27 Must-Buy Makeup Deals at Sephora and Ulta Right Now

Overrated Prices

1. Olaplex No. 7 Bonding Oil

This is one of those hair products where the formula actually works well. I loved how silky it felt on my hands and it provided my hair with amazing shine. However, I also receive the same effect from Carol's Daughter Goddess Strength 7 Oil Blend... without dishing out $30.

My hair's not super picky about oils I use, so I personally don't feel like I need to spend a certain amount just because one brand name is more popular than another.

2. Briogeo Don't Despair, Repair! Super Moisture Conditioner

I purchased this conditioner and fell in love with how soft it made my hair. All it took was two dime size amounts worked into my strands for my hair to let me know it truly appreciated it. The problem is that it costs $39.00! It was definitely a splurge at the time I bought it, but I can't see myself spending that amount every other month.

My alternative is 4U by Tia Moisturizing Conditioner.

Overrated Performance

3. dae Mirage Mist Leave-In Conditioner

This leave-in conditioner left me wanting more because my hair absolutely hated it. It's meant for all hair types, but it just didn't do anything for mine. Instead of reducing frizz and dryness, my hair actually felt hard after using it. Before you think it was user error, I purposely didn't put anything else on my hair after washing it.

I don't think I need to say it, but my little test resulted in this being tossed in the trash. I'll just stick to my 4U by Tia Curl Refresher Mist Hair Spray if I want an extra boost of hydration and shine.

4. Wavytalk Professional Hair Dryer With Diffuser

This is going to be controversial because I've been talking about spending too much money on styling and conditioning products, but I actually prefer the T3 Aire 360 Multi-Styler & Blowout System over this. I have thick natural hair that felt like it was being yanked whenever I used this dryer's comb attachment. I've experienced postpartum hair loss so I'd like to keep as many strands on my head as possible.

Personally, the T3 Aire Multi-Styler & Blowout System cuts my drying time in half while also providing a soothing experience.

Overrated Fragrance — Yes, I'm Serious

5. Briogeo Scalp Revival Charcoal + Coconut Oil Micro-Exfoliation Shampoo

Am I being picky about something like fragrance? Why yes, I am. I'm fully aware that I have allergies and asthma so it doesn't take much for something to trigger an itchy nose or claustrophobic airwaves. Also, at this point I know I probably should just stay away from Briogeo as a whole.

I digress... I tried this shampoo and should've known better than to use something that reminds me of the charcoal face wash I use sometimes. It also smells like it which is a huge turn-off for me. Hard pass on this!

6. Gisou Honey Infused Hair Perfume — Floral Edition

I think a part of me liked wasting money last year because this hair perfume gave me the ick last year. I don't even like floral scents so I'm not sure why I decided this purchase would be a great idea. I'm sure someone will love the blend of honey, wild rose, and vanilla, but I did not.

Covergirl Outlast Lip Stain

I love the marker format of this Covergirl lip stain. It’s super easy to use, and the precise applicator tip makes putting it on a total breeze. It helped me define my lip shape, which I feel is needed most times I want to wear a lip product because my natural lips don’t really have a defined edge.

The color I snagged was Canyon, and I must say, I am obsessed with it. It’s the perfect balance between a neutral, red, and terra cotta shade that I think is super complimentary to my skin tone.

Now, onto my first impressions wearing it. As I noted, the marker-like application tip was especially helpful for adding color and definition to the outline of my lips. It boasted an even and smooth wash of color once I was done lining. Disappointingly, it was not as smooth on the actual plush part of my lips. The result looked uneven and I felt like the color I had put on my lip line was a lot darker (which was not my desired look).

The texture of this lip stain didn’t stand out much to me. It simply dried down like a regular marker would — that being said, the lack of stickiness impressed me.

The real test, of course, was seeing if it could withstand things like eating and drinking. I wore the Covergirl lip stain to my family’s Christmas dinner, which was chockfull of snacks, apps, main courses, and cocktails.

Unfortunately, the lip stain barely held on through the first round of appetizers. The color had faded mostly from the plush part of my lips, though a few spots around my lip line had completely disappeared. I tried to minimize use of my napkin for the sake of the lip stain test, but there were a few moments I had to reach for it. Every time, I noticed that some of the lip stain had come off along with bits of food and drink. I definitely had to reapply it after dinner.

After a big bout of eating and drinking with it on, I have to rate the Covergirl lip stain a 2/5. While I absolutely loved the color and initial results, it did not keep its promise of being transfer-proof.

e.l.f. Glossy Lip Stain

I was beyond excited to try this lip stain from e.l.f. I had seen several demo videos on social media and loved how smooth the product looked, plus how it stayed on for influencers that put it to the test. A single tube is only $6, too, so the affordability aspect definitely had me hooked.

This pick comes in the unique form of a lip gloss and isn’t meant to dry down at all. While most other lip stains promise a full wash of color, this one is meant to leave a “sheer” and “healthy sheen” on the lips — which, honestly, feels more “me” than anything else, since I love me a natural look!

Upon first application, I loved how satin-y the formula felt on my lips. The applicator tip was familiar to use and made putting it on precisely super easy. I decided to let the gloss sit on my lips for 5 minutes or so before blotting it a bit with some tissue (as many creators I saw online did).

While the glossy aspect was blotted away, the color stain wasn’t — amen! The shade Cinnamon Dreamz left an impressively flattering mauve-brown color on my lips. One thing I didn’t like about the first wear was I noticed the product sunk into dry patches on my lips (caused by my anxious habit of picking them — but that’s all just user error).

I wore the e.l.f. lip stain to a friends’ dinner party to test out if it was really long-wearing. After a couple rounds of cocktails and a big feast, there was still a good amount of color on my lips. What stood out to me the most is that the color that stayed was still as even as if I had just freshly applied it — just sans glossy finish.

I was thoroughly surprised by e.l.f.’s glossy lip stain. The color, formula, and performance all lived up to the hype for me! All things considered, I have to grant it a 4/5.

Palladio Lip Stain

This lip stain by Palladio acted much like the one from Covergirl, thanks to its easy-to-use marker format. I tried the shade Mocha Cream and instantly fell in love with how it looked on my lips.

What I didn’t like, however, was how dry my lips felt after applying it. I knew that to keep the color on, I’d have to put up with drier-than-usual lips (the brand says the product works best alone), but it was a major bother to me in the sensory department.

Much like the Covergirl lip stain, this formula from Palladio seemed to sink into the cracks on my lips and resulted in an uneven wash of color over time.

When it came to wearing this lip stain, I must say I was quite impressed with how long-lasting it was. I applied it right before sipping on my morning coffee on a WFH day, and I did not notice any transferring of the product onto my mug at all. I even tried to blot the lip stain on my hand, but nothing came off – which is so great.

After several hours of wear (including a mildly sweaty morning walk), the Palladio lip stain was noticeably faded, but not as much as the other marker lip stain had. At this point, I'm thinking there's no real way to avoid fading, though maybe I just haven’t found my holy grail yet.

I was definitely surprised by the long-wearing potential of the Palladio lip stain. I loved the shade on my lips, though I wished it had applied and settled into my skin more evenly. I was also bothered by how dry my lips got when wearing it, so much so that I was distracted from my day. For this ,I rate the Palladio lip stain a 3/5.

The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus by Emma Knight

Penn should be excited about advancing her education at the University of Edinburgh, but she can't stop thinking about the secret her parents have been keeping from her. For some reason, she believes she'll uncover it while she's in Scotland because Lord Lennox — her father's friend — is in the area.

Her hunger for the truth leads her to Lord Lennox's estate where she she starts mingling with his family and even discovers love in this moving novel.

Jenna Bush Hager's Thoughts About The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus