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.

Quick Taste Test & Value Sets

I went back and reapplied the Make Up For Ever lipstick. It was the lipstick. It tastes horrible. I mean bad... it reminded me of what true lipstick use to taste like 20 years ago, when I used to play with my moms. Not that she wore much or had the money for the expensive stuff but I did play with what she had... and I had my own play ones too. The fact that MUFE tastes like play lipstick and 20 year old lip lacquer is a travesty. It tastes bad, but the color is so good. The one thing that I'm worried about is that I've been sick so I don't want to go on my tastes buds, even my dinner tasted bad last night. So it may just be me. Especially, since its such a reputable company, its hard to believe that their lip products would taste so badly. Since Im a little off due to allergies and an impending cold we'll put off tasting until later but so far MUFE products taste bad, to me. We

We'll get into Value Sets today and Travel Size singulars tomorrow, until my senses have recovered from spring allergies. This is something I've been looking into for the last week and really want to discuss. They are so cute, come in sets with all different companies combined, and sets from one company. They run anywhere from $20 - $60. The in between ones seem to be the best. The best sets all have travel size or even smaller mini sized items. At the mini level each would last between a month and 1/2 to a few months and at the travel size level the products would last 2 months to 8 months depending on how often you use those particular products. That's pretty good. I've been doing the math on value sets that particularly interested me, Benefit and store favorite packs, and each item runs between $4.50 and $14. That's kind of great. You get a few months of the product the ability to try it without having to buy the full size item. If you bought all of those full size items they'd last you but you'd end up spending $100, $200, or more depending. If you don't like them you just threw a good chunk of money down the drain. I went through Sephora's website, Value Sets, and filtered items from low to high. We'll be discussing the ones I thought gave you the best bang for your buck, the bad  or just not great (bad in Fuchsia), and the ones included really popular items. Value Sets are great when you are just want to try the item, don't know if it's something you'll like, your on a budget and want high end stuff, or you just don't wear make-up that often.

Color Guide:
Black - popular and good value
Blue- Great Value
Fuchsia- not great at all but worth mentioning for full information
Red- Full sized and good value if you know you like the items

Too Faced:

Better Than Sex Amazing Eye Set
Includes: travel size mascara and full size eye liner pencil
Price: $12.00 or $6/item

Sexy Lips & Lashes
Includes: Travel size lip plumping gloss and volume-enhancing mascara
Price: $15 or $7.50/item
Full Price & Diff.: $51.00 -$15= $36.00
Note: You can pay $5 more for 2 more products and get a BUXOM lip plumper (travel size) they are better at plumping anyway and come with a beautiful tint of choice.

Beauty Blogger Darlings
Includes: Bronzer in Chocolate Soleil Bronzer, Primed & Poreless Face Primer, Better Than Sex Mascara, Shadow Insurance Eye Shadow Primer
Price: $20 or $5/item
Full Size Price & Difference: $103.00 - $20 = $83d.

The Mascara & Bronzing Holy Grail
Includes: Bronzer in Chocolate Soleil Bronzer and Better Than Sex Mascara
Price: $23.00 or $11.50/item
Full Price & Difference: $58.00 - $23= $35
Note: The mascara is .10 ounces larger than the Beauty Blogger set but you get 2 extra products for -$3

Benefit Value Sets:

Goodtime Gals
Includes: "That Gal” primer, poppy-pink lip and cheek stain Posietint, and luminizing Girl Meets Pearl (travel size) 
Price: $15.00 or $5.00/item
Full Price & Difference: $69.00 - $15.00= $54.00
Note: This is a great deal! The Posietint is two products in one, so it really is more like $3.75/item.

You Go Gals!
Includes: The POREfessional primer, "That Gal" primer, and Girl Meets Pearl
Price: $18.00
Full Price & Difference: $80.00 - $18= $62
Note:  The POREfessional mini is $10 on it's own so this is a really great deal. I might go with the Goodtime Gals set because "That Gal" is a brightening primer. You get 2 primers in this set, yes, different functions but primers all the same. Either one is an amazing deal.

Beauty Score! (very, very mini products good for someone looking to test)
Includes: Hoola bronzing powder, Bella Bamba blush, The POREfessional pore minimizer, “That Gal” brightening face primer, It's Potent! eye cream, They’re Real mascara, Ooh La Lift under-eye brightener, Stay Don’t Stray in Light/Medium primer for concealers and eyeshadows, Benetint lip and cheek stain, High Beam complexion enhancer
Price: $36.00 or $3.60/item
Full Price & Difference: $223 - $36= $187
Note: It says the value is $88 on Sephora.com, my full price refers to buying every full size item included in the set. The mini POREfessional or They're Real are $10 each, alone, these are more mini but it give you an idea.

Benefit Box Sets: All the Box Sets by Benefit include guides and a mirror. They are all great sets to pop into your purse or desk for an on-the-go any time touch up.

Go TropiCORAL

Feelin' Dandy Lip & Cheek Kit
Includes: Posetint, Dandelion, High Beam, Ultra Plush Dandelion, Mini powder brushPrice: $28.00 or $7/item not including the brush
Full Price & Difference: $100.00 - $28.00= $72.00
Note: The products are smaller than they look in the pictures but they will last you at least a month if your using them on an everyday basis and multiple times a day (for touch ups).

Go TropiCORAL Lip & Cheek Kit
Includes: Chachatint, Coralista, High Beam, Ultra Plush Coralista, Mini powder brushPrice: $28.00 or $7/item n/incl. brush
Full Price & Difference: $100 - $28= $72.00
Note: Everything really is coral. So make sure you like coral on yourself before getting this set. One of my personal faves.

Sugarlicious Lip & Cheek Kit
Includes: Benetint, Sugarbomb, High Beam, Ultra Plush Sugarbomb, Mini powder brush
Price: $28.00 or $7/item n/incl. brush
Full Price & Difference: $100 - $28= $72.00
Note: Probably the most diverse in shade range. Very nice set.

Do the Bright Thing
Includes: "that gal" Brightening Face Primer, High Beam Luminescent Complexion Enhancer , Dandelion Brightening Face Powder, Powder Brush, They're Real! Beyond Mascara in Black, Bad Gal Liner Waterproof Eye Pencil in Extra Black
Price: $32.00 or $6.40/item n/incl. brush
Full Price & Difference: $126 - $32= $94.00
Note: The smaller boxes are great deals but these little larger ones have 2 extra items, the guide, box, and mirror for $4.00 extra.

Larger box set. Do The Bright Thing

BUXOM: Value Sets:

Passport Collection- The Day Tripper
Includes: Color Choreography Eyeshadow in Point (charcoal), Whirl (pale gold), Freestyle (peacock blue), Mini Lash Mascara in Blackest Black, True Hue Blush in Luvitate, Mini Hot Escapes Bronzer in Tahiti, Mini Lip Cream in Cherry Flip, 2 x Brushes, Portable zippered pouch with mirror 
Price: $39.00 or $4.33/item
Full Price & Difference: $170 - $39= $131.00
Note: The website lists a $79.00 value but it would cost $170 to buy each of these full-size items. Great set!

Lips So Luxe (all full-sized)
Includes: Full-On™ Lip Cream in Creamsicle, Full-On Lip Tarnish in Wardrobe Malfunction, Full-Bodied™ Lip Gloss in Boo-Ya
Price: $34.00 or $14/item
Full Price & Difference: $57.00 - $34= $23.00
Note: Really great deal if you know you like these. I happen to love Creamsicle!

More full sized sets to come...

The Senses: Taste Mini Post

We'll get back to pricing soon but I was at Sephora today getting my free birthday gift by Make Up For Ever; mascara and lipstick. All you have to do to get it is sign up for a Beauty Insider card, no purchase necessary. I tried a BUXOM lip plumping gloss while I was there and it made my tongue numb. Then I got home and tried the lipstick that came in my little gift set, artist rouge natural line in Copper Pink (N9), a really gorgeous color. The taste was intensely awful. I still taste it an hour after rubbing it all off. I don't know if it was a mix of the 2 products of just the MUFE lipstick but this got me thinking about lip product tastes. These are supposed to be high-end items. What is going on? They know we're putting them on our mouths what is up with making them taste horrible? I told my boyfriend about this Mario Badescu serum sample I got and he said "They should make their samples extra good... so you want to buy them then make the real thing not as good to save." I got to thinking about this, samples should be extra good. The point is to get us to try and then buy. If MUFE is skimping on their lipstick samples or that's what the real thing taste like they've got a problem either way.

Make Up For Ever birthday gift set. Pretty but the lipstick seemingly taste disgusting.

So we'll be delving into taste. What lip product can you just not stand the taste of? I loved the color and I'll only try it once more to see if it was the mix of the two that tasted so bad if it's not the mix I'll never ever buy a MUFE lip product. YUCK! I still taste it. Truly disgusting.

Tutorial- My Daily Routine

Since it's the weekend I decided that I would do another application tutorial. This one is a look you can apply daily and in several different ways. It can easily go from day to night using any range of products you'd like.

Preparing for application:

Step 1:
I start off each day my adding a little organic fine grain sugar to a hydrating cleanser and exfoliating my face. I do have troubled skin so I use Tretinoin, any acne cream is going to regenerate skin cells quickly, so I need to exfoliate daily to stop from getting that peely look when I apply my make-up. You'll get it no matter how much you moisturize if you need to exfoliate and haven't. I use to think applying a layer of moisturizer on top of my make up would stop the peeling. It did for about 5 minutes, messed my make up all up, and then went back to peeling. Exfoliate!! I cannot say it enough. Use sugar, its a really inexpensive and works like a charm. You can even use regular dominion sugar, the stuff you put in your coffee.

Step 2:
Because I mix the sugar with my CerVe Hydrating cleanser I make sure to tone thoroughly. I would anyway but especially to make sure every drop of sugar is removed from my skin. I use the Mario Badescu Cucumber Cleansing Lotion. It is a miracle in a bottle. No alcohol at all and fairly inexpensive. You can get a Mario Badescu regime kit with the Enzyme cleansing gel (I use this at night to get every speck of make up off), Cucumber Cleansing Lotion, Aloe Oil-free moisturizer, a kaolin face mask, and seaweed night cream for $30.00. Yes, they are travel size but the kit will last you over a month and I've haven't had to replace everything at once. I had to replace the seaweed night cream first ($20), a couple weeks later I replaced the Cucumber Cleansing Lotion ($18), and I've yet had the need to replace anything else. I do use a different cleanser in the morning though. If I used the Enzyme Cleansing Gel it comes with I'm sure I would have needed to replace that by now. I tend to have dry skin in the mornings so I use something hydrating, like CerVe. The Enzyme Cleansing Gel can be a little too drying used twice a day but is great in the evenings and get every single speck of make up off. MAJOR TANGENT!

Step 3:
After toning, I apply my medicated acne cream, Chlyndomicin. I apply a Nivea cream to my eyes while the medication dries because it has a little oil and my mother, who is 63 and only has eye wrinkles, has used it on her entire face since she was 15. That's proof enough for me. The skin under your eyes does not produce oil.

Step 4:
Apply moisturizer. I use the MB oil-free Aloe but if you are dry of skin use something with oil. If you get pimples but they aren't chronic and don't use a medicated cream use the MB acne kit and corresponding lotion. Apply what you need to hydrate your skin thoroughly enough to apply your make up. If your make up isn't quite looking right or your getting an orange peel look after applying your foundation your not hydrating enough. That's a direct paraphrase from Bobbi Brown herself.

NOW THE MAKE UP!
This is the way I do it. Just grab the items I mention for the specific look in the order that works for you, if you have one; except the highlighter.

Step 1:
Wait 2 minutes for your moisturizer to seep in if your applying immediately after preparing your skin then apply a light layer of concealer to your eye lids. Make sure it is no-crease concealer, if not, use a matte shadow a shade lighter than your skin. I use Makeup Geek's Vanilla Bean or Wet N Wild's Crème Brulee. I apply that all over the lid and slightly into the crease.

Step 2: grab a simple contouring shade I use either the crease color from L'Oreal's Cupa Joe palette or Makeup Geek's Crème Brulee (very different from WNW CB). Crème Brulee is a medium sand color and the cupa joe is a taupe color. I apply these either of these in a moon shape in the outer corner blending the least amount of color into the crease, for a light contour. You can apply a satin or lightly shimmering highlight under the brow but I leave this out sometimes for a truly fresh no make up, make up look.

Step 3-
Apply concealer under the eyes and blend out to the temple. Don't apply something too light, just light enough to cover and correct those dark circles. Apply the thinnest layer possible while still covering. I use Dream Lumi Highlighting concealer, MAC Pro Longwear in NW20, or NYX in Fair. Sometimes I need a mix of those. Using a warm finger will get you the best, most evenly thin application. Pat don't drag your finger around the under-eye then set your concealer. This is KEY! It makes everything look seamless. Use a loose translucent powder, a light press powder, or any skin tone powder. I use Physicians formula mosaic press powder. It has a white, pink, natural and several bisque colors. I take a little white and darker bisque for the perfect setting.

Step 4:
I don't apply foundation because I don't need it most of the time after I apply my concealer but if you need some coverage for blemishes (apply concealer on the blemishes, not under-eye concealer, pot concealer) or just don't feel comfortable without some coverage go for a BB cream or Tinted Moisturizer, especially because we're in the Spring/Summer months of the year. Something lighter is better no matter how much coverage you need at this time of year. Emulsify it between your fingers and pat into your skin. After patting the first layer in, take a look and add extra wear necessary for extra coverage.

Step 5:
Lightly bronze your face. Hallows of the cheeks, forehead, temples and very lightly around the jaw line using a matte bronzer. I use NYC Sunny Bronzer.

Step 6:
Apply a matte peachy/coral blush. Peach complements almost everyone. If your complexion is dark apply something more bright orange, it'll come out peachy/coraly. Apply too the apples of your cheeks in little circles then drawn back to the temple. Once at the temple blend down to the bronzer to remove any harsh lines. This will give you such a radiant glow.

Step 7:
Grab your highlighter. Apply a pink-brown bronzer along the top line of the blush with a fan brush or any precise applicator blush. If your using a fan brush, after applying to both cheeks go back and flick the product you've apply downward, slightly. If your not using a fan brush grab any face brush and blend lightly from the top to the center of your blush.

Step 8:
Curl your lashes. Apply 2-3 coats of mascara. This is important, it'll really make your eyes pop with that shadow without any extra product.

Step 9:
Apply a peachy or pinkish nude lip gloss like NYX Maple Blondie.

You should have a really great, fresh, radiant glow but if it isn't enough apply dark shadow (for a more natural look) in your choice color to the upper lash line. If you choose liner apply to the upper outer half of your lash line, then blend out what you've applied to the inner corner for a, guaranteed, light and more natural look. You'll look amazing every time and especially naturally beautiful. 

If you want to go out after work all you have to do is add a little eyeliner or more eyeliner and a more vibrant lipstick with the gloss you used before on top and your good to go. You can even add a little of a lighter shade highlighting powder to your cupids bow, bridge of your nose and center of your forehead. I use Revlon's shimmer brick, using the lightest to really glow in the evening.

Placement: Brown = bronzer. Pink = blush. Baby Pink On top of Blush = Highlighter. Pale Yellow = concealer. Grey = eye shadow contour.

Illuminating Duplicates

...By Price Difference

I feel like Illuminators or highlighters are something that can just be really fun, so I decided to do pricing on them before I went forward with Foundation. Just to add a little color and shine into our day. We're still talking about price but I think this is a little more exciting. I love highlighters and Illuminators. Can you believe I didn't even know what they really were up until 6 months ago. Wow!

 The examples of duplicates and price differences will shock you! Most of them whether high priced of low priced are very comparable. So I decided to go through and filter out highlighters in ascending price order. Just to give you a little look into highlights from the lowest to the highest prices. I have quite a few highlighters myself. So many of them come in liquid form that you can get a nice size sample of any high-end brand at Nordstroms and I’ve bought a few highlighting bricks and singles. So I have an idea of what really compares. For example, NYX’s liquid highlighter in Born to Glow compares almost exactly to NARS’ Copacabana. I own both. It’s almost impossible to tell which is which if squirted side by side on your hand. Once you apply them NARS’ truly disappears and just catches the light where NYX’s is a tiny bit less invisible but catches the light in the same way. MAC’s Bronze liquid Illuminator is a true match to NYX Bronze Glow, have them both, and I can’t tell the difference, at all. They both give me a sun-kissed dewy glow.

Let’s hop into it by playing the match game (highs and low listed below). The highest priced highlighter on the Sephora list matches the Too Faced Sweetheart Beads Radiant Glow Face Powder (#9, Ulta- High), a $28.00 difference. Beads of shimmer in several similar color combinations. Physicians Formula Nude Wear Nude Glow Powder/Blush $12.99-$14.99, are not listed, but make a good duplicate for Diorskin Nude Shimmer (#4, Sephora- High), a $40.00 difference, but you’ll probably need both the Bronzer/Blush to truly match it so it’s more like a $25.00 difference. That’s still pretty good; 2 for much less than the price of 1! The Maybelline Master Hi-lite (#6, Ulta- Low) has the exact colors in the Givenchy compact, a $37.00 difference, or the Sephora Microsmooth Trio (#7, Sephora- Low), a $11 difference. The Sephora Microsmooth in Light Beam (#2, Sephora- Low) is an exact dupe to Intimate Spotlight (#5, Ulta- Low), a $4.00 difference. Not much but something when you’re on a budget or you just happen to have an Ulta closer to you than you do a Sephora. Laura Mercier’s Secret Brightener is a good match to YSL’s pen (#9, Sephora- High), a $15.00 difference. That just names a few higher priced highlighters and illuminators that have a very close duplicate. Highlighters and Illuminators serve such a specific light/sheer purpose that it is hard to make them extremely variant from one another. You’ll always be able to find something at a lower price range than one you’ve been wanting to buy, but can’t afford or don’t want to waste that kind of money on. As long as you are OK with slight differences in some; the biggest being price. You can always just use a shimmery blush, bronzer, or shimmery eye shadow that you like too. All you need is a little shimmer and maybe a fan brush to make application precise. You can get a fan brush from E.L.F for $1.00 or a larger nicer one by EcoTools for $7, either way they have them in all ranges that work perfectly for what you'll be using them for.  

Diorskin Nude Shimmer Instant Illuminating Powder- $56.00

Physicians Formula Nude Glow Bronzer/Blush, my Diorskin Nude Shimmer dupe. Btw $25-$40 difference.

Ulta's 10 Lowest Priced Illuminators/Highlighters;

1.       Essence Cosmetics Sun Club All-In-One Bronzing Highlighter- $4.49
2.       Lorac Mini Tantalizer Baked Bronzer- $7.00
3.       NYX Born To Glow Liquid Illuminator- $7.49
4.       NYX Cosmetics Illuminator- $8.99
5.       Kardashian Beauty Intimate Spotlight- $9.99
6.       Maybelline Master Hi-Light Powdered Bronzer- $9.99
7.       Kardashian Beauty Light Stroke Double Sided Luminizer- $9.99
8.       Revlon Highlighting Palette- $10.99
9.       Benefit Cosmetics Boi-ing Eyebright Compact- $12.00
10.   Revlon PhotoReady Skinlights Face Illuminator- $12.99

Sephora Collection Microsmooth Baked, $14.00.

Kardashian Collection dupe for Microsmooth, $4 difference.

Ulta's 10 Highest Priced Highlighters/Illuminators;

1.       Napoleon Perdis Blush Patrol- $50.00
2.       Too Faced Bonjour Soleil Summer Bronzing Wardrobe- $44.00
3.       Laura Geller Beauty Baked Split Highlighter Duo with Brush- $42.50
4.       It Cosmetics Vitality Face Disc- $38.00
5.       Laura Geller Beauty Bronze N Brighten- $33.00
6.       Lorac TANtalizer Highlighter & Matte Bronzer Duo- $32.00
7.       Smashbox Halo Highlighting Wand- $32.00
8.       Tarte Amazonian Clay BB Illuminating Moisturizer- $32.00
9.       Too Faced Sweetheart Beads Radiant Glow Face Powder- $32.00
10.   Benefit Cosmetics Watts Up- $30.00

Guerlain Meteorites Perles, $70, or Powder, $60.

Too Faced Sweetheart Beads, $30, my closest match to Guerlain. Btw $30-$40 different.

Sephora's 10 Lowest Priced Highlighters;

1.       Smashbox Travel-size Photo Finish Luminizing Foundation Primer- $8.00
2.       Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Cosmetic Glitters- $14.00
3.       SEPHORA COLLECTION MicroSmooth Baked Luminizer- $14.00
4.       Tarte Maracuja Blush & Glow- $16.00 on sale from $32.00
5.       Stila All Over Shimmer Liquid Luminizer- $20.00
6.       Illamasqua Illuminator- $20.00
7.       SEPHORA COLLECTION MicroSmooth Baked Sculpting Contour Trio- $21.00
8.       Stila All Over Shimmer Duo- $22.00
9.       bareMinerals bareMinerals READY® Luminizer Duo- $24.00
10.   Illamasqua Gleam Cream- $26.00

Guerlain Precious Light Rejuvenating Illuminator, $51.

 

YSL TOUCHE ÉCLAT – Rain Strass Edition, $45.00.

Laura Mercier Secret Brightener, $30. A $15-$20 difference & still higher-end.

Sephora's 10 Highest Priced Illuminators;
1.       Guerlain Météorites Perles du Paradise- $70.00

2.        Guerlain Météorites Powder For The Face- $60.00

3.       Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette- $58.00

4.       Dior Diorskin Nude Shimmer Instant Illuminating Powder- $56.00

5.       Guerlain Precious Light Rejuvenating Illuminator- $51.00

6.       Dolce & Gabbana The Illuminator Glow Illuminating Powder- $51.00

7.       Givenchy Le Prisme Visage Mat Soft Compact Face Powder- $47.00

8.       Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder- $45.00

9.       Yves Saint Laurent TOUCHE ÉCLAT – Rain Strass Edition- $45.00

10.   Guerlain Terracotta Blush Sun Shimmer Highlighter- $43.00

SEPHORA COLLECTION MicroSmooth Baked Sculpting Contour Trio- $21.00

Maybelline Master Hi-Lite, $9.99. Good sub. for Givenchy & Sephora C. Trio at $37 & $11 difference.