I really wasn't sure what to call this post, but basically have you ever seen those huge Christmas gift sets and wondered whether they were worth the money? Every Christmas, Estee Lauder does these gift sets, which normally require you to purchase a perfume in order to add the gift set on for £58. However, they often do an offer for a limited time where you can buy it without picking up a fragrance.
I decided to go for it last Christmas and picked up the Makeup Artist Collection for £58 (see here with a full price of £340!), as it included a full size Advanced Night Repair which is meant to be worth it on it's own. I picked it up with the intention of passing on the skincare to my Mum and then whoever wanted the makeup. Carry on reading to see what was included and what I made of it, hopefully this might help you with your Christmas shopping (I know, a tad early)!
Travel Case
The gift set comes presented in a study, black box. This is more spacious than it looks, hence me using my carpet as the backdrop. It might come into handy when travelling though, as you could probably fit all your brushes and even skincare in there.
The Deluxe Palette
I think this palette was one of the main focal points of the gift set, as you assume you're getting various high end shades for great value, it includes 16 eyeshadows and 3 blushers. The blush shades are limited edition, however the eyeshadow shades are from their pure colour envy palettes.
(LE 27 Luminizer, LE 28 Rosy Glow, LE 29 Sculpting Bronzer)
However, as you can see the three blush shades, although they're really a highlighter, blush and bronzer, are really not pigmented. The above swatches are from quite a few swipes, which is disappointing as you can get better quality at the drugstore. The highlighter and blush shade BARELY show up on my medium skin, the bronzer is slightly too warm to work as a contour but it only makes the slightest difference anyway.
(07 untamed Teal 5, 10 Envious Orchid 5, 25 Fierce Sable, 27 Strong Currant, 05 Fiery Saffron, 24 Audacious Nude, 06 Currant Desire 2, 07 Untamed Teal 1)
(13 Savage Storm 5, 20 Ominous, 05 Fiery Saffron 5, 06 Currant Desire 4, 11 Decadent Copper, 05 Fiery Saffron 1, 11 Captivating Cocoa, 29 Quiet Power)
To be honest, I already had some doubts about the eyeshadows, as from pictures of previous years sets, the palettes did look a bit chalky. However, I did swatch them at Selfridges before ordering the gift set and it didn't seem too bad at all. Most of the shades do swatch well, so more than others, such as 11 Decadent Copper. However, unfortunately they don't translate too well on the eyes, in that some shades aren't true to colour and some of the lighter shades really struggle to show up well, which is a shame as they are some of the prettiest. A primer certainly helps, but the eyeshadow quality isn't really any better than some drugstore palettes, I prefer my Sleek ones over this. I also wish the shades were a bit more buttery, but then again Estee Lauder aren't really known for their eyeshadows, their focus is often on base products. So overall, the palette isn't really outstanding in my eyes, and a bit of a hit and miss.
(Top to Bottom: 410 Dynamic, 340 Envious)
The Lipsticks - RRP £26
The lipsticks, for many people, will be worth it alone! You get two Pure Colour Envy Sculpting lipsticks, a raspberry red in the shade 340 Envious, and a medium rose in 410 Dynamic. Both shades are super flattering, and I like the fact that you get two timeless shades that most people will enjoy. I honestly cannot fault the lipsticks, they're pigmented, creamy, hydrating and long lasting, with a satin finish. They get a huge thumbs up from me!
(Top to Bottom: Flirtatious Magenta, Discreet)
The Lipglosses - RRP £21
Again, you get two Pure Colour Lipglosses in Flirtatious Magenta, a bright, shimmery, deep red, and Discreet, a shimmery nude. The packaging is really fancy, and they come with a doe foot glass applicator which makes application super quick and neat. These sort of lipglosses aren't normally my thing, but they're nice enough, not sticky or uncomfortable. Flirtatious Magenta goes really well over the lipsticks, Discreet is a bit too pale for me but it subdues the lip colour when worn over a lipstick. I think they're a nice addition, especially if you prefer lipglosses.
Sumptious Extreme Lash Multiplying Volume Mascara - RRP £25.50
I haven't opened this yet as I have plenty of mascaras already, so I don't want it to dry out, but I do think a mascara is a nice edition, as you get to try out something new. It also has decent reviews online, so that's a plus.
Modern Muse Le Rouge 4ml
I LOVE mini perfume bottles, they're so cute! I've tried the original Modern Muse before so this is a lovely addition, although I always end up giving them to my Mum to put on her mantelpiece.
Skincare
I was thinking of picking up the Advanced Repair (RRP £53 - 30ml) for my Mum anyway, as I had seen a lot of positive reviews on blogs, but also some not so good reviews. Unfortunately, she said it irritates her sensitive skin so she only uses it on certain marks, but again I haven't seen a big difference. I've tried it out a few times and it's not as hydrating as I expected, I guess it's supposed to be used with the cream. However, I didn't really see a difference either, but I know I'm not using it consistently. As for the Revitalising Supreme + Cell Power Creme 15ml, she wasn't a fan of it, she said it was decent, but she gets better noticeable results with the Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream. I can't really comment on the Advanced Night Micro Cleansing Foam - 50ml, as we all have dry skin in our household, so nobody is really a fan of foaming cleansers. Overall, the skincare was also a hit and miss, I'm afraid it didn't meet the hype for me.
So do I think this set it worth it? For £58 I would say just about yes, the lipsticks are outstanding, the lipglosses are also quite good and the mascara sounds like it will come in handy. However, the palette really didn't meet my expectations, and the skincare was a bit of a hit and miss, so realistically I wouldn't have spent say over £60 for this. However, it does depend on what you're looking for, or if you are a fan of the skincare. It will also be interesting to see what products they include in this year's gift set!
I hope you enjoyed this post!
Have you had any experiences with such gift sets, or did a product not meet your expectations?
I am always wondering if gift sets are worth it! Sometimes I think they would be even for yourself - better to buy in bulk. But then again, like you've said, oftentimes you already have some of the swatches that the palette/gift set would have. I love this full and honest review, girl!
ReplyDeletexx www.qusotmquinns.com/blog
Thank you! I don't have any other Estee Lauder palettes so there was no duplication, but I wish they were more pigmented xx
DeleteI do always wonder whether sets are worth it or not and I suppose it depends on the set - you got so much in this one so it definitely looks like it was!
ReplyDeleteAmy xx
www.callmeamy.co.uk
I liked the lipsticks, but the palette not so much x
DeleteOh, such gift sets can really make sense!
ReplyDeletexx Rena
www.dressedwithsoul.com
Thank you x
DeleteI love looking at what gift sets have to offer- it really depends on what you are after to see whether they are worth it or not! It's great that this one comes with the full sized Advanced Night Repair- and I'm on the same page as you, I'm not too sure if it is actually doing much to my skin. The lipsticks look absolutely gorgeous, I love both the shades that they included. I've never been a fan of eyeshadows from brands like Estee Lauder, the swatches look too mediocre. I guess the great thing about gift sets is that you get to try products that you won't otherwise purchase for full price :)
ReplyDeletehttp://reveriebelle.blogspot.com
I read so many positive reviews on it, but I think it might be a bit overhyped. The lipsticks are my favourites by far :) I agree, the swatches of past palettes didn't look that great either xx
DeleteI've never really been a fan of beauty sets to be honest. I got one for christmas and while it's the thought that counts I only ended up loving the mascara from that set. My family knows it's better to give me money or a gift card as a birthday / christmas present so I can buy myself makeup. I actually like the experience of shopping for makeup as well. Great post!
ReplyDeletewww.themakeupaficionado.com
I think if you prefer buying it yourself, a gift card is really the way to go! I actually tell people not to buy me beauty gifts as I have so many xx
DeleteThe lipsticks are gorgeous and the eyshadow palette looks stunning. I think sets make great gifts but personally I am on the fence it usually depends on the merit of each individual product. Love that you broke it down item by item, fantastic post! Thank you for sharing xxx
ReplyDeleteALittleKiran | Bloglovin
I agree that it does depend on each item, and whilst some were really good, others not so xx
DeleteI never really asked myself this question before so I loved reading this post! You make some great points. Gemma x
ReplyDeletewww.jacquardflower.uk
Thank you x
DeleteThis set is definitely a winner and a must have.
ReplyDeleteI like the colors and the different products.
Have a beautiful day. Love, Esther
https://lifestyle-tale.com
Thank you xx
DeleteThis gift set looks fabulous <3 The lipsticks are gorgeous and so is the palette!
ReplyDeletewww.rakhshanda-chamberofbeauty.com/2017/06/how-to-style-kurtis.html
Thank you x
DeleteI like buying gift sets when i want to try various products from a brand. But sometimes I only end up loving one product out of the set. It can sometimes be a bit hit and miss.
ReplyDeleteVanessa x | www.springlilies.com
Same here, I think this one was a bit mixed xx
DeleteThe only reason I'm always iffy on gift sets is that I feel like only part of the items end up actually being loved! It's a hit and miss, so I feel like it's better just to go with separate items that you know you're going to like all of them. The idea is very nice though!
ReplyDeleteSam | My Beauty Cloud
I agree, it depends on the price. I really liked the lipsticks so I think I just about got my money's worth xx
DeleteThanks for sharing your thoughts on this set with us, girlie! I've tried only one Estee Lauder eyeshadow and didn't like the pigmentation at all. I had fallen in love with the color, but it went on horribly on the eyes; the color didn't even look the same when applied on the skin. Perhaps eyeshadows aren't their strong suit, but those lipsticks look amazing, so creamy and moisturizing, perfect for the winter during the promotion! Thanks again for sharing and I hope you're having a great week so far, beauty!
ReplyDeleteXO,
Jalisa
www.thestylecontour.com
My thoughts exactly, I never really hear much about their eye shadows, so that's probably why! I am, thank you xx
DeleteThis seems like a great way to try a variety from a brand!
ReplyDeleteBeauty From Katie
It can be, it just depends on what you're looking for x
DeleteThe lipsticks look and sound amazing, both shades are beautiful and I love creamy formulas that feel nice on the lips! x
ReplyDeleteYiota
PinkDaisyLoves
It really is!
DeleteI really like those lipsticks ! I am usually very pleased with the Clinique gifts set.
ReplyDeletehttp://afrenchgirlsthoughts.blogspot.fr
They have great offers online sometimes xx
DeleteIn my opinion, it's never too early for Christmas shopping!! Thanks for all the reviews and info!!
ReplyDeleteHave a lovely day :)
Rosanna x
Rose's Rooftop
Haha that's so true!
DeleteI can't lie, I've never brought a beauty set for myself, only because I'm waaay to fussy and want to pick all the products out myself haha. But these are such fab lipstick shades :)
ReplyDeletetipscapsule.blogspot.com
Thank you, I really like both shades! x
DeleteA lot of gift sets tend not to be worth it, but this one really does look super impressive - so many gorgeous items are included for the price! Loving the look of those lipsticks, in particular :)
ReplyDeleteaglassofice.com
x
I guess it's not as pricey as some sets can be :)
Deletewow these lipsticks are so gorgeous colors, and lipglosses too. It's sad the palette ddn't work for you.
ReplyDeleteNina's Style Blog
Thank you, the palette was disappointing but never mind! x
DeleteI bought one of their sets a few years ago and remember giving away most of it to friends and family members. I love that mascara though and in my set I also had a red nail polish, which I still use! It is so good. Great review x
ReplyDeleteNaya // www.partyparrotblog.com
That's really interesting! I guess it is good that with the range of products, you can pass them on xx
DeleteGift sets are a great way to try out different products from one brand! Such a shame though that some are hit and miss. Those lipstick shades look absolutely gorgeous though xx
ReplyDeleteLauren | itslaurenvictoria.blogspot.co.uk
The lipsticks are a dream! x
DeleteThe eyeshadows look stunning and you do such nice swatches. I need to learn those skills! x Nikita
ReplyDeleteBLOG//Jasmine Loves
Aww thank you so much x
DeleteI love gift sets, but I don't buy them for myself. I give it as a gift, but I do love receiving them as well :) But recently I bought a nail polish gift set because it will save me money than buying those nail polishes individually :)
ReplyDeletexx Alyssa // STYLE VANITY
Nail polish sets definitely work out as better value, I think nails inc do them quite often :) x
DeleteI love the look of the delux pallete and lipstivks, I think they can be worth it if you buy a lot of make up and like exploring with it, I personally don't wear or buy that much make up (a lot of lipsticks tho!) so I wouldn't get one x
ReplyDeleteS x
SHELISES WORLD
Haha I'm the same, I buy too many lipsticks xx
DeleteI love a bargain but sometimes I know the shades wouldn't work for me and that puts me off! This does seem like a good deal but it's a shame some of the products didn't live up to expectations!
ReplyDeleteDanielle's Beauty Blog
I did check the lipstick shades beforehand so they weren't too bad, but it was a shame about the palette xx
DeleteWhat an interesting blog post. I usually end up getting gift sets for other people, but rarely myself. That's good it was worth the money you got a lot of good stuff in there! x
ReplyDeleteLAURA | Laura Thinks About
I think they;re great if you're stuck on ideas of what to get someone else xx
DeleteI loved this post. I'm always wondering if gist sets are really worth the price. I've found with my past experiences they are! I picked one up from Stila last Christmas. It didn't fail to disappoint! Lovely post! xo
ReplyDeletehttps://guiliannamarie.blogspot.com
I've seen some great stuff from Stila, but haven't got round to trying it myself xx
DeleteI would just be interested in the lip gloss or lipstick. For me, I would buy a gift set if they have a lot of products I know I would love (in shades I would love too). I don't like playing around with skincare too much because I'm scared of messing with my skin, lol
ReplyDeleteHannah
Floraful
Same here, I tend to pick up a lot of lipsticks anyway! I had actually read up a lot on the serum, but it was a bit underwhelming xx
DeleteThe lipsticks are really amazing ! i always wonder if gift sets are worth it because sometimes they might not. Too bad that the blush and bronzer are not very pigmented.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.clairetalksbeauty.com/
I really expected more from the face powders though, so that was a shame! x
DeleteI only ever pick them up when they either include something I have been meaning to get anyway or if I need to buy something and that makes me qualify. Usually there is always something in the set I dont end up liking, and that annoys me too much to buy one on its own.
ReplyDeleteLinda, Libra, Loca: Beauty, Baby and Backpacking
I was thinking of getting the serum so it did encourage me, but it didn't live up to my expectations xx
DeleteI think that gifts sets are worth their money.. You got so many products with this particular one! And of course I adored the case! So pretty! xxx Sophia
ReplyDeleteThe case is really useful! x
DeleteI think gift sets are tricky because more often than not, we don't use and love everything that comes with it. This set however is pretty good imo, shame the palette didn't work out well but I think it's still decent in comparison to many others.
ReplyDeleteI think I did manage to get my money's worth out of it, will probably need to see which primers help with the eyeshadows :)
DeleteI'm always on the fence about getting a gift set because more often than not there are more misses than hits in them... But I do love the look of this one. Love the packaging and the lip colours...too bad it didn't work well.
ReplyDeleteLooooove the pictures btw 😍
www.beautyandthebeing.com
Aww thank you so much! I'll just console myself with the lipsticks haha :)
DeleteI love the ANR serum. It does irritate the skin and can cause skin to flake which is apparently normal for the first like week as the serum helps to rejuvenate the skin. I do feel that my skin has been feeling hydrated with that serum however it contains wheat so maybe your mum is allergic to wheat if it irritates her skin ?
ReplyDeleteAnyways i love the estee palette you showed it has such beautiful colors.
Nathalie
www.nathalie-alexandra.blogspot.com
Thanks for letting me know, it could possible be! xx
DeleteThe packaging is very pretty, such a shame they aren't true to colour and the highlighters aren't very pigmented!
ReplyDeletehttps://therecklesslifestyle.blogspot.co.uk/
It was a bit disappointing because they looked so good in the pans! x
DeleteChristmas? Already?! haha. I really like the look of that deluxe palette but it's such a shame about the pigmentation of the face powders. Dynamic is definitely a lipstick I'd pick up for myself, it's so pretty. It's so interesting to hear your thoughts on whether you think it was worth it or not
ReplyDeleteCharlotte / Charlotte's Picks
Dyanmic is my favourite too! Haha, I'm not kidding, the year really does fly by. Maybe it's just me!
DeleteAs you said it depends on the products you are looking for. This set does look good for its price even with the few products not up to your liking the others are worth it.
ReplyDeleteGlamupGirls
I guess it does work out okay, with the lipsticks and glosses :)
DeleteThis gift set looks like a steal, but it is such a shame not all of it is at the same level of quality! Thanks for sharing!xx
ReplyDeleteGrace Kate
Thanks for dropping by xx
DeleteI can definitely see myself getting this gift set! I love the look of the lipsticks, and Estee Lauder formulas never disappoint. <3 Gift sets can be a little hit and miss if you end up getting something you don't like, but this one looks worth the investment to me! Thanks for sharing, lovely. xoxo
ReplyDeleteKay
http://www.shoesandglitter.com/
The lipsticks are really good, but I found the palette to be lacking x
DeleteSuch a lovely products. I like them all. :)
ReplyDeleteKathy's delight I Instagram I Facebook
Thank you x
DeleteI think a gift set is a good way of testing out the brand, so its a good deal. But its annoying the palette wasn't the best as it looks so pretty!
ReplyDelete<3
perfectfixations.blogspot.co.uk
The palette was a let down, but never mind x
DeleteThis gift set looks truly gorgeous! I'm totally lusting over the pretty lipsticks; the raspberry red and medium rose shades are totally eye-catching and stunning in equal measures. I agree that the Modern Muse perfume bottles are so cute too, it looks like the perfect scent for any season. I'm also crushing hard on the lip glosses, such divine shades <3
ReplyDeleteSophie | soinspo xo
The shades are literally perfect, I can't fault them! I've tried it out at counters and it is quite nice, the original smelt really sophisticated xx
DeleteI sometimes wonder if gift sets are worth it because sometimes I would only use one or two from it and not touch the others. So instead, I just give them away as presents haha.
ReplyDeleteyuki, solivagantic
Giving them away as presents is a nice thought too, because someone else might enjoy them instead xx
DeleteI'm never usually a fan of beauty boxes as they always come with stuff I don't want to use or wouldn't buy, so I prefer to just buy my favourite products individually instead.
ReplyDeleteRaindrops of Sapphire
That's reasonable, you'd just rather save for something you want x
DeleteI like the advanced night repair but I'm generally not a fan of the holiday gift sets. Often times the quality is compromised or at least that's what I think.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.fashionablyidu.com/
I think that was definitely the case with the palette x
DeleteSome sets are such good value for money but some I've found aren't amazing! But these look quite nice :) Hope you are having a great week!
ReplyDeletefindyourownhope.blogspot.com
Thank you, you too x
DeleteThis is really interesting to read as I often see these sorts of sets and dawdle between buying one or not. It's a shame about the eyeshadows but those lipsticks do look gorgeous though!
ReplyDeleteMusings & More
The lipsticks are amazing, I would definitely recommend them xx
DeleteThe packaging is super pretty and nice although I guess with any gift sets not all products will be amazing x
ReplyDeletehttp://daisyypetals.blogspot.co.uk/
That is very true! x
DeleteThese are nice items for gifts, wish I will receive some of them especially Estee Lauder. Nice post!
ReplyDeletewww.busyandfab.com
Haha they do make nice gifts xx
DeleteSuch an interesting read ! Thanks so much for sharing this chick ✨💜 Xxx
ReplyDeleteThank you x
DeleteTHESE LIPSTICKS!!!!
ReplyDeleteSophia xo // sophiaaaxo.com
Thank you!
DeleteI always wondered about gift sets but have never bought or receive them before. This seems like a really great one though with items that can come to good use! These kind of remind me when my mom would buy cosmetics from the department store and they would give out free gifts with purchase and I loved getting to pick a few items out to keep hehe.
ReplyDeletethebambieyes.com
Aww that's a lovely memory, and quite cool that your Mum let you pick out some things :) xx
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI love gift sets but I find that most are a bit hit and miss... like some products will be good and others not. So I end up avoiding them, unless it's a really good deal. I love the EL advanced night repair, though. I swear by it and have actually started wearing it again recently. Such a good product. x
ReplyDeleteRenata | Speaking Beauty UK
I definitely found that the case with this set! So many people get on with it, but I just don't know why I'm not blown away by it xx
DeleteWow this beauty box really has some good deals <3
ReplyDeletexoxo, All about Best Wallets 2017