Ipsy Review – March 2017

ByLiz CadmanMar 9, 2017 | 106 comments

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Ipsy is a monthly beauty and makeup subscription box. Each month you get full-size or deluxe-sized products, plus a cute makeup bag. I think it’s one of the best value beauty subscriptions and a great way to build out your makeup collection on the cheap!

This is one of my top recommendations if you are looking for a beauty box - the value and sample sizes are amazing. (Check out my list of the Top Beauty Boxes for 2016 and our reviews of Cheap Subscription Boxes for more recommendations!)

(FYI – Just like Birchbox, Ipsy sends out many different variations of their bag each month – so my review is just one of the bag variations you might receive!)

My Subscription Addiction pays for this subscription. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes).

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The Subscription Box: Ipsy

The Cost: $10 a month (free shipping)

The Products: Full size and samples of makeup and beauty products. (Plus a makeup bag!)

Ships to: US and Canada

Delivered via: USPS

Check out all of my Ipsy reviews and the Beauty Subscription Box List!

Visit the Ipsy Swap Page to swap for any of the items you see in this review!

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Each month, ipsy subscribers get a makeup bag in addition to their 5 items. This bag is one of my favorite ipsy designs of all time!

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One one side, it has a honeycomb weave pattern with grey accent thread.

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And the other side is a soft, velour-like fabric in a beautiful blush pink.

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The bag is lined, and it has rose gold zipper hardware. Gorgeous! And I think this could definitely work as a foldover clutch, too!

Now, onto the items!

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Tarteist Lip Paint in Vibin - 1 ml Value $3.33

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This Glossy Lip Paint is a gloss/stain hybrid, and I found that it delivered pretty well on each front. The finish wasn’t super shiny on my lips, but it gave me a lot of moisture with a hint of shine, and the color worked well too – great pigment! (It doesn’t have the same staying power as a typical stain, though.)

(Swatched in lower photo.)

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MPrincess Pressed Eye Shadow in Chesnut - FULL SIZE? Value $11.50

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This eyeshadow is 1.7 grams, and I'm guessing it is the full-sized version. (I can't find sizing info on their site.)

It's a shimmery bronze, and the formula is creamy, so you can easily apply it without any fallout. The pigment is good, too.

Here it is swatched beneath the tarteist lip paint:

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Vasanti Contour Eyeshadow Brush 4 - Value $21

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This is a high-quality, soft bristle brush. It's designed to be used for shading and contouring the eye area. (You can use it for applying concealer, too.)

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Dr. Brandt Microdermabrasion Age Defying Exfoliator – .25 oz Value $9.90

This item has been showing up in a few of my subscription boxes lately, and I love it!

If you aren’t familiar with this exfoliator, it’s a highly-rated cult favorite beauty product!

The formula is an ultra-fine scrub you can use 1-2 times a week. I love the minty fresh scent, and how smooth it makes my skin feel. (I’ve seen a lot of reviewers mention it helped them with whiteheads/acne, etc.)

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OUAI Treatment Masque – 1 oz Value $13.30

This hair mask has the signature OUAI scent. I wouldn't recommend OUAI products if you are trying to minimize the scents in your products, but otherwise, it's like wearing a lovely fragrance in your hair!

This mask is on the thinner side, but as someone who has often over applied masks and wound up with greasy looking hair, that's fine by me.

You leave it on for 5-10 minutes then rinse out - easy enough! It definitely made my hair feel softer, and I like that you can use a smaller amount as just a regular conditioner, too.

Verdict: This box has a value of about $59. That's great for a $10 subscription box. (And that's not counting the value of the makeup bag!) This is one of my higher value ipsy glam bags in a while, and I'm really happy with it. The sample sizes and brands are great, and THE BAG! STUNNING!

What do you think of the March Ipsy Glam Bag? What items did you get in your bag?

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1813 Ratings | 300 Reviews

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 sample... read more.

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Posted in Beauty Subscription Boxes, Cheap Subscription Boxes, Makeup Subscription Boxes, Subscription Box Reviews, Subscription Boxes for Women

Liz Cadman

Liz is the founder of My Subscription Addiction. She's been hooked on subscription boxes since 2011 thanks to Birchbox, and she now subscribes to over 100 boxes. Her favorites include POPSUGAR Must Have, FabFitFun, and any box that features natural beauty products!

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106 comments

Kristie

I loved this months bag!!!! Not just the bag but the contents as well. I was only meh…. on one item of the five.

I love the fact that this bag is bigger and has the option of being full size. I just got home from a long weekend away after it arrived and found my travel makeup brushes fit perfectly into this months bag. So it is going to become my travel bag for makeup brushes.

I received the following samples

* MintPear Collagen Serum ~ this is the only one I was meh about because I don’t think the sample size was large enough to really get a feel for the product. But I also felt the ingredients in the product didn’t justify such a high price tag either. Your buying the brand name I guess.

* Dirty Little Secret Cosmetics Blush in Kitty Pink ~ perfect for my light/pale complexion

* Cake Desserted Island Supreme Body Mousse ~ this is a dream to use, it feels so nice on the skin and because I make lotion and stuff for a living, I’m pretty picky about my lotions and creams that I use.

* Elizabeth Mott Blending Brush ~ love this brush

* tarte cosmetics tarteist quick dry matte lip paint in rosé ~ love the color, but the dry quick formula makes the lips feel a tad tight after it dries in like 2.5 seconds. But a dab of lip gloss over it fixes the problem and feels great the rest of the wear time. Even long after the lip gloss wears off.

Totally worth 10$ and then some.

DancesWithFerrets

I was disappointed this month with the value of my bag not so much the products themselves. Although one of my samples of the Air Repair moisturizer had this weird manufacturer error where it had the foil seal but no hole for the product to come out of! So I tried to poke a hole but it just basically exploded. I e-mailed Ipsy about it but not sure what they can do. My bag this month was worth $32 compared to last months bag that was $100+. But at least I like all my samples right?!

Anne

If i subscribe now, do you think i will get the march bag? it is so cute!

Aneesa

I got the exact same bag, and I’m confused by your review of the tarte lip paint–I think you got the link/product wrong. It’s supposed to be their quick dry matte lip paint, so it really should be going on with full opacity and drying down matte on you! I tried mine out today, and that was definitely my experience. I have tried the glossy lip paints too, though–got one in my December ipsy, and those are definitely that weird gloss-stain combo. Anyway, I would recommend trying vibin out again and giving your lips a good coat of it!

Chauntelle T-Bentley

I still haven’t received my bag 😞. I actually had to email them because my bag hadn’t generated anything on the upset glambag page. I was billed but this month seems to be taking forever for everything I usually have my bag way before now. 😞 I wonder if they offer anything for it taking so long.

Nan

I haven’t received mine yet, either. It hasn’t even shipped 🙁

lemonberryblog

I loved my Ipsy bag this month – the items and the bag! I got the Vibin’ Tarte lipstick and I really love the colour and formula!

nsbrainey

I got my ipsy glambag and I love the bag!! It definitely reminds me of springtime and it matches with my new spring purse. ( Did not plan that) I took the survey from this website that allowed me to pick a product for my bag and I picked the snail cream. I actually received the snail cream and I like it. It’s super light feeling and hasn’t broken my face out or anything. The other items from my bag are okay. I keep getting the same shade of lipstick/lip gloss so I am not impressed with the tarte matte lipstick only because it is another red/berry lipstick for me and the 5th 1 from Ipsy even after I changed my profile. (smh) As I looked at all the products for this month, nothing stuck out to me except for the snail cream so I’m not too disappointed this month.

Karen

I loved my Ipsy bag this month. I got Dirty Little Secret blush,an eye shading brush,First Aid face cream,a hair oil that smells amazing and the same Tarte lipgloss that Liz got in a nude pink color. Another great Ipsy bag!

Panchis

This bag is AMAZING! Love that ipsy is putting so much effort on the bag designs lately! Love love love it!!

Steph

Boo I’m still waiting on my bag. The system says the shipping label was created last Thursday but there has been no shipping activity since then. I’m glad to see a lot of people liking their bags I’m super excited to get mine…maybe…hopefully soon?

Dayan

Finally caved in and subbed after resisting all this time lol
Will you ladies and gents think I’m crazy if I tell you the main reason I subscribed to ipsy is cuz of the bags haha
To me, it’s like paying $5-6 for the bag and the beauty contents make up for the rest of the cost lol total bag aficionado

Siren

It is interesting – I don’t care about the bags at all 🙂 Too bad you aren’t my neighbor, we could swap contents for bags!

Siren

I’ve got 5 years worth of these Ipsy bags lol!

liina

I love the bags too! I use them for organizing. I even keep my Kindle in one! This is my favorite one so far. I love that it doubles as a clutch and looks really pretty. I give away a lot of them too – usually with the ipsy goodies I know I won’t use but will look good on someone else.

Julia

I mean, that was definitely a selling point for me. Even if I have a month where I don’t like any of the makeup (which hasn’t happened yet), I’ll still have a bag! I’m very into organizing my odds and ends so I can never have too many. 🙂

Dayan

Comrade! Good to know I’m not the only one haha
Good idea about organizing!
Even if I’m going to receive designs I don’t like in the future, the bags will def be put into good use. Especially considering all the boxes I subbed…

Jennifer

I haven’t seen it posted yet, but one of my products was the “ModelCo Eye Define Retractable Crayon Liner in Black”. In the info section it boasts about having a built in sharpener, but I can’t for the life of me figure out where it is! Anyone else receive that item and find the built in sharpener? Oh the ModelCo page it looks like it’s a separate piece and should come apart somehow, but I feel like I’m going to break it if I pull any harder than I’ve already tried!

liina

Did you figure it out? I’m getting that too and thought it meant it sharpened it as you twisted it up. Hmmm.

Jennifer

That’s what I thought too until I checked out the ModelCo website. Maybe it’s a variation from the website because I definitely haven’t figured it out haha

Julia

My box arrived today. I haven’t seen my variation yet:

* Neogen Coconut Milk Pure Mild Cleanser
* Dirty Little Secret Cosmetics Blush in Kitty Pink
* tarte cosmetics
tarteist™ quick dry matte lip paint in rosé
* Skone Cosmetics Luxe Pro Blending Brush
* PÜR Cosmetics Disappearing Ink 4-in-1 Concealer in Light

I requested the PUR concealer, but I’m not a fan of the sample sit

Jody

I got everything you listed except for the PUR concealer. I even requested that. It is my first bag. I got Marc Anthony deep repair aloe vera jasmine conditioning treatment.
Does anyone know if you tell ipsy they didn’t send what you wanted will they do anything?

Julia

That’s really weird. Did they confirm your request? I received an email reply from ipsy about an hour after my request, and they said the concealer would be in my March bag. If they sent that kind of email to you, I think you could contact them and let them know you didn’t get the promised item. Otherwise, I think the request system is still in beta, and there’s no official guarantee. 🙁 I think you should still ask, though!

Julia

Ahh the site kept eating my comment. Anyway, I wasn’t a fan of the concealer sample size (0.07 oz) and the tube, because I couldn’t get any out until I got a giant blob all at once. 🙁 I’m not sure I’ll be able to try it out again. It was kind of yellow and dark for me, but it seems to counteract my undereye circles (as long as my foundation can conceal the yellow). The blush is a tad dark and the Tarte is a little warm for my taste, but I like the formula and can definitely use them both (plus I love Tarte!). I’ve wanted to try a milk cleanser, so that’s a welcome addition. Although I’m not familiar with this brush brand, I’m always excited for brushes and this one feels very soft (I’d have loved a mint green one though). And the bag is lovely!

Overall, it’s not a bad month, but I thought the samples were disappointingly small. Still, I got a great bag and several things I know I’ll use! 🙂

Laura

LOVE this month’s bag!! Totally made up for my horrible first ipsy bag last month. I love everything in it AND the bag is gorgeous! Thank you ipsy!!!!

Trisha

PUR Disappearing Ink in medium
Air Repair moisturizer
Eyeko Eye Stick in Satin
Tarte’s Lip Paint in Delish
Ouai Hair Mask

LOVE the bag! IPSY is always worth the $ for me.

Nice selection of products this month, I’d have been happy with any of them!

liina

How is the Eyko eye stick? I wanted that but then realized it would probably be a mess on my oily eyelids even with primer, but the color is so pretty!

Emily

I might have to rejoin!

Brooke

I’m so excited for both of my bags and what a beautiful design to get two of!

Bag #1:
Eyeko fat brow liquid liner
ladykin snail cream
City Color Photo Chic dark spot corrector
Tarte lip paint
Chella tweezers

Bag #2:
Tarte lip paint
Eva NYC mane magic 10-in-1 primer
Air Repair Skincare – complexion boosting moisturizer
Elizabeth Mott blending brush
Eyeko fat eye stick in satin

Is it ridiculous I am most excited for the tweezers? Something I KNOW I will use daily and I’ve never received tweezers before in any of my Ipsy bags.

Janet

My favorite item this month is the tweezers, too. I love them!

CMarie

Brooke-

Is there a particular way you went about getting such a variety in your two bags? I just started a second bag sub with Ipsy, and though I switched up my profile, I received three duplicates in the bags this month. I know this can happen, and it’s a risk since I’m getting two bags, but I like the idea of being able to try more items. Any suggestions? I also welcome suggestions from anyone else with two subs from Ipsy! Thanks!

One thing that’s kind of funny, is that the second sub now arrives a few days before the first sub, to the same address.

liina

We get 2 subs here, and we usually get at least one duplicate and occasionally the same bag, but I think it is because our profiles are so similar and we like a lot of the same things. So our reviews end up very similar. For example, this month we both requested the same thing and bags are identical except we each got a different hair product. Our bags usually come on different days, too. I think the main difference in our profiles is that one has adventurous and the other has still learning. I’d make very different profiles without asking for things you don’t want.

Beth

I notice some people posting about having two bags. How do you go about getting two subscriptions for one person? How do you manage to get two different bags as far as their content?

Marion

Use 2 different e-mail addresses.

Geena

Seriously! Do tell how please!

Jess Balliet

Not ridiculous! I got a new pair of slant tweezers from LF a couple months ago, and I was stoked! They were my favorite item in the box 🙂

Nan

Nice!

Donna

If I subscribed now would I get the March bag? This is the nicest bag that I’ve seen since I first subscribed and got a Rebecca Minkoff bag. The products seem to have improved since I subscribed a few years ago, too. I seriously love that bag!

Jen

The bag looks nice but the fold over thing is kinda cheap it’s just made of fabric I was disappointed a bit. I thought it would have something to keep it folded over inside the fabric.

daniellevargas115

I just got my bag today … and I agree it feels cheap. I already put it up for swap.

Riki_424

I get 3 yes, three bags a month. BUT I have a teenage daughter so we fight over the products in the third bag or if there’s a duplicate the other gets it. But we won’t need all three bags. I love the bag too, but I’d be happy to just mail you the bag

Donna

Riki, you are too sweet! I’ve tried twice to respond to your offer, but neither of them posted. I think that it’s because I included my email address. If you know how we can exchange addresses or email, let me know. Thank you so much!

Jess Balliet

THAT is super awesome of you to offer! I love seeing people share just for the sake of kindness 🙂 you’re a good egg!

Meepster

You could probably subscribe, then email customer service & ask if they will send you March as your first bag. I did that in October, thinking I’d get the Halloween bag, but my first scheduled bag was November’s. I emailed CS & got a reply within hours & they were happy to send out the October bag. Good luck!

Becca

No your first bag will be April. You have to sub before the first of the month to get that months bag.

Actually I think it depends on if they have leftovers or the waitlist stuff. I subbed in middle/late January via the “skip the waitlist” promo and was expecting to start with February but about a week later I got a notification that a January bag had shipped (I assumed the immediate charge was a credit card hold for February). So it’s hard to tell…

Michelle

Got my bag today, which was a surprise since I have never received it this early and didn’t even know it had shipped! Can only use one or two things in it this month, but still love it. 😊

Julia

Liz, how do you get your boxes so quickly? I live in Pittsburgh too, and there’s still no sign of Allure or ipsy. 🙁 I used to get Allure on the same day as you, but I guess not anymore…

I haven’t received FFF either (though I’m select and got add-ons), but they send you preview items so I’m guessing they just sent your box early for review purposes. That is okay except I want some surprises and am bad at resisting your reviews!

Riki_424

I’m guessing it’s because they know she reviews items and that we check out the website for spoilers, so they get them to her faster so she can show us what we get ahead of time. Otherwise we wouldn’t have Spoiler Alerts and Full Spoilers and Reviews, along with any information about the company that we may not hear of otherwise. This is my main go to site for coupon codes, spoilers, reviews, and any upcoming changes.

Seriously! Mine doesn’t even ship til the 11th and it takes over a week to get to the west coast…

Sam

I’m on the west coast and i’m supposed to get it today. i’m surprised because when i saw estimated delivery of 3/10, my first thought is “oh, I won’t get it for another two weeks” because it usually gets pushed back a couple of times before the real ship date. but lo and behold, it’s at the post office in CA!

WendyM

I agree! I’ve tried soooo many subs (and cancelled) over the last few years and just started ipsy 7 months ago and I love it! Cute new clean makeup bag plus new products- usually things I’ve never tried before and really affordable. Now one of my all time faves.

Tara

What I find interesting is the ouai hair mask is double the size that it was in Sephora play…

Nicole

Actually, it’s the same size. The one Sephora sent was 1oz also.

Tara

Check out the January play by Sephora review.

Tara

I’m looking at the bottle right now. It’s .5 oz in a giant bottle that looks like it an ounce.

Theresa

Yup, I’ve noticed this happens with Birchbox samples too (the real chemistry peel is a recent one that comes to mind). Another reason why I really love ipsy!

Sara

Is it really?! What a drag. That sample was crazy tiny. I even posted not to choose this sample because I assumed it would be the same size as Sephora’s.
Lame.

jenn

that’s because sephora play is a ripoff. lol I only sub because it’s easy to take one thing out and resell the rest on ebay. 😉

Victoria W

Sephora play is really a rip off. I save money by saving every single email they send me of buy something & you get this for free & bring all of them in (regardless of expiration date), & buy something I really need for only $25 & end up walking out with an entire bag full of samples. I recently brought 20 of these in after saving since November & everything they didn’t still have, was replaced with something else. They are absolutely an amazing store to deal with as a customer.

A complete ripoff!!!! I had to laugh and agree! 😆

Mel

This months bag looks awesome. I love the pattern

Katy

I am so excited for this bag!! It’s gorgeous. And Im very happy with my products this month. Im getting the snail cream, a Chella eyebrow highlighter, the Skone blending beush, the Doucce eyeshadow and the Tarte paint. I am hoping for rose or delish.

On a side note, the Dr Brandts is a miracle worker. I’ve been using it for a few weeks and its bring up stuff thats been under my skin for months. I’ve been able to pop a huge bump on both my forehead and chin that Ive had for so long because of it. Its taking some time to do it’s work but its definitely been worth it.

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Ipsy Review – March 2017

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