Why Does IPSY Charge Me Twice a Month? Here’s the Real Reason

If you’ve seen two charges from IPSY on your bank statement in the same month, you’re not alone. Many subscribers panic, thinking they’ve been overcharged or scammed. But here’s the truth: IPSY doesn’t make mistakes - it’s just how their billing cycle works.

IPSY’s Billing Cycle Explained

IPSY sends out its Glam Bag (and other box types) around the 15th of each month. But the system doesn’t wait until after you get your box to charge you. Instead, it charges you upfront - usually between the 5th and 10th of the month - to lock in your box and cover shipping, product costs, and handling. That’s your first charge.

Then, a few days later, you’ll see a second charge. This isn’t a duplicate. It’s the payment for the next month’s box. IPSY bills one month in advance. So if you got charged on the 7th and again on the 12th, the first was for the current month’s box (which is already being packed), and the second was for next month’s box (which hasn’t shipped yet).

This isn’t unique to IPSY. Many subscription services - from meal kits to streaming platforms - bill ahead. But IPSY’s timing makes it confusing because the two charges land so close together, and both show up as "IPSY" without clear labels.

How to Tell the Difference Between the Two Charges

The easiest way to confirm you’re not being double-charged is to check your email. IPSY sends two separate emails for each transaction:

• First email: "Your Glam Bag is on the way!" - sent after your first charge. This confirms payment for the current month’s box.
• Second email: "Your next box is reserved!" - sent after your second charge. This confirms payment for the upcoming month.

If you don’t see these emails, check your spam folder. Sometimes they get filtered, especially if you’ve marked other IPSY emails as junk in the past.

You can also log into your IPSY account and go to "Billing History." Each charge has a clear description:

• "Glam Bag - [Month]" = current month’s box
• "Glam Bag - [Next Month]" = next month’s box

The date on the invoice matches the charge on your card. If both charges are labeled for different months, you’re fine.

Why Does IPSY Bill Ahead?

Billing in advance isn’t just about cash flow - it’s about logistics. IPSY processes over 1.5 million boxes every month. Each box is customized based on your beauty profile, and products are sourced from hundreds of brands. They need to know exactly how many boxes to pack, what products to order, and how to ship them on time.

If they waited until after you received your box to charge you, they’d risk delays. Imagine waiting to pay until after your box arrives - what if you didn’t pay? What if your card expired? IPSY would be stuck with hundreds of thousands of boxes sitting in warehouses, unpaid for.

By charging you early, they guarantee every box is paid for before it leaves the warehouse. It’s not a trick - it’s a necessity.

What If You Cancel Mid-Month?

You can cancel your IPSY subscription anytime. But here’s the catch: if you cancel after the first charge but before the second, you’ll still get the current month’s box - and you’ll still be charged for the next month. That’s because the system already reserved your box and locked in your products.

You won’t get a refund for the second charge, but you also won’t receive another box after that. The second payment covers the next box, which will never be shipped. So you’re not paying for something you didn’t get - you’re paying for a box that was already prepared and will be canceled before shipping.

If you cancel before the first charge hits, you won’t get charged at all for that month. That’s the best time to cancel if you want to avoid any charges.

Common Mistakes That Make People Think They’re Being Double-Charged

Some people think they’re being charged twice because they:

• Forgot they upgraded from Glam Bag to Glam Bag Plus - two separate subscriptions = two charges
• Have a family member using their account - multiple profiles under one login can trigger separate billing
• Used a promo code that only covered part of the fee - the rest gets billed later
• Switched payment methods and didn’t update their old card - old card gets charged once, new card gets charged again

Check your account settings under "Subscriptions." Make sure you only have one active subscription. If you see two, delete the one you don’t want. You can always re-subscribe later.

How to Avoid Confusion Going Forward

Here’s how to stay in control:

1. Set a calendar reminder for the 5th of each month - that’s when charges usually hit.
2. Check your email for IPSY’s billing confirmations right after you see the charge.
3. Use a separate credit card just for IPSY - it makes tracking way easier.
4. Turn on notifications in the IPSY app - you’ll get alerts when your box ships and when you’re charged.

If you’re still unsure, IPSY’s customer service team is responsive. You can message them directly through the app or email [email protected]. Just send them your account email and the dates of the charges - they’ll send you a breakdown within 24 hours.

What Other Subscription Boxes Do

IPSY isn’t the only one doing this. Birchbox bills ahead too. FabFitFun charges for the next season before the current one ships. Even Netflix bills at the start of your billing cycle. It’s standard practice in subscription models.

The difference? IPSY’s charges land within days of each other, which makes it feel like a mistake. Other services space their charges out - sometimes by weeks - so you don’t notice.

But if you understand the pattern, it’s not confusing anymore. You’re not paying twice for one box. You’re paying for two boxes - one you’re about to get, and one you’ll get next month.

Final Tip: Use IPSY’s Auto-Renewal Window

IPSY lets you pause your subscription for up to three months. If you’re going on vacation, don’t cancel - pause. You’ll keep your profile, your preferences, and your points. And you won’t get charged during that time.

To pause: Go to your account > Subscriptions > Pause Subscription. Pick the months you want to skip. You’ll get an email confirmation. No charges. No boxes. No stress.

If you’ve been seeing two charges and thought you were being overcharged - now you know the truth. It’s not a glitch. It’s the system working exactly as designed.