Ipsy is a monthly beauty and makeup subscription box. For $13 per month, you get five full-size or deluxe-sized products, plus a cute makeup bag.
This is one of our top recommendations if you are looking for a subscription box — the value and sample sizes are amazing. 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 our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we review boxes).
First Impressions
Everything comes packaged snugly in the signature pink Ipsy bubble mailer.
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Included is a product card that features a list of the products and any beauty tips.
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Each month, Ipsy subscribers get a makeup bag in addition to their items. This month’s theme is “Creature Comforts,” and the bag design selected for this curation goes perfectly. I think the animal print look is cute. One side of the bag is pure animal print, while the opposite side has the same animal print but with a thick orangey-red stripe smack-dab in the middle of the design. An interesting style choice, and not what I would have chosen personally, but overall, it’s a nice little bag, and I’m excited to see the items that have been curated this time around.
Now, on to the items!
TATCHA The Water Cream, 10 ml - Retail Value $22.00
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I’ve used Tatcha products in the past, and I’ve always been a huge fan; especially when it comes to The Water Cream. This cream has such a lightweight texture that to call it a ‘cream’ could almost be a tad misleading. I think of it as more of a gel-cream hybrid. My skin tends to be rather oily at times, and so, I tend to stay away from cream-based skincare (gel-based is my go-to) since it can cause breakouts. The Water Cream delivers a powerful punch of hydration without leaving any kind of greasy residue behind. With such complete absorption, my skin gets a dose of Japanese Wild Rose, for tightening and smoothing, and Japanese Leopard Lily, for clarifying skin and controlling excess oil. I apply this primarily in my daytime skincare routine, but I love that it’s light enough where I can apply it right before bed and know I won’t wake up with clogged pores. This lovely cream leaves my skin feeling smooth, revitalized, and hydrated, and I can’t get enough of it.
KNDR Lip Scrub, 4 g - Listed Value $20.00
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Lip scrub? Yes, please. The lips sometimes get neglected when it comes to my skincare routine. Sure, I keep them sufficiently moisturized throughout the day, and every now and then I even remember to apply a lip mask at night. But lip scrubs have lately been falling by the wayside for me, so when I saw this product in my bag, I was pretty excited. The first thing I noticed was the scent of the scrub itself. While I was expecting more of a sweet and fruity scent, what I got was more of a ‘prunes gone off’ type of scent; not great. Otherwise, the scrub itself performs as one would expect, and a little certainly goes a long way, leaving my lips feeling perfectly smooth and supple. As long as you can get past the scent, this is a great product to add to your skincare routine.
LUNA MAGIC Eyeshadow Duo in Friend and Monaco, 2.2 g - Estimated Value $3.03
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Wow, the blue shade of this eyeshadow duo from Luna Magic is absolutely stunning! I like how it gives the best of both worlds in such a convenient travel size. The blue shade (Monaco) is giving me some real ‘Frozen’ vibes, and I love the idea of the dynamic looks I can create with it. The other half of the duo is a brown shade (Friend), and it’s a perfect staple that’s great to have on hand for everyday use. Both of the shades are very soft and buttery to the touch, which is always nice, and they are easy to apply, even without a brush in a pinch. The colors are highly pigmented and easy to blend, and they work nicely with my skin tone. Now, will I use the blue often enough to warrant carrying this compact around in my on-the-go makeup bag? Probably not, but it’ll be there for when the time is right.
Here is the swatch for LUNA MAGIC Eyeshadow Duo in Friend (brown) and Monaco (blue).
NANETTE LEPORE Fiercely Fragrance, 10 ml - Estimated Value $9.00
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Personally, I’m not a huge fan of fragrances, but this perfume… Even I can admit that it’s got a lovely scent to it; a very fruity scent with only the slightest hint of alcohol at the end. In my past experience, the only scents I’ve found to be “lovely” have been leather, tires, and clean laundry. So, the fact that I don’t find this perfume assaulting to my nostrils is quite the compliment. A little goes a long way, and the scent is quite long-lasting. Top notes of the scent include peach blossom, lemon, pink pepper, and salty air. I also really enjoy the spray applicator this travel size comes in. It’s easy enough to release just a spritz, which is all I need; and that’ll help it last even longer despite the small amount in the vial, which I appreciate.
FORMULA Z COSMETICS Mini Blush in Extra Fierce, 2 g - Retail Value $12.00
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It’s always nice to have a mini blush on hand for my on-the-go makeup bag, and this one from Formula Z Cosmetics is really pretty. I was a bit surprised by the level of sparkle, especially for a blush; actually, at first sight I thought it was a bronzer. In general, though, this is a good color for me when it comes to creating a natural look, so I appreciate that. The glow this blush gives off is indeed very nice, taking away the need for a highlighter. I like the texture of the product too. It’s very creamy and soft to the touch, with a good amount of pigment. A little goes a long way, and it’s super blendable. This blush should last for quite some time.
Here is the swatch for FORMULA Z COSMETICS Mini Blush in Extra Fierce.
Verdict
I thought this was a good month for Ipsy Glam Bag! The highlight for me was The Water Cream by Tatcha; few other moisturizers revitalize my skin as well as this product, and that’s coming from someone who technically lives in a desert. Nanette Lepore’s perfume ‘Fiercely’ is the first perfume I’ve discovered that I actually don’t abhor, and a little goes a long way. The lip scrub from KNDR is a welcome addition to my skincare routine; although, I’d appreciate it even more if the scent were a bit more enticing. I’m loving Luna Magic’s eyeshadow duo. The wintery blue shade is absolutely beautiful and instantly creates a dynamic look, and the brown shade is a perfect staple for everyday wear. Lastly, the mini blush in Extra Fierce from Formula Z Cosmetics… I have to admit, this goes really well with my skin tone, and it has a good formula that keeps it silky smooth and blendable while also acting as a highlighter of sorts. Overall, I thought this was a solid lineup of products, and the value is indeed there.
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Value – Was This Box Worth It?
The Cost: $13
Value Breakdown:
- Water Cream: $22.00
- Lip Scrub: $20.00
- Shadow Duo: $3.03
- Perfume: $9.00
- Mini Blush: $12.00
The total retail value of these five items adds up to about $66.03, which is a nice value for a $13 box.
Other Things You Should Know
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? No, but sign up to receive the December 2022 bag while stocks last.
What do you think of the November 2022 Ipsy Glam Bag?
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