In this Ipsy Glam Bag review for November 2018, I will share my thoughts on the products I received and let you know whether or not I would recommend this monthly subscription.
Ipsy is a monthly beauty subscription tailored to your personal beauty profile and continues to be one of my most favorite subscriptions. Each month, you are sent a cute makeup bag along with deluxe- and full-size beauty products and you also have the option to add-on up to 3 more products for only $3 or $12 each. I am here for it!
What’s included in the Ipsy Glam Bag?
I took a million photos of the products, but I didn’t record an unboxing or swatch video which I normally like to post on Instagram. So if you’re into that sorta thing, be sure to follow me on IG.
Each month includes a small makeup bag that corresponds to that month’s theme. I didn’t think to take any photos of the bag alone, but you’ll see it in the image above.
I did take some time to try all of the following products and am excited to share my Ipsy Glam Bag for November 2018 review with you. Here’s what was included and my thoughts.
Lottie London Blush in Zac
Full size price: £4.95
- Paraben-free
- Vegan-friendly
- Gluten free
- Easily blendable powder blushes that are available in 6 long-lasting shades
Whoa, Nelly, this is dark! My only issue with this is that the shade is too dark for me, so I don’t use it. I tried it anyways and all I needed was a light tap with my brush and I was able to achieve a bright flush cheek. This is a beautifully pigmented formula, so I’d be interested to try a softer shade such as Drake.
My skin is medium, leaning towards dark, so if you have a darker complextion than that, I think this would be a lovely shade for you.
TheBalm Cosmetics in Bonnie Dew-Manizer
Full size price: $14.50
Full size amount: 0.19 fl oz
- Paraben-free
- Cruelty-free
- Cream highlight that can be used on eyes or to highlight. This can be applied alone or mixed with moisturizer, primer or foundation for a touch of glow
I have to be very careful with my highlighters because I have very textured skin. This was a beautiful color, but I wasn’t able to figure out how to use it to flatter the high points of my face without accentuating my skin’s texture. You need to work fast with this product because it does dry down quickly.
I tried to make it work a couple of times, but then I just gave up. I don’t recommend this if you have acne scars or textured skin like I do.
Bubble T Cosmetics Hand Cream in Moroccan Mint Tea
Full size price: $3
Full size amount: 100 ml / 3.4 fl oz
- Free of parabens, SLS or SLES
- Cruelty-free
- Hand moisturizer scented with peppermint, white jasmine, and sweet spearmint
I am happy with this hand moisturizer. It is not thick and creamy, but it adds that extra bit of moisture that my dry hands crave. It smells lovely, too.
Make Up Forever Ultra HD Liquid Foundation in Y445
Full size price: $43
Full size amount: 30 ml / 1 fl oz
- Buildable foundation with medium coverage leaving a natural finish. Available in 40 shades.
The shade that was sent to me was too dark. I still used it twice on days that I was gonna be staying home and I just wasn’t into it. Foundation is one of those things where your preferences are paramount. This wasn’t mine.
Make Beauty Cream Luminous LIp Gloss in Victoria Plum
Full size price: $25
- Not tested on animals
- Paraben free
- Made in the USA
- Hypoallergenic
- 10% of sales are donated to the We See Beauty Foundation
- High-shine, moisturizing lip gloss
This is a beautiful lip gloss that I enjoy wearing. The doe foot applicator has a weird shape that makes it awkward to apply, but I still like it.
Add-On Items
Smashbox Cosmetics Always On Liquid Lipstick in Out Loud
Full-Size Price: $24
Full-Size Amount: 0.13 fl oz/4 ml
- Cruelty-free
- Long-lasting liquid lipstick that is not supposed to dry out your lips
I hate this color and to be honest, it distracted me from really trying out the longevity.
Josie Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil
Full size price: $49
Full size amount: 50 ml / 1.7 fl oz
- Organic
- Vegan and cruelty-free
- Free from parabens, sulfates, gluten, phthalates, synthetic fragrances, mineral oil, formaldehyde and PEF
- It’s as simple as its name: 100% pure Argan oil
This organic oil is supposed to nourish, condition, and heal skin and hair. Yes, give me more. I apply a couple of drops, literally two, to my wet hair and it smoothes and prevents frizz.
Skyn Iceland Brightening Eye Serum
Full size price: $35
Full size amount: 0.34 oz / 10 ml
- Free of parabens, PEGs, silicones, fragrance, and dye.
- Vegan
- Dermatologist and ophthalmologist tested
- Under eye serum for hydration and wrinkle repair
It’s a very runny formula so if you’re not careful with the sample size, you’ll disperse too much. The full-size product comes in a bottle with a dropper so I’d assume there would be less waste.
Anyhow, I’m not sure if it’s just my skin type, but it made my eye area dryer than it normally is. I didn’t notice any immediate difference or after I used the entire bottle.
Is the Ipsy Glam Bag worth the money?
From this entire shipment, I only loved and will use 3 of the items. When I think about it this way, I’m not sure why Ipsy is still one of my favorite subscriptions but it is. I guess it’s just that I love trying new things and finding the hidden gems amongst the millions of beauty products out there.
I love the ability to sample high-end products, actually any product from any price range. I’d rather pay $10 for a bunch of samples than $35 for a full-size item that I end up hating.
If you would like to learn more about ipsy or want to sign up, click here (referral link). Otherwise, I’d love to know what you think of this month’s subscription in the comments below.