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Ipsy Review – October 2015
Ipsy
Ipsy is a monthly beauty and makeup subscription box. Each month you get full size or deluxe-sized products, plus a cute makeup bag. I think it’s one of the best value beauty subscriptions and a great way to build out your makeup collection on the cheap!
(FYI – Just like Birchbox, Ipsy sends out many different variations of their bag each month – so my review is just one of the bag variations you might receive!)
My Subscription Addiction pays for this subscription. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes).
This month the theme is Alter Ego, and the bag has two different sides:
This is one of my favorite glam bags in a while. (Yes to all things gold!)
The Subscription Box: Ipsy
The Cost: $10 a month (free shipping)
The Products: Full size and samples of makeup and beauty products. (Plus a makeup bag!)
Ships to: US and Canada
Delivered via: USPS
Check out all of my Ipsy reviews and the Beauty Subscription Box Directory!
Visit the Ipsy Swap Page to swap for any of the items you see in this review!
MICA Beauty Cosmetics Cream Eye Shadow in Bronze – FULL SIZE! Value $15
This is an Ipsy exclusive item. (I’m guessing it will launch at MICA Beauty soonish). The color is shimmery and super pigmented, but it is also very easy to blend, so you can keep the look a little subdued if you like. (Swatched below). I’ll probably use if for layering, since the straight-up copper look doesn’t work for my skintone.
TheBalm Meet Matt(e) Hughes Liquid Lipstick in Committed – 1.2 ml Value $3
I lucked out – this Committed shade is perfect for me! The formula has a minty vanilla flavor, and in one coat it gives you a matte finish. Here it is swatched:
Lavanila Pure Vanilla Perfume Roller Ball – 5 ml Value $12
I really like Lavanila deodorant, but I had never tried their perfume before. This is one of the few perfumes I’ve come across that is made with all natural ingredients. It smells exactly like how you would expect – it’s a sweet vanilla scent! Now I want to try their Vanilla Coconut and Vanilla Lemon perfumes!
BWC Premium Botanical Fragrance Free Lotion – 2 oz Value $1.50
This lotion is vegan, plus paraben and fragrance free. The formula is lightweight and moisturizing, and I’ll keep this in my purse as a hand lotion. I don’t like to wear too many competing scents – so this is a good fit for me.
Royal & Langnickel Moda Medium Eye Shadow Brush – Value $5?
(I couldn’t find this exact product on their site, so I’m estimating the value). This brush is vegan/synthetic, and it has a “silk touch” no-slip rubberized handle. I’m always up for getting more beauty tools in subscription boxes, and I think ipsy send out makeup brushes often.
Verdict: This month’s glam bag has a value of about $36.50. It’s a great value for a $10 makeup subscription (and that’s not even factoring in the value of the makeup bag). I like all my brands and products this month, so I’m happy!
What do you think of the October Ipsy Glam Bag? Which products are you getting this month?
IPSY Glam Bag ($12 per month) is one of the most popular and affordable subscriptions around, and our readers have selected it as one of the top beauty boxes for the last 5 years running! IPSY Glam Bag connects members with five makeup, skincare, hair care, and other beauty samples each month, plus ... read more.
Liz is the founder of My Subscription Addiction. She's been hooked on subscription boxes since 2011 thanks to Birchbox, and she now subscribes to over 100 boxes. Her favorites include POPSUGAR Must Have, FabFitFun, and any box that features natural beauty products!
Liz is the founder of My Subscription Addiction. She's been hooked on subscription boxes since 2011 thanks to Birchbox, and she now subscribes to over 100 boxes. Her favorites include POPSUGAR Must Have, FabFitFun, and any box that features natural beauty products!
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71 comments
Sam
This review inspired me to use my points on the MICA eyeshadow!! That color is heavenly. I wish I had gotten one in my bag, too! Did anyone else have issues with the tweezers? Mine couldn’t even grasp my hair…
Peri
I just recently came across a roller ball perfume I forgot I had. The lavanilla coconut vanilla and started wearing it since the weather has started cooling down…it has amazing stay power, I can still smell hints of it by the end of the night after putting it on in the morning…and I smell like a warm cookie lol…what’s not to love. But you really can’t beat the stay power of their perfumes
Kristin
I tried canceling my membership 3 months ago…why won’t it let me?
Liz Cadman
I recommend emailing [email protected] if you haven’t already – they should be able to help!
Jen
I am beyond excited that Ipsy is partnering with Perfectly Posh! My two favorite things are coming together <3
Ana
For those not liking the lip item “meet MATTE Hughes” lip stain it is a MATTE liquid lipstick, I don’t personally like liquid lipsticks or really lipstick for that matter, Birchbox had those liquid lipsticks in frighteningly neon colors a couple months back by stila, remember? My daughters don’t mind them, I like glosses & balms myself but just so you know the operative word is “matte”
Mary K
Well, it’s starting. At my peak, I got 10 sub boxes each month. I cancelled BeautyFix last week, Boxycharm yesterday and Ipsy today. I used to LOVE getting them all, even when they weren’t that great just because I geek out over surprises so much, but I think I reached my limit of makeup and beauty supplies, especially from the same ole same ole brands (Ofra, BellaPierre, Doucce, etc.). I have enough eye liners to pave my driveway and my lipsticks could reach to the moon. It’s just ridiculous and I’m snapping out of it finally. Unfortunately, all my other subs are longer prepaid terms, so I’m stuck with them til they lapse, but after that, it’s gonna be a bloodbath. haha I do still plan to get Sephora’s Play when they launch in my area because… Sephora!, and I will keep Allure (personal fave) and Birchbox (good rewards system). But that’s it! From 10 down to 3. I’m starting to feel FREE! 😀
Jessica P
I cancelled my Ipsy sub a month a ago, so October is my first month without. I don’t regret it although this bag is cute. I was so tired of almost all garbage makeup. Birchbox makes me so happy.
Jacquelyn
This was my first glam bag. I guess for $10 I can’t complain, but I also guess I had in my mind I’d receive more. I was super excited to receive the Matt(e) Hughes, but was so let down to receive such a tiny sample! I also got the mascara, which I will admit is better than decent. I got the face scrub which I have yet to use and the Exotic and Spicy fragrance as well. To which, I never have and never will wear fragrance on the regular.
I supposed Ipsy does serve its purpose, I mean I had never heard of thebalm cosmetics before and now I’m sure I’ll be purchasing a full size Matt(e) Hughes if I happen to stumble upon one. But part of me would rather spend $25 on a subscription box I can customize or at the very least expect full sized products.
Sarah
I don’t subscribe to Ipsy (yet) but this bag was perfect!
This is the fifth month I have received Ipsy. I find myself about every other month thinking that I need to cancel my subscription. In the past 5 months, I have received 2 bags that I actually have liked. Last months for me was exceptional. However, I truly think I need to cancel this sub as of this month.
Of course I received the gold and black patent leather bag this was an extreme let down the contents:
the Balm sample of eyeshadow in a highlight neutral shade.
Peter Lamas exfoliating pumpkin facial scrub in a 1 fl. oz. sample
Pur-lisse tinted BB cream in SPF 30 in a .34 oz travel sample
Tarte energy lip gloss travel sample
An unmarked sample of something. I have no idea if this is a hair sample or a perfume sample of some kind, it is a glass vial in a generic cardboard box.
I would suggest like ipsy’s other counterparts in the beauty sub business they should consider giving a listing of the products on their enclosed theme card that way this would eliminate not knowing what is received in a generic cardboard box with a glass bottle sample.
On another note, I will most likely use the BB cream as I received it many months back from another sub and liked it. Have plenty of scrubs and I like Tarte products.
The one thing I have always appreciated about Ipsy is the beauty tools they send out. They apparently are not following our profile as I keep filling out I would like to receive tools monthly. However, they are few and far between. They also seemed to be marketing to a younger profile with each passing month. I am not sure if I will continue my sub with them as I can get much better products through Birchbox for the same price. Not worth the new bag every month.
Desiree
Ugh! I would have loved the Mica eyeshadow and make up brush!! But no… I received:
Meet the Hughes (horrible color)
Hand cream (don’t use)
Dr Brandt microbrasion
Dose nail polish -stormy
BB tinted cream
I paid for a yearly sub and unfortunately regretting that decision. My first two bags were great and now not so much.
Alicia
I got my first Ipsy bag and was really disappointed. I got the makeup brush, the small perfume, dr. brandt microbrasion, bb cream, and small lip cream. Everything was sample sized, no full size products at all. I can get samples at Ulta or Sephora for free. I cancelled my subscription.
RariMoon
How do you find the retail price for the products? I find the Full size products on their respective pages but can’t find the smaller/travel/sample size price that the bag brings… do you make an estimate or is it somewhere on the interwebs?
for example, I got the microdermabrasion skin exfoliant 0.26 oz on my bag, but I can only find the full priced one!
I’d be very helpful helping me figure this out… thanks! <3
~RariMoon
ohdearmilk.blogspot.com
Marie
Just do the whole cross multiply thing…if the full size is 3 oz and cost $50, how much is .26 oz of 3 oz?
3 divided by .26 is 11.53 – therefore you would need about 11 samples in order to have the full 3 oz. size. So let’s start working with that number and imagine we have 11 samples in front of us that equal 3 oz.
Now divide the 50 (cost) by 11.53 (number of samples to get to full cost) – it is $4.33. Each of these 11 samples goes for about 4.33 to make the full size cost 50.
Hope this helps.
RariMoon
Thank you ! I didn’t even think of this, haha. <3
Dani
To take out a few steps – just divide the total cost by the number of ounces and multiply it by the size of the sample.
Sample .26 oz
Full size 3 oz
Retail cost $50
total $50 divided by 3 oz times sample .26 oz is $4.33
venefica
i love everything in my bag. i received:
argon face serum
Laura Geller baked blush in tropical hues (awesome color)
Bwc lotion fragrance free
meet matte hughes lip gloss
skone cosmetics eyeliner
im happy with all of it
Dani
Just got my bag today. First impression is good. I think the liquid lipstick is way smaller than I was anticipating. Although, I don’t know why I anticipate on sizes at all. So far, I really like it (except for the fact it’s scented)! I like the eyeshadow (same as yours). I’m excited to try the pumpkin face scrub and the hair mask I received. I got the Emite Make Up Tweezers. There’s a little rubber piece, I’m guessing to go over the end of the tweezers but it had fallen off and was next to the tweezer ends. I just had to use tweezers to get my tweezers out of the tube they came in. #FirstWorldProblems (FYI – this post contains the word ‘tweezer’ 5 – now 6 – times 🙂 in case you were wondering) LOL
Rookala
Here’s what came in my bag today:
Nourish Organic Argan Face Serum .5 oz tube
Ayers Hand Cream Lemongrass & patchouli tube .7 oz
Emite Make Up pink tweezers
Aurora “Inky Dinky” dark purple gel effect nail lacquer .42 oz.
The Balm Meet Matt(e) Hughes “Committed” .04 oz small tube lipstick
I like everything but the color of the nail polish – ugh! It’s like a black/purple. Good for Halloween, I guess, but I’d never normally wear a color like this.
Jasmine Hayes
amazing I got nothing pictured in the review above except the pink lip gloss which the smell is not pleasant at all. . . This is my second ipsy bag I cancelled a couple of months ago because it just wasn’t satisfying. Hopefully things will be better next month because this bag will def keep me subscribed!
Maria
Did anybody get the Gel brow pencil? How do you get more of the pencil’s tip to come out? I can’t figure it out. I tried twisting the other end (spoolie) but it won’t twist/turn. I’m afraid mine is defective.
KJ
Email them! They will hands down replace it if you think anything is wrong with the product. I emailed them about an eyebrow pencil where the spoolie broke off after day 2 of using it and they shipped me one the very next day.
Kimberly
I got almost the same, except for a cleanser I got a scrub by Peter Lamas – Pumpkin Scrub. And I got tweezers instead of a brush.
Hadiyah
I’m just curious but since more than one reviewer works for MSA now, will there ever be reviews for different variations of Ipsy and Birchbox as reviewers receive them? I mean the probability of each of you receiving the same box is small. Again, just curious. Thank you for doing a great job as always.
Liz Cadman
Thanks for the idea! I like it 🙂
Chelsea
Does anyone know that if you redeemed points for a product does it take your bag longer to be shipped?
My bag hasn’t shipped yet and the ship date keeps changing…
Jessica
it took about a week longer to receive my bag when I redeemed my points
Kristin
No but if you didn’t order before the first of the month you won’t receive it until next month.
M
One of the worst bags I’ve gotten! I got a purple eyeliner (hell no), a lotion that smells like terrible patchouli & the face oil that I can’t use b/c I have oily skin & it makes me break out. Ugh.
Kara
Mine haven’t been anything I’ve wanted for the past two months! Ipsy might be on the chopping block….
Dani
The only reason I peek before I get my bag for Ipsy is because you get points for it. So, I know I’m getting the same Balm product and the bronze shadow. I’m glad to see your review because I wasn’t sure about a creamy shadow (I’ve always used powder). I was also hoping for the other Balm product but seeing that it’s not that bad is reassuring 🙂 Thanks much!
Nicki
My bag has always been $11; I think because of added taxes. I guess it’s these California prices.
I have had this ipsy services since April, and for the first time caved like everyone else and checked online to see what I’m getting when it arrives on Thursday (also, I feel like now it’s taking longer and longer to arrive :/ )
MicaBeauty Eyeshadow in Bronze
theBalm Liquid Lipstick
Dr. Brant microdermabrasion Skincare
Emite Slant Tweezer
Lavanilla mini roller ball
I will admit that at first I wasn’t excited about this bag. However, I think I was more upset that I spoiled it for myself, lol. Someone posted above about the texture of the lipgloss, which disappoints me if it’s like the Starlooks Satin Finish Lip Gloss I first got in April, which is sticky. But I’m glad I didn’t get another nail polish. I think I’ll start reviewing the products.
Kristin
Note that you can go back to day one and review! it also does help with the samples you receive.
Sara
I’m new to Ipsy, can anyone share how they know what will be included in their bag before they receive it? Thanks in advance!!!
Hadiyah
Sorry almost forgot you can also log into the site and if spoilers are up you can see them by sharing what you are getting to facebook.
Hadiyah
You’ll normally recieve an email stating you can look at spoilers to see your items early. As for knowing when you’ll get it you will recieve an email stating it has shipped with a link to track your package. I hope this helps.
cubiclerebel
You can see what’s in your bag a few days before they ship it if you log into your Ipsy account and go to the My Glambag section.
iamnicki31
Hey Sara! Ipsy sends you an early access email before they send you the tracking information (at least for me). Also, you can just log into your ipsy account and click on this month’s bag.
Sara
Thanks dear! I appreciate your response. In this case, I think my first bag must cone in November as I don’t have the option :/
Monica
My first box is supposed to arrive Friday so I’m excited to try the products. I would have loved to receive the LaVanilla perfume but instead of getting another frangrance that doesn’t sound appealing. My Sephora Play box will be arriving soon so I’m sure I will like something out of one of these.
