Next Level November Hauls 2023 🍂

[CynthieLu]

💛It is that magical time again! Time for us to all to share our Next Level November hauls. 🤎

The Sephora Holiday Savings Event starts off this month with its usual bang. ✨ We are excitedly waiting too see what treasures we all scored during this wonderful event! 😍 

Gifts for our friends, loved ones and of course a little (or a lot 😉) of selfcare items are set to be arriving at our doors.

What did you haul this month?? 🤎💛

🛍️🎁🛍️

Any other November babies here? Happy Birthday to all of you!! 💖🎂🎁 November may bring cooler temperatures, rain or even snow but we're here to celebrate all of you and all your birthday hauls! 🎉 

This month might see some fun savings, maybe a few of us have started our holiday shopping early? 🌲⭐

We can't wait to see it all,

Happy Hauling Everyone!

[CynthieLu]

I think it's a beautiful idea and I hope they sell out again this year. I wasn't going to post but then I thought the more people that know about it the better. 🩵

I'm sorry to hear about your losses @WinglessOne  It's a terrible illness. I have lost a few fabulous people to it and it is something I think alot of us have sadly had some experience with. 

I have no history with any of these products, including the lippies 😉 it'll be fun too see how they wear and feel. Of course, I'll be happy to report back my thoughts. I love these little science experiments. 🧐😝 And same! I'm all ears to hear everyone's perspectives on products they try.

[QueenMarceline]

@CynthieLu What a great box of goodies! ❤️ 

[SportyGirly125]

@CynthieLu @Looks like an amazing box 

[JoSometimes]

What a great box @CynthieLu! And for charity too! There’s a lot of very luxe products in there. Have fun with them!

[CynthieLu]

This was all curated exceptionally @JoSometimes thank you! I figured anything not for me will make its way into my friends Christmas presents this year. 😉🌠 I'm hoping CLINIQUE Moisture Surge™ Overnight Face Mask to Hydrate + Plump 3.4 oz/ 100 mL will be a good addition for my dry skin this winter 🩵

[JoSometimes]

@CynthieLu The name alone sounds promising. I’d love to hear your thoughts on it after. 

[WinglessOne]

Pat McGrath Labs sale: 

Yes, that is Moonlit Seduction BUT LET ME EXPLAIN MYSELF in the spoiler below. 😄Screenshots taken from Pat McGrath Labs site, because taking a selfie that shows the whole shirt is too much effort right now. L: front. R: back.

Swatches and notes: 

Spoiler

Dark Star 006 v4 kit was a non-negotiable purchase. I have the original Dark Star 006 Ultraviolet kit, but this version 4 contains a blitz formula shadow called Blitz Sapphire. For reference, here’s the v4 kit next to most of the Ultraviolet kit (I didn’t include the old kit’s eye gel, black kohl liner, and eyeshadow brush): 

The 4 shadows on the left are the original Ultraviolet Blue kit. V4’s eye gel is more blue toned than the original kit’s translucent eye gel.
I needed to know how similar Blitz Sapphire looks to the Blitz Blue shade in Subliminal (Mothership I). Here are those comparison swatches, along with Skin Fetish Divine Powder Blush shade Divine Rose III: 

No, they’re not the same. But they are close.Blitz Blue is closer to azure than Blitz Sapphire.

#PAT McGRATH LABS Lunar New Year Collection: MatteTrance™ Lipstick Rouge 8 is a repeat; I bought the lunar new year version (red case) in February. The problem with having so many of one brand’s lipsticks is forgetting I already have a shade I just bought until I have the new tube in my hand, twist it up, and realize “this looks very familiar… oh… oh wait… oops.” 🤦‍♀️ I think this is the third time I’ve accidentally bought a repeat MatteTrance. I’ll either keep this second Rouge 8 as a backup or gift it away. 

#PAT McGRATH LABS Mothership X Eyeshadow Palette: Moonlit Seduction is something I kept saying I wouldn’t buy because the color story doesn’t interest me, it’s too pink/rose neutral (like all Motherships since VII 🙄), and it’s missing Pat’s special baked shadow formulas. I’d definitely never have paid $128 for it. But 40% off and a generous early-birthday gift card somehow convinced me to give it a chance. 

Once I got X in my hands, I thought “huh… is this the warm half of Natasha Denona’s Star palette?” Did some comparison swatching to find out: 

Do you see the similarities? Remember when I said Star’s too neutral for me? And now I have Star 2.0? 😄 Good grief.On both photos, left swatch column is Mothership X and right swatch column is Star. I swatched both palettes’ duochromes fully across my arm to show their shifts, since those 2 shades are very different.

Sure, Mothership X and Star aren’t 1-for-1 matches, and Star has 8 more shades than X. And X’s metallics mostly swatch better than Star’s. But still, there are enough similarities that if you’re thinking about buying Moonlit Seduction and already have Star, you may want to reconsider. Eh, unless you prefer Pat’s shadow formulas over Natasha’s or reeeeally want X’s duochrome. 

And I bought a very oversized (by design) long sleeve shirt. It displays more brand logos than I’m normally comfortable wearing (for any brand), but they’re black flocked so they kinda blend in with the shirt from afar. Plus, I’ve always liked Pat’s eye logo, so I’m glad that’s large and prominent on the back of the shirt. Someday I’ll have to share a photo of me wearing this shirt; it’s more of a dress on me. 😂 

Rephr sale and Beautylish: 

The thin rephr liner brush is a number 34.

Rephr restocked brush 33 during their sale, and that’s the new-to-me brush I was most interested in. Brush 12 is also new to my collection, but the other two brushes are backups. And curiosity convinced me to try rephr’s rebalancing essence (from their skincare line), especially since it contains nothing my skin hates… and I just realized I forgot to take a photo of it… maybe I’ll do that later. 

Sonia G. Fundamental Eye Series - I’d planned to wait for these brushes to be available individually so I could pick which ones I wanted. But Beautylish texted me about pre-ordering the whole set and I caved. 🙃 I love the look and feel of the walnut handles, but I wish the brush names were easier to read against the wood grain. Even with readers, my old lady eyes have trouble with some of these handles. I haven’t played with any of the new brush shapes yet; gotta wash ‘em all first. 

[lmaster]

This is an epic haul @WinglessOne 

[WinglessOne]

Thanks @lmaster !

[caitbird]

@WinglessOne  beautiful hauls! Those PMG blue shadows are stunning 😍 I always appreciate seeing your comparison swatches and hearing your thoughts! 🙂

[WinglessOne]

Thanks @caitbird ! I’m always happy to do comparisons (and ramble nearly endlessly 😂)! 

[ather]

@WinglessOne  Great haul! In the pans the blues look almost identical but swatched they are clearly different. That shirt is so cool! How many logos are too many? I can’t even see the logo’s in the picture!! I’ll need to see a picture with you wearing it!!! 

[WinglessOne]

Thanks @ather ! For reference, here are 2 other versions of that shirt that more clearly show all the branding: 

Screenshot of Pat McGrath Labs product page.Another screenshot of a Pat McGrath Labs product page, showing the front of the shirt (white with black print).

I don’t mind wearing a brand logo (well, depending on the brand and the item of clothing), but I prefer understated or subtle branding. I also have Pat’s Met Gala/Decadence t-shirt and I love it because the only branding (aside from a small “Met” mention on the front, exactly where the “MUA” is on the front of the above shirt) is a big gold crown on the back—the Mothership IV Decadence crown. Then again, Pat also has a hoodie with a back full of branding and I’d buy it if the hoodie was zip-up instead of pullover. 

[ather]

@WinglessOne  Thanks for the reference! Ok now I totally see the branding you are talking about. I agree it’s more than I expected! I do the like eye on the back it’s so cool! I think the all black version would be perfect since it’s not as noticeable!! I’m with you I don’t mind little branding but I’m not for crazy amounts! I also never can pass up merch! maybe a zip up hoodie will arrive in the future! 

[faeriegirl]

Awesome haul @WinglessOne! 

[WinglessOne]

Thanks @faeriegirl !

[curlychiquita]

These are such amazing hauls and I really appreciate the comparison swatches between the PMG X and Natasha Denona, @WinglessOne!. Also, the Blitz Sapphire color looks brighter than her other blues. Very pretty!

[WinglessOne]

Thanks @curlychiquita ! I’m glad the comparison swatches were helpful. This reminds me to post them in one or both of the swatch request threads. 🙂 Blue Sapphire packs a bigger punch than I expected, and I’m thrilled about it! 

[CookieGirl1]

Seeing all of your brushes lined up like that is incredibly satisfying, @WinglessOne .

[WinglessOne]

Thanks @CookieGirl1 ! 

[Sunnysmom]

It’s so fun to see all your new brushes and palette and gorgeous blue eye pots  @WinglessOne . It was funny you said that about the repeat Pat lips. I do the same thing with hers I swear. Silly. 🤦🏻‍♀️ 8 is a beaut! The black top looks very cool!!