Hauls

I did a Sephora recently and picked up some of the new popular launches. I shared the shopping haul on reels and today I have everything swatched! I have some hits and some misses.

Skincare + Fragrance

I just ran out of the Instant Foaming Cleanser ($30) which is a nice gentle formula, but instead of restocking this one (it was a little too gentle for me) I decided to pick up the new Vinoperfect Brightening Daily AHA Micropeel ($38). It’s like a foaming cleanser but you apply on dry skin, massage in for 30 seconds and rinse. It’s one of the most gentle peels I’ve used and it really does work. I like it better than other acid treatments or powder exfoliating cleansers because it doesn’t burn and there’s no harsh texture. The description says it’s gentle enough to use daily but since it’s summer and I’m exposed to more sun I use it 1 to 2x per week.

You girls know I’m a huge fan of cleansing balms. I love the ones from Farmacy Beauty and they launched a limited-edition Honey Vanilla Cleansing Balm ($36) and it smells incredible. The fragrance in their limited-edition balms do not irritate my skin, if you need something that has no fragrance I recommend the Elemis Pro-Collagen NAKED Cleansing Balm.

I restocked the Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protector SPF 60 ($50) as it’s my favorite body sunscreen. It’s the best longest lasting that will hold up the best in water or with sweat. I reapply when I’m outdoors and it’s easy to reapply without it pilling. I also really like the Ultimate Sun Protector BodySpray with SPF 40 ($38), but find myself reaching for the lotion more.

I’ve seen a lot of raves about the Valentino fragrances so I picked up the Donna Born in Roma Travel Set ($90). All three are very strong and potent if you’re looking for a good date night scent that will last. I like the Born in Roma the best which is a sparkling floral with blackcurrant, jasmin and bourbon vanilla. I don’t know that I love any of them enough to buy the full size, but it’s a fun one to try.

Lip Haul

I hauled quite a few lip products and I have some hits and some misses. I’ll start with the hits. I love the Armani Prisma Glass ($38) shades in Amber Shine 06 (brown) and Nude Glow 07 (nude). I still think they could have given us more product and a better applicator for the price but I love the color and shine.

The Gisou Honey Infused Lip Oils ($28) are hits for me, but do note the scents are very strong. I bought two of the shimmers. Watermelon Sugar is a pink shimmer but it’s pretty much clear on the lips. Coconut Frost is a sweet coconut scented color with pearly white shimmer. The Coconut one shows up better on my lips and give them a clearish pearly shimmer. They feel nicely hydrating without being too thick.

Misses for me include the Gucci Liquid Lipstick ($47) and Kosas Hotliners ($22). I love the colors of the Gucci Liquid Lipstick but I’m giving it a solid miss because it’s definitely not transfer proof as the name says and it does not last super long. They are more like a whipped velvet liquid lipstick but they go on a little patchy and require a lot of blending.

I bought 3 of the Kosas Hotliners ($22) with high hopes they improved the formula and removed the crayon smell from them. I picked up a few from Sephora, but FYI Kosas is having 20% off sitewide for their summer sale (no code needed). They no longer smell like rancid crayons, but the colors aren’t as good as I hoped. But do note I have pigmented lips and a lot of neutrals simply don’t show up on me.

Formula is not a smooth gliding formula which isn’t a deal breaker, but they tug a little. The upside of this is it makes it long wearing but it ends up looking a little dry on my lips and I’m just not really impressed. I like the concept and the neutrals look SO pretty. They’re just not for me.

I’m undecided about the Ilia Lip Sketch Lip Liner Crayons ($26). The colors are beautiful. Formula is long wearing with a soft matte finish but they look dry on my lips. They’re described as “hydrating, moisturizing and plumping” and I didn’t see any of these with the wear. I don’t think they’re necessarily drying but they look dry with the matte finish and I definitely did not feel any hydration. I like the look when topped these with a clear gloss and balm, but formula is not something I’m in love with. I also think they could have included a sharpener since these are chubby sticks that aren’t going to fit into a standard sized pencil sharpener.

Bronzer Picks

I hauled three in this shopping trip and I regret buying two of them. The Gucci Beauty Bronzer in Shade 3 is a hit. I repurchased this and love the color and soft texture.

I picked up the Kosas Sun Show Bronzer in Beachy which is the second lightest shade in the lineup. It appears they reformulated or repackaged these from the original launch. On the hand and arm these swatch BEAUTIFULLY! The glow is finely milled and super soft which makes me want to wear it all over my body. On the face the shade is a little too dark, a little too warm and oxidizes/darkens. I think the glow is a little too harsh. I could fix this simply by using less but even a light brush tap picks up a lot of product.

Saie is a brand that gets so much love, but it’s one I just can’t really get into. I think they have a few good staples, but the ones that go viral aren’t for me. I picked up the Dew Bronze ($25) in Swim which is not neutral or light-medium on me at all. It’s very warm and orangey looking. Finish is very dewy and just sits on top of the skin. Packaging does not look or feel good. I swatched it next to the Sun Melt Bronzers which are also highly rated. I cannot get consistent results with these. Sometimes it looks amazing on the skin, but most of the time it pulls off all my foundation/powder once applied and blended.

Wearing the Prisma Glass 06 below with each bronzer look

NARS Talc-Free Blushes

NARS reformulated their blush into a Talc-Free Powder Blush formula and to me they perform just as well as the original. I don’t still own all the blush shades in the original, but they did change the colors with the new formula.

Below wearing the new NARS Orgasm Blush, lips are the Afterglow Sensual Shine and Lip Gloss both in Orgasm

The new Talc-Free Orgasm shade no longer has that beautiful peachy pink base undertone and it’s now just a straight peach gold shimmer. I consider the shade now ruined, although at this point I think pretty much everyone must have owned in a palette or individual form there’s a chance you still have the older formula/color. I swatched 2 different Orgasm blushes from different years just to make sure. Thrill is now deeper and brighter although on my face they end up look really similar. If you like the idea of a peachy pink blush but don’t want shimmer, Orgasm Edge is a matte version which is really nice.

Kosas Blush is Life

I’ve saved the best for last which is the Kosas Blush Is Life Baked Talc-Free-Dimensional Brightening Blush ($29 each) and these surprised me. TikTok influenced me to buy these and based on the fact that I’ve found Kosas products to be a strong hit or a strong miss, I didn’t know what to expect. The first shade I tried Butterflies was a little disappointing for me mainly because the color payoff wasn’t anywhere near what I expected from what I saw in the pan. It’s a sheer baby pink with a brightening effect, more like a highlighter than a blush. I think this shade would be better as a topper for me, but if you have fair or light skin I think you’ll probably love this color.

I almost didn’t try the others and was going to give them away but I’m glad I gave the other shades a chance because they are PURE LOVE. Dreamland is a lighter color on me, almost like a highlighter glow. I love the peachy tones in Blissed and Thrill. Hype is also a really pretty pink coral.

A number of people have said they’re just like the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blushes but I disagree. There are similarities in the marbled swirling and glow factor, but the Hourglass has a much better texture and better quality when you compare them and touch them side by side. That being said I think the Kosas blushes are really good. They’re glowy but not as glowy as the Rare Beauty Powder Blushes.

Below wearing: Armani Luminous Silk Foundation 6.5, Givenchy Prisme Libre Shade 3, Natasha Denona I Need a Nude Palette, Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in Soft Brown, Top is from Reformation (wearing a Medium) and nails are OPI Over-Slay Your Welcome

Butterflies Blush + Malibu Wet Lip Oil

Dreamland Blush + Unhooked Wet Lip Oil

Blissed Blush + Papaya Wet Stick

Thrill Blush + Papaya Wet Stick + Dip Lip Oil on top

Hype Blush + Revealed Wet Lip Oil

That wraps up my Sephora haul! I hope you found this helpful! If you’ve tried any of the things I hauled, would love to hear your thoughts. Especially if my misses worked for you, let me know how you’re using them.

Sharing another Sephora haul today rounding up tons of new beauty launches this month! I’ve hauled a little bit of everything from eyes, lips and cheeks. Here are the winners from what I’ve tested and tried.

Eye Makeup Launches

Patrick Ta added a matte eyeshadow palette to his lineup with the Major Dimension III Matte Eyeshadow Palette ($70) and it is 100% worth the splurge. It has two dark cream shadows (both which can double as a liner) and 10 powder shadows. All the shades are matte variations of brown, black and cream. I love that he has both cool and neutral tones in this making it super versatile for a warmer day time look or a more dressy smokey eye look. Powders are ultra smooth, easy to blend and layer.

Westman Atelier added a new mascara formula called the Eye Want You Mascara ($45) which has a really nice lengthening formula. It’s available in black or brown (I picked up black). I love the bright red bold packaging and fluffy brush. It’s great for length and does not clump or smudge.

I picked up two of the Merit Solo Shadow Cream to Powder Soft Matte Eyeshadows ($24) in the lighter brown tones and I really love them. Vachetta and Midcentury are both neutral browns and they have a creamy easy to blend texture with a matte drydown finish. I love tones like these because they’re just slightly darker than my skin tone. They make for a great one and done kind of shadow that looks like a natural contour on my lids. I picked up the No. 2 Double Sided Brush ($20) to use and love the small size for detail application. It’s well made and works well but you can use your fingers or any shadow brush from your stash to apply these shadows.

Fenty added a new eyeshadow formula called the Shadowstix Longwear Eyeshadow Stick ($25 each). Reviews and feedback on these were very mixed but I really love the formula, pigment and lasting power. I picked up three shimmer shades and think they’re super flattering and easy to wear. They apply smoothly and set to a truly long-wear formula.

A few swatch comparisons below to some of my other favorites for comparison.

Cheeks & Highlighters

The Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palettes ($90 each) have arrived at Sephora. I really love both the Jellyfish and Leopard Palettes, but find I’ve been reaching for Leopard the most. It has everything I need for a complete face + cheek look. I will most likely be bringing this one with me for holiday travel because it goes with so many different looks.

You girls know I love the Givenchy Prisme Libre Loose Powders so when the Prisme Libre Loose Highlighter popped up online I ordered it immediately. There is one shade available in 10 Organza Or ($43) and it is absolutely beautiful. It has a stunning golden shimmer and I love it on the eyes or cheeks.

There are also two liquid highlighters called the Givenchy Prisme Libre Liquid Highlighter ($42). I ordered the pink one Rose Extravaganza and it’s a really pretty soft pale pink champagne. It’s more on the subtle/sheer side which is nice for those who want a natural glow.

Dior added some new shades of the Addict Lip Maximizers ($40 each) and two of them are available at Sephora now in 049 Pure Copper (shimmery bronze) and 050 Holographic Silver (sheer opal silver shimmer). These are perfect for the holiday season.

Lip Loves

I have tons of new lip products I hauled this month! Armani launched a Lip Power Matte ($45 each, six new shades). As a fan of the regular Lip Power I was really interested in the new matte formula and picked up six to try. 111 is a perfect nude pink, 112 is a soft brownish color, 114 is a pale powder pink, 116 is a cool toned pink. Formula of the matte shades is just as creamy as the original, just matte in finish.

As a huge fan of the Fenty Lip Glosses I feel like I’m on a mission to collect every color they launch. This year’s holiday set is the Glossy Posse Volume 6.0 ($42, a $69 value) has three full-sizes in the Glass Slipper Heat (clear plumping), Fenty Glow Cream (love this as an everyday pink) and Pink Dragonfly (stunning pink shimmer, it was available in a mini in previous years).

There are some new shades of the Fenty Gloss Bomb too in Champ Stamp (sparkling champagne) and Riri (re-promote mauve). For holiday they launched Holla’gram ($26) which is a really pretty oyster pearl pink shimmer.

Fenty also launched a The Gloss Bomb Vault ($150 with 10 full-size glosses) which has some new shades mixed in. I’m very tempted and added it to my Sephora wishlist for the upcoming Holiday Savings Event.

Fragrance Loves

Last but not least is a quick look at the latest from Phlur. Everything they launch is phenomenal and I’ve fallen head over heels for the Hair and Body Fragrance Mists ($20 – $35 each). I have the smaller 3 oz sizes which are perfect for me. Vanilla Skin is my favorite. It’s a soft pleasant warm semi-sweet vanilla that isn’t too sweet or bitter.

Mango Mood is a fruity mango + brown sugar mix that reminds me of my teenage years. It’s fun and feels like a summer vacation.

Amber Haze is a warm floral with amber notes. It’s soft and cozy with a bit of sweetness.

That wraps up my October Sephora haul! If you haven’t signed up for their Beauty Insider Program I highly recommend doing so. You can sign up for free and being a member opens up tons of benefits like deluxe samples, early access to products and events too.

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I have a new Sephora haul roundup review for you today! There are lots of new beauty launches at Sephora I’ve put to the test this month and I’ve found some new loves! Here are 12 things I hauled this month to try and my thoughts.

Make Up For Ever launched the new HD Skin Matte Velvet Undetectable Longwear Blurring Powder Foundation and it has an overwhelming number of rave reviews so I had to investigate it to see if it lived up to the hype. I picked up 2Y20 Warm Nude and it’s a perfect match! It blurs the skin to perfection with a sponge giving full smooth coverage. I also like to use a brush to apply it as a setting powder for sheerer coverage. Lasting power is very good and I love that it does not oxidize on my skin.

I also picked up the Make Up For Ever HD Undetectable Longwear Foundation in the same corresponding shade 2Y20. This isn’t a new formula but new to me and I give this one is a huge thumbs up too. It’s lightweight, blurs, naturally radiant, with nice natural coverage. The texture is fluid and easy to blend and work into the skin without looking or feeling heavy.

Another complexion product I picked up is the Caliray Freedreaming Clean Blurring Skin Tint in Shade 6. I’ve been looking for a natural skin tint that still has some coverage and that isn’t too dewy. It’s a skin-but-better sheer tint but still has enough coverage to even out the skin in a very natural way. It does have a dewy finish so I set with powder but I really like the way it looks and feels on the skin.

I’ve loved the Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray for as long as I can remember and did not realize they had more than one formula until recently. I’ve been really impressed with the Urban Decay All Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray with Vitamin C. You can use this to prep and hydrate the skin before makeup. It has an ultra fine mist dispenser to evenly spritz the face. Love this for a light veil of hydration. It also works to set the makeup too.

The new Tower 28 Sculptino Soft Matte Cream Contour + Bronzers just launched and I literally ran to my local store to pick one up. I opted for the shade in Getty which is a natural medium tan. I like that it’s a neutral-warm color which helps warm up the complexion in a flattering way. It has a creamy finish described as a soft matte and on the skin it does feel like a demi-matte but still has a dewy look to it. I’ve photographed and swatched it next to the Bronzino in West Coast for reference.

Left: West Coast, Right: Getty

As a fan of the Danessa Myricks Yummy Skin Balm Powder I was really excited to see that she launched the Yummy Skin Blush. These are ultra pigmented balm blushes that will show up on a wide range of skin tones. I love that these are still easy to blend/sheer out easily. I picked Jubilee and Rose N Brunch to try first and really like both. I applied both shades on the lips and cheeks. They have a blurred soft matte finish with excellent lasting power on me.

Another popular item that caught my eye is the Fenty Skin Lip Plush Puddin’ Intensive Recovery Lip Mask. This has a unique twisting base to push and dispense the balm. It’s thick, hydrating and plush – I like to use this as an overnight lip mask. Softens the lips and I really love it.

For lip colors I picked up some new Hourglass and Anastasia Beverly Hills. A number of you asked for a review of the new Hourglass Unlocked Satin Crème Lipsticks. I picked up four to try in Tide, Alpine, Oasis and Dahlia. I am completely blown away by this formula. It just might be THE best satin lipstick formula I have ever tried. These have flawless smooth coverage and apply beautifully on the lips. They have a very soft vanilla scent. Out of the four I picked I like Oasis the best but they’re really all wearable. I will 100% need to pick up more colors.

Anastasia Beverly Hills launched new lip shades to her current lineup. I picked up one of her Lip Pencils in Muted Mauve which is a taupe mauve shade and two Lip Glosses in Sunbaked which is a mauve pink and Soft Pink which is a creamy baby pink. The glosses work well when layered on top of a pencil or lipstick for a full glossy lip look. I think the new neutral shades are really stunning.

Last is a quick look at two new hair launches. Oribe added a new product to the Hair Alchemy lineup with their new Hair Alchemy Strengthening Masque and it does not disappoint. Strengthens hair and leaves it soft and hydrated. As a huge Olaplex fan I could not wait to try the No.4D Clean Volume Detox Dry Shampoo and it’s a win for me. I really love that the product does not leave any white powder residue on the hair. Feels lightweight, adds volume, absorbs excess oil.

That wraps up my February Sephora haul! If you haven’t checked out their Beauty Insider Program yet make sure you check it out here. You can sign up for free and it opens up access to some fun benefits, early access to events and more.

For all customers they also have the Buy Online, Pick Up In Store option which I love. It allows you to make sure the items you’re shopping for are in store and reserved when you purchase online. Super convenient for me so I don’t have to make an extra trip. Select locations also have Same-Day Delivery which you can check by inputting your zip code on each product page. More info here.

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Sponsored by Sephora. As always all opinions are my own.