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IPSY Glam Bag Review May 2023

Jessica Hapak
ByJessica HapakMay 30, 2023 | 2 comments

Ipsy
4 overall rating
1811 Ratings | 298 Reviews

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. (FYI – 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

 

Your IPSY Glam bag will come in their standard pale pink bubble wrap mailer. When you open it up, you can always expect to find a makeup bag storing your new beauty products and an info sheet with additional details.

This month's bag was a fun multicolored bag with swaths of pink, orange, white, blue, and green- and a hot pink zipper pull.

The Breakdown – What’s Inside My May 2023 Ipsy Glam Bag

First Aid Beauty Eye Duty Niacinamide Brightening Cream, 3 mL - Estimated Value $7.20 (buy the 15 mL version for $36)

I’m a First Aid Beauty fan, and while the Jessica of a few years ago wasn’t crazy about them I have really changed my tune and have started liking them more. I always apply the eye cream to the back of my hand (since so many of the full size ones come with a pump dispenser these days), and I take a finger and gently pat the eye cream to the delicate skin under each eye. There’s always a little bit left, and I apply that to the corners of my mouth (it sounds strange, but it’s significantly decreased the cracked lips I was prone to getting by doing this and then applying a thicker treatment like the Cerave Healing Ointment or Vaseline on top). This eye cream from First Aid Beauty has hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, pumpkin seed extract, caffeine, and peach micro-pearls to help the skin under your eyes appear extra radiant while also hydrating and brightening the skin. My dark circles aren’t too crazy, and I’m a fan of how this worked for me.

The Nue Co Skin Filter Serum, 0.3 oz - Estimated Value $15.60 (buy the 1 oz version for $52)

I’m a fan of The Nue Co - I find their products to be well-formulated without being harsh for my sensitive skin. This serum is another product from them that fits the bill. It’s a botanical-based serum designed to mimic the effects of retinol like smoothing lines and the appearance of more even skin without the irritation that can frequently come with it. Of course, this isn’t going to be as potent as prescription-strength retinol, but I thought this was a very solid serum I would be happy to continue using.

Purlisse Beauty Dragonfruit + Niacinamide Moisturizer, 15 mL - Estimated Value $10.50 (buy the 50 mL version for $35)

Purlisse products can be hit or miss for me, but I’m always down to try new products from the brand. Dragonfruit is an ingredient I don’t see in skincare that often compared to other fruits, and it’s a good source of antioxidants to fight free radicals along with hydration for the skin. Niacinamide is a much more common skincare ingredient, and it helps to boost your skins collagen production to improve skin texture and brighten the skin. Out of some of the other moisturizers Purlisse offers this seems to be one that’s better for sensitive skin, but I wouldn’t outright call it a soothing moisturizer. I thought it was fine, though it was noticeably fragranced, but nothing about this mid-weigh cream would make me seek it out again when this sample was empty.

TheBalm Cosmetics Anne T. Dotes® Tinted Moisturizer in #8, 10 mL - Estimated Value $8 (buy the 30 mL version for $24)

I haven’t tried a TheBalm product in ages- I remember them being a frequent flyer in Birchbox boxes and earlier Ipsy bags, but I also haven’t had a Birchbox in ages. They also have fun names for their products, like this tinted moisturizer that’s the antidote to dry skin that needs a little evening out. I really like tinted moisturizers for the more natural look they give while still improving the overall finish of my skin, and I thought this performed well. The sample is the perfect size for throwing in my purse in case I ever unexpectedly need to look more put together than I am, which may be exactly what I do.

Pear Nova Lunar Lip Stylo in Asteroid, 0.45 g - Retail Value $18.50

I love when we receive full-size lip liners in our Ipsy bags because I can never seem to actually keep track of my lip liners. This rosy nude shade from Pear Nova does pull a bit terra-cotta on me, but the formula was easy to work with and not drying on my lips. This wouldn’t have been my first choice of colors compared to some of the other ones available on the website, but it’ll definitely still get used.

Here it is swatched.

Value – Was This Box Worth It?

The Cost: $13

Value Breakdown:

  • First Aid Beauty: $7.20 → $1.56
  • The Nue Co: $15.60 → $3.39
  • Purlisse: $10.50 → $2.28
  • TheBalm Cosmetics: $8 → $1.73
  • Pear Nova: $18.50 → $4.02

Value Breakdown: This month everything in my Glam Bag added up to $59.80. Alternatively, it breaks down to paying $2.60 per item, not including the actual bag.

Key Takeaways

I thought this was another really solid glam bag from Ipsy this month! I enjoyed the heavy focus on skincare from brands that I like like First Aid Beauty and The Nue Co, and really appreciated that both makeup products were very wearable products for me. I really felt like the summer vibes were in this bag- as it gets hotter I definitely want to swap out my foundation for tinted moisturizer, and the dragon fruit moisturizer feels seasonally appropriate too. At $13, this is a tough subscription to beat- especially when every month you get to choose one of the items they send.

Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist!

Other Things You Should Know

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

Am I able to customize my bag? Yes, towards the end of each month you are given the ability to choose one product to be included in next month's Glam Bag!

What do you think of my May 2023 Ipsy Glam Bag

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Jessica Hapak
Jessica Hapak
I am a staunch believer that pineapple doesn’t belong on pizza and when I’m not working as a family law attorney I enjoy hiking the Louisiana trails (alligator sightings are a favorite!) or relaxing with Duchess, my cat. I’m a sucker for anything labeled a mystery box and I’ve never met a bath bomb I didn’t like.

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2 comments

Jill

I was personally so tempted by the dragonfruit moisturizer I bought the full size on their website. Hope it’s good! 🤞

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Melissa

I got the sample, and I really like it. My skin has been very dry and flaky lately, and this helped a lot without being overly heavy. And, honestly, I barely noticed fragrance.

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