Beauty Review: My January Ipsy Bag

Can you believe it's time for another Ipsy bag review? Since I wrote my December review late, it feels like these are happening back to back! If you'd like to see my past Ipsy bag reviews, click here. 

This month's Ipsy bag had a work out theme (herumph) because it's January, after all. I'm quite happy with the things I received, except for the bag. I'll get to that in a minute. First, let's list these products, shall we? 

1. So Susan Liquid Matte in Raisin Flesh 

This is a full-size liquid lipstick that retails for $14.00 and comes in 6 shades. You can visit So Susan here. This liquid lip promises "brilliant moisture without the stickiness and long-lasting colour without the flakiness." These are lies. Absolute, bald-faced lies. This liquid lip is gorgeous; I love the color Raisin Flesh (a deep, rich, pink-mauve), but on the lips it wears... really oddly. If you apply too much (like, the normal amount you'd put on), it doesn't dry down and basically shellacs your lips together. I put it on when I first opened my Ipsy bag and then drove home; I had to pull over halfway home, grab a baby wipe, and scrub my mouth. I couldn't part my lips it was so sticky! When I rewore it later, I applied a super thin layer and it dried down better; but this lipstick does that thing where it wears off only in the middle, leaving me with a super attractive halo every single time I popped into the bathroom. 

Needless to say, this isn't something I would recommend to wear all day; good for a single event, perhaps, where I won't be eating or drinking, but it is not long-wearing and the texture is super odd. 

2. Vasanti Cosmetics Kajal Waterline Eyeliner in Intense Black

This full-size eyeliner retails for $19.00. You can view it here. I have to be honest, this was an item I knew was going to be disappointed to me. As a personal point, I do not tightline my eyes; to me, this is a trend that ages you... to around 2005, when everyone was walking around looking like a raccoon! I haven't tightlined my eyes since I was probably 19 years old and I'm not looking to start again. It makes my eyes look smaller. Period, end of story, I don't want to talk about it anymore. 

That being said, this is a decent pencil; it's creamy and quite pigmented. It's just not my thing. I could see myself using it on my top lashline, but absolutely not my waterline. 

3. Preventative Measures 101 After Hours Lip Balm

This lip balm retails for $8 and is available here. I love a good lip balm and this is another one. It smells, lightly, of papayas and goes on pretty smooth. It doesn't have any ingredients that cause irritation or dryness (looking at you, Burt's Bees with peppermint oil!). It is, however, just a lip balm. 

4. Purlisse Beauty Blue Lotus Seed Mud Mask

This mask retails for $48 (!!!!!) for a full-size and is available here. 

I have to say: I wasn't sure about this mask when I saw I would be receiving it, but I quite like it. When I first applied it, I started to grumble because it felt like it had walnut shells in it. But after reading the ingredients more closely, I realized it is crunched up blue lotus seeds--still a little intense for an exfoliant (they are much too rough), but for a mask every 1-2 weeks, not bad. I did like the smell and feel of this mask and it made my skin feel good and my pores look small. 

5. The Balm Cosmetics Mary Lou-Minizer 

The full-size version of this retails for $24 and is available here. I expected to be disappointed by this as I'm not a huge fan of the Balm... but this highlight is pretty nice. It's not chalky and goes on pretty smooth. It also makes a great eyeshadow color. It's pretty smooth and pigmented, but blends in nicely. I really love it! I wish the size they'd sent to us was larger; it's the size of a small eyeshadow pan, as opposed to the larger compact. 

The Verdict

This bag is perhaps the ugliest bag I have ever received from Ipsy. I've been struggling not to be like, "I love this product, but did you SEE this UGLY BAG?" while writing this entire review! The bag is heinous! It's going into my donate bin, alongside the liquid lip and eyeliner. (Both sterilized, I promise.) 

Per usual, let's add up the cost of this bag if you purchased each separate item. The total is $113, but that uses the prices for full-size and I received 2 trial size products. And while $113 value for a $10 purchase is quite big, I was disappointed by both of the full-size objects I received. 

Not every Ipsy bag will be a winner! I left feedback regarding these items on my Ipsy account, so I'm hoping for a better month next month! If you want to try Ipsy for just $10 a month, click here to sign up using my referral code. 

Beauty Series: My Favorite Pink Lipsticks

Welcome to my second installment of My Favorite Lipsticks series! You can read all my past posts here. 

This week, I want to talk about my favorite pink lipsticks. When it comes to lipstick, I tend to gravitate towards the pink family--specifically mauve pinks. In fact, I have a major problem with repeatedly buying essentially the same shade of lipstick over and over and over again. 

For that reason, it was really difficult to narrow down to 4 or 5 lipsticks that I consider my favorites! But I managed and I tried to pick a variety--instead of my usual pink-mauves. 

1. NYX Cosmetics Powder Puff Lippie in Puppy Love

NYX Cosmetics Powder Puff Lippie in Puppy Love

This is a new addition to my collection (it's the middle swatch on my arm). I would describe it as a fairly bright coral color--it's quite pretty, if a little bright (and therefore, intimidating). The finish of these is a "powder finish," which is exactly what it sounds like; it does transfer a bit, but otherwise stays in place most of the day. I really like it because it's fairly light and doesn't dry out my lips throughout the day! One of these will set up back $8.50 and are available here.

2. L'Oreal Colour Riche Shine in Burnished Blush 

L'Oreal Colour Riche Shine in Burnished Blush

I reviewed these lipsticks last week here, and really debated about including Burnished Blush here. But I decided in the end, it is one of my favorite pinks because it's a unique finish; I've worn it quite a bit since I received these from Influenster in December! As I said in my review, these are not long-lasting lipsticks, but they are very moisturizing--so if you're struggling with dry lips this winter, it's a great option!

3. Wet'n'Wild Liquid Catsuit in Rebel Rose

Wet'n'Wild Liquid Catsuit in Rebel Rose

This, should anyone ever ask, is my favorite of this list of favorites. I wear this lipstick so much that it actually lives in my purse. When I first heard rave reviews about Wet'n'Wild Liquid Catsuit lipsticks, I was hesitant; Wet'n'Wild was that super cheap drugstore brand that didn't have good make up, right? That was what I thought of Wet'n'Wild at least! But I was set to rights by these lipsticks and, truly, Wet'n'Wild is not the same brand it was 10 years ago. 

This color is my favorite dusty rose mauve color; I wear it probably every other day, if not every day. (It's the swatch to the right of the NYX Powder Puff!) It can look quite dark at first, but dries to a lovely mauve color. The best part about Wet'n'Wild Liquid Catsuit in Rebel Rose? It lasts all day! I have a few shades (Goth Topic, Coral Corruption, and a few others) and this is the one that stays the longest. It's lovely. It's perfect. It's $4.99 (and you can often find them on sale, they're $2.99 at Target right now!) and available here.

4. Kat Von D Studded Kiss in Lolita

Kat Von D Studded Kiss in Lolita

This is my only high-end lipstick selection for this list and I have to confess: I bought this at TJ Maxx for $6.99. (That's my tip for finding high end lipsticks, honestly: check your local TJ Maxx and Marshall's!) Lolita is described as a satin-matte "chestnut rose" and that's a fairly accurate description. (Lolita is the swatch to the far right in my photo.) 

Lolita is one of those holy grail shades. I quite like this lipstick as a break from mattes (have you noticed a theme? Mattes really destroy my lips!) and the color is just a bonus; it's a slightly pinker version of Rebel Rose, so it makes a nice complimentary color if I need to switch halfway through the day. Typically, Studded Kiss lipsticks cost $19 each and are available here. 

 

5. The Beauty Crop GRLPWR in Tickled Pink**

The Beauty Crop GRLPWR in Tickled Pink**

When I first received this lipstick from the Beauty Crop, I didn't expect to like it: it's so pink. It's almost bubblegum. (It's the fair right swatch in my photo.) However, it's a gorgeous color, so I decided to give it a try. And I'm glad I did; this is another one of my tried-and-trues. In fact, I wear it so much that I'm almost out already! This lipstick also lasts all day and wears pretty comfortably; unlike other mattes that leave me feeling parched halfway through the day, I can wear this one all day and not feel like my lips are about to fall off. 

These lipsticks cost $14.95 and, right now, Beauty Crop is offering a buy 3, get 1 free deal! You can take advantage by clicking here**. I recommend Date Night, Imma Bawse, Tickled Pink (of course!), and Frose. 

**Note that a double asterisk next to a link indicates that it is an affiliate link. If you purchase through these links, I make a small commission--but that doesn't sway this being one of my favorite lipsticks! For more about my disclosure policy, click here.  

Beauty Review: L'Oreal Color Riche Shine Lipsticks*

As always, the asterisk (*) in the title of this post indicates that I received this product free in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own, however. You can read more about my disclosure policy, and review standards, here. 

A few months ago, I decided to go cruelty-free. This has been harder than I expected, because many brands still test on animals and even if they don't, they are often owned by larger groups that test on animals. This is the case with L'Oreal, who has their own make up brand, as well as owning several other make up brands (like Kiehls). 

I read a great argument recently that talked about how it's ok to have an ideal (being cruelty free) but not sticking to it 100%. I consider myself a vegetarian these days, but sometimes I do eat meat--so what do I call myself? It's hard to know! However, it's ok to be imperfect. 

And while make up isn't a necessity, sometimes things just work. Take, for example, the L'Oreal Pro-Matte foundation; for about 3 months, it was my absolute favorite foundation. It's the closest match to my skin ever. It doesn't oxidize. And even better, it didn't break down throughout the day. And then, they reformulated and I was devastated. I realized how important that foundation was to me, how it made me feel like my skin was so beautiful. I believe whole-heartedly in being cruelty free when it comes to my cosmetics, but sometimes, like any imperfect human, I fall in love. 

The case could be made for these lipsticks as well. 

I received these L'Oreal Color Riche Shine lipsticks from Influenster in exchange for a review. Let's look at what L'Oreal has to say about them: 

Ultra-rich, ultra-radiant shiny lipstick. Glossy, high color finish for lips that Shine. Available in 16 luminous, high-definition shades.

Those are some promises, aren't they?! Truly, they aren't wrong: these are very, very high shine lipsticks and they are insanely pigmented. I received the shades Enamel Red (924), Lacquered Strawberry (920), and Burnished Blush (906). 

Enamel Red is a true red. Lacquered Strawberry is an extremely bright, hot pink. And Burnished Blush is a light, mauve-y pink shade. These are three fairly standard colors and, for that reason, I was a bit disappointed. Sometimes, I just want to try something outside of my standard red-pink-blush family. I'm a bit notorious for always wearing a red or mauve lip! 

Considering there are shades like Gleaming Plum (an almost neon purple), Varnished Rosewood, and Glossy Fawn, receiving three standard colors was a little wah-wah. 

That being said, I love the shades I received. I will probably wear all three of them throughout the year. I especially like Enamel Red. Despite being a traditional lipstick, with all the problems that come along with transfer, short wear time, and high shine, it felt really good on my lips: moisturizing and smooth. And even as it wore off, it left a decent enough stain of color so that I didn't get that annoying halo look. 

The only gripe I would have is that these lipsticks all require a pretty heavy lip liner, as well as primer. Why? Because I found them sinking into my skin around my lips and bleeding. I don't have fine lines (I say, my hand to my chest, looking shocked), but looking in the mirror after applying these, I briefly wondered if I do have fine lines. After a long talk with my mom, I was assured that I do not, in fact: these lipsticks just bleed very badly! Lip liner and primer (I used Bite Beauty's primer) works to keep it at bay. 

Were these lipsticks moisturizing? The website says that: 

Experience a hydrating and lasting chine effect coupled with a rich color pay-off. This lipstick's true color formula has 60% more oils, leaving lips comfortable and conditioned throughout the wear and for days after. 

Did my lips feel hydrated while wearing these lipsticks? Yes. Would I say it kept them hydrated for days? Absolutely not. However, if you're over how dry matte lips make you feel (trust me, I understand), these are a great option because they are so heavily pigmented! 

What's my final verdict?

Would I purchase these lipsticks on my own? Part of me wants to say yes, because they are great, hydrating, and have some gorgeous colors. But a larger part of me says that no, I wouldn't, because L'Oreal isn't a cruelty-free company and I want to stick to my guns. However, if you're looking for a hydrating, high pigment lipstick, these are a wonderful option for you.  

These lipsticks retail for $9.99 and are available from L'Oreal's website here. 

Beauty Series: My Favorite Red Lipsticks

Last week, I introduced my new beauty series on my favorite lipsticks. I've been so excited about this project since November (when I first got the idea) and narrowing down my favorite lipsticks to just a few was a challenge! In my bullet journal, I'll be cataloging all my make up soon, but my lipsticks alone are numerous! 

For me, a great lipstick is long-wearing, comfortable, and affordable. These 4 red lipsticks hit all of those criteria. Let's jump right in! 

1. NYX Matte Lipstick in Eden 

This is one of the first red lipsticks I really, really loved. I am embarrassed to say that I own two tubes of it; I bought one and then, I think I forgot the name so I bought another upon seeing it. NYX describes it as a bright blue-red. It is definitely still very pinky, however, so not as true of a blue-red as I would like... but for under $6, it is extremely long-wearing. My only gripe with it is that it can be hard to apply: I usually use a liner, then a small brush to re-line with the lip color, then I fill in. If I wear a primer, it lasts all day without feeling super dry. 

2. Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lip in Nahz Fur Atoo 

I'll be honest: these lipsticks are a little more expensive than I would usually wear, but I picked this one purely for the color. Nahz Fur Atoo is a true blue-red, a deeper color than Eden. It's the color I've been trying to find for years. At $21, it's definitely more of an investment, but I think it's worth it. Many rave about Kat Von D's Everlasting Liquid Lip formula and while it is definitely comfortable, I find that it doesn't dry down like I expect many liquid lips to and does transfer quite a bit. (With such a deep color, it's something to pay attention to.) However, the color and comfortable wear is definitely worth it to me and I've yet to find a dupe with as perfect of a color! 

3. Smashbox Be Legendary Lipstick in Legendary

I got this from my December Ipsy bag (you can read my review here). It is a bright, pink-red that I absolutely was suspicious of, but now love. I've worn it several times since I got it in my Ipsy bag. For a more traditional lipstick, it wears for a very long time (and leaves a nice stain, so even when it wears off, you don't end up with that weird inner lip issue!) and is super comfortable. I also find that I don't need a lip liner with it; unlike some traditional lipsticks, it doesn't travel into the fine lines that are forming around my lips. At $21 for full size, it's another one that's a bit of an investment, but if you're looking for a beautiful bright red, it's definitely affordable! 

4. NYX Ombre Lip Duo in Bonnie & Clyde 

I love this ombre lip duo! It's a bold choice: one end is a deep red-plum color; the other end is a bright pink-red. I line in the deep color and then do about 1/3 of my lips (at the corners) that color as well; then I blend in the pink-red color. It gives a gorgeous ombre effect that is striking. I love both colors in this duo, but I love that, together, they blend into a very retro-looking blue-red. For only $16 (remember, it's basically 2 lipsticks--you can wear them separately!), it's a great choice if you want to try something a little different. 

Tell me: what's your favorite red lipstick? 

5 Beauty Trends I Want in 2018

Beauty trends, for the last few years, have been, quite frankly, a little wild. It feels like more people than ever love make up and spend time collecting and experimenting with beauty products and skincare. Over 2017, I started collecting a list of things I really, really wanted to see when it came to beauty--things that go against the trend (specifically on Instagram) when it comes to beauty. 

Here's what I'm going to be experimenting with in 2018. 

1. A reduction in skincare complexity

Does it feel like skincare routines have reached peak complexity? Some people are walking through 10+ steps every single night! When people talk about the Ordinary, a brand that sells affordable skincare products, they seem to start speaking a language I don't understand. To those new to skincare, who might not have skincare concerns (like serious acne or congestion), it's all just a lot. It's too much. 

Personally, even though I have serious skincare concerns (y'all know my acne story), I've dialed back my skincare routine a lot. I wash my face with jojoba oil every night, then a cream cleanser, spritz with Mario Badescu rose toner, and then top with jojoba oil. That's it! That's all I do! When people ask me about their skincare routine and how to improve it, and I see they're working with 8+ products already, I tell them the truth: you're doing too much. 

Sometimes, it's just too much! Some of these things really do work, like the 11-step Korean Beauty process, but realistically, it's just not good for every single skin type out there. In 2018, I want to see a return to simple, clean skincare routines that work without fuss and constant adjustment. 

2. Single-shadow eye looks

I love doing my eyeshadow. It's my favorite part of doing my makeup. But sometimes, working with all the transition shades and blending gets really exhausting. It just makes me tired. Lately, I've been experimenting with single-shadow looks that still allow for interest and dimension (without looking like I did in 7th grade, like I'd just smeared a color over my lid and called it good). I specifically like shiny, glossy, and metallic single-shadow looks. 

3. Purple blushes

I've been really into blush lately, a part of my routine that I think I ignored for most of my life. I used the same blush for about 10 years straight, and then in the last few months, I've acquired... 10 blushes, probably. I'm kind of a sucker for them. And all of them are the same purple-mauve family, a color that you don't often see. Most people think of blushes in shades of light pink or peach, but I really want to see more people rocking deep mauve and purple-toned blushes, because they look more natural and give your face more dimension. I'm about it! I really love the Beauty Crop's Mauve-ulous* blush duo. (I also recommend the Let's Get Cheeky set*, because it's such a great deal!)

4. Reduced contouring & highlighting

Listen: contouring is great. It looks great. Highlighting is pretty. It looks pretty!

But I'm so tired of doing them. I stopped contouring about 3 or 4 months ago because my make up routine was so long every morning! As well, I think we've hit peak contouring and highlighting; it's just become, like skincare, too much. It's being forced on us now. It's not fun anymore! Lately, I've been rocking a more subtle highlight, primarily by mixing the Beauty Crop's Lighting Crew* into my foundation. For an everyday look, I just don't think contouring and highlighting are realistic and, frankly, we don't need any more contouring and highlighting palettes on the market. There are so many as it is! Let us use up what we've got! 

5. Light or medium coverage foundation

Sometimes, I watched those sped up beauty videos on Instagram and find myself marveling. Extremely talented men and women will cover their face in stripes of Hourglass's stick foundation, one of the most full coverage foundations out there, then blend it in... and add Shape Tape and contour and more. It's just... a lot. And in person, that doesn't look so great. 

If you learn make up from YouTube and Instagram videos, it gives you the wrong idea of how those things look in person because they're using smoothing filters on their videos! Most people can't use more than medium coverage foundation or else it will end up cakey, no matter your skin texture. I would love to see more beauty guru's rocking light or medium coverage foundation and showing some real skin texture--freckles, pores, congestion, everything! 

What beauty trends do you want to see this year? 

Disclaimer: An asterisk (*) after a link denotes that it is an affiliate link. When you purchase a product using an affiliate link, I receive a small commission. This helps me keep Writing Between Pauses running. You can read my entire disclosure policy here. 

Beauty Series: My Favorite Lipsticks

A few weeks ago, I got it into my head that I wanted to share my favorite lipsticks. Every day, it's the thing people ask me most often in person: "What's your lipstick?" Especially on Instagram, I get a lot of messages about my lipstick every time I post a selfie. It's one of my favorite things to answer because I do really, really love lipstick! 

But in the past few months, I've found myself falling into a lipstick rut. Buying the same colors (pink mauves) over and over, wearing the same ones. I decided it was time to make myself remember all the other great colors I have in my collection! 

This series will be posted every Monday from now through February. I'll cover my favorite reds, pinks, nudes, plums, glosses, and lip balms. Yeah, you heard me: if it goes on your lips, I'll have a post about it including my favorites! If you've ever asked me what lipstick I'm wearing in a photo, then forgot to google it or I didn't send you a link (my apologies), these will the posts where you might spot that lippie again. 

Criteria for Favorites

To make this post just a little more interesting, I wanted to share my criteria for why I consider something a favorite. Everyone has different reasons for liking a lipstick; some people only like mattes, whereas some people find them too drying and annoying. It's such a personal decision, but I made my choices based on these criteria. 

• The color: if the color is great, non-streaky, and looks good on me, I will probably like it. I hate when a color goes on streaky; it immediately makes me wipe it off! 
• The price: affordability is important to me. I have a few lipsticks that cost $10+, but to me, that is outrageous for a lipstick! 
• The wear: how does the lipstick or balm wear? Is it sticky? Does it last? Does it smear? (The tragedy!) 

So, starting next Monday, I'll be posting my favorite reds. I hope you come back to check it out! 

Beauty Review: My December Ipsy Bag

This is my 4th ipsy bag and if I'm being absolutely, positively honest... I still really love it.

Ah, gotcha! Right? 

(If you'd like to read my past reviews, click here.) 

This month was really exciting. I was hoping to get some amazing products that I'd never tried before. I feel like each month, ipsy gets a little bit better as I review things, ask them to stop sending certain things, and share these reviews. 

Without further ado, let's talk about what I got in my bag! 

1. Promise Organic Nourishing Coconut Milk Daily Facial Scrub, $9.99

This product has sugar crystals, walnut shell powder, honey, coconut milk, aloe, and more in it, promising to be "pH balanced and gentle." It smells really good (like coconut--sort of that fake coconut smell I associate with sunscreen). Despite claiming to be a gentle daily scrub, it is definitely a rough feeling scrub. I like that it has ingredients that are natural and biodegradable (no more microbeads!), but it is definitely something I would say to not use daily. It did leave my skin feeling quite soft though. I've only used it once since receiving it because I only exfoliate once a week. This brand is available at CVS, as well as from online retailers. 

2. Smashbox Cosmetics Legendary Lipstick in Legendary, $21

I love getting lipsticks in my Ipsy bags and this was no exception. At first, I was a little nervous about this color. It's more a bright red than I usually go for (I definitely prefer my reds to be more blue or purple, as opposed to pink or orange). This is what I would call a race car red. However, it goes on absolutely smooth and feels so good on that it's hard to argue--plus, for the Christmas season, it's such a nice color! This is a sample size, so while a full size is valued at $21, I am valuing the size in my bag at around $11. 

3. Pixi by Petra Mesmerizing Mineral Duo in Orchid Ornament, approx. $4 value

This eyeshadow due had a lot of promise, but unfortunately fell absolutely flat. One of the shadows is a beautiful, shimmery champagne color that I absolutely love. The other color is supposed to be a shimmery, deep plum shade. 

A little bit of information about purple eyeshadows: they are notoriously difficult to formulate. For whatever reason, purple is just a color that is difficult to make work. If you've ever had a drugstore eyeshadow in a purple shade, you've experienced this before: it looks great in the pan, but it goes on gray or absolutely sheer. That's the issue with this eyeshadow. The plum shade goes on a dark gray color that blends into nothing. To get any color pay off, I have to put on so much eyeshadow, it starts to feel cakey... and it fades fast. Needless to say, I was very disappointed by this item. It's just not good, which is unfortunate because I love most of Pixi's makeup and skincare. This was just a bit of a dud. 

As well, these eyeshadow duos don't appear to be available off of the Ipsy website. Pixi does make whole palettes out of these shadows: the Mesmerizing Mineral Palettes for $12. Based on that price, I estimated this eyeshadow duo at about $4 ($2 per shadow). 

4. Luxie Beauty Precision Shader Onyx Brush 239, $14

I love getting brushes! I've loved nearly every brush I've received from Ipsy and this one is probably my favorite. I love using shader brushes to place shadow before I start to blend; I find it helps me get a better color payoff, as well as more even color on both eyes. This brush is really wonderful to use and works perfectly. 

5. Feel Brilliant Bamboo Charcoal Facial Sheet Masks, $17.50

You know how I feel about masks. (You can read about my favorite masks here; as well, you can read a review of some expensive masks here.) These masks are absolutely lovely; they have activated charcoal, which works to purify your skin. (I am never 100% on that claim; I don't love the idea of it. However, that's what the mask claims, so I'm repeating it here just to make sure I include what the brand promises!) It also has hyaluronic acid, which, despite the name, is actually a moisturizer and helps lock in moisture, so perfect for winter.

I found these masks really soothing to put on and they definitely helped with some difficult patches I've been dealing with lately, including some dry patches on my cheeks and chin. I really like using charcoal products, but I'm still not sold on their claims of "detoxifying"! These masks are $35 for a pack of 4; since I received 2, I priced them at a $17.50 value. 

Final Thoughts

The final value of this ipsy bag is roughly $56.49. This is less than last month's value of $69.64. I feel like I got more sample size products than last month, specifically the lipstick and eyeshadow duo. As well, there was one major dud this month; in a $4 eyeshadow duo, I really don't expect a lot... but coming from ipsy, I expect at least somewhat of a decent product. However, I love 4 out of 5 of these products, so I definitely can't complain! A $56 value is still pretty good, considering I only pay $10. 

Did you receive an Ipsy bag this month? What did you receive? Did you like it? 

If you don't have ipsy yet, why not give it a shot? Sign up for $10 a month and get 5 items picked just for you every single month. You can sign up using my referral link here. 

Beauty Review: The Ulta Beauty 12 Days of beauty Calendar

When I purchased the Ulta Collection 12 Days of Beauty advent calendar, I did so with the strict intention of 1) treating myself to something I've never done before (a beauty advent calendar!) and 2) testing to see if everything in it was absolutely worth the price tag. 

Luckily, this calendar wasn't particularly expensive: full price, it cost $18, but I bought it on sale for $13.50. That's a right bargain, really, for 12 new beauty products! Even Ulta's collection, which is quite affordable, you couldn't buy that many products for that total. 

In this review, I want to answer the question: was this advent calendar worth it? I define worth in a few ways: firstly, is the value of the calendar the same as or more than what I paid for it? Secondly, are the products things the average person (or, in my case, a 29-year-old mother) would use? And thirdly, was it also fun? 

Let's jump right in! 

A post shared by Michelle 💐 (@michellelocke6) on Dec 9, 2017 at 6:51pm PST

1. Metallic Lip Gloss ($9) 

This was an exciting first day surprise! Metallic lip gloss (and lipstick and liquid lips) are very popular this season, so this was a fun find. I wore it over my favorite liquid lip, Rebel Rose by Wet'n'Wild, and really loved it. It is definitely on the stickier side, but it's very pigmented and very metallic. 

I couldn't find any metallic lip glosses on Ulta's website, which is a little odd, but this gloss is a lot like the Color Rush lip glosses (which I have used before and really love). It is quite close to the color Carrie and so I have valued it at around $9 for a full size. 

2. Gel Bounce Eye Shadow ($8) 

I really love this eyeshadow. It's a bronzey-gold shade with a slightly greenish tint. It's not super pigmented, but great for packing on top of another eyeshadow to make it into a more glitzy night look. It's also something I would use during the day to highlight my inner corner. I did find it transferred quite a bit if I wore in on my eyeliner, but a better primer might be necessary. 

This is another product that I couldn't find an exact match for on Ulta's website, but it is very close in color and texture to the Glitter Eye Top Coat in the shade Bronze Bombshell. 

3. Glitter Tears Eyeliner ($10) 

This definitely falls into the "fun, but not something I would use category"! It's quite cool; it's a glittery gold eyeliner that is surprisingly easy to use. I could see myself putting it on top of black winged eyeliner for a party look, but not something I would reach for every day. 

So this eyeliner is actually the same as was in a kit, sold earlier in the year, and is the exact same as Ulta's Liquid Eyeliner in the color Gold Glitter. (The only difference is the bottle shape.) 

4. Face & Body Glitter in the color Holographic ($8) 

Just like the glitter eyeliner, this is something that is very fun (glitter!) but not super practical. As a mom, I just don't need to be covered in glitter all the time! It is quite fun though and if I was younger, I would mix it with lotion for a summer day out. This definitely went into my bin of things to donate to my husband's students (they will love it, honestly). 

This is one of the few things I found an exact match for on Ulta's website. 

5. Tinted Glossy Balm ($9)

After 2 days of mild disappointment, I was so excited to get something I genuinely love. I'm a lip balm freak and I love tinted balms; this one is on the glossy side, but still hydrating (and doesn't have peppermint oil, thank goodness). It is a pretty berry color: a little bright, but quite pretty. 

However, this was another product I couldn't find an exact match for on Ulta (making me incredibly suspicious that this calendar was just repackaged leftovers), but quite similar to the Butter Balm Lip Gloss in the shade Poppsy. 

5. Duo Chrome Illuminator in the shade Fairy ($10)

Aha, another exact match! Finally! I was so excited to see this. It's not a traditional highlighter, but rather an illuminator; it is like the Hourglass Afterlight powders that you put in for lowlight looks. More strobing than highlighting, really. This color is very pretty: icy pink that shifts blue-lavendar. I've been wearing it as highlighter over my blush and loving it. 

7. Matte Lip Cream ($9)

I love matte liquid lips and I quite like Ulta's matte lip creams, so this was an exciting day! This color is also lovely. Another exact match (we're on a roll!), although since the tube isn't labeled, I have to guess the color. My guess is either Artistic or Bombshell. However, the color is really, really lovely: right up my alley as a medium-toned, mauvey pink! 

8. Clear Brow Gel ($7)

I'm not typically a "brow girl", as I say, but I was excited to try this product. I have natural brows that can be quite unruly and I've been meaning to try a brow gel for ages... but just never bought one. Ulta pushed me into it! This brow gel is quite nice, keeping my brows in line without looking fake or feeling too stiff. 

A post shared by Michelle 💐 (@michellelocke6) on Dec 17, 2017 at 9:17am PST

9. Bouncy Blush ($9) 

I'm a sucker for blush! I love blush! And this one is no exception although it is quite sparkly, which is my only problem with it. Not for everyday use, but the color is lovely and it makes an excellent eyeshadow shade as well. 

Again, I couldn't find an exact match, but the Ulta Velvet Blushes look very close. The shade Pink Out is very, very close, although I feel like this blush is certainly a little sparklier. 

10. Brow Pencil ($10)

As I said, I'm not someone who typically does my brows, so brow products tend to be a waste on me. But this pencil is quite lovely and matches my hair perfectly, so maybe I'll morph into a brow person! 

As well, this is another not-exact match because in the calendar was a sample size without the spoolie on the end (so the value isn't exactly the same, of course). 

A post shared by Michelle 💐 (@michellelocke6) on Dec 15, 2017 at 6:26pm PST

11. Eyeliner & Shadow Crayon ($8.50) 

This shadow crayon is lovely! It is quite thick though, so I can't imagine using it for eyeliner (except in my waterline), but as a shadow, it's lovely for a single color look or to cover the lid after doing a transition shade. The color is a bronzey color with a subtle shimmer. 

The closest I could find from the Ulta Collection were their Cream Eyeshadow and Liner Crayons, which are a twist up product (while this is a stick product you have to sharpen). The closest color is Mauve on Over. 

12. Body Jewels ($3-5) 

This is an item I couldn't find on Ulta at all; there are non-Ulta brands that had them, but not Ulta. I estimated the value of this item. This is another item I'll be donating to my husband's students because I genuinely can't see myself wearing body jewels anytime soon! 

Was It Worth It?

So the big question: was this calendar worth it in the end? Let's go through the factors. 

1. Was it worth it monetarily? Yes! If you bought all of these items in the closest match possible in the store, it would cost $100.50. Yes, some aren't exact matches, but the closest thing. But still, for $13.50, you could not buy 12 items (especially these 12 items). That's an absolute win to me! 

2. Was it worth it in terms of wearability? Basically, are these items wearable? Yes. Mostly. There are 3-4 things I would most likely never use (the glitter, the glitter eyeliner, the body jewels, and the brow pencil) or buy myself. However, those items are still wearable for some people--just not for me! I will be donating anything I definitely don't see myself using. 

3. Was it worth it in terms of fun? Was opening the calendar each day fun? Absolutely! It was exciting and I only found myself disappointed 2 or 3 times (and you know which things that was for). I received quite a few things that I can see myself using over and over (the illuminator, the liquid lips, the eyeshadow crayon, and the eyeshadow especially), and possibly repurchasing. 

So, final answer, was this calendar worth the purchase? Absolutely. 

But I do want to talk about some downsides. 

A post shared by Michelle 💐 (@michellelocke6) on Dec 16, 2017 at 7:07pm PST

The Downsides

I enjoyed this calendar. I had fun! I like almost everything!

But, Michelle, you wonder, we're talking downsides, here? Yes, we are. 

While researching each item to link here (because I want you guys to be able to purchase these items that I post about and talk about!), I found a lot of older blog posts featuring these exact items... that are no longer on the Ulta website. The main culprit is the Glitter Tears eyeliner, which was sold (in that exact bottle) in a kit.

I started to suspect, about halfway through my research, that a lot of these items are either:

1. discontinued items from past collections
2. items that have been discontinued in favor of a rebrand (such as the Bouncy Blush becoming Velvet Blush) 
3. items from kits that didn't sell.

Basically, I started to wonder if this was a calendar of leftovers. 

Absolutely, I would prefer a brand to sell a calendar of discontinued products rather than putting them in dumpsters or landfills. But it makes it very difficult to link to those products or repurchase them if you like them. It feels like it lacks transparency. 

I'm still quite happy with the calendar and I'm glad I bought it. I just wanted to share what I found out (and what I'm mulling over!) 

Did you purchase a beauty calendar this year? I'm already keeping my eyes peeled for ones for next year!