Thursday, August 20, 2015

What It's Worth -- Ipsy August Glam Bag


I've been getting Ipsy Glam Bags for about a year now, and I still look forward to them every month. My friends are always asking me if they are worth the $10 (I always think they are), so I've decided I would review my bags every month and do a breakdown on the prices to see if they are really worth the $10. My prices are just estimates, since I mostly only get sample sizes that are typically not sold in stores.

WHY I THINK IPSY IS WORTH IT:  Ipsy gives me the chance to try higher end beauty products without dishing out a lot of money on a product I'm not sure I will like. I also like that it challenges me to try products I might have never tried out on my own. The purpose of Ipsy is not to love everything you get, but to try new things! So for $10 a month, I consider it to be a gamble.




Marc Anthony Nourishing Argan Oil of Morocco Oil Treatment: 

Full Size Price: $9

Estimated Sample Size Price: $1


According to my research, the full size product retails for about $9, and it would take about 9 sample sizes to equal the full size amount. So, if my calculations on this one is correct, this sample is worth about $1.

Oils for my hair aren't my favorite products, but from time to time I will use one. I recommend starting with a small amount of this stuff, because too much of it will weigh down your hair. To be completely honest with you, all of the Argan Oils I've ever used, they have all been pretty much the same. I've never noticed a difference between them, except for the fact that they all smell different. With that being said, I really do like the smell of this stuff. It's clean, fruity, and tropical all at the same time.






JUARA Skincare Turmeric Antioxidant Radiance Facial Mask

Full Size Price: $35

Estimated Sample Size Price: $4

This is some expensive stuff! It's $35 for 3 oz of product! The disappointing thing about that is the fact that I kind loved using this product, but I don't see myself dishing out $35 for it. I'm not sure I loved it that much. 

That being said... I love the way this stuff makes my face feel during and after use. It was very hydrating, and it left my skin feeling silky smooth! And although I didn't actually notice anything different with my pores, it's probably something that happens after multiple uses. 



Starlooks Luxe Longwear Eyeliner Pen 

Full Size Price: $19 

Estimated Sample Size Price: $19

It's the products like this one, when Ipsy really pays off. I don't consider this to be a sample, but the actual product that they sell on their website for $19.

I've never used an eyeliner pen like this, so I was really excited to try it out. The tip of the pen is like a fine-tip marker, making it really easy to perfect a cat eye look. I was really surprised at how smoothly this liner glided on eyes, and how bold it was. This was definitely an unexpected surprise in my Ipsy Glam Bag. I probably would have never purchased this product on my own, so it was nice to get to sample it in my Glam Bag!





OFRA Cosmetics Lip Liner in Wine

Full Size Price: $13

Estimated Sample Size Price: $13

Woo! Another sample that is not a sample size! Two in one bag..you can't beat that! According to their website, this is in fact the same lip liner they sell on their website for $13.

This probably wouldn't be my first color choice, but I do like that it's subtle. Overall I like the product and it's smooth & creamy formula. The liner applies on evenly & smooth, and it's easy to blend with other lipsticks & lip glosses.




tarte Deluxe LipSurgence Skintuitive Lip Gloss in Energy

Full Size Price: $19

Estimated Sample Size Price: $4

tarte is a company that I like a lot but, in my opinion, they're on the pricey side, so I like being able to try their products before making the splurge. I would consider this to be one of the better samples in an Ipsy bag, but that is just my personal opinion.

I usually like products from tarte, but I'm not so much a fan of this one. I loved the color, the smell, and the shine, but I couldn't deal with the stickiness. It's really sticky at first, and then just straight up uncomfortable after wearing it for a little while.  The color is not at the hot pink that it looks like on the wand. Instead, it gives you a shiny lip, with maybe a slight tint of pink.



Estimated Total Value: $41 

I would say I definitely got $10 worth of product.  And that's not even including the cute bag that's included. You might not always like what you get, but sometimes it's worth the risk. Also, if you get something you know you're not going to like, you can always look into joining a swap. There's a ton of people out there willing to trade products.


This amount is just an estimation and may not be 100% accurate. I do my best to try to give you the closest estimate I can. 

If you think Ipsy is worth it and you'd like to try it out for yourself, you can sign up by clicking the Ipsy button below this post. It's $10 every first of the month, and you usually get your box by the middle of every month. You get to take a quiz that helps determine the type of products that will best suit you, and if you ever feel like you're not getting anything you like and you don't want it anymore, you can cancel at any time.