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.
