Ipsy is a monthly beauty and makeup subscription box. Each month you get 5 full-size or deluxe-sized products, plus a cute makeup bag.
This is one of Liz’s top recommendations if you are looking for a subscription box - the value and sample sizes are amazing. (Check out our list of the best beauty boxes for 2020 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).
About Ipsy Glam Bag
The Subscription Box: Ipsy
The Cost: $12 a month + free US shipping. Save with an annual subscription.
The Products: Full-sizes and samples of makeup and beauty products. (Plus a makeup bag!)
Ships to: The US for free and Canada for $2.95
Delivered via: DHL or FedEx + USPS
My Ipsy Glam Bag December 2020 Review
1 of 2
Included is a card that usually details each of the items but also outlines beauty tips and tricks, as well as an exciting introduction for the upcoming Glam Bag X! I, for one, am super intrigued by this new 2021 introduction by Ipsy.
1 of 3
Each month, Ipsy subscribers get a makeup bag in addition to their items. This month's theme is "Home For The Holidays." This bag reminds me of a cozy teddy hoodie I love to snuggle up in on chilly nights.
1 of 3
GRACE & STELLA Lavender Body Lotion, 30 mL - Estimated Value $5.00 (Buy a full-size 473 mL for $17.00)
This winter has been an especially "drying" year for me. With all the hand sanitizer and cleansers, I have been using to combat these newfound super germs in our apocalyptic world, it literally feels like my hands are sandpaper. This Grace & Stella Lavender Body Lotion feels incredibly hydrating and is helping to nourish my skin throughout these colder months. The product is thick and creamy with a nice light scent. It goes on smooth and absorbs fast, leaving behind no greasy feeling. I'm not the hugest fan of lavender, but this lotion is scented perfectly and not at all assaulting to my sinuses. Formulated with cocoa seed butter, this beautifully scented body cream fortifies and protects skin to help you hold in moisture for up to 12 hours.
1 of 3
HEY HONEY Good Morning Honey Silk Facial Serum, 10 mL - Estimated Value $16.00 (Buy a full-size 30 mL for $48.00)
I love serums. I especially love any serum, or skincare product for that matter, that incorporates honey into their formula. Hey Honey's Good Morning Honey Silk Facial Serum is a luxurious, lightweight, smooth serum that is infused with the natural healer, honey, to speed up cell growth and leave skin looking soft, glowing, and bright. I love how this lightweight serum absorbs quickly into my skin to deliver intense hydration and nourishment. This product makes my skin feel so silky smooth and soft... It's almost heavenly. Even though it's light, it packs a punch of hydration and leaves my face feeling great.
1 of 3
ILLAMASQUA Skin Base Foundation in 12, 7 ml - Estimated Value $8.26 (Buy a full-size 30 ml for $35.41)
Illamasqua's Skin Base Foundation in 12 is wonderfully lightweight and blends beautifully without leaving a thick or cakey look on your skin. I love how wonderfully natural feeling this foundation is. Unfortunately, I think the tone is a little too light for my skin, but the formula is to die for. It smoothes, softens, and conditions skin, providing nourishment while helping cover up redness, breakouts, or hyperpigmentation. It's like wearing a flawless second skin. I'm thinking I will mix this color with a darker foundation and create a perfect winter foundation tone for myself.
Here is a swatch of the ILLAMASQUA Skin Base Foundation in 12.
1 of 3
Preventive Measures 101 After Hours Lip Balm in Passion Fruit, 0.15 oz, FULL SIZE! - Retail Value $7.00
The scent of this Preventative Measures 101 After Hours Lip Balm in Passion Fruit is absolutely divine. It reminds me of the delicious Hi-Chew tropical flavored candies. I am obsessed with lip balm, lip scrubs, lip masks, anything that keeps my lips from feeling dry and chappy. This lip balm is wonderful. Very hydrating but not greasy. It glides on smooth and stays that way, with no residual stickiness. It's long-lasting with moisture release technology that will keep your winter pucker smooth and hydrated for hours. Specially formulated with antioxidants and fruit oils, this lip balm has the added benefit of extra nourishment without a waxy finish.
1 of 4
BENEFIT COSMETICS Precisely, My Brow Neutral Deep Brown 4.5 Eyebrow Pencil, 0.025 g - Estimated Value $7.50 (Buy a full-size 0.08 g for $24.00)
Benefit Cosmetics really hit it out of the park with this Precisely, My Brow Neutral Deep Brown 4.5 Eyebrow Pencil. I love the custom control grip and the ultra-fine tip that allows me to get precise hairlike lines with each stroke. I've always been a huge fan of Benefit products in general, and this color is a perfect match for my brows. I only wish it had a spoolie or eyebrow brush on the end, as my bushy brows tend to get a little unruly. The product applies smoothly and is perfect for creating long horizontal strokes to help shape your brows and short upward strokes to fill in any thinner patches.
Here is a swatch of the BENEFIT COSMETICS Precisely, My Brow Neutral Deep Brown 4.5 Eyebrow Pencil.
Here is an everyday look I created using the Benefit Cosmetics Precisely, My Brow Neutral Deep Brown 4.5 Eyebrow Pencil, and the Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation in 12.
Verdict: I think this month's Ipsy Glam Bag was good, but I, however, expected a bit more. I guess I've been spoiled by Ipsy Christmases past. The December bags always seemed to have a little extra oomph. That being said, there were still some great products in this month's bag. The Preventative Measures 101 After Hours Lip Balm in Passion Fruit smells wonderful and hydrates beautifully, perfect for a winter-themed bag. I love the Hey Honey Good Morning Honey Silk Facial Serum. The luxurious, super lightweight, and the silky smooth honey-infused formula is absolutely divine. The Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation in 12 is a great product and an award-winning foundation, beloved by makeup artists, makeup gurus, and makeup lovers alike. Benefit Cosmetics Precisely, My Brow Neutral Deep Brown 4.5 Eyebrow Pencil is a great practical everyday product to include in this bag. No matter what, I will always be in need of brow products. Lastly, the Grace & Stella Lavender Body Lotion is perfect to combat the winter weather sucking away the moisture from our skin, with its extreme hydrating formula that leaves your skin feeling baby soft. This month had a value estimated at $43.76. Since this is a $12 subscription, you do get your money's worth. All in all, this wasn't a bad bag; it just wasn't a magical Christmas spectacular wonder surprise.
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? No, sign up now to get the January bag!
Good to Know: Ipsy sends out variations. You may get a completely different bag than me.
Value Breakdown: At $12 for this box, I calculated a value of $43.76. Here's how that breaks down per item:
- Lotion: $1.36
- Serum: $4.39
- Foundation: $2.27
- Lip Balm: $1.92
- Eyebrow Pencil: $2.06
Alternatively, each of the 5 items has an average cost of $2.40.
Check out all of our Ipsy reviews and the best beauty subscription boxes of 2020, as recommended by our readers!
Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist!
What do you think of my December Ipsy Glam Bag? What items did you get in your bag?
Please do not enter your email address in the Name field or in the comment content. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *. Remember to post with kindness and respect. Comments with offensive language, cruelness to others, etc will not be approved. See our full comment policy here.