My Latest Ulta Haul | Fall & Back to School 2016

This week, I'm partnering with Ulta to bring you my Fall 2016 beauty picks! So whether you're heading back to school soon or just want to refresh your look for the new season, I've got lots of fun products to share with you. I tried to choose a mix of recent favorites that I've been dying to talk about on the blog as well as a few brand new products.

Let's take a closer look!

bareMinerals Meet Gen Nude Set

A few weeks ago, I tried the new bareMinerals Gen Nude Buttercream Gloss in the shade Snarky and I fell in love with the creamy texture and hydrating formula. I really wanted to try the Gen Nude Matte Liquid Lipsticks, but I hesitated to buy the full-sized version in case it was too drying (I really don't like the feel of most matte lip products). Then I came across this cute Meet Gen Nude set that contains the Buttercream Gloss in the shade Sugar (which I knew I would definitely wear), a nude pink shade and Matte Liquid Lipstick in Bo$$, which is a rosy mauve with a hint of brown in it.

I have to say I'm really impressed with the Gen Nude Matte formula...it feels completely weightless! I didn't feel like I had anything on my lips all day. I put the thinnest layer on my lips and was able to get full coverage color. It dried down immediately with no sticky or tacky feeling whatsoever. If I'm being totally honest, it's a little bit drying (like most matte lipsticks) but it's the least drying of the matte liquid lipsticks I've tried, so that's huge for me. Oh, and it has a delicious cupcake-like scent too! Wear time was really good and it faded very evenly which I loved (I hate when lipsticks fade in the middle and leave a ring around the outside). I love layering the gloss on top as well.
If you've been wanting to try the Gen Nude line, this little set is a great way to try both formulas! (They're half the size of the full-size making this an $18 value).

To purchase or for more info:
bareMinerals Meet Gen Nude Set ($15)

Left: bareMinerals Meet Gen Nude Set ($15)
Middle: Matte Liquid Lipstick in Bo$$, Buttercream Lip Gloss in Sugar
Right: Wearing Bo$$

L'oreal Extraordinary Oil 

Shampoo & Conditioner

I've never been too loyal when it comes to hair products...I'm always in search of the next best thing. But then I tried the L'oreal Extraordinary Oil line. This is actually my second time purchasing this shampoo and conditioner (I first tried it back in May) and I will continue to buy it as long as they make it...it's that good. My bleached, damaged hair has never felt so soft! My regular straw-like texture felt super soft and silky after one use and actually looks shiny.
Also, the scent is amazing. It's warm and sweet and I get tons of compliments from friends and family if I see them right after taking a shower. When they hug me, they always ask what perfume I'm wearing, and I'm like, "none, it's just my hair!". If you're heading off to college, your roommate will end up borrowing this all the time...just warning ya!
The only downside is if you have fine hair like me, you may need to use a stronger shampoo every second or third wash or else this will start to weigh your hair down a little bit. I use this twice in a row, then switch to John Frieda's Go Blonder shampoo (but still use the L'oreal conditioner) and it cuts through the buildup so I can go back to using this shampoo again.
This photo below is after I had been using it for a couple of weeks and I love how healthy and shiny my hair looks! This will definitely be a must-have going into the colder weather.

To purchase or for more info:
L'oreal Extraordinary Oil Nourishing Shampoo & Conditioner

Left: L'oreal Extraordinary Oil Nourishing Shampoo & Conditioner
Right: My soft, smooth and shiny hair!

Smashbox Photo Matte Eyes Mini Palette

Lately I've been such a matte eyeshadow junkie so I jumped on this little Photo Matte Eyes Mini Palette when I saw it. I haven't owned a Smashbox palette in years...for some reason, I always skip the "artistry brands" and choose palettes from more trendy brands like Too Faced, Lorac, and Urban Decay. Man, have I been missing out! These are some of the softest, creamiest mattes I have ever touched. They literally feel like a cream when you touch them and they go on so pigmented in one swipe (my swatches are without primer). They blend so nicely on the eyes and I love that you can use these wet or dry, and also as liners and brow colors.
When I first got this palette, I was shocked by how tiny it is! But the pans are still a good size and you get a beautiful (and very wearable) palette of neutral colors. It's a great option if you want something you can keep in your bag or desk drawer (it's slightly smaller than a deck of cards and much thinner too).

To purchase or for more info:
Smashbox Photo Matte Eyes Mini Palette ($25)

Photos: Smashbox Photo Matte Eyes Mini Palette ($25)

L'oreal Detox & Brighten Clay Mask 

I've been wanting to try one of the new L'oreal masks ever since they came out, so this Detox & Brighten Clay Mask was one of the first things I put into my Ulta cart. It contains pure clays and charcoal that act like a magnet to draw out dirt and gunk from your pores. I've only tried it once but so far, I honestly can't tell the difference between this and GlamGlow (other than the fact that this is smooth and GlamGlow has those little bits of leaves in it). It tingles a bit and my skin has that deep down, squeaky clean feeling after I use it. Since I have dry skin, I'm going to limit this to once a week (my skin feels a little tight but not dry after using), but I love how my skincare seems to absorb so much better and my pores appear smaller. So if you're looking for a great dupe for GlamGlow Supermud, definitely try this one!

To purchase or for more info:

L'oreal Detox & Brighten Clay Mask ($11.04)

Photos: L'oreal Detox & Brighten Clay Mask ($11.04)

Becca Aqua Luminous Perfecting Concealer 

The Becca Aqua Luminous Perfecting Concealer just launched (so I haven't seen any reviews yet) and although it was a big splurge for me, I love Becca's Aqua Luminous Foundation, so I had high hopes for this.
Just like the foundation, this is a great option if you have drier skin, especially going into the fall/winter season. It's 32% water and feels very hydrating with no cakiness. It has light to medium coverage, so if you have really dark circles it may not be enough for you (unless you're using a color corrector first to cancel dark circles or spots...then it might be fine). I love how lightweight it feels and it blends really well. It does contain mica to blur imperfections, but don't worry...it's not visible shimmer. I was a little concerned about that at first because shimmer tends to bring out skin imperfections, but this doesn't do that at all. It does a great job at brightening my skin without drawing attention to fine lines or pores.
I purchased the shade Light, which is the third-lightest shade. It has a slightly peachy tone to it, which works out well for using under my eyes because peach counteracts bluish tones.

To purchase or for more info:
Becca Aqua Luminous Perfecting Concealer ($30)

Becca Aqua Luminous Perfecting Concealer in Light

Essence Forbidden Volume False Lash Mascara Topcoat

You know that annoying fact of life when you apply your mascara in the morning and your lashes look great, but by the afternoon, they start to lose the curl and fall flat? And then you can't re-apply your mascara because your lashes are crunchy and you get can't the brush through them? Well this little $4 game-changer is seriously my new best friend. In the photos below, I'm wearing regular mascara at about 6pm (middle photo) and it's already made my lashes fall flat. Then I applied the Essence Forbidden Volume Topcoat and it made my mascara look fresh again with some additional volume and length due to the fibers in the formula.
I have no idea how they do it, but it works on top of any other mascara. I tried it over Pur Fully Charged Mascara (which you see in the photos below) and I've also tried it over the Cover Girl Super Sizer and it worked great both times. I've also used it alone in the morning and then to touch up later in the day and I actually love it by itself too! Most importantly for me, it doesn't smudge underneath my eyes.
I love finding products that solve a real problem and when they're inexpensive, it's even better!

To purchase or for more info:
Essence Forbidden Volume False Lash Topcoat ($3.99)

Left: Essence Forbidden Volume False Lash Topcoat ($3.99)
Center: Wearing Pur Fully Charged Mascara alone
Right: Wearing Essence Forbidden Volume False Lash Topcoat on top

Soap & Glory Heel Genius Amazing Foot Cream 

This has become my favorite foot cream in the past year, so this is a repurchase for me. I've tried a ton of foot treatments but none of them make my feet feel as soft and velvety as this one does. Heel Genius is a thick, light blue-colored cream that contains super hydrating ingredients like glycerin, macadamia oil, and allantoin plus a combo of fruit acids to slough away dead, dry skin. I've been kind of slacking off on foot care this summer, but now that the fall weather is approaching, I plan to wear this every night under my socks to try to ward off the dry, cracked skin that always makes an appearance in October/November. Prevention is key, right?

To purchase or for more info:
Soap & Glory Heel Genius ($10)

Photos: Soap & Glory Heel Genius Amazing Foot Cream ($10)

NYX Go-To Palette in Wanderlust 

I had a great experience with the NYX Avant Pop Palette recently, so I've been wanting to try another one. The Wanderlust Go-To Palette totally said "fall" to me, with its rich, warm, earthy shades. I have such a weak spot for face palettes...I love having coordinated shades for my entire face in one spot. Maybe I'm lazy, but there it is! Haha. 

It comes with six eyeshadows, a highlighter, blush, and bronzer. All of the shades have a soft, buttery texture that rivals some of my high-end palettes, so even though this is a higher price point for a NYX product, it's SO worth it. My only criticism of this palette is that the blush didn't feel as soft as the other shades and went on a little bit patchy. Maybe I got a dud...I'm not sure. Also, because these shades are so soft, there's a bit of fallout, so be sure to tap your brush well before applying. All in all, this is a beautiful face palette that's perfect for travel at an great price point!

To purchase, or for more info:

 NYX Go-To Palette in Wanderlust ($16.99) 

Photos: NYX Cosmetics Go-To Palette in Wanderlust

Also, did you know...

...that Ulta offers a credit card now (actually two)? The Ultamate Rewards Credit Card gives you double the points (you get 1 additional point for every dollar you spend). If you're someone who shops at Ulta exclusively for your beauty needs you can rack up 2,000 points pretty fast, which you can redeem for $125 worth of free products!
They also offer an Ultamate Rewards Mastercard, which you can use anywhere Mastercard is accepted. You'll still earn double the points when you shop at Ulta, but you'll also earn 1 point every time you spend $3 everywhere else. So if you use your credit card for gas, groceries, etc. you can rack up Ulta points really fast. If you're not happy with your current credit card's rewards (and you're a beauty junkie), I wanted to let you know about this option because it's a great way to get lots of Ulta points (which translates to free stuff!). 

So what did you think of my Ulta Beauty haul? Have you tried any of these products yet, or is there anything you're planning to get? I'd love to hear about it! :)

 

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Full disclosure: This is a sponsored post. The items in this post were chosen by me and supplied by Ulta Beauty