Ipsy is likely best known for its Glam Bags, which include a cute makeup bag each month filled with five deluxe samples. It was cofounded by OG beauty guru Michelle Phan in 2011. I received some excellent deluxe samples, including Fenty Beauty mascara, a BYOD blush brush, and a Just Ximena highlighter. And unlike some other sample sizes I've received, Ipsy actually sent enough of each hair product to be useful. My mane of curly hair initially laughed at the 50-milliliter bottle of Marc Anthony leave-in conditioner, but it contained enough for three uses, which was enough times for me to determine whether I liked it. (I did.) One thing to note is that the cute makeup bags pile up over time. There are only so many ways you need to stylishly tote around your makeup or need to organize your purse. I still have Ipsy bags lying around from my time as a subscriber a decade ago, and I see them at thrift stores all the time. I wish there was a way for you to choose whether you wanted the little pouch to be included. Just a word of warning from a previous long-time subscriber.
I like that Ipsy offers some level of customization. When you first sign up, you'll take a quiz to complete your Beauty Profile, which notes your preferences and exclusions. You can retake this quiz or update your profile at any time. Toward the end of the month, you'll get an email letting you know that you can pick an item for your Glam Bag. You'll get five curated sample choices and you can pick one to receive. Ipsy fills in the other four slots based on your Beauty Profile. You can also shop Add-Ons starting on the first day of each month, which is a wide range of products that cost extra. Add-Ons start at $3.50 (for deluxe samples) and $12 (for full-size products), but they're worth checking out. You can review the products you receive to earn points that can be redeemed toward free items. Finally, you'll also get access to the Ipsy Shop, which is full of discounted makeup, skin care, fragrance, and haircare products. If you're a fan of trying new things but you don't want to get too adventurous, Ipsy is worth a look.
Plans and Pricing: Ipsy Glam Bag costs $14 per month for a makeup bag and five deluxe samples worth up to $70. Gift subscriptions are available. They cost $50 for three months, $95 for six months, and $180 for a year. Shipping is free. Click here for a WIRED-exclusive coupon to get $5 off!