IPSY Ultimate

IPSY Ultimate (formerly Glam Bag X) is a quarterly luxury beauty experience delivering 8 full-size products with up to $400 in value. Choose 3 products yourself while IPSY curates 5 based on your Beauty Quiz. Ships in February, May, August, and November, replacing your base subscription during those months. Perfect for those seeking curated luxury beauty quarterly.

IPSY Ultimate (formerly Glam Bag X) launched as IPSY’s luxury tier, offering a quarterly collection of premium beauty products. With 8 full-size items and up to $400 in value for just $65, it’s positioned as the ultimate (pun intended) value for beauty enthusiasts.

Pricing

Membership	Price	Handling	Total	Products	Value	Ships
IPSY Ultimate	$65/quarter	$1.99	$66.99	8 full-size	Up to $400	4x/year

Shipping Schedule:

• February (Spring Collection)
• May (Summer Collection)
• August (Fall Collection)
• November (Holiday Collection)

Important: Ultimate replaces your base subscription during ship months - you’re not charged for both.

What’s Included Each Quarter

8 Full-Size Products:

• Premium makeup from luxury brands
• High-end skincare (serums, treatments, masks)
• Professional hair care products
• Beauty tools and devices
• Fragrance (designer perfumes)

Your 3 Choices:

• Select during choice window
• Preview options in advance
• Control over key products

5 IPSY Picks:

• Curated by IPSY experts
• Based on Beauty Quiz
• Focus on luxury and prestige brands

How It Works

IPSY Ultimate’s quarterly subscription cycle delivers luxury beauty with a hybrid of choice and curation:

1. Subscribe to Base Membership First: Ultimate is not standalone - you must have an active IPSY Original ($14/month) or IPSY Extra ($32/month) subscription. Think of Ultimate as a quarterly upgrade option, not a separate membership tier. If you’re new to IPSY, sign up for Original or Extra first.

2. Ultimate Offer Window Opens: Four times per year (late January, late April, late July, late October), IPSY emails members inviting them to opt into Ultimate for the upcoming quarter. The invitation includes:

• Preview of featured brands and product categories
• Spoilers showing 2-4 products confirmed in the box
• Choice window dates
• Billing date reminder

Not all members receive offers simultaneously - IPSY sometimes releases Ultimate in waves based on account tenure, subscription tier, or availability limits. If you don’t see the offer, check your account dashboard or contact support.

3. Opt In During Window: If you want that quarter’s Ultimate box, opt in through your IPSY account before the deadline (typically 3-5 days before billing). Opting in authorizes IPSY to replace your base subscription that month and charge $66.99 ($65 box + $1.99 handling).

4. Billing on Last Day of Month: Around the last day of the month before shipment (January 31 for February box, April 30 for May box, etc.), IPSY charges your payment method $66.99 for Ultimate. Your base subscription (Original or Extra) is automatically paused for that month - you’re not charged for both. You only pay for Ultimate.

5. Choice Window Opens (1st-3rd of Month): Similar to Extra’s Build Your Box, Ultimate members select 3 of their 8 products during a 3-day window at the start of the month. The choice interface shows:

• 15-25 product options across categories (skincare, makeup, hair, tools)
• Brand names, product details, and retail values
• Reviews from previous members who received these items

Choose strategically - these 3 ensure you get products you’re excited about. IPSY curates the remaining 5 based on your Beauty Quiz, product reviews, and past ratings.

6. IPSY Curates Remaining 5 Products: After choice closes, IPSY’s algorithm selects 5 additional full-size items based on:

• Your Beauty Quiz preferences (skin type, concerns, color preferences)
• Historical product ratings (items you’ve loved/hated in past boxes)
• Category balance (ensuring mix of skincare, makeup, hair, tools)
• Luxury brand availability

The curation aims to complement your 3 choices with items you’ll love but might not have selected yourself - balancing control with discovery.

7. Box Assembly and Fulfillment: After billing and choice, IPSY assembles your personalized Ultimate box containing all 8 full-size items plus:

• Product information cards
• Insert magazine with beauty tips and tutorials
• IPSY branded packaging (larger than Original/Extra boxes to accommodate 8 full-size products)

8. Shipping and Delivery: Ultimate boxes ship mid-month (typically 10-20 days after billing). Shipping times vary:

• Domestic US: 5-10 business days after shipment notification
• Alaska/Hawaii: 10-15 business days
• International: Not available for Ultimate

Track your box through the IPSY app or email notifications. Some members report Ultimate ships slightly later than base subscriptions due to premium product sourcing.

9. Unboxing Your Luxury Haul: When your Ultimate box arrives, unpack 8 full-size products valued at $300-400+ retail. Typical contents:

• 2-3 premium skincare items (serums, moisturizers, masks)
• 2-3 high-end makeup products (palettes, lipsticks, liners)
• 1-2 hair care products (shampoo, styling tools)
• 1 beauty tool or fragrance (brushes, devices, perfumes)

Everything is retail-sized - full 1oz serums, full palettes, full-size mascaras. No samples or deluxe sizes.

10. Rate Products for Future Curation: Log into your IPSY account and rate each Ultimate product 1-5 stars. Since Ultimate ships quarterly, your ratings significantly impact the next Ultimate box (3 months later):

• Low ratings on skincare steer future Ultimates toward makeup
• High ratings on specific brands encourage more from those brands
• Detailed feedback (e.g., “too fragranced”) refines curation

11. Base Subscription Resumes Next Month: In the months between Ultimate (March, June, September, December, plus non-Ultimate months), your Original or Extra subscription continues normally. You’re billed at your base tier rate and receive those boxes. Ultimate doesn’t cancel or replace your entire subscription - just the specific month it ships.

12. Decide Whether to Opt Into Next Ultimate: Three months later, the cycle repeats. You’re not automatically enrolled in every Ultimate - each quarter is a separate opt-in decision. This flexibility lets you:

• Skip quarters when budget is tight
• Choose only seasonal collections you prefer (e.g., only Holiday boxes)
• Opt in based on brand spoilers

Timing: Ultimate ships in February, May, August, and November. Choice windows occur 1st-3rd of those months. Billing happens last day of the previous month.

Seasonal Collections

Spring (February):

• Fresh, restorative skincare for post-winter renewal
• Pastel makeup palettes and soft lip colors
• Light floral fragrances and hydrating masks
• Spring cleaning tools (brush sets, organizers)

Summer (May):

• SPF products and waterproof makeup formulas
• Vibrant eyeshadow and bold lip colors for beach season
• Refreshing toners, mists, and lightweight moisturizers
• Travel-sized luxury items for vacation beauty routines

Fall (August):

• Rich, warming tones in rust, burgundy, and bronze
• Nourishing treatments for transitioning skin
• Seasonal makeup palettes with deeper hues
• Prep-for-holidays skincare (retinols, vitamin C serums)

Holiday (November):

• Luxurious gift-worthy packaging and presentation
• Party-ready glitter, metallics, and statement makeup
• Premium skincare sets perfect for New Year skin goals
• Festive fragrances and limited-edition collaborations

November Ultimate is often the most popular and highest-valued, making it competitive to access.

Who It’s For

• Luxury Beauty Lovers on Budget: Those who appreciate prestige brands (Fenty, Urban Decay, Tatcha) but can’t afford $50-100 products regularly - Ultimate delivers 8 for $65
• Value Maximizers: Spreadsheet users who calculate cost-per-product and recognize 80%+ savings represents exceptional beauty value
• Quarterly Preference Subscribers: Those who find monthly boxes overwhelming but want regular beauty discovery - 4 boxes yearly feels manageable
• Gift Enthusiasts Treating Themselves: People who love the ritual of seasonal treats - Ultimate’s 4x/year timing aligns with self-care quarterly indulgences
• Full-Size Collection Builders: Wanting actual usable quantities rather than samples - 8 full-size products build legitimate beauty collections
• Seasonal Switchers: Those who enjoy curated seasonal selections matching spring renewal, summer glow, fall warmth, and holiday glam themes
• IPSY Loyalists: Already happy with Original or Extra and wanting occasional luxury upgrades without committing to more expensive monthly tiers
• Choice-Oriented But Discovery-Open: Valuing control (choose 3) but also enjoying surprise (5 curated picks) - hybrid appeals to this mindset
• Beauty Quiz Trustors: Those who’ve refined their quiz over months and trust IPSY’s algorithm to select flattering items
• Patient Box Openers: Willing to wait 3 months between Ultimate boxes rather than needing monthly beauty excitement

Who Should Skip This

• Monthly Beauty Box Addicts: If you need monthly unboxing excitement, Ultimate’s quarterly schedule leaves long gaps between deliveries - stick to Original/Extra monthly
• Budget-Restricted: $65/quarter ($66.99 with handling) plus maintaining $14-32/month base subscription totals $221-449/year - if beauty budget is tight, this strains finances
• Non-IPSY Members: Ultimate requires active Original or Extra subscription - if you dislike IPSY’s curation or have had bad experiences, Ultimate won’t fix underlying issues
• Full Control Seekers: Choosing only 3 of 8 products means 62% of your box is surprise - if you need to select everything yourself, curated subscriptions frustrate
• Indie and Emerging Brand Lovers: Ultimate prioritizes prestige and luxury brands over indie discoveries - if you prefer supporting small beauty brands, Extra or Original better showcase new names
• Impatient Shoppers: Only 4 opportunities per year to join, and some quarters sell out or have waitlists - if you decide in March you want Ultimate but Feb box is past, you wait until May
• Those Needing Responsive Support: IPSY’s customer service limitations (email-only, slow response, cancellation difficulties) affect Ultimate tier too - don’t expect better support
• Minimalists Avoiding Overload: 8 full-size products quarterly (32/year) plus base subscription boxes (12-48/year) creates 44-80 beauty items annually - if you’re trying to reduce product clutter, subscriptions compound the problem
• Travelers with Variable Addresses: Ultimate replaces your base box specific months - if you travel frequently and need flexible shipping, timing complications arise
• Price Comparison Shoppers: While retail value is high, aggressive shoppers finding sales, using coupons, and buying during Sephora sales might build similar collections for less with more control

IPSY Ultimate delivers genuine value for luxury beauty enthusiasts comfortable with quarterly pacing and hybrid curation. The $400+ products for $65 math works beautifully if you’ll use most items. However, the requirement to maintain a base IPSY subscription plus Ultimate’s limitations (email-only support, cancellation difficulties) mean this works best for established IPSY members who already trust the platform’s curation and can tolerate operational hiccups.