The to-your-door beauty subscription service Ipsy is taking makeup addiction to a new level. For $10 a month, users (also known as “Ipsters”) receive a personalized set of five high-end beauty samples in a themed bag.
These Glam Bags have the potential to revolutionize the way makeup is purchased. Instead of a series of hit-and-miss buys at the drug store or Macy’s beauty counter, subscribers are able to try out several products at a low cost before deciding to invest in larger sizes.
Business is booming for founder Michelle Phan, a YouTube makeup celebrity turned successful entrepreneur. In case you haven’t heard of this cosmetics mogul, let these numbers speak for her influence and following. She has over eight million subscribers and the hits on her videos range from 400,000 to three million.
I have known about Phan’s company Ipsy for a few months now. After several frustrating drug store makeup purchases, I took the plunge and subscribed to Ipsy. This is my experience with and review of the service.
The Process
I will say that in order to subscribe there are a series of hoops one must jump through. For instance, I had to send out what seemed like a truckload of Facebook status updates, messages to friends, and tweets about Ipsy before I could subscribe. The business model came across as annoying to me but then again it is an integral part of the service’s success.
After subscribing, Ipsy asked me for my eye, hair, and skin color along with skin type and the kind of products I most frequently use. Seems pretty thorough for a survey. From there I was asked to fill out which brands I liked or used to help personalize my Glam Bag. My eyes grew huge when I saw names like Smashbox and Urban Decay listed. Could it be true? Could a tiny Sephora or Ulta be mailed to my door for $10 a month?
The Reality
Ipsy does in fact send high-end beauty samples. They really do. But beauty bloggers will be quick to point out that Ipsy sends lesser-known or cheaper brands more often than not. Think NYX and ELF. In my brief time as a subscriber, I’ve received products from fairly expensive yet not well known brands. For instance, last month I received eye shadow from Marsk Cosmetics – an organic, natural makeup company out of Australia and England.
If you are on the hunt for only the most recognizable names, my recommendation is to look elsewhere. Ipsy is not yo thang. Part of the fun of Ipsy is trying new things (cliché, I know). This includes colors and brands.
My OFRA eyebrow pencil from last month retails for $13, worth the price of the Glam Bag itself. The creamy eyeliner pencil from theBalm, cheekily named “Mr. Write (Now),” retails for $17 and I ended up loving the gold color I would normally never pick for myself. Yay for trying new things!
So we are getting out of our comfort zone and exploring the wide world of cosmetics. As mentioned, Ipsy does send high-end samples to its subscribers.
This month I received a sample size of Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Oil (score!) but as you will see, the sample size was very, very, (did I say very?) tiny.
And without making this sound like a gripe parade, I was slightly disappointed in the eyeshadow. This month’s eye shadow is pictured below on the right with last month’s on the left. Although this month’s eye shadow was sparklier, it was too similar in color to last month’s.
Another point of contention… My Glam Bag got the Trust Fund Beauty nail polish while others received Ciaté (insert grouchy emoji here). Consider this an official warning; some months there will better Glam Bags than other. It all depends on what an Ipster defines as “better” among brands.
I was surprised to discover my love of the OGX Quenching Coconut Curls Butter. This was a full size sample of a fairly low-end product. But for all the hate that comes out (e.g. “Why do I pay for a high-end beauty subscription that sends me drugstore products?”), I enjoyed the coconut curls butter. One can use it as a conditioning treatment in the shower or work it in damp hair after to leave in and style.
I opted for the latter option. The butter was great because it let me throw my hair up to dry a bit as I continued to get ready. No fussy hair product here. The awesomeness also comes from the fact it’s coconut. If you try to tell me coconut is disgusting, I will fight you… maybe. Probably not. I’m actually not a fighter.
The Bottom Line
Subscribing to Ipsy can be a fun way to change up a normal makeup routine while also helping to fight spur-of-the-moment impulse drugstore purchases. The small sizes are fun and will not gather dust in the bottom of a vanity drawer (oops) and there isn’t after-purchase guilt either. An open mind and realistic expectations may let you fall in love with Ipsy too.
This is the end product of February’s Glam Bag. I’m pretty happy with the results.
My February Glam Bag
- OGX Quenching Coconut Curls Butter………….(full size) $7.99
- Naked Cosmetics Eye Shadow………………………….(full size) $14.99
- Trust Fund Beauty Nail Polish………………………….(full size) $15.00
- Vintage by Jessica Sparkling Lip Gloss……………….(full size) $21.00
- Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Oil……………..(full size) $42.00
Savings?
The full size products I received (curl butter, eye shadow, and nail polish) would total to $37.98. Subtract the $10 monthly fee and that leaves us with $27.98 saved. Not too shabby! *There are no prices on the sample sizes for the lip gloss and primer oil.
Are you considering trying out a subscription to Ipsy? First, consider these pros and cons.
Pros
- Wide variety
- Personalization
- Offers some cruelty-free and/or organic, all-natural products
- Mid- to high- end brands
- Occasional full size products
- New zip bag per month
- Discounts on full-size cosmetics
- Reward points system
Cons
- Slow shipping
- Potentially broken items
- Low-end brands
- Bag designs can be tacky
- Forced social media posts
As you can see, at least from my perspective, the pros outweigh the cons. Why not give it a try? You might just fall in love! HCXO