Best Beauty Products | March 2019 Report
Here’s a look at the top 25 products reviewed in the month of March, plus a summary of how many products and brands were reviewed and a break out of ratings! 🙂
I think it’d be fun to go through what we used, purchased, resisted, and so forth each month, here are some questions:
- What were your favorites from the last month?
- What didn’t impress you?
- Did you return anything you purchase?
- Or successfully resist temptation?
ColourPop Bellini Supernova Shadow ($7.00 for 0.17 oz.) is a light-medium, rosy copper with subtle, warm undertones and a bright, metallic finish. It...
ColourPop Bellini Supernova Shadow ($7.00 for 0.17 oz.) is a light-medium, rosy copper with subtle, warm undertones and a bright, metallic finish. It...
Pat McGrath Enraptured Eyeshadow ($25.00 for 0.04 oz.) is a rich, molten gold with warm, golden undertones and a bright, metallic finish. It had...
Pat McGrath Enraptured Eyeshadow ($25.00 for 0.04 oz.) is a rich, molten gold with warm, golden undertones and a bright, metallic finish. It had...
Pat McGrath Divine Mink Eyeshadow ($25.00 for 0.04 oz.) is a deep, charcoal gray with cool undertones and a metallic finish. It had an incredibly...
Pat McGrath Divine Mink Eyeshadow ($25.00 for 0.04 oz.) is a deep, charcoal gray with cool undertones and a metallic finish. It had an incredibly...
Pat McGrath Gold Standard Eyeshadow ($25.00 for 0.04 oz.) is a bright, medium gold with warm, yellow undertones and a metallic shine. The color payoff...
Pat McGrath Gold Standard Eyeshadow ($25.00 for 0.04 oz.) is a bright, medium gold with warm, yellow undertones and a metallic shine. The color payoff...
Pat McGrath Lapis Luxury Eyeshadow ($25.00 for 0.04 oz.) is a rich, medium-dark blue-teal with cool undertones and a metallic finish. It was...
Pat McGrath Lapis Luxury Eyeshadow ($25.00 for 0.04 oz.) is a rich, medium-dark blue-teal with cool undertones and a metallic finish. It was...
ColourPop Fairest of All Super Shock Cheek (Highlighter) ($8.00 for 0.15 oz.) is a rich, medium-dark gold with warm, yellow undertones and a metallic...
ColourPop Fairest of All Super Shock Cheek (Highlighter) ($8.00 for 0.15 oz.) is a rich, medium-dark gold with warm, yellow undertones and a metallic...
Pat McGrath Telepathic Taupe Eyeshadow ($25.00 for 0.04 oz.) is a muted, medium bronze with warm undertones and a sparkling, metallic finish. The...
Pat McGrath Telepathic Taupe Eyeshadow ($25.00 for 0.04 oz.) is a muted, medium bronze with warm undertones and a sparkling, metallic finish. The...
ColourPop Mistress of All Evil Super Shock Cheek (Highlighter) ($10.00 for 0.15 oz.) is a light, champagne beige with strong, warm undertones and a...
ColourPop Mistress of All Evil Super Shock Cheek (Highlighter) ($10.00 for 0.15 oz.) is a light, champagne beige with strong, warm undertones and a...
Pat McGrath Crimson Fire Eyeshadow ($25.00 for 0.04 oz.) is a deep red with warm undertones and a pearly sheen. The color payoff was opaque in one...
Pat McGrath Crimson Fire Eyeshadow ($25.00 for 0.04 oz.) is a deep red with warm undertones and a pearly sheen. The color payoff was opaque in one...
Pat McGrath Rose Venus Eyeshadow ($25.00 for 0.04 oz.) is a medium, rosy copper with warm undertones and a metallic finish. It had opaque...
Pat McGrath Rose Venus Eyeshadow ($25.00 for 0.04 oz.) is a medium, rosy copper with warm undertones and a metallic finish. It had opaque...
Pat McGrath Corrupt Copper Eyeshadow ($25.00 for 0.04 oz.) is a bright, medium copper with strong, warm orange undertones and a metallic sheen. It...
Pat McGrath Corrupt Copper Eyeshadow ($25.00 for 0.04 oz.) is a bright, medium copper with strong, warm orange undertones and a metallic sheen. It...
ColourPop Everybody's Got a Weakness Super Shock Cheek (Highlighter) ($8.00 for 0.15 oz.) is a light-medium, yellowed peach base with pink-to-violet...
ColourPop Everybody's Got a Weakness Super Shock Cheek (Highlighter) ($8.00 for 0.15 oz.) is a light-medium, yellowed peach base with pink-to-violet...
Catrice Pinch of Rose 3D Glow Highlighter ($6.99 for 0.1 oz.) is a light-medium, pink-coral with warm undertones and a metallic sheen. It had rich,...
Catrice Pinch of Rose 3D Glow Highlighter ($6.99 for 0.1 oz.) is a light-medium, pink-coral with warm undertones and a metallic sheen. It had rich,...
Sydney Grace Golden Rose Pressed Pigment Shadow ($6.00 for 0.06 oz.) is a medium-dark pink with subtle, warm undertones paired with warmer, golden...
Sydney Grace Golden Rose Pressed Pigment Shadow ($6.00 for 0.06 oz.) is a medium-dark pink with subtle, warm undertones paired with warmer, golden...
Sydney Grace Guardian Angels Shimmer Shadow ($5.00 for 0.06 oz.) is a soft, golden copper with strong, warm undertones and a metallic sheen. The...
Sydney Grace Guardian Angels Shimmer Shadow ($5.00 for 0.06 oz.) is a soft, golden copper with strong, warm undertones and a metallic sheen. The...
Sydney Grace Treasure Hunter Pressed Pigment Shadow ($6.00 for 0.06 oz.) is a bright, light-medium gold with strong, warm yellow undertones and a...
Sydney Grace Treasure Hunter Pressed Pigment Shadow ($6.00 for 0.06 oz.) is a bright, light-medium gold with strong, warm yellow undertones and a...
Physicians Formula Endless Summer Butter Bronzer ($14.99 for 0.38 oz.) is a medium-dark brown with subtle, warm red undertones and a satin sheen. It...
Physicians Formula Endless Summer Butter Bronzer ($14.99 for 0.38 oz.) is a medium-dark brown with subtle, warm red undertones and a satin sheen. It...
Natasha Denona Light (01) All Over Glow Face & Body Shimmer In Powder ($38.00 for 0.35 oz.) is a light, golden beige with soft, warm undertones and a...
Natasha Denona Light (01) All Over Glow Face & Body Shimmer In Powder ($38.00 for 0.35 oz.) is a light, golden beige with soft, warm undertones and a...
ColourPop Growth Flirt Super Shock Cheek ($8.00 for 0.15 oz.) is a rich, orange-coral with warm undertones and a matte finish. It had buildable...
ColourPop Growth Flirt Super Shock Cheek ($8.00 for 0.15 oz.) is a rich, orange-coral with warm undertones and a matte finish. It had buildable...
ColourPop Whistlin' Pixie Jelly Much Eyeshadow ($8.00 for 0.23 oz.) is a rich, coppery-red with flecks of gold sparkle over a metallic finish. It had...
ColourPop Whistlin' Pixie Jelly Much Eyeshadow ($8.00 for 0.23 oz.) is a rich, coppery-red with flecks of gold sparkle over a metallic finish. It had...
Natasha Denona Medium (02) All Over Glow Face & Body Shimmer In Powder ($38.00 for 0.35 oz.) is a light bronze with a soft, warmer reddish undertone...
Natasha Denona Medium (02) All Over Glow Face & Body Shimmer In Powder ($38.00 for 0.35 oz.) is a light bronze with a soft, warmer reddish undertone...
ColourPop Photosynth Sis Jelly Much Eyeshadow ($8.00 for 0.23 oz.) is a deep gold with subtle, warm undertones and a metallic sheen. It had rich...
ColourPop Photosynth Sis Jelly Much Eyeshadow ($8.00 for 0.23 oz.) is a deep gold with subtle, warm undertones and a metallic sheen. It had rich...
Natasha Denona Dark (03) All Over Glow Face & Body Shimmer In Powder ($38.00 for 0.35 oz.) is a medium-dark, rosy brown with subtle, warm undertones...
Natasha Denona Dark (03) All Over Glow Face & Body Shimmer In Powder ($38.00 for 0.35 oz.) is a medium-dark, rosy brown with subtle, warm undertones...
ColourPop Holiday (2019) Super Shock Cheek ($8.00 for 0.15 oz.) is a bright, medium coral that leans slightly pink and has soft, warm undertones and a...
ColourPop Holiday (2019) Super Shock Cheek ($8.00 for 0.15 oz.) is a bright, medium coral that leans slightly pink and has soft, warm undertones and a...
Pat McGrath Dark Matter Eyeshadow ($25.00 for 0.04 oz.) is a medium-dark black with a satin finish. It had rich, opaque pigmentation with a smooth,...
Pat McGrath Dark Matter Eyeshadow ($25.00 for 0.04 oz.) is a medium-dark black with a satin finish. It had rich, opaque pigmentation with a smooth,...
What were your favorites from the last month?
Given different release times, Mac Nude Model is my March favourite. I just love the way it looks on me. Soar lipstick as well. Flameboyant I’m still working with, but I think it’ll be great once I’m more used to the formula.
I also picked up my first highlighter, Benefit Dandelion Twinkle, which suits me a lot.
What didn’t impress you?
I’m easily impressed, I think.
Did you return anything you purchase?
No, not really a thing here.
Or successfully resist temptation?
I love the look of the Sydney Grace shadows but can’t be dealing with the hassle of customs, so am resisting. I’m holding off on Melba blush, but that’s a “later” not a complete resist.
What were your favorites from the last month?
Laura Mercier Caviar Stick in Amethyst—I have been using it almost every day. Also loved Lancome Definicils Mascara and MAC Modesty Lipstick.
What didn’t impress you?
Most of the eyeshadows I own, weirdly enough. The only exceptions are: LM Caviar Stick, MAC Omega single shadow, Bare Minerals Bare Sensuals Palette, and Dior Backstage Cool Palette. The rest of my palettes and singles are gathering dust. I’m sure I’ll get back to them at some point, but for now, I’m just not that into them.
Did you return anything you purchased?
Nope.
Or successfully resist temptation?
I thought about buying the ABH Sultry palette when it went on sale (was that last month?), but didn’t. I avoided temptation by avoiding makeup stores and counters.
What were your favorites from the last month? ABH Sultry and Riviera palettes; CT Eyes to Mesermise Cream Eyeshadow in Marie Antoinette; ND Bloom and Darya Blush palettes; No. 7 Triple Action Lift and Illuminate Serum Foundation; Missha M BB+ Cream; IT Cosmetics Superhero Mascara; Bobbi Brown Crush Liquid Lipstick in Give a Fig; Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb in Fu$$y; Colourpop Sweet Talk palette and all of the Super Shock Shock Shadows I have in the Ultra Glitter formula (they’re glossy and amazing); Tom Ford Casablanca lip color; one shade from the Jaclyn Hill x Morphe vault in the Dark Magic palette called Power Cut, such a pretty glimmery taupe. This was a good make up month for me!
What didn’t impress you? The ND Glow foundation. It’s such an odd formula, almost sticky, and it smells like sunscreen. I thought I would get a little more coverage from it, but it is a pretty light coverage formula even for me. I’ll use it, as I don’t hate it, but I thought it would be much better.
Did you return anything you purchase? I returned the Limecrime Venus XL II palette. I didn’t want to, as I love the color story; something about the combo of muted sage greens and peaches really hit me in a good spot and some of the shadows were incredibly unique, but they didn’t build well for me and the darker mattes faded a lot. I couldn’t justify the $58 price tag (which it was on sale for Ulta 21 Days of Beauty, dang it) to keep it when it didn’t perform at all like I’d hoped.
Or successfully resist temptation? Nothing new has come out that I have been jonesing for, but I do have my eye on a couple of the PMGL MTHRSHP palettes… I think I’ll probably wait for the next Sephora VIB sale to get those.
I have been looking at the Limecrime Venus II palette for quite a while and have been so tempted by it but if it doesn’t apply well I am super happy I didn’t waste my one palette for it. Thank you for the heads up.
March favorites: La Mer Luminous Lifting Cushion Foundation, Hourglass Soft Light and Filtered Light Powders, Viseart Liason Palette, NARS Orgasm Liquid Blush, Chantecaille Lip Chic in Gypsy Rose, and Chanel Rouge Coco Gloss in 804.
Didn’t impress me? I liked everything I purchased in March
Returns: None
Resisted: Marc Jacobs Velvet Noir Mascara, Viseart Coy and Apricotine eyeshadow palettes, Natasha Denona Biba, Bite Beauty Picked Ginger, and Sonia G brushes. Right now I am trying to convince myself not to repurchase DE B-Hydra and C-Firma, which I have loved and repurchased three previous times. So many have said the Glow Maker and Timeless vitamin c formulas are equally effective at a fraction of the cost, and I want to be mindful of my budget, but I really love B-Hydra and C-Firma, especially cocktailed together as my morning treatment/serum.
I have been using the Farmacy Honeymoon Glow in place of the Sunday Riley Good Genes. I started that on the recommendation of Gothamista. She says that the Farmacy doesn’t sting her face, works just as well as GG and she doesn’t mind the scent where as she hates the scent of GG. I have been doing that since I returned from Europe. I am going back to the Good Genes. I don’t know what it is as they are pretty close to dupes for each other but GG just works better on my skin so I am returning to it. I think it is really hard to switch products when you love them and they are working for you. I decided to try the Farmacy because it is cheaper than the GG but if it doesn’t work as well for me then what is the point. Let us know what you decide to do and how it works or doesn’t work for you. I am always looking for things to try. If I make any changes it will be during the Sephora Spring sale so I have to start narrowing down my products. I swear my Sephora cart is a holding tank!
I was wondering how the Farmacy Glow was working for you. I also use Good Genes and was considering the Farmacy Glow.
You know, it is one of those undefinable things that just happens sometimes. I thought I would love the Farmacy because I pretty much love everything that Renee recommends but for whatever reason, Good Genes just works best for my skin. I am also going back to my Dr. Dennis Gross Retinol and Ferulic Eye Gel. Since I switched to the eye cream she recommended, I feel like I can see the lines forming in front of my eyes! I feel like my face has had some sudden changes since I returned from Europe and I am having accelerated aging, LOL. My lip lines have become more pronounced, my smile lines, my eye wrinkles, more sun exposure hyperpigmentation, and some breakouts which I haven’t had since my teenage years. I feel like I get up everyday and see new lines everywhere. So, I am going back to a few products I used before as mentioned above and then I am going to suss out some new ones to try!
Favorites from March: L’Oreal Infallible Fresh Wear Foundation although been using the wrong shade. Still have to get to a city to pick it up. I am going to Missoula soon so will hunt up the right shade then. I like the finish of this foundation. I became aware of it on Taylor’s 15 DOF and she said it was full coverage in one pass for her and that isn’t the case for me. I guess pigmentation from sun damage is more difficult to cover than pigmentation from acne scarring. I continue to love the Pony Glam Palette for just everyday, minimal makeup looks. Trying to decide whether I am repurchasing the Thrive mascara. I like it but not holy grail so may still shop around.
What didn’t impress me: I haven’t tried a lot of new makeup this past couple of months since I am on my no/low buy so nothing really to report.
Returns: Nothing. When you don’t buy anything you don’t have to worry about returning anything!!
Resisted temptation: Well….. I have been resisting very well up until Monday!! I follow an Indie brand Emme Cosmetics. She was posting pictures on IG of a new palette she was making. Now by making, I mean, actually making in her home and mailing out. She was making 20 palettes for her first run. I had exchanged several messages with her about a fairer way to handle the limited palette release and that would be to do a pre-order for however many palettes she was going to make. She thought it was a great idea so planned on selling the 20 she was making and then do a pre-order for however many more she was going to make. She was honest in her IG about how many she was making which I appreciate. I didn’t think there was a chance I would get one of the original 20. I mean, I am not the most computer savvy person and figured by the time I got in there, did the whole PayPal thing then everything would be gone. I even had my daughter open an account to see if she could get it for me. I am not sure why I was so set on getting this palette. It is pretty but anyway, I got it myself. My daughter was still logging in and it went live about 2 minutes before the 6 PM live time and I had it, paid for and verified. I was so excited!! That is how I knew I was missing the thrill of the chase with my no/low buy! Emme has already sold out the pre-order but has plans to release some, if not all of the shades, as singles in May. So, I have used up my two palette purchases for the year. We will see how many palettes come out between now and 2020 that I “must” have, LOL. I am linking the IG picture of the palette below. There are an additional 4 shades that are matte.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BvkjEerhsJr/
Wow, that palette is really pretty, Deb!
I thought it was really pretty and I think the other reason it appealed to me, besides helping an Indie brand out, is it doesn’t contain a single shade that I would never use. In fact, it includes all of my favorite shades so I know I will get good use out of it. I am anxious to see what the pigmentation is like in actual practice. The swatches are gorgeous but that doesn’t mean they will apply well to the eyes, as we have learned from the blog. I think the only thing I will have to do is add a brow bone shade as there isn’t anything light enough for that but it isn’t the first palette I have purchased that didn’t have a light enough brow bone shade. Your IG picture was stunning. I really love the touch of grey in your hair. It is such a nice shade of grey, not yellow but a true grey. I always tell my daughter that I have the shade of grey that all the teenagers are wanting their hair to be!! Hope all is well with you guys.
Thank you, Deb. I can’t stand my grey but most people like it. I am not sure what I’m going to do with it. I am 10 months into my grow out and it’s going to take at least two years for it to fully grow out.
I don’t know what I would have done had a needed to wait for it to grow out. Mine went from strawberry blond to grey over night as it was the result of the chemotherapy. Prior to chemo I had some grey cropping up and had thought to let it just grow in naturally but I would always cave and go get it dyed to match my hair. When my hair grew in after chemo it was essentially as it is now. Very grey in the front and more of a brown in the back, which wasn’t my natural colour either. I didn’t want to dye it after chemo because I was scared of the chemical load from the dyes. My sister encouraged me to leave it and my brother was after me to dye it all the time. He told me that 45 was too young to be mostly grey.
Knowing me, I would probably cave and colour it if I were in your situation, well I was and I did!! I do really like it on you and think it is very attractive . Ultimately, we all have to do what we are comfortable with though.
Do you follow Monique Parent on IG? She is an actress and I am not sure how I started following her but she and I exchange comments about grey hair all the time. She decided to let hers go grey after seeing my grey hair, not that I was the catalyst but she had been thinking about it and then was encouraging me to not dye mine. She was really nervous about going grey but hers is really beautiful too.
I say do what makes you happy.
Whoa! Gorgeous palette!
???? ???? ???? ????????? ???? ??? ???? ?????? ???? ? ??????: CP Disney Villains Collection; CP Just My Luck Palette; ABH Riviera Palette; Ciate Jessica Rabbit Glitter Storm Lipstick; Buxom Cosmetics Wanderlust Primer-Infused Blush in Seychelles; NARS x Connor Tingley Eyeshadow Palette. ???? ? ????’? ???: Sidney Grace single eyeshadows and Autumn Reign palette; PMG eyeshadow singles; Bobbi Brown Crushed Lip Color
???? ????’? ??????? ???? Ciate x Jessica Rabbit eyeshadow palette; UD GoT Collection; Wet n Wild Rebel Rose eyeshadow quads; Charlotte Tilbury The Icon 12-Pan Eye Palette; ColourPop Brunch Date Eyeshadow Palette
??? ??? ?????? ???????? ??? ?????????? No
?? ???????????? ?????? ??????????? Sidney Grace eyeshadows (I will buy in the future, though), NARS x Connor Tingley Audacious Lipstick in Arnera; Viseart Soleil Petit Pro Palette; MAC Kabuki Doll Eyeshadow x 9 Palette; Ciate Roger, Darling Glow-To Highlighter.
What were your favorites from the last month? The Maybelling lipsticks in Spice for Me and Ruby Red.
I also loved the SG eyeshadows.
What didn’t impress you? I haven’t really purchased anything of late, but from last month’s offerings I didn’t really like Colour Pop’s latest palette nor the Game of Thrones one by UD
Did you return anything you purchase? No
Or successfully resist temptation? I haven’t purchased any of the SG eyeshadows as yet, using up all my own instead.
What were your favorites from the last month? Been really into the Sydney Grace green shadows I bought based off of your posts. Been super into green and these are just so easy to use.
What didn’t impress you? Officially given up on the CT Pillow Talk quad. It just isn’t pulling pink enough for me. Also the Ole Henrickson Banana Bright primer is so … shimmery. It’s turning my hands so glittery. Annoying.
Did you return anything you purchase? I really should’ve returned that quad last month. Oy.
Or successfully resist temptation? I wish! I tried.