The Smartest Gift for the New School Year? A Beauty Subscription

By Susan Muramoto

Published on Jul 23, 2025 • 4 min read

How many times have you lamented your bad luck with “Ugh, it won’t get here in time,” questioned your own judgment with “But will she actually use this?” or prematurely admitted defeat with “I’ll need a gift receipt for that”? If you’re like us, you love the act of getting something special for someone special (how hard could it be to find their new signature scent?), but discovering the perfect present has felt like a near-impossible task—until now, that is.

Whether they’re heading back to campus, settling into a new semester, or just need a little pick-me-up for the school year ahead, Glam Bag and BoxyCharm subscription gifts are the ultimate back-to-school surprise. These babies check all the right boxes: They’re unique. Special. Thoughtful. Convenient. And ridiculously easy. Don’t know what your bestie wants? IPSY will curate products they’ll love based on their Beauty Quiz. Waited till the last minute? Send a subscription in minutes. IPSY delivers must-have beauty to your favorite people for 3, 6, or 12 months, so you can gift them once and delight them for months.

And yes, this works for students, teachers, or anyone who deserves a little glam boost before the bell rings. If you still need convincing, get this: You don't need to be a member to send or receive a gifted IPSY subscription, and your gift recipient doesn't have to enter any payment info to redeem it (we told you it was easy!). So keep scrolling to learn how to gift an IPSY subscription to your loved ones so they get the glam—and you get the glory.

It's about glam time you treated yourself.

Join IPSY

How to Give the Gift of IPSY

Step 1: Go to IPSY.com/gift

Ready to get gifty with the best gift in the beauty game? You’ve come to the right place.

Step 2: Choose the Subscription and Duration

You can treat the beauty lover in your life to 3, 6, or 12 months of a Glam Bag or BoxyCharm subscription (or both, if you really want to go above and beyond!). Your recipient doesn’t need to be a current IPSY member or enter any payment info to redeem their gift.

Pro tip: Glam Bag is perfect for those exploring the world of beauty, since it delivers 5 deluxe-size samples in a cute makeup bag every month. BoxyCharm is perfect for the beauty obsessed, as this monthly box includes 5 full-size products from the buzziest brands.

Step 3: Add Your Recipient Info & a Note

They’re special to you—so make them feel that way by adding a heartfelt note along with their gift. Remember to double-check that their email address looks correct.

Pro tip: Don’t know their shipping address? Don’t worry. After their gift is sent, we’ll email them to set up their IPSY account and enter in a shipping address for the subscription you gifted them. This is also when they’ll also be prompted to take the Beauty Quiz to help personalize their products.

Step 4: Schedule Your Gift Delivery

Whether you want to send your gift ASAP or wait for a specific day, you have the flexibility to surprise your favorite person on the day of your choosing.

Back-to-school tip: Choose a delivery date around the start of the semester to give them something to look forward to when classes kick off.

Step 5: Check Out

Confirm your gift details look correct before placing your order. You can check out as a guest or by logging into your existing IPSY account (if you have one). And voila—you’ve just scored the perfect beauty gift.

Ready to make the honor roll of gifting? Head to IPSY.com/gift to get started.

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