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I want 2019 to be a year of amazing content. There is some content I’m doing away with in the new year, and there’s some I’m adding. But anti hauls will not be one of the topics that goes away. I love them.
We’re always talking about things we love, how badly you need the things, and eeeverything new. Sometimes it’s a nice change of pace to sit down, realistically take a look at some of these releases, and allow ourselves to not want them.
I’m feeling quite sassy as I write this, so prepare for a little sass, maybe a little cursing, and just a little hyperbole. Check out this post for disclaimers about my anti hauls, and let’s get into it.
This weird ass roll-on highlighter from Kaja.
I’m not joking, when I saw this on Sephora’s site, I audibly said “what the actual hell is this?’ I’ll tell you. It’s a highlighting balm. Kaja says it’s a duo-chrome highlighting balm that creates a disco glow and dries to a lightweight powder finish. I’m not going to lie, the product itself looks really pretty and sounds like something I’d really enjoy.
It sounds like the formula would be similar to a Colourpop Super Shock Cheek situation–it feels kind of balmy but kind of acts as a powder on the skin. The color actually looks really nice. They say it’s a pink, pearly glow with a golden undertone.
What gets me is the paint roller applicator. First of all, Kaja claims it’s ‘hygienic,’ but I don’t understand how it’s any more hygienic than a sponge or a brush? I’m over this gimmicky packaging. Secondly and honestly, it turns me off and makes me feel like it’s intended for children. I’m not going to whip this out and apply highlighter in the literal same way I’d paint a wall. Thank you, next.
This ‘collaboration’ from Benefit
The next thing I’m not going to buy is this $60 brow set from Benefit in collaboration with Desi Perkins. Maybe I’m biased because I don’t watch Desi, but I’m just not interested in this. At all.
I think Benefit has some good products. I use Gimme Brow and Precisely My Brow all of the time, but they’ve not done anything new in like three years. They used to be a brand I truly considered to be innovative, but now I rarely even think about them.
I have two main problems with this release:
- In reality, the demographic for this launch most likely has brow products they like OR have at least one of these. And if they wanted to try one of the products, they could just buy it … without buying this whole set.
- I’m low key over collaborations like this with influencers. Don’t get me wrong, I love seeing influencers have the opportunity to collaborate with brands. But I like when brands warrant some sort of creative control — for example, both Colourpop and Morphe collaborate with influencers regularly. And the outcomes are usually a little interesting with color selection and packaging design. Sometimes it’s even a new kind of product. Or Sigma released ‘favorites bundles’ where the brushes, while permanent in their line, are different from influencer to influencer. But this is just a box of existing products in a limited edition colored packaging and an influencers name tacked on, from a brand who hasn’t done anything new in years.
Make it worth my while.
This overdone palette from BH Cosmetics
I mean … I know Capricorns are grounded trustworthy, but they aren’t boring AF. In defense of this palette, the swatches make this color palette look drastically better than the product shots and maaaybe BH intended this to be used in conjunction with their larger Zodiac palette?
Even so, if it is intended to be used with the larger palettes, I have an issue with that. Aside from now having to buy two palettes to make this Caps palette the least bit interesting, what are the rest of the zodiac palettes going to consist of?
Who needs this? I’ve touched on this a little in the past, but everyone has neutrals browns in their collection. We do. They’re in every single palette. So no, I do not need another palette with the same basic shades.
This ‘reloaded’ palette from Urban Decay
We all remember the funeral for Urban Decay’s original Naked palette last year. I’m not being cheeky–there was actually a funeral video. A lot of us had the inclination that UD would re-release a Naked-esque palette. You know, a new Naked. But instead we got this.
This Reloaded palette is literally ABH Sultry but not as good. I’m so sorry; that’s harsh, but I’m not even joking a bit. It’s a desaturated imitation of the Sultry palette, and I’m not intrigued. I look at this and see one eye look. It’s not an inspiring palette.
I thought what would happen is they would take the golden, smokey tones from the original palette and update them with more vibrancy and interesting finishes. You know, tweak the original to make it better. But nooo.
And what’s interesting is that UD isn’t a boring brand. Born to Run was a great release this year. And while I wasn’t intrigued enough to buy the Cherry palette, at least it was kind of interesting. This is just boring, and I am definitely not going to buy it.
This foundation from Morphe
I’m not interested in this because it’s a full coverage foundation, and I don’t like full coverage. I have one that I use when I want coverage, but I’m a light coverage kind of girl. This looks thick and matte and full coverage, which is the complete opposite of the thin, glowy, light coverage products I prefer. So that’s the main reason I was already planning on skipping over this.
But I do have some other issues with this launch. I applaud Morphe for releasing 60 shades and aiming for inclusiveness. However, the undertones just look weird to me. And not only me, I’ve seen a lot of people struggling to find a shade match because the undertones don’t work. And if you have 60 shades, there shouldn’t be a large number of people struggling to find their match?
I’ve also seen videos and posts about the dark shades staining the skin. And … do I really need to expand on this? That’s a problem.
The Lavender version of Laneige’s Sleeping Mask
Let’s end this on a semi-positive note, shall we. The last thing I’m not going to buy is the new lavender scent of the Water Sleeping Mask from Laneige. You might be screaming “BUT YOU JUST SAID YOU LIKED THIS STUFF.” I do. I love it. It’s hydrating and lightweight and amazing. But the original.
I was intrigued by this when I saw it released. So I went to Sephora to see if the smell was something I’d be into. Because I really love the scent of the original sleeping mask. It’s not something I’m into. If you reeeally like lavender, you might like this. But I thought it was way too potent. So while I love the product, I’m just going to stick to the original.
Do you agree with me on these? Or do you want to give them a shot? Let me know in the comments.
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