IPSY Ultimate Spoilers Round Two for Fall 2026

 Yeah. They posted the second tier of spoilers. 

It was less than great. 

This is the letter I sent to IPSY:

Hello, IPSY.

Let me start with kindness: my July Extra was fantastic. Truly. And your first round of Ultimate spoilers had me hopeful.

Then… the second round arrived.

MAKEUP BY MARIO – Master Mascara® in Super Black Apparently this is non‑negotiable. IPSY has decided I need Mascara #6. I can only assume you’re trying to help me open a small mascara museum.

SACHAJUAN – Hair Repair Treatment My hair is fine. My hair is thriving. My hair is practically smug. Please do not send me more hair repair.

ILIA BEAUTY – The Base Face Milk Beautiful product. But I already have enough primers, essences, and hybrid concoctions to run a small skincare speakeasy. I do not need this.

REL BEAUTY – The Essentials Brush Set Again, no. You gave everyone a brush last time with zero choice. Now you want to give us a whole set? IPSY, be serious. No one asked for a sequel to the Forced Brush Saga. I do not need more brushes. No one I know needs more brushes. These would sit in a drawer and contemplate their existence.

AREY – Goodnight Grey Serum I see what you’re doing. “She’s over a certain age—surely she’s panicking about aging!” Incorrect. I am not in crisis, despite your apparent confidence that I must be. I do not want this. Please do not send it.

Thank you for your time. I look forward to the day when spoilers feel exciting again. Will it do any good? At all? Probably not. I am emotionally resigned to those brushes being in my future.

IPSY EXTRA for JULY 2026

It felt like forever before this order got in. I was honestly getting annoyed. But it is here now, so I’m happy. Let’s discuss.

THE BAG

Not my favorite. It’s a rougher canvas with beachy white-and-pink stripes connected to white-and-orange stripes. But… it’s the middle of summer, so I get why they sent it. It’s not something I’d ever purchase for myself, but I can forgive it because the logic is sound.

WHAT I DID NOT CHOOSE

SKIN&CO ROMA – Umbrian Truffle Clay Detox Toning Formula

Aside from the fact that the little silver protective cover was a monster that did not want to come off, this is actually very nice. It smells great, it made my skin feel wonderful, and it’s a generous size.

The warnings say to be careful around your eyes/eyelids, but that’s normal for any toner.

I am pleased.

LOVE+CRAFT+BEAUTY – Tubular Lip Tint

It was not dried out — grateful for that.

The color, however… not wonderful. It’s dark in a way that makes me look dead, but not dead in the “old lady goth” way that I enjoy.

Just dead.

Despite being a lip stain, it didn’t survive dinner before fading.

Though honestly, given the color, maybe that’s a blessing.

Not pleased.

TOO FACED – Sunset Stripped Palette

Yeah, okay. WOW.

This is stunning.

It was pretty in the pictures, but in real life? STUNNING. I really love it.

It’s a very practical size, too. For having so many pans, it manages to be both generous and not bulky. I appreciate that.

The shades look beautiful with my coloring.

Deeply pleased.

WHAT I DID CHOOSE

TOWER 28 – SOS FaceGuard™ SPF 30 Sunscreen PA+++

I somehow missed that this is tinted. It has a very subtle, universal tint that looks amazing on my skin. It’s a little glowy — a bonus for someone my age — and has surprisingly good coverage.

As I said before, SPF 30 is kind of nothing for someone as pale as me, but a gentle tinted product that still offers coverage? That’s a whole different story.

Deeply pleased.

DRUNK ELEPHANT – D‑Bronzi™ Anti‑Pollution Sunshine Drops

Literally beautiful on my skin.

It melts in and just looks — as the phrase goes — like my skin but so, so much better. Between this and the Tower 28, my face should look great for the rest of the summer.

The only thing that threw me was how small it is.

Then again, you use very little at a time, and it has an expiration date, so maybe that makes sense.

Bonuses: The packaging was amazing. Opening it was its own little moment of joy. Also, a free sample of one of their creams inside.

As pleased as I assumed I would be, which was a lot.

SATURDAY SKIN – Yuzu Vitamin C + Water Blossom Serum

The reviews were not wrong. It’s great.

It smells lovely. It feels lovely. The container is lovely.

I’m about to run out of one of my serums, and I know this one is going to take its place.

It somehow made me feel both more alert and cooler at the same time.

I really love it.

Far more pleased than I anticipated with a third-tier choice.

CONCLUSION

One dud. One dud out of six. That’s not bad. And hey — it’s possible I can mess with that lip stain and make it work. This was just my first try. We’ll see what I can manage.

Other than that? I’m quite happy. Much happier than I was after last month’s package.

This is my second-to-last month before I end my subscription, and so far? I’m good with what this month has to offer.

The next round of spoilers drops tomorrow.

Will they be as good as the ones they’ve shown so far?

We shall see. And you KNOW I will have opinions.

IPSY EXTRA July 2026 Spoilers

 After my Really Bad Experience with IPSY Extra in June, I was hoping July would be a lot better.

And honestly, it is. Let's get into it.

WHAT I DID NOT CHOOSE

SKIN&CO ROMA – Umbrian Truffle Clay Detox Toning Formula

Okay, I snarled at this. At first. I saw “clay” and “detox” and immediately assumed it was a clay mask — and I do not want a clay mask. I do not like clay masks. They are messy, uncomfortable, and often do more harm to my skin than good.

However, this is a toner. I noticed the word “toner” later when I looked at it again. I did some research, and yes, it functions just like a toner.

And I’m happy with it now. I’m about halfway through my current toner, so I’ll need a new one sooner rather than later.

LOVE+CRAFT+BEAUTY – Tubular Lip Tint

First of all, I was so amused by the name. I realize they probably did not have cosmic‑horror writer H.P. Lovecraft in mind, but I cannot get “Lovecraft Beauty” out of my head. I’m seeing cosmic tentacle monsters with fake lashes and worshipers slathering their indescribable forms in Sunday Riley Good Genes while they dream in ways we cannot fathom.

But all of that aside, this has mixed reviews. Some people adore it. Other people say it dries out too fast.

Lip tints are… odd beauties. Temperamental. You get a good shade and you’re set for hours. You get a weird shade and suddenly your lips are the color of bruised plums for longer than anyone would wish.

TOO FACED – Sunset Stripped Palette

I did not need another palette. I have plenty, and I mostly use the same one right now — though, admittedly, since it’s summer, my makeup routine is pretty minimal.

Having said that, this is a beautiful palette. The shades have a lot of potential.

It also has an interesting distribution: the matte shades are larger than the shimmers. That’s actually practical, since most people use mattes more often than shimmers.

WHAT I DID CHOOSE

TOWER 28 – SOS FaceGuard™ SPF 30 Sunscreen PA+++

Ahh, Tower 28, the hope of my future. This company specializes in items that make skin that is weepy, sticky, choosy, angry, scaly, oily, picky, and twitchy behave perfectly fine.

Normally I would not get anything that is SPF 30 because I just laugh in VERY PALE PERSON at the concept of SPF 30. But it was Tower 28, and I really couldn’t say no.

DRUNK ELEPHANT – D‑Bronzi™ Anti‑Pollution Sunshine Drops

Did I even look at the other items offered with this?

NOPE.

Drunk Elephant is a stunning line. I’m actually a little shocked they’re working with IPSY.

Sunshine Drops are supposed to be so good you can use a small bit and not even worry about other complexion products. And for summer? That’s pretty perfect.

SATURDAY SKIN – Yuzu Vitamin C + Water Blossom Serum

Ahh, the tier‑three pick. The tier that usually consists of “yeah? I guess?” stuff.

And honestly, that’s how I felt when I picked this. I had never heard of it. I really did not need another serum.

I have a serum in every room where I dwell, just in case I need to slather some more on my own indescribable form.

Having said that, I do love a good serum and I use them completely. The reviews on this have been very positive, and since it’s brightening, I’m looking forward to it. My indescribable form also needs all the brightening it can get.

CONCLUSION

Maybe the emotional bar was really low for me after last month’s issues, but I have to admit I’m somewhat pleased with this lineup.

Did I need all of this? No, not really. But I also have to keep in mind that August will be the end of my subscriptions for a while, so I need to think in terms of sustainability. With that in mind, getting another serum when I won’t be buying any for a while isn’t a bad thing at all.

Right now the only concern I have is the Love+Craft+Beauty lip tint, but maybe I’ll get lucky and not receive one of the dried‑out pens.

Yes, please, glamour gods — do not give me a dried‑out pen.

Dear Eloise: About your Goddess Palette

 

Hello, Eloise. We need to have a talk.

In fact, the truth of the matter is: I need to apologize to you.

I received the Goddess Palette as a free gift from IPSY. I opened it. I snorted.

Look.

I know you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but the shades were… intense. Out there. They had names someone would give a show poodle. Majestic. Empress Elegance. Divine Aura.

I snorted again.

And then I tossed you into my makeup drawer without a second thought.

Here’s the thing, Eloise.

A few days later, I was headed out. I looked good — I always look good — but I wanted something… more. I wanted brightness. I needed an eyeshadow topper.

There you sat, in your demure pink‑and‑gold glory. I sighed. I opened you up. I selected Regal Radiance and tapped it onto the center of my lid.

Just a tiny bit. A little wiggle of the brush. A soft blend.

I looked at it.

Stunning.

Just stunning.

I did the other eye.

And I fell in love.

Eloise, your Goddess Palette is my topper now. The colors are amazing. They blend beautifully. They last beautifully (a miracle on my skin), and they do exactly what I need them to do. They are the perfect accent to the symphony my makeup creates.

I am a woman of harmonies. My makeup is usually built on a common undertone that winds its way through bronzers and blushes and bases and lippies. There is always a unifying connective thread that allows the whole look to make sense.

But toppers? Toppers are the counternote. The pause. The sparkle that rises above the harmony and makes the entire composition sing.

And you, Eloise — you and your Goddess Palette — this is where you shine. This is where you are in your glory. And for that, I adore you.

So please, Eloise, accept my humble forgiveness.

I will never doubt you again.

IPSY ULTIMATE Spoilers for August 2026

 IPSY usually trails out spoilers like Hanzel leaving breadcrumbs in the forest, dropping only a few at a time until the month ends. This time, they put up an image that had a lot of stuff in it. I had to take a screenshot and enlarge it so I could see some of the labels, but I found them. I searched websites to find the exact shapes of some of the other items, and I found them. Now I have a pretty comprehensive list of what we're in for as summer winds down.

PART ONE: WHAT I KNOW I’M GETTING

MERIT Shade Slick Gelée Tinted Lip Oil

MERIT lip oils and I have a long, happy history. They’re beautiful on my lips, they feel good, and they give that soft, plush shine that makes me feel like I’m starring in my own summer montage. Do they last a long time on me? Absolutely not. But honestly, that’s part of the charm. A lip oil that disappears quickly is a lip oil I’ll actually finish, and finishing a product in this economy is practically a spiritual achievement.

I already own one of these—yes, technically this will be a duplicate—but I’m not even pretending to be upset. Depending on the shade they send, this could easily end up being one of my favorites for the entire month. MERIT rarely misses, and this formula is one of their best.

Makeup By Mario Master Mascara

I feel like I say this every single time IPSY tries to hand me a mascara:

I do not need another mascara.

Universe? Are you listening? Hello? Bueller? I do not need another mascara.

But here we are again.

Having said that, this is an excellent mascara. Mario knows how to make lashes look good, and this formula is one of the few that consistently gets rave reviews. My hope—my dream, really—is that they send me the brown shade. It’s supposed to be the brown mascara. The one everyone loves. The one that makes people say, “Oh, you’re wearing brown? It looks incredible.”

If they send me brown, at least it’ll be different from the army of black mascaras already living rent‑free in my drawer. And if they don’t… well, I’ll still use it. I’ll just sigh dramatically first.

PART TWO: WHAT I HOPE I GET

Korres Kyma Eau de Toilette

With the exception of one night cream that tried to set my face on fire, I have loved everything I’ve ever gotten from Korres. Their scents are bright, clean, and always have that interesting twist that makes them feel like a story instead of just a smell. They tend to bloom beautifully on my skin—Korres and I have a very stable relationship.

Top Notes: Lime, Mandarin, Orange

Heart Notes: Marine, Watery, Pepper

Base Notes: Cedar, Vetiver, Nutmeg

I respond extremely well to citrus and pepper. Vetiver and nutmeg? Two of my favorite base notes. Cedar surprised me—I didn’t think I’d like it, but in perfume it adds this crisp, clean backbone that I really enjoy. The marine and watery notes will be new territory for me, but that actually makes me more curious than nervous. If anything, it feels like Korres is handing me a little adventure.

This is easily one of my top hopes for the month.

Patrick Ta Major Headlines Double-Take Blush Duo

This is supposed to be one of the best blush formulas on the market. And as a self‑proclaimed blush slut, this is basically a soulmate situation. Cream + powder? Long-lasting? Celebrity cheekbones in a compact? Yes, hello, sign me up.

Now, will it be long-lasting on me? My skin absorbs makeup like it’s trying to win a competition, so we’ll see. As always with shade-based items, you pray IPSY actually reads your profile instead of letting some giant pink glamourbot’s robotic arm randomly select a shade based on pure chaos energy.

But if they get it right? This will be a home run.

Indie Lee Stem Cell Serum

When I first saw this, I twitched a little. “Stem cell serum” sounds gimmicky at best and unethical at worst. But the stem cells in question are plant-derived, not animal-derived, which immediately made me feel better.

As for the viability? Surprisingly good ratings. Shockingly good, actually. It’s the most luxury item in the entire spoiler list this month, so if it shows up in my box, I’ll be very curious to see how it performs.

ILIA Skin Rewind Complexion Stick

This is a natural-matte formula with medium coverage that claims to last up to 12 hours. Again, with my skin? We shall see. Longevity claims often crumble the moment they meet my face.

But ILIA builds skincare into their complexion products, and that tends to work better for me. Anything with a smoother glide is a blessing when your skin is nearing 53 years and has decided it prefers hydration, kindness, and a little structural support.

Shade, of course, is the gamble. IPSY runs out of “does not go out in sunlight” shades very quickly. Hopefully the robot arm will snatch something appropriate for me instead of tossing me a shade meant for a beach volleyball champion.

MUTHA Up All Night Eye Cream

I have a lot of eye creams. IPSY loves giving women over a certain age eye cream. At the moment, I’m staring at three of them—two still sealed like tiny, expensive secrets.

But this one? This is a fabulous eye cream. A luxury eye cream. It has pearl powder and caffeine in it. Pearls and caffeine are two of my favorite things, and frankly, two of the only things that can convince my under-eyes to behave.

If I get the $90 eye cream? Yeah. I will be just fine.

Skin&Co Summer on the Riviera

Sometimes I browse IPSY’s shop.

And when I do, I always pause on this product and give it a little consideration.

Top Notes: Bright fruit, coconut, lemon

Middle Notes: White florals, green pistachio

Base Notes: Vanilla musk, golden amber

This is such an interesting blend. I do very well with whites, greens, and ambers. Lemon is always a fun addition to whatever scent stack I’m wearing. And I can already think of several things I own that would pair beautifully with this—layering possibilities galore.

If this lands in my box, I’ll be delighted.

PART THREE: WHAT I’M PRAYING THEY DON’T SEND ME

AREY Goodnight Grey Serum

This… does not have great ratings. It does not work for most people. And I’m still stuck on the existential question of its very existence. Why are we doing scalp serums for grey hair when hair dye exists? Why are we pretending this is a thing?

WILL they send it to me?

Sigh.

Probably.

I am a woman over 50. IPSY will likely bank on me having some kind of aging‑panic meltdown that renders me submissive to their offering of the anti‑grey potion. They imagine me clutching it in my humbly withered hands, feeling a faint rush of grateful acceptance.

Let me be extremely clear:

1. I am not.

2. I will not.

3. My hands look great.

Do not send me this stuff. I do not want it.

CONCLUSION

Ya know? This lineup is actually great. There is only one thing I truly do not want. The mascara they’re forcing on me is at least a stunning one, so I can’t even be mad about that. In fact, this lineup is so good that I’m a little apprehensive about the round two spoilers. What if they give us all this great potential and then follow it up with off‑brand palettes in avocado and matte gold? Palettes with reviews like, “Do not purchase! Burned my skin before it even touched it.”

We shall see.

As for now?

Yeah. I’m excited for August.

The Multiplicity of the Creative Spirit

I will always, on a very visceral level, have a problem with traditional religious restrictions. All of them. I'm not singling anyone out here. This is a problem I have with them universally. Traditional religions all follow the same kind of ideas. There is a Creator or maybe more than one. Stuff was made. This is how you should behave. Yes, exactly like this.

I'm not talking about the general idea of decent behavior. A Creator asking people not to be a pack of assholes to each other is fine. It's all the limited paths part that sets my teeth on edge.

The idea that a Creator would create something and then only want one very narrow version of it is the antithesis of my being. Creation, to me, is not about a perfect thing; it's about the possibilities of what something can become. 

 You give me five filters on GIMP and I'm going to make thousands of variations. Adjusting this and that, tweaking any buttons it has, running the same filter over what I just filtered to see the next level of what will happen.

 If your nature is Creator, then that is your basic drive. You don't settle. You don't pick 'on these two paths will do, but you can only follow one, and only the one your birth gender says is okay.' You delight in the change, in the unexpected, in the unpredictable, and often the best part of that is finding the flaws and seeing how they yield a kind of unexpected newness and beauty to your original design. One you never would have considered on your own.

 Creativity can be very lonely. You long for feedback. You long for engagement. You long for the things that push you in new directions. Even in order, even in structure, you still look for how that can be altered. You still look for the changes. You learn to honor the mistakes. Often, you save them because you know they can be used in some other creative piece later on.

 Because otherwise? You're just playing an unglitched version of Sims. And Sims gets boring after a while, because it's just the same thing over and over again. That isn't life. That isn't creativity. That isn't exploration. That's just very simple programming that will eventually frustrate you because you've seen it before. 

Meet the Fans

 These are the darlings that will keep me alive during the summer.

BEDROOM CREW OF DOOM

1. Grizzled, Ye Elder Fan
Alignment: Lawful Stubborn
Age: Older than the Berlin Wall coming down
Aesthetic: Beige Industrial Despair (the color of Reagan‑era hopelessness)
Traits:
•  Metal cage bent like it survived a bar fight
•  Duct tape scars that tell a story
•  Four speeds, each with a personality
•  Emits the energy of a Vietnam vet who listens to classic rock and doesn’t talk about the war
•  Will outlive you, me, and the concept of summer itself
This fan is not a machine.
This is a survivor.

2. Philip, StandyUppy Fan
Alignment: Chaotic Useless
Age: Toddler
Aesthetic: “I was $19.99 at Walmart and I know it”
Traits:
•  Buttons that work only when the moon is in Pisces
•  Four speeds, all of which are lies
•  Moves air the way a depressed Victorian child blows out birthday candles
•  Will die in two years, but only after inconveniencing you deeply
Philip is the fan equivalent of a coworker who “tries their best” but should not be in charge of anything.

3. Magnolia the Fair
Alignment: Neutral Murderous
Age: 2008, but spiritually 1888
Aesthetic: Looming Gothic Ceiling Apparition
Traits:
•  Two speeds: High and Also High
•  Whirs like a genteel lady fanning herself on a porch
•  Occasionally makes a noise that suggests she is about to drop from the ceiling and slice your jugular
•  Will absolutely kill you one day, but politely
Magnolia is the Blanche DuBois of ceiling fans.
She depends on the kindness of strangers and the structural integrity of two screws.

4. Taz of Metal
Alignment: Chaotic Exhausted
Age: 5 years but has lived 50
Aesthetic: Industrial Wind Demon
Traits:
•  Three speeds: Wonderful, Not Bad, and Kinda Meh
•  Currently stuck on Kinda Meh like a washed‑up rockstar
•  Held together by paper clips like a middle school science project
•  Vibrates like it’s trying to escape this mortal coil
•  Will die this year, and everyone knows it
Taz is the fan equivalent of a biker with emphysema who still insists on doing one last road trip.


THE LIVING ROOM WIND COURT

1. Jazz from Amazon
Alignment: Chaotic Pretty
Age: 2020, but spiritually a 1920s lounge singer
Aesthetic: Dark bronze, seductive, unreliable
Traits:
•  Looks sturdy but is actually held together by hope and a loose blade
•  Three speeds, all of which blow your hair into your eyes like a dramatic music video
•  Requires constant tightening, like a diva needing her corset adjusted
•  Will die this year, but will do it glamorously
Jazz is the fan who says, “I may not work, but I will look stunning while failing.”

2. Roommate’s Box Fan
Alignment: Lawful Disposable
Age: 0–5 years, but emotionally already retired
Aesthetic: “I was made in a factory that does not believe in quality control”
Traits:
•  Light blue metal body, white plastic face
•  Three speeds, all of which are theoretical
•  Falls forward like a fainting goat
•  Cats treat it like a wrestling opponent
•  Will last two more years out of spite
Rommate doesn’t name things he knows will die, which makes this fan the equivalent of a doomed NPC.

3. Trudy
Alignment: Neutral Sturdy
Age: 2 years
Aesthetic: Walmart Gothic
Traits:
•  Black plastic, metal stand, takes up the space of a small refrigerator
•  Three speeds, all of which blow your hair into your eyes from across the room
•  Annoying, but keeps you alive-ish
•  Will last two more years because she’s too stubborn to quit
Trudy is the dependable but irritating aunt who always brings potato salad you didn’t ask for.

4. Unnamed Window Fan
Alignment: Chaotic Temporary
Age: Installed two nights ago
Aesthetic: “I am new, but I will disappoint you soon”
Traits:
•  White plastic, suspiciously clean
•  Two speeds: Mid and Also Mid
•  No reverse, which defeats the entire purpose of a window fan
•  Exists only because the previous window fan died dramatically
•  Will last two years, tops
This fan is the intern who was hired because the last intern quit mid-shift.

5. Ginevra the Beautiful
Alignment: Lawful Elegant
Age: 1 year
Aesthetic: Angel of Ceiling Breezes
Traits:
•  White metal, white wood blades, tulip shades
•  Gorgeous, refined, polite
•  Three speeds, none of which are allowed to be used
•  Wears long metal pull chains like chandelier earrings
•  Too polite to kill anyone
Ginevra is the debutante who was invited to the ball but told she must not dance because the floorboards are old.