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 October 2020 Review
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Included is a card that usually details each of the items but also outlines beauty tips and tricks.
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Each month, Ipsy subscribers get a makeup bag in addition to their items. This month's theme is "You're Magic." I love this bag's texture and color. It gives me strong Letterman jacket vibes from a 90s high school sitcom. Perfect for fall and back to school.
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TARTE Maracuja Tinted Hydrator in Tan Sand, 5 mL - Estimated Value $4.83 (Buy a full-size 30 mL for $29.00)
One of the products I've started to avoid in my skincare and beauty routine recently is foundation. It's so heavy on my skin and with wearing a mask every day, it's a perfect combination for breakouts. This Tarte Maracuja Tinted Hydrator in Tan Sand is the complete opposite. It's infused with skin-nourishing super fruits, lightweight, and hydrating. I've been wearing this product as foundation recently and it's given me a natural-looking coverage without causing clogged pores and breakouts. The color is a good match for my skin tone and the coverage, while not full, is definitely enough to cover any of my blemishes and the big grocery bags under my eyes. Formulated with skinvigorating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, turmeric, aloe, and maracuja oil, this product delivers moisture and hydration for brighter, smoother looking skin. The only downside is how super teeny tiny this sample is, but with the quality and price-point of Tarte products, I'm honestly not surprised.
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Here is a swatch of the Tarte Maracuja Tinted Hydrator in Tan Sand.
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THE COFFEE SCRUB The Coffee Scrub in French Vanilla, 50 g - Full Size! Retail Value $9.99
Wow, this The Coffee Scrub in French Vanilla smells amazing! Like a piping hot cup of coffee with a hint of vanilla to wake you up in the morning. I've used coffee grinds before under my eyes to help reduce puffiness, but I've never used it as a full body scrub. Using coffee as a natural exfoliator is a genius idea; it gives you a good scrub without being too harsh or leaving skin feeling raw. My skin felt smooth and moisturized after using this product. Formulated with organic coffee beans, grapeseed oil, olive oil, Vitamin E, and other natural ingredients, the scrub left my skin feeling exfoliated but also hydrated. The one thing I will say, using this product was not a walk in the park. It is incredibly hard to clean up. I only used it in the shower and I've been trying to rinse stragglers down the drain ever since.
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DOUCCE Ultra Precision Eyeliner in Black, 1.2 g - Full Size! Retail Value $22.00
I absolutely love this Doucce Ultra Precision Eyeliner in Black! I think this is probably one of the best eyeliners I've ever used. The formula is waterproof, sweat-proof, humidity-approved, so velvety smooth, and creamy. It glides on easily and is incredibly soft on the eyes. It's not like a hard pencil that stabs you in the waterline. This liner is a retractable gel pencil that you don't have to press hard to apply. I was truly impressed there was no smudging and the liner lasted all day long. The dark semi-matte finish gives my eye look a mysterious twist. I feel like Carmen Sandiego heading out for an international undercover mission, lol.
Here is a swatch of the DOUCCE Ultra Precision Eyeliner in Black.
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OFRA COSMETICS Highlighter in Blissful, 10 g - Full Size! Retail Value $35.00
I'm a huge fan of Ofra Cosmetics in general, but this Ofra Cosmetics Highlighter in Blissful takes things to a whole other level. This highlighter is a beautiful dusky golden pinkish color that is a little darker than the rest of the Ofra highlight collection, which works perfectly with my skin tone. It gives such a light bronzy glow to the high points of my face; absolutely stunning. I love applying a small amount to my brow bone and the inner corners of my eyes, as well as the highest point of my cheekbones. The formula is a unique powder that uses liquid-to-baked technology. It is so creamy, smooth, and applies so easily, giving you some serious major sparkle and glow with its pearlescent pigment.
Here is a swatch of the Ofra Cosmetics Highlighter in Blissful.
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BENEFIT COSMETICS Gimme Brow+ Neutral Deep Brown 4.5 Volumizing Eyebrow Gel, 1 g - Estimated Value $8.00 (Buy a full-size 3.0 g for $24.00)
I love brow products. I especially enjoy the tiny precise little brush applicator included in this Benefit Cosmetics Gimme Brow+ Neutral Deep Brown 4.5 Volumizing Eyebrow Gel. The gel really adds volume to your brows and works to hold those wild hairs with a mind of their own in place. It's buildable and adds definition without creating that heavy, too dark, overdramatic Eugene Levy brows; no woman wants Eugene Levy brows. I do think I prefer an eyebrow pencil over a liquid product like this. I tend to touch my brows throughout the day and this product did take a bit of time to dry, so I ended up smearing it a bit.
Here is a swatch of the Benefit Cosmetics Gimme Brow+ Neutral Deep Brown 4.5 Volumizing Eyebrow Gel.
Here is an everyday look I wore, using the Tarte Cosmetics Maracuja Tinted Hydrator in Tan Sand, the Doucce Ultra Precision Eyeliner in Black, the Benefit Cosmetics Gimme Brow+ Volumizing Eyebrow Gel in 4.5, and the Ofra Cosmetics Highlighter in Bliss.
Verdict: This month's Ipsy Glam Bag was a great value! I received a full-size Ofra Cosmetics Highlighter in Blissful that I am absolutely thrilled with. The formula was wonderful. The highlighter is extra glowy and pigmented, accenting my skin tone perfectly. The Doucce Ultra Precision Eyeliner in Black, my new favorite eyeliner, is an excellent product. I love how gently the liner applies to my waterline and how long-lasting and smudge-proof the formula is. The Tarte Maracuja Tinted Hydrator in Tan Sand is a lovely substitute for a heavy foundation if you're just looking for some light, natural-looking coverage. I enjoy how the formula melts seamlessly into my skin and doesn't sit on top or look cakey. The Coffee Scrub The Coffee Scrub in French Vanilla is a delicious smelling, effective, and gentle body scrub. I love everything about it, except for the mess, but smooth skin is definitely worth it. The Benefit Cosmetics Gimme Brow+ Volumizing Eyebrow Gel in 4.5 is easy to apply and fills out brows nicely without making you look like you have furry caterpillar eyebrows like a Sesame Street puppet. This month had an AMAZING value estimated at $79.82. That is incredible for a $12 subscription! You absolutely do get your money's worth based on retail value, and the products were all from high-quality and luxury brands.
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 $79.82. Here's how that breaks down per item:
- Hydrator: $0.73
- Scrub: $1.50
- Eye Liner: $3.31
- Highlighter: $5.26
- Brow Gel: $1..20
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 October Ipsy Glam Bag? What items did you get in your bag?
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