I decided I wanted to keep my Sephora VIB membership for another year since it includes two 20% off events during the year that aren’t open to regular members of Sephora’s frequent shopper program. Not sure if that’s really worth it, but I’ll do it for one more year and then reevaluate.
As a result, I bought quite a bit of stuff, some of which I had wanted or been planning to buy and some of which was new or a last minute purchase. I’ve used some of the products so far, but others I haven’t. This will be either mini-reviews or an introduction, and I will probably come back with a more detailed reviewed of some of the products once I’ve used them more.
Let’s see what I bought.
Coola Face SPF 30 Classic Sunscreen Moisturizer Unscented
I mentioned using up a deluxe sample size of this sunscreen/moisturizer but with the cucumber scent a couple of weeks ago (here). I love the lightweight lotion that sinks in quickly and provides a decent amount of sun protection especially for this time of year when I’m not outside that much. Although the cucumber scent was available, the unscented seemed like a better way to go.
What a love about this sunscreen moisturizer in addition to the fact that it’s lightweight and non-greasy is that it doesn’t give my face a whitish cast that other moisturizers with sunscreen often do.
Coola is a natural brand that uses organic ingredients and is cruelty free. $32
Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche Lipstick Duo: Rose Gold and Fig
I wrote about this just a couple of days ago so I’ll keep it short. I picked up two of these: one for myself and one for a gift. I think these little ornaments are perfect stocking stuffers and little gifts for lipstick lovers. Rose Gold is completely on trend, and Fig’s pink/beige color is perfect for everyday. Love it!
Food-grade natural ingredients, cruelty-free. $14
Urban Decay Vice Lipstick: metallized Cruel
I wrote about this lipstick in the same post as the Bite Beauty. I chose metallized Cruel because I wanted a different finish from the creams and satin lipsticks that I already own. I loved the red-orange shade. Perfect for me.
Cruelty-free. $17
Urban Decay Perversion Mascara
I’m not usually a fan of big, fluffy mascara wands, but somehow I don’t find this big wand so difficult to use. Plus I love the formula of this blacker than black volumizing and lengthening mascara. I have owned three deluxe samples of this mascara, and they have made it one of my favorite mascaras. Glad to own a full-size finally.
Cruelty-free. $22, $10 travel size
Urban Decay Naked Ultimate Basics Shadow Palette
I own the original UD Naked Basics shadow palette, and I use it from time to time. The shades are neutral and light, almost invisible on the eye but a terrific everyday palette.
The new Naked Ultimate Basics shadow palette has some real colors mixed in with the neutrals including an orange shade that I know looks great with my blue eyes. I haven’t used the palette yet, but when I swatched it in the store, I was shocked at how unbelievably buttery the shadows felt – so much nicer than the original Naked Basics palette.
Here’s a look at the shades. Full review and swatches at a later date.
This is a pricey palette at $54, so I have high hopes for its performance.
Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Stick Foundation
I read a lot of great things about the Hourglass Stick Foundation that came out a couple of months ago. It looked like such a quick and easy way to apply foundation, cover imperfections and touch up on the go that I really wanted to try it. Anticipating the Sephora VIB sale event, I went to Sephora and got a sample of the Hourglass stick. The shade was a bit too light, but I tried it anyway. Even over Hourglass No. 28 Hydrating Primer, the Hourglass Stick Foundation settled into my lines and I wasn’t crazy about the way it looked. I came back and got a slightly darker shade to try from Hourglass, but the SA at Sephora also took me over the MUFE to try their stick foundation as well as the HD liquid foundation. This time, the Hourglass shade was too yellow and the MUFE shade was too dark for me. But I discovered that the MUFE Stick Foundation formula was a better fit for my mature, dry skin. Bingo!
When I went back to Sephora during the last day of the VIB sale event, I got a different SA who color matched me with a lighter MUFE Stick Foundation shade, R230. Turned out that they were out of that shade, but I managed to get it at the Sephora in JC Penney at the same mall. The shade is a perfect match on my arm and my neck, but it looks a tad too light on my face. Maybe it’s just me!
Nevertheless, I continue to enjoy the formula that’s so quick to apply with fingers, brush or blending sponge. I don’t need a separate concealer. It feels great (weightless but creamy) on my skin. Love it! $43
Belif Moisturizing Skincare Set
Since turning the heat on in my house, my skin that felt quite good all summer suddenly reverted to its winter dry condition. I added a hyaluronic acid serum and it helped somewhat, but the moisturizer I was using wasn’t hydrating enough. My eye fell on a display of Korean skincare and especially on a K-beauty jar of hydrating moisturizer for dry skin from a brand I never heard of: Belif.
I tried a bit of the gel-cream from the tester, and it had a lot of slip and felt great on. I picked up a jar. One of the SAs who had been helping me came by to see what I was buying, and when she saw the jar of Belif Moisturizer she brought me back to the display and told me that the set for the same price as a the jar alone contained a small jar of eye cream and serum so I went with that. So far, so good. I’m impressed with this trio. I’ll keep you posted as I use it for a longer period of time.
The moisturizer and the eye cream comes in jars which I can live with, but I know some of you can’t.
$38 for the set or $38 for a 50 ml jar of moisturizer. You can also buy them along with a Foreo Mini.
So that’s my Sephora VIB haul. I’m quite satisfied with it. How about you? What did you pick up at the Sephora sale?
The Bite Amuse Bouche are really great and the formula is amazing ! one of my favorite 🙂
Claire Talks Beauty recently posted…After reading this ,You will give your sponge applicators more love!
I’m glad you’re a Bite Beauty lippie fan too!
That Naked Basics palette looks amazing! I have to pick that up ASAP! Great picks.
Trecee
http://treceefabulous.blogspot.com/
I haven’t broken into the UD Ultimate Basics palette yet, but in the store, they were so buttery and velvety I couldn’t resist!
Ultimate Basics is LIFE. I’m so excited you grabbed it!
Brooke @ Blushing Noir recently posted…My Favorite Winter Beauty Must-Haves
Me too. I was blown away by how velvety and buttery they feel!
I pretty much only shop at Sephora during the VIB sales. With what I purchase during those times, I maintain my VIB membership that way!
Sephora in Canada doesn’t carry Coola or else I would have bought the sunscreen to try – been hearing great things about it.
I’ve been on the hunt for a good stick foundation, it’s a toss up between Bobbi Brown, Hourglass and MUFE. I’ll have to test them all out on my face to see how I like them.
Great haul! I posted my haul recently – link below!
stashy recently posted…Sephora VIB Sale Fall 2016 Haul
Same with me. The 20% off really makes a big difference. Too bad about the Coola. I believe that it is sold somewhere in Canada. I’ll look into it because it really is terrific. For the foundation stick, it’s a matter of what works with your own skin. The MUFE is so much better for me than the Hourglass stick. But I love my Bobbi Brown liquid foundation! I didn’t notice that BB had a stick foundation!
I’m impressed with your haul. You bought some great items in different categories. I’ve debated over the UD but since I don’t wear matte often I passed. I wonder if I’ll regret that.
MarciaF recently posted…Giveaways to savor this week with The Sunday Scoop for 11/20 through 11/28
Thank you, Marcia. If you don’t wear mattes, pass it by, since there are so many other great palettes out there. This is a good set of shades for me and they are insanely buttery, velvety
Great haul!!
Cindy (Prime Beauty) recently posted…Black Friday AND Cyber Monday Beauty Deals!
Now that is what I call a great haul, you went to town! LOL! I’m finally back from day 1 training (my brain is pretty much dead tbh) but thought I stop by and say hello. I look forward to your review on the UD palette, it’s in my list to purchase! And yes to Perversion! I love that mascara and it makes my lashes look so full and long.
Shireen L. Platt recently posted…BRAND SPOTLIGHT: Rodial Makeup
Haha, I think I overdid it, Shireen, because I bought another smaller bunch of stuff with the Sephora friends and family coupon a few weeks ago. I’m done. Or I better be. Congrats on making it through Day 1 of your training! I’m sure there’s a lot to take in. But you should be proud that you’re doing it 🙂 Don’t worry if you don’t have time to comment <3
Nice haulage, girl!
Erika recently posted…An Anti Aging Superstar | Sunday Riley Flora Hydro Active Cellular Face Oil
I also bought UD naked basics e/s and lipstick. Great haul!
Kath Thefabzilla recently posted…Makeup Wars | Winter Beauty Must-Haves
Great minds!
Great haul! I just got my hands on the Coola setting spray with SPF30 and I’m obsessed. It knocks all other sunscreens out of the park.
CosmetopiaDigest recently posted…Holiday Makeup Giveaway 2016: Open Worldwide
If I could spray myself in my face, I would have tried the setting spray. I think I got a travel size in one of my subbie boxes. The sunscreen-moisturizer is terrific!
I’d be curious to know how you compare Urban Decay to Viseart, for me Urban has a lot of fallout. And I like that stick foundation, I actually use it as concealer sometimes (not for myself but when I do clients). Good haul 🙂
Norah recently posted…Black Friday And Cyber Monday Beauty Deals
I was amazed that I can wear the MUFE stick foundation. It is so much more hydrating and doesn’t sink into my lines like the Hourglass one did. And I love that it is essentially a concealer all over my face! I still haven’t used the UD e/s palette, but I will tomorrow. When I switched it in the store, it was much more buttery, velvety than the other UD e/s palettes I own – no fallout with this one when I swatched on my fingers. I’ll let you know!
You bought some beautiful things, Allison! Great haul!
Anastasia recently posted…MyChelle Skincare | First Impressions
That’s a great haul! My favorite is the UD Ultimate Basic Palette. I love a good eyeshadow palette.
Thanks, Sharon. I’ve gotta break into the palette, probably tomorrow, coz the shades are so perfect for our Thanksgiving.
As silly as I am I forgot to purchase during the sale. Who am I?
My Newest Addiction recently posted…Favorite Brand Sale for Black Friday & Cyber Monday?
You were smart, Laura!