Honest IPSY Review & Unboxings + Is it Worth It?
Curious about IPSY glam bag? Then check out my honest IPSY Review and Unboxings where I answer frequently asked questions about Ipsy, explain how the subscription service works, share previous Ipsy unboxings photos and what to expect, and provide my honest thoughts on whether or not I think Ipsy is worth it.
Hey everyone! Today I’m back with another post in my “Is it Worth It” beauty series, and today I’m sharing my honest review of Ipsy Glam Bag, a monthly, personalized beauty subscription service.
In today’s post I’m covering everything you need to know about Ipsy, what type of plans they offer, how the subscription service works and what to expect, pros + cons of Ipsy, and a look at several unboxings from previous Ipsy glam bags and Ipsy glam bag plus.
I’m also providing my honest thoughts on whether or not I think Ipsy is really worth subscribing to, and who I think it’s best suited for.
If you’re curious, then keep reading below for my full Honest IPSY Review & Unboxings.
Ipsy Review & FAQ’s
What is Ipsy? (Ipsy Glam Bag)
Ipsy (also known as Ipsy Glam Bag) is a beauty subscription service that sends you personalized, surprise beauty products straight to your door every month.
Ipsy is an easy way for beauty lovers to discover new makeup, skincare, and haircare favorites, and an affordable way to try out new, must-have beauty brands.
Additionally, Ipsy is the most personalized beauty box on the market, allowing subscribers to customize each box based on preferences and ratings.
What types of beauty products does IPSY send?
The beauty products you receive each month varies, but includes a range of makeup, skincare, haircare, nail products, and more.
Does IPSY let me choose what comes in my box?
While you don’t get to directly select every product in your Ipsy box, the products you receive each month are personalized for you based on the answers you provide to a simple beauty quiz.
Ipsy also allows you to select 1 product of choice for your glam box, or 3 products if you are a Glam Bag Plus or Glam Bag X subscriber.
Ipsy Spoilers – Can I see what I’ll be getting in my box ahead of time?
Yes! One of the main perks of Ipsy, is that they give you an insider’s look every month so you’ll know what to expect.
I love being able to see spoilers ahead of time that way I know what types of products I’ll receive, so I don’t buy something similar at the store in the meantime.
Do you get a makeup bag every month with IPSY?
Yes, your Ipsy subscription comes with a new makeup bag each month.
Does IPSY Glam Bag send full-size beauty products?
The original Ipsy Glam Bag includes 5 deluxe-size beauty samples or you can upgrade to the Ipsy Glam Bag Plus which includes 5 full-size beauty products.
How much does Ipsy Glam Bag Cost?
Currently, there are 3 Ipsy subscription box services including, the original Ipsy Glam Bag (monthly), Glam Bag Plus (monthly), and Glam Bag X (quarterly add-on).
You can subscribe to 1, 2, or all 3 plans, and I’ve included a full breakdown of each plan with prices and details below.
Ipsy Plans Pricing and Comparison
Glam Bag
The original Ipsy Glam Bag is the most affordable plan, and includes five deluxe beauty samples (valued at $50+) for just $13/month.
You get to choose 1 product per month.
Glam Bag Plus
The Ipsy Glam Bag Plus is an upgrade to the original glam bag, and includes 5 full-sized products (valued at $120+) for $28/month.
You get to choose 3 of 5 products per month, offering you greater customization.
Glam Bag X
The Ipsy Glam Bag X is a quarterly, members-only upgrade to your monthly IPSY subscription and includes 7-8 full-sized products (valued up to $350) for $55/quarter.
It is specially curated by some of beauty’s biggest tastemakers and celebrities, and is a great way to try out new and exclusive beauty launches and sought-after brands.
Glam Bag X is available during February, May, August, and November, and you even get the perk of choosing 3 of your products in every shipment.
How much does Ipsy cost per month vs. per year?
As of 2022, Ipsy Glam Bag currently costs $13/month or $143/year.
The annual membership will offer you a slight savings at around $12/month.
How Does Ipsy Work? – Step by Step Guide
Interested in signing up for your first Ipsy glam bag? I’ve got you covered with my easy, step-by-step guide below!
Step 1 – Fill Out A Beauty Quiz
To get started with Ipsy, you’ll first take a simple beauty quiz over here.
The Ipsy beauty quiz is used to personalize your box based on preferences, needs, and wants.
The questions are easy to answer and ask you to choose things like skin tone, skin type, hair color, makeup preferences, favorite brands, etc.
Using the provided answers, Ipsy then customizes a beauty bag unique to you.
P.S. Once you are an IPSY subscriber, you can change your beauty quiz preferences any time by going to “Account” → “Edit Account Settings” → “Update beauty preferences.”
I personally really love that I can switch out my preferences anytime for a more customized experience.
Step 2 – Place Your Order
Once you’ve completely filled out your beauty quiz, you will submit your order and pay for your first Ipsy glam bag upfront.
After that, you will be charged on the last day of each month for the next month’s bag.
When Does Ipsy Ship?
Your Ipsy box typically ships out within two weeks after you are charged.
As per, IPSY’s website:
“Glam Bags leave our warehouse mid-month, and usually arrive 15 business days after they ship. We ship in batches, and delivery time can vary each month, so your Glam Bag could arrive the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th week of the month. You’ll always get a tracking email so you can follow your bag’s progress.”
Step 3 – Track Your Box/Choose a Product
While waiting on your first Ipsy glam bag to arrive, you can select 1 product of choice for your glam bag, or 3 products if you are a Glam Bag Plus or Glam Bag X subscriber.
Ipsy will usually alert you via e-mail when it’s time to make your selections, so make sure you’re checking your e-mail regularly to not miss out.
You can also stay up to date under the “Upcoming Events” timeline in your Account settings.
Product selections are available only while supplies last, so I strongly recommend making your selections as early as possible.
Is Ipsy shipping free?
Yes, currently Ipsy offers free shipping for all subscription plans.
Step 4 – Open Your Box and Try Out Your Products
Next your Ipsy box will conveniently arrive at your home for you to enjoy!
All of your products are carefully packaged and wrapped in the box, and you will also receive a new makeup bag for easy storing.
Once you open up everything, of course now is the fun part of testing and trying everything out.
*I will say that over the past 8 months I’ve yet to have any issues with anything being damaged or broken, so I hope that gives you peace of mind!
Step 5 – Rate Your Products/Provide Feedback
I know a lot of people hate leaving reviews and rating products, but when it comes to Ipsy, it’s super important to rate the products you receive.
As Ipsy is a customized beauty bag tailored to your preferences/needs, it’s absolutely crucial to provide feedback each month on which products you enjoyed and which products you didn’t.
This helps Ipsy improve future bags for you, giving you an all around better experience.
The more feedback you give = the more custom Ipsy bags you’ll get!
Honest Ipsy Review – Ipsy Pros and Cons
Ipsy Review – Pros of Ipsy Glam Bag:
1. It’s Affordable
At a base price of just $13/month – Ipsy is affordable and gives you a huge bang for your buck!
2. Great variety of products
I love that every box is different with a variety of beauty products, and I’ve never received a duplicate product yet.
3. Personalized to fit your beauty interests/needs
Ipsy is hands-down the most customizable beauty subscription out there, and I love that each box is tailored to me and what I love.
4. Best way to discover and try new brands/products
Probably my favorite thing about Ipsy is being able to try out new products/brands that I normally wouldn’t have discovered otherwise.
I’ve ended up finding some amazing hidden gems (especially skincare products and clean beauty items) that I now use daily/regularly in my beauty routine.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, I’ve also found products that didn’t blow me away, but thanks to Ipsy I didn’t have to waste a ton of money to find that out.
5. Easy to Cancel/Unsubscribe
So many subscription boxes and services can be such a pain to cancel or you can only cancel after so many months, but with Ipsy you can easily cancel your subscription anytime in your account settings.
Simply log in to your Ipsy account, click “Manage Membership”, then “Help me stop my membership”. Follow the prompts and then verify your cancellation via link in an e-mail you’ll receive.
You can also choose to skip a month, if you just want to take some time off, or if you’re going on vacation.
Ipsy Review – Cons of Ipsy Glam Bag:
1. You may receive products you don’t like
While there should definitely be more hits than misses if you’re filling out your Beauty quiz regularly, there’s always the chance you might not like something you receive.
That said, Ipsy strives for great customer experience, so definitely reach out to them so they can help make it right!
2. You may receive more products than you need
Depending on how often you wear makeup or use beauty products, you might end up receiving more products than you know what to do with.
However, the good news is that you’ll have plenty of time to use them after receiving them before they expire.
Also, if you receive something that’s not really your style/color preference you can always gift it to a family member, friend, or neighbor that will use it, or donate it to a local women’s shelter.
Ipsy Unboxings – Previous Ipsy Glam Bags and Ipsy Glam Bag Plus Products
Below I’ve included photos of Ipsy Glam Bags from previous months.
As you can see each Ipsy Glam bag comes with a variety of beauty products including makeup, haircare, skincare, and more.
Each glam bag also of course comes with a cute makeup bag.
Previous Ipsy Glam Bags
I also included photos of what the Ipsy Glam Bag Plus boxes look like and the types of products I’ve received in previous boxes.
These boxes include full size beauty products and an additional drawstring bag for storage.
Previous Ipsy Glam Bag Plus Products
My 3 Best Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Ipsy Glam Bag Subscription
When it comes to Ipsy, the more information you share, the better your experience will be!
Keep your Beauty Quiz Updated Regularly
Unlike a lot of subscriptions out there, Ipsy allows you to change your beauty quiz preferences anytime under your account settings, which is amazing for achieving a better, more personalized experience.
Tanner in the summer? Changed your hair color? Skin a little bit drier than normal lately? All of these things (and more) are important to keep track of and update regularly in your beauty preferences, as they will impact the products/shades you receive.
To get the most customized Ipsy glam bag experience, I recommend updating your beauty quiz regularly, and at a minimum quarterly for the changing seasons.
To update your Ipsy beauty quiz go to “Account” → “Edit Account Settings” → “Update beauty preferences.”
Provide Feedback Regularly
Another great way to make sure the products you are receiving are better tailored for you is to provide feedback after you receive each box.
Take the time to rate the products you receive, so that Ipsy will know what products you loved and didn’t love, and they can customize future boxes accordingly.
Take Advantage of “Choice”
Another amazing perk of Ipsy is you can choose one product each month.
Ipsy normally sends out an e-mail letting you know when they will be letting you select your choice of product, so make sure you are subscribed to their e-mails, or you can stay up to date under the “Upcoming Events” timeline in your Account.
Often times subscription boxes will just surprise you with everything you receive, but I really like that Ipsy allows you to customize your box and choose one product each month.
Honest Ipsy Review: Is Ipsy Worth It?
After trying out Ipsy for over 8 months now, I can honestly say that Ipsy glam bag is definitely worth it!
And even though I loved Boxycharm for many years (read review here), I would even go as far to say that Ipsy is my favorite beauty subscription box.
It’s a Great Value for What You Get
For just $13/month you get 5 deluxe beauty samples from premium beauty brands valued at $50+. You also get a beautiful makeup bag to carry everything in.
This is less than what you’d spend on buying 1 or 2 products at the drugstore, so honestly the value can’t be beat!
And if you are looking for full size products, you can very easily upgrade to Plus, or splurge on the Glam Bag X once a quarter for just $55.
It’s Easy/Affordable to Discover New Beauty Favorites
It’s also such a great way to discover new products/brands that you might not have ever even tried otherwise.
Whether we like to admit it or not, most of us are creatures of habits with our purchases, so I love that Ipsy helps you discover what else is out there, without all the overwhelm or expense.
I’ve personally found so many ride or die beauty products thanks to Ipsy, and especially have discovered some skincare favorites (like the ones in the photo below) that would have been so expensive to test out and try individually.
It’s a Nice Way to Treat Yourself or A Beauty Lover in Your Life
Overall, Ipsy has been such a treat for me and I always look forward to receiving my boxes every month.
I would definitely recommend Ipsy glam bag to any beauty lover out there, and it would definitely make a wonderful gift to give someone who loves trying out new beauty products and trends!
Ready to try out IPSY? Sign up below!
I hope you enjoyed today’s post with my Honest Ipsy Review and Unboxings! Would you or someone you know love IPSY? Let me know in the comments below!
Thanks for stopping by! – Cara
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