Some beauty products are so well-loved, so obsessed over, it seems like we’ll never hear the end of it. The problem is, most of these products are so expensive we have to pick and choose what we can splurge on, and when a hyped-up product winds up being a dud, it’s more than a little disappointing. What’s a girl to do? I’ve put plenty of beloved beauty products to the test (yes, even some CF favorites), and quite a few just didn’t measure up to my high expectations.
So, which cult-favorite beauty products aren’t worth the hype? And what should you try instead? Find out below.
Nars Orgasm Blush
Product Information: NARS Orgasm, NARS Sin, Milani Baked Blush in Luminoso, Too Faced Full Bloom
As far as cult beauty products go, NARS Orgasm is the one that started it all. It’s known as the universally flattering blush, and at nearly $30, you’d think it would live up to its flawless reputation. I think people just get caught up in its scandalous name, because to me, it’s nothing special. (CF writer Chelsea, though, would disagree!) Don’t get me wrong, it’s a great, long-lasting product, but by now, it’s been duplicated so many times that it’s no longer worth its price.
If you’re obsessed with Orgasm’s healthy glow, try Milani’s Luminoso instead. They’re nearly exact dupes, and while Milani doesn’t quite having the staying power of NARS, it’s a tiny fraction of the cost. But if you do have the funds to splurge on a blush, NARS is definitely the way to go. Their blushes are highly pigmented and completely natural looking, though I recommend choosing a more unique shade that you can’t find at the drugstore. Sin is a gorgeous plum with gold shimmer that looks amazing on all skin tones.
If you still want that high-end pink glow, give Too Faced’s Ultra Flush Blush in Full Bloom a try. It gives you twice the glow of Orgasm at slightly more than half of the cost.
Revlon Lip Butters
Product Information: Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter, Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain, MAC Lustre Finish Lipsticks, Burt’s Bee’s Tinted Lip Balm
I’ll admit, I went lip butter crazy just like everyone else last year. Which is probably why I own five of these. Revlon’s lip butters (see our Colorburst Lip Butter review from last year) are touted as having the amazing color payoff of a lipstick with the moisturizing properties and easy application of a balm. And while the color selection is gorgeous (with a few exceptions – Creamsicle makes me look like a corpse) within a few days of wearing these my lips were constantly dry and cracked!
If moisture’s what you need, stick with a real lip balm. Burt’s Bee’s tinted balms don’t have the greatest color payoff (except for Red Dahlia – gorgeous!), but they will keep your lips chap-free.
Though the lip butters are highly pigmented (Red Velvet and Lollipop are great when you need an easy dramatic lip), the staying power is just average, and they smudge like crazy. Revlon’s Kissable Balm Stains, however, are the complete opposite. They’re even easier to apply than the lip butters, provide a nice moisturizing base that lasts for more than just a few hours.
In theory, these are the perfect lip product, but overall they’re just not as great as they should be. If you’re looking for a high-quality color that feels soft on the lips, give MAC’s lustre finish lipsticks a try. They fetch a much higher price, but the color selection is beautiful and application is a dream.
Diorskin Shimmer Star in Amber Diamond
Product Information: Diorskin Amber Diamond, Physician’s Formula Shimmer Strips in Vegas Strip, Urban Decay Baked Bronzer in Gilded
This wouldn’t be a cult favorites list without mentioning Dior’s Amber Diamond Shimmer Star. This product is supposed to provide a natural-looking glow that illuminates the entire face, giving you a flawless finish that looks fresh off the beach. And it does. But much like NARS Orgasm, so do a million other products! At $45, this product is just not worth it, especially when much cheaper alternatives can do the job just as well.
Physician’s Formula Shimmer Strip in Vegas Strip is nearly an exact dupe for this product at a fraction of the price, and I find that it’s easier to apply. Amber Diamond can kind of make you look like a bronzed disco ball if you don’t know what you’re doing. Urban Decay’s Baked Bronzer in Gilded isn’t quite as illuminating as the other two products, but its natural-looking golden glow can’t be beat, especially at nearly half the cost.
Benefit’s “They’re Real!” Mascara
Product Information: Benefit They’re Real! Mascara, CoverGirl LashBlast Clump Crusher Mascara, Benefit BADGal Lash, L’Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes Mascara
Benefit’s BADGal lash is one of my favorite mascaras, so I thought I couldn’t go wrong with They’re Real!, Benefit’s cult-favorite mascara that supposedly lengthens, thickens, curls and separates lashes for a doll-like, natural-looking finish.
Wrong. I was so wrong. I don’t know why people like this mascara. It made my lashes look clumpy and spidery after one application, and even though it isn’t waterproof, it was a total pain to remove.
BADGal lash is considerably cheaper and makes your lashes look lush, long and natural – definitely a must-have if you’re looking to splurge. And if you want the volume of They’re Real! at a fraction of the cost, give L’Oreal’s Million Lashes Mascara a try.
However, CoverGirl’s Clump Crusher mascara has both of those dupes – even BADGal – beat. At about $6 a tube, Clump Crusher does exactly what it claims, at a price that can’t be beat. I’ve been using it for a few months (it’s officially my holy grail mascara) and clumps are a thing of the past. It’s not as volumizing as the other two mascaras, so if you like a dramatic eye, this might not be the product for you. However, if you want long, thick, natural-looking lashes, CoverGirl is the way to go.
Yves Saint Laurent Touche Éclat Radiant Touch
Product Information: YSL Touche Éclat, Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch Highlighting Concealer, Covergirl + Olay Simply Ageless Eye Concealer, Benefit Sun Beam
Ah, Touche Éclat. The ultimate… Okay, what exactly is Touche Éclat supposed to be? Is it a concealer? A highlighter? No one really seems to know, but everyone’s obsessed with it. And sure, it will give you a gorgeous glow, if you happen to have $40 to spend on .1 oz of product. Don’t get me wrong, Yves Saint Laurent is the ultimate in luxury beauty (their glossy stains are to die for), but this product falls a little short of its hyped-up reputation.
YSL claims Touche Éclat “immediately erases any signs of fatigue” but its coverage is minimal at best. As college students, we know how bad under-eye circles can really get, and Touche Éclat just doesn’t get the job done.
Maybelline’s Dream Lumi Touch Highlighting Concealer, on the other hand, not only brightens dark circles, it almost completely erases them, all for about $8. If you need a concealer that’s a little more nourishing to the under-eye area, CoverGirl + Olay’s new Simply Ageless concealer is the way to go, as it also provides excellent coverage and a glowing finish.
But maybe Touche Éclat isn’t meant to be used as a concealer. No one can seem to agree on what you’re supposed to do with it, and as an illuminator it’s hard to beat. Benefit’s Sun Beam liquid highlighter provides the same golden glow for just a little more than half of the cost (plus it comes with much more product), so if you’re in the mood to splurge, it’s the better deal.
Your thoughts?
Have you tried any of these products? Which beauty favorites do you think are worth the hype? Be sure to leave me a comment and let me know what you think, I love hearing your thoughts!
I totally agree with you in all of them especially in the Benefit They’re Real mascara. I was dying to try it because everybody seem to love it and all and when I got a sample I was super excited. Then like you said when I put it, it clumped all over my lashes, make them flaky unnatural and it was a pain to remove it. Horrible mascara, so glad I didn’t bought the normal size, I like the lipbutters, they’re not the greatest thing but they’re ok, especially the shade tutti frutti.
What an awesome post. I need to get one of those Revlon Just Bitten Balm Stains!
I will say, I have tried and tried to find a lip product that gives good color, stays all day, and isn’t drying – I’ve not tried the lip butters, but I do have the Burt’s Bees one and love it. But one product that has been raved over – and rightfully so – is the OCC lip tars. Stays on all day, no feathering, and only needs a tiny bit of product so the tube lasts an insanely long time.
This was a great article!
Personally, I wont use any product that isn’t organic and vegan. Too many products (including most of the ones you listed) nowadays contain dangerous chemicals, animal rendering byproducts, and cancerongens. I use all Arbonne products, and my skin has gotten SOO much healtheir! I am just in love with it. 😀 And the best thing, is it’s cheeper than a lot of the other so-called “organic products” out there!
A lot of the alternatives are my go-to products! I love Milani’s Luminoso blush, the Burt’s Bees tinted lip balms, and the Maybelline Dream Lumi highlighting concealer.
Haven’t tried any of the products in question, but I think this is a great review idea. I will spend big on an amazing product, but I often find that the one I find worth it are not the ones that get all the hype. I do my research on beauty sites and Youtube – my favorite trick is to find a Youtube makeup artist (preferably a real professional who posts videos) with pale skin (and dark eyes) like mine and go from there to know what products actually may come in my skintone. I am a major groupie for Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector (it’s a British brand, I think?) and Tarte mascara because they work for me…even though they’re not exactly bestsellers generally.
I got a free birthday sample of the “They’re Real!” mascara, and I TOTALLY agree with you. I was super disappointed, especially since I’m still using and LOVING my Sugar lip treatment from Fresh from last year’s free birthday gift! The gift also came with a tiny version of Benefit’s “Watt’s Up!” highlighter… I haven’t tried that yet but I hope that’s not disappointing as well!
The absolute best blush I have is a fantastic dupe for Orgasm–and it costs about 3 bucks. It’s called e.l.f. Studio Blush in “twinkle pink” and I highly recommend it!
I love what you wrote about the mascaras!! I too am I huuuuuuuuuuge fan of the BADgal lash mascara! It plumps and lengthens and takes your lashes to whole new level! Definitely a nice gift to yourself around the holidays or your birthday. I tried Benefit’s “They’re Real” mascara through Sephora and I liked it, but I wouldn’t use it by itself. I pair with Maybelline’s newest mascara “The Rocket” Volume Express mascara if I’m going out for dinners with friends. These two mascaras together will give you that natural fake lash length minus the glue!
The Revlon Balm/Stains are FREAKING AMAZING! I love them so much! They are the perfect mix of color and moisture. And after it wears of, it leaves a light color that’s not too strong. I love them so much better than anything else I’ve tried.
Been looking for a blush….but I think i’ll try Origins blush, because it’s natural hehe 🙂
I love this article, but I had to add that L’oreal lumi magique is a closer dupe of the YSL touche eclat. It has the same sheer texture, and L’oreal is the parent company of YSL. Maybelline dream lumi’s thicker coverage makes for a better concealer, though, so it’s an issue of whether people want more concealer or highlighter in their pen!
I love my Revlon Balm Stain, but I also love my Revlon Lip Butter. My lips aren’t drier than usual when I use the Lip Butter–I really like it.
I love the reviews since I find of them certainly true especially with Yves Saint Laurent Touche Éclat Radiant Touch. May I suggest another review for example Maybelline Great Lasg which has a great cult following.
I disagree with the author’s opinion on Benefit’s They’re Real! mascara. For someone with short, straight lashes that don’t stay curled very long, I personally found it to be a great mascara; it gave both volume and length with only a couple coats, and my lashes didn’t droop after application–they remained curled.
Revlon’s Colorstay Ultimate Suede is the new best thing I’ve found in lipsticks (instead of the Lip Butters). When you put it on, it’s pretty moisturizing, and it stays on through meals, drinks, literally everything. Also, the color “Muse” is a hot pink that looks good on nearly everyone. 🙂
Oh boy. I’m guilty of owning them all except for the Diorskin powder. The only real disagreement I have is with the Benefit mascara. When I used it, it was the first time someone commented on my lashes before!
I always get swept up by the rave reviews and think: “I have to have it!”. Speaking of which, anyone try the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powders? Love it!
Personally, I LOVE Nars blush and think it’s totally worth it! With so much hype around the Orgasm shade, I was underwhelmed when I first tried it. But I have never gotten so many compliments on blush before. The color stays all day, and it’s sheer enough that you can layer it on until you get the right color without fear of overdoing it. I’m obsessed 🙂
Other favorites are MAC pressed mineral powder (which I prefer to Bare Minerals), Maybelline Lash Stiletto mascara (nothing else lengthens my lashes like this), and Clinique chubby stick lip balms. I’ve never tried the Revlon lip butters, but the chubby sticks might be a good alternative – bold yet sheer lip color and the feel of lip balm! It’s a little pricy, but lots of drugstore brands make knock offs, so that might be something to try. And I am in love with Victoria’s Secret highlighting/shimmer products – they make my skin glowy!
This is such an interesting article! I’ve been looking for a new blush for ages now and was so close to buying Nars Orgasm. I’ll put it off to try some of the other blushes you mentioned.
I do have to say, I completely disagree with your They’re Real review. Like Lara, I have short, straight, fine lashes and this is the first mascara that actually makes it look like I have eyelashes. It could be that you are blessed with already long, lush eyelashes. This mascara does WONDERS for the unlucky like myself.
That being said, makeup is going to work differently on each person. We’re all unique so some products will work for some while they don’t work for others. Great piece!
Great post! I love finding “dupes” to hyped up products. There are a ton on the Temptalia blog too. I think there are so many more less expensive blushes out there better than Nars–like NYX!
I agree with all of these– but I LOVE my Revlon lip butters! The Revlon balm stains are more drying and i feel the color payoff isn’t as great. I use MAC lipsticks too, but the butters are non dupe-able to me 🙂
I wish you had included the prices… it’s hard to put the products in perspective
Great post!
I personally love Touche Eclat -not the huge price obv though- The Body Shop has a similar sort of product which I found just as good called Lightening Touch
I enjoy buying makeup, but its has become expensive even the drug store ones. Makeup reviews are very important to me. I am a fan of NARS. Lately l have been disappointed with NARS, and l fing MAC to be overrated. Thank You for the review
I fully agree with these. I would add that Maybelline dark circle eraser in the color Brighten is a pretty close color match to touche éclat as wel:)
Another “dupe” of the YSL Touche Éclat is the elf (eyes, lips, face) Radiance Enhancer. It is only $3!
There are lots of things I agree with in this post but for the mascara part I totally disagree, heres why: a mascara is 50% about the wand and 50% about the formula, so you might like the wand of one and think that a cheaper one with the same wand is gonna do the same thing but its not. Personnaly I dont like theyre real mascara but doesnt mean it isnt good, it depends on what effect your looking for, what lashes you already have and how the brush is made. Some brushes/formulas are meant to be combed from root to tip or your lashes will wtick together and some mascaras are meant to be wiggled true the lashes… so a mascara is really a personnal thing and you shouldnt get one because people like it or not ( trust me I learned the hard way :P)