC or your state’s consumer protection agency. You’d be surprised how quickly some businesses straighten up when they get an official notice.

Lastly, if your cancel request gets ignored, call your credit card company and dispute the charge. Under U.S. law, you can do this within 60 days of the date on your credit card statement. That’s your backup plan if the normal routes don’t work.

How to Fight Back if You Get Stuck

If you’re stuck in a never-ending loop trying to ditch your beauty box, don’t give up. You’ve got real options—and rights. Plenty of people have faced this, so there’s a good playbook for getting out.

The first step: Document everything. Take screenshots of every cancellation attempt and any chat with customer service. If your card keeps getting charged, even after you’ve tried to cancel, keep those statements handy too.

• Subscription cancellation: If a company refuses to let you cancel easily, the FTC says they could be breaking the law. Under the Restore Online Shoppers’ Confidence Act (ROSCA) and new FTC rules kicking in from March 2024, businesses are supposed to have a simple cancellation button—not make you call or email them endlessly.
• Contact your bank. If you keep getting billed, ask your credit card to block future charges from the company. Banks usually know the drill and can back you up with a chargeback.
• File a complaint. Didn’t work out with customer support? Submit a formal complaint to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov. They collect reports and will investigate if a company is racking up a bunch of red flags. You can also contact your state’s Attorney General—lots of states are ramping up rules against subscription traps.
• Try social pressure. Companies love their image, so a public post tagging them on social media often gets a quicker response than private emails. Keep it factual and share your cancellation attempts.

Here’s a quick look at how action pays off—this table shows what usually happens when people escalate:

Don’t forget, if you signed up through a third party like PayPal or Apple, try canceling through that platform. Sometimes, cutting off the payment there is the fastest fix. If all else fails, keep pushing. Companies will fold if they know you know the rules and have proof in hand.