NARS Montparnasse Duo Eyeshadow ($35.00 for 0.14 oz.) includes a warm gold and a medium, plummy brown. The left side was lovely–pigmented, easy to use, long-wearing–but the right side had a disastrous texture: stiff, firm, and required jabbing and pushing to get powder to dislodge from the surface. Given the price point and that it only contains two shades, I couldn’t recommend this one.
Anastasia Gradient Blush Kit ($30.00 for 0.68 oz.) is a new, limited edition palette with four blushes for the holiday season. Unfortunately, it was a miss–the formula just did not work well for blending, and when it comes to a cheek color, I imagine getting an even layer with diffused, gradual edges is really a must for most. Something about splotchy, patchy blush with harsh lines says, “no, thank you” in my mind.
Per the brand, it’s a “full pigment formula for buildable coverage,” which I interpret as that it is buildable to full coverage. It is also a “finely milled formula for seamless blending,” which is where I had more trouble typically–these were unforgiving when applied over bare skin or damp foundation. I had to have skin powdered heavily in order to get decent blendability out of most shades in the Blush Kits, though some were decent without extra tricks.
I find that, by and large, they do not work well on their own–they need a glitter adhesive, so my complaint is more that this should be stated. Most brands
market them as usable on their own when it’s just so rarely true. There are a few, though, that work well on their own (at least, most of the time) – like UD Moondusts or Stila’s liquid Glitter & Glow.
— Christine
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Sephora launched exclusive sets for their app today, though I’ve pulled the links to each product to view on any device — see links below or use the widget below.
Benefit Tints to Tease ($18.00, $27.00 Value) 0.13 oz. x Benetint, Posietint, Chachatint @ Sephora
Boscia Travel. Detox. Repeat Essentials ($25.00, $58.00 Value) Deep Pore Buffing Brush, 0.7 oz. Luminizing Black Mask, 0.5 oz. Revitalizing Black Hydration Gel, 1.7 oz. Detoxifying Black Cleanser @ Sephora
Buxom Plum Gone Wild ($20.00, $30.00 Value) 0.03 oz. Nude Exposure Gel Lipstick, 0.07 oz. Blushing Margarita Lip Cream, 0.07 oz. Sandy Lip Polish @ Sephora
Dr. Jart+ Skin Treats to Go ($22.00, $32.00 Value) 0.5 oz. Cicapair Tiger Grass Color Correcting Treatment, 1.5 oz. Firm Lover Rubber Mask @ Sephora
Drunk Elephant B-Hydra + Virgin Marula Oil Duo ($20.00, $28.00 Value) Includes 0.27 oz. of each @ Sephora
First Aid Beauty One Upon a Prime ($14.00, $20.00 Value) 10 x Facial Radiance Pads, 0.75 oz. Priming Moisturizer @ Sephora
Givenchy Le Rouge Mini Duo ($25.00) Rose Dressing, Framboise Velours Le Rouge Minis @ Sephora
Huda Beauty Nude Love Minis ($33.00) 4 x 0.064 oz. Liquid Mattes in Crush, Girlfriend, Wifey, Sugar Mama @ Sephora
IGK 3D Kit ($25.00, $43.00 Value) 6 oz. 2-in-1 Shampoo & Texturizer, 1.7 oz. Rich Kid Gel, 0.5 oz. Hydrating Hair Balm @ Sephora
Kopari The Coconut Hookup ($22.00, $30.00 Value) 2.5 oz. Coconut Melt, 0.33 oz. Coconut Lip Love @ Sephora
Living Proof Hair Favorites ($25.00, $34.00 Value) 1 oz. PhD Shampoo, 1 oz. PhD Conditioner, 0.5 oz. Restore Spray, 1 oz. TBD Multi-Tasking Styler, 1.8 oz. PhD Dry Shampoo @ Sephora
Make Up For Ever Eye Basics ($25.00, $56.00 Value) 0.28 oz. Excessive Lash, 0.84 oz. Sens’Eyes, 0.02 M-10 Aqua XL @ Sephora
Make Up For Ever Long Lasting Complexion Set ($37.00, $52.00 Value) 0.5 oz. Step 1 Hydrating Primer, 0.07 oz. HD Pressed Powder, 1 oz. Mist & Fix @ Sephora
Milk It’s All a Blur ($30.00, $64.00 Value) Bag, 1 oz. Natural Dry Shampoo, 0.04 Girl Mini Lip Color, 0.33 oz. Mini Face Mist, 0.25 oz. Ubame Mascara, 0.1 Mini Highlighter, 1 Wipe @ Sephora
Murad Environmental Shield Favorites Kit ($10.00, $16.00 Value) 1.5 oz. Essential-C Cleansiner, 0.25 oz. Rapid Age Spot Serum @ Sephora
NARS Love Triangles ($24.00, $34.00 Value) Minis Hot Sand/Rita or Deep Throat/Barbara @ Sephora
NARS Love Triangles ($24.00, $34.00 Value) Deep Throat/Barbara @ Sephora
NEST 5-Piece Spray Collection ($49.00, $135.00 Value) 5 x 0.32 oz. EdP Travel Sprays in Midnight Fleur, Citrine, Dahlia & Vines, Indigo, White Sandal wood @ Sephora
Peter Thoomas Roth Little Skin Musts ($15.00, $21.00 Value) 0.5 oz. FIRMx Peeling Gel, 2 oz. Anti-Aging Cleansing Gel @ Sephora
philosophy Amazing Grace & Pure Grace Mini Set ($20.00, $32.00 Value) 0.33 oz. of Amazing Grace EdT Dabber, 0.33 oz. Pure Grace EdT Rollerball @ Sephora
philosophy Pure as Snow ($12.00, $19.00 Value) 2 oz. Purity Made Simple Cleanser, 2 oz. Snow Angel Shower Gel @ Sephora
Sephora Winter Wonderland Advent Calendar ($45.00) Includes 24 small gifts @ Sephora
Smashbox Be Legendary Lipstick Minis ($22.00, $50.00 Value) 3 x 0.08 oz. Primrose, Safe Word, Screen Queen @ Sephora
Smashbox Be Legendary Liquid Metal Minis ($22.00, $50.00 Value) 3 x 0.17 oz. Crimson Chrome, Foiled Brat, Mauve Squad @ Sephora
Sol de Janeiro Bum Bum Beauty Voyage ($32.00, $39.00 Value) Travel-sizes of Bum Bum Cream & Fragrance Mist @ Sephora
Stila Dynamic Duo Stya All Day Bundle ($22.00) 0.016 oz. and 0.08 oz. Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner @ Sephora
Tatcha Touchups to Go ($22.00, $32.00 Value) 0.40 oz. Luminous Dewy Skin Mist, 30 x Blotting Papers @ Sephora
Too Faced Sexy Lashes Rain or Shine ($23.00, $35.00 Value) 0.27 oz. Better Than Sex Mascara, .17 oz. Better Than Sex Waterproof Mascara @ Sephora
Urban Decay Most Wanted Brush Set ($38.00 Smoky Smudger/Tapered Crease, Detailed Tightline/Shadow, Blending/Large Blending @ Sephora
Wander Secret Escape Kit ($36.00, $99.00 Value) 2.02 oz. Glow Getter Mist, 0.16 oz. Sangria Beach Balm, 0.176 oz. Champagne Liquid Shadow @ Sephora
Youth to the People Superfood Moisture Duo ($35.00, $41.00 Value) 0.5 oz. Cream, 0.25 oz. Eye Cream @ Sephora
Clinique Honey, Honey Ornament Set ($15.00 for 0.08 oz.) is a simple set that includes two, miniature-sized Almonst Lipsticks in Pink Honey and Black Honey. The Almost Lipstick is described as having “transparent pigment [that] merges with the unique, natural tone of your lips” with a “sheer, glossy, emollient-rich, and very lightweight” formula. The description is fairly apt–enough pigmentation that they do alter the natural lip color but are still sheer that the natural lip color comes through. What I liked about the formula was that they still applied evenly and didn’t sink into my lip lines much while having decent wear (three hours) that was hydrating.
Value
A full-sized Almost Lipstick retails for $17.50 and contains 0.07 oz. or costs $250.00/oz. The set contains $20.00 worth of product.
Pink Honey is a soft, medium pink with warm undertones and a natural sheen. It lightened my natural lip color and gave it a lighter, pinker look while still allowing my natural lip color to come through, which was as described. The texture was lightweight, emollient but not overly slippery, and comfortable to wear. There was just a smidgen of color in my deeper lip lines that wasn’t noticeable from a normal viewing distance. The lipstick stayed on well for three hours and was moisturizing.
Black Honey is a muted, medium plum with subtle, warm undertones and a soft sheen. It had semi-sheer coverage that applied evenly and smoothly across the lips. The texture was soft, lightly emollient, and comfortable to wear. Despite being sheer and emollient, it did not pull into my lip lines. This shade wore well for three hours on me and was hydrating.
