Although Ipsy isn’t new to the subscription service game, it’s still a wildly popular way to receive new beauty products delivered to your door every month—there’s even a waitlist! In a nutshell, Ipsy is essentially a beauty product-based service where subscribers are sent a new makeup bag containing five different personalized makeup, skincare and haircare products and beauty tools every month for only $10. These products range from deluxe sample sizes to full-sized products and are typically a mix of indie, drugstore and high-end brands. The makeup bag features a new design every month and is usually themed with the makeup products to reflect its designated month.
Photo courtesy of Amanda Goecke
As a collegiette who loves to try new makeup, but has a minimal budget to dedicate to such products, I figured I would give the service a go back in June. Now, four months later, I couldn’t be happier with my Ipsy Glam Bags, as I find myself practically running to the mailbox every month. If you’re thinking about on the fence of subscribing, or just want to learn more, here are five reasons why Ipsy is the perfect investment for collegiettes.
1. It’s is extremely affordable
At $10 a pop, the price of an Ipsy Glam Bag is hard to beat! Subscribers have the option to pay the annual amount of their Ipsy Glam Bags up front, or may choose to pay in $10 monthly installments. If you choose to pay through in installments, you are billed on the first of every month, so it’s quite easy to keep track of your payment! Your payment is also hooked up to whichever card you provide at the time of subscribing, so you don’t have to worry about giving your information every single time.
However, if a subscriber feels that they can’t make a payment, or doesn’t wish to receive their Glam Bag for one month, Ipsy is currently testing out a 1-month skip feature where subscribers have until 12 pm PT on the last day of the month to cancel the next month’s bag. Either way, at the cost of about two tall Pumpkin Spice Lattes, an Ipsy Glam Bag can easily be swapped into a collegiette makeup lover’s budget.
2. It’s actually worth your money—and more
What’s even better than only paying $10 for a bundle of makeup? Receiving makeup that’s actually worth your money. One of the best features of Ipsy is that you can receive full-sized products as well as pricier makeup brands. Since subscribing, I’ve received two full-size bottles of nail polish and three different eye and facial makeup brushes—products that might cost almost $10 alone!
Liz Cadman, founder of the blog My Subscription Addiction, posts reviews every month of the Ipsy bag she receives and breaks down the actual value of the bags versus what you’re paying. Athough subscribers receive different variations of the bag depending on their beauty quiz answers, subscribers can generally expect a great value for their bag. In October, Cadman reviewed her October Glam Bag and calculated the products at a value of around $62.17. That’s six times the amount of the subscription cost!
3. It’s a great way to discover new brands and receive higher-end products
One of the best features of Ipsy is the wide range of products you can receive. Subscribers can expect a mix of products ranging from drugstore brands to mid-range and indie, or higher-end brands. In the past four months, I’ve received two tubes of mascara from more-known and higher-end brands such as Tarte and Make Up For Ever, products that I normally wouldn’t be able to fit into my budget at their full price. I’ve also discovered products from brands I’d never heard of before, such as Paula Dorf and So Susan.
Ipsy is the perfect way for collegiettes who want to branch out and try new products or higher-end brands, and to do so without losing out on too much money if they’re not happy with the product. Otherwise, collegiettes can discover something amazing at a fraction of its actual price!
4. It’s completely personalized to your preferences
When subscribers first sign up for Ipsy, they are prompted to take a beauty quiz that tells Ipsy more about you as a person and what your preferences are. That way, you can be matched with beauty products that are best for your hair color, skin color, eye color, etc. as well as the types of products you use the most, such as eyeshadow or and blush. What’s even better is that once you start receiving your bags, you can rate and review each individual product from that month, customizing next month’s bag even more. The more feedback you give Ipsy, the more personalized your bag will be. That way, collegiettes can ensure that they’re really receiving what they actually want in their monthly Glam Bags and they don’t have to worry about spending money on products they won’t use.
5. It’s super convenient and practical
What’s more convenient than receiving a personalized bag of makeup every month right to your door? One of the best things about Ipsy is that subscribers can send their bags wherever is most convenient for them, and can track the status of their bags through the Ipsy mobile app.
Another great thing about Ipsy is the practicality. Because of Ipsy, I haven’t gone shopping for makeup in months, as I’m always getting the products I use most. For example, the mascaras I’ve been receiving in my bags are travel-sized, so not only are they easy to carry around, but I also get a lot of use out of them. I generally only use a tube of mascara for three months before tossing it, so a travel-size tube does just the trick, saving me the cost of a full-sized tube.
Additionally, I’ve also received essential products that I like to use but wouldn’t normally buy, like such as facial primer and eyeshadow brushes. Collegiettes who are busy with schoolwork and other activities will appreciate the ease and practicality that comes with investing in an Ipsy subscription.
Picking and choosing what to spend money on in college isn’t easy, but great beauty products don’t have to be sacrificed from your budget if you don’t want them to be. With Ipsy, collegiettes are investing in more than just a makeup bag; they’re investing in a way to try new brands, experiment, and to still use amazing products without breaking the bank.
Rep image courtesy of Pixabay