Last verified 2026-04-25 by Sara Mitchell. We re-check this offer every quarter.
Ipsy’s Glam Bag is the cheapest entry point in personalized beauty subscriptions — $14 a month for five deluxe-sample and occasional full-size products picked to match a personal beauty quiz. There is no fully free trial, but $14 for five items with a typical retail value of $50–$70 is the closest the category gets to a sample-pricing model. New members can cancel any time, including before the second bill.
What you’ll get
Each Ipsy Glam Bag contains five products. The mix usually breaks down as:
- Two to three deluxe-trial-size skincare items (cleanser, serum, moisturizer, mask).
- One to two full-size makeup products (eye shadow, lipstick, mascara, blush).
- An occasional hair-care or fragrance addition.
- The branded reusable Ipsy bag itself, which changes design every month.
Brands rotate widely — recent bags have featured Tarte, Anastasia Beverly Hills, Murad, Pacifica, and a roster of indie labels. Ipsy claims a per-bag retail value up to $70; the realistic average sits closer to $40–$55, still well above the $14 monthly price.
Eligibility
- Available to US, Canadian, and UK members. We focus on the US flow.
- 18 or older.
- One subscription per account.
- Subscription auto-renews at $14/month for the Glam Bag tier; higher tiers (Glam Bag Plus at $28, BoxyCharm by Ipsy at the same $28) carry full-size products and ship less frequently.
How to claim it
- Go to ipsy.com and click “Get Started” or “Take the Quiz.”
- Take the beauty profile quiz. The questions cover skin type, eye color, hair texture, makeup styles you wear, brands you avoid, and price sensitivity. Be honest — the answers drive the matching algorithm.
- Choose the $14 Glam Bag plan at checkout (the page may default to a higher tier; switch to Glam Bag if you want the cheapest tier).
- Enter shipping and payment information. The first month’s $14 charges immediately.
- Watch your email about the 20th of the month for a Glam Bag preview where you can sometimes pick one of the products.
- The bag ships around the first of the next month and arrives within seven to ten days.
- Rate each product in your account. Ratings feed back into the algorithm and improve future bag matches.
- Cancel any time through Subscription Settings if you only want one or two months. Cancel before the next renewal date to avoid the next charge.
What to expect after signing up
The first bag often misses on personalization because the algorithm needs your product ratings to learn your preferences. Bags two and three usually feel more dialed in. Ipsy also runs a Shop section where members can buy additional products at member-only discounts, plus a referral program (refer a friend, both get a free product). For a no-card alternative that mails samples without any monthly bill, see our PINCHme guide; for a one-time discounted box rather than a recurring subscription, the Allure Beauty Box trial uses a similar pattern at $19.99.
Watch out for
Ipsy is not a free trial. The $14 charges immediately on signup and recurs monthly. Cancellations require a few clicks through Subscription Settings — Ipsy will offer you a one-month skip or a downgrade before letting you cancel, so click past those prompts if you really want to leave. Second, the first bag’s products may not match what your quiz indicated; the algorithm learns over a few months. Third, full-size products in the Glam Bag tier are rare; if you want all-full-size items, you have to upgrade to a $28 tier. Fourth, Ipsy’s marketing email cadence is heavy (three to five per week) — adjust frequency in account settings or unsubscribe from non-essential streams. Finally, shipments occasionally have damaged or missing items. Customer service is responsive but resolution can take a week.
FAQ
Is the Ipsy Glam Bag actually free?
No. The Glam Bag is $14 a month with shipping included. Ipsy occasionally runs a referral promo that gives the next month free, but no fully free trial exists.
Can I cancel after the first month?
Yes, any time. Go to Subscription Settings, click “Manage Subscription,” and follow the cancel flow. The cancellation must happen before your next renewal date — the date is shown on the page.
What’s the difference between Glam Bag and Glam Bag Plus?
Glam Bag at $14 includes five deluxe-sample-size products. Glam Bag Plus at $28 includes five full-size products and ships less frequently. BoxyCharm by Ipsy is the same $28 tier with a different curation team.
Can I pick what’s in my bag?
Each month around the 20th, Ipsy sends a “preview” email where you can sometimes choose one of the five products from a small selection. The other four are picked by the algorithm based on your quiz and ratings.
What if I get a product I am allergic to?
The quiz asks about ingredient sensitivities. If you list an allergen, Ipsy avoids products with that ingredient. If something slips through, contact customer service and they will issue a credit or replacement.
Final word
Ipsy is the cheapest personalized beauty subscription on the market and the algorithm gets noticeably smarter after two or three months of ratings. If you treat it as an inexpensive monthly try-something-new habit, the $14 buys exposure to brands you might never have explored. If you only want a single bag, sign up, take the quiz, get the bag, and cancel before the next renewal — total cost is $14 plus shipping, included.
Last verified: 2026-04-25. Sample programs change — tell us if you find this offer is no longer available.