IPSY is a monthly beauty and makeup subscription box. For $13 per month, you get five full-size or deluxe-sized products, plus a cute makeup bag. This month, I'll actually be reviewing their Glam Bag X, which is a once-a-quarter option that features eight full-size products (including three you get to pick yourself).
This is one of our top recommendations if you are looking for a subscription box - the value and sample sizes are amazing. (FYI – Ipsy sends out many different variations of their bag each month – so my review is just one of the bag variations you might receive!)
This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we review boxes.)
First Impressions
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My Glam Bag X comes in a purple box every quarter, with the products securely wrapped inside. There's also a mini newspaper words from this box's curator, Alicia Keys, and more details about the products inside.
If you feel like my box looked more packed than usual, you would be correct- I had four extra products inside! This headband and Tatcha cream were $3 add-ons I couldn't resist adding when I was making my choice selections.
This Complex Culture brush set and Item Beauty cleansing balm were both products I had redeemed points for that Ipsy includes in your next monthly box once your points are redeemed.
The Breakdown – What’s Inside My August 2022 Ipsy Glam Bag X
Benefit Cosmetics They're Real! Magnet Extreme Lengthening Mascara in Supercharged Black, 9 g – Retail Value $27
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You know how sometimes you get a subscription box item and you feel like it's "filler?" Whatever the opposite of that feeling is is how I feel about receiving Benefit's newest mascara in my Glam Bag X. I've been a fan of Benefit mascaras since before they launched Roller Lash, so getting a full-size tube of their Magnet Extreme version of their iconic They're Real mascara felt like a win. The mascara itself was really great at lengthening my lashes, too. I do prefer a mascara that adds a touch more volume so I would probably use this in conjunction with another mascara for the perfect Jessica eyelash cocktail, but when I was trying this out I was really impressed with how the length seemed to keep growing with each coat I applied. I did have some slight issues with smudging, but considering it was a very hot and humid Houston day, it wasn't bad at all.
Grown Alchemist Hydra-Repair Day Cream, 65 mL – Retail Value $49
Something about the Grown Alchemist brand really makes me feel like I'm using a luxury product when I'm using a product from them. I think it's the tube packaging most of the creams and masks come in? I love it. And I really like this moisturizer. It's made with camellia and rosehip oil, and also has aloe vera and jojoba oil that made the texture of this cream silky smooth and extra nourishing to my face. It absorbed quickly and didn't feel heavy on my skin, but if you're sensitive to citrus keep an eye out because there is quite a bit in here.
Keys Soulcare Reviving Aura Mist, 3.72 oz – Retail Value $25
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I was a little apprehensive about the Keys Soulcare products that Ipsy would select for me- there's only a few products in the line I have an actual interest in, so the chances were high Ipsy would choose a product I didn't really want. Reviewing my bag each month for the algorithm must have worked in my favor, because I was stoked to see that 1) Ipsy only selected one Keys Soulcare product out of the five they chose for me and 2) it was their facial mist, which comes at a time when I have really been wanting more facial mists with nice sprays to arrive in boxes. The first few ingredients listed on the box are rose flower water, glycerin, and witch hazel, and this also has rose oil and hyaluronic acid. The formula has a noticeable rose scent that I didn't mind, and it felt pleasant when I misted my face with it. I'm not crazy enough about it that I would repurchase it for the $25 cost, but I'm happy I received a product I'll actually be using on a regular basis rather than a moisturizer or exfoliator that I'll try once or twice before it starts collecting dust in a drawer.
LYS Beauty Aim High Multi-Use Liquid Highlighter in Brave, 18 mL – Retail Value $19
I truly am more of a powder foundation fan- I don't even know how I would apply such a vivid liquid highlighter in a way that would look seamless. The Brave shade is a shimmery champagne that packs a punch on its own, so I would definitely use it by adding a small amount to my foundation or tinted moisturizer before applying that to my skin. That way my base would have a more luminous finish and I wouldn't have to worry about if I blended it out on my cheekbones properly.
Briogeo Hair Care Farewell Frizz™ Rosarco Milk Leave-In Conditioning Spray, 5 oz – Retail Value $25
This leave-in conditioning spray from Briogeo was selected for me by Ipsy, and I wasn't stoked to receive it. I like the Briogeo brand, but I've used this before and find it to be a little lackluster. It does add a small amount of moisture but it's not quite enough for my thirsty curls, and overall I didn't find the performance to stand out in any particular way. I'm sure using this is better for my hair than using nothing at all, but it's not personally for me.
ONE/SIZE Turn up the Base Versatile Powder Foundation in Fair 1, 0.28 oz – Retail Value $33
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This was my first choice item in the box, and choosing this powder foundation was hard because this category had multiple products I would have been really happy with. Ultimately, though, I went with this because I've been wanting a new powder foundation and I haven't yet been disappointed in any product from ONE/SIZE that I have tried. I really liked this- the shade was a great match for me, and I can use a fluffy brush and a light hand to kind of even out my complexion or I can also build the coverage up a bit. I feel like the amount of product you get for the price is on the small side so I can't say yet if I will repurchase, but for it coming in a subscription box I consider it to be a big winner.
Keys Soulcare Harmony Mask, 1.76 oz – Retail Value $30
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I know I just talked about how I wasn't crazy excited for a lot of the Keys Soulcare products, but the Harmony mask is actually the one product I've been curious about ever since the brand launched. Made with honey, clay, bamboo charcoal, gold, jojoba, and hyaluronic acid, this mask has a little bit of everything for your skin. I liked how this didn't dry out my skin too badly the way most clay-based masks do, and while the description states the mask should smell like sandalwood, I honestly thought it smelled like the clay in the formula. It wasn't an unpleasant smell (and it faded fast), and once I washed this mask away I do feel like my skin was left more balanced.
Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops, 40 mL – Retail Value $34
I love Glow Recipe, but I don't love these dew drops the way I do some of their other products. I actually had the option in choice one to select their avocado eye cream, and I wish so badly that had been an option in choice three because I would have snatched it in a heartbeat! Nonetheless, I am definitely pleased Ipsy is sending me full-sized Glow Recipe at all. These dew drops are a niacinamide-infused highlighting serum designed to give your skin a glowy, radiant finish, and you can use it as a serum before your moisturizer or as the last step in your skincare routine. How I tend to use this product (I've received more than one sample in various boxes over the past few months) is applied to the high points of my face on top of my sunscreen when I'm not wearing foundation but want to look a little extra nice. This definitely helps my skin glow, and I like that it doesn't feel heavy or like it's just sitting on top of my face.
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Here I am wearing the Glow Recipe dew drops, ONE/SIZE foundation, and Benefit mascara.
Value – Was This Box Worth It?
The Cost: $58
Value Breakdown:
- Benefit Cosmetics: $27 → $6.47
- Grown Alchemist: $49 → $11.74
- Keys Soulcare Mist: $25 → $5.99
- Lys Beauty: $19 → $4.55
- Briogeo: $25 → $5.99
- ONE/SIZE: $33 → $7.91
- Keys Soulcare Mask $30 → $7.19
- Glow Recipe: $34 → $8.15
This month everything in my Glam Bag X added up to $242. Alternatively, it breaks down to paying $7.25 per item.
Key Takeaways
I truly look forward to my Ipsy Glam Bag X every three months- I can always count on being impressed with the different full-sized products Ipsy puts inside. I wouldn't say this is the all-time best Glam Bag X I've ever received from Ipsy, but I definitely consider it to be a great box- only the Briogeo and Lys Beauty products are misses for me, and 6/8 isn't bad at all. I received more than four times the value of the cost of the subscription in the products I received, and since all of them are products that are sold at either Ulta or Sephora, there's none of that feeling that my box was filled with "filler." The regular Ipsy Glam Bag is one of the most affordable subscription boxes out there, and I definitely think the Glam Bag X is an awesome quarterly treat if you can afford to make the splurge.
Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist!
Other Things You Should Know
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? No, but sign up now to get the September Glam bag!
Am I able to customize my bag? Yes, towards the end of each month you are given the ability to choose one product to be included in next month's Glam Bag!
What do you think of my August 2022 Ipsy Glam Bag X?
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