You’ve seen the pink mailers. Maybe you’ve even scrolled past a dozen "unboxing" videos on TikTok where someone pulls out a tiny tube of mascara like it’s a gold bar. But if you’re sitting there wondering how much is Ipsy a month in 2026, the answer isn’t just a single number you can find on a dusty old price tag. It’s actually gotten a little more complex lately.
Honestly, the "is it worth it?" debate changes the second you realize they’ve shuffled their tiers and added some sneaky fees that weren't there a few years ago.
The Current Price Tags (Breaking It Down)
So, let's get into the nitty-gritty. Ipsy basically operates on a "choose your own adventure" model. Depending on how much you want to hoard—I mean, curate—your beauty stash, you’re looking at three main levels.
Ipsy Original (The Glam Bag)
This is the OG. It's the one that comes in that signature zippered pouch.
- Monthly Cost: $14
- What's inside: Five deluxe-sized samples.
- The Vibe: Great if you’re a "tester." It’s for people who want to try a $60 serum without actually paying for it until they know it won't make them break out.
Ipsy Extra (The Artist formerly known as BoxyCharm)
If you’re over the tiny samples and want the "real" stuff, this is where you land.
- Monthly Cost: $32
- What's inside: Five full-size products.
- The Vibe: You get to pick three of the items yourself. It feels less like a surprise and more like a discounted shopping trip.
Ipsy Ultimate (The Quarterly Splurge)
This replaced the old Icon Box and it only shows up four times a year—February, May, August, and November.
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- Cost: $65 per quarter.
- What's inside: Eight premium, full-size products, often "curated" by a celebrity or a big-name brand like Charlotte Tilbury or NARS.
- The Vibe: It’s a lot. Like, a lot a lot. You usually get it instead of your regular bag for that month.
The "Hidden" Costs Nobody Mentions
Here is where people get tripped up. You see $14 on the homepage and think, "Sweet, a lunch-sized price for beauty products." But wait.
As of late 2025 and moving into 2026, Ipsy shifted its shipping model. For most U.S. subscribers, you’re now looking at a $1.99 shipping and handling fee per month. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it means your $14 bag is actually costing you closer to $16.
If you’re in Canada? Ouch. Shipping fees there have jumped. You’re looking at roughly $6.95 for shipping on the basic bag, which nearly doubles the cost for our friends up north.
Is the Yearly Plan Actually a Better Deal?
Ipsy pushes the annual subscription hard. They usually offer it for around $154 for the year for the Original Glam Bag.
Math time.
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If you pay monthly ($14 x 12), you’re at $168. By going annual, you’re basically getting one or two months for free. Plus, they usually throw in a "free gift" worth about $40 to $50 to sweeten the pot. But there's a catch: you’re locked in. If you decide in March that you have enough highlighter to last until the next solar eclipse, you can't really "pause" the same way you can with a month-to-month plan.
The "Add-On" Rabbit Hole
The real reason people end up spending way more than $14 a month is the Add-Ons.
Between the 1st and 3rd of every month, Ipsy opens up a digital shop. You can snag extra products for as little as $3.50. These ship for free with your bag. It’s incredibly easy to go in for a $14 bag and come out with a $45 bill because you "just had to have" that full-size Tatcha cream for $18.
Then there’s the Beauty Boost. This is specifically for Ipsy Extra (the $32 tier) subscribers. For an extra $15 a month, you can add one high-end, "prestige" full-size product. It’s a way to get a $100 product for fifteen bucks, but again, it’s another layer of cost.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Value
We need to talk about "MSRP." Ipsy loves to say your bag is worth "up to $70" or "up to $200."
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Is it? Technically, yes, if you bought every individual item at Sephora.
But value is subjective. If you get a $30 "vibrant purple" eyeliner that you will never, ever wear, that $30 of value is effectively $0 to you. The key to making the monthly cost worth it is the Beauty Quiz. If you don't update that thing every few months, Ipsy will keep sending you stuff based on who you were three years ago.
Actionable Steps for Your Wallet
If you're trying to figure out if the monthly cost fits your budget, do this:
- Check your "Glow-Hole": Look at your bathroom cabinet. If you have more than three unopened moisturizers, skip a month. You can do this in the app without canceling.
- Account for the $1.99: Always calculate your monthly cost as $16 or $34 to account for the shipping fee and taxes. Don't let the marketing numbers fool you.
- Use the "Choice" Day: Mark your calendar. For the Glam Bag, you get to pick one item. For Extra, you pick three. If you miss choice day, you're letting an algorithm decide how to spend your money.
- Audit your Add-Ons: It’s easy to overspend here. Set a "fun money" limit before you even open the app on the 1st of the month.
The reality of how much Ipsy is a month depends entirely on your self-control during the Flash Sales and how much you actually use the products. For a strictly "base price" experience in the U.S., expect to shell out about $16 to $17 for the small bag and $34 to $35 for the full-size box after all the fees are tallied up.