Does IPSY Charge You the First Month? Your Real Costs Explained

You hit ‘subscribe’ at IPSY, pick out your preferences, and then—bam, there’s your card info screen. But does this mean you get a free trial or does IPSY swipe your money right away? Here’s the truth: IPSY almost always charges you for the first month as soon as you finish signing up. No waiting period, no first month free.

People often expect some kind of trial before the first payment, but that’s not how IPSY works. Once you’ve entered your details and pressed confirm, your billing cycle starts. In almost every case, your card gets charged immediately for that month’s bag or box.

This might feel fast, but it’s how they secure your spot and make sure you’ll get the next shipment. So, if you’ve signed up today (May 11, 2025), expect to see that charge on your bank statement right away—unless you’re jumping in during some rare promo, which we’ll break down later.

• How IPSY Sign-Up Billing Works
• When You Actually Get Charged
• Exceptions and Special Offers
• What to Watch for with Billing Cycles
• Tips for Avoiding Surprise Charges
• How to Cancel or Pause Without Penalties

How IPSY Sign-Up Billing Works

Okay, here’s what actually happens when you start a subscription with IPSY. You pick your desired plan—whether it’s the classic Glam Bag, the Plus, or the Icon Box. Once you fill out your quiz and add your payment info, you move straight into the billing cycle. There’s no hold, and no trial. Your card is charged as soon as you hit confirm, and your new account is active right away.

This up-front payment locks in your first shipment. Even if you sign up at the tail end of the month or right after a monthly cutoff, IPSY considers your payment the official start date. Here’s the step-by-step:

• Pick your subscription type (monthly, yearly, or gift; most people choose monthly).
• Fill out your personal beauty quiz (this helps personalize your bag).
• Enter your shipping and payment details. Double-check them—your first charge is about to hit.
• Hit submit and watch for a confirmation screen. If you see it, you’ve already paid for that month.
• IPSY sends you an order summary by email. This email includes your payment amount and date charged.

For most folks, this first charge lands on their account within minutes, but it can occasionally take a few hours to appear on your bank statement, depending on your bank.

For those who like numbers, here’s a simple breakdown of cost and renewal:

So, if you’re eyeing the Glam Bag, expect to see that $14 come out right after you sign up. No sneaky waits. Some folks have tried to time their sign-up to avoid double-charges in back-to-back months, but IPSY’s system is pretty locked in. As soon as you join, your billing calendar starts ticking.

When You Actually Get Charged

So, here’s how it goes with IPSY: the second you finish the sign-up process and hit the last button, your card gets charged for that initial bag or box. There’s no suspense or waiting game. This isn’t unique to you—it’s standard for every new IPSY member, unless there’s a promo waving the fee for your first month (which isn’t common, but keep an eye out during big sales events or influencer deals).

If you sign up in the middle or near the end of the month, you still get charged right then, and that bag is yours for the current cycle. For example, if today is May 11, 2025, your payment covers the May bag. IPSY’s system doesn’t skip ahead to next month; it pulls you into the next available shipment. Want to double-check? Their official FAQ says,

"When you sign up, you will be charged for your first month immediately. This secures your spot for that month's bag." — IPSY Help Center

After your first payment, charges follow a schedule. Recurring members are usually billed on the last day of the month for the next month’s bag—so you’re basically paying ahead every time. If you upgrade or try an add-on, those extras are billed separately when you grab them.

• If your payment declines, IPSY will keep trying for a few days before pausing your subscription.
• Charges appear on your card as “IPSY” or “IPSY*Beauty Box,” so you can spot them easily.
• Annual plan folks—your total for the whole year is charged up front when you sign up, not monthly.

IPSY sticks to this upfront model so everyone gets their picks in, and boxes don’t sell out under you. If you want to avoid being charged at all, don’t enter your payment info or click that last “confirm” button—there’s no trial bag or sample without a payment on file.

Exceptions and Special Offers

Alright, so you know that IPSY usually charges you up front, but are there any situations where you might dodge that first-month bill or get a deal? IPSY does run promos here and there, but you’ve got to read the fine print to actually save money.

Sometimes, they’ll splash an ad about a “Welcome Gift” or offer bonus items for new signups, especially around big shopping seasons or when they’re trying to pump up signups. But here’s the deal: even with those, you still pay for your IPSY box the first month. The perk is usually extra products thrown in, not a free first month.

Every once in a while—very rare—they roll out “first bag free” deals, but they’re usually for a limited number of users or you have to join through a specific referral link. You’ll want to double-check the promo’s details before getting your hopes up.

Here’s a quick rundown of the most common offers:

• Bonus Items: Get 1-2 extra products in your first bag. Still pay up front.
• Referral perks: Use a friend’s link, and you might both get bonus points or add-ons—again, no free month, but little extras tossed in.
• Holiday Bundles: Sometimes your first bag seems overstuffed, but you’re still footing the bill for that first month.

In 2024, IPSY ran a promo for Mother’s Day: new subscribers got an extra deluxe sample but paid normal first-month pricing. Free trials, discounts on your first month, or “skip payment promos” just aren’t standard here.

If you spot any offer that really looks like a free bag or skipped payment, grab a screenshot and check the fine print for shipping charges or renewal clauses. IPSY’s tried-and-true model doesn’t let many folks sneak by without that first billing, but at least you can snag a few bonus goodies if you sign up at the right time.

What to Watch for with Billing Cycles

This is where things can trip people up. No one likes surprise charges, so it’s key to keep an eye on how IPSY bills you month after month. IPSY uses automatic recurring billing, which means your payment gets pulled around the same time every month—no reminders or fresh confirmations needed.

Here’s how it typically works: If you sign up on May 11, your next charge will hit on or right after June 1. IPSY usually charges subscribers during the first week of each month for the upcoming month’s bag or box, not the one you just received. This can make it feel like you’re paying ahead, and for new subscribers, it’s a common reason for confusion. If you sign up late in the month, your first charge covers next month’s shipment, but you could see a second charge just a couple of weeks later as the new cycle begins.

Let’s break it down with a simple billing schedule:

The tight timing can catch you off guard. Say you join at the end of May—you’ll probably get charged again a few days later when the June cycle runs. If you’re tracking expenses, this isn’t something you want sneaking up on your credit card.

• Watch your email for IPSY billing alerts (they don’t always arrive, so check your account online).
• Look for the charge on your bank statement during the first week of each month.
• Heads-up: If your payment method fails, IPSY tries to charge you again, and you risk missing out on your bag if you don’t catch it quickly.

So, keeping an eye on your renewal date inside your IPSY account or phone calendar is an easy way to avoid any nasty surprises. If you ever want to skip a month or cancel, make sure you do it before your billing date hits—otherwise, it’s too late for that month’s refund.

Tips for Avoiding Surprise Charges

There’s nothing worse than realizing you’ve been charged for something you barely remember signing up for. With IPSY, you can dodge surprise charges if you stay on your toes and follow a few simple moves.

First, know how their billing clock ticks. IPSY charges for the next month around the last day of the current month—usually between the 1st and 3rd. That means if you’re thinking of canceling or pausing, you need to act before the new billing cycle kicks in. Their website spells it out: cancel before the last day of the month or you’ll get charged again.

"Members can pause or cancel their subscription anytime before the last day of the month to avoid the next month’s charge." — IPSY Help Center

Here’s how to sidestep annoying extras or hidden fees:

• Check for Add-ons: IPSY loves their add-ons, like mystery bags or flash sales. If you click buy, it’s an instant charge—not bundled with your monthly fee.
• Watch Seasonal Upgrades: The more expensive Glam Bag X (quarterly) will automatically swap in for your regular bag unless you opt out in time. Set a calendar reminder so you’re not surprised when $60+ drops from your account.
• Keep Your Email Handy: IPSY gives a heads up before each monthly charge. These emails contain deadlines for changes, skips, and cancellations.
• Review Your Account Dashboard: It lists upcoming shipments, recent charges, and pay dates. Double-check it before making changes to your subscription.

If you love details, check this breakdown of IPSY’s common fees and when they hit:

Honestly, set reminders for yourself. Most accidental charges happen because you planned to cancel "later" and time just slipped by. Also, keep in mind: there are no refunds once the payment is processed, even if the bag hasn’t shipped yet. So if you ever want to pull back, cancel before that clock hits midnight at month’s end!

How to Cancel or Pause Without Penalties

If you’ve changed your mind about your IPSY subscription or just need a break, here’s the lowdown on how to bail without getting dinged by extra charges or headaches. Canceling or pausing is actually way less dramatic than you’d think—as long as you pay attention to deadlines and don’t skip any steps.

For month-to-month subscribers, IPSY lets you cancel at any time, as long as you do it before your next billing date. If you got charged already for the upcoming month, you’ll still get that final shipment, but nothing after that. There’s no sneaky cancellation fee or penalty for pausing or quitting. You can also hit pause for a month or two, and they don’t punish you with surprise fees—the only catch is that you have to do it before your charge hits.

Here’s exactly how to cancel or pause:

• Login at ipsy.com or open the IPSY app.
• Head to Account > Membership > Manage Membership.
• Choose “Pause” or “Cancel” and follow the steps on the screen. They’ll ask your reason, but you can just pick one and move on.
• Wait for the confirmation email. If you don’t see it, double-check your spam folder and your IPSY dashboard—it should say “Paused” or “Cancelled.”

Timing is everything. The billing cutoff is usually the last day of the month, or what IPSY calls your “upcoming billing date.” Cancel before this date, and you’re golden. After the cutoff, that month’s charge is already locked in.

Check out these quick numbers on cancellation timing:

If you prepaid for a 6- or 12-month plan, you can cancel auto-renew so you don’t get recharged at the end, but you’ll still get every box or bag you already bought—no refunds for unused months. Pausing isn’t an option for prepaid plans, only for the month-to-month memberships.

If you ever get stuck or don’t see the cancellation stick, start a chat with IPSY through their site. Most of the time, they can fix things in a couple of messages. Just save your receipts and emails, and you won’t have to worry about random charges showing up later.