Ipsy Glam Bag Plus Review – December 2018

ByLiz CadmanDec 19, 2018 | 57 comments

Ipsy Glam Bag Plus is a $25 a month new subscription option from Ipsy. Every month you’ll receive 5 full-sized beauty products. The box will have a retail value of at least $120. ~~And you’ll receive an actual makeup bag once a quarter.~~

(FYI - moving forward, this subscription will not include a bag.)

My Subscription Addiction paid for this box. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes).

The Subscription Box: Ipsy Glam Bag Plus

The Cost: $25 a month (free shipping)

The Products: Full-size makeup and beauty products every month. Ships to: US

Delivered via: USPS

Check out all of my Ipsy Glam Bag Plus reviews!

This box also comes with a card detailing the items included:

Now, on to the items!

First, the bag!

This bag/clutch features reversible sequins in navy blue and silver:

And it has a zipper closure:

I love sequins + sparkle for the holidays, and I like that this bag is just as sparkly as the $10 glam bag, but still different!

One thing to call out, though - this is the last bag Ipsy will be sending in their Glam Bag Plus subscription.

ESTÉE LAUDER Pure Color Love Lipstick in Flash Chill - Retail Value $22.50

First, this lipstick tube is gorgeous! And I was pleasantly surprised by the formula, too. This looks like a bright orangey red in the tube, but it actually applies somewhat sheer. It has a satin finish, with a somewhat subtle shimmer throughout. I think this would make an excellent lip topper to layer on top of your favorite liquid lipstick for a change. Or you can use it solo.

LANCÔME Le Monochromatique in A La Mode - Retail Value $25

This creamy pressed powder is my favorite discovery in the box! It's so pigmented, the micro-shimmer is gorgeous, and it's easy to blend, too.

Lancome designed these to be used for eyes, lips, and cheeks, but for this shade and my skin tone, only eyes will work.

(Swatched in lower photo.)

SMITH & CULT Book of Eyes Palette in Mannequin Moves - Retail Value $44

This palette features a quad of champagne and mocha colored hues:

This is a lovely little palette of shimmers + mattes, and the pigment is great throughout. The colors are very wearable for me, too. (P.S. If you aren't familiar with this brand, you may think your palette arrived dented, but that's actually the design!)

Here are all the shades swatched beneath the lipstick and the Lancome Le Monochromatique :

F.A.R.A.H BRUSHES Gold Face Brush Trio - Retail Value $34?

This set of brushes features gold metal handles, and super soft synthetic bristles.

Here is a closer look at each brush:

Large Powder Brush 50F

This brush is designed for loose overal powder application like setting powder.

Large Angled Contour 30F

This brush has angled bristles for a more precise application. It's great for blush, highlighter, bronzer, etc. And it can be used with cream or powder/wet or dry.

Stippler Brush 40F

This brush can be used with dry or liquid makeup (think foundation) and the densely packed surface helps give you a flawless finish.

111SKIN Vitamin C Brightening Booster - Retail Value $180

This skin treatment is so lightweight - it feels like water! It absorbs almost instantly, or you can blend it with the moisturizer of your choice! The formula is designed to help diminish dark spots and make your skin look brighter and healthier.

I LOVE that ipsy included a full-size of such a pricey skincare item. This line is one of the brands I always notice on the Net-A-Porter Beauty section, and have wanted to try! So far, I love how quickly it absorbs and it was gentle on my skin. Hopefully, by the time I finish this bottle my skin's appearance has improved.

Verdict: This box has a value of about $305.50. I think that's AMAZING for a $25 box! And 4 out of the 5 items each had a retail value at or over the cost of the entire box! 3 makeup items, 1 set of brushes, and a skincare item is a good mix of items for me, too.

To Wrap Up:

Can you still get this box if you sign up today? If you want an Ipsy Glam Bag Plus subscription, get on the waitlist here.

What do you think of the December Ipsy Glam Bag Plus? Which items did you get?

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, 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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57 comments

Can someone tell me how and where to sign up for GBP? Thanks so much!

carole dodero

i want to buy vintage by jessica libeskind

Alison

I don’t understand how people are so impressed with this box??? drugstore brands (for me, anyway) like smith and cult, klorane (got the dry shampoo), estee and farah. the serum is decent, but i use a $540 Sisley serum so it’s not that mind-blowing to me. It’s good for a $25 box, but i normally use brands like ysl, tom ford, gucci etc.

Fanny

Wow you are so rich I’m soooooooo impressed

Fanny

Plus those are all brands that test on animals and for my part I’m on Ipsy to discover new brands that are cruelty free. So I don’t know if you are bragging about how much money you can afford to spend on unethical cosmetics or if you don’t like not spending a ridiculous amount of money on said cosmetics, but as far as I’m concerned, nobody should complain a 1200% return on your initial 25$ (And if you don’t like the serum that doesn’t cost 540$, just do like me and take the stuff you’re not interested to a woman’s shelter. In my case it’s the things that are tested on animals.)

Fanny

If your tastes are so high end then why on earth are you expecting from a subscription box?????

JuJu

Lol, that was just too funny. Why subscribe to beauty boxes AT ALL with preferences and riches like that?

Olga

Does anyone own the pink/brown bag from Ipsy’s Glam Bag Plus from the past few months that they are willing to part with?
Thank you,
@mkolenka

Anita

I have it. I’m not on the swap list but you can contact me thru DM @infinitemidnite

Natalia

I’m still waiting for my November bag and their customer service is useless. Do not subscribe

amyr

Darn I skipped December. Now I wish I had not. I am loving that lipstick color!

Crystal

My bag is ahhmazing! I got strapless,mannequin moves,haute couture and of course farah brushes and 111skin.
The serum is so lightweight and feels amazing on my oily skin.
The lipstick is so creamy and moisturizing and feels like I’m wearing nothing.
These are all of the colors that I would have chosen 😀

Genevieve

Bag twins! I LOVE this box!

Lily

Ipsy curates 2 brands which I had been unsure as to whether they were made in PRC ( China) or not.

Since I’ve seen other peoples’ comments about Ipsy and not wanting to use made in China cosmetics or skin care, I got some answers yesterday.

1) “Hey Honey” is neither sourced nor produced in PRC ( China). I emailed them and they were very kind and helpful.

2) Beauty Crop, which seems to be really liked, IS made in PRC ( China). I’ve politely emailed them twice in the past 3 months with no response. I got Beauty Crop lip gloss in 2 of my Ipsy bags and right on the tube is “Made in PRC”. And they do NOT mean the packaging but the lip gloss.

I didn’t know exactly where to put this as it applies to Ipsy bag stock in general with these 2 brands. 🙂
Thanks!

Lily

Oh, my stars, how did a sub. box I barely tolerated turn into a STAR?? 🙂 The retail values and the curation of this box are superb! 🙂

I LOVE my Ipsy Glam Bag Plus. They truly curated exactly right for my skin with blue undertones.

People can talk about the value of Boxycharm all the want to, but I’ve mostly gotten no name products made in China that are earth toned and which are not wearable for my skin and hair and eye coloring at ALL.

I got:

$32 retail cost- ESTÉE LAUDER Pure Color Envy Sculpting Lipstick in Never Enough

$180 retail cost- 111SKIN Vitamin C Brightening Booster

$44 retail cost- SMITH & CULT Book of Eyes Palette in Interlewd

$25 retail cost- LANCÔME Le Monochromatique in Haute Couture which is not RED but is BURGUNDY.

$34 retail value- F.A.R.A.H BRUSHES Gold Face Brush Trio

$10 retail value of the makeup bag ( I LOVE it!)

I know the sub. boxes with 1,000,000 subscribers are kind of at the mercy of the cosmetic companies as far as what they can curate and still make a nice profit. So, some boxes may be totally unsuitable for some of us on any given month, but for me, THIS MONTH was a super stellar GIFT. I would probably have been really happy with ONE of the products and the makeup bag for $25!

Just so happy with the Lancome, the Estee Lauder, one of my go- to companies for eye shadows Smith and Cult, and 111Skin! All top brands IMO.
SO glad not to have gotten more highlighter of any brand, or bronzer, or sheet masks.

Merry Christmas, Ipsy!

Lilly

Eliza

I received the same bag! The lipstick was too bright pink for me, but everything else is A++++++++!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kathie

I agree 100% I am loving how great the Plus boxes have been. Sooooo much better than boxy, which I cancelled in Sept. And I am beyond happy I was able to start Ipsy Plus in Oct. Not missing boxy at all. I’m so grateful to have these fabulous products we’re getting with Ipsy. I think this months’ Plus even beat out the pricey boxy luxe $50 box. We still got far better brands & quality than what they delivered in luxe at double the price.

katie

This bag looks amazing! Wish I had subscribed to get this one.

Elizabeth Ann Moore

Wow!!!!!

I just received my Glam bag, I live in North Carolina and was affected by the snowstorm so it was delayed. I got 7 items!! I got the lipstick, the palette in blue, the booster, makeup brushes, highlighter, and the bonus sequin bag and a bonus make up brush! I also added on two items, so I got nine items in total. What a value! The bag and the brush was a welcome surprise!! So glad I got Glam bag plus, I’m so glad I stuck around and believed in Ipsy, and so glad I took their survey to help them improve and gave them positive remarks! Maybe that’s why I got bonus items?! So happy!

Pepper

I can’t believe how much I love everything in this bag! 100% fun!

The Estée Lauder lipstick is worth the $25 IMO. Beautiful color!

I love the palette (I got brown tones), the vitamin C, the Lancôme (so pigmented!). I have not tried the brushes. Frankly, it’s hard to try another brush after being given the wonder women brush a few months ago! And the bag is super cute!

I liked having a quarterly bag, but I like getting 5 full size products better!

No way would I part with the glam bag +!

Misti

I am very happy with my final IGBP for 2018 …sad I will not get any more make-up bags but oh well I was happy I got the pretty sequin bag it quality .
I am loving the LANCÔME Le Monochromatique mine is the red color and it is what I wanted the most because I have been in search of a red blush but could not afford or find the right 1 and this is my HG product Love it.
I got the blue shadows and do not wear eye shadows so it is a cool gift for my teen daughter .
I totally plan on keeping The Plus bag for a while yet

K86

I was not excited about the Lancome product but it turned out great! I’ve got the red one too… it looks great as a blush. I love the serum but I am already worried when I run out I will not pay $180 for it 🙁
But I hate the eyeshadow shades for me (also got the blue one) and I wish the lipstick was nude (I look hideous in reds).
Overall I really only liked two items but those two items were great and made the entire bag for me.

Richelle Holbdy

I agree with everything you said.. I was sooo disappointed in the roll out glam bag plus.

Jacki

I received the champagne colored Lancôme shimmer which is perfect for me. I got Klorane dry shampoo instead of lipstick. I love ❤️ the sequin bag. It’s so great to receive this serum!!

LisaE

I have loved everything I have received in my Glambag Plus. Some of the things are a little too glittery for me but I just give to my nieces. The full sizes are awesome to receive. The serum alone as worth it for me. I liked the bags because they were bigger but I think it is ok that they are not including them anymore. Once every six months would be nice though.

Ricki

My GBP was supposed to arrive today, but DHL still has it in NC (I think they just found it actually). Now it’s set to arrive on the 21st, but I know that means DHL will get to my PO by the 21st, and way too late for it to actually go out that day. If I had any complaint about Ipsy, it would be that they use DHL. I am very excited to see what colors I am getting of the shadow palette, lipstick, and Lancome.

Alisha

I loved every item in my box this month…ipsy really killed it.
I received the mauvy looking color from Lancome and omg its gorgeous and so pigmented. A tiny bit on the cheeks is absolutely stunning. That skincare item was amazing to receive…..just loved every item

Nikkim

I can’t believe the products they are putting in. Absolutely no complaints from me. This value is just insane and im hooked. It’s a better fit for me than boxycharm!

Michelle

Hahaha, it’s gorgeous I think there’s one or two on eBay!

KimberlyB

OMG I NEED THIS SEQUIN BAG!!! In general, I’m glad that they won’t continue the makeup bags with Plus (tho I hope they continue them with regular ipsy since that seems such a part of the brand), but this bag…!!!

I will swap Pusheen for this bag, that’s how much I want it! Hit me up!

Amanda

Check out the ipsy offers on their app, I think it will be part of Wednesdays deal.

Taylor Brown

Hey! I have the sequin bag and it’s pretty freaking cool. I’d swap for Pusheen though! Email me at tayb76 @ gmail dot com.

Anna

Liz,
The Plus info needs to be updated under the box description and the products still have the quarterly bag info.

Anna

I’m glad they seem to be working out the kinks on add ons, I redeemed points for my plus bag and it will arrive today.

I’m not bothered that the bag is going away because if you get any subscription boxes you already get bags a lot, I’m okay with less packaging.

Alex

I loved every item in this box! I have not tried the serum yet. Is it fragrant?

Katie

It is not.

Alex

Thank you so much

Mai

I loved this month’s Ipsy glam bag plus! I did get the extra Realher paletter because I got a duplicate highlighter. I love that Ipsy listens to my profile. I told them I did not like getting lipsticks and I haven’t gotten one. Also, I like all neutrals and nudes and I don’t get anything else which i am so thankful for.

Anita

I had to look up the Klorane dry Shampoo because the size made it look like it wasn’t full sized. It showed on Ulta’s website as being $20 making my bag’s value $300.
I got the lipstick in Radical Chic. I haven’t swatched it yet but it looks too orange for me. Still deciding if I’m going to gift it or keep it. Same with the palette. I got the blue Icy Tears. Terrible design for this palette. Wasted space & a cheap sponge applicator? I wanted the purple one but I’ll probably try the blue.
I’m fine with the quarterly makeup bag going away. I have way too many anyway. I’d love a 6th item or a reduction in the monthly cost (not going to happen I know).
Still deciding if I’m going to keep this sub. I guess I’ll give them through February depending on spoilers. Even at a retail value of $300 it’s worth nothing to me if I can’t use the products.

Katy

I think this bag is so amazing that I would not care if I got got an extra item. A repeat would definitely be annoying but it’s the perfect time of year to gift a bestie with a quality makeup or skincare item. I’m sad I missed out on December and hopefully I will be back with a bang in January. Getting a bag has always made Ipsy stand out for me but I can’t wait to see what products are going to be included after the amazing ones that Ipsy Plus has already sent out. It’ll still be the best $25 a month I could possibly spend on makeup and skincare.

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Ipsy Glam Bag Plus Review – December 2018

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