What was the last product you tried that lived up to its hype?

Pat McGrath Decadence palette – I think that the expectation for PMG products is extremely high, and this palette really delivered.

— Christine

28 Comments

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Julia Avatar

Hi Christine! This is the first time I am leaving a message but I’ve been using your website as my shopping guide for the past 4 years and I have the most respect for your opinions! Are you going to be reviewing the new Pat Mcgrath MTHRSHP palettes? Thanks!!

Rachel Avatar

NARS easy glowing cheek palette.
These do what the name says- easy glowing- it’s not a glittery highlight or one with so much pigment you have a stripe of highlight. I prefer a lit from within for everyday and I’m loving this Nars highlight formula. They can also be amped up when I used wet. It definitely does lives up to the hype for me.

Rachel R. Avatar

LunatiCK Cosmetics Labs Pro Contour Book Vol. I. It’s phenomenal in every respect: Quality, colors, blendability, versatility, quantity (the pans are HUGE), and packaging. Plus you can buy refills for the shades. I waited for a good sale and got it 1/3 off, but it would have totally been worth it at full price. This all is coming from someone who thinks contour palettes are a waste of money for non-makeup artists! Truly, though, it’s more of a full face/eye palette for me than just a contour palette.

Priscilla Avatar

Viseart Neutral Mattes. Worth every penny. I also love the Cool Mattes almost as much. Honorable mention for Wayne Goss brushes! Gorgeous and sooooo soft.

Seraphine Avatar

The very first thing that comes to mind is not makeup, but makeup removal-related…and that’s the Clarisonic Mia 1 that I just bought. I love it! I have a lot of makeup to remove at the end of the day, and it makes me feel so clean and glowing. I’m addicted to it.

Makeup-wise, I’ll go with Marc Jacobs Highliner Matte Gel Eye Crayon in the shade (Brown)ie. I’ve always had a problem with eyeliners running on my teary, oily eyes, even UD’s 24/7 winds up a smudgy mess. I recently decided to splurge on the MJ Highliner and I’m amazed at how well it stays on. Totally deserves the A it received on Temptalia.

Ashleigh Avatar

Well the verdict is still out because I’ve only worn it once, but so far the Huda Beauty Foundation- I felt like my skin actually looked better by the end of the day, which rarely happens with foundation. I’m going to experiment mixing it with some of my other foundations to see if it goes well with any of them to see if I can cut the coverage a bit.

AB Avatar

Viseart Tryst. I really like both the color scheme and how nicely all the shade are performing — degree of pigmentation, blendability and usability, etc.

Jessica Avatar

I completely agree with the PML Decadence palette. I don’t know if any other shimmer will ever be able to live up to the quality of that product. I wouldn’t be mad if this were one of those “limited edition my a–” products because it’s so so so good.

Kat Avatar

Aritaum Ginger Sugar Overnight Lip Mask. I love this for overnight wear! Fabulous thick consistency that’s not overly waxy, and my lips are still moisturized when I wake up in the morning.

Deborah S. Avatar

The few products that I have tried from PML have all been excellent but my experience is limited to lipsticks. I have successfully resisted the eye shadow palettes but know that at some point in the future I will weaken and buy one. I have been resisting because I know once I go there I might not be able to come back!

Z. Avatar

The new Marc Jacobs shameless foundation & Becca x Sananas Parisian lights highlighter.

I know some people haven’t been liking the shameless foundation, but I really do because it’s a good everyday coverage with SPF and doesn’t break down on my oily skin which is important to me because by the time I get home from work my foundation has been on for a minimum of 11 hours. I love it topped with tarte shape tape in areas where I need a bit more coverage.

The Becca x Sananas Parisian lights highlighter is so pretty! I bought vanilla quartz at the same time but much prefer the parisian lights. Some highlighters can look stripey on me because I’m so fair, and I was afraid Parisian lights would be the same because Sananas has a darker complexion than I do. Much to my delight, the shade is totally workable and makes me look healthy and glowing. I’m sad this is LE because I feel like this could easily become a staple in my collection.

Iron Maiden Avatar

I don’t know that’s it’s really hyped, but Wander Beauty Flash Focus Hydrating Foundation Stick is everything the company says it is–easy to apply, wears well, looks great, and my skin feels wonderful when I remove it. For such a small company, Wander puts out great products–high quality, great packaging, and they live up to the claims. I’ve been very happy with everything I’ve tried from them.

Nancy T Avatar

Three immediately popped into my head:
1.) Pat McGrath Luxetrance Lipstick in Strangé is beyond perfect in formulation, pigment saturation and smoothness of application. It I absolutely decadent!
2.) Natasha Denona Lila Palette is one of the richest purple-themed palettes I have ever used! It along with Viseart Amethyst fills my purple lover needs.
3.) ColourPop Luster Dust in Aura Voir is now one of my favorite highlighter formulas ever! It looks wet once I’ve buffed it in.

Agona Avatar

I’m still lusting after the Lila palette. Sigh. I may try to pick it up when Sephora offers their 15% sale this spring. …seems so far away though.

Mariella Avatar

Embryolisse face cream and – not that it has a lot of hype – the Smashbox Night Shoot trio I got recently. It is a nice, basic palette and just the thing most working women (who aren’t in the makeup business or creative business) need to get ready in the morning.

Mariella Avatar

to add….I so wish the Pat McGrath palettes weren’t so insanely expensive here – $170 plus taxes (makes them close to $200 each). If I didn’t have a tonne of eyeshadows and eyeshadow palettes, I would be able to justify that cost to have just one really awesome e/s palette but with the overabundance of stuff I have, I simply can’t justify spending that much even though they are gorgeous!

Alecto Avatar

I feel like the Pat McGrath LuxeTrance lipsticks were definitely hyped here, though there was a lot of ambivalence about the price (from me as well). And … they’re amazing! (All *two* that I have.) I really have no lipstick that compares to them (though CP Ultra Satin is a not-so-close second). When I start using up my lipsticks (around age 90), scary price or no, I’ll be replacing my favorite colors with PMcG equivalents without a second thought. 🙂

Kelsey Avatar

The Natasha Denona Lila Palette! It’s so beautiful and all the shades blend perfectly. I want to try a Pat McGrath palette but I cannot pick one because they are all so pretty. If anyone here has tried her palettes- which one would you pick?

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