A guide to Sephora holiday 2015 makeup gift value sets (part 1)

photos of sets are from Sephora.com, compiled by me

I wait every year for holiday gift sets to pick up mini products at a more affordable price. Makeup shoppers know that there are killer deals to be had with holiday value kit releases, but it can be hard to tell which sets are a good deal and which sets feature crappily inflated numbers.

In years past, I have loved Robyn at Brightest Bulb In The Box's value set guides. I wish she would get back to blogging, but in the meantime I decided to pull together the Sephora 2015 holiday makeup value sets and do a Robyn-inspired hard look at the numbers. Not all of these are holiday-specific sets, but they are all available now at Sephora.

I suspect this post might will be a tedious read, so please go ahead and skim to the sets you are most interested in. I have also divided this post into two parts to help with the length- click here to read Part 2!

Methodology:

• Sets currently available at Sephora (many are also available at other retailers like Ulta, Nordstorm, Macys, etc), pulled from the Sephora Makeup Gift Sets section of the website
• Makeup value sets (no palettes, skincare, hair, or nails sets)
• Sets contain items that I can price from products available in the brand's regular line and have the necessary data included in the description
• I don't credit value for freebie mini brushes and makeup bags. I think most makeup addicts have a crap ton of little applicators, double ended brushes, and shedding glitter makeup bags. Feel free to mentally add value for these items if they would add value for you.

Going from best to worst value, let's get started!

300% + value makeup sets

Tarte Lips For Daze LipSurgence Set - retail $34

• 3x 0.10 oz LipSurgence matte lip tints in Haze, Craze, Emblaze (FS) - $24 value each
• 2x 0.10 oz LipSurgence lip tints in Glaze, Praise (FS)- $24 value each
• Annoyingly rhyming names - -$24.00 value (jk)
• Stated value - $120
• Value - $120 (353%) nailed it on the stated value!

Sephora Favorites Superstars - retail $75

• Beautyblender (FS) - $20 value
• 0.1 oz Benefit They're Real Mascara - $8 value
• 0.21 oz Clinique Chubby Stick Sculpting Highlight (FS) - $22 value
• 0.042 oz Lancome Drama Liqui-pencil Eyeliner in Noir Intense (FS) - $23 value
• 0.06 oz Laura Mercier Matte Radiance Highlight - $9.23 value
• 0.16 oz MUFE Step 1 Skin Equalizer Hydrating Primer - $5.76 value
• 0.05 oz NARS Dual Intensity Eyeshadow in Himalia (FS) - $29 value
• 1 oz Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Water - $16 value
• 0.016 oz Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner in Intense Black (FS) - $22 value
• 0.06 oz Tarte the sculptor contouring face slenderizer in park ave princess - $16 value
• 0.035 oz Tarte The slenderizer bamboo contouring brush (FS) - similar brushes retail for $34 (note: I don't give credit to mini freebie brushes, but I am counting this one because it is a full size real brush)
• 0.24 oz Touch in Sol Stretchex Stretch Lash Effect Mascara (FS) - $22 value
• 0.05 oz Urban Decay Eye shadow in Lounge (FS) - $18 value
• Stated value - $207
• Value -  $244.99 (326%) 

 Josie Maran Whimsical Wonder Argan Oil Color Essentials - retail $34

• 0.5 oz 100% Pure Argan Oil Light - $16 value
• 0.16 oz Coconut Watercolor Eye Shadow in Beach Sand (FS) - $18 value
• 0.095 oz Coconut Watercolor Cheek Gelée - $13 value
• 0.17 oz Argan Black Oil Mascara - $13.85 value
• 0.23 oz Argan Enlightenment Illuminizer - $11.96 value
• Stated value - $72
• Value - 106.81 (314%)

Lancome Noel Eye Set - retail $38

• 0.35 oz Grandoise Mascara (FS) - $32 value
• 0.135 oz Hypnôse Drama Mascara - $16.88 value
• 0.028 oz Drama Liqui-pencil Eye Pencil in Noir Intense - $15.33 value
• 0.07 oz Cils Booster Base Mascara Primer - $10.29 value
• 0.047 oz Artliner Eyeliner in Noir (FS) - $30.50 value
• 1.7 oz Bi-Facil Eye Makeup Remover - $11.74 value
• Stated value - $116
• Value - $116.74 (307%)

 
Sephora Favorites Draw The Line - retail $30

• 0.007 oz Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Trooper - $6.65 value
• 0.028 oz Sephora Collection Contour Eye Pencil in Black Lace - $7 value
• 0.01 oz Smashbox Cosmetics Always Sharp Waterproof Kohl Liner in Sumatra (FS) - $20 value
• 0.01 oz Stila Cosmetics Smudge Stick Waterproof Eye Liner in Stingray (FS) - $22 value
• 0.034 oz Tarte lights, camera lashes precision longwear eyeliner in Black (FS) - $20 value
• 0.03 oz Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Eye Pencil in Vice - $15 value
• Stated value - $88
• Value - $90.65 (302%)

200% + value makeup sets 

Sephora Favorites Brow Raising Wardrobe - retail $40 (comes in 2 color options)

• 0.085 oz Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel - $6.68 value
• 0.003 oz Anastasia Beverly Brow Wiz (FS) - $21 value
• 0.1 oz Benefit High Brow Pencil (FS) - $22 value
• 0.03 oz Kat Von D Tattoo Brow (FS) - $19 value
• 0.47 oz SEPHORA COLLECTION Compact Mirror - currently on sale separately for $5 (regularly $8), I am counting the sale price
• 0.38 oz SEPHORA COLLECTION Tweezers - $12 value
• 0.01 oz Smashbox Cosmetics Brow Tech Gloss Stick in Brunette (FS) - $21 value
• Stated value - $102
• Value - $106.68 (267%)

 
Urban Decay Delirious Travel-Size Set Of 5 - retail $29

• 5x 0.03 oz 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Perversion, Zodiac, Delirious, Accuse, Muse - $15 value each
• Stated value - not listed
• Value - $75 (259%)

Tarte Sculpt and Glow Radiant Essentials - retail $59

• 0.09 oz The Sculptor Contouring Face Slenderizer in Park Ave Princess (FS) - $24 value
• 0.31 oz Colored Clay Bronzer Blush in Peach Bronze (FS) - $30 value
• 0.10 oz LipSurgence Lip Tint in Charmed (FS) - $24 value
• 0.27 oz LipSurgence Lip Gloss in Flush (FS) - $19 value
• 0.24 oz Lights, Camera, Lashes Mascara (FS) - $21 value
• blush brush - similar brushes retail for $34
• makeup bag - nope
• Stated value - $155
• Value - $152 (258%)

 
Sephora Favorites Lashstash - retail $45

•  0.1 oz Benefit Roller Lash Mascara - $8 value
• 0.08 oz Blinc Mascara - $9.90 value
• 0.20 oz Buxom Lash Mascara - $10.27 value
• 0.002 oz Hourglass Cosmetics Mechanical Gel Eye Liner - $16 value
• ??? oz Marc Jacobs Beauty O!Mega Lash Volumizing Mascara in Blacquer - the Sephora site lists this mini at .51 oz, which is clearly an error because the full size is .25 ounces. I am estimating this mini at half size, similar to the other sizes in this kit. Est. $13 value
• 0.13 oz MUFE Mascara in Smoky Extravagant - $13.57 value
• 0.12 oz NARS Cosmetics Audacious Mascara in Black Moon - $9.75 value
• 0.01 oz Tarte best in faux extending fibers - this product is not sold individually, but it is sold in a duo with a mini Tarte Lights Camera Lashes ($10 value) for $20, so I assume the full size is worth $10. Est $2.80 value
• Tarte picture perfect eyelash curler - this product is not sold individually, but it is sold in a duo with a mini Tarte Lights Camera Lashes ($10 value) for $18, so I estimate the value of the curler to be $8
• 0.17 oz Too Faced Cosmetics Better Than Sex Mascara - $14.48 value
• 0.06 oz YSL Mascara Volume Effet Faux Cils - $8.35 value
• Stated value - $127
• Value - $114.12 (253%)

Clinique Pretty Wow, Pretty Now Color Set - retail $39.50

• 0.17 oz Limited Edition All About Shadow Quad - I think this is an error because the full size Clinique shadow quads are .016 oz, so I'm going to give this credit as a full size item with a $28.50 value
• 0.12 oz Cheek Pop in Heather Pop (FS) - $22 value
• 0.24 oz High Impact Mascara in Black - This number is odd because the full size mascara is .28 oz, so I don't see a reason to make a mini this size, but it isn't a huge financial difference. $14.14 value.
• 0.001 oz Clinique Skinny Stick in Sleek Teak - $16.50 value, assuming this is full size. This product seems similar to the Hourglass 1.5MM eyeliner pencil and the listed size is similar to the size of the (tiny) Hourglass pencil.
• 0.07 oz Long Last Glosswear in Love at First Sight - $5.77 value
• 1.7 oz Take The Day Off Makeup Remover For Lids, Lashes, & Lips - I have no idea what is going on with this set, but this number is odd as well. The size sold individually on the Sephora site is 1.69 oz, so I am using that as the value. I'm calling this one $9.50 value, but go ahead and mentally add the marginal value of .01 oz of makeup remover if it suits your fancy.
• Cosmetic bag - zilch
• Stated value - $100
• Value - $96.41 (244%)

Smashbox ART. LOVE. COLOR. EYES - retail $42

• 3x 0.01 oz Always Sharp Waterproof Kohl Liners in Raven, Sumatra, Royal (FS) - $20 value each
• 2x 0.009 oz Always Sharp 3D Liners in 3D Blueprint, 3D Cleopatra (FS) - $20 value each
• Stated value - $100
• Value - $100 (238%) correctly advertised value

Bite Beauty Best Bite Rewind - retail $25

• 4x 0.031 oz Mini Matte Creme Lip Crayons: Café, Torte, Coulis, Aubergine - $14.88 value each
• Stated value - $55
• Value $59.52 (238%)

Urban Decay After Dark Travel Pencil Set - retail $19

• 3x 0.03 oz 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Voodoo, Zero, Corrupt - $15 value each
• Stated value - not listed
• Value - $45 (237%)

Buxom Leave Your Mark Full-On Lip Polish & Lip Cream Set - retail $59

• 8x 0.07 Mini Full-On Lip Polish in Bunny, Jennifer, Olivia, Sandy, Sophia, Starr, Taylor, Zoe - $8.87 value each
• 7x 0.07 Mini Full-On Lip Cream in Berry Blast, Cherry Flip, Dolly, Hot Toddy, Pink Lady, Purple Haze, White Russian - $9.50 value each
• Stated value - $135
• Value - $137.46 (233%)

Too Faced Le Petit Trèsor Set - retail $29

• 3x 0.11 oz La Crème Lipstick in WHAM!, Taffy, Nude Beach (FS) - $22 value each
• Bag - Seems like a mini bag coated with glitter, mentally add value if you want to spend years cleaning glitter particles out of the inside of your purse
• Stated value - $72
• Value - $66 (228%)

Clinique Get the Skinny Eye Set - retail $15

• 0.14 oz High Impact Mascara in Black - $8.25 value
• 0.001 oz Clinique Skinny Stick in Slimming Black (FS) - $16.50 value (see the Clinique Pretty Wow, Pretty Now set for more details)
• 1.7 oz Take The Day Off Makeup Remover For Lids, Lashes & Lips - $9.50 value
• Stated value - $23.50
• Value - $34.25 value (228%)

Bare Minerals Gloss on the go Double-Ended Marvelous Moxie Lipgloss Set - retail $26

• 6x 0.08 oz lip glosses in Charmer and Spark Plug, Show Off and Hot Shot, Rebel and Stunner - $9.60 value each
• Stated value - $60
• Value - $57.60 (221%)

Bite Beauty Discovery Set - retail $55

• 0.18 oz Agave Lip Mask in Clear - $9 value
• 0.03 oz Line & Define Primer in Clear - $13.20 value
• 0.031 oz Matte Crème Lip Crayon in Glacé - $14.88 value
• 5 x Lush Lip Wipes - $6 value
• 0.15 oz Luminous Crème Lipstick in Pepper (FS)- $24 value
• 0.11 oz Lush Fruit Lip Gloss Honey (FS) - $22 value
• 0.09 oz High Pigment Pencil in Pomegranate (FS) - $24 value
• Bite mirror - freebie
• Stated value - $110
• Value - $113.08 (206%)

Thus concludes Part 1 - I hope you found it helpful! Part 2 continues with Sephora value sets 100%+ value and sets with a value less than 100%. You might be interested in my mega analysis of liquid lipstick prices or my piece on corporate ownership of popular makeup brands. As always, please leave me a comment if I left out a set you are interested in or made any errors and I will do my best to fix them ASAP.