don’t need it; not gonna buy it…
Hello, hello. I’m not going to lie, there is a lot of makeup I’m kind of eyeing and putting on my wishlist. But there is a lot more I don’t want and am not going to buy … which warrants an anti-haul. And if you’ve been around for a while, I don’t think any of these is going to come as a surprise. So here is the May anti-haul.
Anastasia Beverly Hills Norvina Vol. 4 palette*
I haven’t really jumped on this Norvina sub brand of ABH, and it’s because I don’t think I’m the target demographic for it. I’m not entirely sure who the target audience is, but I know it’s not me. However, having said that, this one had me doing a bit of a double take.
This Vol. 4 palette* is being dubbed as a sister palette to the regular ABH brand Norvina palette*, which is one I love. It’s probably my favorite palette from ABH, definitely my most used. And I’d agree with that. Remove the pop of yellow and the two silvery shades, and it’s definitely an enlarged version of that original Norvina concept.
With larger palettes, my qualm is that a lot of the shades tend to be repeated unnecessarily, to fill the pans. I also find that these large palettes tend to be mostly neutral and organized in a way that the pops of color grab your focus. I don’t think this is a neutral palette disguised with pops of color. There’s a good balance of the two. But I do think there are some very similar pink matte shades in there (it appears to be mattes).
I don’t need this. And I don’t want it. 1.) It’s $60. I’ve paid that for makeup before but, 2.) I don’t like large palettes anymore. So $60 isn’t worth it to me and my collection at the moment.
If you want something pink and purple and red, I’d suggest the Jackie Aina palette if you can get your hands on it, and if you want neutrals with some pops of purple and pink, the OG Norvina is beautiful.
ABH Electric Cake Liners*
Next up is another ABH product. I think these are also part of the Norvina sub-line. If I’m wrong, I don’t get this launch at all for ABH.
There a few reasons I’m really not into this.
- I haven’t even been wearing eyeliner lately. And when I do, I’ve just been wearing a very smudgey liner. This type of liner tends to be better for very precise application.
- I, realistically, don’t wear these colors. I like to cater to my alter ego from time to time, and she likes these colors. But then they wind up just sitting on the shelf.
- The way these are packaged is weird to me. Well…not necessarily the packaging itself. But why didn’t they make these singles? Because the color combos are weird and random. And if I wanted the white and the pink, I’d have to spend $60 ($30 per trio) for two trios instead of just being able to buy the two colors I want. Eye shadows make sense to package this way. Bronzers/highlighters/blushes make sense to package this way. I don’t think liners do make sense.
Inc.Redible Boob & Bum Mask*
Just…why?
This is a sheet mask that is supposed to brighten and hydrate your boobs and butt. I don’t have anything else to say.
Charlotte Tilbury Desert Haze Eyeshadow Palette
I’m perpetually eyeing the eye shadow quads from Charlotte Tilbury. I’ve never gone for it and purchased one, because they’re so expensive, but I can’t deny that I’m always lusting after them.
She just announced new bronzers, which I actually am considering purchasing but not right now. And with that launch, she released this bronze goddessy palette as well.
While this is right up my neutral loving alley and I’d get a lot of use from it, I have these colors. One hundred percent, I have all four of these, and I just don’t feel like I need to pay over $50 for shades I have over and over again. And to top it off, they’re all matte. I definitely have these shades in other palettes, in matte formulas. They’re pretty basic.
I’ve also convinced myself, I think, that I’m probably going to hold off for a color way that really intrigues me in a glittery, shimmery, topper kind of formula. Those are the shadows I’m reaching for these days. Something like the Roen formula or the Super Shock metallics from Colourpop or anything that’s really dimensional I can use for a one shadow look.
Will be available May 21, charlottetilbury.com
Huda Beauty Diamond Hydrating Lip Balms*
So I’m pretty upset about this one. When I first saw the promo photos for this, I thought it was going to be a sheer color, frosty lip product. I thought they looked pretty, and it was going to be a chic nod to the early 2000s. But…
These are lip balms.
I don’t like lip balms in a lipstick bullet packaging. They tend to be waxy and not hydrating enough. And while the colors look so pretty, they’re lip balms. They’re all going to look basically the same on the lips.
KVD Kitten Mini NEUPOP Shade & Light palette*
I have so much to say about this, but honestly my thoughts on the KVD rebrand – “rebrand” – could be its own freestanding post. So I’m going to try to shrink down my thoughts here.
First – this color story doesn’t speak to me at all. It seems really random and not really relevant to anything. It’s just kind of like they had some extra shadows and shades from Kat Von D’s reign that they wanted to get rid of.
Which brings me to my next point – I don’t understand the rebrand. It’s like Kendo changed the name but not the brand or branding. It just seems like they’re still capitalizing on Kat’s art and aesthetic. But I do understand using the existing packaging and product that they may have already produced before Kat was booted to keep from wasting it. But the choices that they’re making and releasing they’re doing aren’t separating the new brand from the old brand.
But basically I don’t need this and have no place for it.
And Yet Another NARS Orgasm Collection
Listen, I used to be a total slut for Orgasm. Well…I guess I still am a little bit, but not for the blush. (;
But in all seriousness, the Orgasm blush is a beautiful peachy pinky color, that originally had a golden shimmer. But NARS has capitalized on this product so much that if I ever have to see another Orgasm launch, I’m going to pluck my eyes out. It’s overdone, in my opinion.
This collection consists of an eye shadow quad*, cheek palette*, lip tint*, and a mini eye palette*.
I have a lot of thoughts on brands capitalizing on their best selling shades. Kat Von D did it with Lolita; NARS has Orgasm. Too Faced has their peach bullshit, and honestly Charlotte Tilbury is creeping up there with Pillow Talk. And I’m bored a little bit..
With this NARS collection, specifically, Orgasm* isn’t even my favorite blush shade. Do a collection based on Luster* or Sex Appeal*. Exhibit A* could make for a cool collection. I’d buy those in minute.
Okay, I’m ending there because I’m starting to ramble. So that’s a wrap for my May anti-haul. What do you think of these releases? And is there anything on your anti-haul list?
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