Full, Travel & Mini Combo: BEST Value Sets

Since I used mainly Sephora's website because they had a good array of Value Sets, I wanted to give you a 3rd post with Ulta's Full, Travel, Mini combo value sets. Thought those were worth a look. You get the kit for a dollar or two more than the full sized item price. Incredible!

There are many more of these full, travel, and mini sized combo sets at Ulta and Ulta.com. Most of them almost exceed their value in the one full sized item alone. These are great to buy if you know you like that one item and are going to buy it anyway. Why not pay $1-$4 extra and get 3 or 4 extra products! Amazing!! I'm glad I know this because I really didn't until I started looking into value sets. If you ask me these are the best value, value sets.

 

Important: The bold item is the full-sized one in the kit and "medium" refers to travel-size rather than mini. The other items that aren't bolded or labeled medium are mini-sized or something in between mini and travel. 

Tarte To Brighter Days Complexion Essentials
Includes:

Deluxe Double Detox Amazonian Clay Exfoliating Facial Mask (0.1 oz.)

Deluxe Maracuja Oil (0.23 oz.)

Amazonian Clay 12 Hour Blush in Adored (0.2 oz.)

Deluxe Smooth Operator Amazonian Clay Finishing Powder (0.7 oz.)

Price: $29.00Full Price & Difference: $142.00 - $29.00= $113
Note: The blush alone is worth $26.00. This is an amazing, deal!

 
Benefit Totally Tantalizing Kit
Includes:

Hoola bronzing powder (0.28 oz.)

Benetint medium size of rose-tinted lip & cheek stain (0.13 oz.)

Price: $29.00Full Price & Difference: $58-29= $29.00
Note: The entire kit cost $1 more than the full size Hoola in it. Really good deal for all of you out there that love Hoola, and I know there are a lot. If you happen to love Benetint as well its a major bonus and if you don't its something you get to try for a buck!

Benefit POREfect Couple
Includes:

The POREfessional PRO balm to minimize the appearance of pores (0.75 oz.)

Total Moisture Facial Cream mini of hydra-concentrated facial cream (0.3 oz.)

Price: $32.00Full Price & Difference: $73.00-$32.00= $41.00
Note: Another really great deal. The POREfessional balm is $1 less then the entire kit, alone.

Tarte What Has Your Make Up Done for You Lately?
Includes:

Amazonian Clay Finishing Powder in Translucent (0.07 oz.)

multiplEYE Lash Enhancing Primer in White (0.15 fl. oz.)

Lights, Camera, Lashes 4-in-1 Mascara in Black (0.1 fl. oz.)

Skinny smolderEYES Amazonian Clay Waterproof Liner in Slate (0.04 oz.)

LipSurgence Lip Shine in Smitten (0.1 oz.)

Beauty & The Box Amazonian Clay Eyeshadow Quad in Beauty Resolutions (0.2 oz.)

Price: $38.00
Full Price & Difference: $120.00 - $38.00= $82.00
Note: The liner is a $19 value and the lipsurgence/Eye Shadow are not mini nor travel they're bigger than mini and little smaller than travel. Just by a bit. Definitely worth the price.

Laura Geller Summer in Capri
Includes:

Baked Body Frosting with Puff in Tahitian Glow (0.32 oz.)

Baked Marble Eye Shadow Duo in Rome/Milan (0.06 oz.)

GlamLASH Dramatic Volumizing Mascara in Black (0.28 oz.)

Color Drenched Lip Gloss in Melon Infusion (0.3 fl. oz.)

Price: $39.00
Full Price & Difference: $112.00 - $39= $73.00
Note: Good deal if you like baked shadow and body bronzer. Otherwise I don't know that I love the set.

Smashbox Bestsellers Kit
Includes:

Photo Finish Foundation Primer in Classic or Light (1.0 oz.)

Photo Finish Lid Primer (0.02 oz.)

Photo Op Eye Shadow Trio in Multi-Flash (Shades include: Naked (Matte Nude Pink), Doe (Shimmer Soft Suede), Crisp (Shimmer Soft Peach)) (0.04 oz.)

Layer Lash Primer (0.14 oz.)

Full Exposure Mascara in Black (0.14 fl. oz.)

Price: $39.00
Full Price & Difference: $121.50 - $39= $82.50
Note: The primer alone costs $36.00 and the lid primer is almost full size (@ 0.2oz less). Those 2 items more than supersede the cost of the kit alone. Comes in Classic and Light. REALLY Great Deal!  

Laura Geller La Dolce Vita
Includes:

Balance-n-Brighten Baked Color Correcting Foundation in Medium (0.32 oz.)

Baked Gelato Vivid Swirl Blush in Rosewater (0.17 oz.)

Baked Gelato Vivid Swirl Eye Shadow in Caramel (0.07 oz.)

Love Me Dew Moisturizing Lip Crayon in Watermelon Cooler (0.1 oz.)

Double-Ended Blush and Eye Brush

Price: $39.00
Full Price & Difference: $95.50 - $39.00= $56.50
Note: Ulta lists a $124 value, not true but the crayon and brush alone are $19/item and the other items are travel size if not a little larger so it's worth it if you're into those particular products.

bareMinerals All That Brightens
Includes:

Desert Rose Blush (natural rose) (0.04 oz.)

Balance & Boost Mineral Veil finishing powder (0.07 oz.)

bareMinerals READY Eye Shadow 2.0 The Promise featuring Aspire + Vow (nude matte and soft peach) (0.1 oz.)

Lasting Line Long-wearing Eyeliner in Absolute Black (0.12 oz.)

Mini Marvelous Moxie Lip Gloss in Spark Plug (dusty pink pearl) (0.07 fl. oz.)

Flawless Application Face Brush

Price: $39.00
Full Price & Difference: $97.00 - $39= $58.00
Note: Again, the site lists an incorrect value of $105. The eyeliner alone is $16 and this really is a full face kit. You could tuck it in your bag and get ready from start to finish on a daily basis because the color are very neutral. Good deal filled with very popular bM products.

Practical Magic or Impractical Waste

I post my hypothesis entries to see what kind of interest I get in them before moving forward with the series. It didn't seem like everyone was interested in packaging, dispensers, and boxes, like I am. I think the big companies are more interested in what their packaging does for us then readers would be. At least, in the form I was purposing.  So we aren't going to do a series on it. We're just going to do an entry on practicality, waste, and best product dispensers then move on to pricing. That is something I know consumers are interested in; after you pick the package up you turn it over and look for the price. If it isn't there you look around on the display. So we'll be talking about price point, in depth. This is something that I think we'll require some real time and research so I'll enter my post on dispenser practicality or impracticality, then my hypothesis on pricing and we'll get into it a little bit by Wednesday. The new idea portion of the series will have to do with Bestsellers lists. I noticed that they jump from between $35-$40 to $8. Where is the mid-priced non-drugstore higher end brand? Is there one? We'll find out soon enough. 

So packaging. It is one of my favorite things about make-up. I love the look and feel of it all (well the ones I like) but I do have to say that if a dispenser doesn't work for me, if it isn't simple enough or releases way to much product in one go I won't repurchase it. Even if I like the contents; pump, swipe, whatever. If I absolutely love the color, like a foundation color, then I may figure out how to transfer the contents into a dispenser I like better, if transferring doesn't waste most of the product. Foundations are really hard to find in my perfect shade, though. Other than coverage I won't usually go through the trouble. Most of our foray into dispenser will be liquid. Powder products are all dispensed in 2 forms; press and loose. You choose the brush (brushes will be a whole different series). Liquids on the other hand are packaged and dispensed in many different forms; tons of bottles of all shapes and sizes, click pens, upside down flat tops, sprays, and etc. 

We're going to start with click pens because I love and hate them. I love the way they make it so easy to apply products like Bare Minerals Well-Rested, where no matter what the type of dispenser is you're applying the product, or trying, in neat lines around the face. The click pen makes drawing those lines really easy. It makes applying gloss to lips a little more difficult. I always feel like click pens just don't work for lips. Tons of liquid-creamy lip products come in the clickable applicators but they come out thick and the lips are just not long enough to really smooth out the amount dispensed, unless you use your finger. Product gets wasted. Even though you technically need less product for your lips the clickable applicators, for lips, always run out quicker than a concealer, let's say. My concealer or highlight always looks better when I apply with one of the built-in brush/product combos (some don't click).

Click/Built-in Applicator Concealers- 

• Bare Minerals- Well-Rested Face and Eye Brightener 
• Maybelline- Instant Age Rewind Eraser 
• Maybelline- Dream Lumi Touch Highlighting Concealer
• CK One- 3-in-1 Concealer
• Lorac- Touch-up to Go Concealer  

Note- Some believe the sponge, on Instant Age Rewind, would be better replaced with a brush. They find the sponge to be dirty and a little wasteful but the product does apply smooth, evenly, and easily. It is a bestseller amongst drugstore concealers and a favorite of many make-up artists. 

Built-in Applicator

Wand Applicator

Click Applicator

 I added wand applicators in because they are part of the whole package and the wand is built in to the lid but they aren't on the same level with true built-in's and click applicators. They do not  give you the precision of either. I always find myself taking a small concealer brush and grabbing some product off of the wand. Now, that's not all wands. I think wands are very nice when it comes to lips. They spread the product out smoothly and lightly as long as you scrape the extra off on the edge before applying. 

Now, Bottles. Their are tons of them. I don't like the ones that are true bottles cap and circular opening, to pour. If your foundation comes in a bottle it should have a pump top dispenser or an eye-drop top dispenser with a firm form, so as not to over squeeze. The upside down varieties are usually a ticker consistency so they don't come pouring out when opened. They tend to have a less distinct dropper dispensing format; one short squeeze equals a drop. One long squeeze equals a line or about 3 drops. Less precise than a true dropper or pump but much, much more precise than a liquid pourer or True bottle. True bottled foundation ends up getting wasted. You pour out too little the first time and too much when you need more or you pour out an enormous amount to begin with. Its never precise, never the same. I like knowing what my face needs; one pump or two, 2 drops or 4. Whatever it may be I like to know so that I can reduce that for lighter coverage or increase for fuller coverage. I want to control it and I definitely don't want to waste product. It is not cheap. 
 

Pump dispenser.

Circular pour out dispenser.

 

Upside down squeeze dispenser. Less precise dropper, situation.

Pump and Drop Liquid Foundations- 

• MAC- varying lines in both pump and dropper form
• Giorgio Armani- varying lines in pump form
• Philosophy- Miracle Worker 
• Benefit- Hello Flawless
• Bare Minerals- BareSKIN
• IT Cosmetics- Ultra Repair 
• Lorac- POREfection 
• Revlon- Photo Ready Makeup

  Sticks and all the rest are pretty self explanatory. As long as you blend you'll always get a nice even application. We'll be moving on to pricing next. Enjoy this beautiful day!!!

Well-Rested Trio- 1/2 PRICE DEAL

I had no idea when I wrote my "Mother's Day- Mature Skin" post (read to understand why I posted this) that BareEscentuals.com was running a Mother's Day special for their Well-Rested Trio box set. You get a sample size of Well-Rested powder w/ a application brush and the Well-Rested liquid brightener for $8.00, down from $15.
  
Important Note: if you go to BareEscentuals.com and type "Well Rested Trio" into the search box the deal will not appear. You must use the link below to get the deal. 

http://www.bareescentuals.com/well-rested-trio/US64240,en_US,pd.html 

Mother's Day- Mature Skin Tutorial

In honor of Mother's Day we're going to deviate from our dive into dispensers and packaging and talk about products that work for "mature" skin. I know all you mothers out there aren't of mature skin, yet, but my mother is so in honor of her that's what we'll be chatting about. 

To start, women with more mature skin should not wear anything marked "Luminous," it has the same affect that matte nail polish has on the finger nails. Any slight nick or imperfection is magnified when you use luminous products on your face. Use matte products. They have the opposite effect on the face; they hide imperfections and keep everything smooth, matte, and even. The worst product combo someone with mature skin can use is a luminous all-over face primer like L'Oreal's Paris Magic Lumi Primer and luminous foundation, in any coverage range, like L'Oreal True Match Lumi Foundation. If your of mature skin this will enhance any imperfections and wrinkles you may have or it will make lines that are just starting to form look like full blown wrinkles. Don't use either of these products singularly and especially not as a combo in any given brand. 

A couple of primers that will work for mature, over 50, skin.

• Stila Hydrating Primer SPF 15 
• Revlon Age Defying Instant Firming Face Primer
• Amazing Cosmetics Amazing Anti-Aging Face Primer
• Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Primer Skin Transformer
• Tarte Recreate Silicone-Free Anti-Aging Primer

Moisturize deeply and fully, use a good "mattifying" primer and your usual range of coverage for the freshest look. Next, choose a concealer that brightens but doesn't illuminate. Bare Minerals Well-Rested Face & Eye Brightener is a perfect choice. The powder is $18 and the liquid is $22 but I'd say if you were going to shell out for one higher-end item in your entire collection it should be either of the two Well-Rested products. Well, and I mean well, worth the cost for anyone who has lacked sleep or overslept but especially for mature skin because it brightens without illuminating. You can use the liquid under your eyes, up the bridge of your nose and center of your forehead, and in all of the places you'd usually highlight without any shimmer (don't worry you still get to highlight with a little shimmer you just won't be over shimmering yourself and magnifying any imperfections.)

Well-Rested Face & Eye- $22. This is much easier to apply and better for all over use.

Well-Rested Face & Eye SPF20- $18. This is a better purchased for those of you that need most of your lift in the eye area.

  Now that you've concealed and brightened choose a matte bronzer. Even on less mature skin bronzers with shimmer in them can make your face look muddy. You don't want a muddy look, ever, especially when your more than likely going for dignified and classy. It may take you a little extra time but contour out your cheekbones, at least, and if your in a rush lightly bronze your forehead. If you have the time, take it to contour out your cheekbones, forehead, and jawline with a quality matte bronzer a few shades darker than your foundation. Make sure to buff out the harsh lines. You don't want to end up looking like a drag queen. Although, my mom would say if its a young drag queen that's OK with me. I don't know that everyone is as hardcore as her though, so buff.  

Bestselling Matte Bronzers (in varying price/color ranges): 

• NYC Sunny Bronzer- $3
• NYX Matte Bronzer- $9
• Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzer- $30
• Tarte Amazonion Clay Matte Waterproof Bronzer- $30
• Lorac TANtilizer Highlighter & Matte Bronzer Duo- $32

Now that your done, at least, contouring out those beautiful cheekbones lets work on our eyes. They should already be brightened and lifted but if you forgot to add a little concealer above your eyebrows to lift, do that now. This is a cheap and immediate brow-lift without the 6 month headache and pain. It really gives the illusion of a lifted brow. Blend.
 

Apply BM Well-Rested liquid pen according to diagram and above the tail up to the arch and a little passed, for a brow-lift.

Grab your shadow and usual brow tinter. Apply eye-shadow and contour your eye lids, as usual, but leave the super shimmery brow bone and inner corner shadow behind. Grab something just as bright but with less shimmer, instead of MAC's shroom, for example, grab something like MAC's Mylar, very similar colors with different amounts of shimmer. Mylar is bright and has a small amount of finely ground shimmer but not an overwhelming amount like in Shroom. Now, highlight your brow bones and inner corners. Tint your eyebrows with a brow whiz, powder, or pencil as usual. 

MAC Shroom. Very shimmery highlight.

MAC Mylar. Lighter color gives you the same highlight but less shimmer is just a little more refined.

Now, apply a matte blush work up on the apple of your cheek and down from your temple. Blend it into the bronzer to remove harsh lines. Finally, take a nice powder highlighter something with a lighter and darker color, like Bobbi Brown's Highlighting Brick, and apply the color of your choice, something to match your blush, to the top of your cheeks. Take the lightest color and highlight the cupids bow and center of your forehead, very sparingly. Don't over do it with the highlighter. Just enough to catch the light. Use a real hair brush to ensure that you don't over highlight (goat, squirrel, or rabbit hair- Sigma has great ones for good prices). Your done. This will never fail, Mommies. 

Duo or Brick Powder Highlighters

• Too Faced Candlelight Glow Duo
•  Laura Geller Beauty Baked Split Highlighter Duo 
• Benefits Hervana
• Revlon Highlighting Palette 
• Maybelline Master Hi-lite (highlighting not bronzer, read carefully their lumped together)
• Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick (varying color palettes)
• Stila All Over Shimmer Duo in Kitten
• Wet n Wild Fergie Rose Champagne Glow
  

 Happy Mother's Day!!!!!

Impulse Buy, Bye?

Like I said in my last post we'll be looking into the dispensers that all cosmetic products come in and their boxes or covers. Some, of course, as we all know are just the dispenser but the higher-end brands tend to truly box or package some of their products. We're going to start there. Start with the brands that attract us because of their dispenser and the box. I won't be writing a research entry today, though, because it's the weekend. We'll really delve into the issue in Monday's post.

I watch a lot of Youtube make-up artists. My fave is Jaclyn Hill, she had the best contour video I'd seen. As I was watching one of her "haul" videos I heard her say something along the lines of, I keep my new stuff in the boxes for awhile but since this one is hard to get out I'll have to tear it, aw! It reminded me of me. I keep all of my new products in the boxes for a little while. Depends on how often I use them. If I use them often they stay in the box less time and if I use them infrequently the products can stay in their box for months. I just love everything about cosmetics. Jaclyn Hill is also one of my faves because she seems to be a lot like me in that way. Maybe, she wasn't able to afford expensive stuff when she was younger or she tends to be a more frugal person, who knows, but she values what she does buy, especially, when it costs her more. The length of time my new products stay in their boxes is directly related to use and, most of all, expense. The more expensive it is the longer I want to protect it. Sometimes, I keep the box because I'm not sure about the product and want the option of returning it. Maybe it was an impulse buy but I ended up thinking I'd need it. Still I have to make sure because if anyone is frugal in this world its me. I will think and rethink a buy. Usually, I'll see something, go home without it, and if I'm still thinking about it 3 days later I'll return to purchase it. That goes for everything but especially cosmetics, unless, I went their specifically for it because I saw it online or in a video and haven't stopped looking at it online for the past week. So either way I give my purchases time but like everyone I do have my instances of impulse so I'll keep the packaging, in those case, a little longer not based on use or expense.

How long do you keep your purchases packaged?
Do you rip them open and throw the boxes away right away?
Do you ever really get rid of the box?
What do you consider the best packaged product out there? Dependent on practicality and beauty?

NYX, Chunky Dunk Hydrating Lippie swatches as promised. The 3rd from the right is Peach Fuzzy. 

Judging a Book by its Cover

This is another one of those entries where I let you in on my next study. We, recently, dealt with shade/color vs. naming conventions. I think that, that would be step two in purchasing any cosmetic brand (depending on the circumstances) so we are doing things a little backwards. Since I don't like to wear a lot of make-up one of the best parts about it for me is the packaging; look, texture, and thought put into each products exterior. It's definitely what attracts me to some products over others or repels me.

We're going to look at how the packaging of a cosmetic brand, product, line affects you, how practical the dispenser is, and the quality. Can we judge a "book" by its cover under these circumstances. Do we trust a product more if the packaging has more thought put into it? Would we rather pay less and get a lesser quality exterior? Is that why pans are available for purchase? How do pan palettes play into the whole packaging ordeal? If the palette is pretty enough do we not mind that we're just placing pans on the inside? Can we make the assumption that if one companies packaging looks like another that the shades will be duplicates, as well? For example, ELF has very similar holders to NARS and everyone knows that when you type in "Orgasm Dupe," ELF St. Lucia contour combo will appear. That seems like something to me or at least something to look into. 

Since this is a mini-post with my questions and ideas on our next foray into cosmetics I wanted to include a few images of the products I find to be the most beautiful; the ones that always call my attention even if they don't sell anything I'm looking for at the moment and/or aren't very practical. Also, I'll give you a few that repel me even though I know for a fact that some of their, actual, shades are very popular and well received. This will give you an idea of my thought process for my next series. 

Loves of my eyes life: 
Too Faced- all of their products are so feminine and old school. I don't know that some of their bottles are practical but they are pretty.

 

 

Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzing Powder

 

Amazing Face Liquid Foundation. Love this old-timey bottle.

Tarte Amazonion Clay- I absolutely love all of the look and feel of their products. Very earthy and simple but beautiful and natural.

Amazonion Butter Lipstick. I love this particular shades exterior but all of the designs are gorgeous.

Amazonion 12-hour Foundation. I love anything by Tarte with a "wooden" cap. 

 

 

 Repellants of my eyes life:
Urban Decay- I know their NAKED line is loved far and wide but their packaging usually repels me. For the price, I want something a little less "urban." 

Electric Eye Shadow Palette. The first item I've found semi-attractive. I wouldn't wear the shades though.

 

Revolution Lipstick. I just find this to be plain ugly or just plain. 

 

 

 

 

BareMinerals- I just find their stuff to be very plain. I always pass them right by, at Ulta, even though they're right in the front and I know their stuff is really good, or tends to be. I will say this, I do love their BUXOM line.

READY Blush. BORING, but apparently award winning. That little brush just reminds me of the cheap stuff. Not good.

 

Bareskin Foundation. I find the honey color of the foundation to be the most attractive thing about this. It could be sleek and simply beautiful which I think is what they're going for but its just not, not to me.

 Now you have a little idea of what we'll be delving into in the coming entries. Let me know what repels and attracts you based on packaging/exterior/dispenser.