Are you wanting to try new makeup products without the commitment of money and time spent at the beauty store? A great way to do this is by trying a deluxe sample bag subscription like Ipsy!
Ipsy has been around for a long time… since 2011 in fact!
When I started reviewing subscriptions years ago, this was one of the very first ones I tried. It was fun, I found some products that I really liked, and knew which ones to steer clear of and not waste money on. Ipsy hasn’t really changed all that much, but let’s look to see what they’ve improved on.
I got the February bag from Ipsy. Inside was an eyeliner with incredible staying power (more on this later), a lip product, shadow, and some skincare items. I have already found one product that I’m dying over, and which ones I’d rather pass on. The samples make great for small trips you have to take where you don’t want to bring your whole makeup bag and palettes. I brought the eyeshadow with me to the hospital when delivering my baby, and it was perfect.
How Much Does It Cost?
Getting started with Ipsy is simple and cheap. For $13 per month (plus handling and taxes), you’ll get a monthly Glam Bag of 5 deluxe sample sized products that are valued at $50+. No shipping costs!
You’ll also get a free trial with Refreshments by Ipsy, which is a personal care subscription that focuses on your skin, hair and body care. Once the free trial has ended, a membership to this subscription will depend on what you want to receive and how often to keep your basics stocked up on. Members of this subscription get 20-30% off of retail value, so prices start at about $6. We’ll have to do a review on this subscription some other time.
What We Like About Ipsy Glam Bag
I really liked the variety of the samples I received. They were from quality brands that I recognized, and seemed like nice products. Some of them seem like they’ll last me a while, like the Callyssee eyeliner.
The price wasn’t terrible. Maybe a little steep for receiving sample sizes, but it didn’t bother me that bad and I didn’t feel like I overpaid for what I got. It was really fun to try new products out, and I can see this subscription being a great way to look forward to something fun monthly and help get through the winter blues.
I also liked that I could get a free trial to Refreshments by Ipsy, a personal-care subscription service that helps you stay stocked up on your basic skin, hair and body care needs.
What We Don’t Like About Ipsy Glam Bag
First of all, when I received and reviewed this subscription years ago, I remember not liking all the little bags that I received every month with my samples. They don’t feel quality, and honestly were useless to me. I have either donated or thrown all of mine away, and will do the same with the most recent bag I got. Fun idea, but not executed well in my opinion. Especially if you don’t like clutter.
I also didn’t like how long it took to get my subscription- weeks! And before it came I was being bombarded with so many emails about deals and upgrades that it felt super spammy and annoying. Once again, if you don’t like clutter…
Here’s exactly what I got with Ipsy’s February Glam Bag subscription. Some of these items were knockouts!
GROWN ALCHEMIST Balancing Toner With Rose, Ginseng and Chamomile
This toner smells not the best. It’s very lightweight and absorbs super fast. It claims to help fade discoloration in skin tone, refine pores and maintain a healthy skin ph. It’s also alcohol free which is a plus! As a tip, rub the leftovers on your palms over the back of your hands to tone and smooth them too. The retail price on a full-size of this product is $36. This is a pass for me.
KARMELA COSMETICS Eyeshadow Duo in Ethereal and Mystique
I really like both of these shades of eyeshadow, but personally, not together. The Mystique shade is a warm peach tone and is matte. I loved this color and it went on very smoothly. The Ethereal shade is a light beige shimmer, and man! It is shimmery! I didn’t like this one as much as it was more difficult to apply, but it did make a pretty highlight. As a tip, you can use these as a blush and a highlighter instead. Retail price for the full size is $39. I’m thinking this product is a pass, and not a palette I would intentionally purchase in the future.
PINKLIPPS COSMETICS Everlasting Matte Liquid Lipstick in Classy Chick
I was not a fan of the color of this, I prefer lighter nudes and pinks, but it is a really pretty pink-coral color. I was impressed at the staying power of this matte lipstick (they claim up to 13 hours). As a tip, wait 30 seconds for the first layer to dry before applying another layer. It does dry quickly, so that’s a plus! Retail on a full sized tube is $12. I like the product and will research some of their other shades as this one is a pass for me.
CLINIQUE Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+
This is a cult favorite moisturizer from Clinique. It strengthens the skin’s moisture barrier by 34%, and provides 8 hours of hydration. As a tip, they say a little goes a long way, and I can confirm that! So start with thin layers and add more to certain areas if needed. It makes your skin feel smooth, and dries quickly. Retail for full size is $32.50. I’d buy this full size.
CALLYSSEE Intense Liquid Eyeliner
Ok, this liquid eyeliner had me like “WOW.” The staying power of this stuff…. It didn’t come off of the back of my hand almost all day. It’s an espresso color, which I was excited about because that looks more natural for daily wear over a black. The tip is more firm which helps with precision, it’s a water resistant liner (test that myself), and dries quickly. I got the full size for this product which is awesome because it will last me a while. As a tip, you can try filling in your brows with this product. I did, and it worked great! Retail is $22. I would absolutely repurchase this when it’s all gone.
REFRESHMENTS AT IPSY Self-Care Starter Kit Free Trial Period
In addition to my February Glam Bag, I got a free subscription to Refreshments by Ipsy. This is a personal-care subscription membership through Ipsy that focuses on skincare, haircare and body care products. Basically, you decide what you’d like to replenish and how often, which determines the cost of this subscription for you. I got the cleansing face wipes and the luscious hand cream to try. Personally, I wont be renewing this subscription, but they do have other products such as candles, razors, shampoo/conditioner, etc. If you’d like a subscription that helps keep your stock up on these items, then you might like trying this.
Final Thoughts
The February Glam Bag had 5 fun new products for me to try, and some were a total hit! I’m glad I discovered them. Others were a complete miss, which is also nice because now I know to not waste money on those products. They’re not for me. I also really enjoyed getting to try some Refreshments by Ipsy products, but will not be renewing my subscription.
Overall, I’d recommend this subscription if you’d like to try new products at a great price. The February Glam Bag was great, and I’ve already seen a preview of the March one. It looks like a good one!
