Best, Most, and Worst [2023 Edition]

[makeitup305]

I've been posting this thread for a few years and wanted to bring it back again. I love reading through everyone's responses. 

1) Your favorite purchase of the year- why?

2) A purchase you regret- why?

3) Most expensive purchase- was it worth the money? 

4) Most hyped product you bought- was it worth it?

5) Did you spend less, the same, or more than other years? 

6) Rediscovered loves or underrated/underhyped makeup discoveries

7) A product you missed out on, or haven't bought yet, but really want

8 ) Did your makeup routine change in any way?

9) What makeup trend do you think will be big next year?

10) What was your favorite body product or fragrance?

I'm tagging some BICers but please feel free to participate or tag anyone!

@itsfi @Sunnysmom @tsavorite @Mellmars1185 @ather @Samtian @JoSometimes @curlychiquita @lmaster @CynthieLu @SportyGirly125 @blackkitty2014 @sister13 @Ispend2much6 @haleyvvvv @WinglessOne @danielledanielle @eshoe 

[makeitup305]

@WinglessOne I hope it grows on you. I'm glad you've liked the INAN, those topper shades were a must for me as soon as I saw it. I hope you get some good use out of that one as well!

[CorgiMommy]

@WinglessOne I hope more realistic eyelashes come back soon

[makeitup305]

@CorgiMommy the superdense lashes are not my style at all. I've thought about getting lash extensions before to supplement my natural lashes but I'm scared lol

[WinglessOne]

@CorgiMommy  Me too, honestly. I mean, folks should wear whatever the heck they want—keep rockin’ the big falsies if they make you happy—and other folks shouldn’t feel like they must wear big fake lashes to complete a look. 

[CynthieLu]

I'm sorry to hear PAT McGRATH LABS Mothership X Eyeshadow Palette: Moonlit Seduction   was a miss for you.@WinglessOne.

(I haven't splurged on a PMG palette ever because they are not in store anywhere near me and I'm too nervous to shop online and not be able swatch them in person. That's a big price tag for regrets.)

I haven't tried RB lip oils yet, I'm sorry they didn't work out for you either. Dryness is no fun. 

Ooh that's a fun prediction for the future, colorful lashes I'm soo on board for that. 🤩

[WinglessOne]

@CynthieLu  Eh, I bought Moonlit Seduction at a 30% discount during one of Pat’s sales. Still kinda pricey, but I’m glad I didn’t pay full price for it. (I didn’t pay full price for any of my Motherships.) In fact, I kinda wish I’d used Ulta points to get it for free, rather than pay anything out of pocket at Pat’s site. But oh well. It’s a nice palette. It’s… fine. Nothing outstanding though, at least not to me. I’ll use it, but probably not often unless I force myself to use it for a couple weeks. 

You may have better luck with the RB lip oils than I did. They do leave a lovely stain after wearing off—unless you use a petrolatum balm base underneath them. Aquaphor keeps these oils from staining my lips. So I can either comfortably wear these lip oils as a very temporary lip gloss, or suffer very dry lips to wear them as a lip stain. I lose a lot of performance either way. I bought 2 shades and could’ve listed both as regrets. 

[CynthieLu]

I'm probably going to try RB lip oils at some point, I just appreciate hearing your experience with them. I wouldn't have expected a lip oil to cause dryness like that, and personally I experience dryness with a lot of lippies, sooooo it's a very good cautionary tale. 🙏 @WinglessOne 

30 % off for a palette is pretty ok, thou definitely yes Free would have been much better, considering how underwhelming it was for you.

I just want to try PMG eyeshadow formulas. I'm very curious to see what the fuss is all about.I want her to come out with a knock us off our feet palette. 🤩 if I ever do splurge on getting a Mothership it's most likely maybe going to be Heutopian Dream. 

[WinglessOne]

@CynthieLu  I really wish Pat’s old 6-pan MTHRSHP palettes (with the folding cardboard cases, or what I still call “drunk venus flytrap” cases because they sometimes don’t wanna stay open) were still available. They were great palettes, especially for folks who wouldn’t/couldn’t pay Mothership prices. The original MTHRSHPs have very good eyeshadow formulas; none of Pat’s “special” baked Astral and Blitz formulas, but creamy buttery mattes and great metallics. Pat needs to release more great small palettes. 

Her first large format MTHRSHP Mega palette, Celestial Divinity, contains mostly her 2 Star Wars 6-pans, and it’s a great palette. If you ever find that one somewhere in good condition, grab it. The second MTHRSHP Mega (I think that was Celestial Odyssey) is also a good one in terms of shadow formula. Oh, and the old Blitz Astral Quads! If those are ever available somewhere again, Nocturnal Nirvana’s a fun one. 

My favorite Motherships are I through VI. Of those, my absolute faves are IV Decadence, VI Midnight Sun, I Subliminal, and III Subversive. I do have IX Huetopian Dream but rarely use it. That’s one of the palettes I should pull out for a 1 or 2-week “this palette only” adventure sometime this year. At least IX does have special baked shades, so you’d get to see what Astral and Blitz shadows are like. It’s worth learning more about those special formulas first though, to get a sense of how they’re meant to be applied—especially the Astrals—so you don’t end up frustrated by them. I mean, if/when you do buy a palette that contains those shades. 😉 

That’s more than I meant to ramble about Pat McGrath’s palettes. 😅 

[JoSometimes]

@WinglessOne No. 8 - We went the opposite direction for brows. I simplified my routine down to just a pencil. No. 2 - “Too Neutral” You are the queen of colour! I know many of us here have been influenced and tried colour in new ways because of you! 😊

[WinglessOne]

Aw, thanks @JoSometimes ! 😊 Hooray for playing with all the pretty colors! 

And I’m glad you were able to simplify your brow game! From the ‘80s to the mid 2010s, my brow routine was eyeliner + black eyeshadow. From the ‘90s on, it was always a MAC dark brown eyeliner (don’t recall which shade) and MAC eyeshadow shade Carbon. I think Benefit Cosmetics Mini Precisely, My Brow Pencil Waterproof Eyebrow Definer is what finally won me over to the brow pencil side. Later, I found an even better-for-me pencil that I still use today (Kimiko Super Fine Eyebrow Pencil). I’d tried brow gels before but always had issues with them. So I’m still shocked by how much I love the Ami Colé and Rare Beauty gels. 😂 I wish I had enough brow hairs to get away with gel alone. (Gee, thanks a lot, ‘90s overplucking!) But I get closer to the brow look I prefer, thanks to gel + pencil—and that combo’s still more efficient than my old liner + eyeshadow routine. 

[JoSometimes]

1) Your favorite purchase of the year- why?

Ohh… This is hard. I wanna say Tower 28 Beauty BeachPlease Lip + Cheek Dewy Cream Blush Magic Hour for makeup and Tower 28 Beauty SOS Daily Hypochlorous Acid Spray for Breakouts & Redness 4 oz/ 120 mL for skincare. I used the blush A LOT over the summer. It was the perfect shade for everyday looks and helped me be more confident in wearing makeup when in boy-mode. And the spray has gotten me out of so many flare ups, not just on my face but other parts of my body too. 

2) A purchase you regret- why?

I bought I ❤️ Revolution’s I Am Limitless palette. It had some interesting blues and purples but it was an impulse buy and I’ve hardly touched it since. It’s not easy to incorporate into daily looks. Part of me wants to destash it but part of me also feels bad for spending money on it and wants to try to find a use (even though it was only a few dollars)

3) Most expensive purchase- was it worth the money? 

If we’re talking a single item and it’s regular price value, then NATASHA DENONA Retro Eyeshadow Palette. I got it on sale at half price! Otherwise, it’s Sephora Favorites Year of the Water Rabbit Makeup Luxe Gift Set. I snagged that the moment it was available in store. Yes, both were absolutely worth it!

4) Most hyped product you bought- was it worth it?

LANEIGE Water Sleeping Mask with Squalane 2.3 oz/ 70 mL is something that popped up a lot on social media and YouTube videos. I eventually got a sample thanks to a Canopy humidifier subscription. Yes, definitely worth it!

5) Did you spend less, the same, or more than other years? 

Last year, makeup was reserved for the occasional day in girl-mode. I’ve had more opportunities to dress in girl-mode and also started wearing makeup in boy-mode too, so it’s definitely increased!

6) Rediscovered loves or underrated/underhyped makeup discoveries

Rediscovered love? COSRX Ceramide lip mask. It helped me through some really chapped lips last year. When winter came back, it helped prevent them from getting chapped again.

Underhyped discovery? I think touchinsol’s No Poreblem eyeshadow primer. Even stubborn shades cooperate more with it!

7) A product you missed out on, or haven't bought yet, but really want

Danessa Myricks Beauty Lightwork V: I Am Palette For Eyes And Face It seemed like EVERYONE bought that one using the $100 rouge reward. I’m still a few hundred points shy of the reward. Hopefully that palette doesn’t go anywhere while I accumulate the last few points!

8 ) Did your makeup routine change in any way?

Yes! I’ve gotten a lot faster now and I also wear makeup almost daily in boy-mode. Learning to do more subtle no-makeup looks was a challenge but totally worth the trouble. 

9) What makeup trend do you think will be big next year?

I am terrible at predicting trends. I wanna say clean, simple, easy to do routines. 

10) What was your favorite body product or fragrance?

I’m not a fragrance person. Body product-wise, Skinfix Eczema+ Foaming Oil Body Wash 12.5 oz/ 370 mL was amazing. Not striping, mildly soothing, and good for dealing with flare ups on my body. 

[Westcoasty]

@JoSometimes  I must admit that every time I see Tower 28 Beauty SOS Daily Hypochlorous Acid Spray for Breakouts & Redness 4 oz/ 120 mL now I think of you! I've almost bought a mini of it more than once, but the truth is that I have no need of it. And yet, you recommend it so highly that I keep wanting to buy a "just in case" bottle. 😍

[JoSometimes]

Awww I’m so glad you though of me @Westcoasty! Sorry it didn’t do much for you. Maybe save it for the summer when the mosquitos come out to play. Or if you need a non-stinging way to disinfect a cut. 

[Westcoasty]

@JoSometimes  Really what I should do is get a mini bottle before summer, so that I can use it if I get sunburn (me and my British skin..!). Usually whenever I want to get it, it's OOS, and when I'm not feeling the need, there it is, ready to buy! 🤣

[JoSometimes]

@Westcoasty I just discovered this dupe on Amazon. Look for e11ement Hypochlorous acid spray. It feels identical to me. 

[Westcoasty]

Thanks, @JoSometimes , I'll check it out!

[makeitup305]

@JoSometimes so happy you've found products that work for you in all situations and that you got to try ND! As for the Danessa Myricks, have you tried other multichromes? Maybe picking up one or two and see how much you incorporate them might be a way to decide whether or not it's worth the splurge or the $100 reward, since you wouldn't be able to return it.

[JoSometimes]

That is actually so smart @makeitup305! Thanks for the idea!

[makeitup305]

@JoSometimesthe biggest caveat is that multichromes are hard to find at cheaper prices or without paying a $12 shipping fee from an indie brand. 

[WinglessOne]

@JoSometimes  Skinfix’s foaming oil cleanser is a good one, especially during winter. And Tower 28’s cream blushes are great! I’m glad you found products that work in guy and girl mode, and I love that you’re more comfortable now with guy mode enhancements. ❤️ Also, I’m still jealous of you Canadians for getting Natasha Denona at 50% off! 

If you do ever decide to pick up Lightwork V, I hope you have fun experimenting with it. I know duo/multichromes aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, but there are some subtle ways to use ‘em. A rouge reward would certainly help cushion the financial blow. But if you choose to pass on the palette, I hope you put your reward to good use—once you obtain it, that is! 

[JoSometimes]

@WinglessOne Thank you! It’s been one wild year of beauty, self-care, and discovery. ☺️😍

I know I should be able to reach that $100 reward soon. A few more hauls and I’ll be there. It’s both a great feeling of accomplishment and also a teeny bit of shame in how much I spent over the past year… 😁🫠

And I’m jealous of you Americans! You actually have easy access to the entire ND lineup! We get the odd thing here and there and it’s slowly disappearing.