Ipsy Subscription Review: Is the Monthly Glam Bag Worth It?
Hey there, beauty lover! If you‘re anything like me, you‘re always on the hunt for the latest and greatest in makeup, skincare, and hair care products. But with so many options out there, it can be hard to know where to start – not to mention, expensive to try everything! That‘s where beauty subscription boxes come in, and one of the most popular is Ipsy.
In this Ipsy subscription review, I‘ll give you the full scoop on what Ipsy is, how it works, and my honest thoughts after being subscribed for over two years. As a total beauty junkie myself, I‘ve tried tons of subscription boxes, but Ipsy remains one of my favorites for its personalized approach, variety of brands, and amazing value.
What is Ipsy?
Ipsy is a monthly beauty subscription service that delivers a curated selection of deluxe samples and full-size products right to your door. It was founded in 2011 by YouTube beauty guru Michelle Phan, and has since grown to over 3 million subscribers!
Here‘s how it works: you start by taking a quick Beauty Quiz that asks about your skin tone, hair and eye color, favorite brands, and product preferences. This builds your Beauty Profile, which Ipsy‘s stylists use to handpick items that match your interests.
Your personalized goodies arrive each month in a super cute makeup bag (the design changes every time!). Ipsy partners with over 200 brands from drugstore to high-end, so you can expect a mix of well-known names and up-and-coming labels in your Glam Bag.
Ipsy Subscription Options
Ipsy offers three different subscription tiers to choose from:
Ipsy Glam Bag ($12/month)
This is the OG Ipsy subscription and the most popular option. Each month, you‘ll get:
- 5 deluxe samples tailored to your Beauty Profile
- A cute, collectible makeup bag
- Mix of brands across all price points
- Option to choose 1 product per month
- $50+ value in every bag
I‘m currently subscribed to the Glam Bag and it‘s perfect for trying out new products without breaking the bank. The samples are generously sized (often multi-use) and the bag designs are always adorable!
Ipsy Glam Bag Plus ($25/month)
If you love full-size products, the Glam Bag Plus is a great upgrade option. You‘ll get:
- 5 full-size products personalized for you
- A cute, larger makeup bag
- Prestige and luxury brands
- Option to choose 3 products per month
- $120+ value in every box
The Glam Bag Plus is pricier, but you‘re getting way more product. It‘s ideal if you‘ve got your staples down and want to expand your collection with some nicer picks.
Ipsy Glam Bag X ($55/quarter)
Glam Bag X is Ipsy‘s newest, most bougie subscription. It‘s a quarterly upgrade for Glam Bag and Glam Bag Plus members that includes:
- 7-8 full-size, celeb-curated products
- A super luxe, collectible box
- Exclusive launches and collabs from high-end brands
- Up to $350 value per box
- Chance to get 10 full-size products if you‘re a Glam Bag Plus member
Glam Bag X is definitely a splurge, but it‘s perfect for treating yourself or if you just want the best of the best. The products are hand-picked by beauty icons like Patrick Ta and Khloe Kardashian!
What‘s In an Ipsy Glam Bag?
Now for the good stuff – what kind of products can you expect in your Ipsy Glam Bag? The short answer is: all kinds! Ipsy features a huge variety of makeup, skincare, haircare, fragrance, and beauty tools from tons of different brands.
Some of my favorite items I‘ve gotten from Ipsy include:
- Tarte Amazonian Clay blush
- Huda Beauty Topaz Obsessions eyeshadow palette
- Sunday Riley Good Genes lactic acid treatment
- GlamGlow Glowstarter mega illuminating moisturizer
- Beautyblender Blotterazzi compact
Ipsy has introduced me to so many amazing brands I never would have tried otherwise! They do a great job of mixing tried-and-true products with exciting new launches.
According to Ipsy, the average Glam Bag contains:
- 1-2 makeup items
- 1-2 skincare items
- 1 haircare item
- 1 beauty tool or accessory
Here‘s a breakdown of the types of items you can expect by category:
| Makeup | Skincare | Haircare | Misc. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eyeshadow | Cleanser | Shampoo | Nail polish |
| Eyeliner | Moisturizer | Conditioner | Fragrance |
| Mascara | Serum | Hair oil | Makeup brushes |
| Lipstick | Face mask | Texturizing spray | Beauty sponges |
| Lip gloss | Eye cream | Dry shampoo | Makeup bags |
Of course, the exact contents will vary based on your preferences and what Ipsy has in stock that month. You can also choose to opt out of certain product types (like fragrance or nail polish) in your Beauty Quiz.
One thing to note is that Ipsy does feature a lot of makeup, so if you‘re only interested in skincare, for example, it might not be the best fit. However, I personally love the variety and getting to try a little bit of everything!
Is Ipsy Worth It?
So, the million dollar question: is Ipsy worth the money? In my opinion, absolutely! Here‘s why:
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Personalization: Unlike other subscriptions that send the same products to everyone, Ipsy really tailors your Glam Bag to your specific interests. The Beauty Quiz is super detailed and you can update your preferences anytime.
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Brand variety: Ipsy partners with a huge range of brands, from drugstore essentials to high-end favorites. I‘ve discovered so many gems I never would have found on my own!
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Value: The average Glam Bag has a retail value of over $50 but only costs $12. Even if I don‘t love every single item, I always get my money‘s worth.
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Cute bags: This might seem minor, but the makeup bags are seriously adorable and so handy for organizing your purse or packing toiletries. I have a whole collection!
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Rewards program: Ipsy has a great rewards program where you can earn points for reviewing products and referring friends. Points can be redeemed for bonus items!
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Customer service: The few times I‘ve had issues with damaged or missing items, Ipsy‘s customer service has been super responsive and quick to replace them.
Of course, no subscription is perfect. There have been months where I wasn‘t thrilled with my Glam Bag selections, but I‘d say that‘s pretty rare. And at only $12, I don‘t mind if there‘s the occasional miss.
I also think Ipsy is best for beauty lovers who like trying new things. If you‘re someone who sticks to the same products no matter what, you might get frustrated receiving stuff you won‘t use.
Ipsy vs. Other Beauty Subscriptions
Ipsy is one of the biggest players in the beauty box game, but how does it compare to the other options out there? Here‘s my breakdown:
| Box | Price | # of items | Makeup | Skincare | Haircare | Fragrance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ipsy Glam Bag | $12/month | 5 | ++ | + | + | + |
| Birchbox | $15/month | 5 | + | ++ | + | ++ |
| Glossybox | $21/month | 5-6 | ++ | ++ | – | ++ |
| Allure Beauty Box | $23/month | 6-7 | ++ | ++ | + | + |
| Sephora Play! | $10/month | 5 | ++ | + | + | ++ |
For me, Ipsy offers the best bang for your buck in terms of value, variety, and personalization. I also think they have the best brand curation and most fun subscription experience with the cute makeup bags and rewards program.
However, if you‘re looking for more full-size products, Ipsy Glam Bag Plus or Boxycharm might be a better fit. And if you‘re primarily interested in skincare, something like Birchbox or BeautyFix by Dermstore would probably be more up your alley.
Ipsy Tips & Tricks
To wrap up this monster review post, I wanted to share some of my best Ipsy tips and tricks for making the most of your subscription:
- Fill out your Beauty Quiz as accurately and thoroughly as possible. The more Ipsy knows about you, the better your Glam Bag will be!
- Review your bag every month, even if you didn‘t love it. You‘ll get points to redeem for bonus items and Ipsy uses your feedback to improve your future selections.
- Connect your social media accounts to earn extra points for easy activities like following Ipsy on Instagram or sharing your bag on Facebook.
- Keep an eye out for Ipsy Offers, which let you shop full-size versions of your favorite samples, often at a nice discount.
- If you get a product that really isn‘t for you, consider passing it on to a friend or donating to a womens shelter.
- Watch Ipsy‘s social channels for spoilers, giveaways, and tips from their in-house stylists.
- Don‘t hesitate to reach out to Ipsy Care if you have any issues with your bag or subscription! They‘re super helpful.
- If Ipsy just isn‘t working for you, don‘t be afraid to cancel or switch to a different subscription that‘s a better fit for your needs and preferences.
And that‘s it! This ended up being a behemoth of a post, but I really wanted to give you the most thorough, detailed review possible.
I hope this helped you decide whether or not Ipsy is right for you! Honestly, for the price, I think it‘s at least worth trying for a few months – if you don‘t like it, you can always cancel.
Let me know in the comments if you have any other questions about Ipsy or if you‘re a current/former subscriber yourself! I‘d love to hear your thoughts.
Xoxo,
[Your Name]
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