Facebook PixelIpsy Review #2 – April 2018 | MSA
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Ipsy Review #2 – April 2018

closed Ipsy pink bubble mailer

Ipsy
4 overall rating
1811 Ratings | 298 Reviews

Ipsy is a monthly beauty and makeup subscription box. Each month you get full-size or deluxe-sized products, plus a cute makeup bag.

This is one of Liz’s top recommendations if you are looking for a beauty box - the value and sample sizes are amazing. (Check out our list of the Top Beauty Boxes for 2017 and our reviews of Cheap Subscription Boxes for more recommendations!)

open Ipsy package

(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).

Ipsy April 2018 review

About Ipsy

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

Visit the Ipsy Swap Page to swap for any of the items you see in this review!

Ipsy April 2018 Review

This month’s bag features makeup, skincare, and nail products. Let’s see what I got!

The theme for this month is “Social Butterfly”. The included info card encourages subscribers to be social this spring and they chose products to get you ready.

Each month, Ipsy subscribers get a makeup bag in addition to their 5 items.

This month, the vinyl bag is covered in pink and purple butterflies, metallic rose gold details, and has a pretty lavender lining. I love that the bags are of a nice quality. I love giving them as gifts to my friends or throwing them in my purse.

Bellapierre Banana Setting Powder in Medium

Bellapierre Banana Setting Powder in Medium - FULL SIZE, 4g Retail Value $35

Banana setting powder is great if you have redness like me. It helps to tone that down while keeping your face products in place. This one works well to set creams and reduce shine. It has a slight light-reflecting quality, so if you like super matte, it might not be great for you. I tend to use a lot of moisturizing products under my makeup, so the mattifying but not dry looking effect is perfect.

Cake Beauty Delectable Ultra Nourishing Hand Cream in Sweet Mint & Cream

Cake Beauty Delectable Ultra Nourishing Hand Cream in Sweet Mint & Cream - Travel Size 2oz Retail Value $6

I love hand creams and this one smells like mint chocolate chip ice cream. The formula is rich and soaks in after a couple of minutes. It isn’t quite rich enough for my hands in dry weather but it will probably be perfect for warmer months or if you have normal skin.

Sunday Riley Tidal Brightening Enzyme Water Cream

Sunday Riley Tidal Brightening Enzyme Water Cream - .5oz Retail Value $22

This ultra lightweight cream packs a hydrating punch. I love it! It smells slightly of cucumbers and feels like gel when I smooth it on. My skin drinks it up and feels so supple all day. Plus, it is supposed to brighten, smooth, and exfoliate. I could use a little of all of that, please!

Dirty Little Secret Lip Gloss in Nude Beach - FULL SIZE, .1oz Retail Value $14

Oh, so pretty! This gloss is a very sheer pink with subtle champagne shimmer. It is perfect to layer over more drying lip colors but also looks cute on its own. You can see how sheer it is in my swatch. And, this sounds weird, I think it smells like buttered popcorn.

Pretty Woman Nail Polish in Girl Boss

Pretty Woman Nail Polish in Girl Boss - FULL SIZE, 10ml Retail Value $7.99

If I had to choose one color of polish to wear forever...this would be in my top 20 (I’d never be able to decide). But I do love the graige/lilac shade and the curved, flat brush that makes application easy. Plus, look at that list of bad things that aren’t in here. Sorry in advance for the toe picture, but I wanted to show you the color and my nails are already done. This is 3 coats without a top coat and it’s smooth and shiny and dries quickly. Since my toenail polish will last through the apocalypse, I’ll be rockin’ this shade for a while.

Verdict: Wow, this box has a value of about $84.99. How great is that for $10?! I feel like Ipsy really stepped up this month. First, I didn’t receive any of the repeat products (black liner, nude liquid lips) and second, the sizes are awesome. I love everything this month but I think my favorite is the nail polish. The bag is pretty too! I think Ipsy is a great way to try new products without much risk and I hope next month includes more new products and brands.

To Wrap Up:

Can you still get this box if you sign up today? No, if you sign up in this month, you’ll get next month’s box as your first box. (Check out our Ipsy Spoilers to see what’s coming up next)

Good to know: Ipsy sends out variations. You may get a completely different bag than me.

Value Breakdown: At $10 for this box, here’s what you are paying approximately per item:

  • Powder - $4.12
  • Hand Cream - $0.71
  • Water Cream - $2.59
  • Lip Gloss - $1.65
  • Nail Polish - $0.94
  • Bag – Not counted toward value

Check out all of my Ipsy reviews and the Beauty Subscription Box List!

Visit the Ipsy Swap Page to swap for any of the items you see in this review!

Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist!

What do you think of the April Ipsy Glam Bag? What items did you get in your bag?

Starting at $14.00
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IPSY Glam Bag 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 sample... read more.

Tiffany Waldorf
Tiffany Waldorf
Tiffany found out about subscription boxes from a friend who followed MSA. The curiosity started with mystery beauty boxes and grew into an addiction from there. Beauty, clothes, home...she loves the sight of a subscription box in the mail.

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66 comments

Cynthia

New ipsy rewards!

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Wendy

Still no May Spoilers?

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Ginger

Ikr..iv logged in everyday waiting. I hope its worth the secrecy.

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Mel

I just signed up and when I go to my “glam bag” page, it’s showing this month (April) bag. Does that mean I’m getting April or will it switch over and I’ll end up with May? I’m hoping for April’s bag.

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CAAS

I signed up for my first box in early April. I was waitlisted but when I saw the spoilers I cancelled. They made a mistake and charged me after I cancelled. Customer service was great and told me that they already shipped it but were refunding me and I could keep the box. That was pretty cool of them.

There wasn’t really anything that I wanted this month from the spoilers. The powder would have been the only thing. I got a Sunday Riley sample from Beauty Fix this month so I already got to try it. I’m not sure if this is the best box for me because nothing is really appealing to me. Is this what most boxes are like? Maybe May will be different?

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Suz

Any word on official spoilers for May?
I want to get an idea if i should cancel or not?

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Abbi

Following

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Julie

I received the banana setting powder (have been wanting to try that!), Sahi eyeshadow, NYx lip cream, Bubble T hand cream , and H2O hydrating face cream. Besides NYX they are all new brands to me. Super happy with Ipsy!

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Pink5

The only thing I got that was cool was the H2O Beauty moisturizer.

Everything else was crap.

I’ve got them on hold until August and then we’ll see.

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jennjenn

I got this bag too. So happy with it, even before I knew the values. The DLS gloss is the best I’ve gotten so far (and I get glosses and lip stuff pretty regularly) and the mint lotion is surprisingly nice. Really, really happy with this bag!

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justmissjamey

I swear it seems they send the good stuff to the reviewers and the majority of people get junk. I don’t understand what’s going on with them.
I’ve been an ipsy girl for 5 years or more and something happened about two year ago now to where something has changed with their system that picks what they send. I always get the exact opposite of what I have down, and yet I see on here how so very many items across the board would for my profile and I never get them, and what they do sent are even shades not marked.

I keep getting the gross grey, pink, light pink mauve lip colors and I wear reds and berries and never get those. I won’t ever wear pastel nail polish, and of course got sent that this month….and an eyeliner 3 months in a row…..i just don’t get what’s going on at ipsy.

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Bex

Exactly, only for me it’s the opposite. I never wear reds or berries and yet that’s literally ALL I’ve been sent for the past year. I’ve asked repeatedly not to be sent certain items and yet receive them frequently but hardly ever receive what I actually checked in the beauty profile. It’s maddening. I won’t be renewing.

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Jen

Wow I would of loved this box! My first Ipsy bag I got two lippies a highlighter a mask and a brush. My profile asks that I don’t get two things lipstick and highlighters😂😂😂

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Marion

You can’t ask to not receive things in your profile.

You can email customer service & ask them not to send you up to 2 types of product.

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Dawn

I got the same exact bag!

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Mary

I cancelled two weeks ago after a year of disappointments, same crap over and over, and small samples. They keep sending me emails for free gifts if I sign up again and the free gift is the same visanti scrub that they keep sending me every month. I subbed to Ricky’ s cult crushes since there is no waitlist , only one dollar more a month and some full size items

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Nancy

I got the Sunday Riley cream, the same hand cream you received, the same nail polish as well. I also received the Sahi eyeshadow which came broken and the RealHer lipstick in Mauve which is really pretty!!! I am really happy with my bag this month except for the eyeshadow.

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Savi

My sahi was also broken. I emailed them and they replied within two hours saying a new one would be in the mail in the next 5-7 days and I just received the tracking email yesterday.

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Amber

Write to ipsycare and they should replace your broken eyeshadow, though I think they usually send replacements out with your next bag.

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Wendy

I tried to post a comment about how MSA and influencers get the best bags and how unfair it is. I guess we are being censored?

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Suz

I read comments like yours all the time.
Comments don’t post immediately but since im reading yours now, it stands to reason that you are Not being “censored”

Scroll thru the different reviews, youll see several comments about potential unfair practices

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Marion

I think if you look through the ipsy review tag on this site, you’ll see that the bags really do vary wildly month to month, even for influencer.

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Jane

I mean, since you were able to post this comment which basically summarized the last comment you wanted to post, even if things are censored it’s obviously not fully censored.

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Wendy

Every time I comment something that is less than glowing involving MSA it is not ever posted. How is that not censorship? I’m over this whole community.

Rosemary

Wendy…I feel the same way. I cancelled my Ipsy because they consistently sent me the most revolting colors (stuff I would (and did) give to little girls to play with because they were farcical). If Ipsy sent me half of the items that they sent to MSA, I would still be a subscriber.

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Victoria

Again I am super jealous I’m giving ipsy one more month then it is kaput for us if I get more BS lol I’ll find another sub

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Nyesha

I sent Ipsy a complaint email expressing how their quality has diminished and that they are focusing too much on cashback purchases rather than their members, etc. They sent me a response asking for suggestions. I told them that I find it hard to believe that they really look at our profiles and our reviews AND that they should let the companies they are getting samples from that it is in their best interests to start providing more colorful eye shadows and different color eyeliners because their is too much competition out here. I got this month’s bag on the 9th when usually I am still waiting for it around now. And the selections were more to my profiles and past reviews. I did email them a thank you for the thoughtfulness but it should never come down to a complaint email you know.

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justmissjamey

Ive tried it time and time again and it makes no difference…maybe you got lucky or someone whom actually cared?!?! It’s flustrating

Rosemary

Wow Nyesha! I was just told to wait until they launched some “great new program” that has not appeared yet (I’ve been keeping my eyes open for something…anything). I got tired of being one of those customers who got utter crap all of the time, so I quit Ipsy and started BoxyCharm. While I haven’t received exactly what I wanted all of the time from Boxy, at least I’m happy some of the time! I would just recommend leaving Ipsy if you feel that they are consistently sending you garbage, because that is how I felt about Ipsy, and they really didn’t seem to give a damn.

Julia

I think I will be doing something similar. Mine was just awful this month. Black eyeliner, and a clay mask for oily/acne prone skin when my profile says normal to dry. I was really disappointed, it’s only my third bag and already I’m not sure if I’m going to keep subscribing. There are lots of other subs that I can give my money to, that will send me better products. So we shall see what May brings from Ipsy.

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Lisa

I got the mint lotion and it reminds me of Baskin Robbins mint chocolate chip ice cream. Unfortunately I already own one from gift set I bought. I also got NYX in stockholm I own 1 NYX lipstick and it was that one!! Then I got tweezers huge fail I shave my stray hair I am not into pain. I got a tiny finishing creme by some brand with lots of vowels. The one and only thing in my bag I was happy about was Sahi eyeshadow. I also redeemed points for DLS lip gloss and foot mask . That made my bag alittle better.

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Wendy

I am really over ipsy. Anybody else notice that regular customers bags have gone to crap for the most part and MSA reviewers and influencers get the best bags? Most of their items are full size or more prestigious brands. Not really fair when we are paying customers. Sorry to anyone who feels differently, just my own personal rant for the day!!

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Lisa

The only thing she got in her bag that I wish I got was banana powder . I also like DLS lip gloss but I was able to redeem points for that. I would have been upset if I got Sunday Riley or any other skin care junk. So no I don’t think their bags are that much better.

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OverIt

Is this the comment you were saying got censored? I can see it just fine. I got the Sunday Riley and I don’t even have a blog. If you’re going to get so upset over someone getting a better $10 bag than you, you should just not sub to boxes with variations. That way you can be happy that no one is getting anything better than you.

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Cristina

I also got them Sunday riley and banana powder and I don’t have a blog. I’ve been with ipsy for a long time though..

Carey

@overit Exactly!! It’s 10 dollars!!! lol I think I got ONE thing this month that I can use, a brush so I didn’t get a uber bag but I am still ok with it. Last month was also a loser BUT the previous two bags were beyond awesome so it all works out. 🙂

Oh and by the way, Liz does NOT censor the blog comments, I’ve been here for a couple years and sometimes it takes a bit for things to post. I mean if they did, you wouldn’t see all the mean, nasty, picky and just all around crappy posts now would you? LOL

Bobbie

Thinking the same thing.

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Redhed36

I am jealous of your bag. You got Sunday Riley and two good full size items.

Mine;
– Wonder eye masks x2 (excited about this)
– Ofra blush- tiny sample (but it’s blush so it will last a while)
– Ouai Finishing Cream .5oz (intrigued by this)
– Aurora lip liner (full size) in bright freakin pink (First I don’t wear lip products beyond balm, second it’s a liner with no lipstick to wear with it, and third it’s bright freakin pink). LOL. Not for this redhead.
– A Vasanti brush (full size). Could care less I have so many brushes.

Loved the bag though. So for $10 I am content. Lip liner is the only real complaint. Going to recheck my profile.

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Melissa

I was wondering if you could tell us your profile. I have tried to get any treatment creams and fail.

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Tif

I like this month’s bag but mine came with a broken zipper :'(

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Nancyisshopping

How many people actually got the Sunday Riley Tidal cream? I don’t think many. 🙁

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Suz

I did, the only thing I have checked in my profile was face moisturizers and face powders (since i also wanted the banana powder (but didn’t get that) and also thise were the only 2 i had checked in the “improve products survey”

Its ok, prob one of the better face creams ive gotten, but i not impressed enough to buy full size

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Christyle8678

Not me, and my profile aims hardcore towards skin products. I got a mud mask that I like, got 3 uses of it… an eye brush that is so so.. a black liquid liner w/ a star stamp.. an eye shadow that is ok… and a leave in conditioner that was good, but it takes a lot of product, and after using once I wonder if there is enough for twice completely. No doubt the ppl w/ blogs and review sites get preferences, it is classic bait and switch. You earn points for reviews and purchases, so they are targeting those who spread the word and spend money. We will never get to have our cake and eat it too if we aren’t doing a ton of work for them 🤷🏻‍♀️

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jennjenn

I got it. I got the same bag in this review.

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Rookala

I got a nice size Sunday Riley Tidal cream, and I’m not a blogger. I dont have a social media account either, and therefore I’m not “influencing” anybody. Ipsy apparently IS sending out some good stuff to ordinary customers like me.

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Bobbie

I didn’t and I really wanted it 🙁

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Lisa

I did’nt and I didn’t want it lol.

Nancy

I got it!!!!

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Redhed36

I did not

Kim

I got the same hand lotion and nail polish! I love them both! The size of the hand lotion was so nice. I also got the sugar bunny lip scrub which is a nice size , a full size nyx matte liquid lip, and a nomad highlighter which was nice but pretty small. Pretty happy with my bag with 4 items being such nice sizes. The nyx liquid lip is not my favorite but I’ll use it . Ipsy is such a good value!

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jennjenn

I agree (about ipsy being a good value). I hit jackpot this month (I got the same bag as this review), but even on my “bad” months, for $10, I really can’t complain. I mean, come on, it’s $10 for 5 items plus a bag. Do I have items that I haven’t used yet and/or may never use? Yeah, but for the most part, I get at least 3 things a month that I’m excited to try or use. Team ipsy all the way!

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Marion

I got that bag, too. The NYX Lip Cream was a big miss for me (I asked not to receive it in the “improve your glambag” feature) but I really like the rest. The Pretty Woman nail polish was sent in a previous bag, & I was soooooo jealous of those who received it then.

I tried the Pretty Woman Private Jet shade that was sent in a recent Ipsy Offer & I looooooove it!

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Kim

I asked to not receive it also in the survey but it does state that they couldn’t guarantee that you would not receive it. It’s not a bad product ( esp. to get full size) but if I’m gonna do a liquid lip I want something that will not budge like Stila.

FabSB

And the great thing is that even though some of us got that polish at least a year ago, it’s NOT the same stock – the box design has been updated, so no rehashes of old stock here! (take note cheapo boxes)

Jen

That’s exactly what I got too! Man, I wish I’d gotten the Sunday Riley though.

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Marie-Claire

Oh I am jealous….this is so much nicer than my bag, but I am glad that you got such a nice bag!

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Iggy'sRock

You hit ipsy lottery!!!

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katie

Looks like you hit the jackpot! I have lipsticks from DLS and they always smell so good. One smelled like an orange creamsicle.

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Kimberly Schneider

I got Ciate liquid eyeliner, bubble hand cream, The Vintage Cosmetic Company tweezers, WanderBeauty eye masks, DLS lip gloss in nude beach. I gave the eyeliner and the lip gloss to my niece.

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