#Rave: Ulta Holiday Value Sets

Ulta either read my blog or my mind. With this one. They rose to the occasion to offer something similar to Sephora's multi-brand holiday samplers. The email I got yesterday advertises three of them, one for eyes, one for fragrance, one similar to the Glitz & Glamour set (Sephora). All sets around $25 USD to $30 USD. 

The Perfect Wink 

($30 USD)

The Perfect Wink Includes:

Benefit Bad Gal Mascara

LORAC Front of the Line Pro Eyeliner (in Black)

Pur Minerals Big Blink

CK One Show True Black Mascara

Napoleon Perdis Long Black Mascara (in Double Black)

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-on Eyeliner (in LSD)

Get Ready for the Party

($30 USD)

Get Ready For the Party Color Collection Includes:

Butter Londonnail Laquer (in Rosie Lee)

LORAC Behind the Scenes Eye Primer

Put Minerals Mineral Glow Bronzer

Laura Geller City Lights Lipgloss

Napoleon Perdis Loose Eye Dust (in Pink Champagne)

Tarte Lights, Camera, Action Lashes Mascara

The Finishing Touch

($25 USD)

The Finishing Touch Fragrance Sample Collection Includes: (Fragrance Samples)

Calvin Klein Downtown

Giorgio Armani Acqua do Giola

Lancôme La Via Est Belle

Coach Love

Juicy Couture Viva La Juicy

Ralph Lauren Romance

Holiday Value Sets: Sampler Packages by Sephora

Ok, I gave this a separate post because this is (by far) what I've been waiting for all season. The opportunity that we all get  once a year to purchase samplers that may hook us to a cosmetics line for life. Sephora usually releases these toward the end of October and I am all for it. Usually sampler lines include : lip, lash, fragrance & 'all-stars' (best sellers). I truly believe that this is the way to get the best bang for your buck. (Ulta is really missing the boat on this one. They need to start doing this if they want to compete with this comestic giant.) 

Not only do you get to compare & contrast brands, you have an ample supply that lasts for most of the year. Without further adieu, here is what they released for this year's holiday season. 

Lips

Lash

Fragrance (for her)

All-Stars

Glitz & Glam

Review: Smashbox Lash Primer

Against my better judgement, I purchased this primer when my trial of Tarte's Lash Primer was finished. Dissapoinment city. Trying a primer before using it on a trial basis is a wonderful example of the fact that all primers are not created equal. 

Pros: It works. Just not as well as other lash primers. 

Cons: It's goopy/thick while on the brush but doesn't transfer well to the lash. The brush is awful, borderlining pathetic. Example: Dior's DiorShow Lash primer has a comb brush. 

Review: Dior Mascara

Shopkicks roped me into trying this mascara and I must say I'm having completely mixed feelings about this mascara. I wouldn't have bought it otherwise (I'm not at the level where I buy makeup simply because a designer slaps their name on it.)

The primer has a 'comb' brush which is perfect for primer but the actual primer solution itself is... Complicated. Either too much comes out or not enough comes out for the tube, but that may be user error. 

The mascara itself has a traditional brush. The solution is decent, a close third to Bad Gal & Smashbox's Lash DNA.     

Review: SmashBox Lash DNA

A trip to Macy's allowed me to come across SmashBox's cosmetics stand. I have raved in the past about their mascara- that I tried thanks to the Sephora mascara sampler. I inquired out of curiosity to see how much a full sized Lash DNA. The sales woman informed me that it had been discontinued so I realized that I should purchase since I might not have that opportunity again. I bought a tube of Jet Black.

This mascara is amazing. Not only does it give lashes a thicker, lengthened appearance, but it doesn't flake. You're also able to accomplish daytime & nighttime looks. This mascara is a great choice from the higher end. I'd reccommend it to anyone.