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 ‘Return to the Wild.’ The style of the bag is actually kind of cute; it reminds me of an old lady’s rug with tassels on the ends. I like the summery color combination. There is a tassel in place of a zipper handle, which gives me the feeling I should be extra delicate when opening or closing this bag if I want it to last.
Now, on to the items!
BENEFIT COSMETICS Fan Fest Mascara, 3 g - Estimated Value $9.88
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I’ve always been a fan of Benefit Cosmetics. Their products have always proved to be effective for me, especially their mascaras. The downside of this brand is that, their products are sold in China, where animal testing is unfortunately still required, meaning that while Benefit claims to not perform animal testing on their site the companies they use to create their products do, which is why they cannot have the cruelty-free bunny logo on their packaging. This definitely deters me from seeking their products outside of a subscription box. But this Fan Fest Mascara is indeed a stellar product. It’s both sweat-proof and water-resistant, making it a great addition to this month’s product curation. The brush is fluffy and has a nice curve to it that comfortably fits my eyelash line. I found that the brush works well to separate and lift my lashes, evenly distributing the product. One thing I always dislike about these travel-sized mascaras is how short the handle is; for some reason, the stubby, little handle impacts my motor skills and limits my coordination, which usually results in an ocular accident (but that might just be a ‘me problem’).
KORRES Santorini Grape Poreless Skin Cream, 20 ml - Estimated Value $19.50
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Another great brand! The packaging is incredibly minimalist, leaving it looking less than impressive, but the product inside packs a punch, it seems. With the inclusion of salicylic acid, this Santorini Grape Poreless Skin Cream helps target acne-related skin irritations. I appreciate the mild scent, which reminds me of baby lotion. The product itself absorbs quickly into my skin without leaving behind any greasy residue. After applying, my skin feels very hydrated, but there’s also a slight feeling of tightness, which I believe to be due to the acne medication working. Despite that unique ‘tight’ feeling, my skin wasn’t left feeling dry. This is going to be my new go-to each night before bed, and I’m hoping it’ll prevent breakouts.
ONEKIND Radical Repair Ultra Brightening Eye Balm, 4 ml - Estimated Value $12.86
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I am a huge fan of OneKind, so I’m thrilled to see this in my box. This Radical Repair Ultra Brightening Eye Balm is an incredibly small sample; I might be able to squeeze four uses out of this tube, and it wouldn’t be a generous portion. I am, however, a huge fan of the slanted applicator this product has. You can apply the balm right to your eyes without your finger having to touch the applicator or the product, and I love that. When first applying, the balm feels a bit thicker than I’m used to, but it does leave the skin feeling nice and buoyant. It has a Vaseline-type texture, and at this age, the more hydration I can get to my eyes, keeping those crow’s feet at bay, the better. I also recently learned that your eyelids can get just as saggy and wrinkly as any other part of your face without proper hydration, and for that, you need an eye product that’s completely eye-safe, and this eye balm seems to do the trick.
THE BEAUTY CROP Porefilter Pore Blurring Pressed Powder in Dark 4, 5 g - Retail Value $14.99
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The Beauty Crop is a brand that’s pretty new to me, but I really love the name of this product. ‘Porefilter’ makes me feel like it’s a phone filter I can apply to my face in real life, lol. In all seriousness, I couldn’t be happier with this Porefilter Pore Blurring Pressed Powder. I’m normally not a big fan of tinted powders, but now I see why… I have never before received a pressed powder that was such a great match for my skin tone. When I first swatched this powder, I could barely see it on my skin, which was impressive. The powder is very soft, and it’ll be perfect for keeping in my bag for quick touchups. It works great to matte down the shine that I can sometimes get, especially in warmer weather. I’m thrilled with this stuff.
Here is a swatch of the THE BEAUTY CROP Porefilter Pore Blurring Pressed Powder in Dark 4.
MANNA KADAR COSMETICS pH Balance Lip Balm, 1.6 g - Retail Value $19.00
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WOW! It’s been a while since I’ve seen Manna Kadar included in a subscription box, and I like this brand quite a lot, so I am super happy to see this in this month’s product curation. The first thing I noticed about this product was the cruelty-free bunny on the box, which makes me even happier. My next favorite thing about this product? On top of the actual lip balm, there’s a cute little pair of lips; seriously adorable. I love it. There’s a good amount of product in the tube too. The product feels like a luxurious lip balm. It’s a little softer than a chapstick texture and feels closer to a Vaseline texture. This is an excellent product to have on hand to keep my lips hydrated. I live in California, which is essentially a desert, and my lips get so dry, as well as my skin, so anything that hydrates and doesn’t clog pores is in the win column for me.
The Verdict
This was a great month for Ipsy Glam Bag! This month held products from a handful of high-end brand names that are always great to see in a subscription box. The highlight for me this month was The Beauty Crop’s pressed powder. This is the perfect match for my skin tone, and it’s going to be a great thing to have on hand to matte down my shine on those hot days of summer. OneKind is another favorite of mine, and their eye balm is great; it has a hands-free applicator, which I truly appreciate, and the balm leaves my eyes feeling ultra-hydrated.
I can always use another hydrating lip balm, and this one from Manna Kadar is my new fave. Benefit Cosmetics’ mascara, though not cruelty-free, is definitely a high-quality product that provides all-day wear and solid lash definition, thanks to the curved brush. Lastly, the luscious skin cream from Korres is great for keeping any breakouts at bay, and it does so without causing any irritation to my sensitive skin, despite the salicylic acid in the formula. Overall, I thought this was an awesome box. The product curation was excellent, and the value is there.
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Value – Was This Box Worth It?
The Cost: $13
Value Breakdown:
- Mascara: $9.88
- Cream: $19.50
- Eye Balm: $12.86
- Powder: $14.99
- Lip Balm: $19.00
The total retail value of these five items adds up to about $76.23, which is an awesome 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 September 2023 bag while stocks last.
What do you think of the August 2023 Ipsy Glam Bag?
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