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hero ipsy glam bag
IPSY

If you love beauty and self-care products, then you know your love can cost you a pretty penny. Subscription box companies like Ipsy promise monthly makeup and skincare items at a fraction of the cost, but are they really worth it?

After subscribing to the Ipsy Glam Bag Plus for a year, I have some great insider experience and savings tips to pass on to those still trying to decide.

How Much Does the Ipsy Glam Plus Bag Cost?

Ipsy offers three subscription tiers on their website:

  • Glam Bag:Receive a makeup bag and 5 deluxe samples for $12each month
  • Glam Bag Plus: Receive a makeup bag and 5 full-sized products for $25 each month
  • Glam Bag Ultimate:  Receive a makeup bag, 8 full-sized products and 4 deluxe samples for $50 each month

Which Ipsy Level Is Worth the Cost?

So, which Ipsy bag is worth handing over a monthly fee? I personally think the mid-tier offering (Glam Bag Plus, $25/month) is the best Ipsy bag value and let me explain why.

Unless you love having dozens of beauty samplers strewn across your bathroom, the first level of Glam Bag is not worth $12. It is a better value to spend $13 more for the full-sized products in the Glam Bag Plus.

However, the Glam Bag Ultimate seems too expensive at $50 per month unless you use up a lot of beauty products each month or split it with a friend. The fact that a Change.org petition was started against the Ultimate bag (and the signatures there are growing) also does not inspire buying confidence at that higher level value at $50 per month.

What Comes Inside the Ipsy Glam Bag Plus?

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Credit: IPSY

The Ipsy Glam Bag Plus comes with a variety of brands and products. Here is a sample of the items I received throughout the past year:

  • It Cosmetics Superhero Volumizing Mascara – Reg. Price: $25 (but you'll pay avg. $5 per item)
  • theBalm Cosmetics In the Balm of Your Hand Greatest Hits 2 Palette- Reg. Price: $32 (but you'll pay an avg. $5 per item)
  • Murad Skin Perfecting Lotion – Reg. Price: $42(but you'll pay an avg. $5 per item)
  • Complex Culture Blush Brush – Reg. Price: $35(but you'll pay avg. $5 per item)

Slick Tip: When you take the beauty quiz to establish your subscription box, put more emphasis on higher-priced items such as skincare and less emphasis on cheaper beauty items like nail polish and eyeliner. This will help boost the value of your box.

How to Save Even More on the Ipsy Glam Bag Plus

What makes the Ipsy Glam Bag Plus worth the $25 a month is that I can sell or trade the products I don't love. You can trade Ipsy and other subscription box items at My Subscription Addiction forums or through dedicated Facebook groups. Similarly, I have sold my unwanted Ipsy items on eBay for $10-15 for most items. Don't expect to sell an Ipsy item for the full retail price since many other customers are saturating the marketplace.

Slick Tip: Save on birthday and Christmas gifts by gifting the unused beauty items to family and friends who would enjoy them. No need to tell them they were your unwanted unopened beauty items. Dress them up by pairing facial lotion or primer with a jade roller or nail polish with a pretty journal.

Additionally, you can pause your Ipsy subscription any time to skip a month and save money. You can also review each of your Ipsy beauty products for quick points. These points can then be redeemed for beauty samples and full-sized beauty products.

How Does the Ipsy Glam Bag Plus Compare to Other Beauty Boxes?

When comparing different beauty subscription boxes, make sure you are comparing apples to apples. The Glam Bag Plus comes with full-sized products, so don't compare the $25 value to the value of a box of just samples.

For comparison, here are the starting prices of other beauty boxes:

  • Allure Beauty Box starts at $15
  • Birchbox starts at $13
  • FabFitFun starts at $49.99

After a year of Ipsy Glam Bag Plus, I don't plan on ending my subscription. I've been able to save at least $15-20 on my monthly beauty spending with the Glam Bag Plus since I no longer have to buy expensive skincare products and scrubs. Here's another way to see which value level is best for you:

  • Glam Bag is $60 a year and equals 60 small samples. Ideal if you like to try a lot of different new items before committing.
  • Glam Bag Plus is $300 a year and gets you 60 full-sized products. $5 for a premium product is less than what you can find at a local drug store.
  • Glam Bag Ultimate is $600 year and will get you 144 items per year (not all full-sized) which could be too much product for your shelves.

See the Ipsy Glam Bag Plus

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Up Next: Target's BOGO 50% Off Features Beauty Brands You Already Love

Our editors strive to ensure that the information in this article is accurate as of the date published, but please keep in mind that offers can change. We encourage you to verify all terms and conditions of any product before you apply.


Photo of Ashley Eneriz

I am a lifestyle and personal finance writer based in SoCal and have been a freelance writer since way before working remotely was the new norm. Being a wife and a mom to three young awesome kids, I have made it a regular habit to check out Slickdeals (even before joining the SD content team) to help fill up my pantry and gift closet for 50-70% off retail prices. As a family of five, we go through snacks, gifts, and toilet paper at an alarming rate, so I love a good deal and am also not afraid to dig through a thrift store to score incredible finds. When not writing about amazing deals to help people save and cool things on sale, I am taking care of my three girls, homeschooling, or stuck with my nose in a book. Sometimes, at the same time.