Lust or Bust | Holiday Collections + New Launches| Part I feat. Kevyn Aucoin, KVD, Benefit, Becca, Huda and More!

Yass! It’s that time of the year all of us makeup junkies love, the fall/winter collections and holiday collections are hitting the shelves. I swear it starts earlier and gets bigger and more overwhelming every year so I decided to do a series of Lust or Bust posts where we go all over the launches. We can look all the details and who is coming out with what this year. This is the first of who knows how many posts in the mini-series. So posts I will have multiple brands, some just one depending on the size of the collections.

In today’s post we’ll be looking at new launches from Kevyn Aucoin, Huda Beauty, Benefit, Beautyblender, Nudestix, Kat Von D, Becca, Ofra and Milk Makeup. We have a lot to cover so let’s get it this going. Grab a coffee!

Kevyn Aucoin has a couple new releases for the season, one which I am really excited about.

Making Faces Beauty Book

Let’s start with the Making Faces Beauty Book which retails for $75 and is a $250.00 value. At first glance, this looks kind of boring but for any true makeup lover, you can see the interest around these Beauty Books. They are of course based on his legendary book Making Faces. Some of the products in this are cult favorites and there are new shades added for the season.

Inside you get 3 palettes as well as how-to cards that show you how to recreate some of Kevyn’s looks, as well as illustrations and quotes from Mr. Aucoin. Chapter one of the set is all about contouring and highlighting. Chapter 2 includes 2 blushes and 3 liner shades for the eyes and chapter 3 is a collection of eyeshadows in a variety of shades and finishes.

I think this is a lovely collector’s item and a great gift for any makeup artist.

This set contains:

•  The Sculpting Powder in Medium
• The Celestial Powder in Candlelight
• The Matte Bronzing Veil in Desert Nights
• The Pure Powder Glow in Dolline, Shadore
• The Eyeshadow Single is Black, Dark Brown, Navy, Cream, Pink, Bronze, Clay, Taupe, Peach, Amethyst, Blue Steel

 

The Neo Trio Palette

Next up is The Neo Trio Palette, I am really excited about this one. I have wanted to try these out for a long time so in a set of minis for $58 is a perfect chance to try out these 3 stunning powders. I think this set is perfect for us fair skinned gals. I really dig the magnetic packaging. If you are into luminous skin, this one is awesome and you can really create custom shades to suit your look.

This palette contains:

• Neo-Setting Powder
• Neo-Limelight highlighter in Ibiza
• Neo-Bronzer in Capri

 

Here’s one I am less excited for but after looking closer at the Nude(art)ist Box Creator’s Palette I can see there are some really nice nude shades or natural lipsticks in the set.  The shade Joyce is calling my name. I love a good matte brown lippy.

This collection was created with as Nudestix says, Social Media Gurus who created shades to suit their style. I appreciate the set and it is a great value for $59 and is a $144 value, pretty damn good deal.

This set contains: 

• Magnetic Matte Lip Colors in Freckle, Baby K, Sonoran, Go Girl, Joyce, Montaigne 
• Nude(art)ist Tin
• Jumbo pencil

You know this is the collection I am most excited for. Kat Von D’s Saint’s and Sinners Holiday Collection.

Everlasting Mini Liquid Lipstick

First up is the Everlasting Mini Liquid Lipstick Set which includes 8 shades of brown, black and nudes. I am living for the exclusive shade called Madrid. This is a lovely set and I definitely want to get my hands on it. These are my kind of lipstick colors.

This set contains:

Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Madrid (warm redwood), Witches (pitch black), Damned (black cherry), Hawkwind (nude Sienna), Sanctuary (cool sepia), Ludwig (tawny rose), Lovecraft (mauve pink nude), and Exorcism (ripe blackberry)

Saint & Sinner Eyeshadow Palette

Then we have the Saints and Sinners Palette. Can we just take a moment to appreciate the beauty if the packaging? This palette could be empty and I would buy it! LOL. But no, it is packed with 24 stunning and unique shades. I am so excited, mine is being delivered Monday. I can’t wait!

The design of the palette and the shades were inspired by the colors in created when the light comes through stained glass cathedral windows.

“The Saint + Sinner holiday collection honors the two sides in all of us, with a Gothic cathedral design inspired by the return of Kat’s beloved, bestselling Saint + Sinner fragrance collection.”

This set contains: 

Saint shades in Absolution (ivory with gold super-glimmer), Worship (pearlescent eggplant), Immaculate (pearlescent olive), Chalice (metallic antique bronze), Sacred Heart (pearlescent coral), Amen (matte cream), Sanctuary (pearlescent nude coffee), Heaven (metallic silver), Crucifix (matte deep chocolate), Cathedral (gunmetal with silvery blue glitter), Rosary (metallic garnet), Baptism (matte pale pink)

Sinner shades in Rapture (rosy pink with pink super-glimmer), Sabbath (matte jet black), Ashes (taupe with gold glitter), Martyr (matte toffee brown), Devil (matte pumpkin orange), Revelation (brown with gold glitter), Vestment (shimmery maroon with blue-green shift), Ministry (metallic cobalt), Exodus (chartreuse with gold glitter), Exorcism (matte deep purple), Relic (metallic fool’s gold), Stigmata (metallic scarlet)

Best Of Studded Kiss Lipstick Trio

There are also a couple Studded Kiss Lipstick sets. First one is the Best of Studded Kiss Lipstick Trio which features cult favorite shades. This is another set I am dying to have. It’s an excellent value for $38, valued at $60. You get 3 full-size lipsticks.

This set contains:

Studded Kiss Lipstick in Lolita, Underage Red, Vampira

Find Your Nude Studded Kiss Lipstick Set

Nudes are definitely on trend this holiday season. This set includes 5 nude lips for every skin tone and mood. This one is a fantastic value at $63, valued at over $100, you are getting 2 lipsticks free. Imma need dis too. These are full size btw.

This set contains: 

Studded Kiss Lipstick in Magick, Noble, Lovecraft, Agatha, Cathedral

Everlasting Lip Liner Trio

This one is a pass for me, however, I can’t bring myself to spend $39 on 3 lip liners. I know they are good but damn. These shades do work perfectly with the Find Your Nude Set and the Mini Everlasting Liquid Lipstick set.

This set contains: 

Everlasting Lip Liner in Homegirl Hawkwind, Lolita

 

Benefit is killing it with the value sets as usual. Not all of this is holiday related but I wanted to include them because they are good values.

Beauty Stowaways Influencer Must-have Set

Regardless of how you feel about these influencers, this is a good value at $32. Their faces ain’t selling me on anything cause tbh I am sick of these faces but like I said value. This is a good selection of some of the most popular products from Benefit. All of which are great products. This gives you the chance to try them out and see what you like. I personally enjoy all these products and would be a good opportunity to get some mini backups. I love me some minis. This is a $61 value.

Side note, I have a review of Roller Lash coming up next week!

This collection includes:

• mini Gimme Brow in Shade 3
• mini Precisely, My Brow Pencil in Shade 3
• mini The POREfessional Face Primer
• mini Hoola Bronzer
• mini Roller Lash

 

Boi-ing Erase Case

This set has been out a while but I wanted to include it because it is so damn cute. The packaging for these the Boi-ing stuff is just adorable. I can’t even. LOL. Little pencils! Anyway, this is a good value. They are half the size of a full size product which isn’t mentioned in the description for this. I think this set is great if you are dealing with under-eye isssues and want to try out a variety of products.

The downside, 2 shade sets to choose from which look fair/light – light/medium… yeah. Real inclusive there Benefit. Their shade range is lacking big time which pisses me off. It’s 2017 ffs, make more shades!

This set contains:

• Boi-ing airbrush concealer sheer-to-medium coverage concealer
• Boi-ing hydrating concealer sheer coverage, lightweight concealer
• Boi-ing brightening concealer full coverage, color-correcting concealer
• Boi-ing industrial strength concealer full coverage concealer
• Portable makeup case

The Great Brownanza! Blockbuster Brow Set

This set is an amazing value for $59, valued at $151. I really would love to get this set. Benefit is killing the brow game and this set is awesome. This set comes in 2 shade options. Deep is for dark brown to black with warm undertones and Medium for light to medium brown, and redheads. with neutral-warm undertones. I wish they had a cool deep option, however. I can make the shades work for me but they pull pretty warm. I would probably go for the Medium kit personally but would prefer a deeper cool tone.

This set contains:

• Gimme Brow brow-volumizing fiber gel
• Brow Zings total taming and shaping kit for brows
• Goof proof brow pencil super easy brow-filling and shaping pencil
• ka-BROW! cream-gel brow color with brush
• High Brow pencil creamy brow highlighting pencil
• Angled eyebrow brush and spoolie
• Brow mapping tool
• Signature tips and tricks

City Lights, Party Nights

I really like the packaging on this, the psychedelic 60’s styling is too cool and it’s nice little set for $32 ($65 value). I wouldn’t hate getting this set for a gift. It also comes with a makeup bag.

This set contains:

• They’re Real Double The Lip
• They’re Real Mascara (mini size)
•  Dandelion Twinkle (mini size)
• Precisely, My Brow Pencil in shade 03 (full size)

Beautyblender has some great deals for the holidays. I’m more of real techniques and eco tools beauty sponge kinda gal because if their affordability but some of these sets are worth the purchase.

Goldmine

Goldmine is a great little set to try out a few things from Beautyblender. You get 2 sponges, solid cleanser and blotterazzi for $40 ($68 value) Not the best value but a cute set.

This Set Contains

• Original beautyblender
• beautyblender nude
• blendercleanser solid
• blotterazzi

 

Blenders For All Seasons

The Blender for all Seasons is a pretty sweet deal. Essentially a years supply of beauty blenders for $65 ($80 Value). I would be inclined to get this one.

This set contains:

• Original beautyblender
• beautyblender Bubble
• beautyblender Royal
• beautyblender Lavender
• blender Cleanser sample
• Nest

Midas

This one isn’t all that exciting or a good value. You get one beauty blender and a solid cleanser for $25 which is a $28 value. whoopee. It’s a cute stocking stuffer.

This set contains:

• Original beautyblender
• blendercleanser solid

 

So some of these from Huda Beauty are technically Summer releases but they are limited edition and I think they go perfectly with her newest palette. I’d love to have all 3.

Desert Dusk Eyeshadow Palette

This is a stunning palette. I love the inspiration behind it and the shades are perfection for late summer and fall. I am loving the new purple and bronze trends. This beauty retails for $65. What I like about this palette is that it’s giving us those warm shades we are still loving with a new twist with the purple tones. I love it.

“Our second palette is filled with vibrant, highly-pigmented shades that reflect the exotic landscape of the Arabian desert around us. We’ve introduced three new formulas to reflect all its dazzling mystery and charm, in particular, the iridescent duo-chrome formulas just completely capture the mysterious desert mirages. I spent so much time to ensure that every shade was absolutely perfect, and every color is so special to me. It was also really important to me that we take all our knowledge and feedback from our first palette, and create something that would showcase our growing experience and knowledge.”—Huda Kattan

This palette contains:

• – 8 x Matte Eyeshadows in Blazing, Saffron, Amethyst, Oud, Amber, Eden, Musk, and Desert Sand.
• – 6 x Pressed Pearl Eyeshadows in Turkish Delight, Angelic, Cashmere, Royal, Nefertiti, and Blood Moon.
• – 3 x Duo-Chrome Topper Eyeshadows in Retrograde, Twilight, and Celestial.
• – Pure Glitter Eyeshadow in Cosmo

3D Highlighter Palette – Summer Solstice

Like I said I am including the Summer Solstice collection because it coordinates flawlessly with the eyeshadow palette. The 3D Highlighter Palette includes some pretty unique shades that I think will be great for all skin tones. I am loving all these shades.  I personally wouldn’t use all these shades as recommended, more as blush toppers and highlights. Huda, you are killing me with the pretties. I think this is a fun palette and be cool to play with. This palette retails for $45

This set contains:

Ultra-Shimmery Light Reflecting Pressed Pearls in Malibu (medium bronze), Copacabana (sweet pink powder), Mykonos (semi-sheer purple highlighter with subtle blue gleam)
Poured Melted Strobe in Saint Tropez (shimmering gold)

Liquid Matte Lipstick – Wild Child

I know this really reads as a summer shade but I think paired with the Desert Dusk Palette, it could be perfect for early fall. This isn’t a shade I would normally gravitate to but with the collection, it’s working for me. I also think this shade would be gorgeous of all skin tones.  This is a limited edition shade that retails for $20.

So far from Becca, all am seeing is this super boring eyeshadow palette called the Après Ski Glow Collection: Eye Lights Palette. I’m thinking more is to come from Becca and I sure hope they do something else cause jeez this is a snooze fest. I get the concept that its eyeshadows versions their Skin Perfecting Highlighters, I’m guessing they are just more pigmented and in smaller pans They should have just made the pans slightly bigger and made a best of highlighting palette instead. This was a waste of time for them I think. However, I like the packaging, but I think they could have made this larger and like the Tarte Blush Palettes and really have something cool. I’m gonna pass on this for sure.

You know what I would really love to see from Becca is a palette of their Light Chasers. That would be cool!

This set contains:

Eyeshadows in Pearl, Rose Quartz, Moonstone, Opal, Topaz, Toasted Marshmallow, and Hot Cocoa

Now for Ofra. I haven’t formed an opinion on this brand really but I hate they shaded my Kim Thai. I love that girl, she is so sweet. I have spoken to her a couple times and she was so nice. That being said, I am a fan of NikkieTutorials too so I don’t hate that she has a collection with them, go Nikkie!

Holiday Glow Palette

Speaking of a boring palette… Let’s move on to Ofra’s Holiday Glow Palette. This palette retails for $49 and is one of the most generic palettes I have seen next to Bare Minerals holiday collection. Just blah!   A $182 value of boring!

This palette includes:

• Highlighter in Blissful (golden-bronze w/ rose undertones)
• Bronzer in Americano (warm golden-bronze w/ a slight sheen)
• Blush in Pink Satin (light cool-pink matte) Apricot (light warm vanilla w/ shimmer) B-29 (bright coral matte) Candy Apple (muted orange-red matte)
• Eyeshadow in Plastic (pearl white w/ a satin finish) Essential (rust-copper w/ a metallic finish) Gold Rush (golden copper w/ a metallic finish) ULTA Exclusive shade Winter-Berry (true cranberry w/ satin finish) Millennium Gold (soft white gold w/ a metallic finish) Bohemian (neutral brown w/ a metallic finish) Bark (rich brown matte) Triple Black (true opaque black matte)

Nikkietutorials Long Lasting Liquid Lipstick

I’m including Nikki’s new stuff in here because it just launched. I think this lipstick is really pretty. The shade is called Dutchess (cool-toned pink mauve). It’s nothing groundbreaking but it’s pretty and it’s my kind of lipstick shade. This liquid lippy retails for $17. Not a bad price.

Nikkietutorials Highlighter Trio

These are individuals of her original trio that was in one pan. You have the shade Glow Goals which is a neutral champagne gold metallic, Blind The Haters (sun-kissed copper metallic) which I believe has been reformulated or tweaked and lastly we have Glazed Donut (frosty white metallic). Glazed Donut looks pretty and I wouldn’t hate having it but for $29… Pass. I love Nikkie but her collabs have always left me disappointed. I’m not opposed to Influencer collabs btw. Just burnt out I think. I want another one with BunnyxTarte! 

Last but not least (just overdone) is the Milk Holographic Powder Quad. Yes, I know not holo but I get what they mean, they are shades you would see within something holo but kind of muted. This has been done to death by now. I like Milk Makeup’s aesthetic, and the packaging but I’m not excited about this one.  Like I said I like their style a lot and the space theme but still a Pass.

 

 

I hate to end today’s post on kind of a sour note but that’s the way she goes. Are you excited for any of these collections? Let me know below! I’ll see you little ghosts Monday!