I love a good deal, especially when it comes to skincare or makeup products that would otherwise cost a fortune.
I am not made of money, but I always have the obnoxious, feminine urge to try any nice-looking product I can get my hands on. There is only one issue with that, though: the price. I can’t afford to buy bags upon bags of high-end products that I may only use once, depending on how I like them. I need a reliable source of skincare and cosmetics that applies to my interests and needs but still allows me to explore options I’d never tried before.
It seems beauty vlogger Michelle Phan had the same idea; in 2011, she, along with former Funny or Die CEO Marcelo Camberos and cofounder of Beauty for All Industries, Jennifer Jaconetti Goldfarb, founded IPSY.
IPSY is a cosmetics subscription company, which isn’t something I would usually find too incredibly appealing. There are three different subscription options: the Glam Bag, the BoxyCharm, and the Icon Box.
The Glam Bag is $14 per month, and it includes five mini products—one of which is picked by the buyer beforehand—packaged in a cute makeup bag for each month. With products valued up to $70 retail, it’s a great deal to explore new brands.
The BoxyCharm is $30 per month, and it’s basically the same as the Glam Bag, but the products are full-sized, and the buyer chooses three of the products themself. As they’re all full-sized, the BoxyCharm products are worth up to $200.
The Icon Box is $60 quarterly, and this is essentially the premium deal; it’s an upgrade to one’s existing membership that provides eight full-sized products worth up to $350. If looking at the overall cost for the year, the Icon Box is cheaper than the BoxyCharm, but both are good deals nonetheless.
Being online, I’d figured it could only have so much accuracy in terms of products curated for one’s skin type, complexion shade, and preferences.
I had heard enough about IPSY over the years to consider it for myself, and I caved. I subscribed to get a monthly Glam Bag, and I’m so glad I did.
Upon downloading the app and making an account, the user is prompted with a beauty quiz to tell the app about their skin tone, eye and hair color, makeup preferences, skill level, et cetera.
I completed the quiz just in time for the December Glam Bag, and I was able to choose one of my products. After choosing, the buyer is also allowed to choose add-ons to purchase along with their order, most of which cost $3.50 regardless of their original retail price.
The only unsavory aspect of the entire process is the waiting. It takes a couple of weeks, usually, for the packages to be put together and shipped out, but receiving it makes up for the annoyance of waiting.
My first Glam Bag was everything I’d hoped for and more. I got my five products, as well as three add-on products to test out. My five consisted of Dr. Brandt Skincare Microdermabrasion exfoliator, REN Clean Skincare Evercalm Day Cream, Shades By Shan eyeliner, SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Hyalu-Cica First Ampoule, and Treslúce Beauty Ilusión Mascara. For add-ons, I chose Veriphy Skincare’s Self Absorbed moisturizer, Elemis Superfood facial cleanser, and Manna Kadar Cosmetics Flawless Finish powder.
I’m usually apprehensive about skincare from brands I’m not familiar with, but these products absolutely changed my life; my skin became softer and healthier than ever before.
This month’s Glam Bag was just as amazing, if not better. Having received from REN Clean Skincare the month prior, my personally chosen product was the Radiance Glow and Protect Serum of the same brand. The Bag also included First Aid Beauty’s Deep Cleanser with Red Clay, Floss Rise Above Mascara, YC Collection Island pencil eyeliner, and Yensa Beauty’s Pink Lotus Peptide Renewal Face Cream. For my add-ons, I chose Toyfactory Ultraset Nyacinimide Setting Powder, Beauty For Certain High Gloss Lip Oil, Innisfree Green Tea Seed Serum, and Give Them Lala Beauty liquid eyeliner.
I have extremely sensitive skin, but the skincare products that I’ve received from both Glam Bags work together seamlessly, and my skin has felt so much lighter and brighter since using these products. I am still using the products I received last month, and they haven’t run out, which is astonishing to me; plus, every one of the products I have received is made sustainably and naturally.
IPSY may seem like a stupid outlet for one’s money, but I am beyond willing to pay just $14 every month for such sustainable, high-quality, and long-lasting products.
