Best Beauty Products | April 2019 Report
Here’s a look at the top 25 products reviewed in the month of April, 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?
Marc Jacobs Beauty Worth the Wait O!Mega Glaze All-Over Foil Luminizer ($49.00 for 0.35 oz.) is a pale gold with subtle, warm undertones and a soft,...
Marc Jacobs Beauty Worth the Wait O!Mega Glaze All-Over Foil Luminizer ($49.00 for 0.35 oz.) is a pale gold with subtle, warm undertones and a soft,...
Glossier Play Platinum Rose Niteshine Highlighter Concentrate ($20.00 for 0.34 oz.) is a soft peach with warm undertones and a mix of multi-colored...
Glossier Play Platinum Rose Niteshine Highlighter Concentrate ($20.00 for 0.34 oz.) is a soft peach with warm undertones and a mix of multi-colored...
Charlotte Tilbury Pinkgasm Hollywood Beauty Light Wand ($38.00 for 0.4 oz.) is a medium-dark, rosy coral with warm undertones and fine, gold and pink...
Charlotte Tilbury Pinkgasm Hollywood Beauty Light Wand ($38.00 for 0.4 oz.) is a medium-dark, rosy coral with warm undertones and fine, gold and pink...
Urban Decay The Night King 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil (Eyeliner) ($21.00 for 0.04 oz.) is a deep, blue-teal with cool undertones and a sparkling,...
Urban Decay The Night King 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil (Eyeliner) ($21.00 for 0.04 oz.) is a deep, blue-teal with cool undertones and a sparkling,...
Maybelline Knockout MasterChrome Metallic Highlighter ($9.99 for 0.24 oz.) is a cooler, medium-pink base with a strong dose of gold shimmer. The...
Maybelline Knockout MasterChrome Metallic Highlighter ($9.99 for 0.24 oz.) is a cooler, medium-pink base with a strong dose of gold shimmer. The...
Maybelline Nikkie Tutorials MasterChrome Metallic Highlighter ($9.99 for 0.24 oz.) is a bright, golden beige with warm, yellow undertones and a...
Maybelline Nikkie Tutorials MasterChrome Metallic Highlighter ($9.99 for 0.24 oz.) is a bright, golden beige with warm, yellow undertones and a...
Sydney Grace Go for It Pressed Pigment Shadow ($6.00 for 0.06 oz.) is a muted, medium plum with subtle, warm undertones and a bright, metallic finish....
Sydney Grace Go for It Pressed Pigment Shadow ($6.00 for 0.06 oz.) is a muted, medium plum with subtle, warm undertones and a bright, metallic finish....
Sydney Grace Take the Time Pressed Pigment Shadow ($6.00 for 0.06 oz.) is a medium, grass green with warm, yellow undertones and a shiny, metallic...
Sydney Grace Take the Time Pressed Pigment Shadow ($6.00 for 0.06 oz.) is a medium, grass green with warm, yellow undertones and a shiny, metallic...
Sydney Grace Keep It Fun Matte Shadow ($5.00 for 0.06 oz.) is a muted, medium aqua-green with subtle, cool undertones and a metallic finish. It was...
Sydney Grace Keep It Fun Matte Shadow ($5.00 for 0.06 oz.) is a muted, medium aqua-green with subtle, cool undertones and a metallic finish. It was...
Sydney Grace Forever Enough Pressed Pigment Shadow ($6.00 for 0.06 oz.) is a rich, medium-dark plum with warm undertones and a metallic sheen. It had...
Sydney Grace Forever Enough Pressed Pigment Shadow ($6.00 for 0.06 oz.) is a rich, medium-dark plum with warm undertones and a metallic sheen. It had...
MAC Dima's Glow Extra Dimension Skinfinish ($33.00 for 0.31 oz.) is a soft, peachy-brown with warm undertones and a high-shine, metallic finish. It...
MAC Dima's Glow Extra Dimension Skinfinish ($33.00 for 0.31 oz.) is a soft, peachy-brown with warm undertones and a high-shine, metallic finish. It...
rms beauty Grande Dame Luminizing Powder ($38.00 for 0.52 oz.) is a richer, pale gold with strong, warm undertones and a luminous sheen. It had...
rms beauty Grande Dame Luminizing Powder ($38.00 for 0.52 oz.) is a richer, pale gold with strong, warm undertones and a luminous sheen. It had...
Colour Pop Quarters Super Shock Cheek ($8.00 for 0.15 oz.) is a medium-dark copper with warm, red-orange undertones and faint, golden pearl. It had...
Colour Pop Quarters Super Shock Cheek ($8.00 for 0.15 oz.) is a medium-dark copper with warm, red-orange undertones and faint, golden pearl. It had...
Sydney Grace Poolside Matte Shadow ($5.00 for 0.06 oz.) is a muted, light-medium blue-leaning teal with subtle, cool undertones and faint...
Sydney Grace Poolside Matte Shadow ($5.00 for 0.06 oz.) is a muted, light-medium blue-leaning teal with subtle, cool undertones and faint...
Glossier Play Molten Umber Niteshine Highlighter Concentrate ($20.00 for 0.34 oz.) is a rich, chocolaty bronze with subtle, warm undertones and...
Glossier Play Molten Umber Niteshine Highlighter Concentrate ($20.00 for 0.34 oz.) is a rich, chocolaty bronze with subtle, warm undertones and...
Sephora Excellence (07) Rouge Lacquer ($13.00 for 0.1 oz.) is a rich, medium fuchsia pink with cool undertones and a cream finish. It had opaque...
Sephora Excellence (07) Rouge Lacquer ($13.00 for 0.1 oz.) is a rich, medium fuchsia pink with cool undertones and a cream finish. It had opaque...
Glossier Play Deep Copper Niteshine Highlighter Concentrate ($20.00 for 0.34 oz.) is a light-medium, golden-copper with warm undertones and a fine,...
Glossier Play Deep Copper Niteshine Highlighter Concentrate ($20.00 for 0.34 oz.) is a light-medium, golden-copper with warm undertones and a fine,...
Glossier Play Pale Pearl Niteshine Highlighter Concentrate ($20.00 for 0.34 oz.) is a soft, golden peach with warm undertones and a metallic sheen. It...
Glossier Play Pale Pearl Niteshine Highlighter Concentrate ($20.00 for 0.34 oz.) is a soft, golden peach with warm undertones and a metallic sheen. It...
Fenty Beauty Afternoon Snack/Mo' Hunny Killawatt Freestyle Highlighter Duo ($34.00 for 0.24 oz.) contains highlighters in soft, peach-brown and...
Fenty Beauty Afternoon Snack/Mo' Hunny Killawatt Freestyle Highlighter Duo ($34.00 for 0.24 oz.) contains highlighters in soft, peach-brown and...
Bite Beauty Sangria Slush Outburst Longwear Lip Stain ($24.00 for 0.07 oz.) is a medium-dark red with subtle, cool undertones and a satin finish. It...
Bite Beauty Sangria Slush Outburst Longwear Lip Stain ($24.00 for 0.07 oz.) is a medium-dark red with subtle, cool undertones and a satin finish. It...
Urban Decay Mother of Dragons Got Highlight Palette ($36.00 for 0.42 oz.) is a new, limited edition trio of highlighters that launches on April 14th...
Urban Decay Mother of Dragons Got Highlight Palette ($36.00 for 0.42 oz.) is a new, limited edition trio of highlighters that launches on April 14th...
Pat McGrath Eye Ecstasy Eyeshadow & Mascara Kit ($48.00 for 0.41 oz.) is a new, limited edition set of products including a six-pan eyeshadow palette,...
Pat McGrath Eye Ecstasy Eyeshadow & Mascara Kit ($48.00 for 0.41 oz.) is a new, limited edition set of products including a six-pan eyeshadow palette,...
Sydney Grace Seize the Day Pressed Pigment Shadow ($6.00 for 0.06 oz.) is a rich, medium yellow with warm undertones and a sparkling, metallic finish....
Sydney Grace Seize the Day Pressed Pigment Shadow ($6.00 for 0.06 oz.) is a rich, medium yellow with warm undertones and a sparkling, metallic finish....
What were your favorites from the last month? Laura Mercier Caviar Stick in Amethyst + ABH Brow Wiz + Lancome Definicils Mascara = Five-Minute Eye Look (that looks like it took more time)
What didn’t impress you? Cover Girl Total Tease Mascara
Did you return anything you purchased? Didn’t purchase anything.
Or successfully resist temptation? Got very close to buying a Laura Mercier Caviar Stick in a neutral matte shade. I will probably buy one at some point in the future, but it’s off my list for now.
What were your favorites from the last month? The Colourpop Sweet Talk palette, Stila Little White Lies liquid eyeshadows, Tom Ford Lip Colour in Casablanca, glosses in general, Coloured Raine Safari Raine palette, Laura Geller Baked Blush ‘n’ Brighten in Peach Delight, Pixi Beauty Multibalm in Soft Strawberry, Nars Skin Deep palette, and Juvia’s Place The Douce palette.
What didn’t impress you? The L’Oreal Infallible 24 hour fresh wear foundation. It’s not horrible, but it just doesn’t do it for me. I may have to use it as a mixer when I want a bit more coverage.
Did you return anything you purchase? I did not, but there wasn’t much that I didn’t like.
Or successfully resist temptation? I’ve been bad about resisting temptation this month.
So sad the L’Oreal did not work for you! It’s SO GOOD on me 😕. Upside, very inexpensive and maybe you can mix with another foundation.
Favorites: Natasha Denona Bloom palette and Tanluxe Body self-tan drops.
Wasn’t impressed and returned: Dior Hologlam Blush. Too light for my skin tone and too dry of a texture.
Resisted: Sidney Grace eyeshadows, Hourglass Shattered Light Eye Shadows, Tom Ford Soleil Blanc Body Oil, Tom Ford Lip Color Sheer in Carriacou, Tom Ford White Suede fragrance, Shiseido WhiteLucent Power Brightening Masks, Pat McGrath lip Lust glosses in Blitz Gold and For Real.
Tammy, Thank you for your review of the Dior Hologlam Blush, I had it on my list to check out, you saved me some time and money. I don’t really need another blush anyway.
No problem. I was so surprised by how poorly this blush performed. And the color was quite a bit paler than it looked in Christine’s review. I was so confused that I kept checking the label to make sure I ordered the correct blush. But the sparkles were definitely the same, so I know it was Hologlam.
Hi Tammy. I also LOVE the Bloom palette as well. Been using it non stop. I too, had my eye on the Dior Hologlam blush. If it’s too light for you, then it would definitely be for me too. I find Tom Ford lip sheers “meh”. Bought one in the past, and returned it. No staying power, not worth the price, for me anyway.
Question. I saw on another post you liked the La Mer cushion foundation. May I ask what shade you use?
Thank you, I generally don’t like sheer lip colors, so that’s what was making me hesitate on the Tom Ford. Money better spent elsewhere.
I love La Mer’s Luminous Lifting Cushion Foundation and I was so certain at the time I bought it I was just wasting my money. I wear Warm Bisque 33 right now, and I am at my palest (long, cold winter). I am going to try to keep my sunscreen game strong this summer, maybe I can stay in this shade through the warm months. I strongly recommend going in person to get shade matched. I was wearing Beige 32 in the liquid La Mer foundation. It was not the right color and may have played a role in the reason I stopped enjoying and wearing it.
Janice, Are you on Instagram? If so, I would love to follow you. You can find me at tammy_medusa.
What were your favorites from the last month? My L’Oreal True Match foundation in Rose Porcelain. EA Sweet Peach blush, Maybelline’s Spice for Me lipstick and all my eye palettes that I used: Naked 1, City Color singles in Cleo and Sandstorm, Tarantino’s Wonder palette and the Maybelline Burgundy Bar.
What didn’t impress you? I haven’t bought anything really much to not impress me. I’m pretty careful these days.
Did you return anything you purchase? No.
Or successfully resist temptation? Yes, I still haven’t purchased any SG eyeshadows (yet) because I am using up the greens in my stash. And I am still on the fence regarding a Laura Geller metallic bronze lipstick – but I probably will get it.
What were your favorites from the last month?
Love the new Bite outburst lip stains. Got all three. Love the colors and the feel of them.
I’m also loving the Givenchy Encre Interdite 24 Hour Lip Stain. I haven’t tested the 24 hour claim, but they are long lasting and pretty darn transfer proof. It seems like it’s getting mixed reviews on Sephora (especially the lighter nude shade), but I had Radical Red and Free Pink and am happy with both.
What didn’t impress you?
The new Sephora Cream Lip Shine. I got the mauve color. It’s a nice color and if I considered it a very pigmented creamy lip gloss I would be happy. But I didn’t find their claim of “long-lasting, no-transfer lip stain” even remotely true. It just never truly set and there was lots of transfer onto my water glass until it just finally wore off. So it fails at what it claims to be, but if you let go of that expectation it’s a decent lip cream.
Also not a new product, but I bought the mini-size of the waterproof Better Than Sex mascara. I just don’t see the appeal – messy to apply, the brush clumped lashes together rather than separating them, and it irritated my usually not sensitive eyes. Back to Clinique for me.
Did you return anything you purchase?
Not yet. If it wasn’t the mini-size and also bought on sale, I might return the aforementioned mascara, but not really worth it.
Or successfully resist temptation?
I resisted trying to track down and buy the entire Urban Decay GoT vault. I have more highlighters than two cheeks can reasonably use and the eyeshadow was a nice novelty but realistically not colors/looks I would wear and my eyeshadow collection is out of control as is. So I only got what I knew I would reasonably use and love (the Daenarys lipstick, the Night King and Lannister Gold eyeliners, the two brushes because who wouldn’t want brushes that look like swords? I mean, come on! Swords!).
I also resisted buying the Marc Jacobs blush you’ve recommended a few times. I’ve purchased two of the new Buxom blushes and haven’t even had the chance to wear one of them yet so I couldn’t justify yet another blush.
What were your favorites from the last month? That I bought: ColourPop Disney Villains Collection; MAC Undercover Heroine Blush; NARS x Connor Tingley Eyeshadow Palette
What didn’t impress you? I’m happy with my April purchases. That I didn’t buy: Ciate Jessica Rabbit Eyeshadow Palette; NARS Orgasm Collection; UD GoT Collection; MUFE Let’s Gold Eye Palette; Tom Ford Lip Gelees.
Did you return anything you purchased? Just a Wet n Wild blush that arrived with the powder pulverized.
Or successfully resist temptation? Kaja Bento Bouncy shadow trios; Sydney Grace shadows; ColourPop The Headliner Palette Set and other festival/neon items; the rest of the NARS x Conner Tingley Collection.
Faves: combo of Catrice Jupiter’s Glow HL and Lipstick Queen Milky Way altered universe. I can channel my inner Rachel while maintaining my inner old lady matchy matchy thing! There’s more pigment than blinding factor in the hl. The gloss has micro glitter in a silvery lavender base. I detect no glitter feel. From the Ulta 20.
Not impressed: LQ Highway 66. Sure it’s my lip chemistry. It swatches the expected tangerine in my arm, but turns an odd reddish purple on lips.
Return: acrylic container and Catrice concealer had to go back, as damaged in transit and tube taped open. Eeeeew. Tbh, first Ulta bad packing.
Resist: yes and no. The low buy for color has been successful. Dupe list, etc has helped immeasurably. The ‘no’ part: not being a coral or pink person, this season is not a big challenge. Nars summer color as usual, holds zero interest, though Nars gets significant attention, come fall and holiday.
I looked up that HL and lipgloss. They’re beautiful! I’ll bet you looked amazing in them.
What were your favorites from the last month? I’m all about bright metallic eyes blown out atm and MAC Vio-Lit and PMG Eyedols in Lapis Luxury rock my world. I also inadvertently found a green eyeshadow which works very well on me. Melt threw in the Smoke palette, which I never would have purchased on my own, with a recent order and most of the palette is positively garish on me; especially the left three shades, but Space Queen actually looks amazing against my hazel green/grey eyes. Blue Dream is also wearable for me
What didn’t impress you? Marc Jacobs O!mega Gel powder eyeshadow in Smoke
Did you return anything you purchase? Did not return the MJ e/s because it is unique to my collection
Or successfully resist temptation? I was not proud to admit I was not a good girl with the Big S sale. I carefully mapped out my small number of purchases, but as each day went by, I talked myself into buying yet another product. I think they know me too well. Arghh!
Favorites from the last month:
Likely It Cosmetics Bye Bye Undereye Waterproof Concealer in light natural. I’ve never tried it under my eyes, seems to thick, but on my nose, it’s a great base under foundation and locks everything into place like a champ.
Also: Tarte Timeless Smoothing Primer, just got it and love it as much as my Tatcha Silk Canvas, although the quantity of product in the jar seems quite small, so I can’t see it lasting as long for me.
Glow Recipe Watermelon Ultra Fine Mist, that and and Glam Glow have awesome fine misters on their bottles.
What didn’t impress:
Anastasia Liquid Lip in Pure Hollywood–way to muddy on me
Return purchase:
JOUER High Coverage Liquid Concealer in Coffee. Bought to contour and it’s way too orange. The trouble with buying online vs. testing in person.
Successfully resisted temptation:
Thanks to you, Christine, because who needs another palette, especially a sub-par one.
Nars’ new Orgasm palette, Charlotte Tilbury Lightgasm palette, and because I have enough dupes, Marc Jacobs Worth the Wait.
All three pricey items.
My favorites from last month have definitely been Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation in 03, MAC Studio Fix 24-hour concealer, MAC Yash lipstick, NARS Luster blush and Urban Decay Perversion liquid liner. Oh and can’t forget MAC Extra Dimension Skin Finish in Double Gleam and the Shape and Shade brow product in Taupe. Lol. So quite a few! 😀
I was not that impressed by Lancome Definicils mascara. It did lengthen my lashes, but it made my lashes super heavy and straightened out my curl. Such a shame.
In Europe we do not have the option of returning used beauty products, so no returns for me. As for resisting… Well, I have resisted buying new eyeshadow palettes. The Coloured Raine Safari Rain has been on my radar for a while, but I have to let another palette go, before I get a new one. Thankfully it is a permanent item, so I do have time. 🙂 I am curious about the formula and adore that color scheme!