Ipsy Review – October 2018

ByLiz CadmanOct 26, 2018 | 62 comments

Ipsy is a monthly beauty and makeup subscription box. Each month you get full-size, deluxe-sized, or sample 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!

This is one of my top recommendations if you are looking for a beauty box - the value and sample sizes are amazing. (Check out my list of the Top Beauty Boxes for 2018 and our reviews of Cheap Subscription Boxes for more recommendations!)

(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).

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 List!

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

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

This one has a faux leather exterior with an embossed mask design - I like this subtle take on a Halloween month bag! And inside the bag is lined in black:

Now, on to the items!

belif Peat Miracle Revital Eye Cream - 5 ml Value $11.60

Belif is a fab skincare brand, and it's no surprise this eye cream felt heavenly on my skin. It just sinks into your skin and adds moisture without any greasiness or shine. (Plus it's ingredient-conscious and I love the natural scent.)

Yensa Tone Up Primer - 7 ml Value $15

This brand is new to me, and I'm happy to get the travel size version of this primer. The formula is tinted, (swatched below), and it goes on a bit thicker than most primers. It did a good job of giving my skin a little bit of a "blurred" effect, and helping my foundation stay put all day long. (I use full coverage foundation, so any glow/tint primer is kind of lost on me.)

tarte Shape Tape in Light Sand - 1 ml Value $2.70

This shape tape is SO good! If, like me, you have dark under eye circles, I can't recommend it enough. It gives full coverage, blends out easily into my foundation, and stays put all day long. (And just remember to set it with powder to prevent any creasing!

Here it is swatched underneath the primer:

Glamour Dolls Mascara - FULL SIZE! Retail Value $4.99

Before I get to the formula, I have to address the packaging. It's not great. I'm not looking for fantastic branding/packaging with every beauty product, but this mascara wand is flimsy/bendy and just felt cheap.

Now on to the formula. It's not bad but not my favorite. I was able to apply multiple layers to get signifiant length, but it didn't have the lash separation or volume I look for.

Derma E Advanced Peptides & Collagen Serum - 15 ml Value $9.12

This serum is designed to reduce the appearance of deep lines and wrinkles. I really like the Derma E brand since they are vegan and ingredient-conscious, so I was excited to try this. The formula is very lightweight, absorbs quickly, and it's safe to use both morning and night. And I love that it comes in a pump applicator!

Verdict: This box has a value of about $43.41 (not counting the makeup bag). I think that's a great value, and there are a lot of awesome products in this box. (Really, the only miss for me is the mascara.) And if you haven't tried shape tape yet, I highly recommend it!

To Wrap Up:

Can you still get this box if you sign up today? Possibly! As of publication, there was no ipsy waitlist. Check here to see what month you'll get first.

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

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

Starting at $14.00

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Ipsy

4 overall rating

1814 Ratings | 301 Reviews

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.

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Posted in Beauty Subscription Boxes, Cheap Subscription Boxes, Makeup Subscription Boxes, Subscription Box Reviews, Subscription Boxes for Women

Liz Cadman

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!

Read More By Liz Cadman >

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62 comments

Lisha

Everyone that has been a subscriber before but not currently may want to check their emai, I received one from Ipsy for a completely free month! I’m not positive if they sent them out to all old subscribers, it is worth checking though.

Lien

I just got my ipsy bag today and I got the red makeup bag and the yensa tube but not the other stuff that was listed in this article.

Kelly

I finally received my bag yesterday, but it has none of the items that were listed in my reveals. It’s like I got someone else’s bag! I’ve already written to customer service. Has this happened to anyone else?

Nan

I just got mine today.

Lily

I have 2 bags still waiting on shipment. Kinda disappointed. One still doesn’t show the products because I added reg. Ipsy to the Glam Bag Plus or whatever it’s called.

Jacki

My bag still hasn’t left the warehouse.

Michelle

Me too! Not happy.

JulieKat

Yea, so they just grabbed a bunch of stuff from the crap pile.. Literally!! I got 2 lip glosses, hair mask, some loose pigmented eye glitter and nail polish. All Items I will not or never use. And I dont have them listed on my profile….
I have the plus bag as well. Wanted to keep getting little bags so I made another account. So disappointed. Would have been better off with flushing 10.00🤨

Claudine

I’m in Canada and I love my bag this month! This is what was sent:
1. Glamour Dolls Mascara
2. Oribe Hair Care Dry Texturizing Spray
3. Aurora Intensively Precise Eyeliner in Espresso
4. Sundays Nail Polish in No 18
5. Tart Shape Tape

Regina

Love this clutch embossed with a masquerade mask bag. In it is

MAKE UP FOR EVER
Ultra HD Liquid Foundation in R230, Y225, OR Y33

NOMAD COSMETICS
Northern Lights Eyeshadow in Norrsken

ORYZA
Lipstick in Opus

SUNDAYS
Nail Polish in No. 18

MURAD
Essential-C Cleanser

I opted to add a few more samples to the bag as well

DERMA E
Peptide & Collagen Serum

WANDER BEAUTY
Lift Off Purifying and Brightening Peel Off Mask

and either

FIRST AID BEAUTY
Ultra Repair Cream

OR if this was offered

111SKIN
Space Defence Bright Eye Lift Gel

I have forgotten and my bag is on its way.

Brittany

I think we’re bag twins other than maybe foundation shade 🙂 I got the bum bum cream, tarte concealer, and a Mac lipglass for my three extras though.

Trisha

I loved my Ipsy this month. I got the Shape Tape, a BROWN eyeliner, Blaq eye pads, So Susan pigment in a beautiful dark purple and some kind of iridescent “jelly” highlighter.

I signed up hoping I would get the belif Peat Miracle Revital Eye Cream sample. I knew it may or may not happen. But I hoped. Unfortunately for me they don’t send me the better quality skincare samples. So I’ll have to try and play around with my quiz and hopefully that will help.

HeatherK

My bag was a couple days late. USPS sent out a notice that some items would be delayed due to hurricane Michael.

Heather Killeen

My bag was a couple days late. USPS sent a message saying some items would be delayed due to hurricane Michael.

Corinne Garrison

My ipsy still hasn’t arrived.

I emailed them on Tuesday to cancel because I’ve had 5 bags that have just been awful and they still have not written me back. I got an auto message that day.

I’m so fed up with them.

Bella01

Omgosh me too….I so wanted this bag and they took my money from my account but when I log on it says I’m not a subscriber. Somethings not right here. And they won’t reply back to my emails. I really am crying. Just because I don’t have money to just throw away and not to be acknowledged when I’ve email now everyday. I’m going to wait one more day then I’ll dispute the charge with my bank.

MzBev

I hope you aren’t literally emailing them every day. That would explain why you aren’t getting a response. That pushes your email to the end of the queue. Give them a couple days to respond.

Maria

Hmm I got EXACTLY same products this month. What happened to personalization?

Monica

I wonder what’s the issue will delivery this month. My bag was supposed to arrive yesterday but when I logged on to check it said my package experienced a delay and it would be an additional 24-48 hrs.

Monica

I finally received my bag and the Mac lipgloss that I added on was in there plus a Buxom lipgloss. Very happy with my October bag.

Natalie

Mine hasn’t even left the warehouse yet. Every day I check, it always says it’s set to ship the next day. I’m getting the feeling they’re using the hurricane as an excuse for them likely focusing more on getting the PLUS bags out than the regular ones/not hiring enough new staff to accommodate such an ambitious launch. This seems to be a problem not just in the shipping/warehouse, but the now non-existent customer service (which is a shame, as their CS used to be great!). Going to pause next month and maybe cancel next year. It is only $10, but what’s the point of getting these little travel sized bags and sample if they don’t arrive on time for you to actually use them on a trip (Halloween weekend)?

Sylvia Dorsey

Your review may have explained my bag. I didn’t realize they were doing premium type bags. I got a pigmented eye shadow, I don’t wear eye shadow and it is not apart of my personalized choices, and some other stuff I feel like they just threw in the bag for me this month! Hmmmm

kathydooley

I liked my October ipsy more than September by far. That’s because I got nothing but tiny samples last month. The redeeming factors were the cute eyelash bag, Smashbox primer & the brush. I loved this “masquerade” themed bag this month. I loved the Murad cleanser sample. Big enough to last me about 10 days n enjoyed it so much I purchased a full sized tube. The Glamour Dolls mascara is probably the worst mascara I’ve ever tried in my life. Even it being a full sized product couldnt redeem THIS product. I received another brush which I love because I’m trying to build up my collection of brushes. The MAC lip glass is “ok” but doesnt last long. I prefer lip stains. N it felt waxy to me. The really big reasons I loved my bag this month were my 3 add ons. I chose the Bum Bum cream (left my skin SILKY soft!) And the 2 Tarte concealers that Ive really been wanting to try! Wassa very happy camper with ipsy this month. As far as this reviewers value of $2.70 for the Tarte sample as compared to the $3 I paid? I can live with that. I mean, REALLY ladies? .30 difference? Lol

Christyle8678

I also received that Mascara, and my take on it is exactly the same. The applicator is flimsy, and way tooo long. It also stays wet for a long time!

I have yet to receive my Plus bag, but viewing the products I am just so so on what I’m receiving, but I want that bag!

cindy

I was not excited over the spoilers, But I have to say after I received My Ipsy Plus Bag I love it , The Quality a lot better than Boxy Charm

Kelly Elkins

I recently cancelled boxycharm due to their lack of personalization and poor business tactics, baiting ppl to sub and then switching the products. Anyhow, how can I get an Ipsy glam bags plus now??? Im tired of waiting. Love my Ipsy tho!!!

Michelle

I haven’t tried the shape tape concealer but I threw away the foundation. It was awful. Breaking up quickly and then becoming a very patchy different color a few hours after applying. I would buy a dozen drugstore brands before Tarte shape tape again.

Lily

I’m waiting on my bag, as they offered me the reg. Glam bag a bit later in the month than the Glam Bag Plus I received ( and love).

That is a darling bag this month, and I love the Tarte shape tape Concealer. I don’t really understand how they named it, but I love the shade and coverage shown.

Linda

I thought I had added extras to my bag. I didn’t get any though. And cannot find were I ordered them. Maybe there was a final button to push?

Cindy

Same thing here…I ordered two at $3.00 each and they did not arrive. The bag I got only one product I could find useful to sample granted I would buy full size of the product the HD foundation.

Kyrs

Did they withdraw $$$, because if they did then they owe you some products

SusanY

Loved my regular Glam Bag this month. Lots of good items. (I’m using the bag to catch my tears of disappointment over the lackluster Plus bag.)

😆😆😆. You’re so right. Quite a disappointment. So glad I kept my regular bag. I haven’t gotten it yet but based on the contents I definitely prefer it over my Plus bag. If they don’t bring it next month I may downgrade and just get 2 regular bags. Especially now that we can add more items. I really hope they keep that feature going.

Kelly Elkins

How r u able to add 3.00 items to your bag?

ANI

How can you add more items to your regular glam bag ?

Debbie

How do you add on items?

SusanY

Great job this month on the Glam Bag. (I’m using the bag to catch my tears of disappointment over the lackluster Plus bag.) The Sundays nail polish was a favorite. Also loved the Mac Lip Glass and the eye serum.

socaldeb

I got a completely different mix: IT Hair Care leave-in treatment, Hey Honey eye cream, Glamour Dolls mascara, Buxom lip polish, PRMIT nail polish. This was my third bag and they totally nailed it this round – I’ll use everything (except the bag itself!) I’ve only tried the lip and nail but so far so good.

Kirsten

I’m loving the add on option from Ipsy! I got three and was happy with my choices and most of Ipsy’s picks for me as well. I got a lipstick in a much darker shade than I normally use, but it was a happy surprise and looked great on me! (it was the oryza beauty lipstick in opus)

I hope others were as happy with their pick this month, too! ☺

Kyrs

Did they withdraw $$$, because if they did then they owe you some products

Jacki

I won’t receive these items in my bag. However, I did take advantage of the new option to add items. I ordered the shapetape. I’m glad to be able to try this.

Kyrs

Yea my bag hasn’t even shipped yet

Jacki

My bag hasn’t shipped either, but I did look at the spoilers and know what’s supposed to be in mine.

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Ipsy Review – October 2018

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