Hey Beauty Lovers!  I have yet another Limited Edition Holiday set to review for you today: ‘Sephora Favorites Superstars’ Unfortunately this is another set that is now sold out.  This particular set went on sale quite early for the season and was available for quite a while.. so; hopefully, if you wanted it you were able to snag it in time. 🙂

The set:

SO many great products in this set!  I knew I would have to have it the moment the spoilers for ‘Sephora Holiday Sets’ were released,

Product list: (from Left)

 Smashbox: Photo Finish Primer Water (1 oz $16.00 size)

Makeup Forever Step 1: Hydrating Primer, deluxe sample 0.16 0z

Benefit They’re Real: ‘beyond’ Mascara, deluxe sample/travel size

Touch in Sol Stretchex: Stretch Lash Effect Mascara, full size

Laura Mercier Matte Radiance Baked Powder: Highlight-1 golden nude, (This is a really good size deluxe sample .06 oz)

Clinique Chubby Stick Sculpting Highlight: 01 Hefty Highlight, full size (.21 0z)

Urban Decay Eyeshadow in ‘Lounge’, (full size) 0.05 oz

NARS Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow in Himalia, (This is a really good sized Deluxe Sample) 0.05 0z

Original Beauty Blender (Pink), (full size)

Tarte :Slenderizer brush mini

Tarte: The Sculptor (deluxe Sample) 0.06 oz

Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner: Intense Black (full size)

Lancôme Drama Liqui-pencil: Extreme Longwear Eyeliner Noir Intense (Full Size)

The Goods:

Smashbox Photo finish Primer Water

I’ve been curious about this product for some time, was not sure how well it would work for me so I was holding out for a sample.  I never did end up receiving one so I was happy to be getting one in this set.  This is a larger 1 oz deluxe/travel sized bottle and can be purchased for $16.00  I really do like this product.  It’s not the primer for instant pore filling and minor wrinkle smoothing, like some but it’s a nice light moisturizing primer that makes your skin a bit more dewey, helps maintain moisture, feels nice and holds your makeup in place longer.  It’s also great as a refresher throughout the day.

Make Up For Ever Step 1 Skin Equalizer: Hydrating Primer

Make Up For Ever Primers are my favorite.  They are all excellent at providing the corrective quality that they claim to.  I have a collection of them that I use for different instances.  This is the hydrating version which is great for me in the winter as I get little dry patchy areas on my lower facial area.  This is the deluxe/travel size and can be purchased for $16.00

Benefit They’re Real ‘beyond’ Mascara:

This is the travel sized mini and can be purchased for $12.00.  This is a super popular mascara and I think most of the beauty obsessed have already tried or use this product.  This is one of my favorite mascaras.  I use it a lot and as I have said before I prefer mini mascaras because I can use them up before they start to get dry.  I also find the shorter wands easier to control.  This mascara is both thickening and lengthening and the brush design allows for good lash separation.

Touch in Sol ‘Stretchex’ Stretch Lash Effect Mascara:

This is the only product in this set that I’ve not yet tried.  I have a full sized and 2 sample sized Mascaras opened and in use so I do not want to open another until using these up.  This is the full size product and is $22.00

Here is what Sephora says about it:

What it is:
A unique, super light, elastic formulation to create buildable length that lasts all day.

What it does:
Take lashes to the extreme with this innovative, lightweight formula. Stretch polymer gives the look of false lashes without the hassle yet it easily washes off with warm water—so it won’t irritate even the most sensitive eyes. Enriched with silk proteins to protect and promote happy, healthy-looking lashes, in just one swipe it creates buildable length that lasts all day long.

It also has excellent reviews.  If anyone reading has used this mascara I would love to hear what you think of it!

Laura Mercier Matte Radiance Baked Powder Highlight in golden nude:

This is a deluxe/travel size version but it is a really good size. I originally thought it was the full size version.  You can purchase the full size version for $40.00 but not this version, (at least not on its own.) This is different than the other highlighters that I own as it is a matte highlighter.  It provides buildable coverage with soft radiance and luminosity.  It is really pretty and can be used for many different things.  I look forward to playing around with this product a bit more. (swatched toward bottom of page)

Clinique Chubby Stick Sculpting Highlight:

(First, sorry about the poor quality of this particular photo, I initially missed this picture and was out of day light by the time I realized, to re-take it. 😦  I will replace it tomorrow!)

This product is full sized and can be purchased for $22.00.  This is an oil free, smooth, creamy Highlighting stick and I love its big, ‘chubby’ application!  This is highlighting on the easy!  The color is nice and a quick swipe down the bridge of your nose, a dab at the top of each cheekbone, a dot on the cupid’s bow and voila!  It does not get much easier than this.

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Single in ‘Lounge’

This is the full sized UD Product and is $19.00.  This is a killer shade and the pigment and texture/finish is exactly what you would expect from a UD Eyeshadow; Amazing.  It is described as: a brick red w/ green shift (swatched at the bottom of this page where you can see these two tones) This shade is currently out of stock at Sephora but should be back soon.  I seriously LOVE this shade.

NARS Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow in Himalia

This is another deluxe sized product that I thought may be the full size version.  (It’s good sized)  the shade is Himalia described as a shimmering topaz.  This is another great Eyeshadow with excellent pigment and texture in a lovely everyday wearable shade.  (Swatched at the bottom of page)

Beauty Blender Original (Pink)

This is the full sized original blender and can be purchased for $20.00

For those of you that have not ventured in to the world of ‘The beauty Blender’ yet, you’re missing out!  The reviews speak for themselves.  I first received a beauty blender waaaaaaay back in an early Popsugar Must have box that also came with a full sized blender cleanser.  I was not even sure what it was and it was not widely known or used as of yet.  I read what it was and thought: Meh.  A makeup sponge and tossed it aside. Months later I began seeing them all over sephora, Social Media, Blogs and so on.  I located the blender and thus began my love affair with this amazing little product.  It seems silly that something this simple would change your makeup application so much, but it does.  Dampen the sponge, apply foundation and blend it on your face. It’s a combo of the shape + the material used and it’s a game changer.  They are also excellent for blending contour and highlight products and are now available in multiple sizes.  The cleanser created for it works great as well.

Tarte : The Slenderizer brush mini  &

The sculptor Contouring stick mini:

I have contemplated the purchase of the dual ended, full sized version of this brush for some time.  This mini is great.  I love how easily and quickly I can blend my contour stick and other cream contour products with this brush.  The smaller size does not effect its performance negatively at all.  I find it makes contouring the nose area easier.  I’m sure the full sized dual ended product would be a good purchase as well.

I purchased this contour stick some time ago and chose the dual ended version with the highlighter on the opposite end.  Because of its dual ended status there really is only a small amount of each product in the stick, likely no more than what is in this mini version.  It’s nice to have this mini as a backup b/c I will run out of the contouring part of the dual ended version long before the highlighter.  I like this stick a lot.  It is also available in two darker versions of this ‘Park Avenue Princess shade’  The shade is good and it’s easy to blend.  I am a big fan of ‘stick’ products. (swatch at bottom of page)

Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner: Intense Black

Lancôme Drama Liqui-pencil: Extreme Longwear Eyeliner Noir Intense

While I already know and love the Stila liquid liner the lancome liner is new to me.  Both of these products are full size.  The Stila liner can be purchased for $22.00 and the Lancôme for $23.00.  The eyeliners are both excellent products.  The Stila liner I use on the daily and have for years.  The felt tip pen style is easy to apply and does so smoothly without skipping.  The tip doesn’t break down or fray like some similar styles tend to…and it stays!  The lancôme pencil is excellent as well and its staying power is serious! It glides on super black and super smooth.  Love it.  (swatched below)

Swatches: (from left)

Tarte: The Sculptor, Clinique: Chubby Stick highlighter, Stila: Stay All Day liquid liner, Lancome: Liqui-Pencil liner, UD eyeshadow in lounge

Laura Mercier: Matte Highlighter, NARS Eyeshadow in Himalia

Well….There you have it.  Of course all of these products are pretty fabulous, it is the ‘Sephora superstars’ set after all!  The value of this set is well over $150.00 (150 for the full sized items and items available for purchase on their own; plus the added value of the Tarte contour stick, slenderizer brush, laura Mercier highlighter and NARS Eyeshadow)  The cost was $75.00

What do you think of these items?  Anybody else purchase this?  I’d love to hear your thoughts!

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-Kelli xoxo