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.

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!!!!!