Best Beauty Products | January 2018 Report
Here’s a look at the top 25 products reviewed in the month of January, 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?
NARS Hell Gate Lip Cover ($28.00 for 0.22 oz.) is a deep, rich red with subtle, warm undertones and a cream finish with a light shine. The...
NARS Hell Gate Lip Cover ($28.00 for 0.22 oz.) is a deep, rich red with subtle, warm undertones and a cream finish with a light shine. The...
ColourPop I Like You Super Shock Shadow ($5.00 for 0.07 oz.) is a light-medium, golden orange with warm, yellow undertones and a sparkly sheen. It...
ColourPop I Like You Super Shock Shadow ($5.00 for 0.07 oz.) is a light-medium, golden orange with warm, yellow undertones and a sparkly sheen. It...
Stila Boheme Shimmer & Glow Liquid Eye Shadow ($24.00 for 0.15 oz.) is a medium, rosy copper with warm undertones and a metallic sheen. It was richly...
Stila Boheme Shimmer & Glow Liquid Eye Shadow ($24.00 for 0.15 oz.) is a medium, rosy copper with warm undertones and a metallic sheen. It was richly...
Make Up For Ever ME930 Black Purple Artist Color Shadow ($17.00 for 0.08 oz.) is a deep purple with subtle, warm brown undertones and a pearly sheen. ...
Make Up For Ever ME930 Black Purple Artist Color Shadow ($17.00 for 0.08 oz.) is a deep purple with subtle, warm brown undertones and a pearly sheen. ...
Make Up For Ever ME554 Gunmetal Artist Color Shadow ($17.00 for 0.08 oz.) is a medium, taupe-brown with subtle, warm undertones and a cooler, silvery...
Make Up For Ever ME554 Gunmetal Artist Color Shadow ($17.00 for 0.08 oz.) is a medium, taupe-brown with subtle, warm undertones and a cooler, silvery...
Make Up For Ever D652 Celestial Earth Artist Color Shadow ($17.00 for 0.08 oz.) is a deep bronze with warm undertones and a metallic sheen. It was...
Make Up For Ever D652 Celestial Earth Artist Color Shadow ($17.00 for 0.08 oz.) is a deep bronze with warm undertones and a metallic sheen. It was...
Too Faced Chocolate Gold Soleil Bronzer ($30.00 for 0.28 oz.) is a medium brown with warm, yellow undertones and a fine, golden sheen. It was richly...
Too Faced Chocolate Gold Soleil Bronzer ($30.00 for 0.28 oz.) is a medium brown with warm, yellow undertones and a fine, golden sheen. It was richly...
Make Up For Ever ME400 Buttrercup Artist Color Shadow ($17.00 for 0.08 oz.) is a bright, sunshine yellow with warm undertones and a metallic finish. ...
Make Up For Ever ME400 Buttrercup Artist Color Shadow ($17.00 for 0.08 oz.) is a bright, sunshine yellow with warm undertones and a metallic finish. ...
NARS Free Soul Highlighting Blush ($30.00 for 0.16 oz.) is a medium pink with warm, yellow undertones and a luminous sheen. It had an incredibly...
NARS Free Soul Highlighting Blush ($30.00 for 0.16 oz.) is a medium pink with warm, yellow undertones and a luminous sheen. It had an incredibly...
Hourglass Bronze Flash Vanish Flash Highlighting Stick ($42.00 for 0.21 oz.) is a medium copper with warm, brown undertones and a golden shimmer. The...
Hourglass Bronze Flash Vanish Flash Highlighting Stick ($42.00 for 0.21 oz.) is a medium copper with warm, brown undertones and a golden shimmer. The...
ColourPop Rocket Science Super Shock Cheek ($8.00 for 0.15 oz.) is a light lavender with subtle, warm undertones and a sparkling, pearly sheen. It...
ColourPop Rocket Science Super Shock Cheek ($8.00 for 0.15 oz.) is a light lavender with subtle, warm undertones and a sparkling, pearly sheen. It...
Hourglass Champagne Flash Vanish Flash Highlighting Stick ($42.00 for 0.21 oz.) is a light gold with warm, yellow undertones and a metallic sheen. ...
Hourglass Champagne Flash Vanish Flash Highlighting Stick ($42.00 for 0.21 oz.) is a light gold with warm, yellow undertones and a metallic sheen. ...
Hourglass Gold Flash Vanish Flash Highlighting Stick ($42.00 for 0.21 oz.) is a light gold with subtle, warm undertones and a metallic sheen. It was...
Hourglass Gold Flash Vanish Flash Highlighting Stick ($42.00 for 0.21 oz.) is a light gold with subtle, warm undertones and a metallic sheen. It was...
ColourPop Getty Lux Lipstick ($7.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a muted, medium-dark blue-leaning teal with cool undertones and a cream finish. This was one of...
ColourPop Getty Lux Lipstick ($7.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a muted, medium-dark blue-leaning teal with cool undertones and a cream finish. This was one of...
Pat McGrath Decadence Mothership Eyeshadow Palette ($125.00 for 0.70 oz.) is a new, limited edition palette for spring that features 10...
Pat McGrath Decadence Mothership Eyeshadow Palette ($125.00 for 0.70 oz.) is a new, limited edition palette for spring that features 10...
Chanel Nero Vulcanico (939) Stylo Yeux Waterproof Long-Lasting Eyeliner ($33.00 for 0.01 oz.) is a deep gray with subtle, cool undertones and a satin...
Chanel Nero Vulcanico (939) Stylo Yeux Waterproof Long-Lasting Eyeliner ($33.00 for 0.01 oz.) is a deep gray with subtle, cool undertones and a satin...
Make Up For Ever I538 Pearly Gray Beige Artist Color Shadow ($17.00 for 0.08 oz.) is a light-medium, golden brown with warm undertones and a metallic...
Make Up For Ever I538 Pearly Gray Beige Artist Color Shadow ($17.00 for 0.08 oz.) is a light-medium, golden brown with warm undertones and a metallic...
Make Up For Ever I102 Onyx Artist Color Shadow ($17.00 for 0.08 oz.) is a deep black with a pearly sheen. It was richly pigmented and had a smooth,...
Make Up For Ever I102 Onyx Artist Color Shadow ($17.00 for 0.08 oz.) is a deep black with a pearly sheen. It was richly pigmented and had a smooth,...
Cover FX Aurora Glitter Drops ($44.00 for 0.50 oz.) is a cooler, pinky-gray base that shifted from silver to pink opal. It had a sheerer liquid base...
Cover FX Aurora Glitter Drops ($44.00 for 0.50 oz.) is a cooler, pinky-gray base that shifted from silver to pink opal. It had a sheerer liquid base...
Cover FX Mirage Glitter Drops ($44.00 for 0.50 oz.) is a light, white gold with a sparkling, glittery finish. The base seemed to be fairly...
Cover FX Mirage Glitter Drops ($44.00 for 0.50 oz.) is a light, white gold with a sparkling, glittery finish. The base seemed to be fairly...
Fenty Beauty Ma'damn Mattemoiselle Plush Matte Lipstick ($18.00 for 0.06 oz.) is a rich, medium-dark red with cool undertones and a semi-matte finish....
Fenty Beauty Ma'damn Mattemoiselle Plush Matte Lipstick ($18.00 for 0.06 oz.) is a rich, medium-dark red with cool undertones and a semi-matte finish....
NARS Under Arrest Lip Cover ($28.00 for 0.22 oz.) is a muted, medium orange-brown with strong, orange undertones and a cream finish with a light...
NARS Under Arrest Lip Cover ($28.00 for 0.22 oz.) is a muted, medium orange-brown with strong, orange undertones and a cream finish with a light...
Fenty Beauty PMS Mattemoiselle Plush Matte Lipstick ($18.00 for 0.06 oz.) is a deep, red-toned brown with neutral-to-cool undertones and a satin...
Fenty Beauty PMS Mattemoiselle Plush Matte Lipstick ($18.00 for 0.06 oz.) is a deep, red-toned brown with neutral-to-cool undertones and a satin...
Milani Luminous Light Hypnotic Lights Powder Highlighter ($12.99 for 0.30 oz.) is a light pink with pink-to-lavender shifting, ultra-fine pearl paired...
Milani Luminous Light Hypnotic Lights Powder Highlighter ($12.99 for 0.30 oz.) is a light pink with pink-to-lavender shifting, ultra-fine pearl paired...
ColourPop Parallel Super Shock Cheek ($8.00 for 0.15 oz.) is a bright, medium peony pink with subtle, warm undertones and a golden sheen. It was more...
ColourPop Parallel Super Shock Cheek ($8.00 for 0.15 oz.) is a bright, medium peony pink with subtle, warm undertones and a golden sheen. It was more...
What were your favorites from the last month? probably Kiehl’s Daily Reviving Concentrate and Josie Maran thick oil; for colour cosmetics, Smashbox Smoky Covershot palette
What didn’t impress you? Peter Thomas Roth Hungarian Thermal Water Moisturizer (it’s not particularly moisturizing)
Did you return anything you purchased? I might return Tarte Pin Up eyeshadow….it’s much more yellowy/golden/harshly metallic than I’d hoped (I was hoping to dupe the very light shade from MAC’s Posh Pedigree quad) but I might still keep it
Or successfully resist temptation? The “new” formula of Diorskin Forever foundation (I love the one that was discontinued; not so delighted with its replacement).
A friend bought me the Modern Renaissance Palette in January, and it’s been such a great addition! I love the shades and Buon Fresco and Love Letter feel unlike anything else I have in my collection. I’m also loving Warm TauPe, Cypress Umber, and Vermeer. And Tempera. Really, the whole palette is great!
I’m also impressed with The Ordinary Serum Foundation. I may order one shade darker, but the shade I chose works pretty well, as my skin is difficult to color match. (Cool undertones, but with the freckles on my cheeks and nose, warmer tones look better…so I’ve been told before I should really have two shades, with one cool for my forehead and jawline, and warm for the center of my face. Not sure how that would work out, though.) so I’ll probably order another shade to play around with. Perhaps warm or neutral.
I resisted temptation (so far) to buy the UD Troublemaker palette for $19. I’ve wanted Relish (the bright red) for a while. While I would use the gray shimmer and the pink shimmer, I have too many greens I don’t use, and I have the other colors represented in other singles and palettes. So far I’ve resisted the urge to pick it up, but not sure how long I can hold out. I also resisted the Heavy Metals palette. I use far more mattes these days, though. Which is odd, considering I used to only use shimmers! That was back when I would apply eyeshadow and blend it with my fingers, then smudge some black in the crease. 🙂
Oh, and more Ordinary products have impressed me this month. I’ve had good results with the Marula oil…it keeps my combination oily skin feeling hydrated without being too oily, and I especially like it under the eyes. I also have liked using Hylamide Pore Delete and the Pore Flush (also from Deciem). The Pore Flush has really shrunk my pores, which were pretty large during my month of vacation back to the U.S. (with less focus on skincare). I’ve also transitioned from Retinoid 5% to Retinol .2% to slowly transition to retinol…I’m flip flopping between these. I also used the strong acid mask (can’t recall the name…) and had great results.
What were your favorites from the last month? FIrst Aid Beauty Coconut Smoothing Priming Moisturizer, Viseart Petit Pro Palette (which I got for $7 on amazon because I had a gift card, best $7 I spent all month), Natasha Denona Lila palette, Pat McGrath Sublime palette, Dior Nude Air Luminizer in 01 Nude, Viseart Neutral Matte palette, Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer, The Ordinary Matrixyl Serum, Sunday Riley UFO, Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb… wow I had a lot of favorites this month!
What didn’t impress you? The new Too Faced palettes (Chocolate Gold, Clover, White Chocolate, etc.) I have a hard time buying Too Faced palettes, even the original Chocolate Bar Palette because of the weird polarized marketing.
Did you return anything you purchase? I received two Sublime palettes for Christmas, so I exchanged the second for the Lila palette and I am not sorry.
Or successfully resist temptation? I’ve been resisting the Marc Jacobs Le Marc Liquid Lip Crayons, the Pat McGrath Decadence palette (hell, I just need to save up for that piece of beauty), The Viseart Golden Hour Eyeshadow palette (though, I want to check out the new Milani Bold Obsessions palette because the selection looks very similar), the Bobbi Brown Caviar and Rubies palette (which is now sold out, go figure), the Stila Shimmer and Glow eyeshadows, the Cover FX Glitter Drops, and the Natasha Denona duochrome topcoats… there are soooo many new releases and my budget can’t afford it, lol. But thankfully most of these things are permanent, so, eventually.
Past months favorites: I am loving my Nabla Dreamy palette, PML Matte Lipstick in Beautiful Creature, L’Oréal Colour Riche Shine Lipsticks in Lacquered Strawberry, Splendid Blackberry, Enamel Red and finally Map to Nirvana which I had to have sent from England because I couldn’t find it stocked anywhere in the US. I was ordering additional Nuxe products so shipping wasn’t an issue. I have been using the Clinique Moisture Surge Mist a lot this past month as it has been cold, windy and dry here in Montana and I love this product because I can spray it on during the day and it doesn’t disturb my makeup.
What didn’t impress me: The only thing I purchased this past month that I didn’t care for was a Maybelline mascara and I can’t remember the name.
I didn’t return anything this past month.
New beauty discoveries: ColourPop All I See is Magic palette and Milani e/s primer and both were thanks to Temptalia readers.
What were your favorites from the last month? The Pat McGrath Decadence palette
For me, it was using the Huda Smokey Obsessions palette and the Elf Flawless Foundation in Porcelain
What didn’t impress you? All the palettes still bringing out very warm shades for eyeshadows and the reformulations from MUFE that were not as good as the original ones.
Did you return anything you purchase? No
Or successfully resist temptation? Yes, Mecca Maxima here in Aus had a sale on a Nars palette that was quite good and I didn’t purchase it.
What were your favorites from the last month?
KVD Saint and Sinner Palette
Too Faced Just Peachy Mattes
MAC Pressed Pigment in Day Gleam
Cover Girl Tru Blend Blush in Medium Rose
Laura Geller French Vanilla Highlighter
Julep So Plush Ultra Hydrating Lip Gloss in Vibes
MAC Whisper of Gilt
Chanel Le Volum Black Mascara
Chanel Bronzer Soleil Tan
What didn’t impress you?
MAC Green Gel cleanser. Too drying!
Did you return anything you purchase?
No returns
Or successfully resist temptation?
There isn’t much out right now that interests me so resisting is much easier!
What were your favorites from the last month?
That I bought — UD x Kristen Leanne Kaleidoscope Palette, Living Dead Beauty Bold Eyes Palette, Black Beauty Cosmetics (etsy) e/s in Children of the Corn and their Glitter Liners, Igneous Beauty (etsy) pressed e/s singles, ABH Matte Lipstick in Dead Roses, LunatiCK Cosmetic Labs Pro Contour Book Volume 1, and Violet Voss Hashtag Palette.
That I didn’t buy: ColourPops new SSS in the bright colors and Lux Lipsticks (though I’ll probably get some of each in the future), Natasha Denona Citrus Diamond & Blush Palette; Pat McGrath Decadence Mothership Eyeshadow Palette; Chanel Spring collection; NARS Freesoul.
What didn’t impress you? I was happy with what I bought. That I didn’t buy: Too Faced Sweet Peach Palette, the reformulated Wet n Wild shadows, the reformulated KVD Studded Kiss Lipsticks, Smashbox eyeshadow trios. ColourPop Double Entendre, for color selection, not quality.
Did you return anything you purchased? No
Or successfully resist temptation? I was tempted by Bite Beauty Aquarius, but I decided I had dupes.