Best Beauty Products | July 2018 Report
Here’s a look at the top 25 products reviewed in the month of July, 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 Double Down Super Shock Cheek Highlighter ($8.00 for 0.15 oz.) is a soft, very light gold with warm, yellow undertones and a metallic sheen....
ColourPop Double Down Super Shock Cheek Highlighter ($8.00 for 0.15 oz.) is a soft, very light gold with warm, yellow undertones and a metallic sheen....
ColourPop Parasol Super Shock Cheek Highlighter ($8.00 for 0.15 oz.) is a soft, golden copper with warm undertones and a metallic sheen. It had...
ColourPop Parasol Super Shock Cheek Highlighter ($8.00 for 0.15 oz.) is a soft, golden copper with warm undertones and a metallic sheen. It had...
ColourPop Thimble Super Shock Cheek Highlighter ($8.00 for 0.15 oz.) is a soft, light gold with warm, yellow undertones and a metallic sheen. It had...
ColourPop Thimble Super Shock Cheek Highlighter ($8.00 for 0.15 oz.) is a soft, light gold with warm, yellow undertones and a metallic sheen. It had...
ColourPop Astrology Supernova Shadow ($7.00 for 0.17 oz.) is a bright, medium gold with subtle, warm undertones and a highly-reflective, metallic...
ColourPop Astrology Supernova Shadow ($7.00 for 0.17 oz.) is a bright, medium gold with subtle, warm undertones and a highly-reflective, metallic...
Glossier Haze Cloud Paint ($18.00 for 0.33 oz.) is a rich berry with cool, blue undertones and a natural finish. Don't let the vibrancy and depth of...
Glossier Haze Cloud Paint ($18.00 for 0.33 oz.) is a rich berry with cool, blue undertones and a natural finish. Don't let the vibrancy and depth of...
OFRA Glazed Donut Highlighter ($29.00 for 0.35 oz.) is a bright white with subtle, warm undertones and a metallic sheen. The color coverage was...
OFRA Glazed Donut Highlighter ($29.00 for 0.35 oz.) is a bright white with subtle, warm undertones and a metallic sheen. The color coverage was...
Natasha Denona Bronze (03) Super Glow Highlighter ($38.00 for 0.35 oz.) is a bright, sunshine yellow gold with warm undertones and a shiny, metallic...
Natasha Denona Bronze (03) Super Glow Highlighter ($38.00 for 0.35 oz.) is a bright, sunshine yellow gold with warm undertones and a shiny, metallic...
Glossier Dawn Cloud Paint ($18.00 for 0.33 oz.) is a vibrant, medium orange with warm, red undertones and a natural finish. It had sheer, buildable...
Glossier Dawn Cloud Paint ($18.00 for 0.33 oz.) is a vibrant, medium orange with warm, red undertones and a natural finish. It had sheer, buildable...
MAC Fleur Power Powder Blush ($24.00 for 0.21 oz.) is a vibrant, medium-dark pink with subtle, warm undertones and a mostly matte finish. It was...
MAC Fleur Power Powder Blush ($24.00 for 0.21 oz.) is a vibrant, medium-dark pink with subtle, warm undertones and a mostly matte finish. It was...
Glossier Beam Cloud Paint ($18.00 for 0.33 oz.) is a soft, light-medium coral with warm, orange tones and a natural finish. It had sheer, buildable...
Glossier Beam Cloud Paint ($18.00 for 0.33 oz.) is a soft, light-medium coral with warm, orange tones and a natural finish. It had sheer, buildable...
Flesh Beauty Glaze Tender Flesh Blush ($26.00 for 0.14 oz.) is a medium copper with warm, rusty red undertones and a luminous sheen. It was intensely...
Flesh Beauty Glaze Tender Flesh Blush ($26.00 for 0.14 oz.) is a medium copper with warm, rusty red undertones and a luminous sheen. It was intensely...
Moonstone is a soft gold with warm, yellow undertones and a luminous sheen. The pigmentation was fantastic with a soft, smooth texture that wasn't...
Moonstone is a soft gold with warm, yellow undertones and a luminous sheen. The pigmentation was fantastic with a soft, smooth texture that wasn't...
NABLA Cosmetics Tribeca Just Pearl Eyeshadow ($8.00 for 0.09 oz.) is a rich, dark brown with subtle, warm undertones and a frosted sheen. It was...
NABLA Cosmetics Tribeca Just Pearl Eyeshadow ($8.00 for 0.09 oz.) is a rich, dark brown with subtle, warm undertones and a frosted sheen. It was...
Soft Brown is a light-medium brown with warm undertones and a matte finish. It had opaque color payoff that applied evenly to bare skin and blended...
Soft Brown is a light-medium brown with warm undertones and a matte finish. It had opaque color payoff that applied evenly to bare skin and blended...
Charlotte Tilbury Fair (1) Hollywood Flawless Filter ($44.00 for 1.00 fl. oz.) is a soft, very light peach with a fine, pearlescent sheen and lightly...
Charlotte Tilbury Fair (1) Hollywood Flawless Filter ($44.00 for 1.00 fl. oz.) is a soft, very light peach with a fine, pearlescent sheen and lightly...
Glossier Puff Cloud Paint ($18.00 for 0.33 oz.) is a soft, light-medium pink with subtle, warm undertones and a natural finish. It had sheer,...
Glossier Puff Cloud Paint ($18.00 for 0.33 oz.) is a soft, light-medium pink with subtle, warm undertones and a natural finish. It had sheer,...
NABLA Cosmetics Radikal Super Matte Eyeshadow ($8.00 for 0.09 oz.) is a deep, olive green with warm undertones and a matte finish. It was richly...
NABLA Cosmetics Radikal Super Matte Eyeshadow ($8.00 for 0.09 oz.) is a deep, olive green with warm undertones and a matte finish. It was richly...
L'Oreal Enamel Red Colour Riche Shine Lipstick ($9.99 for 0.10 oz.) is a rich red with cool undertones and a natural sheen. It had nearly opaque...
L'Oreal Enamel Red Colour Riche Shine Lipstick ($9.99 for 0.10 oz.) is a rich red with cool undertones and a natural sheen. It had nearly opaque...
L'Oreal Glassy Garnet Colour Riche Shine Lipstick ($9.99 for 0.10 oz.) is a soft, medium-dark berry with subtle, cool undertones and barely-there...
L'Oreal Glassy Garnet Colour Riche Shine Lipstick ($9.99 for 0.10 oz.) is a soft, medium-dark berry with subtle, cool undertones and barely-there...
NABLA Cosmetics Rust Just Pearl Eyeshadow ($8.00 for 0.09 oz.) is a deep copper with strong, warm undertones and a frosted sheen. The color payoff...
NABLA Cosmetics Rust Just Pearl Eyeshadow ($8.00 for 0.09 oz.) is a deep copper with strong, warm undertones and a frosted sheen. The color payoff...
NABLA Cosmetics Sandy Just Pearl Eyeshadow ($8.00 for 0.09 oz.) is a soft brown with warm undertones and a metallic sheen. It had opaque pigmentation...
NABLA Cosmetics Sandy Just Pearl Eyeshadow ($8.00 for 0.09 oz.) is a soft brown with warm undertones and a metallic sheen. It had opaque pigmentation...
Casablanca is a deep pink with warm undertones and a cream finish. It had rich color coverage with a smooth, creamy texture that wasn't too thick or...
Casablanca is a deep pink with warm undertones and a cream finish. It had rich color coverage with a smooth, creamy texture that wasn't too thick or...
ColourPop Fire Super Shock Cheek (Highlighter) ($8.00 for 0.15 oz.) is a medium-dark, peachy gold with strong, warm orange undertones and a pearly...
ColourPop Fire Super Shock Cheek (Highlighter) ($8.00 for 0.15 oz.) is a medium-dark, peachy gold with strong, warm orange undertones and a pearly...
Coppering is a rich, medium-dark copper with warm, red undertones and a metallic sheen. It had opaque color coverage with a smooth, lightly creamy...
Coppering is a rich, medium-dark copper with warm, red undertones and a metallic sheen. It had opaque color coverage with a smooth, lightly creamy...
Satin Taupe is a medium-dark taupe with subtle, warm brown undertones and a pearly sheen. The color payoff was opaque, while the eyeshadow felt...
Satin Taupe is a medium-dark taupe with subtle, warm brown undertones and a pearly sheen. The color payoff was opaque, while the eyeshadow felt...
Favorites from last month: Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer, Laura Geller Pink Grapefruit blush, Too Faced Semi Sweet palette, Loreal Root Cover Up, The Body Shop Honey Bronzer #3, Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Ethereal, Maybelline Fit Me Concealer in fair / light, Benefit Dandelion Twinkle, Maybelline Lasting Drama Matte Eyeliner in Rusty Terracotta
What didn’t impress : foundation tbh. I haven’t really worn it with the exception on a few occasions I have worn the Bobbi Brown BB Cream which I do like but overall I have opted for not wearing foundation. Have only used a little concealer and powder under the eye
Returned anything: Nope
Resist temptation : mostly with the exception I picked up the Too Faced Semi Sweet palette at TJ Maxx and the matte red Maybelline eyeliner. I’m waiting on the ABH Norvina palette for when Ulta has another prestige coupon.
What were your favorites from the last month? NARS Audacious Lipstick in Barbara, Dior Backstage Cool Eyeshadow Palette, MAC Single Eyeshadow in Blanc Type, Wet n Wild Megaglo Highlighter in Precious Petals, Marc Jacobs Highliners (various shades), Diorshow Brow Styler in 004, RCMA No Color Powder, and Estée Lauder Double Wear Makeup (switched to Ecru from Desert Beige). Perfume favorites are still Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Mandarine Basilic (daytime) and Mugler Aura (nights out).
What didn’t impress you? I tried a sample of Lancome Teint Idole Ultra Wear Foundation in 100 Ivoire N. Although it looked beautiful, it made me break out.
Did you return anything you purchased? No
Or successfully resist temptation? No, I pretty much gave in to every whim, unfortunately for my bank account!!!
Seraphine,
Since receiving and loving the new Dior Backstage highlighter palette, I have been all about this new collection. I just ordered the priming/setting spray, and I have both the cool palette and the Backstage Brow Palette next up on my purchase list. Maybe I should also take a look at the brow styler.
Tammy, I know a lot of people were a bit down on the Backstage Cool palette when it came out, but I absolutely love it. The shade Matte Mauve is my favorite transition/crease shade in my entire eyeshadow collection! I don’t use the primer that comes with the palette, though. I use the NYX Proof It Waterproof Primer for all my eyeshadows. I don’t know if these shades would perform well without it.
Oooh, can you tell us a little about Aura? I actually picked up a sample and I viscerally didn’t like it. Obviously this is a weirdly subjective thing to describe, but can you tell me about it as a person who does like it? I know it’s odd, I’m just such a Mugler fangirl that I was heartbroken not to like it and want a vicarious positive experience. haha
Alien was my favorite scent for a long time, so I was excited when Aura came out. When I first tested it, I was disappointed. But something made me buy it a few weeks later. I can’t even tell you why! For the next few days I felt like I had wasted money, but after wearing it a few times, I fell in love with it!
I’m not a perfume reviewer, so I don’t know how to describe it, but it’s an odd scent (Mugler…of course it is!). Kind of green, kind of woody, kind of vanilla, kind of minty, a little bit floral-ish maybe, but thankfully not sickly sweet like so many perfumes these days. It also depends on each person’s chemistry. I really like how it sits with me over time, but it might be very different on you.
I’ve gotten loads of compliments from people when I’ve worn it. One time I was in the makeup section of a department store and a woman who was standing near me asked me what perfume I was wearing, and then she walked over to the perfume counter and bought it. Another time, a man was swooning over it and he made me write it down so he could buy it for his wife.
I think the only thing I don’t like about Aura is the bottle. While it is beautiful, it’s is a bit too big for my hand, which makes it uncomfortable and awkward to use.
I loved everything I bought last month, lol! At the top of the list is Dior’s Backstage Highlighter Palette. I actually bought it in June, but wanted to give it a couple weeks of trial before reporting back to Temptalia readers. The gold and silver highlighters are the prettiest highlighters I’ve ever purchased (and I have a drawer full of highlighters).
I am in my second week of wearing the Dior Backstage Face and Body foundation and I am seriously beginning to enjoy this foundation. It is so easy to put on, it’s just like putting moisturizer on my skin. They say applying with fingers is best, so that’s what I do. It is light (I can’t feel it), looks like skin, doesn’t break me out, and works well on my combination skin for summer.
I love my new glycolic acid: Pixie Glow. It doesn’t cause me any discomfort and my skin is so much happier since I started using it.
I am still enjoying my Linda Hallberg brushes. It was hard for me to buy synthetic but now that I’ve got them, I am more willing to consider synthetic brushes in the future.
Everything impressed me, nothing was returned.
I always resist a bunch of products every month, otherwise I would have boxes on my front doorstep everyday and we wouldn’t have any food in the house. Probably the thing I most wanted was the Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter but it sold out in the color I wanted, and I haven’t checked back because I got eaten alive shortly thereafter by the Nordstrom anniversary sale (clothes, not makeup, although I do regret not trying for the Tom Ford LE set).
What were your favorites from the last month? Dior Diorskin Airflash Spray Foundation in 200 has surprisingly been the only foundation I’ve been wanting to wear all month, which is funny because it has been quite warm and I previously hadn’t been that into wearing foundation regularly. Second favorite is the ABH Norvina palette. It’s the first palette I’ve owned from the brand and I do like the variety of looks I’ve been able to create: from warm neutral eyes to a beautiful smokey purple and even a sunset inspired look. I could see how if you owned any of the other palettes from ABH, it could be an easy pass. However, it really is unique to my collection.
What didn’t impress you? Lime Crime’s hair color tint in Oyster. The color didn’t even last through one wash. Super disappointing. Back to Arctic Fox!
Did you return anything you purchase? No, but I didn’t buy much this month.
Or successfully resist temptation? I didn’t buy any makeup sets from the Nordstrom Anniversary sale.
What were your favorites from the last month? Lise Watier Sun Smart, Givenchy Fuchsia in the Know and Clarins Hot Fuchsia lipsticks, Tarte Barefoot (LE from the Aqualillies palette) and MAC Stolen Moment eyeshadows
What didn’t impress you? can’t really think of anything
Did you return anything you purchase? nope
Or successfully resist temptation? I’ve managed to resist the newest Urban Decay e/s palette (I can never remember the name) – there are just too many of those ugly-for-me colours in it.
Givenchy lipsticks are so wonderful! Congrats on picking up their fuchsia. <3
What were your favorites from the last month? My Cloud Paints are really nice. I got Puff and Beam. I was surprised how completely they dry down, almost like a natural finish stain. I thought it would be dewy. Beautiful though. I also picked up Becca Guava Beach Tint because Jessica Clements wears it all the time. It’s nice on the cheeks and SO PRETTY on the lips. I knew it was excessive to buy the pink and coral Cloud Paints and the coral-pink Beach Tint both but the effect IS different. The Cloud Paints have a brightness on the cheeks that kind of feels like it comes from having a sheer milky pale base to make them pop. I would never wear them as lip colors because they’re too pale. The Beach Tint, on the other hand, is sheer yet brightening without as much “pop” against the skin and makes a really playful, natural wash of color on the lips.
What didn’t impress you? Flyliner because it DRIED COMPLETELY OUT AT THE TIP. It was so perfect until it wasn’t. :'(
Did you return anything you purchase? If I can’t make Flyliner come back to life in the next couple days it’s definitely going back. I’ve had it a week!
Or successfully resist temptation? Um I guess I haven’t bought Suva Beauty neon Hydra Liners or yet more Cloud Paints? I don’t feel like I’ve resisted many products lately. lol.
What were your favorites from the last month? MAC x Aaliyah Age Ain’t Nothing Eyeshadow x 9 Palette, Street Thing Lipstick, and 1 in a Million Lipglass; Tarte Fairy Flush Blush; ABH Norvina Palette. I’m still loving Physician’s Formula Butter Blush in Plum Rose and theBalm Balm Desert.
What didn’t impress you? I like everything I bought. I wasn’t impressed by the MUG Power Pigments, ColourPop Zodiac Palette, and Nars Hot Escape and Atomic Blonde Palettes.
Did you return anything you purchased? No
Or successfully resist temptation? Natasha Denona Lila Mini Eyeshadow Palette, Bite Beauty Leo Lipstick, and the MAC x Aaliyah lipsticks I didn’t buy.
I think I only made 2 cosmetics purchases all month, the Nars nude set from Nordie’s and a couple of CP lip sets (I left out Felix, Nancy, and that won’t do…). I impressed myself. Considering how much work I missed, it’s fortunate I did not card it up. Didn’t wear much, either. When I felt good enough, played with e/s app techniques and various blush/HL combos. Have not receive the CP, but have felt iffy about the blotted lip formula. We shall see. Nothing to return.
LOL, KJH! Felix is a beauty, but he’s bold as bold gets! Definitely a frisky, mischievous ginger tomcat of lip colors, that’s for sure. But I love him, because when I wear Felix I have cattitude! ?
What were your favorites from the last month? The NARS Wanted Lip Glide Set and the Tatcha Rice Polish Classic.
What didn’t impress you? Drunk Elephant Littles set – it’s fun, well packaged and super cute but my skin needs more moisture!
Did you return anything you purchase? Can’t return beauty products in NZ.
Or successfully resist temptation? Nope, I bought pretty much whatever I wanted!
What were your favorites from the last month?
Lots of favourites from last month: Designer Brands Velvet matte foundation in porcelain ivory, rediscovering the versatility of bareMinerals The Playlist and Soft and Smokey, enjoying my Mecca Cosmetica palette in shades of rose gold and my EA lipstick in cocoa bronze.
What didn’t impress you?
The only thing I was disappointed in was the EA lipstick in Ginger Glaze – it was much paler than I thought it would be.
Did you return anything you purchase?
No – no returns here in Aus.
Or successfully resist temptation?
I resist temptation to splurge on skincare products, not so much makeup.