Despite saying that I wouldn't participate in another grab bag after unboxing last year's Beautylish Lucky Bag, I couldn't help myself and ordered one this year (technically last year since you have to pre-order them the day after Christmas and they ship in January). For those of you who aren't familiar with the Beautylish Lucky Bags, you pay $75 (and $7 shipping) for an assortment of mystery products worth over $150. Some bags are "extra lucky" and contain things ranging from an entire set of Wayne Goss brushes to the 12-pan Viseart eyeshadow palettes. I had a $20 off voucher from the Beautylish holiday event (spend $100 get a $20 off voucher for your next purchase) so I only paid $62 altogether.
Once again, I was in a state of anxiety over what would be in my bag. I was constantly refreshing Instagram and checking on Sephora's community board to see what everyone else was getting. I saw some amazing items (By Terry face palettes, Viseart palettes, ABH Modern Renaissance palette, Wayne Goss face brushes, you get the idea) as well as some extremely underwhelming ones (an unlabeled brush that Beautylish claims is a special-edition Chikuhodo and the Jeffree Star Beauty Killer palette). Lo and behold, I got an okay bag, again. Here's the value breakdown of what I got:
Wayne Goss Brow Set $55 (I got this in my lucky bag last year - see the individual brushes here)
Makeup Atelier Paris 5 Eyeshadow Palette in Natural Chestnut $35
Natasha Denona Blush Duo Palette in #8 Toutou/Peach $38
Smith & Cult Nail Polish in Dark Like Me $18
Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray Travel Size $22
Bioderma Sensibio H2O 100 ml $6.90
Total retail value: $174.90
I still think the Wayne Goss brow set is very overpriced, though I have been using at least two of the brushes from the set every day I've worn makeup in the last year. I wish I had gotten the Wayne Goss eye brush instead. Nonetheless, brow brushes are an essential so at least I have a backup.
I was hoping for a Viseart or Natasha Denona eyeshadow palette but the Makeup Atelier Paris one isn't bad. All five shadows are matte neutrals so I'm sure this palette will come in handy for travel. The three lighter shades look very similar so I wish they could have replaced one with a shimmery pop of color.
Out of everything in the bag, I'm most excited to try the Natasha Denona blush duo. The lighter shade can probably work as a highlight when I'm more tan. I like that you can easily use each shade on its own or mix the two for the perfect flush. Both shades have a bit of shimmer but the powders feel ultra smooth and not glittery at all.
I've been wanting to try a polish from Smith & Cult so I was happy to see this in my bag. The vampy shade looks great for this time of year. If I like the formula, I'll consider picking up more shades in the future.
The Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray is a cult-favorite hair product but I just don't seem to understand why. It's not really a dry shampoo though it does help cut down on the oily-scalp feeling and provide a bit of volume. It leaves a strange texture to my hair that I can't quite explain. I guess I can consider it a good thing that I wouldn't purchase this again since it's so pricey.
The baby bottles of Bioderma are adorable to look at and convenient for travel or keeping in your gym bag - my only gripe is that they aren't refillable. I used to be a big fan of Bioderma but I've since found that the Garnier Micellar Water is just as good and quite a bit cheaper.
Was this all worth $62? Probably. I'm thankful that I didn't get any of the items I absolutely wouldn't get use out of. But at the same time I really didn't need any of the things I received. Will I partake in next year's lucky bag? I'm not a gambler at all - I've never bought the lottery for myself nor do I have any interest in casinos - but I'd be lying if I said I'm not tempted by the "what if" factor of lucky bags.
This was my last purchase of 2016 to end a year of some crazy beauty spending and I'm dialing my beauty spending way down this year. Just don't be surprised if you see a lot of new products here since I've yet to swatch and review the mountain of eyeshadows, blushes, highlighters and other makeup I've accumulated!