Space NK Archives - The Beauty Look Book

First Look: The Ultimate Beauty Gift from SpaceNK

September 28, 2022

Holiday gift sets have already started to pop up and I’m excited to share a first look at this year’s SpaceNK Advent Calendar! This is a stunning gift box with special beauty treats for the 25 days of surprises. It retails for $280 with a total value of over $1,000 and some of the boxes have more than one beauty item! (There’s a total of 31 beauty treats.)

The 2022 Space NK Advent Calendar is limited-edition and sells out every year. They recommend purchasing sooner than later so you don’t miss out. I love that they’ve included a mix of everything in beauty from skin care, makeup, hair care and scented products.

Each box has a number corresponding to the day in December you can open a surprise and I love that they added a little hint as well on each box. Makes it fun!

There are tons of items in the box I have not tried yet – so even the most experienced beauty and skincare junkie will still most likely find things in this box that are new to them.

I love the deluxe miniature sizes of the skincare items. They give you enough product to really sample it! There are also a number of full-sized items like a Rose Inc. cream blush, Charlotte Tilbury Lipstick, Laura Mercier eyeshadow stick, Necessaire Hand cream and more.

The full list of what’s in the box:

Paula’s Choice: Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant (118ml – Full size)
Nécessaire: The Hand Cream Fragrance Free (65ml – Full size)
Charlotte Tilbury: Matte Revolution Lipstick in Pillow Talk (3.5g – Full size)
Summer Fridays: CC Me Serum (30ml – Full size)
La Mer: Crème De La Mer Moisturizing Cream (7ml)
Caudalie: Vinergetic C+ Instant Detox Mask (75ml – Full size)
Drunk Elephant: Wonderwild Miracle Butter (5ml)
Olaplex: No.3 Hair Perfector (100ml – Full size)
Hourglass: Veil Translucent Setting Powder (2g)
Drunk Elephant: Protini Polypeptide Cream (15ml)
Dr. Barbara Sturm: Hyaluronic Serum (10ml)
Biossance: Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil (12ml)
Ultra Violette: SPF 50+ Supreme Screen Hydrating Facial Sunscreen (50ml – Full size)
Space NK: Voyage Body Wash (350ml – Full size)
Rare Beauty: Perfect Strokes Universal Volumizing Mascara (3ml)
Fresh: Soy Face Cleanser (50ml – Full size)
JVN Hair: Complete Air Dry Cream (20ml)
Living Proof: Perfect Hair Day Shampoo (50ml)
The Ordinary: Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% (30ml – Full size)
Sisley-Paris: Black Rose Cream Mask (10ml)
Sisley-Paris: Black Rose Skin Infusion Cream (10ml)
Laura Mercier: Caviar Stick Eye Colour Matte in Au Naturel (2g – Full size)
Sol De Janeiro: Brazilian Bum Bum Cream (75ml)
Sunday Riley: C.E.O. Vitamin C Rich Hydration Cream (15ml)
Dr Dennis Gross: Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel (2.2ml x 3)
Malin + Goetz: Lip Moisturizer (10ml – Full size)
Medik8: Crystal Retinol 3 (30ml – Full size)
Rose Inc: Blush Divine Radiant Lip & Cheek in Heliotrope (4.5g – Full size)
Jo Loves: Snowflake Votive (70g)
Augustinus Bader: The Face Oil (10ml)
Tatcha: The Dewy Skin Cream (10ml)

I think this is a great gift idea that will suit a wide range of tastes and ages. I’m debating whether to keep this for myself or gift it away.

If you’re getting an early start on your holiday shopping I highly recommend checking this one out. SpaceNK is offering a great boxed set for the value!

Available while supplies last at SpaceNK.

Many thanks to SpaceNK for partnering to sponsor this post.

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GWP

Space NK Spring Beauty Edit Bag 2019

February 13, 2019

It’s that time of year again when the spring beauty events start up! Right now Space NK US has their Spring Beauty Edit Bag from February 13th to 18th while supplies last with any $285+ purchase online or in their stores, use code BEAUTY19 at checkout. Out of all the ones going on right now I think theirs is the best one even though the minimum spend is high, I do think it’s well worth the splurge.

They value the gift at over $450, mostly all minis, items inside this year’s bag:

Diptyque Roses Candle 3.4 oz
Sunday Riley Good Genes 5 ml
Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer SPF 15 0.12 fl oz
Oribe Gold Lust Dry Shampoo 1 oz
Ilia Beauty Tinted Lip Conditioner in Forever 0.04 oz
Chantecaille Rose de Mai Cream 5 ml
Omorovicza Rejuvenating Night Cream 0.5 fl oz/15 ml
Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask 1 oz
Patchology Clean AF Cleansing Wipes 15 pack
Verso Hydration Serum with Niacinamide 10 ml
Coola Makeup Setting Spray 10 ml
Bumble and Bumble Thickening Spray 30 ml/1 fl oz
Clark’s Botanicals Deep Moisture Mask 10 ml
111Skin Clinical Exfoliator 0.35 oz
Malin + Goetz AHA Treatment Solution 0.2 fl oz
Golden Faden MD Skin Balancing Mask 7 ml
Kat Burki Vitamin C Intensive Face Cream 7 ml
Rodial Radiance Transforming Mask 8 ml
Kevyn Aucoin Flesh Tone Lip Pencil in Cerise 0.024 oz
Miriam Quevedo Platinum and Diamond Luxurious Mask 50 ml
REN Clean Skincare Radiance Glow Daily Vitamin Gel Cream 0.51 oz
Christophe Robin Regenerating Mask with Rare Prickly Pear Seed 1.7 oz/10 ml
Emma Hardie Brilliant Face Oil 0.17 oz
By Terry Hyaluronic Hydra Powder Deluxe 0.45 oz
Rahua Classic Conditioner 22 ml
Lipstick Queen Mini Altered Universe Time Warp 0.08 fl oz
R&Co Deluxe Waterfall Moisture and Shine 15 ml
Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Exfoliating Moisturizer 0.13 fl oz
Derm Institute Cellular Rejuvenating Serum 0.17 oz
Pink zip bag

I can vouch for the Diptyque, Hourglass, Oribe, Briogeo, Christophe Robin and Bumble and Bumble products in this year’s gift bag. All of these are excellent and if you haven’t tried them yet this is the perfect way to do so!

There are so many brands to pick from I don’t think I really need to do a recommendations list but in case you don’t know what to splurge on, my top 5 favorites are mostly hair care right now. I actually just bought a lot of Oribe from Neiman Marcus and their gift bag was very disappointing. I really should have waited for this event, ordered online for a second bag to gift to my mother in law.

Top five loves right now:

Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask is one of the best hair masks I’ve used (to me it’s better than Kerastase and Oribe). I really want to try the shampoo version of this mask.
Christophe Robin Shade Variation Mask with Temporary Coloring in Warm Chestnut was the best tinted mask for color treated hair my first round of highlights, this second round I’ve gone lighter and think I need the Golden Blonde version now
Oribe Run Through Detangling Primer came highly recommended by one of my pickiest friends. She used to work in the hair care industry for product development and she’s tried everything she possibly can. This is her go-to and she told me it was “the best.” I finally caved and bought a mini size. She was right. It’s amazing and I need the full size for sure. I don’t know that I’d call it THE best, it’s saved my hair with this second round of highlights, but I still think it’s a tie with the next item I’m listing below.
Christophe Robin Hydrating Leave-In Mist with Aloe Vera is something I used more of as a detangling spray on wet/damp hair. This was one of the few lightweight hydrating sprays that didn’t weigh my hair down. A light spritz allows any brush or comb to brush through my hair without any tugging or tangles.
111Skin Bio Cellulose Facial Treatment Masks are my holy grail of sheet masks. The set is crazy expensive but these plump and smooth the skin like nothing else I’ve tried.

Also linking a few other favorites below. Sunday Riley Good Genes is great, Space NK also stocks By Terry, Byredo, Lipstick Queen, Ouai and Susanne Kaufmann.

Some newer launches you might want to check out while the gift is going on:

The Space NK Spring Beauty Edit Bag 2019 runs February 13 through 18, 2019, while supplies last. Available online and in store with a $285+ purchase, use code BEAUTY19 at checkout.

Spring Beauty GWP gifted by Space NK.

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GWP

September Beauty GWP Events: SpaceNK Fall Beauty Edit and Barneys Love Yourself Details

September 6, 2018

There are two major beauty gift with purchase events happening this month. The best gift bag events are from the SpaceNK Fall Beauty Edit (US) and Barneys New York Love Yourself Event. Both require a higher spend but the gift bag comes stocked full of minis from brands like Ouai, Oribe, By Terry and other luxury brands. Events occur happening online and in store, gifts usually sell out so I recommend shopping soon if these are on your radar.

Space NK’s Fall Beauty Edit runs September 6th through the 18th. The SpaceNK team sent one for feature which is shown in the top image. With any purchase of $285 or more you’ll receive a zip black bag valued at more than $500 including the following. Enter FALL2018 at checkout for the gift.

Chantecaille Bamboo & Hibiscus Exfoliating Cream
Clark’s Botanicals Retinol Rescue Overnight Cream
Derm Institute Youth Alchemy Eye Cream
Diptyque Fleur De Peau Eau De Parfum
Dr. Dennis Gross C+C Collagen Deep Cream
Eve Lom Radiance Face Oil
Goldfaden MD Facial Detox
Hourglass Caution Mascara
Ilia Soft Focus Finishing Powder
111Skin Celestial Black Diamond Eye Mask
African Botanics Buchu Enzyme Polish
Bumble & Bumble Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil Primer
Lipstick Queen Frog Prince Lipstick
Malin+Goetz Brightening Enzyme Mask
Miriam Quevedo Sublime Gold Shampoo
Natura Bisse Tensolift Neck Cream
Odacite Black Mint Cleanser
Omorovicza Balancing Moisturizer
Kevyn Aucoin The Sculpting Contour Powder
Oribe Mystify Restyling Spray
Ouai Wave Spray
Philip B Light-Weight Deep Conditioning Rinse
Rodial Bee Venom Moisturizer
Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum
Susanne Kaufmann Body Oil
Veneffect Micro Exfoliant
Verso Night Cream
By Terry Stylo Blackstar in Tasty Truffle
Ren Keep Young and Beautiful Beauty Shot

_____________________________

The Barneys Love Yourself Event runs from September 5th through 9th, with any $200 purchase you’ll receive a clear bag and there are two options. One for men and one for women. There’s no code online, an option for you to pick should pop up on your browser once you’ve added the minimum amount to your cart. Minis included (some options with the scents are assorted)

Hourglass Caution Mascara
Koh Gen Do Spa Cleansing Water
Givenchy Lip Gloss
Westman Atelier Beauty Stick Foundation sample
La Mer Eye Concentrate
Byredo Eleventh Hour
NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil
Serge Lutens Fleur D’Oranger
YSL Y Shape Concentrate
Zelens Hydro-Shiso Balancing Moisturizer
Davines Hair Mask
Sachajuan Hair Repair
By Terry Mini Hyaluronic Powder
Sisley Black Rose Skin Influsion
3LAB M Cream
Rene Furter Hydrating Shine Leave-In Cream
Chantecaille Creme de Rose Mai
Malin Goetz Brightening Enzyme Mask
Molton Brown Body Wash
Rodin Jasmin and Neroli Face Oil
Ouai Leave In Conditioner
Verso Day Cream
Maison Margiela mini
The Harmonist Metal Flower
Frederic Malle mini
David Mallet Mask
Vitabrid Scalp Shampoo

_____________________________

Are you shopping the events this season? I have some things on my wishlist but at the moment am saving up for some other fall beauty launches I want to cover in the next few weeks. In the event you have a lot on your wishlist I think these are great events to take advantage of the gift with purchase options. It’s such a great way to try other brands of hair care and skincare.

SpaceNK bag provided for feature.

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GWP

Space NK Autumn Beauty Edit GWP

September 8, 2017

Space NK is hosting their Autumn Beauty Edit Gift Event for one day September 8th. With any $275 purchase or more you can receive a gift bag filled with deluxe size samples. If you’re shopping online use code AUTUMN17 at checkout. A list of what’s in the bag this season:

By Terry Cellularose Liftessence Night Cream (0.14 oz)
Nuface Prep-N-Glow Cleansing Cloths (5 cloths)
Uma Oils Absolute Anti-Ageing Eye Oil (3 ml)
Goldfaden MD Vital Boost (7 ml)
Omorovicza Thermal Cleansing Balm (5 ml)
Dr Dennis Gross Ferulic + Retinol Wrinkle Recovery Overnight Serum (0.16 oz)
Derm Institute Anti-Oxidant Hydration Gel Masque (2 sachets)
Mila Moursi Firming Cream (4 ml)
Miriam Quevedo Black Baccara Dynamic Weekend Peel Booster (3 ml)
Eve Lom Rescue Mask (15 ml)
Ren Flash Hydro-Boost Instant Plumping Emulsion (10 ml)
Juara Candlenut Hydrating Shower Gel (59 ml)
Tula Purifying Cleanser (1 oz)
Jinsoon Nail Lacquer (11 ml)
Smith & Cult Lip Lacquer in Flesh Riot (2.5 ml)
Ouai Wave Spray (50 ml) 17. Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray (1 oz)
Chantecaille Flower Harmonizing Cream (8 ml)
Sunday Riley C.E.O C+E Antioxidant Protect + Repair Moisturizer (0.3 oz)
Tata Harper Reparative Moisturizer (10 ml)
Natura Bissé Tensolift Neck Cream (0.16 oz)
111Skin Space Defence Bright Eye Lift Gel (0.17 oz)
Kat Burki Retin-C Treatment Complex (7.5 ml)
Diptyque Do Son Shower Oil (10 ml)
Malin + Goetz Vitamin b5 Body Moisturizer (2.5 ml)
Rodial Glamolash XXL Mascara (6 ml)
Miriam Quevedo Glacial White Caviar Rescue Masque (50 ml)
Hourglass Girl Lip Stylo in Peacemaker (0.05 oz)
Kevyn Aucoin The Flesh Tone Lip Pencil in Medium (0.69 g)
Lipstick Queen Lip Liner in Nude (0.02 oz)
Space NK beauty bag

I’m currently in the middle of preparing and bracing myself for a hurricane and if you followed me on Instagram stories you know I had a trip to New York for a few days. Due to the unpredictable weather patterns I did not know if I would be able to fly back to Florida. At the last minuted I made the decision to cancel everything so I could stay with my husband and fur babies. There is so much that is unknown – even right now. We are keeping a close eye on the alerts and weather patterns – what the news doesn’t convey clearly is that there are different evacuation orders depending on county. We also know what zone we are in and have an evacuation plan in place.

Had I been able to go to New York I would have stopped by Space NK and bought a few of the new By Terry Compact Expert Dual Powders. I still hope to check them out in the near future. A few other items on my love list that I’d recommend include Diptyque Baies, Hourglass Vanish Seamless Foundation, Hourglass Confession Lipsticks, Christophe Robin Volumizing Paste, Oribe Gold Lust Dry Shampoo, 111 Skin Bio Cellulose Sheet Masks, Chantecaille Poudre Lumiere, By Terry Stylo Blackstar.

A few of you have messaged me asking whether I think the Barneys Love Yourself Bag or the Space NK Autumn Beauty Bag is better. I think it’s a close call because both have really good options! I have a slight preference for the Barneys bag mainly because it has more items I really wanted to try including the new Byredo fragrance and some hair products. The minimum buy for the Barneys GWP is also lower at $200 vs Space NK’s which is $275. Do note the Barneys bag has 25 items (plus the bag) while the Space NK bag has 30 items (plus the bag). Both are really very good though.

You can find the Space NK Autumn Beauty Edit Gift bag while supplies last in the US in Space NK stores and online at Space NK.

Gift bag provided courtesy of Space NK.

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Nordstrom

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Beauty Exclusives Haul: simplehuman, Space.NK and Jo Malone

July 31, 2017

I have a roundup of three more beauty exclusives from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale today. There’s still approximately a week left for the sale, it ends August 6th.

One of the best value sets is the The Best Of Collection from the Nordstrom x Space.NK.apothecary line. The set is priced at $159 and for a $237.50 value and you get four full sized items and two travel sized items. Often times value sets have really small sizes which I don’t mind because it allows you to get a good sampling – this set has full sized items and really good travel sizes that will give you a really good sampling.

Inside the set you get a travel size Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray and Sunday Riley Good Genes Treatment. For the full size items you get a Kevyn Aucoin The Volume Mascara, By Terry Baume de Rose, Eve Lom Cleanser and Lipstick Queen Frog Prince Lipstick. This was my first time trying a green lipstick – it’s a color changing shade that adapts to your natural pH and on me it transforms into a deep pink within 5 minutes. On me it also left a stain so once it fades off the color still stays on like a pretty berry stain.

I picked up the Jo Malone Cologne Collection from the sale as I really like to keep travel sized mini perfumes with me on the go. The heat and warm weather have me wearing more perfume than ever – partly because I also use these on mosquito bites to stop the swelling. I’m super sensitive to bug bits and for the most part we’ve been able to avoid them except at dusk and night. There are two Jo Malone perfume sets, the one I picked includes Nectarine Blossom and Honey, French Lime Blossom, Orange Blossom, Nashi Blossom and Silk Blossom. I’ve shopped these sets for years and don’t remember ever seeing Nashi Blossom or Silk Blossom in the minis so this was a nice one for me. There’s also a Men’s Cologne set which is a little more expensive as it has some of the intense sets. If you’re shopping the sale – don’t forget to check the GWPs online. Had I known about it while browsing in store I would have picked up something else to take advantage of it. If you don’t think these are up your alley – I’d say wait for holiday which is just a few months away. Jo Malone always launches the cutest holiday sets and I can’t wait to see what they have this year.

Last but not least is the simplehuman round sensor mirror pro in Rose Gold. I already own the simplehuman Countertop Sensor Makeup Mirror and it’s probably the best beauty tool I own. I’ve had mine for years and you can read my review from 2014 here. It’s lasted since then and worked perfectly every time. I think it’s funny that with this mirror my male friends and family are the ones that were most impressed with this – funny as I think of it more as something women would use, but my husband uses this frequently and my brother was so impressed he bought one too. If you don’t own one the sale is a great time to save on it. If you want a comparison review of the two models I can do one in the near future, let me know in the comments. The Round Sensor Mirror Pro has the same size circumference but is Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled with controls to change the lighting color, set timer on how long light stays on and also has a clock feature with an alarm. I’m not really the type to get ready every morning at the exact same time like clockwork to use the alarm feature – if you use it let me know! Also the pro version doesn’t have an adjustable base so you can’t make it taller like you can with the countertop version. I like both – the app feature is really neat as it also tells you how much battery life is left which comes is super convenient.

This version has a magnetized detail mirror and there’s a magnet on the back for you to store it when you’re not using it. Note – I just checked online and UPDATE Tuesday 8:23 AM it’s back in stock! You also might want to check your local store.

That wraps up my three more things from the Nordstrom Sale! In case you missed my previous posts:

Beauty Haul Part 1 here
Beauty Exclusives Neutral Lip Haul + swatches here
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Diffused Light Palette here
Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze and Blush Glow reviewed here
Tom Ford Golden Rose Eye and Lip Set here
Sisley-Paris Color Twist Set here

What have you hauled from the Nordstrom sale? Let me know in the comments! I want to live vicariously through your hauls – beauty and everything else 🙂

Space NK Set gifted for review. Other two purchased by me.

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GWP

Space NK Spring Beauty Edit GWP

February 15, 2017

It’s that time of year again where Space NK USA has their spring beauty edit event! N.Dulge Members have early access through 2/15, and it opens up to the public for one day only on 2/16. With any purchase of $250 or more you’ll receive a gift with purchase bag filled with minis and products valued at over $400. You can shop the event in stores and online, while supplies last. Inside the gift this year:

Space NK Limited Edition Cosmetic Bag
111 Skin Space Defence Bright Eye Lift Gel NAC Y2 (5ml)
Bumble & bumble All-Style Blow Dry (15ml)
By Terry Hyaluronic Hydra-Powder (1.3g)
Chantecaille Faux Cils Mascara in Black (4g)
Derm Institute Anti-Oxidant Hydration Gel Masque (3ml x 2)
Dermarché Labs Roloxin Lift (2g x 2)
Diptyque Roses Scented Candle (35g)
Diptyque Eau Rose Eau de Toilette (2ml)
Eve Lom Brightening Cream (10ml)
Evologie Stay Clear Cleanser (22ml)
Goldfaden MD Facial Detox Clarify + Clear Mask (5ml)
Hampton Sun Broad Spectrum Protection SPF35 Continuous Mist Sunscreen (1oz)
Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer (4ml)
James Read Gradual Tan H20 Tan Mist (30ml)
Juara Candlenut Body Crème (1.5oz)
Kat Burki Hand Therapy (1oz)
Kevyn Aucoin The Guardian Angel Cream Highlighter in Halo (0.8g)
Lipstick Queen Belle Époque in Belle Wine (full-size)
Malin + Goetz Vitamin E Face Moisturizer (1oz)
Mila Moursi Neck Contouring Fluid (4ml)
Miriam Quevedo Extreme Caviar Intensive Anti-Aging Luxe Masque (1.7oz)
Natura Bissé Diamond Extreme Eye (2ml)
Oribe Gold Lust Dry Shampoo (1oz)
Ouai Treatment Masque (1oz)
Philip B Oud Royal Forever Shine Shampoo (15ml)
R+Co Death Valley Dry Shampoo (1.6oz)
Ren Evercalm Ultra Comforting Rescue Mask (10ml)
Rodial Pink Diamond Instant Lifting Serum (5ml)
Sunday Riley Tidal Brightening Enzyme Water Cream (8g)
Tata Harper Purifying Mask (7.5ml)
Tula Exfoliating Treatment Mask (0.05oz)
Veneffect Anti-Aging Lip Treatment (3ml)

The gifts sell out every year quickly so if you plan on shopping in store I recommend you visit as soon as possible or call ahead of time to reserve/pre-sell for the gift. If you’re an N.Dulge Member and shopping online on the 14th or 15th at SpaceNK.com simply login to your account and use code SPRING17 at checkout to add the gift to your cart with any $250+ purchase (US only).

To recap, the gift is available at Space NK US, online and in stores. N.Dulge Members can shop online and in stores 2/14 or 2/15 with code SPRING17. Public has access on 2/16. As always while supplies last. If you miss out on this round not to worry as Barneys New York usually has a really good gift with purchase event as well in March which is just around the corner. Both Space NK and Barneys usually have the best beauty event gift bags – so far there aren’t really any other retailers who do it as well as they do!

Thanks to Space NK for sending a preview of the Spring Edit GWP.

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Eye Makeup

Kevyn Aucoin The Making Eyes Kit x Space NK

September 27, 2016

Kevyn Aucoin Making Eyes x Space NK Exclusive

Every once in a while I’ll try a product and wonder what took me so long to try it. Kevyn Aucoin eyeshadows fall into that category (along with some of the blushes reviewed here). For the longest time I’ve avoided many items from the Kevyn Aucoin beauty line simply because of the price points. So many of his products have been widely raved about, and rightly so due to their good quality and solid performance. Kevyn Aucoin recently launched a set exclusive to Space NK called The Making Eyes Kit ($125, a $160 value if you purchase items separately). This kit includes:

The Essential Eye Shadow Set Palette #2 (0.04 oz)
The Precision Brow Pencil Brunette (0.03 oz)
The Expert Mascara Black (0.4 oz)
The Eyelash Curler
The Eye Pencil Primatif Basic Black (0.04 oz)

Space NK kindly sent the set for me to try and part of me was really excited to try things I’ve always been curious about. The other part of me wondered if this would live up to the hype as the items look incredibly basic. I love beauty basics and classics but sometimes there are products that just simply seem a bit too basic to justify the splurge when less expensive options will work just as well. I was really impressed with the Eye Shadow Palette, Brow Pencil and Eye Pencil. More thoughts on each item below.

Quick look at the box. The set comes cased in a large black box with a mirror. I like that everything has it’s own individually molded compartment so if you have this shipped to you, items stay in place. I’m not sure what I’ll do with the box at the moment. I suppose I could use it for travel by taking out the insert. The larger mirror is nice to have when you’re on the go. However the box is made of cardboard so I don’t know how well it will hold up traveling.

First a look at the items swatched:

For me the winner of this set is The Essential Eye Shadow Set Palette #2 which has a mix of cool tones. The set comes with a little instruction card on how to apply the colors but I took one look and decided to apply them my own way. I have no crease in the lids so most of the time I need to apply shadows differently from most other women anyways in a gradient. Since I have no fold or crease I don’t usually do the outer corner or v-shape blending.

Colors in this palette include a shimmering soft but pigmented black, lavender purple shimmer, beige satin, white frost, bone satin. All of the colors have some degree of shimmer but it is very soft on the skin. If you’re a no-shimmer kind of person for eyeshadows I think this will still work for you as the finish is VERY very soft.

The pigment is medium but buildable. Texture is very soft and looks natural on the eyes. As one who does not really like cool tones (especially white frosts) because they often look sharp or contrast with my olive skin I was surprised to find this one worked really well with my skintone for a cool-toned smoky eye with a hint of purple. The black looks like it could be chalky if you swatch it on the hand or arm. With a brush it’s intense and very pigmented but not too sharp. It’s a very good one to apply along the lash line and easy to blend and smoke out. Below shows all the items in the kit applied including the mascara, liner and brow pencil.

The only other added product was the Laura Mercier Caviar Eye Stick in Rose Gold all over the lids used as a base.

Next are The Precision Brow Pencil Brunette and The Eye Pencil Primatif Basic Black. The Precision Brow Pencil is very easy to use and Brunette is a good neutral to cool toned brown that works for my dark hair. For me I like that there is no red undertone which I find some brow pencils have, yet there’s not too much grey which can sometimes cause my brows to look ashy. I like that if you twist product up you can also twist it back down.

The Eye Pencil in Basic Black is one of the deepest black pencils I’ve tried. It has a smooth and super creamy texture. In terms of lasting power it stayed put on my eyes all day without any smudging or budging. I used it along upper lashes and waterline. That being said, I will usually also see how it holds up on the arm. When I test liners, let it sit for about 30 minutes on the arm, then take my finger and swipe it across the arm swatch to see how much it smudges. On the arm it smudged while some other liners set and don’t budge. That being said I tried this on a few different days and on my eyes it lasted all day without any budging so for me it’s a winner.

Last but not least are The Expert Mascara Black and The Eyelash Curler. Both of these have been raved about by many people. To date I have only tried the mascara in mini forms that usually come with the Space NK gwps and had not really been that impressed. The full size does perform better but my heart still belongs to the Stila Huge Extreme Lash Mascara and Bobbi Brown Eye Opening Mascaras for volume, curl-holding and lasting power. The one from Kevyn Aucoin is a deep black, doesn’t clump or smudge. It does a good job at coating each lash but for me it simply does not hold the curl and doesn’t give me the volume the other two do. Do note that I have incredibly skimpy straight lashes so I need a miracle mascara to make it look like I have any.

The eyelash curler works well too. I was relieved to find there was no pinching (for me the Shiseido one everyone raves about just doesn’t work for me at all). It has a very lightweight feel which makes it easy to use but I prefer something with a bit more weight to it. That being said it performs well and I am happy to own it.

Bottom line a solid set of good eye basics. I am already plotting another eyeshadow palette purchase because this one is just so good. If you have any recommendations for the palettes or duos let me know! You can find all the items in this set individually if you prefer to pick and choose items on your own. However the Kevyn Aucoin The Making Eyes Kit as a set is a Space NK exclusive.

Have you tried any of these yet? What did you think?

The Making Eyes Kit was provided courtesy of Space NK for review.