Ipsy Review – January 2014

I love SKIIN products. I use their blushes and pallets and a primer as well as a scrub. Honestly I have very sensitive skin and have always been afraid to try new products but skiin has been nothing but wonderful. While expensive it is worth every dollar.

I was pretty disappointed in my bag. Here is what I received and my thoughts – http://mittenswithbuttons.com/january-ipsy-glam-bag-review/

I’ve been with ipsy for almost a year now (started after cancelling my almost 2 year long subscription with birchbox due to lackluster boxes) and i’m shocked when people say they don’t like it! they consistently give me the best value for my money, and products i actually want to use. at this point, you can have my whole collection of makeup bags because i have too.damn.many. unsubscribing for the reason of not liking the bag itself alone seems silly to me when this bag definitely provides the best value in samples for the price.

This was my first bag with IPSY and I am not impressed. I send a message telling IPSY that the smell was overpowering and asking IPSY if this smell was normal. Here was their response.

“Thanks for contacting ipsyCare. Sorry about that! The custom design on the January Glam Bag required more ink than previous bags, and in some batches it may still be settling. After a few hours outside the package, the scent should fade. Please let us know if you have any other questions or concerns!

We fully trust our partners to provide us with quality and safe products, and can assure you that the smell is not harmful.”

I was not expecting an answer telling me the ink (Aka chemicals) used in all their bags are the same. The January box just required more ink and should fade. I really do not feel comfortable with this. I order from ULTA.com quite a bit and received much nicer bags. Not being able to use the one from IPSY takes away from the experience of getting this subscription. I am canceling my subscription.

I am on the wait list, sounds like a good time to be waiting.

I actually LOVE my box this month. I received a few different things: http://50thingsbeforeiturn50.com/2014/01/19/january-ipsy/

I feel like this is one of the few times the bag looked like what I completed in quiz, first time in a very long time.

This was the bag that finally convinced me to cancel Ipsy. They always have really great samples of things I’d love to try… I just never seem to get them! I end up with the mismatched foundation and the foil packets. When this bag showed up (after being stuck in Maryland for 5 days… um.) reeking of whatever toxic chemical the ink is made out of, I knew it was time to give up the ghost. Ipsy deleted all my comments on their facebook page too. A little shady.

I was so hoping to get that Malin + Goetz lip balm but didn’t!

I found my Ipsy bag kind of underwhelming this month. I got the mojito lip balm (like it but giving it to my husband since he’ll get more use out of it, I’m not a fan of the applicator either), the soy leave in conditioner (big fan of it!) proactiv wipes (eh, it is supposed to be part of their system, not sure about using 4 wipes individually), the eye cream (this I like), and the shimmer stick (which isn’t adjustable, so all you get is what you see poking out), and an AWFUL smelling bag (I’ve hand washed the bag about 4 times now and it’s starting to get better, I actually quite like the design for traveling, since it’d be bright enough to see in my bag, but we’ll see). I’ve been a subscriber since May, and this is the first bag I have NOT loved, so it’s still a big fat PLUS in my opinion.

Was totally underwhelmed with Ipsy and this was my first bag. I got the Deep conditioner (nice size though), packets of Proactiv wipes, face cream, eyeliner, and Mica lip balm (I just don’t like the ones where you have to apply it with a finger…just kinda nasty to me). Overall was not impressed. And the bag was just kinda blah.

I’ve cancelled this and Birchbox. I’m going to concentrate my money on bigger boxes like Saffron and Glossybox and leave those two behind.

I received the same items that you did, and LOVED every single one. I will use every product, and the scrub is amazing (yes, mine leaked a bit too, but according to other readers you can call them and get a new bag at no extra charge).

This might be my last Ipsy bag. They would have a great service if they could somehow customize colors and products a little better. It’s not really a good value to get a $16 Em lipstick, if the color is horrendous. So, I didn’t like a single thing in my bag this month, and I find myself thinking that I am not really using anything from past months, except for a moisturizer sample and the Delectable hand lotion. This month I got the lip gloss in tan, foundation, foundation brush, face wipes, and a small face lotion (got Glossybox so I am full up on really good moisturizers). I love your site, and can’t wait to see your swap service, have yet to have anyone follow through on Ipsy swaps through their site. 

I actually didn’t like what came in my bag this month 🙁 This is what I got:

Benefit The POREfessional – This is probably the only thing I like but won’t get much use out of since it is a small sample.
Malin+Goetz Mojito Lip Balm – Has a nice scent but weird applicator. I believe this was the only full size thing I got.
Balanced Guru Balm Me Up Organic Sweet Cocoa & Tangy Body Balm – smells awful and very oily. Boo!
Absolute! Makeup Cleansing Tissue – smells awful. I couldn’t wait to put my moisturizer on to cover the smell.
yaby Liquid Foundation – I don’t wear foundation… just my MAC Studio Fix.

This month I received an E. M. smooth shadow pencil, Mica Gloss in Fiesta, Absolute wipes, Leeanni 3 in 1, and the Sexy Hair conditioner. Overall, I am pleased with the products I received and how quickly the bag arrived! One product didn’t interest me so I just gave it away to someone who’d like it. Getting an assortment of makeup, skincare, and haircare while seeing new brands is like a breath of fresh air! My Ipsy cosmetic bag had that strange smell though I think the smell is fading. Definitely looking forward to the February Ipsy bag!!! 🙂

The bag smelled TERRIBLE! I thought it was cute and I sent the bag to my daughter…she will love it!

This Ipsy bag was just so so. I also have that strong plastic smell in my bag. As for it’s contents:
– Briogeo deep conditioning mask
– Mica tinted lip balm in Fiesta
– Mott Smooth Shadow in Pearl
– Nourish Organic Face Lotion
– 4 Proactiv Mark Fading Pads

I wish the Pearl shadow was a full size because I like that color. I also like the size of the hair mask. I guess my haul is ok, just used to getting one full size item and the bag not smelling like plastic.

The skiin eye cream is pretty good. I’ve used the samples I got as moisturizer instead (I don’t have issues like puffiness or anything) My skin is dry, sensitive, and oily and have several breakouts from just using daily cleanser alone. It works well, no negative reactions. Plus a little goes a long way~

I guess I’m weird, I love the “chemical” smell of the bag haha. It reminds me of new inflatable pool toys.

Ahh so jealous, I wanted that Malin Mojito lip balm so badly but i got the Mica Beauty tinted lip balm instead, oh well.

The skiin eye cream is good.

I wish I got the sugar scrub and the eye pencil. I got the face lotion, foundation brush, Epice exfoliant, tinted lip balm, and the liquid foundation.

Mine had a chemical smell too! It was terrible and made my whole bathroom stink, I have never had that happen with an ipsy bag before.

Hoping I get that eyeshadow stick! Looks neat! The mojito lipgloss also looks fun as well!

I couldn’t agree more on that applicator tip for the lip balm, what is that?! But I am loving all the samples in subscription boxes coming from that brand. What a treat! They smell amaze.

I thought the chemical scent was from the salt scrub because it was completely leaked all over the bag and everything else (which happened last month with perfume – 2 ruined bags in a row). But you’re right, it is an awful smell! How could they not notice when packing ’em up?! It had to of been disgusting with them all in one room!

This review makes me glad I cancelled my Ipsy subscription. I have had several bags with that strong chemical scent -why? But that bag is super cute! I was with them for several months and got many of the Big Sexy hair samples which I don’t love, small skin care samples and yes they do throw in a full size makeup item here and there and that certainly is worth it, but the colors I received were not for my skin tone. I don’t now how that comes to $50 worth of product. I don’t see the value.