Hi friends!
Well, it’s officially the Christmas season and everyone is getting in the mood for gift-giving. Making their lists and checking them twice, you know the score. But before I talk about the items you may want to pick up this holiday season (gift guides coming next week!), first let me tell you about the bits I won’t be including on my Christmas list this year. Yup, it’s my beauty anti-wishlist December 2019 edition!
If you’re new around here, this is a monthly series where I pick five newish or upcoming beauty releases that don’t excite me for whatever reason. Then I tell you why. Of course, this is based on personal preference only and I have not tried any of these products before, obviously. It’s kinda like judging a book by its cover, but don’t lie to yourself we all do that from time to time!
If you’d like to catch up on some of my previous anti-wishlists, here are some links for you.
November / October / September / August
Now let’s get started!
VICTORIA BECKHAM BEAUTY X AUGUSTINUS BADER THE CELL REJUVENATING PRIMING MOISTURIZER
Source: VBB / Instagram
If you didn’t already know, Posh Spice herself launched her own brand, Victoria Beckham Beauty back in September. A clean beauty line that’s quite upmarket with the pricing, but focuses on creating really beautiful but sustainable packaging. So far she’s come out with eyeshadow palettes, eyeliners, cream shadows, and lip products. Now she’s debuted her first skincare product and it’s a collab with the uber-luxurious, science-based skincare brand, Augustinus Bader. Basically, it’s a moisturizer that you use before you apply your makeup that’s supposed to do all types of awesome stuff for your skin throughout the day – a primer-moisturizer hybrid.
So get ready for it…it’s $145 for 50 mL (or $95.00 for 30 mL). Mic drop! I’ve got a lot of products that I use pre-makeup to give my skin moisture, slip, suppleness and glow, and none of them cost me $145! So that’s a “no thanks” from me VB!
PEACHY QUEEN I’LL BE THERE FOR YOU EYESHADOW PALETTE
Source: Trendmood / Instagram
I don’t believe this is official Friends merch by any means, but I came across this eyeshadow palette on Trendmood’s page and immediately thought it was just wayyy too much color for me. I’d barely get any use from those frosty teals, baby blues, acid greens or yellows so why bother, you know? Plus, I absolutely cannot stand Friends! I know this is a very unpopular opinion, but I never got the obsession with that show. It’s simply not funny…like at all. I think it’s a mix of 90’s nostalgia and wanting to see good-looking people try to be funny – that’s why Gen Z’ers have rediscovered the show, in my opinion. Rant over.
ORIGINS PRETTY IN BLOOM FLOWER-INFUSED LONG-WEAR FOUNDATION
Source: Trendmood / Instagram
I have never tried anything from Origins, either skincare or makeup related, but this foundation did catch me eye recently. It actually sounds pretty darn good – buildable medium coverage, long-lasting hydration, SPF, natural finish with a lightweight feel, but still long-wearing? However, I am always a bit cautious when brands claim sweat-proof / 24-hour wear on a base product because of my dry skin. Truth is I just don’t need another base product in my collection right now; it’s the same rationale I have about eyeshadow palettes at the moment. I’m trying to keep my foundation wardrobe as edited as possible because I actually want to finish what I have. So I’m passing on this (at least for the moment).
FENTY BEAUTY KILLOWATT FOIL FREESTYLE HIGHLIGHTER IN RUBY RICHEZ
Source: Fenty / Instagram
I belieeeeve this is the highlighter that Fenty originally brought out earlier this year under the name “Geisha Chic.” Needless to say it caused a bit of drama on social media and they got called out for their so-called insensitivity. They quickly apologized and pulled the product from shelves. Last month the highlighter resurfaced on their website as Ruby Richez. I’ve never tried any of the Killowatt Highlighters before but I don’t think I’m gonna start with this one! It looks super cool in the pan, but it’s a metallic brick shade. I’m very pale, so there’s noooo way I could pull off a red highlighter on my skin tone. It’s probably gorgeous for deeper skin tones but clearly it wasn’t made for me.
SCOTT BARNES SCULPTING AND CONTOUR PALETTE NO. 1
Source: Scott Barnes / Instagram
I actually love the variation in colors and undertones that are in this Scott Barnes Sculpting and Contour Palette. You can really tell that an MUA created this, but I think it would be so much more useful for other MUA’s and beauty professionals rather than consumers. There’s no way you could get use from all these shades only having one face! I know, I know you can use powders for a number of different purposes – eyeshadow, bronzer, contour, eyebrows, etc. But personally (since I don’t contour or even know how to) this is a big eyeshadow/bronzer palette that I just don’t need at the moment.
What’s on your beauty anti-wishlist this month? I’d love to know!
xo, Erica
PIN IT!
I do not like the colors at all with the PEACHY QUEEN I’LL BE THERE FOR YOU EYESHADOW PALETTE. Great clown make-up…lol
Ha, perhaps! A little too bright for me!
$145?? Nope! The I’ll Be There For You palette is way too out there for me. 😯
I’m trying to incorporate more color into my life, but the truth is I’m still very far from being adventurous!
I’m so out of the loop with releases right now. I cannot believe how expensive VB’s line is. Hard pass.
Same with that palette. I like the different colors but at the same time it doesn’t look as exciting to me. I don’t care for friends and I agree with you lol. In my opinion, anyone who is good looking just doesn’t come across as funny no matter how “funny” their lines are.. just looks a bit cringey to me that they try to crack these jokes but the delivery doesn’t cut it for me lol. Ok I’m ranting too. Moving on..
That fenty highlighter looks like a blush…..
That last palette is definitely the kind of product MUAs should have in their kits and not so much for regular consumers as you’ve pointed out.
I’m kinda not surprised to be honest. I mean, she was called Posh Spice right? 😉 Glad I’m not the only one who doesn’t see the fuss about Friends! So many people are totally gaga, and I just never ever saw the appeal.
The eyeshadow palette is certainly not daily wearable ! I actually plan on looking into Augustinus Bader’s moisturizer so I might very well spend the big bucks on it 😉❤️💄
Definitely not! Let me know what you think then 😉.
WOWZA, $145 for a primer? Now that’s outrageous. I have always love VB but, nope, even I’m not falling for that scam lol. That Friends knock off palette looks so cheap. I had a good laugh when I read your thoughts on the show– I think it’s alright. I’m not super obsessed with it but honestly? I don’t think ANY of the characters a good looking… oops. Is that an even more unpopular opinion? Lol. Glad Fenty realized their mistake & changed the name of the blush. I think that shade would work nicely for me. It’s super pretty!
VB put the Posh in Posh Spice after all, never forget that! 😄 Well, I don’t think everyone on Friends was super good looking, but you gotta admit they were kinda cute. I tried getting into it years and years ago cause I felt I was missing out. Nope, not my thing in the slightest! I’d probably use the Fenty as an eyeshadow if I had it, but that would be a pretty big eyeshadow to get through!
Lol you’re right, she is the original boujee queen. & I really don’t think any of the cast was cute in Friends! Maybe Jennifer Aniston? 😛 & ah yeah, you would never need such a big eyeshadow lol!
Oh the boys were cute, but that’s all in the eye of the beholder isn’t it? 😉