Well, I guess it’s official. Ipsy Plus has switched from cute, original makeup bags to inexpensive, drawstring bags. I can use a few drawstring bags for storing socks, underwear, or odds and ends, but that’s about it. In fact, the cheap, boring drawstring bags from the Sephora Play subscription was one of the reasons I ended my subscription. At any rate, the September 2020 “Good Vibes” Ipsy Plus drawstring bag is made from a soft, burgundy, corduroy-like fabric. It is very “back to school”. And it fits all of the items I received in their outer boxes – so there is that as a benefit.
For the second month in a row, my Ipsy Plus bag and items came in a soft plastic coated padded mailer rather than in a recyclable cardboard box. Again, a cheaper alternative.
This was the second month of customizing all but two of the items in my bag. Customization is optional, and it happens at the beginning of the month. If I want to be surprised, I can just skip it. But I have found that I really don’t remember what I’m getting anyway, so I will probably continue customizing for a while. Another thing that has changed is that in the past, we would get an eye or cheek palette in our bag. Now, it isn’t always a palette and you don’t have to choose the makeup if you don’t want it. I’m not sure how I feel about that, but I’ll see over time.
So here’s what I got in my Ipsy Plus September “Good Vibes” bag.
Goldfaden MD Brightening Elixir
It said on the outer box that Goldfaden MD was the first natural dermatologist developed skincare brand. I didn’t know that. I did know that Goldfaden MD makes terrific skincare. The antioxidant-filled Brightening Elixir is a clear, fragrance-free liquid that comes in a pump bottle. It absorbs within seconds. It’s great for layering. I will definitely enjoy using this serum. $80
Murad Essential-C Day Moisture Broad Spectrum SPF 30 PA+++
Several years ago, I got a sampler of Murad’s Essential-C skincare products that I loved, and the Day Moisture SPF 30 was one of the samples. So, this product is a winner for me even though I have about a million daytime moisturizers right now. Nevertheless, there’s no way I’m giving this one away. I love it! It comes in a handy clear tube so I can see how much of the off-white cream is left. It smells citrusy and uplifting. It’s not greasy and it is nicely hydrating. It is a chemical sunscreen, so no white cast. $65
Context Vitamin C All Day Eye Cream
There’s a theme here this month with the skincare products: antioxidant-rich, vitamin C, brightening products. And I’m good with that.
I had never heard of the brand, Context. Their lightweight, white, fragrance-free eye cream comes in a handy tube. I think this eye cream may be too lightweight for me for winter, so I need to use it right now before it gets too cold and dry. If you have oily eyes and are looking for a good brightening eye cream, Context Vitamin C All Day Eye Cream may be just the thing. $24.50
Smith & Cult “Bite Your Kiss” Nail Polish
The Smith & Cult nail polish is one of the items I do remember choosing for my bag this month. We didn’t have a choice of the shade, I don’t think, or maybe we did. At any rate, I own several bottles of luxurious Smith & Cult Nail Polish. The packaging is divine, and the formula is very nice. “Bite Your Kiss” appears to be a vampire-like deep purple-red (the sunlight makes it look lighter and more grape than it is). Looks gorgeous for fall. I haven’t had a chance to use it yet. I’ll show you when I do. $18
Nature’s Cartel Eyeshadow Cream Trio
This was another product that I remember choosing for my bag. I chose it because it appeared to be cream eyeshadow, and you know that I love cream shadows. I received another Nature’s Cartel product in an Ipsy Plus bag about a year ago. It was a nice, natural tinted lip balm, but the shade was a little too brown for me so I mostly wear it when I’m at home. It’s OK but not fabulous.
I haven’t had a chance to wear the Nature’s Cartel Eyeshadow Creams yet, but I did swatch them quickly for you to see. The shades are:
- Champagne Scandal: looks like it would work best for a shimmer in the inner corner or under the brow as a highlighter
- 90’s Nude: a coppery-brown shade
- Tan Line from Tahiti: a smokey taupe-grey shade that will work in the crease or outer corner or on the lid
The quick swatches that I made with my fingers were over bare skin. I think these cream shadows would benefit from eye primer, and I will be sure to wear primer under them. The swatches look totally different in the sun (shimmery)
and in the indoor light away from the sun (more matte).
My initial reaction to swatching them is that they are not highly pigmented like the gorgeous Charlotte Tilbury cream shadow that I recently bought or even as pigmented as MAC Paint Pots. Instead, they seem to be rather wan like many natural cream makeup products I’ve tried in the past. But we’ll see. I think they’ll be fine for quick everyday looks so that I’ll have something on my eyes when I am out wearing a mask. But maybe once I use the eye primer and maybe a brush for application, I’ll be surprised. I’ll let you know. $28
Final Thoughts
I would say the skincare products and the Smith & Cult Nail Lacquer were the winners this month. I’ll see how it goes with the cream shadows.
The bag this month was worth $215.50. Ipsy is changing, but for now, I am still more than satisfied with the products I receive for $25. And the add-on products are still a bargain. If you’re interested in subscribing, please consider using my referral code.
Would you be happy with any of these items?
Still a good value, but such a bummer that they have switched to the inexpensive draw string bags. I love the color of the Smith & Cult polish– it’s perfect for the fall!
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The Smith & Cult nail polish in Bite Your Kiss is definitely a gorgeous autumn shade!
I’m impressed with the value. When Ipsy started we got mostly samples but back then it was just $10 or so for the box. I thought Ipsy used to send in those hot pink padded mailers.
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Ipsy still has the $10 sample bag. Gee, I wonder whether they still get makeup bags or if they have switched to drawstrings. You are right, Marcia, that Ipsy’s $10 bag came in hot pink/raspberry metallic quilted mailers. The mailer they’ve switched to for Ipsy Plus is a light pink matte padded mailer with Ipsy imprinted on the mailer. It really isn’t bad, but it isn’t recyclable like the cardboard box, and some of the products that come in cardboard outer packaging often get squished, ugh. I guess saving $ is the name of the game now in the cosmetics industry.
I skipped this month, and the drab little bag was definitely not an inducement to regret my decision, but next month’s bag looks cute and the spoilers are promising, so…
Gabrielle, as always, I was hoping to hear from you. And thank you for telling me that you can skip a month! I had no idea. Where is the place to do that? I am happy with what I got because I adore Smith & Cult polish and Murad skincare and I am always game to try a new cream shadow. But I may want to skip a month in the future. Glad that next month’s bag is promising. Is it a drawstring, too?
Glad to be able to help. To skip a month, go to your account, click edit account settings and then scroll down to where it says Skip a Month. It’s a great option! There’s also, I think, a way to make your account bimonthly instead of every month. Yes, next month is a drawstring bag. That seems to be permanent as far as I can find out. But at least the design on it will be cool, so that is something. I love talking Ipsy with you! Can’t wait to see what we both think of October.
Thanks again, Gabrielle! So helpful. I will definitely do the October bag, if just to see the cute drawstring! Before the customizing, I would never had skipped a month because the surprise and the fact that they did quite well for me was enough to keep me going. But now that I know what the options are, they may very well be months I will skip. And yes, I love talking Ipsy with you xoxo
Did you make your choices today? I am actually pleased with what I’m getting this month!
Gabrielle, you read my mind!! I almost emailed you this afternoon. Oddly enough, when I saw what the two products were that they chose for me and then what the options were, I decided I wanted to skip the month. I don’t wear setting powder, so the Tarte setting powder is wasted on me. I don’t remember what the other thing was. So I went to my account, and I realized that I could only skip November, it was too late to skip October, grrrr. But then I remember that you said that October had a cute bag (it does) and that you liked what you saw. So yes, I did choose some items, but other than the Violet Voss lipgloss, there was nothing I wanted. Some of the options were things that I got in previous bags. I got one add-on, the Dr. Lipp lip balms because next to City Lips, Dr. Lipp is my favorite. I hope I will be pleasantly surprised once I get the box. What did you get and choose?
I got the Tarte setting powder too! I also got the Seraphine Botanicals Sakura + Sage Eyeshadow and Blush palette, and I chose the Laura Makeup Labs Eyeshadow and Highlighter Palette, the Dr. Lipp trio, the Half Caked Lip Duo, and I added on the Sunday Riley Vitamin C serum. I love having someone to talk Ipsy with!
Me, too, Gabrielle! I almost added one another one of the Sunday Riley serums (I think it was the retinol serum), but I have two other retinol serums so I passed on it. If the Luna Sleeping Oil had been in stock, I would have gotten it.
This wouldn’t be a winner for me. I do like the nail polish & the cream eyeshows.
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The nail polish and eyeshadows made the subscription overall nice. They are cost cutting for sure that’s why they’re using the cheap drawstring bag