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Ipsy February 2021 Review: THISWORKS, Basic Beauty, and More

Taryn Lowman
ByTaryn LowmanMar 3, 2021 | 16 comments

Ipsy
4 overall rating
1811 Ratings | 298 Reviews

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 2021 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: $12.00 per month + free U.S. 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 February 2021 Review

 

I received a card that was 'signed, sealed, and delivered' the product information for all give Glam Bag items! They have a $50+ promised value.

 

Each month, Ipsy subscribers get a makeup bag in addition to their items. This month's theme is "Sign, Sealed, Delivered with a Kiss." I am obsessed with this bag! It is light and feels like a little envelope with a beautiful lip button closure. It is so pretty I considered using it as a wallet or extra bag to put in my diaper bag. 

 

The Creme Shop Fusion Sheet Mask Duo in Watermelon - Retail Value $3.00

The Creme Shop Fusion Sheet Mask Duo in Coconut Chia - Retail Value $3.00

Both of these masks had a really strong scent to them, so if you are sensitive to smells these might be a bit much for you. I love sheet masks like this because they are a great way to quickly and easily give your face a little extra attention. My skin is slowly getting into better shape, but I just had some random breakouts starting on my chin most likely from hormones. I used the coconut and chia mask when the breakout was at its worse to calm and nourish my skin. This mask exfoliates, moisturizes, reduces inflammation, heals, and helps prevent breakouts. The watermelon mask hydrates, tones, regulates oil production, improves skin elasticity, reduces signs of aging, and detoxifies. Both masks were very cooling for my skin and fit my face really well! I used both before bed and woke to super hydrated skin that felt calm and cool.

 

YC Collection Loose Setting Powder 117, 0.063 oz. - Estimated Value $0.20 (Buy a full-size 4 oz. for $12.99)

I haven't used powder makeup since I was in middle school, but I was really excited to give this a try since everyone in the makeup videos that I have been watching lately seems to swear by a setting powder. This is a mineral-based translucent setting powder with a matte finish. The YC Collection site recommends using this powder under your eyes to prevent makeup creasing, but it does say that you can use this all over your face as well. I don't know if this powder just didn't mix well with my cream foundation, but I thought it added a somewhat cakey layer look that really exaggerated my pores. It also sort of set into my dry skin areas that made them more noticeable. I am going to keep trying this powder though because as the weather switches my dry skin will improve so it might start to work better for me in a few months.

 

This Works In Transit Camera Close-Up, 10 mL - Estimated Value $11.25 (Buy a full-size 40 mL for $45.00)

If you follow my reviews, then you know that I don't love primers. Until now! I just recently changed my foundation and have been loving it, but when I started using this primer I found a whole new level of love for it. This is a 3-in-1 moisturizer, primer, and mask that works to soften lines, minimize redness, minimize discoloration, and creates a smooth even canvas for your makeup. The formula really is a super blend that features Bio Boost which is This Works' unique blend of antioxidant plant oils along with Hyaluronic Acid and caffeine. I applied a small layer of this all over my face before applying my foundation. This is holding my makeup in place while hydrating my skin. What I love the most is that it gives me that natural dewy glow look that I really love. You've heard it here first everyone, I have finally found a primer that I truly love!

 

Haruharu Black Rice Hyaluronic Toner, 13 mL - Estimated Value $1.90 (Buy a full-size 150 mL for $22.00)

This is unlike so many toners that I have tried. It feels really nice and fresh going on and is very light. It left my skin feeling hydrated instead of dry. This vegan formula is made of 95% natural ingredients with the Haruharu unique formula of fermentation to turn raw ingredients into a liquid that your skin can absorb. This toner works deep within your skin to give it instant moisture, and to prepare it for optimal absorption of products. It's really great to use right after washing your face, almost prepping the skin for your skincare product routine. A little went a long way for me after I just dapped some onto my fingers, massaged it into my skin, and let air dry.

 

Basic Beauty Tweezers - Estimated Value $20.00

I am very picky about tweezers, but I use them a lot so extra pairs to keep around my house is always a bonus! This is probably TMI, but my husband has a beard which means he gets ingrown hairs a lot so we keep tweezers around for him. Then, ever since my first pregnancy with my son, I have these random hairs that grow on my face, which I thought they would leave once I was done breastfeeding, but here we are five years later and they still pop up now and again. So for those reasons I like to have quality tweezers upstairs in bathrooms and downstairs for quick use. These are a high-quality design with non-slip handle and an angled tip. They work really well and have a strong grasp so no slipping when you are trying to use them.

Verdict: This month's Ipsy Glam Bag was filled with a unique mix of products. We started out strong with the February bag, and what a beauty it was! It is so lightweight, well-made, and feels so chic yet delicate. The other big winner for me this month was that I finally have found my primer. I never thought I would say those words, but the Camera Close-Up has sold me that primers can work with my skin. It paired so nicely with my new cream foundation and left me with a dewy glow without having to reapply any foundation throughout the day. Both masks were an easy and relaxing way to give my skin a quick boost, and they both left me feeling hydrated and kept some breakouts at bay. The setting powder didn't seem to work well with my dry skin right now, but I really appreciated how light it felt going on. I am going to try it again in a few months when I am way less dry. The toner was another lovely product that made me rethink how toners are used. This one left me feeling hydrated and my skin prepped for all of my other wonderful products. I will say that I was a bit bummed to see that there was a retail value of $32.60. While that is an amazing value on a $12.00 bag, they do list on the information card that there is a $50+ value inside. I really enjoy testing new products, so if you are someone that wants to try high-quality items without getting a ton of products each month and at a great value, then this is for you! This was only my second time receiving this bag so I am really excited to see what March has in store!

To Wrap Up:

Can you still get this box if you sign up today? No, sign up now to get the March bag!

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

Value Breakdown: At $12.00 for this box, I calculated a value of $32.60. Here's how that breaks down per item:

  • Watermelon Mask: $1.10
  • Coconut Chia Mask: $1.10
  • Powder: $0.07
  • Camera Close-Up: $1.65
  • Toner: $0.69
  • Tweezer: $7.36

Alternatively, each of the 6 items has an average cost of $2.00.

Check out all of our Ipsy reviews and the best beauty subscription boxes of 2021, 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 February Ipsy Glam Bag? What items did you get in your bag?

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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.

Taryn Lowman
Taryn Lowman
Taryn's passion for subscription boxes started when she was gifted a monthly Birchbox. She is excited to discover more Mom and baby boxes to share with her family!

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16 comments

Mountaineer95

Hello! I love your reviews so I hope you don’t take this as being critical, but the following sentence must have typos and is really confusing, I just wanted to bring it to your attention for editing:

“I received a card that was ‘signed, sealed, and delivered’ the product information for all give Glam Bag items!”

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Deanne

That’s my favorite primer too! It’s not exciting or Glam or whatever but it… It works 😅

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Nikkim

Guess I’m reactivating my small bag. Got an email that if I do, I’ll get 1 free extra full size product

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TL

I just clicked resubscribe for the free gift! Will be interesting to see what arrives.

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Snow

Honestly I was glad to see tweezers rather than another brush. They are definitely way more handy.

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Taryn Lowman

I totally agree!

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Bonnie

Thisworks is a great brand. I have loved everything I’ve tried from them.

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Taryn Lowman

I really am loving it!

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JesCro

I got that primer in Look Fantastic (advent calendar or monthly sub… can’t remember). I never liked primer before either – but this one is a keeper.

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Taryn Lowman

I am so surprised that I finally found a primer, but this one is still working wonders on my skin and makeup! I’m glad you are loving it too!

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Wendy

I love the bag design! Been collecting Ipsy bags for years now and this is one of the top 10 bags from all the that’ve gotten from them.

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Taryn Lowman

It really is so pretty!

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Jen

Pretty bag thanks for the review, and your not alone with the random hair!

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Taryn Lowman

Thanks so much!

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Denise

I am VERY picky about misrepresented values. I may sound cheap but this bag would have me running to ipsy to complain. Even something that we know is one of those with an overpriced markup they could have thrown in to make it to fifty dollars to meet what they promise, but they didn’t even do that. I wonder if this was a mistake on their part or if other bags are the same but people don’t know the broken down prices. But seeing it here in black and white definitely has me seeing red !!

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Marion

Unfortunately, Ipsy usually just responds to people who complain about the value of the bag that the makeup bag itself is worth $X (x conveniently = the amount of $ that the bag is unvervalued as).

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