Ipsy is a monthly beauty and makeup subscription box. Each month you get 5 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 subscription box - the value and sample sizes are amazing. (Check out our list of the best beauty boxes for 2020 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).
About Ipsy Glam Bag
The Subscription Box: Ipsy
The Cost: $12 a month + free US shipping. Save with an annual subscription.
The Products: Full-sizes and samples of makeup and beauty products. (Plus a makeup bag!)
Ships to: The US for free and Canada for $2.95
Delivered via: DHL or FedEx + USPS
My Ipsy Glam Bag July 2020 Review
Included is a card that usually details each of the items but now outlines beauty tips and tricks.
Each month, Ipsy subscribers get a makeup bag in addition to their items. This month's theme is Take A Break. The bag is an interesting rubbery waterproof material that reminds me of a beach ball. But the main selling point of this bag is the adorable teal airplane hardware on the zipper. It's so cute; I love it!
LAVIDO Hydrating Facial Cleanser, 15 mL - Estimated Value $4.35 (Buy a full-size 100 mL $29.00)
This LAVIDO Hydrating Facial Cleanser has a unique milky texture that feels more like a cream than a cleanser. The product doesn't suds up, but it gently cleansed my skin and left my face feeling smooth and moisturized. Naturally formulated and scented, the cleanser has a light, clean smell that reminds me of Johnson & Johnson's baby products, which makes perfect sense, as they are formulated for gentle cleansing. Packed full of antioxidant-rich carrot extract and vitamins A and C, this creamy cleanser brightens and tones without any harsh chemicals or nasty ingredients. I've never heard of this brand, but I'm happy I got to try it. I will check out more of their products because the formulation seems perfect for sensitive skin.
BELLÁPIERRE COSMETICS Banana Setting Powder in Medium, 4 g - Full Size! Listed Value $35.00
There's a heatwave happening in New York right now and makeup is melting right off faces everywhere. This BELLÁPIERRE COSMETICS Banana Setting Powder in Medium is the finishing touch needed to battle heat and humidity. The product is a light and very fine powder that goes on smoothly, setting foundation and concealer. As the name "banana" implies, the product has a slight yellow tint, perfect for color correcting dark circles and redness, giving it a dual purpose. Dusting a bit of this on my face without even applying any foundation reduced shine and smoothed out my complexion. Not to mention, this product is full size! Maybe not the most glamorous thing I've ever gotten in an Ipsy bag but it's a staple that I will now not have to purchase.
CIATÉ LONDON Watermelon Burst Hydrating Primer, 10 mL - Estimated Value $7.00 (Buy a full-size 40 mL $28.00)
I love, love, love, LOVE this product. CIATÉ LONDON's Watermelon Burst Hydrating Primer is the best primer I've ever used. It has a gel serum-like texture that is perfect for hot weather. It goes on smoothly and feels refreshing without giving you that greasy or heavy feel that a cream-based primer would. Not only does it hydrate your skin but the unique texture grips onto foundation for a long-lasting, cake-free look. I would even use this primer as a hydrating serum underneath my daily moisturizer without even applying makeup; that's how good it is. Packed with watermelon extract and vitamin C, the product smells absolutely delicious, sending me to scent heaven while I got a burst of refreshment on my skin.
IT COSMETICS Brow Power Universal Eyebrow Pencil in Universal Taupe, 0.07 g - Estimated Value $1.05 (Buy a full-size 1.6 g $24.00)
This cute, convenient, travel-sized IT COSMETICS Brow Power Universal Eyebrow Pencil in Universal Taupe is not universal. This shade is a bit too light for me, even when I pressed fairly hard, but as you can see from the swatch, the color would most likely work for a wide range of brows. I love the little spoolie and the sleek silver packaging, but I had to gift this to a friend of mine with a lighter pair of brows. That being said, the product didn't smear or smudge and seemed like it would stay put throughout the day. If you're lucky enough to have an eyebrow shade within the range of this powerful little pencil, you will definitely enjoy this compact necessity. Nobody wants to be walking around with some bald eyebrows; it's not a good look, girl.
BIORACE Pore Tightening Pearl Clay Mask, 1.0 oz - Retail Value $4.00 (Buy a full-size 3.88 oz for $25.00)
This BIORACE Pore Tightening Pearl Clay Mask has pearl powder in it! That's a first for me. Working alongside the pearl powder is rice powder and kaolin clay that deep clean and minimize pores. It has a very subtle earthy scent that makes me think of those fabulous outdoor mud bath spas on those amazing destination vacations that Instagram models are always posting. Besides having a high-end scent, this product also exfoliates. While using, I felt my face tighten and after washing off, it was literally squeaky clean. After a deep clean like this, it's super important to apply a hydrating serum or moisturizer of some kind, because after removing all the grime, the mask did leave my face feeling a touch dry.
Verdict: My favorite product from this month's Ipsy Glam Bag was hands down the CIATÉ LONDON Watermelon Burst Hydrating Primer. It's amazing and I love it. When you have oily skin like mine, it's nice to not feel greasy all the way up from the base layer of your makeup. I'm very happy to try the LAVIDO Hydrating Facial Cleanser. I love trying out brands I've never had the pleasure of experiencing, and the gentle formula of this product was ideal for my sensitive skin. I'm always happy to get a mask and the BIORACE Pore Tightening Pearl Clay Mask with pearl powder is unique and different enough to excite me. The BELLÁPIERRE COSMETICS Banana Setting Powder in Medium isn't the most exciting product I've received in an Ipsy bag, but it is something that I need and will use, which gives it value to me. Lastly, the IT COSMETICS Brow Power Universal Eyebrow Pencil in Universal Taupe is not for me. Don't get me wrong; I love brow products, I love big, bold brows, and everything brow related. But this sleek, compact brow pencil just isn't the right shade for me. No hard feelings, Ipsy; my friend was absolutely thrilled to swipe it. This month had a nice value estimated at $51.40. That is great for a $12 subscription!
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.
Value Breakdown: At $12 for this box, I calculated a value of $51.40. Here's how that breaks down per item:
- Cleanser: $1.02
- Setting Powder: $8.17
- Primer: $1.64
- Eyebrow Pencil $0.24
- Clay Mask: $0.93
Alternatively, each of the 5 items has an average cost of $2.40.
Check out all of our Ipsy reviews and the best beauty subscription boxes of 2020, as recommended by our readers!
Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist!
What do you think of my July Ipsy Glam Bag? What items did you get in your bag?
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