Sephora Favorites Superstars Set

December 15, 2014December 15, 2014 Coco

A $15 off coupon for Sephora arrived in the mail the other day and I knew immediately that I would be making a purchase from Sephora very soon. After some browsing on the site, I decided on the Superstars value set for $75 (worth $225)… which after the coupon, was only $60!!! Not to mention, lots of sample goodies as usual!

This set features bestselling, head-to-toe beauty essentials. With an array of full-size products, from nail polish to styling spray, they’re perfect for every beauty lover. Gift them out to your best friends or indulge yourself with this special holiday treat.

My main reason for trying this set is because I already love Nars Orgasm blush and thought it would be fun to try a few new products. And I have to say… I am way more pleased than I thought I would be! For one, I am actually using the eye liner! And I ALWAYS hated eye liner and Stila. I think this set is definitely a winner and a great gift as well.

I like just about every product in this set and I cannot wait to use them everyday.

This set contains:
– 0.003 oz Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in Dark Brown
– 0.25 oz Benefit Cosmetics POREfessional
– 0.10 oz Benefit Cosmetics They’re Real Mascara In Jet Black
– 1.7 oz Bumble And Bumble Surf Spray
– 0.34 oz Chloè by Chloè Rollerball
– 0.4 oz Formula X Nail Color in Ignite
– 0.08 oz Fresh Sugar Rosè Tinted Lip Treatment
– 0.5 oz Josie Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil
– 0.16 oz Nars Cosmetics Blush in Orgasm
– 1 oz Smashbox Cosmetics Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 35 in Light
– 0.016 oz Stila Cosmetics Stay All Day® Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner In Intense Black
– 0.05 oz Urban Decay Eye shadow in Sin

The eye liner surprised me the most. If I keep up with wearing eye liner, I will definitely be purchasing it again. The Argan Oil smells wonderful. And of course, the Nars blush is always a winner.

The jury is still out on the Smashbox BB Cream (I haven’t been a huge fan of Smashbox in the past). And the Benefit POREfessional hasn’t lived up to my expectations, but I will have to use it a few more times to really know for sure.

Regardless, I am very impressed and excited to have this set!

Sephora $50 haul

May 24, 2012 Coco

On Friday night I noticed Sephora’s $22 Perfecting Cover Foundation was on sale for half price, only $11! The last time I purchased Sephora foundation, it was their hydrating and smoothing foundation (R20) at full price and I really was not a fan of it. But I figured I would give them another chance considering how low the price was. Being someone who LOVES free shipping, and would rather spent more money to not waste on shipping, I was now on the hunt through their sale items to spend the $50 required for free shipping. My package came in yesterday and here’s what I ended up choosing with a short review of each item:

Sephora Perfecting Cover Foundation - Medium 25 Beige

Sephora Perfecting Cover Foundation – Medium 25 Beige

This long-lasting foundation delivers an advanced definition complexion as it smoothes and perfects skin’s appearance.
I heard warnings about it going on too “orangy-tan” but I really like the results. It’s not necessarily the best foundation, and looks a little cakey, but overall a much better formula than the other Sephora foundation I bought before. The color actually looks great on my lightly sun-tanned skin, and blended very easily. I think it will grow on me! COURTNEY’S RATING: B+
1.1 oz (Orig. $22, Sale $11) from Sephora.com

Sephora Mineral Foundation Compact - D30 (warm beige)

Sephora Mineral Foundation Compact – D30 (warm beige)

This silky foundation provides buildable coverage and protects skin with an SPF 10, while the long-wearing formula creates a luminous finish.
I actually haven’t used a powder foundation in a LONG time, but I have been wanting to get something for a finishing powder and for touch-ups during the day, so I figured this would be a great investment for the price. It seems to work decently, but not anything special. I like the color, and it evens out my face nicely. But I am not sure if I am “sold.” COURTNEY’S RATING: B
0.35 oz (Orig. $22, Sale $7) from Sephora.com

Sephora Tropical Trio Brush Set

A set of three travel-friendly brushes dipped in vibrant, tropical hues. This super-portable brush set is as stunning as it is convenient.
THESE ARE SOOO CUTE! I am in love! They’re super soft, and incredibly portable – I immediately threw them into my purse! There isn’t much to say except WOW! COURTNEY’S RATING: A
(Orig. $22, Sale $7) from Sephora.com

Hello Kitty Liquid Nail Art

These pretty polishes will have your fingertips looking fancy. Stored in a bottle shaped like Hello Kitty, each color is high gloss, anti-chip, and sure to last a long time thanks to UV-protection and resistance to both water and detergent.
I love sparkle nail polishes, and I could not resist these, especially not when they come in cute HK bottles! I bought the three shades that were on sale: Gold Sparkle, Red Sparkle, and Silver Star. 2-3 coats, and they are incredibly beautiful! COURTNEY’S RATING: A
(Orig. $10 each, Sale $5 each) from Sephora.com

Sephora Hot Hues Neon Lip Balm – Funky Fuschia

This lip treat combines the hydrating benefits of a lip balm with the sheer tint of a lipstick. The pop of neon color will highlight any look and the long-wearing formula means you can keep your pout both moisturized and flashy from day into night.
This is without a doubt my new favorite lip balm! I previously bought some lip balms from Sephora, and I was a huge fan. But this one is even better! The pink is so pigmented, and lasts a long time! COURTNEY’S RATING: A+
(Orig. $10 each, Sale $3 each) from Sephora.com

‘Tricks of the Trade’ Anti-Shine Primer

The primer preps skin to expertly hold foundation and mattifies skin for up to eight hours, controlling and balancing sebum production. It guarantees that your makeup stays fresh and color-true.
I haven’t had a chance to try it out yet… and I usually don’t use a primer, but I couldn’t resist the price! I am actually very impressed at how well it works. It does exactly what it says it should and I would definitely repurchase… although $18 seems a little pricey, but the bottle seems to last a long time. COURTNEY’S RATING: B+
(Orig. $18, Sale $5) from Sephora.com

I also bought a pack of Sephora hair elastics ($3), and received a Dior Diorshow Mascara deluxe sample with a promotion code and received my 3 perfume samples: Cartier Baiser Vole, Bvlgari Omnia Coral, and Gucci Flora By Gucci Eau Fraîche.

Here are some pics! (Don’t mind my horrible nail polish skills, I was in a rush :P)

Sephora Hot Hues Neon Lip Balm - Funky Fuschia

(click to enlarge)

Sephora Collection Lip Balm Trio

December 10, 2011September 18, 2013 Coco

A set of hydrating lip balms, two with a tint and one clear. Formulated with shea butter, jojoba, sunflower, and grapeseed oils, each of these balms softens and conditions your lips. The tinted balms add a sheer wash of color to lips.

This set contains 3 x 0.1 oz lip balms in:
– Fuchsia
– Clear
– Rose

First Impression:

As a self-proclaimed penny pincher, $10 for three lip balms is not the BEST deal in the world, but $10 for three Sephora lip balms is another story. I ordered a friend’s Christmas present and was a few dollars shy of getting free shipping, so I grabbed this trio because the price was too good to pass up and the lip balms looked promising.

Application:

The lip balms go on smooth, and add a light touch of color to the lips. I was actually relieved that the colors were sheerer on than they look on the stick. The red balm is a light red/pink, the pink balm is a light, frosted pink shade, and the clear balm simply adds moisture to your lips. The lip balms are non-sticky, but slightly waxy at times, although not uncomfortably. The lip balms are somewhat glossy, but still slightly matte. With a light lip gloss on top, they really do pop. So it just depends on what you’re in the mood for that day. They have a very interesting pigment, the first time I applied the red, I was pretty surprised at how much I liked it. Red lip stick simply doesn’t work for me as much as I wish it would, but this red balm is a great alternative for those who’ve always wanted red lips! Add a red lip gloss on top, and I’m sure it would complete the look. The lip trio is super versatile and can go with many different looks.

Bottom Line:

The Sephora Collection Lip Balm Trio is not the be all and end all of lip balms, but they are definitely a great option value and quality wise! The red lip balm is the best part of the trio, and makes the set worth it, I use it daily! You can purchase the Sephora Collection Lip Balm Trio online at Sephora.com for $10.

Courtney’s Rating: B+

(The red lip balm separately I would give an A+)