As 2017 comes to a close, it’s time to reflect back on the products I’ve reviewed during the past year and share with you my personal favorites… but this post is all about the duds, the disappointments, the products that had me scratching my head or made me deeply concerned about the direction the brand was going in for the year.

I’m a strong believer that so-called “negative” reviews (to me, they’re just reviews that still take a pro/con approach and may end up with more cons than pros) are important to any influencer’s or reviewer’s body of work.  Without them, I find it is hard to understand how a reviewer accesses products, what types of products don’t work for them, and the like.  Without them, everything looks overwhelmingly positive and ultimately, suspicious, even if they are really truthful.

It’s also important to see where brands fall short as most brands have some point of weakness or simply products they do better than others–and that’s okay–there are thousands of products and hundreds of brands.  There’s no reason to settle for disappointing any more when there are so many options to choose from!

With respect to this post, disappointing doesn’t always mean that the product received an F rating; it means exactly that: something that was extremely disappointing, which could be exceptionally poor quality to a brand with a good reputation producing a mediocre product, even if not an F.

For example, I think this was a lackluster year for Anastasia as a brand; from the debacle and saga that was Subculture to the disappointing quality of their Blush Kits and Liquid Glows, they did not live up to the reputation they had earned in years prior.

On the other hand, Too Faced’s White Chocolate Bar palette was as bad as last year’s mini-version, and while terrible even for Too Faced, nobody was that surprised.  I was also disappointed (and surprised) that both Urban Decay and Makeup Geek couldn’t put out a decent liquid lipstick formula when the market is saturated with better formulas.  Oh, and don’t forget the travesty that was Estee Lauder x Victoria Beckham’s London Palette with a soul-crushing $75 price tag to boot!  More disappointments await you below…

What products disappointed you this year? What brands let you down? Share your experiences below in the comments!

Too Faced White Chocolate Bar

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Too Faced White Chocolate Bar Chocolate Bar Eye Palette ($49.00 for 0.42 oz.) is a new, limited edition eyeshadow palette that is available for... Read full review.

Maybelline ColorSensational Powder Matte Lipstick

Read Reviews View Swatches View a shade... Carnal BrownConcrete JungleCruel RubyNocturnal RoseSmoky JadeTouch of Nude

Urban Decay Vice Liquid Lipstick

Read Reviews View Swatches View a shade... 1993714AmuletBacktalkBig BangBlackmailBratComebackConspiracyCrankCrimsonCruelDelusionalDisturbedDouble CrossedFirebirdFlameFlashbackKinkyMadMenaceNakedPandemoniumPsychoPurgatoryRapidRaptureRock SteadyShadowheartStuddedTiltTimeTrap QueenTrivialTrystTwitchUnbrokenVanityWSMZZ

Urban Decay Vice Special Effects Lip Topcoat

Read Reviews View Swatches View a shade... 3rd DegreeBrujaCircuitCopycatFeverLitterMonarchyRegulateReverbRitualSeetherWhite Lie

Estee Lauder London

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Estee Lauder London Victoria Beckham Eye Palette ($75.00 for 0.28 oz.) is a deflating release from a collaboration that was known for its higher... Read full review.

Coloured Raine Mini Eyeshadow Palette

Read Reviews View Swatches View a variation... Beauty RustBerry CuteLoveliesSmoke Show

Makeup Geek Showstopper Crème Stain

Read Reviews View Swatches View a shade... ArabesqueBunny HopCha ChaCharlestonCurtseyDo-si-doElectric SlideFlamencoFoxtrotGrapevineJitterbugMamboMoonwalkQuickstepSalsaTangoTwerkWaltz

Anastasia Blush Kit

Read Reviews View Swatches View a variation... GradientRadiant

Anastasia Liquid Glow Highlighter

Read Reviews View Swatches View a shade... BronzedOysterPatinaPeach FizzPennyPerlaRose Gold

KVD Beauty Everlasting Lip Liner

Read Reviews View Swatches View a shade... A-Go-GoBloodmilkBow 'n' ArrowCovenCrucifixD-MinorHawkwindHomegirlKevvyL.U.V.LemmyLolitaLolita IILovecraftLUVMisfitMuseOG LolitaOutlawPoePor VidaRosaryRoxySaintSatelliteSexerSinnerSkullySmithsSwanlySwoonVampiraX

Tarte Buried Treasure

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Tarte Buried Treasure Holiady 2017 Rainforest of the Sea Eyeshadow Palette ($36.00 for 0.37 oz.) is a new, limited edition palette for the holidays... Read full review.

LORAC Mega Pro 4

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LORAC Mega Pro 4 Mega Pro Palette ($59.00 for 0.45 oz.) contains a whopping 32 eyeshadows housed in a slim, cardobard palette. There were some nicer... Read full review.

Too Faced Peach My Cheeks Melting Powder Blush

Read Reviews View Swatches View a shade... Ginger PeachPeach BerryPeach DreamPinch My PeachSo PeachySpiced Peach

Bobbi Brown Glow Stick

Read Reviews View Swatches View a shade... Beach BabeBikiniDesert SunIslandIsland PlumNude BeachSunkissedSuntan

ColourPop Pressed Powder Blush

Read Reviews View Swatches View a shade... 4Ever YoursAbove & BeyondAloha HoneyAt Frost SightBabycakesBank RollBarre HoppingBig RevealBundled UpBurn CardCat's EyeCatch My VibeChaiseClaim ItCoast to CoastConstructCookie CrumbleCourt of MiraclesCrossroadsCupid's BowCurrentlyDancing DarlingsDee-lishDesert RoseEnchanted MirrorExcuse My FrenchExtra SprinklesFashion DistrictFighting CrimeFlamingoFlirt AlertFloating LightsFlower PowerFlower TenderFoxyFreaky Genius GirlFresh 'n' PeachyFresh n PeachyFrisky BusinessFrom the MoonFull ThrottleGetting HandsyGlass SlipperGolden HourGood EnergyGood Luck CharmGot ButterfliesHappiest CruiseHey PuddingHi InfatuationHot 2 TouchI Need SpaceIcing on TopInner BlushInterstellarIsland ShineJet SetJuice BarJust CheekyJust Cruisin'Just My PluckKiss n' TellKiss n' TellKissin' a FrogKitschLatte RunLet's DanceLil BashfulLove StoryLunar Has ItLuv Me NotMain ChickMatchmakerMeowMessage MeMeteor RiteMistressMy Sun and StarsMy TypeNew to UNight BloomNo RulesNoodleOh DearOh GingersnapOn the HorizonOut and AboutOutta SightPalatialPapayaParakeetPerk UpPetal PusherPink VelvetPitayaPlayoffsPottedPrairie AirPralinesPretty ToastyRetroRide HighRomComRound the WorldRoxbury DrSassy PantsSaving the WorldSecret CrushSeed U LaterShook to the CoralShortbreadShortcakeSilenceSnickerdoodleSo RetrogradeSoul MateStaycationStrawberry StrudelSweet CinnamonSweetheartSwirledTake the CakeTerran Up My HeartText MeTickTo the 10Toffee CakeTrifleTrippin'Truffle ShuffleTulip to QuitVogueWayfarerWeirdoughWhirlWhistle While You WerkWhole Nine YardsWhy HelloWhy, HelloWildcatsWoo MeYou are MagnificoYummy BiteZip

Ciate Glitter Flip

Read Reviews View Swatches View a shade... CandyForbiddenFortuneHollywoodIconicInfamousSiren

Anastasia Subculture

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Anastasia Subculture Eyeshadow Palette ($42.00 for 0.28 oz.) includes 14 eyeshadows with three shimmery shades and the rest having a matte finish. I... Read full review.

Chanel Trait de Caractere

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Chanel Trait de Caractere Eyeshadow Palette ($70.00 for 0.31 oz.) is a smoky, earthy set of shades housed in a black compact. I wanted to like it, as... Read full review.

Becca Apres Ski Glow Collection

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Becca Apres Ski Glow Collection Eye Lights Palette ($45.00 for 0.35 oz.) includes seven eyeshadows inspired by the brand's famous powder highlighters,... Read full review.

Urban Decay Distortion

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Urban Decay Distortion Eyeshadow Palette ($48.00 for 0.90 oz.) contains five "duotone shadows" designed to "transform" the remaining 10 (regular)... Read full review.