What beauty product seemed too good to be true but was amazing? Share!
Tom Ford Blushes, Guerlain Rouge G Lipsticks, Chikuhodo brushes. Anything extremely expensive always seems like there’s no way it can be as good as they think it is, but when they really knock it out of the park, it’s awesome.
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Hourglass Ambient light powder and Dior Lip Glow – agree on expensive items never seeming to live up to the price, but with these in particular, they just seem so basic, yet they have certain je ne sais quoi
korean beauty products (includes skincare and bb cushion foundations). i thought there’s no way i can get a good foundation under 50 bucks since i’d been buying chanel and guerlain. well i just bought the laneige bb cushion and i absolutely love it. i’m so amazed at the technology of the micro pad and how it presses into the product and applies like you’re using a portable beauty blender! plus the skincare is so super cheap and effective compared to u.s. brands. i’m a total convert!
The Dior Fluid Sticks!! AHHHHH. I love them! I hate gloss – but am obsessed with these.
Can’t agree more!!!!! I bought four right when they came out and I’m looking for more shades still 😀
Hourglass Diffused Light and Immaculate Foundation. I thought I was going to regret spending so much, but I love them.
KOYUDO BRUSHES !!! i only ordered 2 brushes at first thinking i would hate them.. now i sold all my MAC brushes and am waiting on an order for 11 more from koyudo
Gotta agree with Sasha on the Laneige BB cushion, that stuff is gold! There’s apparently also a pore version coming out, but I’m not sure if it’s Asia- specific. Other products that initially seemed too good to be true are the Real Techniques makeup brushes, Queen Helene Mint Julep Mask (so cheap I didn’t actually expect it to work), Tresemme heat tamer spray, Japanese liquid liners in general, La Roche Posay Cicaplast Baume b5, Kao Essential Hair Mask, Benton snail skincare products (breakouts be gone!), Jojoba oil (any), Batiste dry shampoo, Josie Maran Argan Oil, Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler, Tweezerman tweezers,… and probably more I can’t think of right now.
I felt that way for the Givenchy Le Rouge lipsticks.. I had tried other from the brand and they were not impressive till Le Rouge came along! 😀 also Dior Lip glow was a revelation!
The Kjaer Weis cream foundation and the Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer. Also, UDPP. I have the creasiest lids, but the Primer Potion is a godsend, practically.
The hourglass powders and blushes. After buying 3 of the blushes, I seriously fell in love. I then tried Dim Light and almost passed out at Sephora when my huge pores were practically invisible. It’s on my wish list now! Oh and the Mineral Veil Primer, I’ve been using it for over a year and completely forgot how red my skin can be some days, until last week I tried a different complexion primer and couldn’t figure out why I was so red. Totally agree with Rouge G, although not all shades are as moisturizing, I’ve never encountered an opaque lipstick that makes my small lips appear so smooth, lineless, and fuller, while still hugging my lips like second skin and feeling lightweight.
Probably Touche Eclat (the pen). I thought it would be pretty meh, but it’s actually a favourite of mine for the undereye area!
Then probably Guerlain Rouge Automatique lipsticks. I thought they would be just decent, but actually… <3
The Clarisonic! I thought it might have some fair effect but in my case, the results were dramatic, and I really do find it extremely gentle.
I remember spending a lot of cash on coral MAC blushes, Peachykeen, Springsheen, Sun & Moon mineralize and then I discovered the Luminoso and Coralina Milani baked blushes. Much, much cheaper, as good if not better colour pay off and sturdier (and bulkier, eh) packaging. Beautiful to apply, silky textured and overall amazing. For less that a fifth of what I paid for MAC?
I ended up giving most of my MAC blushes away.
Guerlain Kisskiss lip primer!!!! YSL Rouge Volupte and Rouge volupte shines, Rouge Pur Couture, Chanel Illusion D’ombre, Tom Ford Cream Shadow, Tom Ford Lipgloss, Tom Ford Sheer lipsticks. Nars Botan Kabuki, Nars Ita, Nars yachyio,Bite Beauty Deconstructed rose lipsticks, Dior Nude Glow bronzer, the lil kabuki brush included is actually really nice so a pleasant second surprise there. Oh and newest love Hourglass Mineral Vail face primer!!
Dior’s Pore Minimizer! After having tried (and hated) so many pore refining primers this one really blew me away.
While the costs were a bit shocking (and I *still* can’t believe I paid what I did for them….), I love both the Ambient Lighting Powder from Hourglass and my jar of Genius Cream from Algenist. Both have done WONDERS for how my skin looks!
the Tom Ford Traceless liquid foundation. very very light coverage, TOO dewy and doesnt play well with any of my primers or concealers or setting powders. not even the matching Tom Ford setting powder. it settles everywhere. pores, fines lines, around my lips. im using it everyday just to get through it as it was a gift from the hubs.
Dior Nail Glow, Real Techniques brushes (how can brushes so reasonably priced be, for the most part, so really amazing?), Clarins Be Long mascara, Sephora’s Jumbo shadow pencils. Oh, and Tarte Amazonian Clay blushes – I only have 2, but they are wonderful and have the loveliest finish on the skin. And Essence All About Matt powder. Opposite end of the spectrum from expensive products but when really low priced items turn out to be excellent, it’s just as amazing (or maybe even more) as when pricey ones live up to expectations.
I totally agree with the Real Techniques brushes and Tarte Blushes! Amazing products!
I’m with you on the RT brushes, and even more so with the Essencenpowder! That thing is *amazing*! I actually have drier skin, and stay far away from mattifying products, because they tend to make my pores more noticeable. However, this powder actually *diminishes* their appearance, and doesn’t make my skin look parched. Plus, it’s under $5!
The Marc Jacobs Style Eye-Con palettes. I hesitated for the longest time since they are waaaay pricey, but I caved eventually (that, and I had a $50 Sephora gift card!) and was so impressed. In fact, I now own all the Style Eye-Con No. 7 palettes — included the newest, The Dreamer — and most of the No. 3 palettes. Definitely the most expensive cosmetics I own, but sometimes you do get what you pay for.
Guerlain Meteorites are the most recent for me. They make my skin glow and smell like candy. Origins Make a Difference+ Ultra Rich Rejuvenating Cream claims to provide extreme hydration. I did not think it could do what it claims, but it really does!
GlamGlow masks. I thought they were just hype but I was really impressed when I tried them. The SuperMud and YouthMud masks really makes my skin glow and helps clear up breakouts. The ThirstyMud mask is super hydrating and soothing too. I just wish they were cheaper lol
Dior Créme Abricot… I thought it was a total gimmick but it was actually decent!
Yes…I totally forgot about this but you’re right. And compared to a lot of other Dior products, it really isn’t all that pricey and it lasts for ages. Ditto for Bite’s Agave Lip Mask – I should have added that into my first reply.
Wearing lashes. I really amps up the look!
Ardency Inn Custom Coverage Concentrate! I’ve read alot of comments/reviews that this product isn’t “revolutionary”, that people have been mixing foundation with moisturizer for years, but as someone who has done that, I have to say this is definitely different. So far, I’ve used with a regular moisturizer, “Western”/DS BB Creams (to bump up coverage, modify color), eye cream (to make an undereye concealer), and with Skinfood Brocoli Sun Cream, which is my absolute favorite use (it essentially becomes a “true” BB Cream). My only complaint is the color range; light beige is still a touch too dark & leans a bit too yellow, but it was the best option…
Guerlain Rouge Automatique Lipsticks.They’re aaaamazinng.
hakuhodo brushes, so expensive (for me at least) but so worth it
Kat Von D Lock it Foundation and liquid lipsticks.
I´m obsessed!
Clinique Cheek Pop Blushes! They are really amazing and an incredible value. I love every single shade.
Guerlain Meteorites also exceeded my expectations. They truly do give you a diffused, luminous glow that is subtle, but undeniable.
Not for me but for Dear Daughter: Chanel sunscreen. Very expensive but it prevented acne from congested skin, lightened and brightened her facial skin, and just overall worked a small miracle over the course of about 6 months. The savings from not having to buy skin care/acne products more than paid for product several times over!
I’d use it but I’m allergic to a couple of the ingredients!
La Mer “The powder” Mac cleanse off oil.. Dior creme de Rose.
Armani fluid sheers: They’re not a gimmick. Beautiful for mature skin.
There have been a few, as of late, it is the NARS light reflecting loose setting powder and YSL Glossy stains. 🙂
Sisley Skinleya Anti-aging Lift Foundation– so expensive, but is exquisite on. So worth it! Also Sisley Eye Concealer with Botanical Extracts and Sisley Phyto-Ombre Eclat Eyeshadow. The Sisley eyeshadow has a shimmer, but it doesn’t settle into the fine lines or look gritty on my eyes. Another surprise was the Chantecaille Faux Cils Longest Lash Mascara. It is ridiculously priced for a mascara, but it doesn’t flake, and it does seem to help my eyelashes to grow longer. Tom Ford lipsticks and eyeshadows are wonderful, too.
Bobbi Brown foundation stick. I’m so pale, no one ever has foundation fair enough. Not only was the Bobbi Brown fair enough, but it make my skin look luminous. It feels lightweight on my face. I was nervous because it was kind of expensive, but it was totally worth the money.
Living Proof Prime Style Extender. I thought it sounded gimmicky. A primer for hair?!! But I got a sample of it from Sephora and thought it kinda changed my life. My lazy 5-10 min blowouts last longer than a day now! Where have you been all my life??
BB Cream was one I avoided for a long time before I tried Missha’s, and then I was a goner. I won’t even touch foundation in the summer months anymore!
I agree with you on the Guerlain Rouge Gs. The Automatique will occasionally dry me out if I don’t prep or hydrate properly, but the Rouge Gs just keep chugging along comfortably until I want to take them off.
Chanel Mirifique is also one of those eyeshadows that never stops being stunning any time I open the jar. It was worth every penny!
*Tom Ford Blushes
*YSL Rouge Volupte Shine
*Becca Beach Tint Shimmer Souffle
*Makeup Forever Cream Blush
*Kevin Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer
*Real Techniques Brushes
*Younique Fiber Mascara
Glamglow and konjac sponges!
Boscia under eye brightner
No concealer
First aid beauty eye duty triple remedy
No foundation perricone
Rodial bb venom skin tint hamptons
Hourglass ambiant powder pallette
Hourglass mineral veil primer
Hourglass no. 28 primer serum
Nar’s orgasam/laguna duo
Sisley Gradual Facial Tan. Hardly a bargain at £82 a tube, but it’s a-m-a-z-i-n-g. Natural, even, non-orange, non-fake-tan-smelling. And of course with moisturising benefits too.
Guerlain Lingerie de Peau foundation – still blows me away every time I apply it – thank you Christine for bringing it to my attention!
Makeup geek eyeshadows and blushes! They’re an awesome price and sooo good! I only ordered one blush and ended up ordering about three or four more.
My first thought was the Beauty Blender. I was surprised that they were charging so much for a sponge. But I love it. Mine has lasted a very long time too. My other thought is Revlon SL lipstick. While I have some HE lipsticks, I’m always amazed at the selection and quality of these lipsticks.
I have two that amazed me. The Clairsonic brush. I was fully prepared to return it, but after only 3 days of use my huge pores became smaller and my rosacea calmed. I use less foundation. The other is Latisse. Not sure if this qualifies, but it has made my 58 year old lashes long and lush. Before I used a lash curler and two different mascaras. Now I don’t use the curler and only one mascara. I couldn’t do without either of these products.
Tarina Tarantino’s Wonderful Jewel Eyeshadow palette – amazing
Rimmel math perfection foundation – have tried many expensive foundations but this is the best.
Cetaphil moisture cream for sensitive skin – fantastic if you have sensitive skin and it does not cost a fortune.
BB Cushion! Seriously I don’t feel anything for BB or CC cream, they’re just so so, but the BB Cushions (Laneige, IOPE, Sulwasoo, Hera etc.), they’re sooooooooooooooooo amazing.
They give the healthy glow to the skin perfectly. Usually I go for Natural BB Cushion, but i’m pretty sure they have lines for Coverage, Pore and Shimmer too. (But you have to note that ‘cover’ for asian cosmetic doesn’t really mean full-cover, just lightly cover so you still need concealer if you the blemish)
Oh yeah, as good as they are, I have to say they lack of colour range like most Korea’s cosmetic. But if you have light-medium skin, you should really try those. They are just AMAZING!