As I’m new to the Ipsy world, this is my first Icon Box! From the start, I was really surprised by the products available to pick from and the overall theme centered around Patrick Starrr’s picks. Even though I’m more of a skincare person, I know everyone and their mothers are obsessed with One/Size, so I was really excited to try some of these products and see if they live up to the hype or not.
The Ipsy Icon Box is a $60 quarterly beauty and makeup subscription box available for Ipsy members. It replaces your usual monthly bag in February, May, August, and November. It provides outstanding value, always including at least 8 full-sized products worth up to $350. It’s definitely one of the greatest perks of being an Ipsy subscriber.
My Subscription Addiction paid for this box. (Check out the editorial guidelines to learn more about how we review boxes.)
First Impressions
Everything arrived carefully wrapped in this protective layer. I’m really loving this new wrapping because everything arrives in perfect condition.
I also loved the magazine-style booklet inside that explained everything Patrick Starrr picked for us. Patrick is probably one of the most controversial, loved, and popular makeup artists right now. They’re all about makeup and beauty being a one-size-fits-all, which is the philosophy behind his ONE/SIZE brand.
Let's See What's Inside
Benefit Cosmetics The POREfessional Tight n’-Toned Pore-Refining AHA+PHA Toner – $34
I usually love funky products like this one. I mean, a foaming toner?! The texture is exactly what you’d think of…very foamy. But it instantly melts and transforms into a classic water toner. I do believe the foam helps it get absorbed by the skin quicker and it didn’t leave a residue feeling whatsoever.
But, I personally found the foam-to-water texture a bit messy to work with, even though I’m used to applying toners without a cotton pad.
Does it give you poreless skin immediately? No. But it does have killer ingredients that can reduce the appearance of pores with continued use. So, maybe it's something to test for a bit.
Kosas GrowPotion Fluffy Brow + Lash Boosting Serum – $48
Clearly, my review of this product is based on the product itself, not the results. I’d have to circle back after using this long enough to see if it actually worked. Having said that, I love the packaging of this serum. It’s nice and sturdy, so it does feel elevated.
The serum inside is more of a watery gel that is instantly absorbed by the skin, leaving no residue or stickiness, which I appreciate. The applicator I found perfect for the eyebrows, but it was very chunky and difficult to use around my eyelashes.
In fact, I didn’t realize this worked for eyelashes until I read the full instructions. Mostly because it’s hard to avoid the corner of the eye with this big applicator tip, so yes, there were many (many) tears involved.
Do I think this product belonged in this box? Honestly, no. I would have preferred to see a tinted brow gel with a serum to help them grow. Something more makeup-related!
ONE/SIZE Cheek Clapper 3D Blush Trio Palette – $38
The website says these formulas are packed with intense pigment, so a little goes a long way. That’s only true when you layer these three, though. 👀 Used individually, the shades aren’t as pigmented, but they’re still buildable. However, when used in this order: cream, matte, sheen, the results are impressive.
I usually prefer cream-based products, so I was obsessed with the cream blush in this palette. It gives me a lovely sun-kissed effect and it’s very buildable, even using your fingers!
The matte wasn’t my favorite by itself because it didn’t show up with my complexion. However, on top of the cream, it really intensifies the color of the cream, so be careful here! I had to tone it down a bit after applying way too much.
The last step is the sheen, which to me, looks more like a highlighter. Having said that, I never had a highlighter that complemented my blush so well, so instead of getting this blush+highlighter look you usually get, you really have this 3D effect happening on your cheeks that’s honestly wild! Using this palette as instructed really gave me that professional makeup look in less than five minutes.
I was fairly surprised by this one.
ONE/SIZE Turn Up the Base Blurring Foundation – $35
I was really (really) excited to try this product. First of all, this is a BBB cream, not just a foundation. It’s supposed to give you a light, buildable, blurring wear. I got shade Medium, and it was a perfect match. However, for a brand that says they’re about inclusion, having only 18 shades feels restrictive.
Now onto the good stuff. The texture is lightweight, watery, and goes on super smoothly – like a thick serum? A little bit goes a long way for this one, and it starts with medium coverage. A second layer will give you that full makeup look.
What really surprised me was the blurring effect. I applied this without any primer or setting powder, and it was ready to go. It really does a great job at absorbing oil and giving you a skin-like matte finish. Even for me, with my acne in full anger mode, it gave me filter-like skin in seconds.
My only complaint was the bottle itself. The tip gets all messy with leftover products, which drives me crazy.
Still, I will definitely be repurchasing this one again. It was a great makeup find! 💖
Saturday Skin Pretty Pop Probiotic Power Cream – $45
This is supposed to be a trending moisturizer, but I feel like this was big last year, not now. Nonetheless, it’s a great moisturizer that leaves a nice dewy finish. It also wears well under makeup, so maybe that’s why they added it?
I will say though, this is best for dry skin types, as it can be a bit too thick and heavy for oily skin types. I’ve used this in the past and liked it, but I think I’ll save it for when Florida weather isn’t as close to the sun as ever possible. 🥵🔥
Fenty Skin Flash Nap Instant Revival Priming Eye Gel-Cream – $36
This was one of my picks. Mostly because I always struggle with eye makeup and I wanted to see if this lived up to its hype. First of all, the texture is VERY watery, so I ended up applying way too much product and the whole process became a bit messy. You also need to wait for it to fully dry before putting on makeup, otherwise, it breaks your concealer.
Was it everything I expected? No. But I do feel it helped my concealer stay on more smoothly for longer, so I appreciate that. I won't be repurchasing this.
Kosas Plump + Juicy Lip Booster – $25
I’m usually not a fan of lip plumpers, mostly because they work for like a minute and that’s about it. However, I’m a huge fan of lip oils and tints that make my lips look healthier, and this is it. It’s NOT sticky whatsoever. I can definitely see why this is one of Patrick’s best options for making sure your makeup stays on all day long! It’s perfect for when you know you’ll be wearing a matte lipstick or a formula that’s usually on the drier side.
Formula Z Happy Stick Duo Lip Liner Squad + Artistry Sharpener – $42
Since I’m usually a lip gloss kind of girl, I rely on lip liners to add a touch of color. These liners are as pigmented as they can get and the shades are the perfect pink-nude shades for everyday makeup. The formula itself is quite creamy and applies very easily. The color stayed on for hours and it never felt cakey or uncomfortable, which is rare in lip liners. The add-on of the sharpener is also a nice touch!
Dr. Lara Devgan Peptide Eye Cream – $215
I left the beauty boost pick for last because, well, it's an eye cream that costs over $200! I was uber excited to try this one. First of all, Dr. Devgan is like THE plastic surgeon of celebrities and her skincare line is well on the prestigious price point? 💸 So having a chance to try this product in the box felt like the ultimate perk.
But, here we are. The bottle and packaging itself didn’t feel ultra-luxurious, if anything it was quite generic. 💔
The formula in itself is obviously where this product shines with tons of peptides to help stimulate collagen production and reduce fine lines. It does feel nice and creamy, and goes on very smoothly. Do I notice results? Not yet, but I promised myself to use this RELIGIOUSLY to see if I can actually see a difference.
To be honest, $215 for an eye cream still feels outrageous – I don’t think I could ever justify spending so much on eye cream.
Value – Was This Box Worth It?
The Cost: $60
Value Breakdown:
- Toner: $34
- Brow Serum: $48
- Blush Palette: $38
- BBB Cream: $35
- Moisturizer: $45
- Eye Gel-Primer: $36
- Lip Booster: $25
- Lip Liner: $42
- Eye Cream: $215
My Spring Ipsy Icon Box came in with a retail value of $515 – 42% of it is from Dr. Devgan’s eye cream though. 👀 Still, it’s clearly worth the price of the box.
Having said that, I feel this isn’t the Icon Box I hoped for considering the curator is Patrick Starrr. I thought I would find more daring makeup picks. It would have been nice to get some bold lipsticks, maybe a couple of glitter eyeshadows, or an epic brow pencil. Items that I (and probably everyone else) more closely associate with Patrick!
This box was filled with products that were okay, but nothing really wow or indulgent in itself. Obviously, it’s still a great deal and it’s totally worth it. But I feel like most makeup lovers would have been a bit disappointed with this one.
What products did you choose? Did you receive something exciting that I didn’t? Let’s talk in the comments!
Other Things You Should Know
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? No. Icon box is a quarterly subscription, so subscribe for the Summer curation.
What do you think of the May 2024 IconBox by Ipsy Box? Which items did you get?
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