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Ipsy Glam Bag Ultimate Review – September 2020

Megan K.
ByMegan K.Nov 4, 2020 | 6 comments

Ipsy Glam Bag Ultimate
2.6 overall rating
211 Ratings | 10 Reviews

Ipsy Glam Bag Ultimate is a monthly makeup and beauty subscription box. Each month includes 8 full-sized items & 4 deluxe samples, in addition to a beauty bag! 

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

About Ipsy Glam Bag Ultimate

The Subscription Box: Ipsy Glam Bag Ultimate

The Cost: $50 a month + free US shipping. Save with an annual subscription.

The Products: 8 full-sized products & 4 deluxe samples

Ships to: The US for free and Canada for $2.95

Our Ipsy Glam Bag Ultimate September 2020 Review

 

Y'ALL. My info booklet had my items in it again! I am so happy because this extra info is really handy to have when going through the box and I have just been getting a generic booklet for the last few months. Very happy about this! Did yours come with actual product info this month? Let me know below!

 

This month, our bag is a very 70s inspired mustard and berry in a corduroy fabric. The interior matches the stripe!

Now, on to the items!

 

Doucce Freematic Blush Mono in 'Daydream', 3.4 g – Full Size! Retail Value $14.00

I was really confused on the sizing and price of this tiny blush sample because it appears to be the same size at the actual full-size item? It feels really small to me. Am I reading this wrong because I have weekend brain? ANYWAYS, this blush looked a little 'meh' to me at first. It is very subtle and sheer. But as soon as I added it to my cheeks via a big fluffy brush, I kind of fell in love with it. It reminds me a lot of a browner version of Benefit Dandelion, another very subtle blush I love. It adds just the right hint of rose to my cheeks for a very natural look. While I don't think I would ever choose this before Dandelion, I will take it in a bag any day.

Very subtle.

 

Georgette Kinger Collagen and Elastin Mask, 10 g - Estimated Value $6.67 (buy a full size  1.7 oz for $32.00)

This is a pretty clay mask that smells like lavender. Though it has bentonite clay, I didn't find it drying at all, probably because the avocado and olive oils help! This mask also has collagen and elastin inside, two ingredients tied to elasticity and firmness when it comes to skin. While this performed much as most clay masks do without anything really wild happening, that was honestly enough for me to really enjoy this one.

 

Goldfaden MD Brightening Elixir Protect + Repair Brightening Serum, 1 fl oz - Full Size! Retail Value $80.00

I had heard pretty great things about this formula, so seeing it inside my bag felt like a jackpot moment. The first thing I peeked at was the ingredient list, and it was actually pretty short compared to a lot of products out there. And most of the things were skin-loving goodies! Major call-outs? Hyaluronic acid (moisture bomb), vitamin C (brightening), ferulic acid (antioxidants), and panthenol (more moisture!). This clear serum is liquidy and lightweight, making it ideal for layering under your daily moisturizer. Over time, this should totally add brightness to your skin and boost its natural moisture barrier.

 

Hello Ganic One a Day Sheet Masks - Retail Value $7.50 (Masks are $2.50 each)

I love sheet masks so much. And this trio is very farmer's market fresh looking and all-around cute. The three formulas included were grain, water, and fruit, and each has a different goal. The grain is filled with extracts that will (ideally) help my giant pores look a little less giant. The fruit formula is for brightening, and the water formula is for (you guessed it) hydration. Each arrived on a eucalyptus sheet that fit well. Though none of these gave me an instant new face, I loved how my skin felt after using these.

 

 

Huda Beauty Complexion Perfection Pre-Makeup Base, 30 mL - Retail Value $35.00

This is my favorite type of primer because it feels more like a heavenly moisture cream than some weird powdery silicone finish. My dry skin needs all the help it can get and the velvet finish created by this primer its the perfect base for makeup because it smoothes my texture and grabs makeup for a longer-lasting finish. Admittedly, this might feel heavy if you are on the oilier side, my skin is loving it.

 

KENSIE Life Beat Body Lotion, 30 mL – Estimated Value $2.70 (buy a full size  200 mL tube for $18.00)

I received this perfume back in my April Ultimate and didn't love the scent. This is mostly because I like weirder niche scents and this one is just girly and happy (neither are bad things!). If you like fruity florals, this will be a smell you enjoy, but for me, I need more oud or patchouli, or something. The formula is fine and pretty typical for perfumed lotions, not too thick, not too thin. This is a nice addition to a purse to keep you smelling nice throughout the day - IF you like the scent.

 

NATURELAB. TOKYO Perfect Repair Travel Set - Retail Value $9.00

I really like this brand and I think their shampoo and conditioner are both good quality and affordable. They leave my hair feeling pretty great! This little trio includes shampoo, conditioner, and a hair masque. The sizes are decent too, even with my massive mane I can get 3-4 uses of each. Everything inside has a very clean tea and bamboo scent that is serene and spa-like. The shampoo was clarifying without stripping, the conditioner worked wonders on my dry ends, and the masque gave my hair such shine! If you haven't tried this brand out, consider it. I like it just as much as the professional products at my salon and the price is significantly more approachable.

 

NUDESTIX Lip Glace in Nude Cherry 00, 10 mL - Full Size! Retail Value $28.00

Well, hello! An over the top glossy red tube of gloss? For me? I am so happy with this! NUDESTIX is a brand that has a few different lip formulas but I have never tried a gloss from them. And I feel like I have been missing out because this gloss is so over the top glossy its wild. And the sheer red tint? A dream. It hits that perfect note where it works with a makeup-free face as well as a full face and just enhanced the natural shape of your lip with the right sheen and level of color. This gloss also has a tingly mint sensation that feels great!

Hello, I love you.

 

Pixi by Petra Endless Silky Eye Pen Duo in 'Black Caviar' & 'Bronze Beam', 1.2 g each - Retail Value $24.00 (Each liner is $12.00)

I may have clutched my bosom and gasped when I realized these two eyeshadows were bronze and brown instead of black. Is this an alternative universe? Sure, one of the shades is a dark brown that is close to black, but I will take it! Both of these liners are very smooth and pack a ton of pigment. Sure, they aren't going to stay as sharp as a liquid or gel liner, but they are really quite lovely for blending out a smokey eye or just rocking a softer cat-eye. The brown is one of those shades that you can barely add to your lash line and make your lashes look thicker too! These also lasted on my (oily) lids for hours without looking tired. Would I have preferred some of the blues, greens, or purples this brand offers? Sure! But

Top: Bronze Beam, Bottom: Black Caviar.

 

Sunday Riley ICE Ceramide Moisturizing Cream 8 g - Estimated Value $10.40 (buy a full size 50 g for $65.00)

I do enjoy a good Sunday Riley product! Though this wouldn't be my top pick of her line, I still like the way this cream feels on my skin and the wonderful ingredients inside. The first callout was totally the red algae for me. My skin seems to love anything with algae and I find that it really helps with redness. Also, the amount of ceramides in here is stellar too. Ceramides are already a large percentage of our skin, and they help maintain a healthy moisture barrier. If you are dry like me, ceramides are a must-have in your rotation. Hyaluronic acid also makes an appearance in the formula, making it a total moisture treat. I can use this day and night, but if your skin is on the oilier side, try it at a night cream.

 

ZOEVA Caramel Melange Eyeshadow Palette - Retail Value $28.00

At first glance, this palette looks very orange-red, but diving into it reveals that this is actually a rather neutral color story. There is a solid core of colors here that would work for anyone (Wax paper, Universal Delight, Finish Sensual, and a few more) but the shades your eyes are drawn to first are totally the flame orange shades like Aftertaste and Start Soft. Even if you aren't into reds and oranges, I still think there are some winners here. Formula wise, these are pretty darn buttery. Pigment isn't an issue for anything here, though fall out does happen. I usually don't care as long as the colors perform, and these do!

Top to bottom: Wax Paper, Universal Delight, Aftertaste, 182 Degrees, Liquid Center

Top to bottom: Alchemy, Start Soft, Finish Sensual, Almost Burnt, and Edible Gem.

 

LA MUSE Deep Color Lip Balm in 'Poppy', 4 g - Listed Value $28.00

FYI: This was my choice item this month!

Though this wasn't a known brand to me, I still picked it because it reminded me so much of the Sugar Lip Treatment from Fresh. This formula feels a little different on, but the sheer wash of color is similar. I love this berry shade and think it adds just a hint of color to my lips without being too much (or getting all over the inside of my mask when I have to put it on!).

Into it.

Verdict: I thought this Ultimate assortment was a pretty great time! The only big dud for me was that KENSIE perfumed lotion, but that's just because I disliked the fragrance. I love that I got some really cool things from Goldfaden MD, Huda Beauty, and NATURELAB. TOKYO. The masks were great, I am obsessed with both lip products, and even though the Sunday Riley Ice Cream was small, it was mighty. The eyeshadow palette was also a highlight because the shades and formulas were lovely. Value-wise, I am adding up at least $245 even without a few items, which is pretty great for a $50 bag.

To Wrap Up:

Can you still get this box if you sign up today? No. The next Ultimate shipment will be in October! As of publication, there was no Ipsy waitlist. Check here to see what month you’ll get first.

Value Breakdown: This box costs $50 so each of the 12 items has an average cost of $4.17. (This calculation does not include the bag!)

Check out all of our Ipsy Glam Bag Ultimate 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 the September Ipsy Glam Bag Ultimate? Which items did you get?

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Ipsy Glam Bag Ultimate is a monthly makeup and beauty subscription box - each month includes 8 full-sized & 4 deluxe samples, in addition to a beauty bag! (Shipping is free to the US, and an additional $4.95 to Canada).

Megan K.
Megan K.
I love natural/vegan beauty products, Korean skincare, unique jewelry, and weird candies from far away places. When I am not waiting for my next exciting box you can find me painting or taking photographs of interesting people. I never leave home without pug hair somewhere on my shirt and a bold lipstick on my smile.

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6 comments

Ana G

I received exact same box, I canceled after this.

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Flora

This would make a great quarterly box. How many people need 12 products a month? But at $4.17 a piece, that’s even less than the discount dept stores.

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Sue

I received the Kensie perfume in my July bag and I loved it, I did not know that they have lotion, It looks like you got some good things.

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Missy B

Very nice assortment!

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Marion

I also thought the La Muse lip looked like a potential dupe for the Fresh one (especially since Costco has a 6-pack of different shades for $25). What does the La Muse smell like?

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Keri

Thanks for another amazing review Megan! I always enjoy reading your thoughts on the different products. You are appreciated!

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