As we close out 2018, it’s fun to reflect on some of the better and more interesting products that have been released and reviewed over the past year, but I also like to think about what products let me down during the year, too.  When I think about the worst of the year, it’s more about expectation levels and what was released; it isn’t necessarily that it was the worst in quality but was it super hyped up and then fell totally short?  The list below is a mix of products that are disappointing because of quality (with some being devastatingly bad) and others because these brands can or have done better.

For example, I don’t feel like Wet ‘n’ Wild improved their Color Icon Eyeshadow formula.  The mattes seem a little more pigmented and blendable, but they don’t wear as well.  The shimmers are often much worse than they were before.  I miss the old Comfort Zone palette.  Sephora reformulated their Colorful Eyeshadow range, which I deeply regret purchasing “all the shades” of based on past experience (I didn’t even end up testing them all as reader interest waned so thin after several dismal ratings and reviews!).

What’s noteworthy about this year’s list is that brands that have had very high notes in this year and past years have spots on my list.  Fenty Beauty has four products on my list: Rose on Ice (much better in the pot now!), Moroccan Spice palette (not bad but should be so much better!), Killawatt Foil Palette (packaging is a let-down, formula wasn’t as good as it could be), and the awful, awful Metallic Eye & Lip Crayons.

Luxury-priced Tom Ford earned four spots on my list of 20 with the lackluster Private Shadows (for $30+ singles, they should be consistent AND high quality), more dismal Shadow Extremes, ho-hum Soleil d’Ambre, and the more recently disappointing experience I had with the dual-ended eyeliners.  I have some long-time favorites from Tom Ford from over the years but this year, I’ve been less and less impressed by the offerings and consistency in quality.

It’s not much of a surprise when some of the more packaging-focused launches by MAC make it onto my list, like the Nicopanda kits and the Lo-Fi mega-palette.  What is a surprise is to find that Viseart’s Petit Pro 02 was such a departure from the quality I expect from the brand.  Similarly, I expect and know Urban Decay can do better, which is why this year’s newest Naked Palette, Naked Cherry, finds it way onto my list.

Did you have any product flops this year? Products that disappointed you?

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MAC Nicopanda Full Face Kit

Read Reviews View Swatches View a variation... Preppy PandaPrimapandaStay Cute

MAC Baby Girl

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MAC Baby Girl Bronzing Powder ($28.00 for 0.35 oz.) is a soft, light-medium brown with warm, orange undertones and flecks of gold sparkle over a... Read full review.

Tom Ford Beauty Shade & Illuminate Eye Kohl Duo

Read Reviews View Swatches View a variation... AuroraL'AvventuraSolarisSoleil Blanc

MAC Lo-Fi

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MAC Lo-Fi Jeremy Scott Eyeshadow x29 Palette ($75.00 for 0.51 oz.) is an example where there's a lot of attention paid to the packaging but not enough... Read full review.

Makeup Geek Power Pigment

Read Reviews View Swatches View a shade... CourageousDedicatedDynamicIndestructibleInvinciblePotentialTenaciousTransformUnleashedUntouchable

The formula is supposed to be "highly-pigmented" that "will maintain their vibrancy." Some shades were pigmented, some were not. The majority of the eyeshadows had a grainier, drier texture that had some excess product kicked up in the pan and was prone to moderate fallout during application without use of a primer. In general, most of the shades were dismal applied over bare skin as the drier texture seemed more prone to picking up the natural oils on the skin, absorbing them, and looking uneven as some parts appeared darker than others. Read more...

Sephora Editorial 2.0

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Sephora Editorial 2 PRO Eyeshadow Palette ($68.00 for 1.12 oz.) is a new, permanent palette that features more muted or faded takes on pops of color... Read full review.

Fenty Beauty Rosé on Ice

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Fenty Beauty Rosé on Ice Fairy Bomb Glittering Pom Pom ($42.00 for 0.25 oz.) is a translucent dusting of fine, pale pink sparkle and micro-glitter. ... Read full review.

Wet 'n' Wild Nude Awakening

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Wet 'n' Wild Nude Awakening Color Icon Eyeshadow 10-Pan Palette ($4.99 for 0.35 oz.) is the type of product that makes one question whether... Read full review.

Tom Ford Beauty Shadow Extreme

Read Reviews View Swatches View a shade... Frostfire #1Frostfire #2Frostfire #3Frostfire #4SS18TFX1TFX10TFX11TFX12TFX13TFX14TFX15TFX16TFX17TFX18TFX19TFX2TFX20TFX3TFX4TFX5TFX6TFX7TFX8TFX9

The formula is split into two finishes--metallics (Foil) and glitters (Glitter)--and the performance depends largely on the finish. In general, the formula is supposed to "glide" on with an "ultra-thin, water-resistant gloss of color onto the lids." Though each compact seemed to be the appropriate size for a standalone eyeshadow, they only contain 0.03 oz. a pop, which made them some of the smaller single eyeshadows on the market. There were some really lovely shades but enough inconsistency that for the price point, it never amounted to being an impressive range. Read more...

Fenty Beauty Metallic Eye & Lip Crayon

Read Reviews View Swatches View a shade... Banana FrostGuava MintIce DunesIgloo BlooParka PrincessPretty PennySlush FundSmokin' PurpSunfrost

The formula is supposed to have "insane glide" that is "creamy upon application" but sets. The brand says that they can be used as eyeliner, eyeshadow, lipstick, or lip liner. I found the performance to be underwhelming both on the eyes and lips, though on lips it was particularly disappointing. Fenty has been fairly consistent, and where they've missed, it's usually not a total failure, but I had no luck with this formula at all. Read more...

ColourPop Super Star Loose Pigment

Read Reviews View Swatches View a shade... Baby RooBadlandsCameoGolightlyHoneypotLiftedMulhollandQuicksandTyphoonUp ShotVertigoWKND

The formula is supposed be a wet/dry formula that has less intense shine when applied dry and a more metallic finish when applied wet. They're a finely-milled, loose powder that can be used on eyes, lips, and cheeks. Not wholly surprising, they tended to perform best applied with a dampened brush or over a lightly tacky primer. They can be a little messy to work with if you are not used to loose eyeshadows, but I did not find them any better or worse than the average loose formula. The pigmentation varied a lot from shade to shade, though most shades had more pigmentation when applied with a dampened brush along with greater shine.

Tom Ford Beauty Private Shadow

Read Reviews View Swatches View a shade... Agenda RougeBlack OnyxBlonde VenusBlue VelvetBody DoubleBreathlessBurnt SuedeCamera ObscuraDark VictoryEmerald SunExposureFire SignHigh RiseHushInfraredIris BronzeLoveshadeMoonlightingNaked CityNightcastPhotographicPurple ReignSilver ScreenSmoked OpalineStarletTempête BleuTempete BleuVertigoVideotapeViolet VinylWarm Leatherette

The formula is supposed to have "unadulterated color" that's "highly pigmented, longwearing, and crease-resistant." The packaging is clever, though for anyone who has more than few eyeshadows in their stash, the compact is rather large relative to the actual pan of product (which is less than average for a full-sized eyeshadow--given the price point, I would have expected closer to 0.07 oz. or even 0.09 oz.). The formula itself varied a lot between shades with enough inconsistency that would make me weary of buying blind online. Read more...

NARS Heartbreaker

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NARS Heartbreaker Holiday 2018 Cheek Trio ($42.00 for 0.36 oz.) includes three blushes from the brand's permanent range. Oddly, the brand's... Read full review.

Wet 'n' Wild Color Icon Eyeshadow Quad

Read Reviews View Swatches View a variation... Bed of RosesDragon ScalesFit for a QueenFlock PartyHasta La Costa BabyHooked on VinylHouse of ThornsHouse of ThornsLights OutMythicool CreaturesPetaletteSecret Garden RendezvousSilent TreatmentStop Ruffling My FeathersSweet as CandyThe Night's QuadWalking on Eggshells

Urban Decay Naked Cherry

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Urban Decay Naked Cherry Eyeshadow Palette ($49.00 for 0.456 oz.) is the newest in the Naked series and features a mix of corals and plums. The... Read full review.

Sephora Colorful Eyeshadow

Read Reviews View Swatches View a shade... A Cup of Coffee (350)About Last Night (360)Antique Copper (359)Astral Blue (383)Ballet Shoes (205)Be Chic (329)Black Lace (304)Blonde Ambition (211)Bonfire (354)Break the Bank (386)Catch the Moon (348)Champagne Please (372)Cherry Blossom (364)Choco Excess (297)Chou a La Creme (353)Cinnamon (373)Coffee Break (299)Copper Rush (291)Cotton Candy (342)Dark Ocean (337)Daydream (358)Dear Cactus (335)Demanding (31)Diving In (254)Espresso (377)Fairy Dusty (334)Fairy Princess (234)Fantasia (33)First Light (29)Flawless (332)Getaway (236)Girl Night Out (216)Girl Talk (232)Glazed Donut (365)Glitter Dress (357)Go Wild (345)Golden Bronze (381)Golden Marshmallow (351)Good Vibes (237)Hippie Girl (223)Hollywood Calling (292)Hurricane Wave (346)Ice Queen (333)In the Woods (343)Into the Sunset (382)Jump Into the Mud (340)Lazy Afternoon (207)Let It Snow (201)Let's Dance (268)Let's Party (326)Lucky Penny (220)Magnolia Garden (341)Make a Wish (344)Mocha Latte (352)Morning Freshness (225)Morning Sunrise (324)My Dear Nude (282)Mystic Queen (330)Natural Beauty (328)No Place Like Home (257)One in a Million (388)Playing with Fire (387)Prom Date (374)Radiant Sand (338)Roasted Chestnuts (302)Romantic Comedy (227)Sand Dunes (327)Satin Corset (281)Scented Candle (229)Secret Boudoir (206)Secret Garden (363)Semi-Sweet Chocolate (375)Shooting Star (367)Sir Yes Sir (275)Smell of Roses (258)Soft Suede (378)Spiced Plum (379)Stadium Fever (277)Starry Night (349)Strawberry Macaroon (259)Sunset at the Beach (210)Surfin USA (253)Sweet Brownie (339)Sweet Candy (260)Sweet Lollipop (356)Tahitian Pearl (285)Tiramisu (298)Tree-Hugger (301)Twinkle Twinkle (362)Under the Cover (204)Unicorn Dust (361)Vampire Lovers (368)Very Bad (318)Walking in the Sand (217)What Happens in Vegas (283)Wild Island (347)Wine O'Clock (371)

The formula is supposed to be "highly pigmented" and wear for "10 hours" while being blendable and layerable. There are three finishes, and I found that the quality did differ depending on the finish more than anything else. The glitter finish was comprised of a mix of more matte and glitter-packed shades, where glitter would fallout during application and often were under-pigmented, along with denser, more silicone-heavy glittery shades with the latter applying and holding up better on the lid as it adhered better, though they typically didn't have great pigmentation. The matte eyeshadows were medium to opaque in coverage but often buildable with fairly soft, thinner textures with some powderiness, though there were some definite winners in the bunch. The shimmer eyeshadows were more often quite pigmented with moderately dense, smooth textures that were easy to use, but there were a few that had a little too much slip or were too dry and so application wasn't impressive without a dampened brush or an eyeshadow primer underneath it. The wear was between six and eight hours. Read more...

Fenty Beauty Moroccan Spice

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Fenty Beauty Moroccan Spice Eyeshadow Palette ($59.00 for 0.47 oz.) is a new, 16-pan palette that features an array of shimmers and mattes with pops... Read full review.

Fenty Beauty Killawatt Foil

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Fenty Beauty Killawatt Foil Killawatt Freestyle Highlighter Palette ($54.00 for 0.70 oz.) is a new, limited edition palette featuring seven hues... Read full review.

Tom Ford Beauty Soleil d'Ambre

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Tom Ford Beauty Soleil d'Ambre Eye & Cheek Palette ($155.00 for 0.45 oz.) is a new, limited edition palette that contains four eyeshadows and two... Read full review.

Viseart Petit Pro (02)

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Viseart Petit Pro (02) Petit Pro Palette ($30.00 for 0.28 oz.) is new, eight-pan palette with four matte shades and four shimmery shades. I usually... Read full review.

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.

They can’t all be winners, right? These were the ten most disappointing products (often formulas, not just a specific shade) that I had the fun of testing this year…

What were your disappointments?

01.

01. Shade + Light Two Tone Blush Duo KVD Beauty

KVD Beauty

PPermanent. $25.00/0.32 oz.

F

View a variation... Bonnie + ClydeHansel + GretelMickey + MalloryMorticia + GomezPiaf + PoeSamson + DelilahSid + Nancy

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KVD Vegan BeautyQVCSephora

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Sephora (AU)Sephora (BR)Sephora (CA)Sephora (CA)Sephora (FR)

View a variation... Bonnie + ClydeHansel + GretelMickey + MalloryMorticia + GomezPiaf + PoeSamson + DelilahSid + Nancy

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KVD Vegan BeautyQVCSephora

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Sephora (AU)Sephora (BR)Sephora (CA)Sephora (CA)Sephora (FR)

02.

02. Audacity in London Lancome

Lancome

LELimited Edition. $68.00/0.576 oz.

F

Lancome Audacity in London Eyeshadow Palette ($69.00 for 0.576 oz.) includes 16 eyeshadows and most of them are terrible. Even when they swatched...

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Adore BeautyBelkBergdorf GoodmanBloomingdale'sBoots

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Cos BarDillard'sHSNLancomeMacy'sNeiman MarcusNET-A-PORTERNordstromSaksSelfridges (US)SephoraUlta

Int'l Retailers

EscentualFeelUniqueHarrodsHarvey Nichols (UK)John Lewis (UK)Lancome (CA)LookFantasticSelfridgesSephora (AU)Sephora (BR)Sephora (CA)Sephora (CA)Sephora (FR)

Lancome Audacity in London Eyeshadow Palette ($69.00 for 0.576 oz.) includes 16 eyeshadows and most of them are terrible. Even when they swatched...

Read Review

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Affiliate Links

Adore BeautyBelkBergdorf GoodmanBloomingdale'sBoots

More Retailers

Cos BarDillard'sHSNLancomeMacy'sNeiman MarcusNET-A-PORTERNordstromSaksSelfridges (US)SephoraUlta

Int'l Retailers

EscentualFeelUniqueHarrodsHarvey Nichols (UK)John Lewis (UK)Lancome (CA)LookFantasticSelfridgesSephora (AU)Sephora (BR)Sephora (CA)Sephora (CA)Sephora (FR)

03.

03. Naked Urban Decay

Urban Decay

LELimited Edition. $36.00/0.24 oz.

D-

Urban Decay Naked Illuminated Trio ($36.00 for 0.24 oz.) contains three powder highlighters to "give skin a luminous look" that uses "sophisticated,...

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BelkMacy'sNordstromQVCSelfridges (US)

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SephoraUltaUrban Decay

Int'l Retailers

FeelUniqueHarvey Nichols (UK)House of Fraser (UK)John Lewis (UK)LookFantasticSelfridgesSephora (BR)Sephora (FR)Sephora (PL)Urban Decay (CA)

Urban Decay Naked Illuminated Trio ($36.00 for 0.24 oz.) contains three powder highlighters to "give skin a luminous look" that uses "sophisticated,...

Read Review

View Swatches

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Affiliate Links

BelkMacy'sNordstromQVCSelfridges (US)

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SephoraUltaUrban Decay

Int'l Retailers

FeelUniqueHarvey Nichols (UK)House of Fraser (UK)John Lewis (UK)LookFantasticSelfridgesSephora (BR)Sephora (FR)Sephora (PL)Urban Decay (CA)

04.

04. Poudre Lumiere Glacee Chanel

Chanel

LELimited Edition. $45.00/0.49 oz.

D

Chanel Poudre Lumiere Glacee Silver Reflections Shimmering Powder ($45.00 for 0.49 oz.) is a very light white with subtle, cooler undertones and a...

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BelkBergdorf GoodmanBloomingdale'sChanelDillard's

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Neiman MarcusNordstromSaksSelfridges (US)Violet Grey

Int'l Retailers

FeelUniqueHouse of Fraser (UK)John Lewis (UK)SelfridgesSephora (CA)Sephora (CA)Sephora (FR)

Chanel Poudre Lumiere Glacee Silver Reflections Shimmering Powder ($45.00 for 0.49 oz.) is a very light white with subtle, cooler undertones and a...

Read Review

View Swatches

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Affiliate Links

BelkBergdorf GoodmanBloomingdale'sChanelDillard's

More Retailers

Neiman MarcusNordstromSaksSelfridges (US)Violet Grey

Int'l Retailers

FeelUniqueHouse of Fraser (UK)John Lewis (UK)SelfridgesSephora (CA)Sephora (CA)Sephora (FR)

05.

05. White Too Faced

Too Faced

LELimited Edition. $26.00/0.2 oz.

D

Too Faced White Chocolate Chip Palette ($26.00 for 0.25 oz.) includes 11 eyeshadows in a small, compact case. I had no trouble getting an...

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Beauty BrandsBeautylishDermStoreHSNMacy's

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NordstromQVCSelfridges (US)SephoraToo FacedUlta

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Cult BeautyLookFantasticSelfridgesSephora (BR)Sephora (CA)Sephora (CA)Sephora (FR)Sephora (PL)

Too Faced White Chocolate Chip Palette ($26.00 for 0.25 oz.) includes 11 eyeshadows in a small, compact case. I had no trouble getting an...

Read Review

View Swatches

View Dupes

Where to Buy

Affiliate Links

Beauty BrandsBeautylishDermStoreHSNMacy's

More Retailers

NordstromQVCSelfridges (US)SephoraToo FacedUlta

Int'l Retailers

Cult BeautyLookFantasticSelfridgesSephora (BR)Sephora (CA)Sephora (CA)Sephora (FR)Sephora (PL)

06.

06. Palette 5 Couleurs Guerlain

Guerlain

PPermanent. $69.00/0.21 oz.

D+

View a variation... Apres l'Ondee (05)Bois des Indes (06)Coque d'Or (03)L'Heure de Nuit (04)Rose Barbare (01)Tonka Imperiale (02)

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Bergdorf GoodmanCos BarDillard'sNeiman MarcusNordstrom

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SaksSelfridges (US)Sephora

Int'l Retailers

EscentualFeelUniqueHarrodsHouse of Fraser (UK)John Lewis (UK)SelfridgesSephora (BR)Sephora (CA)Sephora (CA)Sephora (FR)Sephora (PL)

View a variation... Apres l'Ondee (05)Bois des Indes (06)Coque d'Or (03)L'Heure de Nuit (04)Rose Barbare (01)Tonka Imperiale (02)

View Swatches

View Dupes

Where to Buy

Affiliate Links

Bergdorf GoodmanCos BarDillard'sNeiman MarcusNordstrom

More Retailers

SaksSelfridges (US)Sephora

Int'l Retailers

EscentualFeelUniqueHarrodsHouse of Fraser (UK)John Lewis (UK)SelfridgesSephora (BR)Sephora (CA)Sephora (CA)Sephora (FR)Sephora (PL)

07.

07. Grand Hotel Café Too Faced

Too Faced

LELimited Edition. $49.00/1.46 oz.

C-

Too Faced Grand Hotel Café Palettes ($49.00 for 1.46 oz.) includes 18 eyeshadows, two blushes, one bronzer, and a...

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Beauty BrandsBeautylishDermStoreHSNMacy's

More Retailers

NordstromQVCSelfridges (US)SephoraToo FacedUlta

Int'l Retailers

Cult BeautyLookFantasticSelfridgesSephora (BR)Sephora (CA)Sephora (CA)Sephora (FR)Sephora (PL)

Too Faced Grand Hotel Café Palettes ($49.00 for 1.46 oz.) includes 18 eyeshadows, two blushes, one bronzer, and a...

Read Review

View Swatches

View Dupes

Where to Buy

Affiliate Links

Beauty BrandsBeautylishDermStoreHSNMacy's

More Retailers

NordstromQVCSelfridges (US)SephoraToo FacedUlta

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08.

08. Liquid Moondust Eyeshadow Urban Decay

Urban Decay

PPermanent. $22.00/0.17 oz.

C-

View a shade... Chem TrailMagneticRechargedSolsticeSpacetimeVegaZapZodiac

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View a shade... Chem TrailMagneticRechargedSolsticeSpacetimeVegaZapZodiac

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09.

09. Lip Contour Duo Tom Ford Beauty

Tom Ford Beauty

PPermanent. $53.00/0.08 oz.

C+

View a variation... A/W '16Devil Inside (06)Dream Obscene (03)Fling It On (02)I'll Teach You (05)Make Me (08)Public Display (01)Secret Escort (07)Show It Off (04)

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View a variation... A/W '16Devil Inside (06)Dream Obscene (03)Fling It On (02)I'll Teach You (05)Make Me (08)Public Display (01)Secret Escort (07)Show It Off (04)

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10.

10. Full Spectrum Urban Decay

Urban Decay

LELimited Edition. $55.00/0.84 oz.

C+

Urban Decay Full Spectrum Eyeshadow Palette ($55.00 for 0.84 oz.) includes 21 eyeshadows (each is 0.04 oz.) in a...

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Urban Decay Full Spectrum Eyeshadow Palette ($55.00 for 0.84 oz.) includes 21 eyeshadows (each is 0.04 oz.) in a...

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These are products that let me down the most!

The List

Modernist Eyeshadow Palette

Hourglass

Hourglass

24/7 Waterline Eye Pencil

Urban Decay

Urban Decay

Eye and Cheek Shadow

Tom Ford Beauty

Tom Ford Beauty

Watercolor Library

Bite Beauty

Lipgloss Library

C

Full Metal Shadow

YSL

YSL

Beach Stick

Charlotte Tilbury

Charlotte Tilbury

L'Intemporel de Chanel

Chanel

Eyeshadow Palette

F

Watercolour Mist

Laura Mercier

Eye & Cheek Palette

F

Erogenous Zone

MAC

Studio Eye Gloss

F

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What were your product disappointments from 2015?

When I think about “Most Disappointing,” it doesn’t always mean all the Fs, because it can also mean formulas or products that you’ve come to expect A-level quality from that end up C-level (or worse!) quality, which is possibly more disappointing than a product that was never great to begin with. There were also some new formulas that were introduced this year that had little to no ability to be saved!

• MAC Techankohl Liners — the majority of the shades in the new-for-2014 shade extension release were disappointing with poor color payoff and wear
• Stila Body Eyeshadow Palette — beyond disappointing and gets a place as one of the worst palettes I’ve ever dealt with
• Gucci Potent Violet Lip Lacquer — by “intense color,” they must have meant “barely there”
• Tom Ford Ice Queen Eye Quad — difficult to apply, shorter-wearing, subpar color payoff
• bareMinerals Lasting Line Eyeliner Sets — a painfully stiff, dry, and poorly pigmented formula
• Kat Von D Star Studded Eyeshadow Palette — though it didn’t get the lowest score overall, it had some beyond dismal shades, like Gothica, which was like purple sand and introduced me to a texture I had never seen (and hope never to see again)
• Kat Von D Studded Kiss Lipstick — another formula with mostly disappointing shades in what could have been a real winner (still kills me how bad these were/are)
• Urban Decay Shadow Box Palette — a major departure from Urban Decay’s signature formula left me majorly disappointed with this one
• NARS Night Series Eyeliners — so much potential, but lacking in color payoff
• Chanel Sweet Star — there are so many stellar teal eyeliners to choose from, how a brand can charge $29 and put out a poor performing one leaves me utterly confused

What were your big beauty disappointments this year?

Not everything released in the past year was impressive, and some products were downright disappointing! When I worked on compiling this list, I thought about cringe-worthy products; ones that I can’t wrap my head around at all. These are products that truly disappointed me with their performance and quality.  Every single brand mentioned below has products I love but not every product can be a winner.

• Make Up For Ever Technicolor Eyeshadow Palette — a brand famous for intense pigmentation yet this palette was released with sheer, chalky, powdery color galore
• Estee Lauder Steel Pure Color Stay-on Shadow Paint — how Estee Lauder managed to bungle a cream eyeshadow formula when there are several cult favorites within the ELC family is beyond me–and Steel was so, so intriguing
• Illamasqua ESP Lipstick — talk about a cool color done so poorly–dry, drying, and patchy
• Chanel Mystere (43) Eyeshadow Quad — a sheer, powdery, dry mess of an eyeshadow palette
• Laura Mercier Longwear Creme Eye Pencil — a new eyeliner formula that I tested and the majority of the shades were so sheer and stiff to work with
• Marc Jacobs Beauty Irresistible Shameless Bold Blush — an extremely poor showing for such a highly anticipated brand (and one that does have high quality formulas, just not this one)
• MAC Pastelluxe Veluxe Pearlfusion Eyeshadow Palette — I have no idea how this made it past teesting at all, let alone why MAC made the entire formula permanent from the very beginning (why didn’t that happen with Megametals? Those were awesome!)
• Sugarpill ElektroCute Neon Pigments — as much as I love Sugarpill, I was beyond excited for these and highly anticipated the release but was sorely disappointed with their performance
• Chanel True Blue (57) Stylo Yeux — one of the more painful eyeliners I’ve had tried
• Benefit Fine One One — disappeared after three hours and was difficult to apply; made my lips shrivel up and cry it was so drying as a lip product

What were the most disappointing beauty products you tried this past year?