Cosmetics are expensive, and purchasing cosmetics can be very intimidating. No matter how simple your makeup needs, the options seem endless. There's at least 15 to 20 brands in front of you, all claiming different benefits that all seem to do the same thing. Is that lipstick going to smudge the second you sip your coffee? Does that foundation actually match your skin tone? How does one choose which products will serve them best? Have no more fear ladies, this is where Ipsy comes in!

Ipsy is a monthly cosmetics subscription service that sends a random assortment of at least five sample-sized items in a small makeup bag to subscribers each month. The service costs $10 a month. Subscribers to Ipsy create a profile on the website that gains certain basic knowledge of their product preferences. The profile asks you how comfortable you are with makeup, the looks you want to achieve and what products you would be interested in receiving. The only immediate issue I had with Ipsy was the initial wait. The company ships all of their products at the same time and new subscribers have to wait a month before receiving their first glam bag.

The glam bags vary in content and some months are better than others. I have been an Ipsy subscriber for two months now. I hated my first glam bag. Despite the fact that I did get an Urban Decay eye shadow, it was a color I would have never chosen for myself. My first month I also received items I knew I had not specified as something I would be interested in on my profile. I did get one full sized Colourpop eyeliner which I really did like. I also went back through and updated my profile on the site to hopefully get better options in my next glam bag. Despite not being very impressed with my first bag, I decided to give the company a second chance. This bag was much better. I was very satisfied with all my products, and the ones I have tried so far I have loved. At the end of the day, the products are sent at random so it's always going to be a roll of the dice.

An advantage to Ipsy is that they don't just cater to makeup experts like other cosmetic subscription services do. Ipsy posts tutorials on YouTube and has a detailed section on their website that explains how to use each product. As someone who is still somewhat of a makeup novice, tutorials are very helpful.

This service is all about helping you save money. Since the items in the glam bag are sample sizes, you get a chance to try something before blindly committing to it as you would if you purchased it in Sephora. If you really love something in your glam bag, Ipsy has some of the full sized items discounted on their website for purchase and they offer discount codes for many brands. If you're feeling lucky, Ipsy also does huge giveaways of premium cosmetics each month. Last but not least, Ipsy awards their customers with points for purchases, signing up and referring friends.

Is Ipsy worth your money? It depends. If you enjoy surprises and are okay with getting a disappointing bag occasionally, then yes. If you're the type of person that expects to get full size and high end items all the time, you'll be disappointed most of the time. Ipsy is a great service for those looking to try new things before purchasing them and those looking for an easy way to learn about makeup.