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Ipsy Reviews

Is Ipsy Right For You?

Updated June 5, 2023 | Verified Since 2023

Our reviewers research, test, and recommend the best subscriptions and products independently; click to learn more about our editorial guidelines. We may receive commissions on purchases made through links on our site.

Ipsy Overview

About the Brand

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 samples each month, plus a cute makeup bag. IPSY is personalised to your individual profile when you take their onboarding quiz. 

Ipsy Plans Pricing and Comparison

You subscribe to either the standard Glam Bag or upgrade to BoxyCharm by IPSY (formerly Glam Blag Plus and Boxycharm base).

You also have the option to subscribe to the Icon Box (the former Glam Bag X), which is a quarterly replacement for either of the other plans. For Icon Box, Ipsy collaborates with a celeb to curate additional full-size products for you to pick from and boosts your bag.

Note: Icon Box quarterly replacement months are February, May, August, and November.



Key Info

  • Price:$13.00 Monthly
  • Founded In:2011
  • Ships To:US and Canada
  • Retail Value:$50.00

What It’s Like to Subscribe to Ipsy

 

Read reviews further down the page, too, for more personal experiences.

How Ipsy Works

Subscribing to Ipsy is easy - the sign up process starts with a quiz which helps them match you with products they think you’ll love.

You pay for your first bag upfront, but then each month you’ll be charged at the end of the month before your next month’s bag ships. (See plans and pricing below)

But it’s not all sitting and waiting - each month, you also get to choose 1 or more products depending on your plan. These choices are also customized to you and are only available while supplies last, so make your choices as early as possible!

Your delivery will come in Ipsy packaging, and all your products come in a usable new makeup makeup bag, too.

Once you’ve had a chance to try out your products, you can go in and rate what Ipsy sent you to help give feedback that they then use to improve your future bags - the more feedback you give, the better Ipsy gets at giving you products you’ll be delighted with.

If you’re not satisfied or you just don’t need any makeup for a while, you can skip or cancel your subscription via your profile and aren’t committed long term.

Ipsy Plans Pricing and Comparison

You subscribe to either the standard Glam Bag or upgrade to the Boxycharm by IPSY (formerlyGlam Bag Plus.)

You also have the option to subscribe to the Icon Box, which is a quarterly replacement for either of the other plans. For the Icon box, Ipsy collaborates with a celeb to curate additional full-size products for you to pick from and boosts your bag.

Your Plan Ipsy Glam Bag Ipsy Glam Bag Plus Ipsy Glam Bag X
Frequency Monthly Monthly Quarterly Replacement
Price per Delivery $13 $28 $55
Products 5 Samples 5 Full-Size 8 full-size
Products You Pick One Three Three

Note: Glam Bag X quarterly replacement months are February, May, August, and November.

See full Glam Bag Plus reviews here.

See full Glam Bag X reviews here.

Ipsy Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Premium products with great brand selection variety
  • Personalized
  • Affordable
  • Complete makeup kit with makeup bag every month

Cons

  • Could be frustrating if product personalization misses the mark
  • If you miss choice time you could miss out on a product you might have wanted

What Else You Should Know About Ipsy

 

Get the most out of your Ipsy Subscription: Two factors play a big role in what products are sent to you each month: (1) the quiz you take when signing up, and (2) the feedback you give about the products you receive each month. The more information you share the better your products will be!

Update the quiz on your profile whenever your preferences change or if your products aren’t quite right, in addition to rating your products every month so Ipsy can deliver better products for you next month.

You can choose one product each month - Don’t forget! You do get the ability to customize your bag by making a choice each month, but supplies are limited. If you want to get your first choice, be sure to log in and choose as early as possible. We announce choice time each month so be sure to log in and follow ipsy on this page to get an alert! You can also see the deadline ahead of time by checking upcoming events on Ipsy’s site.

You can earn points to redeem for products. Referring friends to Ipsy can earn you points towards add-ons.

Is Ipsy Worth It?

 

After over 100 full box reviews and 1000 user ratings, we think Ipsy definitely ranks as one of the “must try” subscriptions if you’re looking to explore beauty subscriptions and try the latest trends. It’s hard to go wrong starting with the basic Glam Bag at only $13. If you like it and find yourself needing your products to last longer, then upgrading to BoxyCharm can bring full sizes. Or, if you only want to go big once a quarter, the Icon Box can get you more products in full sizes, plus stay on top of the latest trends with celeb curations.

How Ipsy Compares to Other Top Beauty Subscriptions

 

Ipsy VS Boxycharm: Boxycharm is comparable to Ipsy Glam Bag Plus as they both send five full-size products each month. Glam Bag Plus is $28 whereas Boxycharm is $25. Ipsy is customized to you and comes in a makeup bag, whereas Boxycharm is more standardized to everyone with less variation and comes boxed. Ipsy actually acquired Boxycharm in 2020, so they’re now the same company--so today, the Ipsy Glam Bag Plus and BoxyCharm are now the same subscription. You'll personalize your bag by taking the beauty quiz and choosing 3 products for your bag each month.

Ipsy VS Allure Beauty Box: Allure Beauty Box is most comparable to the Glam Bag Plus as well, priced at $23 compared to Glam Bag Plus at $25. You can get Allure down under $21 per bag if you commit to a whole year subscription. With Allure you receive five or more products each month, but only three are guaranteed full-size compared to Plus’ five full-size products. With Allure your products are curated by editors of the magazine, but they are less personalized than with Ipsy.

Ipsy VS Birchbox: Birchbox costs $15 and is most comparable to the basic Ipsy Glam Bag at $13. Both boxes send you five sample-sized products. Birchbox tends to deliver more well-known brands and also leans a little more into skincare and wellness products rather than strictly makeup and beauty. Birchbox was recently re-acquired and is trending more towards health and how your nutrition can affect your skin, so expect to see more of those types of products appear as optional add-ons or one-time boxes, if not in your regular Birchbox delivery.

 

There are many more beauty subscription brands, see the list of best beauty subscriptions for more details.

Ipsy Reviews

Ipsy News

Ipsy Spoilers

Ipsy FAQ

Does IPSY Glam Bag send full-size beauty products?
IPSY Glam Bag typically sends 1-2 full-size products per box, curated alongside 3-4 deluxe sample sizes. However, the BoxyCharm by IPSY ($28/month) sends 5 full-size beauty products per month, and IPSY Icon Box ($58/quarter) delivers 8 full-size products.
What types of beauty products does IPSY send?
A wide variety! You can expect to see cosmetics like lip gloss, eyeliner, eyeshadow, mascara, bronzer, and highlighter, as well as skincare items such as moisturizer, cleanser, oils, and serums. You might also find hair products or other goodies nail polish in there!
Does IPSY let me choose what comes in my box?
IPSY Glam Bag members get to choose 1 item per box. This is called Choice. You’ll be offered 10 products to choose from, and after you’ve made your selection, IPSY will fill out the rest of your box with surprise items to complement your choice, based on the answers to your beauty quiz. BoxyCharm by IPSY ($28/month) members get to choose 3 out of their 5 items in a similar system. Icon Box ($58/quarter) members will get to choose 3 products as well but from a variety of exclusive items.
How do IPSY add-ons work?
PSY allows Glam Bag, BoxyCharm, and Icon Box subscribers to include up to 10 add-ons in their regular shipment. Every month on the 2nd of the month, beginning at 6 AM PST, IPSY will activate their add-ons page for 24 hours. During that time frame, you can shop deluxe samples for $3.50 each and full-size items for $12 or $18 each. Anything you choose will be included in your next IPSY subscription shipment, which means they’ll ship for free.
Is shipping free for my IPSY subscription?
Shipping is free for US customers and costs a flat rate of $2.95 to Canadian customers.
Where did Glam Bag Plus and Glam Bag X go?
The former IPSY Glam Bag Plus ($28/month) subscription tier is now “BoxyCharm by IPSY” for the same price, and all the same benefits. The former Glam Bag X ($55/month) is now Icon Box, for the same price, and not guaranteed 8 full-size products in each shipment.
Does IPSY offer gift subscriptions?
IPSY does not have a specific gifting program, but you can sign a friend up for this subscription by completing their beauty profile for them and using their email address to register. During the process of subscribing for a friend, they’ll have an inactive membership, which IPSY will move to active ASAP.
How do I cancel my IPSY membership?
Start the cancellation process from your IPSY account. After following the steps, you will receive an email to finalize your cancellation. Be sure to click the link in the email or your cancellation request will not be processed.

You must confirm your cancellation via email by 12pm PT on the last day of the month if you don’t want the upcoming month’s Glam Bag. If you confirm your cancellation after 12pm PT, your membership will not end until the following month.

For annual subscribers, you’ll still receive the rest of your Glam Bags for the year, but your membership will not renew.

User Reviews

Subscriber Ratings

3.9 overall rating
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Subscriber Photos

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Subscriber Reviews

Write A Review
MissBlair0220
MissBlair0220
2 reviews
"Ipsy Glam bag For Life"
Feb 25, 2022
I love Ipsy! I can only speak for the regular glam bag tier as I've been a member for years now. For any subscription or level within, I actually prefer my cute little sample sizes, although I've noticed many dislike their significantly smaller size and limited contents but I find them almost "collectible" in a sense, typically because of their rarity and unique nature. Ipsy maintains such a wide array of products every month which is incredibly appreciated! I even enjoy looking at the products I DONT get. Many brands I recognize, many I don't, which keeps things spicy. Always up to par on having recent launches for various popular brands. I can't imagine not getting an Ipsy Glam bag every month, it's become a normality for my life.
Debrajea
Debrajea
1st Time Poster!
"I wanted to thank EPSY, for making my days happier, when I receive my glam bag.❗🎉🏆"
Jan 24, 2022
I must say IPSY, makes my day happier. And especially now during this time, at least I have something to look forward to, when I get my IPSY Glam bag, I have a much better day. The things that come in my glam bag I never would have thought of buying. The products are very exclusive. I believe only the richer people, know about these products. Thank you EPSY. LOVE, Debrajea💓❗
Virginia Ott
Virginia Ott
1st Time Poster!
"Glam bags"
Nov 11, 2021
I love my ipsy bags I can't wait till the beginning of each month to get mine ☺️ Virginia Ott thanks
sue derby
sue derby
1st Time Poster!
"Glamour Bag"
Oct 23, 2021
I love everything and use it all, The eye shadows are a little shiny
Holly Jones
Holly Jones
1st Time Poster!
"Blue Is Perfection!"
Oct 1, 2021
Blue Plus Bag 🏆 Green looks like it should have yard lines or a baseball diamond on it! Do the Glam Bag the same as the Glam Plus! Now that would be perfection! Red 😑
Trisha Balmer
Trisha Balmer
1st Time Poster!
"So much fun"
Jun 1, 2021
I get the smallest bag, the regular glam bag. I've been a subscriber for 18 months now. I have never skipped a month. In that year and a half, I've received maybe 3 duplicate items. One of those was a product I redeemed points for and then got the same product in my glam bag that month. Not too bad in my opinion. I keep my preferences updated and I rarely get a product that I don't like or won't use. My extra bags and products make nice basket and bag stuffers for birthday presents and raffle baskets for fundraiser donations. I look forward to getting my IPSY Glam Bag in the mail every month.
Brenda Smith
Brenda Smith
1st Time Poster!
"Ipsy is great for trying new products and different brands."
May 6, 2021
I really love getting Ipsy bags each month. This is one thing I get for myself. I love trying new makeup and discovering new brands. Ipsy also includes a card with a description of how to use the product and if you follow them on Instagram they have tutorials of the products. I've been subscribing to Ipsy over 5 years and I still get excited when I see the pink package in the mail. If they happen to send something you wouldn't use you can usually gift it to someone who will love it.
jake
jake
1st Time Poster!
"this is a fantastic company that I want to keep ordering"
May 1, 2021
These guys are the best, love all the products
Kristen Thibodeaux
Kristen Thibodeaux
1st Time Poster!
"10/10 Recommend! "
Apr 30, 2021
I’ve been doing Ipsy for about 4 months now and I really love it. For full disclosure I used Ipsy previously around 2013-2014, but chose to discontinue my subscription after a year. My sole purpose for cancelling was because the algorithm was awful! This year, I cancelled another sub box and I was looking to dip my toe back into sub boxes and I chose Ipsy. I tweaked my quiz and waited patiently for my first bag. I have to say that each bag improves upon the previous. I try and or use every item from these more recent bags (previously I was using maybe one item or gifting the bags to friends). I 100% recommend trying Ipsy if you are curious. Take time, fill out the beauty quiz and then rate your items monthly - that feedback is critical for the algorithm! Also, as an added bonus, you can pick one item per bag that is completely customized by yourself! This is my favorite part of the Ipsy sub!
Sarah S
Sarah S
1st Time Poster!
"Love love love IPSY plus!"
Apr 30, 2021
I’m so glad I upgraded to IPSY plus 1 year ago. It’s been amazing. I have all my make up and skin care covered every month, and the brands are lux, innovative and new. By far my favorite subscription.

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