The Ten Beauty Products I Regret Buying

The Ten Beauty Products I Regret Buying

My third blogiversary is just around the corner (well January, but ya’know we’re practically there), and in that whole time I’ve never actually done a products I regret buying post. I love trying new products and it’s rare that I find things that I consider a regret, there’s lots that doesn’t work for me – but that doesn’t mean I wish I’d never given it ago for myself. There are a few products I just haven’t been able to make work for me and it made a nice round number… so here are the ten Beauty Products I Regret Buying

OFRA Lipstick in Staten Island

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I love OFRA lipsticks and by no means is this a reflection on the brand or product. This shade was just not the one for me though. I took a risk and bought it liking the idea of a shade like this, but it just has proved not to be for me. I’ve tried it several times, layered with glosses, layered with other lipsticks and I just don’t like the way this sits on me. I’m actually planning on selling this, if you can pull of these light cool grey toned browns – good for you, I’m jealous.

ELF Tone Adjusting Primer

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Luckily being a cheaper product it’s not the biggest loss on the list. I picked up a couple of things from the Elf counter in New York. The brushes have both needed regluing as they fell apart (but they’re actually nice brushes, just with rubbish glue), whilst the only makeup item I picked up was this. It does nothing, it doesn’t alter tones in my skin, it doesn’t help makeup last longer, and worst of all it feels greasy on my skin. I posted a review of this here.

Kat Von D Tattoo Liner

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Yep you read that right, that liner which 90% of bloggers seem to absolutely love, I did not get on with at all. Crappy pigmentation and even crappier staying power left me bitterly disappointed with this much talked about holy grail status for many liner. I reviewed this here, with all my suffering with the product in detail. Luckily it’s not all bad when it came to the KVD items I chose, I love both the liquid lipsticks and the foundation which I’ve finished up every last drop of and want to get my hands on again soon!

NYX Jumbo Shadow Pencils – Milk & Sparkle Leopard

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When NYX launched here I was so, so happy that I’d finally be able to get my hands on the shade Milk – I’ve seen this used as a base for bright shadows to really help make them pop since what feels like the beginning of time, or at least when I became obsessed with XSparkage at the age of 20 – so 6 years on. I decided at the same time to pick up a coloured pencil to use for days when I’m in a rush and they’re both as crappy as each other. Sparkle Leopard is bad, the pretty bronze pigment wears away after just an hour leaving a chunky silver sparkle behind (which was a bit OTT, but looked passable with the creamy bronze base). Milk doesn’t work by itself, as a base, or even with a primer underneath, it smudges and creases which is a problem I’ve never had before with either.

Maybelline The Blushed Nudes Palette

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I absolutely loved the Original The Nudes palette from Maybelline and ran right out and picked up the Blushed Nudes Palette when it became available here. I’ve used this a handful of times, I don’t think it’s quite as pigmented as the first palette, but my regret of getting this is purely because I just don’t reach for it. This palette is lacking something for me, it verges into Naked 3 territory, but lacks a punchy bronze or pink shade to make me want to use it and therefore I don’t reach for it. First Impressions and swatches were here, where I didn’t say too much bad about it, but thoughts have changed since (and realising that I don’t reach for it!)

MAC Amber Times 9 Palette

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Where do I start with this? I picked this up with a voucher that I got when I left my old job and I’m so sad because it was meant to be a thing I would pull out and use all the time and remember my old friends and co-workers but it’s terrible. One of my most popular posts on my blog is the comparison I did against a W7 Dupe of the Amber Times 9 From MAC and I reach for that so much more than this. The pigmentation is iffy and can become quite patchy when blending. There’s just something not quite right with this palette, MAC’s single shadows are way better, this palette is a flop for me.

Kiehl’s Calendula Oil Cleanser

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I picked this up on a visit to Kiehl’s for a skin consultation. My skin was oily all over (I thought it was going to be combo) and was advised this was the best for my skin. I’ve not got around to reviewing this yet, but I just can’t pin point what it’s doing for me. It doesn’t remove makeup, as far as I can tell it doesn’t make a blind bit of difference when it’s come to oil control and it hasn’t helped reduce any breakouts. It’s been a permanent product in my shower since getting it and I’m losing the will with it. I decided to stop using it in August and see if I noticed a difference, it didn’t notice a change in my skin when I stopped or reintroduced it to my routine a month later.

Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concerntrate

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It makes me so sad to include not one but two Kiehl’s products here. This I bought on my first visit to Kiehl’s when I went to the Mask launch event and I’ve struggled to get myself into using it. I’m sure  it’s a really good product but I just don’t find myself reaching for it. It’s been sitting my by bedside for over 6 months and I just don’t pick it up. I’ve decided to put this away for now and come back to it, but at £36, it’s an expensive thing to not reach for.

Illamasqua Freak Perfume

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I remember getting a sample of this in a Glossybox when it first launched and really liking it. I spotted this on sale at boots for something silly like £10. I like this when I first spray it, but after about 10 minutes once it’s settled I don’t like it. I’m going to try and see if I can get used to it over the next week or so and if I can’t I’ll see if I can find someone who will love it more than I do!


I hope you enjoyed reading about the ten Beauty Products I Regret Buying – What products have you regretted buying?

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Helpless Whilst Drying

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46 Comments

  1. October 31, 2016 / 6:18 am

    I think with the kat von D liner there have been a few bad batches. My friend and I both bought one and mine had satisfactory pigmentation, whereas hers was completely useless and resembled a cheap liner from eBay which left a watery residue.

  2. October 31, 2016 / 6:22 am

    Thanks for writing this. I love these kinds of posts because they help me save time and money 🙂

  3. October 31, 2016 / 7:01 am

    My recent regret is Covergirl SuperSizer mascara. I heard so many good things about it but unfortunately I can’t agree with them at all. The mascara makes my lashes long and /very/ separate without adding any volume. After two coats of mascara my lashes look like spider legs.

    • October 31, 2016 / 10:11 am

      Most seem to love it, but there’s definitely some which seem to lack the pigmentation and longevity others have – It’s not a cheap liner and i wouldn’t want to try it again just in case I didn’t get on with it! x

  4. October 31, 2016 / 11:14 am

    That Kiehls facial oil snap! I got it at least the start of last year, maybe longer ago. Used it a bit, found it did nothing for me and it’s sat in my cupboard. I started using it again a few weeks ago to try to make a dent in it, still dont love it x

    • October 31, 2016 / 1:00 pm

      Everyone raves about it, but I’ve never managed to use it long enough (or been motivated to use it enough) to start to notice any effects of! I’ll retry in the new year I think, has such a cult following though – keeps making me think it MUST do something! x

      • October 31, 2016 / 1:04 pm

        I know. It doesn’t excite me. I used it for a while and saw no effects, so I’m going to use it from now until the end of the year to see how I get on. X

  5. October 31, 2016 / 11:45 am

    I can’t do those greyed nude lip colors well, either. Ehh.
    What is it with MAC and their hit/miss palettes? Sad when a much less expensive brand can outdo them.
    And, I can see why that Maybelline palette doesn’t interest you. There’s something blah about its color selection.

    • October 31, 2016 / 12:53 pm

      I’ve got a dark grey nude on now and I love it, pale nudes are just a total pass for me though! I don’t like them on most people and definitely don’t like them on me either haha!
      I don’t know it seems to be where they offer a value for money option they really cut corners! A £30 MAC palette should perform way better than one I bought for £3.49!
      Yeah the Maybelline palette is a bit wishy-washy – I’d describe the shades as a bit ‘dusty’ – they’re just bleh like you said!

  6. October 31, 2016 / 12:04 pm

    I agree on the elf primer, it just does nothing! I’d rather spend $25 more and get one that I love

    • October 31, 2016 / 12:43 pm

      It does nothing and to add insult to injury it feels horrible. I agree cheap products need to be worth spending money on as much as more expensive ones!

      • November 2, 2016 / 8:24 pm

        I feel the same! It felt so awful on my skin and the texture was not good either!

  7. October 31, 2016 / 4:09 pm

    i never bought the Maybelline palettes because I thought they were just a cheap knock-off of the Naked Palettes by UD. So, I never bothered. And Kat Von D? I haven’t bought a lot from that line but most of what I bought is a disappointment. The Tattoo liner? THE WORST. It doesn’t last (so unless you want charcoal gray smudged lines, it’s not good) and it skips or the ink flow just stops. I have a negative opinion of the entire KVD line but that’s just me. Every palette has been a disappointment, liquid lipsticks don’t wear as well as other lines…. even the eye primer? CREASE CITY.

    • October 31, 2016 / 4:14 pm

      Euch, I liked the original from Maybelline – for the price it was fine, but do think there are better options out there for the price.
      I like the Kat Von D foundation and love the one liquid lipstick I have but admittedly haven’t tried anything else yet as it’s only just become available here and I only bought those three whilst in NY! I’m not particularly interested in the eyeshadow palettes or the shade and light palette I don’t think is for me either, and I’ll stay clear of the eye primer too!

      • October 31, 2016 / 4:31 pm

        I haven’t tried the foundation. I have heard great things about Lock It, but it seemed drying to me. So, I have never taken the plunge. I Have Exorcism liquid lip and I swear, after eating a meal, looked like I needed an exorcism. It was all unevenly faded. OMG, maybe the lighter shades are better but the dark didn’t fly with me. i was horrified. I have been using the Lancome 24 hour foundation and that baby lasts…. and it never stops looking gorgeous so I sort of dropped any infatuation I had for Lock It. Don’t go for the palettes… there are so many out there that are SO MUCH BETTER. I was going to sell mine. Used it a few times and then thought… why did I get this?

          • October 31, 2016 / 5:15 pm

            I’m not oily at all – so I was concerned about the texture. I’ve heard great things about the Marc Jacobs matte blush too but again, I thought it was too drying for me. What shocked me beyond belief… and I NEVER NEVER thought I would wear it was a cushion foundation! I got the Sulwhasoo cushion and OMG! WOW. Glowing beautiful light… but great coverage. I use it several times a week. SUPERB!

          • November 1, 2016 / 2:23 am

            I like the Lancome one too. Laneige is also nice. But Sulwhasoo…. OMG OMG OMG!

  8. October 31, 2016 / 4:54 pm

    Don’t you just hate when you want to like something, and it turns out to be crap? I buy a lot of stuff from Ulta, and if I don’t like it, back it goes to the store. I’m sure I’m flagged as a “serial returner”, but I don’t care. I spend a boat load of money there, so too bad! LOL! Great post!

  9. October 31, 2016 / 4:56 pm

    I love reading these!
    So I should just stay away from the Kiehl’s Calendula line, huh. The toner from that line is not great either. And yes… I felt the same way about the Midnight Recovery Oil. It was one of the first facial oils I got so it was a novelty but it was just eh. I ended up trying others and liking them more – then my bottle sat unused and finally the smell went off so I tossed it.
    Oh Illamasqua Freak Perfume is SO STRONG – ick.
    I have many regrets… lol… most of them are tools. Like what the hell was I thinking when I bought this:
    http://images.luuux.com/0000FA93477D3F1FD171D46EEBEE6B30/middle/Anna-Sui-Finishing-Brush.jpg
    It’s Anna Sui’s Finishing Brush. 😆

    • October 31, 2016 / 5:21 pm

      You bought that? Looks like a feather duster haha! Can you even wash it?!
      I’m glad I didn’t get the toner now I was so tempted as it looks so unusual! I’ll strike that off the “to try” list! I way prefer that Hero Project Oil over this, I’ll retry it again next year but I think I’ll get rid if I’m not feeling it by then! Freak is so strong – and the notes are so potent!

  10. Leanne
    October 31, 2016 / 7:51 pm

    Oh no I’ve just bought NYX jumbo pencil in Milk as I went to get the HD eyeshadow base but was sold out and the lady told me to try this as a primer base instead – I know it’s your opinion but I hope it works for me

  11. MoneyManicurist
    November 1, 2016 / 2:43 am

    Fun and entertaining post thanks 🙂

  12. November 2, 2016 / 2:19 am

    I’m so sad that you didn’t like the KVD liner! Maybe you got a dud because so many people love it, including me!
    Nicole | The Glam Surge

  13. November 8, 2016 / 9:25 am

    It’s funny how I gave the Maybelline the Nudes palette a so so review but whenever I am doing makeup for someone else I keep packing it because it really is a versatile basic which you can do safe clean looks with.

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