7 Beauty Products I Regret Buying June 11, 2019
Not every new beauty find can be a winning product for everyone. We all have different product needs. Even the biggest beauty enthusiast will sometimes try a new product that is a dud. Although I love reading about what products my favorite bloggers and influencers love, “negative” reviews can be just as informative. Please keep reading to see the beauty products I regret buying.
High End Purchase Regrets
As an eyeshadow addict, it shouldn’t be surprising that many of the beauty products I regret buying are eyeshadow palettes. These palettes aren’t bad, but they weren’t products that became staples in my collection.
Anastasia Beverly Hills – Prism Palette | $42.00, CF
Even though Anastasia Beverly Hills makes one of my favorite eyeshadow formulas, I don’t need to own every new palette. And I don’t. However, after coming off of a lengthy No-Buy in 2017 I felt like I needed to buy an eyeshadow palette. I purchased Prism.
Y’all. I. Have. Never. Touched. This. Palette.
The color story is beautiful, but this palette doesn’t inspire me. I regret buying this (and never returning it). I decluttered Prism earlier this year.
Melt Cosmetics – BluePrint Stack | $58.00, CF
I recently highlighted this stack in my the Blueprint Stack in a Blueprint Stack review. However, the soft texture the shadows disappointed me. In fact, these eyeshadows are the messiest shadows that I’ve ever owned. So much product is wasted whenever I open the stack. Do I love the colors? Yes – for sure. Do I love the insane mess that comes with using this stack? No.
Ultimately, I decluttered this stack sometime in 2020. See where this little stack landed in my Melt Cosmetics Palette ranking.

Biggest Regrets: Natasha Denona Mini Lila & Viseart Grande Pro Volume I
Natasha Denona – Mini Lila Palette | $25.00, CF
Honestly, if my mom didn’t love purple eyeshadow I would have tried to resell my Natasha Denona Mini Lila Palette at a very steep discount.
Out of all the products I purchased in 2018, the Mini Lila is the product I regret buying the most. The eyeshadows in this palette have no staying power. They are not pigmented. The shadows fade and crease within a matter of hours. The colorful matte shades are dry. Overall, this palette was too expensive given the poor quality. Click here to read a review of a much better Natasha Denona Palette.
Viseart – Grande Pro Volume I | $150.00, CF
I want to love the Viseart Grand Pro Volume I, but I don’t reach for this palette. Moreover, I don’t typically reach for all-matte eyeshadow palettes. Therefore, I should have realized that this palette may not have been a good investment.
Are the shadows in this palette bad? No. The neutral shadows in this palette essentially blend themselves. In fact, they are creamy, buttery, and easy to build up. However, the colorful shades in the palette are dry and hard to build on the eye. The darker shades blend away into nothing. Read my full review of the Viseart Grande Pro Volume I.
Sadly, the Viseart Grande Pro Volume I is a beauty product I regret buying. That being said, I am open to trying another palette from the brand. However, I regret spending so much money on this palette. Ultimately, I decluttered this product.
Affordable Purchase Regrets
Price tag can be a factor that impacts my feelings on beauty products. However, affordable products can be just as disappointing. In fact, many products I regret buying come from the drugstore. Often times, I don’t use the same discernment when purchasing affordable products as I do when buying prestige goodies. As a result, I experience more beauty purchase regrets.
Milani – Baked Blush in Red Vino | $7.99, CF
I love the Milani Baked Blushes. However, I was insane to think that this deep deep color would work on my pale skin. I regret buying a product that was too dark for me.
That being said, I wholeheartedly recommend these blushes. They are some of the best affordable blushes at the drugstore.
Wet n’ Wild Color Icon Kohl Liner in Calling Your Buff! | $1.49, CF
The Wet n’ Wild Color Icon Kohl Liner is far too dry and stiff. Users need to apply a lot of pressure to get any pigmentation is. However, applying that much pressure to the eye is painful. Also, this particular shade is too dark for me to use as a nude eyeliner.
Wet n’ Wild Photo Focus Foundation | $5.99, CF
Ummm, why was this foundation so hyped up?
I can’t understand the hype that surrounds this foundation. This is one of the worst foundations I’ve ever used. First, this foundation isn’t full coverage. Second, this foundation does not last more than three to four hours before completely breaking down. The foundation melts off my face.
Knowing I have oily skin, I would have just thought that this foundation wasn’t intended for me. However, my friend tried this foundation and experienced the same exact issues. Her skin is normal-to-dry…..
P.S. The spatula applicator is strange and the foundation has a strong chemical scent.
Final Thoughts on the Beauty Products I Regret Buying
There are two reoccurring themes that pop up throughout many of my purchase regrets. First, I expect that prestige or luxury products perform without any major issues. Second, when influencers and brands create unwarranted hype, I have high expectations that the products will meet or exceed those expectations.
Believe it or not, I actually enjoy some of the products on this list. However, I am bummed when products fail to meet my expectations.
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For bite sized reviews on products that I love, check out the Perfect Palette Tag or the 2018 Newbie Awards. For similar listicles, please read A Beauty Blogger Made Me Buy It or a Beauty Guru Made Me Buy It.
Do you have any products that you regret purchasing? Have you tried or do you want to try any of the products mentioned on this list? Please let me know in the comments below.
affordable beauty anti haul beauty beauty blogger beauty essentials cosmetics disappointing products luxury beauty makeup products I regret buying
Thanks for sharing products that you regret purchasing! I feel like a lot of the times I read product reviews and it’s a big hit with people! I also know of the hype surrounding the focus foundation but that’s actually really disappointing to hear it doesn’t perform as well! And that palette for $120 HOLY COW haha I would have hoped for something that costs that much, it would be perfect!!
Same – I’ve realized that with expensive makeup, the brand really needs to go above and beyond to impress because there are so many affordable options that work just as well!
I think these types of reviews are super helpful, LP! So thoughtful and well-done! I definitely know what to avoid. That palette was $$$$
Sadly that palette was only $120 on SALE too!! Full price would have been $150… and the original version in limited edition packaging was $175!!
You should sell some of these on Depop if you’ve never used them! x
I always hear people talk about Depop, so I’ll have to look into it!
I had a hard time with the Photofocus Foundation as well. It made every nook and cranny on my face show up. I thought it was just me!
Definitely not just you – really struggled with that one!!
Thanks for sharing these. It’s good to get an honest opinion about these products! I haven’t bought much makeup lately, but I did buy an eyeshadow palette by w7 a year or so ago that I haven’t really used. I’ve just ended up buying single shades by Kiko that I love and prefer to use! The w7 one is quite matte but the shades don’t blend very well.
OOO I’ve heard such good things about Kiko!!
I’m so surprised that you didnt like the Wet n’ Wild Photo Focus Foundation, I’ve seriously only heard amazing things about it and I was looking forwards to picking it up when I went to the US, I think now I might have to rethink that haha! I really enjoyed reading this post, I too have spent a lot of money on eyeshadow palettes due to extreme hype and then they end up never seeing the light of day.
Honestly, I was surprised I didn’t like the Photo Focus Foundation lol! I was expecting to love it, but I really really struggled with this one. And same – I hate spending money on hyped up products that don’t end up being used!!
I swear I should clean out my makeup drawer and sell the products I just don’t use. In the end, we all buy things we think we like but barely touch… oops!
It is always such a bummer when we buy things that we don’t end up using… especially the expensive ones! :/
In this world where everyone is promoting things to buy and telling their audience that everything is amazing, it’s so great to see that you’re openly talking about products you don’t enjoy and regret you bought. I’m glad I saw this post because I was about to buy a mini Natasha Denona palette and I’m glad I haven’t yet because there’s no way I could’ve returned it in the UK if I didn’t like it!
Alex xx
I’m so glad that you found this helpful!! I was SOO disappointed by that ND palette.
Why was the sweet talk palette in the pictures?
Hi! 🙂 My cover/banner photo is just a flat lay of a bunch of palettes (most of the palettes from Palette tag)!! I still use and love my Sweet Talk Palette! <3
Good! I was just confused! ❤️
A very informative and useful post!
thank you so much! <3
this is great, thanks for sharing
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