November 2015 Yays! & Boos!

Here are my yays and boos for November!

Yays!

tarte Holidaze of Giving 15pc. Gifting Collection

Once the November QVC Insider was ready, I could not wait to see what the November TSV was going to be from tarte. I flipped through and didn't see anything. I said wait a minute. Flipped through it again and saw this set. The set is currently at sale price and the available easy pays on the set have varied since it launched. I got it on 4 easy pays. They did something different this year since it's their 15th anniversary. The set it a good value but at first glance I wasn't interested. Then I saw a YouTube video on it and the swatches of the lip products made me take a second look at the set. Even if I only kept the lip products, the set it still a good deal since the Lip Surgence lip pencils are $24 each and the glosses are $19 each. There are 3 Lip Surgence pencils and 2 glosses in this set. So I said what they hey and ordered. I'm so glad I did. tarte has really impressed me this year with the sets they've brought to QVC. The shadows in this set are beautiful along with the two blushes. The eyeliner are nice and smooth. I'm already a fan of the Lights, Camera, Lashes mascara. The lip products are nice too. I've tried the eye cream and it's nice. I may gift it. This is your full face. I cannot wait to travel with this set. Between this set, the Ulta set and the Sephora set, I'm glad I got this one. If you're a Tarte fan or want to get a good mix of products to try from the brand then pick up this set. It's not pictured about, so check out QVC's site for pics and the presentation video.

Jack Black Intense Lip Balm in Shea Butter & Vitamin E

I think I got this sample size in a promo set from Sephora with some other items. When I first used I did not like it at all. Something was like try it again and if you still don't like it then trash it. I've been using in the morning to prep my lips and I have really been enjoying. It's not too moisturizing or overly greasy to interfere with the various lip products I've use it with. It makes my lips nice and smooth. Right now I can't say if I would go and purchase a full size since it does what the Neutrogena lip balm does for me and it'a cheaper product. I do like that it has a higher SPF of 25. The Neutrogena lip balm has an SPF of 15. I see on Sephora's site that there a mint one and I do like mint lip balm annnndddd there's a set of 4 available *covers eyes* Abort, abort!!!! LOL!

Love by Sofia Vergara 4-piece Fragrance Gift Set

This set was a Today's Special and it was of Sofia Vergara's new scent. Of course I jumped up on it since I enjoyed her first fragrance so much. I really like the new scent. But what surprised me was how much I liked the Shimmering Body Lotion and Creamy Shower Gel. Usually items like these in a fragrance set are throw away items. The lotions on me are never moisturizing enough and the shower product is usually runny and doesn't lather up well. This is not the case with these two products in this set. If you're looking for a fragrance gift, I highly recommend this set. It's currently on 4 flex payments and has free shipping. With HSN you currently have until the end of January to return or exchange purchases which is nice.

Boos!

Wen Fragrances

Chaz recently launched two new fragrances to his line. Now I RAVED over the 613 fragrance in my June surprise products post.  But I already knew what 613 smelled like from the cleansing conditioner and I always loved the scent. I ordered the Eau de Parfums of Fall Tuscan Pear and Sweet Toasted Almond when they launched on QVC. Eau de Parfums are supposed to be long lasting. These are not. Well on me they don't last long. The Fall Tuscan Pear scent reminded me of Bath and Body Works A Beautiful Day even though it more of a apple scent. The body mist last longer on me than the Fall Tuscan Pear EDP. I did like the Sweet Toasted Almond scent a bit better from first sniff. But the more I smelled it, one of the notes just did not agree with me. So both went back. Needless to say, I won't be trying anymore additional scents from Chaz. He is developing a signature scent. I am curious about that one but I will try to stick to my guns and not order it. I have no need for anymore fragrances.

Essence Beauty Box

I was beyond excited when I saw that Essence was coming out with their own beauty box. I pre-ordered in September and I got my first box in October. It was ok. There was a full size Tarte brow product that I wanted to try. I wasn't necessarily over the moon for the other products. Then The Posh Blog did a Periscope on the second box (she did one of the first box as well). I hadn't gotten my box yet when I watched. Before she even showed the items, she said she was not happy. I was like oh Lawd. As I watched I could see why. The products were lackluster. At least for me. Hair products were included with the two boxes I received which is cool. However they are more do geared towards someone with natural hair, which I do not have. Now I have used products geared more so towards natural hair with any issues. In the second box a mini size (and I do mean mini) of a Black Opal lipstick was included. I was like seriously we couldn't get a full size? Then a sample size of a Smashbox mascara was included that I could get from Sephora or Ulta. So needless to say I was not impressed and did not even want to bother with a third box. I emailed them and cancelled my subscription. Maybe the boxes will get better but right now, I'm not here for it. The Target Beauty boxes I have purchased have been more exciting and better deals than the two Essence Beauty boxes I received.

Real Techniques Deep Cleansing Gel Brush Cleaner

I came across this at Ulta and wanted to give it a go. It's just ok. The Dawn Simply Clean dish soap I picked up from The Dollar Tree is better and double the amount of product. If your brushes aren't super dirty then it gets the job done. I wouldn't use it on brushes with a lot of products on them like foundation or concealer. I'll probably just use it on my eye brushes and maybe blush brushes going forward.

Burt's Bee Moisturizing Lip Balm in Mint Cocoa

This was another random Ulta purchase. I was actually looking for the Pumpkin Spice one but didn't see, so I got this one instead. I'm not impressed. It's doesn't seem all that moisturizing to me and there's nothing mint about it. It kinda smells weird too. Dah well.

On to December!