Whether you love them or hate them, one thing’s for sure: Chrissy Teigen and John Legend are icons. Their creative genius and impeccable aesthetics always shine through. So, when I found out this season's Icon Box was curated by them, my expectations were sky-high. The theme, "Live Like a Legend," invites us to join them for a cozy, pampering date night at home with top-tier products. Yes, please!
The Ipsy Icon Box is a $60 quarterly beauty and makeup subscription box available for Ipsy members. It replaces your usual monthly bag in February, May, August, and November. It provides outstanding value, always including at least 8 full-sized products worth up to $350. It’s definitely one of the greatest perks of being an Ipsy subscriber.
My Subscription Addiction paid for this box. (Check out the editorial guidelines to learn more about how we review boxes.)
First Impressions
Although the box arrived a bit dirty, everything inside was pristine — not a scratch in sight. The protective foam this month definitely helped keep everything in place.
I really appreciated the booklet, which felt like a personal guide to a date night with Chrissy and John. It was filled with cute quotes about their self-care rituals, making it a charming and thoughtful addition.
What’s Inside
BYROE Black Cherry Plump Lip Oil – Retail Value $40
I’m a lip tint addict, but I usually steer clear of plumping products. Most of them have an awful scent, taste, and that dreaded menthol tingle. This one, however, has a unique scent — somewhere between perfume and medicine — but it’s not overpowering, so I didn’t mind it too much.
What really threw me off was the applicator. It’s this weird, spatula-like plastic thing that makes it tough to apply the product evenly. I just don’t get it.
That said, the cherry shade is stunning — one of the prettiest I’ve tried in a while. It’s not overly intense, so it feels comfortable on the lips, and I do notice a slight plumping effect, though it might just be the gloss creating an optical illusion. My lips soak this up like crazy, so I’ll probably go through it fast.
Repurchase Power? Maybe, but only if it’s on sale. I’m not paying $40 for this.
Femmue Brilliant Cleansing Gel – Retail Value $32
As someone with acne-prone skin, gel cleansers are my jam. This one has a lovely scent and is non-comedogenic, making it safe for sensitive skin. I found it gentle yet effective — my skin felt clean and supple, not stripped. Some users claim it’s great for makeup removal, but I think it works best as part of a double cleanse. It struggled with waterproof makeup on its own.
Repurchase Power? Yes.
Grown Alchemist Regerating Gel Mask – Retail Value $70
This mask left me puzzled. The texture is more like a gel moisturizer — lightweight, akin to La Roche-Posay’s Cicaplast Gel. Unless you slather it on, it leaves a thin film that absorbs into the skin way before the 15-minute mark. So, no, I wouldn’t call it a mask.
It does have a luxurious, spa-like scent, which I loved. However, it’s packed with pore-clogging ingredients like oils and extracts, making it a no-go for my acne-prone skin.
Repurchase Power? No.
GXVE Beauty Most Def Clean Instant Definition Eyebrow Pencil – Retail Value $24
Color: 5 - Warm Deep Brown
One word: WOW! I’m obsessed with this brow pencil. The unique angled shape is genius — it gives you perfect, hair-like strokes with the thin side, and you can use the wider part for a softer, filled-in look. The formula is creamy, it is a bit oily, but still super blendable. My brows have never looked better!
Repurchase Power? Absolutely!
Il Makiage Color Boss Master Eyeshadow Palette – Retail Value $61
Color: Treat Yo' Self
Love, love, love! First off, the mirrored case is super chic. The shadows inside are the creamiest, most pigmented I’ve tried in ages. The shimmers are perfect for nights out, and the matte shades balance them beautifully. The warm tones are versatile enough for year-round wear.
Repurchase Power? Yes.
Lithe Beauty Everyday Brush Set – Retail Value $48
I had high hopes, but these brushes were a letdown. From a distance, they look fancy, but up close, some bristles were already loose or twisted. I doubt they’ll survive the first wash. The one standout is the concealer brush — it’s perfectly tapered, and my concealer went on like a dream.
Repurchase Power? No.
MZ Skin Calming Moisturizer – Retail Value $130
What is it with Ipsy and super-expensive moisturizers? For $130, this better make my skin look like Chrissy’s! To be fair, it’s a lovely moisturizer — lightweight, with a subtle scent, and feels great on the skin. But it has a few comedogenic ingredients, so it’s not 100% acne-safe. I might repurpose it for my hands and neck.
Repurchase Power? No.
Too Faced Better Than Sex Volumizing Mascara – Retail Value $29
We’ve all seen this mascara before. It’s iconic, sure, but I expected something more elevated for the Icon Box. This just feels out of place. In fact, they actually sent this in the Boxycharm August Box!
Repurchase Power? Yes.
Natasha Denona Love Face Palette – Retail Value $62
The packaging is adorable, and the shades are cute, but this didn’t excite me as much as I hoped. The shadows are decent — pigmented with minimal fallout — but the formula is just okay. The cream blush and highlighter are nice, but my highlighter arrived a bit broken. The highlighter shade is the standout here — it’s perfection.
Repurchase Power? No.
Value – Was This Box Worth It?
The Cost: $58
Value Breakdown:
- BYROE Lip Oil: $40
- Femmue Gel Cleanser: $32
- Grown Alchemist Mask: $70
- GXVE Eyebrow Pencil: $24
- Il Makiage Eyeshadow Palette: $61
- Lithe Brush Set: $48
- MZ Skin Moisturizer: $130
- Too Faced Mascara: $29
- Natasha Denona Face Palette: $62
Total Value: $434
Takeaways
Everything in my box was chosen by the Ipsy team because I missed the customization deadline. So, it was a surprise to see what I got. Out of the nine items, I’m in love with at least three: the lip oil, the eyebrow pencil, and the eyeshadow palette.
But overall, this box fell short. Even the booklet teased a microcurrent device worth $179.99 — why didn’t they include that instead of a $130 moisturizer?! The product selection just wasn’t luxe or exciting enough.
And I’m not alone in this sentiment. The Icon Box is supposed to be an upgrade, but this one didn’t feel like it.
Other Things You Should Know
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? No. Icon box is a quarterly subscription, so subscribe for the Winter curation.
What do you think of the August 2024 IconBox by Ipsy Box? Which items did you get? Let’s talk in the comments!
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