'Tis the Season for Limited Editions

'Tis the season for limited editions. Christmas is my favorite holiday in some respects and in the same respect my least favorites season. Con = all the shopping for gifts stress. Pro = all the shopping; LIMITED EDITION makeup value sets, palettes, colors, and so, so many deals. 

Some of the limited editions will never return and some will return next Christmas season. Some will continue after the Christmas season but not at the great holiday prices. Overall limited edition value sets are my absolute favorite thing about the Christmas season. I can't stand how cute the sample size items in the Sephora Favorites holiday sets are and all the amazing packaging. I would have loved to have a Benefit Cosmetics advent calendar as a pre/teen. I didn't even know they existed until this year and I am obsessed. So enough about me lets get into the good stuff. I'm going to let you in on all the best holiday limited edition products, sets, and gifts. These items need to publicized or I know tons of you are going to be upset when you see them on Pinterest later only to find out that they aren't in rotation anymore. 

Best Limited Edition Color Palettes: 

1. Bobbi Brown's Warm Glow Palette, $75 - absolutely my #1 x-mas list item! Gorgeous and I do mean gorgeous faux crocodile case. If I miss out on this I will not forgive myself. A little pricey for but definitely worth it. Not really crazy, $$, for Bobbi.

Bronzes, Roses, and Warm Browns. Absolutely Gorgina!

2.  Bobbi Brown's Warm Eye Palette, $48.50- Six beautiful warm shades and a BB dual-ended brush. The brush alone would usually cost you $45. This is a Limited Edition steal and best!

Warm Eye Palette with dual-ended brush!

3. Bobbi Brown Deluxe Lip & Eye, $80- 8 shadows, 8 lip colors, and a mini brush for each. The eye shadows mini versions of the shades from the Warm Glow and Warm palette. If you don't use eyeshadow everyday or don't use a specific palette too often this is the right choice for you. You get the Warm/Glow shades, 2 brushes, and the bonus 8 complimentary lip shades for $5 more than the Warm Glow palette. 

Perfect for your holiday party clutch! 

(OK, let's get away from Bobbi Brown but I do have to give her Surf and Sand line a shout out, gorgeous, not holiday and not really a deal but Limited Edition nonetheless and worth taking a look at before it's gone.)


LE Gifts for your FAVORITE people, ONLY! Otherwise keep it for yourself! 

1.  Urban Decay Naked on the Run, $54- This is a must for a bestie, mom, sister (you) that never has the time to go home before going out after work! Gorgeous and truly everything you need to touch-up for a great price! It is UD.

Bronzer, blush, highlighter, 5 Naked Shadows, liner, lip gloss, and mascara

 2. Tarte Kiss & Belle LipSurgence Lip Set, $34- 8 deluxe sample lip products that can easily be split up and used as stocking stuffers. Great deal, shades, and versatility! I plan on dropping 2 into each stocking and still having 2 left over for myself!

$4.25/product! You cannot get any better than that!

3. Tarte Bon Voyage Collector's Set and Travel Bag, $59- This is a perfect gift or multiple gifts. You can split this up in so many ways or give it whole. It's such an amazing deal. That many shadows by Tarte would usually cost $70 alone. 

Super deluxe sample and full sizes!

4. Benefit Cosmetics Advent Calendar, $99- This is perfect for a family of girls. Each day is a little beautiful and exciting gift. You can also get this and split the 25 items to make small gifts for your friends or anyone in your life.

Each little window opens from Dec 1 to Dec 30...

...reveal all of this!

  Honorable Mention: There are a ton of Limited Edition holiday sets and singles that you should absolutely look at but Nars, Too Faced, and BareMinerals all deserve a specific shout-out. They have done it up completely right; packaging, price, and amount = amazing! I'm just giving you a little taste of the greatness, go to Sephora.com and search "Limited Edition" to see it all! I have many many many times and cannot wait to start buying these LE's all up! Remember the whole point is that they will not be around for long...

Make Your Own Value Set

I figured that we should try making our own value sets by coming 3-4 travel size and mini items or duo's. Most of these will be the type of value set that includes several different brands like Ulta's Summer Favorites or Sephora's Summer Stash value set. Each of those comes with about 7 itty bitty products and runs about $45, but we'll be mixing our own travel and mini products. See what we can get. It may not work... but we'll try. These are just a few of the kits I was able to put together by looking through the gift (you can buy those gifts they offer with purchases for a few dollars), travel, and duo deals. They range about the same as the other kits and come with a few full sized items but they're personal to me. These are kits I'd definitely take home and try.

Touch-up Kit
Includes: Benefit They're Real, Mascara, Urban Decay Long Lasting Setting Spray, Bite Beauty Luminous Crème Lipstick Duo
Price: $36.00 or $12/item
Price/Item: $10, $14, $12


Stay Bronze Kit  
Includes: Lorac TANtilizer Highlighter & Matte Bronzer Duo, Tarte Maracuja Face & Body Tanner, NYX Baked Blush 
Price: $30 or $10/item
Price/Item: $12, $12, $6


Full Finishing Kit
Includes: Tarte BB Tinted Cream & 12- hr Primer, Urban Decay SuperCurl Mascara, NYX Powder Blush, bareMinerals Ready Touch Translucent Veil
Price: $50.00 or $12.50/item
Price/Item: $10, $10, $6, $23
Full Price - Difference:

Lip and Cheek Kit
Includes: Benefit high beam and Posietine, Tarte Mascara and Lipsurgence Crayon
Price: $29.00 or $7.25/item
Price/Item: $13.00, $16

Add this $13 duo...

...to this $16 for a full lip check and lash kit.

Face, Lip, & Cheek Kit
Includes: Stila BB Trio, bareMinerals Moxie lipgloss & lipstick, benefit high beam & Posietint
Price: $37.00 or $5.29/item
Price/Item: $12, $12, $13

Face, Lips, and Cheeks Kit for $37.00

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.

Full Size Me: Value Set

So I promised more full sized value sets and that's what you're going to get. Full sized value sets are only really a value if you know you tend to like that companies products. You tend to like those particular shades or you know you like those exact products. Otherwise they are cheaper but if you might not end up using them they aren't a true value. Don't go by the value on they say its worth on the box. That is truthfully incorrect most of the time. They overestimate according to fluid and viscous ounces your receiving. Most importantly only buy the full size value sets if you are a Pro Artist and need them for your kit or if you know you like and use those items. We'll be talking about how to make your own value set by collecting travel size duo's and individuals, tomorrow.

Color Guide: I included an image of each value set for your full information.
Black - full sized and good value if you know you like them 
Blue- Great Value & exclusive item
Fuchsia- good for Pro use
Red- popular items & pretty good value

 
bareMinerals Perfect Pair
Includes: Original Foundation Broad Spectrum SPF 15 in Medium Tan and Prime Time Original Foundation Primer
Price: $35.00 or $17.50/item
Full Price & Difference: $53.00 - 35.00= $18.00
Note: These are two vary popular items that usually sell for about $26 a piece. So the savings is considerable if you know you use bareMinerals primer and original foundation.

bareMinerals The First Resort
Includes: Ready Color Boost in The Beach Is Waiting, Marvelous Moxie Lipgloss in Party Starter, Light stroke fan brush
Price: $35.00 or $11.67/item
Full Price & Difference: $66.10 - 35= $31.10
Note: You cannot get the palette on its own but the lip gloss alone is $18 and a bareMinerals brush runs about the same, $36, on those two items alone.

BUXOM Red Hot Set
Includes: Pen & Ink Long-Last Eyeliner in P.S. Ciao, Sculpted Lash Mascara in True Black, Full-On Lipstick in Barcelona, Full-On Lip Polish in Krystal
Price: $39.00 or $9.75
Full Price & Difference: $86.00 - $39= $47.00

Josie Maran Aragan Matchmaker Complexion Kit
Includes: Coconut Watercolor Cheek Gelée in Poppy Paradise, Argan Matchmaker Powder Foundation SPF 20, Argan Matchmaker Serum Foundation, 100 percent Pure Argan Oil Light, Argan Illuminizer sample
Price: $68.00 or $17/item
Full Price & Difference: $154 - $68= $86.00
Note: You really need to know you love all of these items for this to be a good value because individually they run about $30.00.

Tarte Cheek Stain Collector's Vault
Includes: Cheek Stain in Flush, Blushing Bride, Blissful, Exposed, Tipsy, True Love, Fearless, Natural Beauty
Price: $150.00 or $18.75 each
Full Price & Difference: $240 - $150= $90.00
Note: You'd have to love Tarte's cheek stains, all of them, or be a Pro to get value out of this set. They are full size and usually do cost $30 a pc. but I can't see anyone needing this many stains and loving all  the colors enough unless like I said your a Pro.

Tarte Eye-ssentials Amazonian Clay Discovery Kit
Includes: EmphasEYES™ Amazonian Clay Waterproof Cream Eyeshadow in Rich Brown, EmphasEYES™ Inner Rim Brightener, Gifted Amazonian Clay Smart Mascara, Eye shadow brush
Price: $33.00 or $8.25/item
Full Price & Difference: $63.00 - $33= $30
Note: Sephora lists a $74 value, incorrect.

Obsessive Compulsive Lip Tar Matte Trio Set
Includes: Lip Tar in Clockwork, Hush, Memento, Precision Lip Brush
Price: $39.50
Full Price & Difference: $54-$39.50= $14.50
Note: Separate set of Lip Tar in Nylon, Harlot, Trollop. Sephora lists a $74 value, incorrect. Each individual tar costs $18 and comes with a brush. You only get 1 brush for all 3 here so really its worth less than $54.00. A deal but not a value.

2nd set of shades offered.

Bestselling: Foundation & Prices

Ok- so I realized in my post on BB Creams it was more about the top rated and bestsellers than it was about price. I am giving the price and a little look-see into what really is worth the BANG your buck deserves but I feel like I've only done that in a read-between-the-lines sort of way. So we're going to really look a pricing today on the bestsellers list. Side by side Bestsellers vs. Top Rated. Just because something sells doesn't mean it is the best. So we need to look at which products make BOTH lists. Which one is popular but also rated on its quality. We're going to do that with Sephora's lists of bestsellers and top rated Foundation, today. This feels like the product that women spend the most money on, or this range; BB, Tinted, Medium, and Full Coverage. It's what starts our flawless look... its the base to the face.

Bestselling                                                                    Top Rated
1. bareMinerals Original- $27.00                        1. Ko Gen Do Triple Lightning- $20.00
2. Make Up For Ever HD Invisible Cover- $42.00  2. Shiseido UV Protective Liquid- $36.00
3. bareMinerals BareSKIN- $29.00                       3. Guerlain Terracotta Joli Teint- $53.00
4. Kat Von D Lock-it Tattoo- $34.00                    4. Givenchy Teint Couture Fluid- $49.00
5. Clinque Even Better Makeup- $27.00              5. Estee Lauder Double Wear Light- $37
6. bareMinerals Matte Foundation- $27.00          6. bareMinerals Original- $27.00
7. Diorskin Airflash Spray- $62.00                       7. Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place- $37.00
8. bareMinerals Try. Believe. Love. Kit- $20.00    8. Guerlain Lingerie de Peau Invisible- $61.00
9. Make Up For Ever Mat Velvet + Mattifying- $36.00          9. Givenchy Teint Couture Long-wearing compact- $55.00
10. Hourglass Immaculate Liquid Powder- $55   10. Diorskin Nude Compact- $50.00

 

Made both bestseller and top rated list, runs in the $20 area.

Company made both lists but not same product. Runs in the $50 area.

As you can see the prices on the Bestselling list range from $20.00 to $62.00. The prices on the Top Rated list range from $20.00 to $61.00. The only company that makes the cut, both lists, is bareMinerals in bareMinerals Original Broad Spectrum Foundation. Telltale, if you ask me. You could spend $62.00 on the Diorskin Airflash Spray but it isn't top rated, so is it really worth it? I feel like Top Rated speaks to quality, number of shades, and ease of application, not popularity but you do trust popularity when everyone is buying something it has to mean something so I think combining the two and picking items that make both lists is the way to get the best of the best for a price. Usually there are a few more options. More companies that make both lists, in this case, bareMinerals would be the only choice. Not much of a choice. So let's look at a few other things. Although the same product does not make both list Dior, the company, makes both lists. Well that seems to be it. So you're most informed guess on the best foundation to buy would be 1) Pick one of the two (Dior/Bareminerals) that has a shade that makes it look like you put on babyskin, 2) One of the companies that made both lists in different products for 2 different sites like Tarte. My guess is they would have something qualifying. 3) Pick one on either list depending on your values and what you want to spend, is bestselling or top rating more important to you? Each of the two companies gives you options; one runs in the twenties and one in the 40's and 50's. Something for everyone's wallet.

Top Rated: BB Creams & Prices

We took a look at the Bestsellers lists from Ulta and Sephora yesterday. We're going to do the same today but we're looking at the Top Rated lists on Foundation or coverage. Ulta includes tinted moisturizer under one heading, Foundation, and Sephora does not. To compensate I was going to take the top 6-7 of each of Sephora's lists but I decided it may be more comprehensive if we separate them ourselves. So I'll take the top 10 foundations, tinted moisturizers, and BB/CC creams from each, for example, if the first tinted moisturizer is number 6 on Ulta's list we'll skip it in Foundation and put it in the #1 spot for Ulta under that heading. That will help us to see what price ranges we're really looking at in different categories of coverage, rather than lumping them all together. It will also make it easier for those of you who only need BB cream or always use foundation (no matter the season) to go to that entry rather then having to scrape around through a mush-mosh of them all.

We'll start with what I consider to be the sheerest coverage, BB Cream (or CC depending on the company. We won't be including those CC creams that are specific to the eyes). I listed them below and highlighted a couple odd balls, Tarte's BB/CC creams. Although, Tarte names includes the word primer in 2 of the 3 listed both can be used on their own as BB Creams. They are not primers in the traditional sense. Tarte has the most BB/CC creams listed in the top 10, Top Rated for this type of coverage. If your having doubts and want to spend the money, go with Tarte. I'd go with #5 its a tinted moisturizing BB Cream because form and it falls in @ #6 on the Bestselling list. It may cost a couple more bucks than the others but it isn't as ambiguous a product. Three cosmetic companies made it on to both Bestselling and Top Rated BB/CC Creams lists; IT Cosmetics, Tarte, and Stila and technically Smashbox.They had an eye-only CC pen in the top 10 Top Rated list. If your looking for something that is Top Rated and Bestselling go with one of the products listed below by any of the given companies I listed above.

Ulta Top 10 BB Creams: price range $14.99 - $48.00

1. Kinerase BB Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 15 UVA/UVB Sunscreen- $48.00
2. Karora CC Cream- $35.00
3. IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC Cream with SPF 50+- $38.00
4. Tarte Amazonian Clay BB Tinted Moisturizer- $36.00
5. Tarte BB Tinted Treatment 12hr Primer- $35.00
6. Peter Thomas Roth BB Blur BS SPF30- $48.00
7. Olay CC Cream Total Effects Daily Moisturizer- $21.99 (currently on sale for ~$18)
8. Tarte Colored Clay CC Primer- $34.00  
9. Lumene Anti-age Time Correcting CC Cream- $14.99
10. Stila 10-in-1 Stay All Day Bronzing BB Cream- $38.00

#3 Top Rated and #1 Bestselling BB/CC Cream @ Ulta.

#8 Top Rated and Bestselling BB/CC Cream @ Ulta.

Moving on to Sephora's Top 10, Top Rated, BB/CC Creams. Their prices vary at a much higher range, but they don't sell any lower priced products and they sell more highly priced brands than Ulta does, so they are bound to have a little higher price range in this category. As you can see 2 of the 3 Tarte products are listed. The BB Tinted Treatment by Tarte made it on to the bestsellers list, as well. The other companies products, listed below, that made it on to the bestsellers list were Dr. Jart+, Dior, and AmorePacific. Tarte wins by a landslide! It made every list from both sites, is sold at a mid-level price range, and well received. I've always been a big fan of the Tarte products, their packaging calls me. I don't own anything but their blush, but after doing this research I'll be buying their BB Cream, for sure.

Sephora's Top 10 BB & CC Creams: price range $35.00 - $60.00
1. Cover FX BB Gel Mattifying Anti-blemish Treatment- $45.00
2. Estee Lauder Daywear BB Anti-oxidant Beauty Benefit Creme- $39.00
3. Dior Diorskin Nude BB Creme- $44.00
4. Guerlain Lingerie de Peau BB Cream- $52.00
5.  Tarte Amazonian Clay BB Tinted Moisturizer- $36.00
6. AmorePacific Color Control Cushion- $60.00
7.  Tarte BB Tinted Treatment 12hr Primer- $35.00 (travel size $10, 3 shades)
8. Dr. Jart+ CC Essence Balm- $42.00
9. Dr. Jart+ Premium Beauty Balm SPF45- $39.00
10. Philosophy Hope in a Jar A to Z Perfecting BB Cream- $38.00

#9 Top Rated and #2 Bestselling @ Sephora.

#7 Top Rated and #4 Bestselling @ Sephora.

 Tinted Moisturizer and Foundation will be the next two upcoming entries, one later today and one tomorrow.