IPSY

IPSY is the beauty subscription most people mean when they say “makeup bag in the mail.” Since 2011 it has been sending personalized beauty products based on a quiz about your skin, hair, coloring, and taste. It is big, polished, and cheap to start, which is exactly why it is the default pick. It is also why it can feel generic if you already know what you like.

What’s inside an IPSY bag?

Every shipment mixes makeup, skincare, and haircare from a blend of drugstore-adjacent, indie, and prestige brands. You choose some items yourself each month, and IPSY fills the rest using your Beauty Profile and your product ratings. The more honestly you rate, the better the picks get. Expect plenty of lip products, eyeshadow, serums, and the occasional hair mask; expect fewer true luxury names in the cheapest tier.

IPSY plans and prices

IPSY recently renamed its plans. The old names still float around, so here is the decoder ring:

• IPSY Original (formerly Glam Bag): $15 a month. Five deluxe sample-size products in the collectible makeup bag, with one product you pick yourself. IPSY puts the value at up to $70.
• IPSY Extra (formerly BoxyCharm): $32 a month. Five full-size products in a drawstring bag, and you choose three of them. Stated value up to $200.
• IPSY Ultimate (formerly Icon Box / Glam Bag X): $65 a quarter. Eight full-size products, three of your choice, shipped in February, May, August, and November. It is an upgrade, not a standalone plan: you need an active Original or Extra membership, and Ultimate replaces that month’s regular bag.

Annual prepay knocks a bit off Original, and add-ons let you buy extra products at member prices. Shipping and tax can apply, so look at the real recurring charge at checkout rather than the headline price.

What makes IPSY different?

Two things: scale and choice. Few beauty boxes let you pick part of every shipment, and IPSY’s quiz-plus-ratings system is more refined than most. The bags themselves are a genuine perk (or a genuine clutter problem, depending on how many you already own). Few competitors can match the price of entry.

Is IPSY worth it?

For beginners and product tourists, yes. Original is a low-risk way to test shades and formulas before buying full sizes. Extra is the better deal on paper if you will actually finish full-size products, because a single item can cost more than the box. It is less worth it if you have a strict routine, sensitive skin, or a specific brand list, since you will get things you did not ask for. Treat the “worth up to” numbers as retail list prices, not what you would have spent.

Pros: cheap entry point, monthly product choices, strong personalization, full-size option, add-ons.
Cons: repeat product types (hello, another lip gloss), uneven brand quality in Original, bag pile-up, Ultimate billing can surprise you.

How to cancel IPSY

You can cancel online from your account settings under your membership; no phone call needed. Billing runs on the last day of the month for the next month’s shipment, and plan changes must be made by the 25th, so cancel before then to avoid one more charge. Annual and gift memberships follow their own terms, so check your account before you assume a refund.

IPSY alternatives

• Allure Beauty Box if you want editor-curated picks with more prestige brands.
• FabFitFun if you want beauty mixed with lifestyle and home goods on a seasonal schedule.
• Scentbird if fragrance is your thing rather than makeup.