IS IT WORTH IT? | Beauty Value Sets: Sephora Favorites, SuperGoop!, Benefit, and Burberry

I love minis and value sets, but are they really worth it? Are you saving as much as you think? Well, today we are going to find out and you can decide for yourself. I love minis because I like trying out new products, but without the surprise of a subscription box (although I love those too). Also, I hate shopping at Sephora and buying make-up in person in general. The whole experience feels cheap and gross (no thanks to testing, let alone touching, that sticky tube of whatever). No customer service, used products, overpowering smells, it’s just not a 2017 retail experience. But enough about me! Let’s get started on reviewing sets from Benefit, Supergoop!, Burberry and Sephora Favorites! All these were purchased through the American Sephora store, so I apologize in advanced to all my friends without American postal addresses.

Method: 🤓

All values are based in USD and based on the retail prices from Sephora.com.

If the product included in the set is a size that they sell I will include that price. However, my final calculation for actual value will be based off the price per volume of the full size or largest product size.

Today I’m going to be doing the math on four sets I bought from Sephora. I rarely buy full sized products because I never end up using the whole thing, and I have always suspected that mini or travel sized items, when bought in sets aren’t always a rip-off. Doing the math also gives a great sense of how much mark-up can be because when you see how little product you get, and you go “WTF that’s $10?!”, it makes you think twice. Not that I’m gonna stop shopping for minis but like, at least I’m a self-aware consumer. 😛

Definitions:

Full size: Whatever is on Sephora’s website

Retail value: The $ value based on full size pricing

Price paid: How much the individual item contributes to the set’s price

Benefit: Bronzed ‘N’ Sculpted $17

Hoola Powder 4g:

Full size: $15 for this mini size or $29 for 8g

Retail value: $14.50

Price paid: $9.35

Hoola Quickie Contour Stick 1.4g:

Full size: $28 for 8.5g

Retail value: $4.61

Price paid: $2.89

Watt’s Up! 2.5g: 

Full size: $30 for 10mL

Retail value: $7.50

Price paid: $4.76

Verdict: Worth it

Stated value: $26

Actual value: $26.61

Sephora did the math right on this one! Not a bad deal if you want to try these products out, which I did. I don’t plan on buying any of these full size unless I fall in love with them, but they’re not really everyday products for me.

As a side note, I thought it was interesting that each of these products were made in a different country, powder from USA, contour stick from Canada, and highlighter from Italy. I notice these things. Cool, though, hey?

Update: The Hoola Quickie Contour stick is such a winner! This one surprised me by how well it blends. It really is cream to powder. I’m really quite so-so on the Watt’s Up! 

Burberry Beauty Box $35

Cat Lashes Mascara 3.5mL:

Full size: $30 for 6mL

Retail value: $17.50

Price paid: $10.50

Fresh Glow Luminous Fluid Base 5mL:

Full size: $48 for 30mL

Retail value: $8.00

Price paid: $4.90

Burberry Kisses Lip Colour 1g: 

Full size: $34 for 3.3g

Retail value: $10.30

Price paid: $6.30

Light Glow Natural Blush 3.5g: 

Full size: $42 for 6.8g

Retail value: $21.62

Price paid: $13.30

Verdict: Worth it

Stated value: $35 (Sephora didn’t advertise a set “value”, I guess they don’t do that for “luxury brands”)

Actual value: $57.42

The only takeaway from having done the math on this set is that Burberry cosmetics are so expensive hahahahahha *cries*. The packaging is really nice though, especially for the blush. The container is very substantial.

All the products are made in Italy except for the Fresh Glow luminous fluid base which is from France. As expensive as this set is, (the $35 makes me cringey for some reason, but not as cringey as when I think about paying for each of the items), I enjoy trying new products, especially ones that I wouldn’t otherwise buy. The Fresh Glow was an Allure Best of Beauty award winner, so I have high hopes.* I’m gonna look so fab sitting at my computer in the dining room.

Supergoop! Barre to Bar Set $25

City Sunscreen Serum 15mL:

Full size: $42 for 60mL

Retail value: $10.50

Price paid: $7.25

Daily Correct CC Cream 15mL:

Full size: $32 for 47mL

Retail value: $10.21

Price paid: $7

Defense Refresh Setting Mist 30mL: 

Full size: $28 for 100mL

Retail value: $8.40

Price paid: $5.75

Perk Up! Lip and Cheek Treat 1.5g:

Full size: $22 for 4.5g

Retail value: $7.33

Price paid: $5

Verdict: Sephora Lied, Meh Value

Stated value: $40

Actual value: $36.44

I was introduced to Supergoop! when I worked at Anthropologie. Their acai lip balm is a fixture in my travel bag, so I have been wanting to try out their other sunscreen products. I usually use European sunscreens, but I thought I’d give this a go. The brand makes sunscreen products that are supposed to feel good on your skin. I really want to be a convert. I want to be better with sun protection, but I also haven’t found many things that don’t make me feel sticky.

All these products are made in the USA – however, I can’t find the country of origin for the lip/cheek color anywhere…Is that legal…?

Update: Took this stuff with me to Iceland and this stuff is awweeesssommeee for travel. Especially the serum! I hate wearing sunscreen on my face but the serum and CC cream feel like nothing. It was so awesome for camping. 

Sephora Favorites: The Ultimate Travel Bag $40

Verb Hydrating Shampoo 2.3oz/68mL:

Full size: $7 for this travel size, $32 for 32oz./946mL

Retail value: $2.30

Price paid: $0.80

Verb Hydrating Conditioner 68mL:

Full size: $7 for this travel size, $32 for 32oz./946mL

Retail value: $2.30

Price paid: $0.80

Supergoop! Everyday Sunscreen 30mL: 

Full size: $19 for 71mL

Retail value: $8.02

Price paid: $3.28

Sol Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream 24mL:

Full size: $45 for 240mL

Retail value: $4.5

Price paid: $1.83

Algenist Complete Eye Renewal Balm 7mL:

Full size: $68 for 15mL

Retail value: $31.73 (lol)

Price paid: $12.97

Lavanila Sport Luxe Deodorant 28g:

Full size: $9 for this mini size, $16 for 51g

Retail value: $8.16

Price paid: $3.33

Fresh Soy Face Cleanser 20mL: 

Full size: $38 for 150mL

Retail value: $5.06

Price paid: $2.06

Caudalie Beauty Elixir 30mL:

Full size: $18 for this travel size, $49 for 100mL

Retail value: $14.70

Price paid: $6

Josie Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil 4.5mL:

Full size: $96 for 120mL

Retail value: $3.60

Price paid: $1.47

Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Night Oil 5mL:

Full size: $105 for 30mL

Retail value: $17.50

Price paid: $7.15

Verdict: Worth It, but Sephora still lied

Stated value: $128

Actual value: $97.87

This set is totally worth it if you want to try three or more products. What I love about this set is that it really is everything you need to travel. From morning to night, this bag has you covered in a way hotel amenity sets won’t. I like that if you can really try these products out as part of a routine. I will be abandoning all my usual products for this set when I travel in a couple weeks. I hope nothing in here leave me wanting.

Everything in this set is made in the USA with 3 exceptions. The Josie Maran Argan Oil is Morrocan oil packaged in the US. The Lavanila deodorant is made in Canada. And everything Caudalie is from France.

Update: I hate the scent of the deodorant. For an all natural deodorant I will reach for my Piper Wai any day. 

x.

kl

*She says as if she’s a makeup expert