Ulta Beauty Celebrate Conscious Beauty Limited Edition Kit Review

EcoTools Bioblender - Retail Value $6.59

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A full-size makeup blending sponge was a good inclusion to this kit- I feel like these are one of those items everyone needs but no one actually enjoys paying for. This sponge is both biodegradable and compostable, and it features three distinct edges you can use to blend and buff your makeup.

Ellis Brooklyn West Eau De Parfum, 0.05 oz - Estimated Value $5.33 (buy the 0.3 oz version for $32).

I can't remember the last time a perfume sample knocked my socks off, but I loved this sample so much I have the full-size bottle sitting in my online cart. West has top notes of blood orange, clementine, lemon, and basil, middle notes of pear blossom, water lily, and ginger, and a heart of vetiver, amber, and oak moss. I absolutely adore the vibrant citrus notes in this perfume; I don't own another one quite like it. If I could change one thing I would get rid of the vetiver and add more citrus to the heart, because as the top notes fade away it doesn't smell as citrus-y and smells a little more almost like patchouli, but she is beautiful and I will own her soon.

Fekkai Straight Balm, 1.69 oz - Estimated Value $8.84 (buy the 5 oz version for $26)

My hair is very rarely straight, but if you're someone who likes to blowout their hair I think you'll like this frizz-controlling heat-protecting hair balm. It has vegetable protein as an alternative to keratin, and also has a biolipid complex to help seal in your hairs cuticle and prevent split ends. It smells phenomenal- I couldn't really place it, but the description says it has notes of citrus, watermelon, sea salt, and white musk.

Florence By Mills Swimming Under the Eyes Gel Pads Retail Value $1.13 (buy a jar of $30 for $34)

I think these eye masks are just the cutest, but I actually own a full-size jar of them and don't reach for them often at all. The cute little whales are fun, but I don't find the hyaluronic acid or niacinamide in the formula to actually do anything remarkable in terms of hydrating or brightening the delicate skin under my eyes.

Fur Fur Oil, 0.10 oz - Estimated Value $2.08 (buy the 2.5 oz version for $52)

Okay, as someone who gets waxed on a regular basis I really, really loved this Fur oil... until I saw the price tag for a full-size bottle. Over $50 for 2.5 ounces?! For my bikini area?! It's bad enough that I have to pay good money for the displeasure of having the hair yanked out of my body, but now if I want to keep that skin softer for longer and prevent ingrown hairs I have to drop more money on a product like this. Unfortunately for my wallet, I could tell after just a few uses this was making a difference on my sensitive skin. It features of blend of jojoba and grapeseed oil along with lemon, lemongrass, peppermint, tea tree, lavender, and clary sage oils, and I only needed a few drops to cover the area in question. Does someone want to get this for me as a Christmas present?

Indie Lee COQ-10 Toner, 0.29 oz - Estimated Value $2.48 (buy the 4.2 oz version for $36)

This alcohol-free toner features the antioxidant coenzyme Q10 paired with hydrating hyaluronic acid, aloe, cucumber, and chamomile. It's a gently refreshing mist that feels nice on the skin before you apply your more active-heavy serums, and I am just a really big fan of the Indie Lee brand as a whole.

LashFood Conditioning Collagen Lash Primer, 0.14 oz - Estimated Value $10.37 (Buy the 0.27 oz version for $20)

I don't have a lot of experience with conditioning lash primers (or with lash primers in general...) so I love that this was included in this kit. This features both collagen and peptides, and you can wear it under your favorite mascara as a primer or apply it before you go to bed and wear it as an overnight lash mask. Fun!

Live Tinted Rays Copper Eye Mask, 1 ct - Estimated Value $4.40 (buy a box of 5 for $22)

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This was my first time experiencing the brand Live Tinted, and we got off to a good start- these eye masks are so fun! Instead of being in the typical half-moon shape, they have jagged edges reminiscent of sun rays and are a beautiful copper color.

Mad Hippie Triple C Night Cream, 0.7 oz - Retail Value $14.99

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This was a nicely-sized sample of moisturizer. It's made with three forms of vitamin C, antioxidants, and adaptogens like reishi and chaga mushroom. It even has some ceramides through in for good measure! This had more of the heavier texture you would expect from a night cream (even though I typically wear my vitamin c products in the morning), and I liked how nourishing it felt to my face.

Osea Ocean Cleanser, 0.6 oz - Retail Value $18

This is a really nice quality cleanser- I've used it before and was happy to see it again. It's pH-balanced and made with algae extract, jojoba seed oil, and lactic acid. It very gently exfoliates while being safe to use every day, and it's gentle enough for my sensitive skin but I have friends with oily skin who also swear by it. Plus, the packaging just feels luxurious in your hands and that genuinely does add to the experience, at least for me.

Peach & Lily KP Bump Boss Microderm Body Scrub, 1.02 oz - Estimated Value $3.52 (buy the 8.11 oz version for $28)

While I prefer chemical exfoliation for my face, I really enjoy physical exfoliation for my body where my skin is a little less sensitive and it feels relaxing to gently massage a body scrub into my arms and legs. Microdermabrasion scrubs have become more popular over the past few years- I have the ones by First Aid Beauty and Kopari, but this Peach & Lily one performed equally well compared to them. It's formulated with finely milled mineral crystals and does have an alpha hydroxyacid blend for a "best of both worlds" exfoliating experience, and I love how soft and smooth my legs and arms feel after using it.

SK*P Hydrating Shampoo, 3.0 oz - Estimated Value $5.40 (buy the 10 oz version for $18)

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The packaging on this shampoo (and conditioner) is fabulous. Along with just being adorable because it looks like a milk carton, it's ethically sourced, fully-recyclable, but still made to stand up to all of the water it will encounter when it's placed in a shower. I am a tough critic of shampoos, and I didn't find this to be super hydrating- but it definitely wasn't drying the way most shampoos are on my curly hair and it did leave my scalp and hair feeling like it was appropriately cleansed.

SK*P Hydrating Conditioner, 3.0 oz - Estimated Value $5.40 (buy the 10 oz version for $18)

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While I didn't find the shampoo to be as hydrating as I would have liked, the matching conditioner came in and added in all of the moisture my hair was missing. That's probably because this features a fermented honey complex that strengthens and nourishes your hair and skin's microbiome- fun science, and my hair was happy.

Sunday Riley Good Genes All-In-One Lactic Acid Treatment Serum, 0.16 oz - Estimated Value $13.76 (buy the .5 oz version for $43)

Sometimes I think you have to leave a good thing and come back to it to truly realize how good of a thing it was. At least, that's how I feel about this iconic Sunday Riley serum. I've always considered her to be one of the classic exfoliating treatments on the market, but as new products were released by other brands I didn't find her to be as fun and exciting anymore. Most classics are classics for a reason, folks- when I used this sample, the next day I woke up glowing even though I have a pretty good skincare routine as it is. I may or may not have a full-size bottle of the stuff on it's way for me and scheduled for delivery for tomorrow. Maybe.

Sweetspot Labs Vanilla Blossom Ph-Balancing+ Full Body Cleanser, 1.0 oz - Estimated Value $1.88 (buy the 8 oz version for $15)

I recently came across a sample of this body cleanser in the unscented version in an Ulta GWP sample bag, and it honestly impressed me with how hydrating and balanced it left my skin feeling. This cleanser gave me that same feeling, only it had a pleasant, light vanilla scent to it. I really liked this and would consider buying one of their body cleansers in the full-size in the future if the need arose!

Tarte Maneater Voluptuous Mascara, 0.067 oz - Estimated Value $5.33 (buy the 0.3 oz version for $24)

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Tarte really knows their way around a mascara formula, so even if I don’t love a formula, I’ve never really disliked any tarte mascara I’ve tried. Personally, I think Maneater is one of the better ones because it focuses on volume and length. It does give a small boost of curl at the base of my lashes, and then it individually coats each lash with zero clumping to help my eyes look wide-awake. I can wear this all day, and even when work is stressful and I rub my face without thinking about it, this mascara still doesn't smudge or smear. You can see me wearing it here.

Value – Was This Box Worth It?

The Cost: $40

Value Breakdown: 

• Ecotools: $6.59
• Ellis Brooklyn: $5.33
• Fekkai: $8.84
• Florence by Mills: $1.13
• Fur: $2.08
• Indie Lee: $2.48
• Lashfood: $10.37
• Live Tinted: $4.40
• Mad Hippie: $14.99
• Osea: $18
• Peach & Lily: $3.52
• SK*P Shampoo: $5.40
• SK*P Conditioner: $5.40
• Sunday Riley: $13.76
• Sweetspot Labs: $1.88
• Tarte: $5.33

Ulta promised a value of $155 for this set, and my math adds up to $109.5 for everything. That's not quite what the promised value is, but it's pretty good if you managed to grab this set when it was on sale for $20 like I did.

Key Takeaways