OK so here’s the deal, guys. I’m pretty obsessed with the Sephora Favorites Superstars box. Like REALLY obsessed. It is a 12-piece beauty set with full-sizes of Sephora’s most-coveted essentials—from makeup to fragrance to skincare.
When I saw it on their site, and saw that for $75 one could get a $225 value, free shipping and some free gifts, there was really no other justification that I needed to make the purchase, especially since this box was full of some of the products that I so SERIOUSLY wanted.
I love the box and the contents SO much, and am SO enthusiastic about it, that I decided to go ahead and do a comprehensive review of each product inside, stating what it is, how much it costs separate from the kit, why I like it, and if I’d repurchase it. Plus, this is also a great resource for a gift guide if you have a special lady in your life who loves beauty stuff! So get comfortable, and lets begin!
Here’s what the box includes:
- 0.003 oz Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in Dark Brown (eyebrow pencil)
- 0.25 oz Benefit Cosmetics POREfessional (pore correcting cream)
- 0.10 oz Benefit Cosmetics They’re Real Mascara In Jet Black (mascara)
- 1.7 oz Bumble And Bumble Surf Spray (hair texturizing spray)
- 0.34 oz Chloè by Chloè Rollerball (fragrance)
- 0.4 oz Formula X Nail Color in Ignite (nail polish)
- 0.08 oz Fresh Sugar Rosè Tinted Lip Treatment (tinted lip balm)
- 0.5 oz Josie Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil (moisturizer – oil)
- 0.16 oz Nars Cosmetics Blush in Orgasm (blush)
- 1 oz Smashbox Cosmetics Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 35 in Light (BB Cream)
- 0.016 oz Stila Cosmetics Stay All Day® Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner In Intense Black (eyeliner)
- 0.05 oz Urban Decay Eye shadow in Sin (eyeshadow)
I was most excited for the Brow Wiz pencil, the NARS blush, and the Stila eyeliner, being that these are products that I constantly, and I mean CONSTANTLY, hear so many good things about. It’s almost as thought that NARS blush has a cult following. Acutally, it’s not almost as if, it is a fact. The NARS Orgasm blush most certainly has a cult following. Obviously, I had to see what it was all about, and this box set was the best way to go. But I have to say, there were a lot of products that really surprised me, and I can’t wait to tell you all about them!
I’ve used all of the products since receiving the kit, some more than others, and I believe I’m ready to do an in-depth review. So away we go!
The first product that I pulled from the box was the Josie Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil, which retails for $16. I’ve never used oil on my face, like my whole face. Yes, I’ve used coconut oil for moisture under my eyes, and on my baby belly and whatnot, but never have I ever taken oil, and then rubbed it willingly into my face. I’ve always been told that oil = zits and I hate zits… But as the youth of the nation say, YOLO!
I am OBSESSED with the stuff. I use it every day now, and all you really need is 2-4 drops for a perfect amount of moisturization. I’ve noticed a marketable difference in my skin texture, and just the overall quality of it. All redness went away, and I had some SERIOUS redness around my eyes from over-drying. Also, my skin itself is more balanced looking, more even in texture and supple while still firm. And guess what? NO ZITS. I am extremely happy, that’s for sure. I use it after cleansing/toning. I will be repurchasing this product, for sure.
The Formula X Nail Lacquer in the color Ignite retails for $10.50, and is crazy. I wasn’t prepared to be impressed with it, since on the surface, it looked like just another red nail polish, and I have a lot of red nail polishes. But just another red nail polish, this was not. These vivid lacquers feature a fast-drying formula that instantly leaves nails with a smooth, flawless finish, and after putting the polish to the test on my fingers and toes, I can attest that this formula is EXTREMELY fast drying. Like, HOLY COW fast drying.
Anyone that knows me really well knows that I can’t ever paint my nails, for the reason that I am really impatient. I will paint, sit for 30 seconds and then suddenly think of about a million-trillion things I’d rather do, and in the process of doing something, smudge everything to oblivion. Not so with this polish. It was dry before I could even manage to smudge anything. Amazing. Plus, the color is amazing. I have been searching for a deep, yet brilliant red for quite some time, and it really is the perfect color for the holidays. I’m fired up I was able to discover this brand. I will for sure be repurchasing this branded product.
Now, the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz, which retails for $21, is a product that I actually already had in my collection, and I have been a huge fan of it. Basically, it’s an ultra-slim mechanical pencil to shape, define, and fill in your brows for a natural, polished look. When I purchased the pencil for myself, I got it in the color Chocolate, but the kit came with the color Dark Brown.
I’m pretty sure that the darker brown color is more suited to my coloring, and I’ve been using it more often than the one that I’d previously bought! I love the precision of the pencil, and I also love how it’s dual sided, meaning that one side is the pencil, and the other is a spooley brush. This pencil is perfect for spot checking areas that may be sparse or over-tweezed, and the smear-proof formula wears all day for a natural, fresh look. While I do love the product, and now have 2, I think that when it comes to repurchasing, I will actually opt for the Anastasia brow pomade instead. I just like trying new things. What can I say?
Easily the most FAMOUS and most anticipated of the products in the kit, the NARS Cosmetics Blush in Orgasm. This soft and sheer, pressed powder blush retails at $55, and is simply put, beautiful. It’s gorgeous. With just a little swipe, it makes cheeks blush a perfect pinky-peach flush and subtly highlights with accents of golden shimmer.
The perennially pleasing, universally flattering shade is repeatedly a makeup artist and beauty editor favorite. Super Orgasm Blush amps things up with a shimmering peachy pink blush with an extra dose of golden sparkle that’s perfect for complementing all skin tones. The super sexy pink flush gives the effect of a radiant afterglow.
This blush man… THIS BLUSH. Used with just a single swipe or built up to be more intense, it’s perfect for pretty much any look. I’m in love, and I can see why this product put NARS on the map. Sign me up for that cult. Seriously. I’m all in.
As for a product that I already went ahead and purchased after trying is Benefit Cosmetics They’re Real Mascara In Jet Black. The mascara retails for $23, and is worth every single penny. Every single one. You could call me obsessed, and wouldn’t be wrong. From the first swipe on my lashes, I was in love. There’s something about it that I just can’t get enough of. It doesn’t clump, and with only 1 or 2 coats, my lashes are super long, super full and super curled. I was so incredibly impressed with this mascara, that I couldn’t stop talking about it.
The brush is comparable with the Extreme Dimension 3D Lash from MAC, one that I own and used before discovering this Benefit stuff, but the comparisons kind of stop there. The MAC mascara is one that I’ve repurchased 3 times so far, and have loved, but have time and time again experienced issues with. The stuff clumps man. It clumps bad. It also can get really spindly and spider-leg-like and it really takes some finesse to get the stuff on without looking goopy, or just TOO much. With the Benefit mascara, I have not experienced anything along those lines. No clumps at all, and all I see are long, thick and beautiful lashes.
No spider legs here. I am so in love. The specially designed brush features staggered bristles that grab close to the root, boosting length and volume beyond belief. The custom-domed tip uses precision bristles to lift, define, and curl even your tiniest lashes, and works great with the lower lashes too. With a glossy, jet-black, longwearing formula, you’ll flaunt luxurious, silky lashes that won’t smudge, clump, or dry out. True story! PLUS it comes off fairly easily with the cleanser I use, which is magic in and of itself, since I usually have to scrub the tar out of my eyes with the other MAC mascara, which makes my face RED and DRY. This product may be the one that I’m most happy with from the Superstars kit. For sure.
While we’re on the subject of eyes, the Stila Cosmetics Stay All Day® Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner is another winner in my book. I’ve recently switched from pencil to liquid when it comes to liner, mostly because it looks better and tends to not smudge as badly as the pencils. This $20 liner from Stila is great, and reflects every single amazing thing I’ve ever heard about it.
It glides on effortlessly, it stays in place, it doesn’t smudge, budge or do anything that I don’t want it to, and it is super opaque. One line will do ya, and it’s really easy to control, even with my nervous-nelly shaky hands, I’m able to pull of a really clean and crisp line with little-to-no effort. Basically, if you can draw a line, you can make this stuff work wonders in your life. Yep, this will be something I keep in my collection for a long time.
I love Urban Decay. I remember being a kid going to the mall with my mom when she needed to restock on Clinque and Lancome stuff, and wandering off to play with all the beautiful colors Urban Decay had to offer. It was mesmerizing to me as a kid, and the products continue to mesmerize me to this day.
The Urban Decay Eye shadow in Sin retails for $18, and is gorgeous. It’s a champagne shimmer, with slight rose undertones, and would go perfectly with pretty much any skin tone. This shade is also part of the now-famous Naked palette and could easily be combined with any look you’re trying to go for.
I actually really liked it just all by itself with some mascara, but it looked gorgeous with a purple look I went for the other day. This shadow is amazingly soft and velvety in texture. The colors are super rich and dense, long wearing and easily blendable. While I may not repurchase this exact color, I will for sure be repurchasing the individual shadows from UD. No questions asked.
Another product that I’d repurchase no questions asked is the Smashbox Cosmetics Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 35, which retails for $39. The color in the kit is magically the color of my skin, and after first use, I could tell it’s a great product. A little dab will do ya though, you guys. I squeezed out a “normal” amount onto the back of my hand the first time I used it, and only actually used about HALF of the amount I would normally need from any other BB cream or liquid makeup. Oops.
I really like the description from Sephora’s site, so I’m just going to use that here:
This multitasking tinted cream formula with SPF 35 moisturizes, primes, perfects, controls oil, and protects for flawless skin on set and beyond. Formulated with emollients and optical pearl pigments, this BB Cream gives skin a glowing, ethereal look and provides a hydrating veil for the complexion to maintain moisture on the surface of the skin. With its ultrasmoothing finish, it instantly re-texturizes to create a smooth canvas and enhances the wear of makeup. Ideal even for oily complexions, this expert formula with UVA/UVB protection helps inhibit oil to prevent the complexion from getting shiny throughout the day without the typical chalky matte finish. Yep. It does all of that. And it does it well.
A product that I will NOT be purchasing again are the Benefit Cosmetics POREfessional cream, which I used as a primer. The full size retails for $31, and the mini size goes for $10. I don’t know what about it I don’t like, I just don’t like it.
It feels really oily on my skin, and I guess because I don’t really have much in the way of visible pores, it didn’t do much for me. I’m sure it’s a great product, and I have heard rave-reviews from some folks, but for me, and for my skin, I’m not a fan.
I also am not a huge fan of the Bumble And Bumble Surf Spray. It goes for $15 for the mini, and $26 for the full sized bottle, and I guess I just don’t know how to use it.
I tried it on dry hair and on damp hair, and nothing really happened. I guess my hair naturally looks windblown. I have no idea.
The Fresh Sugar Rosè Tinted Lip Treatment retails for $22.50, and is amazing. I’m not sure I’d pay $22.50 for it, but then again, I just might. I just might… It’s a hydrating treatment that nourishes, protects, and plumps the lips, and according to the site, Sugar Lip Treatment SPF 15 blends reparative oils and waxes with real sugar, a natural humectant, for delectable and dependable moisture. Sweet and tart black currant oil, rich in plumping essential fatty acids, cushions the lips while antioxidant grapeseed polyphenols and vitamins A, C, and E provide protection from wrinkle-causing free radicals. It provides essential, year-round protection from damaging UV rays.
I mean, dang. It does a lot, so I guess that’s what justifies the price tag. My favorite part of this product is for sure the stain that it puts on your lips, and the long wear aspect. My lips feel nourished and moisturized for a LONG time. I don’t have to keep applying, and it’s comfortable. It’s not sticky, and really makes my lips look naturally flushed, and SUPER smooth. Yeah, I’m a huge fan.
The last product in the box is one that I really like, but don’t see myself repurchasing. But honestly, who knows. I’m on the fence about that. It’s the Chloè by Chloè Rollerball, which retails for $25. It’s nice. It’s really nice. It’s a fresh, smooth floral fragrance, with Pink Peony, Freesia, Lychee, Magnolia Flower, Lilly of the Valley, Rose, Cedarwood, Amber, and Honey notes.
It’s a smell I like. It may even be a smell I REALLY like, but it’s not really ME. See, I have worn Miss Dior for YEARS. YEAAARRRSSSS. And Miss Dior is ME. Chloè is amazing, and Chloè will stick around for as long as I have this container, and when the time comes and the rollerball is empty, we’ll see what happens. Chloè may secretly be me afterall.
All in all, this Sephora Favorites Superstars beauty kit is a must for anyone on your list, or even yourself. The colors and the products are, for the most part, pretty much universal. And if you’re not feeling the whole kit, use this review as a guide for the individual items that can each be found at Sephora.com, at your local store or from the cosmetic company sites themselves.
No, I am not sponsored, and yes, I did purchase this on my own. I just loved it so much that I felt compelled to share it all with you. Hope you enjoyed! Please let me know in the comments section what you think, and if reviews like this are something that you’d find helpful in the future. Please be honest, and just know, you won’t hurt my feelings. I just want honest feedback, as I venture into new arenas here on SD&S.
