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Are you ready to get your glow on? Here’s my IPSY review of the Glam Bag Ultimate May 2020 edition!
IPSY Glam Bag Ultimate is a monthly subscription of makeup, skincare, and hair care products. It includes eight full-sized items, four deluxe- or sample-sized products, and a cute makeup bag!
This box is for…treating yourself to something special each month!
Cost: $50 per month
FIRST IMPRESSION
I’m excited to get this IPSY Glam Bag Ultimate May 2020 box! I can’t imagine spending $50 at Sephora or Ulta and coming away with this many products. It makes my little shopaholic heart happy when I think of all the money I save on things I would have gotten, anyway!
Plus, you know…the bag! I can’t get enough makeup bags, and IPSY bags are just really gorgeous. I love this month’s sunset design. The inside has a bright confetti pattern. It even has a pocket. Nice!
Subscriptionado paid for this box.
ON TO THE ITEMS!
INN BEAUTY PROJECT Glaze #1 Lip Oil in Candy Apple
Size: 5 mL
RV: $15
The bright yellow packaging and the candy red color of this lip oil basically scream summer. The scent is lovely, too; it smells just like a caramel apple. This product is an experience – it’s as if they took a day at the state fair in late summer and squeezed it into this little tube.
But is it a good lip oil? That depends. If you like high, glossy shine, then this might be for you. I prefer a more subtle sheen to my lips. More importantly, I found the formula to be too thick and sticky. I was hyper-aware of this on my lips when I used it. Which is too bad, because I would have loved carrying this around all summer.
SUNDAYS Nail Polish in No. 8
Size: 14 mL
RV: $18
I think this is my first encounter with Sundays nail polish brand, and…I’m in love! Let’s talk about this packaging first. How sophisticated is this box? It looks classy and high-end, and I love the elegant labeling on the bottle, too. I’d be happy to display this on my shelf anytime.
The No. 8 shade is a lovely baby pink that’s so light, I was half-expecting it to be translucent upon application. But, actually, it has great coverage! Two coats and my nails were ready! I only wish I’d received this earlier because it totally has early-bloom vibes that would be perfect for spring.
DERMEDICINE Weightless Face Moisturizer SPF 25
Size: 60 mL
RV: $60
I find it hard to find a good sunscreen moisturizer. I often have to layer one over the other, which can be difficult for my skin to tolerate during the hot summer months. This Dermedicine product is pretty nice. It’s certainly a good moisturizer, leaving my skin feeling supple and hydrated. There is octinoxate and zinc oxide in this as well, which gives it that SPF 25 protection. But I suppose that’s my biggest gripe about this product. SPF 25 is not nothing, but if I’m going to get involved in outdoor activities, it’s for an hour, at least. I wouldn’t want to have to reapply this sunscreen multiple times during the day. But if I were to stay indoors, this is a good product to use. It absorbs quickly and doesn’t leave a residue, so it’s perfect to wear under makeup. Plus, the scent isn’t very strong at all!
SUNDAY RILEY C.E.O. C + E Micro-Dissolve Cleansing Oil
Size: 100 mL
RV: $38
Oh, boy. Listen, I thought I loved Sunday Riley, but between this product and the Martian Mattifying Melting Water-Gel Toner I received in the April Glam Bag Plus, I think I have to step back and re-evaluate my opinion of this brand.
My biggest problem with this cleansing oil: ohhh em gee, the smell. It’s almost as unpleasant as the gel toner. I think it’s meant to be an organic citrusy scent, but to me, it comes across as moldy oranges. I have to hold my breath whenever I use this, which is never great.
But the thing that’s holding me back from throwing this in the trash is the same reason I held onto the gel toner: it works amazingly well! It’s honestly the best cleansing oil I’ve ever used. It gets everything off my face – sunscreen, foundation, eyeliner, lip tint…all of it! And it’s easy to wash off and doesn’t leave any greasiness behind.
I am just so confused. I want to continue using this effective product…but I just don’t know how much longer I can tolerate the smell!
ETAT LIBRE D’ORANGE She Was an Anomaly Eau de Parfum
Size: 5 mL (Full size: 30 mL)
RV: $9.67 (Full size: $58)
This perfume was an unexpected surprise. Both because it’s my first time receiving a perfume in an IPSY bag, but also because of how deeply I fell in love with it at first scent (haha).
Etat Libre D’Orange is a new-to-me brand, so I had no preconceived expectations. The top notes of this perfume are more masculine than any of my other perfumes: woody and warm, but not overly musky. After a while, it softens to a subtle floral scent that is far from overpowering. I think I can wear this every day without triggering a headache, which is saying a lot! I might have to get this in full size…
SMASHBOX COSMETICS Cover Shot Eye Palette in Ablaze
Size: 0.21 oz
RV: $29
I love getting these smaller palettes because they’re great for travel. This one has a lenticular print that I can’t stop playing with. The colors in the explosion design match the shades in the palette, which is a nice touch!
These eyeshadows apply well, but I recommend using an eyeshadow primer or even just a light coat of your foundation over your eyelids before using these. I swatch without a base primer just to see how the eyeshadows work on their own. These took 4-5 applications with a brush before I got good coverage.
I think my favorite of the bunch is “Moccasin” (6th from the top). It’s a subtle, shimmery gold that matches my skin tone and would be perfect for everyday use.
HUANGJISOO British Rose Hydrating and Shea Butter Nourishing Sheet Mask Set
Size: 2 ct (Full size: 5 ct)
RV: $12 (Full size: $30)
I’m always happy to get sheet masks in a box. My skin gets really dry around this time of year as the weather tries to figure out what it wants to be, so these were more than welcome. These sheets both combat dryness, but I think the Shea Butter mask is my favorite of the two. While both of these are scented, there’s something about sheet masks that make me feel too relaxed to mind very much.
FOXYBAE Rose Gold Detangling Brush
Size: 1 brush
RV: $12.95
I love that I got a non-consumable item in this bag! I had missed out on wet brushes in other subscription boxes, so I was in the market for this product. I give this brush an “A-” for function, and an “A+” for aesthetic. I love rose gold!
(So…I started using this brush before I remembered to take photos. I have such fine hair that it was hard to clean the brush 100%…so I’ve edited the photos a bit, but if you still see any stray hairs, I’m sorry! 😬)
ST. TROPICA Beach Goddess Hot Oil Hair Mask
Size: 3 oz
RV: $17.50
I already use a homemade coconut oil mask in my hair on a regular basis, so this product is right up my alley. I usually just warm up the coconut oil in my hands before applying to my hair. I’ve never thought of microwaving it. What a game changer!
I think this works really well. It leaves the ends of my hair soft for a few days after use. I have long hair, but I’m able to get 3 uses out of this. I wish I had more!
SUGAR RUSH sugar rush™ sugar coat velvet liquid lipstick in Sprinkle
Size: 4.3 g
RV: $15
Ohhhhhh! This liquid lipstick is my favorite item in the bag! I’d been looking for a lipstick in this exact shade of purple, so this was a lucky get. I usually stay away from matte formulas because they’re too drying for me, but this is surprisingly creamy for a matte finish. I want to buy this entire line of liquid lipsticks!
I know it looks thick in the swatch, but it doesn’t feel cakey on my lips at all!
WAY OF WILL Hand and Body Lotion in Sweet Orange & Elemi
Size: 30 mL (Full size: 236 mL)
RV: $3.56 (Full size: $28)
I had to look up what elemi was because I had never heard of it. Come to find that elemi and I have something in common: we’re both native to the Philippines! That’s a happy coincidence!
This lotion smells heavenly. When I put it on, it feels like I just stepped inside an upscale spa. So luxurious! I don’t mind getting this in a small container, either. I appreciate that I can put this in my purse without it taking up too much space. While I fully support and abide by frequent handwashing, it also wreaks havoc on my skin! Thank goodness for these moisturizers from subscription boxes.
PUREHEALS Pore Clear Black Charcoal Peel-off Mask
Size: 100 g
RV: $26
I don’t think I’ve used peel-off masks in a decade, so I was iffy about this product. It’s a very sticky substance and coats the skin pretty well. Best of all, as it dries, it doesn’t make my skin feel abnormally tight like some other hardening masks do.
I’m not convinced about how well it works. For a product like this, I would expect immediate results after the first use. I didn’t really see any improvements to my skin, nor my pores feel any cleaner. In fact, a couple of days after using this, I went back with a Biore charcoal strip from a Target Beauty Box, and I still got a good amount of gunk out of my pores left over from this mask.
FINAL IMPRESSION
IPSY always delivers on great product variety. I got a little bit of skincare, a little bit of makeup, something for my hair, and also for my nails. The Glam Bag Ultimate May 2020 is literally the whole package when it comes to treating myself!
Favorite Item: SUGAR RUSH sugar rush™ sugar coat velvet liquid lipstick in Sprinkle
Highest Value Item: DERMEDICINE Weightless Face Moisturizer SPF 25 ($60)
THE BREAKDOWN
These are the retail values of the products I received in the Glam Bag Ultimate May 2020 box:
- INN BEAUTY PROJECT Glaze #1 Lip Oil in Candy Apple: $15
- SUNDAYS Nail Polish in No. 8: $18
- DERMEDICINE Weightless Face Moisturizer SPF 25: $60
- SUNDAY RILEY C.E.O. C + E Micro-Dissolve Cleansing Oil: $38
- ETAT LIBRE D’ORANGE She Was an Anomaly Eau de Parfum\: $9.67 (Full size: $58)
- SMASHBOX COSMETICS Cover Shot Eye Palette in Ablaze: $29
- HUANGJISOO British Rose Hydrating and Shea Butter Nourishing Sheet Mask Set: $12 (Full size: $30)
- FOXYBAE Rose Gold Detangling Brush: $12.95
- ST. TROPICA Beach Goddess Hot Oil Hair Mask: $17.50
- SUGAR RUSH sugar rush™ sugar coat velvet liquid lipstick in Sprinkle: $15
- WAY OF WILL Hand and Body Lotion in Sweet Orange & Elemi: $3.56 (Full size: $28)
- PUREHEALS Pore Clear Black Charcoal Peel-off Mask: $26
Total Value: $256.68! That’s over 5x the cost of the box!
At $50 per bag, it’s like I paid $4.17 per item. At that price, that’s like getting the following full-sized items discounts off retail price:
- INN BEAUTY PROJECT Glaze #1 Lip Oil in Candy Apple: 72% OFF
- SUNDAYS Nail Polish in No. 8: 77% OFF
- DERMEDICINE Weightless Face Moisturizer SPF 25: 93% OFF
- SUNDAY RILEY C.E.O. C + E Micro-Dissolve Cleansing Oil: 89% OFF
- SMASHBOX COSMETICS Cover Shot Eye Palette in Ablaze: 86% OFF
- FOXYBAE Rose Gold Detangling Brush: 68% OFF
- ST. TROPICA Beach Goddess Hot Oil Hair Mask: 76% OFF
- SUGAR RUSH sugar rush™ sugar coat velvet liquid lipstick in Sprinkle: 72% OFF
- PUREHEALS Pore Clear Black Charcoal Peel-off Mask: 84% OFF
Is the Glam Bag Ultimate May 2020 still available?
As of this publication, the Glam Bag Ultimate May 2020 is no longer available. However, mystery bags of items from past months are often made available to subscribers. Sign up here to start a subscription!
Check out my other IPSY Glam Bag reviews and spoilers!
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