I utilized the 20 and 25% off sales Victoria Beckham Beauty had during November and December last year to buy new (to me) products, along with additional shades of things I already love from the brand!
So, let’s get right to the reviews and updates!

The Cell Rejuvenating Illuminator in Golden

This product contains the Augustinus Bader proprietary TFC8® blend of skincare ingredients in the formulation. I bought the smaller 20ml size which retails for €88. A mini sizes of the Augustinus Bader face creams are 15ml for €93. So, I was curious how comparable these two products would be. Unfortunately, since Augustinus Bader doesn’t sell minis of The Light Cream (only The Cream and The Rich Cream), I can’t confirm if The Light Cream has the most similar consistency to the Victoria Beckham Beauty Illuminator. I can only say that AB’s The Cream is thicker, not as lightweight, and feels more moisturizing. I don’t consider it that heavy as a skincare product on bare faced days or to sleep in overnight, but I prefer to wear thinner layers of skincare when I plan to wear makeup.

Although I need a lot of hydration to combat my dry skin, putting heavy products or adding too many layers (that build up to a thick amount of skincare) clogs my pores easily and leads to other problems. So, I always prefer using the most lightweight yet effective hydrating and moisturizing products. At a bare minimum, I try to use a milky toner and sunscreen daily. Depending on which combination I use of those two products, adding a moisturizer on top is already overkill. With this Illuminator from VBB, I tend to be able to use my milky toners and my best absorbing sunscreens together without there being any problems. So, the VBB Illuminator is better at doubling as a moisturizer and primer, coupled with my other skincare products, than AB’s The Cream.

I’ve been using the Illuminator since January, but strictly as a primer under makeup. I haven’t noticed any long-term changes to my skin, but my face feels suppler and hydrated each time I put it on. It makes for a nice smooth canvas to put makeup on and the glow is subtle. It does turn my skin a little more golden-yellow in color, but it’s only strong enough to impact the shade of my foundation if I’m using one that has sheer to light coverage. This actually helped turn one of my Chanel foundations into a better shade match, but it has also made a bad match worse. So, it would be nice to have an option that’s clear or close to it. I have heard that the shade Pearlescent might not be the frosty white color I assumed it would be, so, I might consider trying that one in the future.

This isn’t the only glowy golden product out there. I also own a mini of the Milk Hydro Grip + Glow Primer.

Milk’s primer is thicker. It has less gold pigment, which means it doesn’t alter my foundations as easily. Milk’s glow comes from shimmer particles, whereas VBB’s shine is due to a combination of shimmer and the slightly emollient finish. VBB’s sinks into the skin and is better at hydrating than forming a slight barrier (like Milk’s). Other than hyaluronic acid, there isn’t that much else benefiting the skin in the Milk formula, but it does extend the wear of makeup because it has stronger gripping power. VBB’s is better for those that prioritize skincare because, for example, among the long list of skincare ingredients is four types of hyaluronic acid instead of just one.
There is a big price difference, but part of that is due to the ingredients used as well as the packaging. Milk’s is plastic. VBB’s is super luxurious and heavy with a magnetic closure for the cap. I’ve seen the cap stand askew when I’ve taken it out of my makeup bag, but the magnetic hold is strong enough that it never got knocked off entirely.

I can also think of the Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter and Dior Forever Glow Star Filter Multi-Use Highlighter as additional products that can be used as glowy primers, but they don’t feel as nice on my skin when they cover my entire face, rather than being used in specific areas as liquid highlighters.

Although I haven’t been able to detect long term changes to my skin, I enjoy the nourishing feel of the Illuminator so much that I will seriously consider repurchasing it (on sale) after I’ve emptied my current container. Even though getting the full size is more cost effective in terms of price per milliliter, VBB is still a “clean” beauty brand. So, I don’t want to risk getting a larger size and not using it up within the 12 month period after opening time frame.
Also, if Augustinus Bader ever releases The Light Cream in a travel size, I could potentially prefer that instead for pricing reasons. I’ve gotten Augustinus Bader skincare for up to 30% off at various retailers, but the maximum discount I’ve been able to get from VBB has been 25% during the holidays. Then again, AB’s product might not be as suitable for me under makeup. So, I will consider these factors and make my decision by the end of 2026.

Satin Kajal Liner (with Sharpener) in Cocoa, Fig, and Olive

It’s very difficult to get me excited about a colorful eyeliner, so it says a lot that I own three of these. Of course, I have heard so many beauty gurus praising the Satin Kajals and even going so far as to say they’re the best on the market. Considering how many good and affordable eyeliners are out there, I rarely feel that high end and luxury eyeliners are worth the price. I still can’t answer that question of worth for others, but I will say these are my current favorite non-liquid and standard colored eyeliners. By “standard colors,” I mean eyeliners that aren’t duochromes or multichromes.

There are matte, shimmer, and jewel liner finishes. Cocoa and Fig are matte, but Olive has a shimmer finish. I did not purchase any jeweled ones because that’s the only type I’ve heard aren’t as well liked by other customers (because the jeweled ones are supposedly gritty feeling).

The consistency of these liners are super creamy in the first few uses, but afterwards they are a more controllable level of creaminess that allows one to glide the product over the skin without tugging and there is enough time to smudge it a bit and smooth it out before it sets down to its budge-resistant and waterproof finish. The evenness of the distribution of color and ease of creating the shaded effect are what puts these above many other eyeliners.

Also, I am mindful to keep the proper cap on each side of the pencil. I came across a video where a brand owner explained that the cap with the extra lining inside the plastic is meant to keep it airtight (I forgot the exact term that was used), whereas the cap that fits over the smudger side does not have this lining. The Kajal could dry out if the caps get swapped for an extended amount of time. Since I hadn’t paid attention to this kind of thing until this year, I wanted to share this reminder for anyone else who might not have known this. In the case of the VB Beauty kajals, the cap for the pencil side has a white inner ring and the smudger side is black.

Besides using these to line the eyes, they also make for great eyeshadow bases to used solo or to intensify the color of whatever powder eyeshadow gets used on top.

Cocoa is a beautiful shade of brown, but it’s too light to add definition/dimension to my lash line. I still use it sometimes as a transition color in deeper dramatic looks.

I love this shade of purple, but it can look patchy when smudged or blended out. It looks best when drawn on, like for eyeliner use, and not touched much afterwards. If I use it as a base color that will be covered up anyway, then patchiness isn’t a big deal.

My only complaint about Olive is that it’s not actually olive in color/tone. This is a blue-based green or deep teal-green. I’d expect this color to be called Peacock or something. It’s still a pretty color, but the name is misleading.

I do find these to be long-lasting and waterproof (yet easy enough to remove with micellar water and a makeup eraser cloth). However, because this formula gives some wiggle room in which to be able to smudge it before it fully sets down, I struggle to use these in my waterline. They drip away or get wiped away long before being able to lock down. So, I don’t bother trying to tightline with these. I’m fine with this being the situation because of how well they perform at other tasks.

These might be the best kajals in the world, but I will always love and prefer a black liquid eyeliner pen. I very seldom have the desire to use a colorful eyeliner, so I am perfectly content with having just a few of these. I still don’t think it’s totally necessary for a casual makeup wearer to spend so much on a Satin Kajal considering how many great eyeliners are available at more affordable prices. However, I can acknowledge these are extremely good.

Instant Brightening Waterline Pencil

Historically, this type of product has always been difficult for me to use because of my easy-to-become-watery eyes. I gave up buying them several years ago and the only reason I decided to get this one is because it’s made specifically for use in the waterline. The Satin Kajals have their own formula and don’t work for me in the waterline, but are amazing for many other purposes, so I thought this product being sold apart from them for this designated task could be the answer I’ve been looking for.

In terms of this “universal” color, I do think it’s a good one. It has the right undertone balance and isn’t too light/white. Unfortunately, my watery eyes do not allow this to work. My waterline is too wet and even if I get the color to stay there, it never fully sets. The tiniest touch hours later still makes it come off instantly. Also, my eyes look too strange if I have a light color on my lower lash line and nothing below it adding definition. So, I usually put a dark eyeliner between and below my lower eyelashes. In doing so, if my pencil isn’t sharp enough to avoid getting some in the brightened liner section, I have the hardest time fixing it. And then the darker color discrepancy looks messy and amateurish.

While I like the creaminess of the pencil for gliding it across the waterline, it taking too long to dry (if at all), makes this just as much of a struggle to create this kind of eye look as all the other liners in my past. The part that is nearest to my eyelashes (basically between my eyelashes) is what stays put and sets down as long as actual tear droplets haven’t fallen and wet the whole area. So, I know this can work. It’s just not that great on me.

Posh Gloss in Poolside and Aperitivo

The Posh Glosses adhere well to the lips, and both hydrate and form a moisturizing barrier. It can last through at least one meal and several drinks before needing to be reapplied. The brand claims (and pretty much all other brands too) that their gloss isn’t sticky, but it is a little. However, it’s a lot less than many other glosses I use. I don’t think it would cling so well to the lips and be as long lasting without having at least some tack to it.

This formula has totally different ingredients from the Pat Mcgrath Lust Glosses, but they remind me of each other in how plush they feel on my lips and how conditioning they are. If I had to nitpick at the tiny differences, I would say that PML’s has a thinner viscosity, more shine, and it has a scent. VBB’s is better at conditioning my lips and the oil content makes it slightly less sticky despite having a thicker overall texture. Less gloss comes out onto VBB’s applicator, so it’s easy to get an almost as thin layer from just applying one swipe on the lips and then rubbing them together.
When it comes to the pigment level, the Lust Glosses range from being equally pigmented, less, or more pigmented than the Posh Glosses.

What I look for most in a gloss is how well it helps combat dryness and how pretty the color looks. I prefer them to be unscented and they don’t need to be high-shine (just have some shine). I essentially view my favorites as liquid lip balms. With all this in mind, the Posh Glosses have surpassed Pat Mcgrath’s formula in my eyes, but I still reach for Pat’s for specific colors. PML has twice as many shade options.
I still easily recommend both products, and they are around the same price at €34 for 4.5ml for PML and €36 for 4ml for VBB. However, Pat Mcgrath usually has a holiday sale where the Lust Glosses are marked down by 50% (or $12), at least in the US. Whether the brand will continue to do that sale during the bankruptcy proceedings is unknown. As for the Posh Glosses, I believe 25% off is the biggest discount the brand offers.

There is no shortage of great glosses out there. I will happily continue to use Poolside (Aperitivo is a brighter pink than I expected), but I haven’t found a shade in the lineup that I’m over the moon about. So, I like this a lot, but it hasn’t breached the “favorites”category. I don’t regret buying one, but given the size of my lippie collection, it should have stayed at just one.

Posh Balm in Cannelle

The lip balm feels great on the lips. I still consider it to be a little sticky, but it’s less so than the lip glosses. These aren’t as long lasting either though and the pigment level is much lower. As far as I know, the shades Colette, Fleur, and Cassis have the pH-adapting ingredients, but Glacé does not. One of the reviewers I watch said Cannelle doesn’t have it either, but Red 27 is listed as one of the ingredients for that shade and after having used this enough times, there is now a little bit of pink around the rim of the packaging. So, I think it’s safe to say this shade is pH-adaptive too. There just isn’t a lot in it.

The amount of shine I get from the balm is good, but the color can cling a bit to the cracks of peeling skin. I have to be careful to really work the product into my lips, a bit more than I’d expect from a low pigment product.

I prefer my lipgloss to be nourishing, but I absolutely expect a balm to have even more lip-caring ingredients. While this balm does satisfy me regarding hydration, the need for me to reapply it more often than the brand’s lip gloss is why I won’t be buying anymore. I cannot gain the benefits if the moisture layer comes off and I don’t notice it until many hours later. At least when most of the Posh Gloss has worn off from eating, I can still feel residue that continues to keep my lips protected. So, if I delay in reapplying, it isn’t as much of an issue.

I will say though that the Posh Balm is more nourishing than a lot of high-end and luxury balms I have used in the past. I have not tried the reformulated Nars Afterglow Lip Balms, but I loved the previous Laguna shade (similar to Cannelle), and yet I rarely wore it because it wasn’t hydrating enough. In fact, I end up not liking the majority of lip balms in stick form, so I still give the brand kudos for the Posh Balm. One product that I like more is the Lisa Eldridge Baume Embrace simply because of the similar amount of nourishment and the extra pigment. Although I have to reapply the Baume Embrace more often, that’s the tradeoff for have significantly less stickiness.
I’m glad I bought one of these, but I don’t need anymore.

The Concealer Pen with TFC8® in MD1. 5

I would ordinarily never spend €56 (the sale price) on a concealer, especially taking into account the minuscule 2.4 ml (0.08 fl oz) of product and how much of it is wasted due to the click delivery system (and what gets stuck in the applicator’s bristles), but I had many reasons to think this would be worth it:

1. The Augustinus Bader TFC8 blend is in this product. I rarely use eye creams, so this seemed like an easy way to finally get good skincare into this area while also being able to camouflage my dark under eye circles.
2. Although the brand’s foundation is out of my price range, I still wanted to have a better idea of what my shade could be among the VBB complexion products. This knowledge could benefit me if the brand ever decides to release another foundation or concealer in the future.
3. I was impressed by this concealer’s performance when I tried it out via the foil sample pack. This provided a lot more coverage than I expected and although I could only test it for six hours, it didn’t budge in that time frame. So, I figured that even if the full wear time didn’t end up going far past six hours, I could at least use this like a daytime eye cream on no-makeup days or potentially even like an under-eye primer if it played nice with other concealers.

Unfortunately, the consistency of the samples are not the same as what customers get from the actual product. The sample is thicker and less fluid. I can only assume that’s due to being old and/or it managed to gradually dry over time within the foil. That sounds like it would be a bad thing, but the sample adhered to my skin way better! How the sampler looked right after being opened can be seen HERE, but also the photo below shows the difference in viscosity and even how it looks over the lines of skin vs the concealer pen. This isn’t a one-time incident either. The photos I took below were from a second sample pack that I got from my most recent order.

It makes sense that the concealer needs to be very fluid, given the type of dispenser the brand chose. The reason this matters is because products this creamy and emollient do not stick around on me. I had a similar problem with the Chanel Ultra Le Teint Correcteur Concealer. No matter what methods I use, I cannot prevent it from being absorbed by my skin and/or fading. It starts early and just continues gradually disappearing within 2-6 hours depending on how unlucky I am.

When I put the sample and actual product side-by-side, as shown in the photo below, I can see that the right half looks more emollient and continues to look wetter after being set with powder. Also, the act of patting in powder with a brush manages to lift some of the concealer back off.

It doesn’t help that when my eyes get watery, any falling droplets makes it disappear too.

I used a lot of product under my eyes while taking these blog photos, but that is not the cause of the problems. When I use less product under my eyes, it just disappears faster. I’ve tried different powders with it, my MILK under eye primer, leaving the product to sit for a while before setting it, etc. Not only does it not fade gracefully, it also creases. So, even if I wanted to just use it as an eye cream, it looks terrible after 3-4 hours. Mixing it with other concealers or using a tiny amount underneath them doesn’t help either because the VBB concealer breaks the others down. So, this product was an absolute fail for me. It’s incredibly disappointing to buy a product, expecting it to work as wonderfully as the sample, but then it doesn’t.

I decided to post swatches of how MD1.5 compares to the others, since my shade isn’t available in the free sample pack. Although DK1 is neutral, I think it actually might have been the better choice for me than MD1.5, but it doesn’t matter at the end of the day if the fading issue can’t be resolved.

The thought has crossed my mind to try and transfer the concealer from the pen into a tiny jar (in the hopes it can dry and solidify a little without drying out completely). However, doing that could lessen the efficacy of the skincare ingredients.

Matte Bronzing Brick in 4 (Warm: Amber / Contour: Sunset)

I bought my first Bronzing Brick three years ago and posted a review showcasing Shade 5. Since the moment I first tried this product, it has always ranked among my top 5 favorite bronzers, but I didn’t use it as often because I always needed to mix the two shades. The right half had too strong of a red undertone for my preference, so I would combine it with the left half to try and balance out the color and tone down how dark it was.

I finally decided to give Shade 4 a try, and I’m so glad I did! The darker half has more of a golden-orange undertone that I can use by itself. I still use the lighter half of the pan to either diffuse the edges or lighten the overall color. Essentially, the main difference between the two Bronzing Brick colors is that Shade 4 makes it way easier for me to create a natural flush of warmth without overapplying. Purely because of that ease, I stopped using Shade 5.

These are examples of the darker bronzers in the duo used by themselves.

These are examples of how the bronzers look on me utilizing both halves of the Bronzing Brick in the proportions that I like (and not equal amounts of each shade in the duo).

In case anyone has read my old review, I want to clarify that although I was concerned that my powder might be getting hard pan, it never fully did. The look on the surface seems to really have been caused by the oil based products I was using at the time. I took the photo of Shade 4 when it was untouched, but I can attest to mine still looking normal after at least fifteen uses.

The reason I love this bronzer so much is because it’s incredibly finely milled, super blendable, and gives such a natural look to the skin. It’s matte, but doesn’t look flat. I also like the ability to tweak the color. I can pick up product easily, even with my most delicate natural hair brushes, and it doesn’t have powder kicking up everywhere. This is an expensive product, but I can see how much finer it is than the majority of my powder bronzers. Whether that small difference is worth the increased price is up to the individual consumer. As a bronzer lover, I definitely would not want to be without this.

Lid Lustre in Tea Rose and Starlight

I reviewed the shade Velvet before in my Cocoa Eye Wardrobe post I keep linking, so the other two Lid Lustres are the newest additions to my collection.
I rarely buy single eyeshadows, but most of the Lid Lustres are known for their incredible shine and sparkle. I watched many swatch videos and decided that Tea Rose and Starlight were the only remaining shades I wanted.

Tea Rose is supposed to be “infused with Quartz” and “Citrine Extract” is in Starlight. These two might not look as impressive on my eyes when used solo, especially since my camera doesn’t do them justice, but I am rarely disappointed when I use them to amp up the shimmer effect in my eyeshadow looks.
I must admit that these two shades don’t stand out as much on my eyes as Velvet does, but I still like them.

I’ve found that this formula works best when applied with a finger. It has good adherence and very little fallout. It doesn’t fade and it looks smoother if I apply it with a damp brush, but wetting it doesn’t increase the overall shimmer impact.
I don’t get creasing or fading when I use the Lisa Eldridge Liquid Silk Liquid Eyeshadow underneath because it’s a good barrier to prevent the oils from my eyelids from breaking down the eyeshadow. If I use a Lid Lustre on my bare oily eyelids, there will be creasing before it begins to break down fully. So, please be aware that if you have oily lids too, a good primer is likely necessary. I updated my original review with this clarification.

Because I have so much makeup, it’s not unusual for me to eventually stop reaching for a product after I’ve completed the review in favor of starting to use something new. When it comes to these Lid Lustres, I can’t say that they’ve been used often since last October, but the amount is certainly more than I expected!

21:50 Rêverie Eau de Parfum (Sample Size), Suite 302 (Sample Size), and San Ysidro Drive (Sample Size)

The fragrance category is the most subjective category within the realm of beauty, which is why I rarely talk about the perfumes I’ve purchased or sampled. However, it felt like a wasted opportunity to forgo talking about these altogether considering I have 3 of the 4 scents and even the travel sizes are expensive to blind-buy. Perhaps my opinions as a perfume dabbler could still be helpful.

21:50 Rêverie Eau de Parfum – “Tobacco leaves, plum, vanilla pods and Tonka beans blending with the cedarwood.”

The initial impression I get when I spray this is that it’s a sweet fragrance with some amber. After it dries down on my skin, vanilla is definitely the most prominent smell. I like that 21:50 Rêverie features a creamier type of vanilla scent as opposed to sugary.

After about an hour in, the tobacco leaves and cedar come through. This combination of creamy, smoky, and slight woody scent is how it continues to smell for the rest of the day. It projects within a small area in the beginning, but after 2-3 hours it becomes a personal scent. I have to clarify though that I only spray 1-2 spritzes of a perfume on myself, at most, since everyone I interact with in my daily life are incredibly sensitive to fragrances. The majority of perfumes I buy are basically skinscents on me (perfumes are more prone to fading/dulling down on dry skin), which is why I tend to spray my clothes instead. Doing so takes skin chemistry out of the equation. If I just spray my clothes, I can smell this perfume for longer than many others I own.

I must admit that I cannot smell the plum at all, which is disappointing since I love the smell of plums. If I was able to detect it, that would probably be the push I’d need to buy a travel size of this because this is my favorite scent out of the three from VBB that I’ve tried. This is a very nice fragrance, but I don’t love it enough to be willing to spend so much on it, especially since I have to be so careful and so selective about how and when I am able to wear perfumes out of consideration to those around me.

Suite 302 Eau de Parfum– “Black cherry and red peppercorn; rose centifolia, midnight violet, and narcotic musk; plush velvets saturated with papyrus, black leather and masculine tobacco leaf.”

Tom Ford’s Lost Cherry and Kayali’s Lovefest Burning Cherry are some of my favorite perfumes. I love a good cherry fragrance, so I expected to like Suite 302 as much as 21:50 Rêverie or potentially even more.

When this fragrance first hits the air, I can detect the sweet cherry smell, but there is a smoky spice element that overtakes it once it settles onto my skin. To me, it smells like incense.
Thankfully, this scent grows sweeter within the first hour. I can smell more of the cherries. However, after that first hour I smell florals and sweetness mixed with a peppery-spice smell, and that’s basically how it stays for the rest of the day. I don’t consider this a true cherry perfume because of how quickly that specific note just registers as sweet rather than fruity. If I check how I smell midday, I could easily forget there was supposed to be cherries at all. This scent profile overall is interesting, but I don’t like it enough to be willing to spend that amount of money on it.

The projection and longevity of this one is on par with 21:50 Rêverie.

San Ysidro Drive Eau de Parfum – “Passion fruit and pink peony; ocean air infused with rich rose absolute, saffron flower and agarwood; black amber and vanilla”

In the opening, I cannot distinguish what kind of florals are used. There is a sweetness, but it doesn’t register as passion fruit to me. The overall scent of this is bright and uplifting, though not my style as a gourmand lover. I wasn’t very interested in this scent, but I chose it specifically to review since I didn’t want the other free samples, and I have backups of the other two fragrances already.

Fairly early into the wear time, I can smell the saffron and more of the salts and wood. The dominating smell is still “sweet floral” up to that first hour. After that, I can isolate the rose smell and finally the vanilla. Eventually, I can tell there’s amber as well, but that’s as far as it goes. Once the top notes have faded, what is left behind is more my speed, but it’s also a much less unique type of smell.

I also have to admit that I don’t have many fragrances with oud, and the ones I do own are blended with so many other things that I can’t say for sure that I know how oud smells on its own. According to Google, it can be so many things: woody, earthy, animalic/musky, smoky, resinous, and “depending on the origin (e.g., Thailand, Cambodia), it can range from fruity and floral to medicinal, spicy, or leathery.”
So, basically it’s a broad category that can account for practically everything!
San Ysidro Drive had a tiny bit of an incense smell as well, though weaker than Suite 302, so I’m going to guess that that was due in part to the oud.

I don’t know if it’s just my sample, but I think it’s interesting that this projects the most of the three, but its scent is the quickest to fade (after about six hours). Without being able to smell any passion fruit, I’m not a fan of this in the beginning, but I like how it wears as the day goes on. That being said, it’s my least favorite of the three samples and I unsurprisingly don’t have any interest in buying it.

I know Portofino ’97 is popular with a lot of people, but the notes are so far away from the kind I like. It even has patchouli, which I hate 95% of the time. So, I don’t intend to ever try it.
I’m very glad that the brand offers these samples to customers though, and there is a discovery set with all four in case someone does not want to wait to get the complimentary samples one order at a time.

Additional Updates

Eye Wardrobes

Since I posted a First Impression of the Orchid Palette, I wanted update that the quality in this one is on par with Victoria and Cocoa. The mattes are soft to the touch and create low or medium kickup depending on the brushes used. The light purple shade (Shade 2) tends to lean quite pink on my skin tone, but it still looks enough of an orchid-purple color to satisfy me. The deeper purple (Shade 3) doesn’t swatch very well and looks patchy, but that quality is what gives the hazy smokey effect on my eyes that I like. Having a deep shade like this is easier to control. The mattes blend well into each other and although Shade 2 can appear as if it has a bit less pigment than the amount in all the other quads, I think it’s just a matter of this type of color not popping as much on my skintone.
The satin eyeshadow (Shade 1) can be used as a highlighter on my face. I like putting it in the inner corner since it’s much smoother than the shimmer eyeshadow (Shade 4), which is practically a Lid Lustre in pressed form. I don’t get creasing from the shimmer (but I always use an eyeshadow primer or eyeshadow base) and the shine doesn’t fade. It grips to my eyelids well enough that I don’t feel the need for a specific glitter primer or to spray my brush.

I’ve had no issues with longevity, but my eyeshadow looks are so much more impressive when I incorporate the Fig Satin Kajal into the eyeshadow looks. For example, I love how much more purple Shade 2 looks if I apply it on top of Fig. I get so much more depth from Shade 3 as well. The best part though is that my eyeshadow looks practically newly applied by the end of the night when I use the Kajal as my base. I did a side-by-side wear test and could see that without the Kajal, the eyeshadows still looked great, just not as fresh looking. The pictures I take at night aren’t the best representation (due to lighting issues), but I’ll post an example anyway.

Vast Lash

I’ve talked about this mascara in the Cocoa Eye Wardrobe review. Sometimes a mascara gets better over time, but the sample I own did not. An example of how this mascara looks on me is in the Eye Brighter section of this post. I don’t think it looks good on me and my eye lashes are at its best and longest right now because I’m still using the Sweed Eyelash Growth Serum. So, I can officially confirm this mascara isn’t for me. I can’t help but still be curious about the Future Lash mascara, but the brand doesn’t offer samples of it at this time.

Cheeky Posh

I first bought Miniskirt four years ago and it eventually started to smell like crayons, which indicated that it needed to be replaced. Even though I loved the color, which was so similar to Fenty’s Rose Latte, I hardly used it because I had such an issue with the color blending away and transferring. Still, because the Victoria Beckham Beauty brand had quickly risen to be among my top five favorite brands, I wanted to have a usable blush again. So, I decided to repurchase it.
Miniskirt continues to be my favorite shade within the range, so I thought it would be best to stick with that color.

I don’t know if the change in climate or the fact that I’m using different skincare and makeup can explain why I no longer have the same problems as before, but I’m very happy about it! The Cheeky Posh blush is a bit firm, but I am still able to draw a line or stamp the product along my cheeks and blend it out with my brush of choice without it disturbing the foundation under it. The warmth of my skin helps the blush to spread a little more as I work my Rephr LC02 brush into my cheek. Sometimes, out of habit, I still warm it up on my hand before applying it with the brush.

I can’t speak for all the shades, but Miniskirt imparts a good amount of pigment. It still sheers out a bit the more it gets worked into the skin, so I don’t have to worry about applying too much.

This product looks the tiniest bit dewy, but it’s not very emollient or sticky. At most, if I touch my face it just feels like residue left behind from a moisturizer. Setting it with powder eliminates that feeling entirely, but at the cost of turning it completely matte.

Even if I don’t set this with powder, I no longer have the issue of it transferring. If I press a napkin to my cheeks, I can only see the faintest hint of color. That does not mean that this product is long-wearing though. If I don’t use a primer, powder, or some other means to increase the longevity of makeup, this blush significantly fades from my cheeks within six hours. With helper type of products, I can get at least eight hours of wear before the fading starts to be noticeable. Twelve hours in, I can still see a light flush of color on my cheeks. I don’t know how much longer it lasts before disappearing because 8-12 hours is my typical wear test limits.

I honestly don’t know how much use I’ll get out of this because I use powder blushes at least 80% of the time. However, I’m still happy to have a fresh one.

Also, for anyone wondering about the scarf I tied around my hair in some of the photos, it’s the Victoria Beckham Beauty ’97 Portofino Scarf that was a limited edition free gift with purchase item.

I also want to acknowledge that in the time since the Orchid Eye Wardrobe launch, the brand has released a new shade of Posh Lip lipstick and two Colour Wash Bronze Water Tints. I do not intend to buy either products because I’m on a lipstick low-buy and liquid cheek products are not my thing. Plus, the Bronze Tints aren’t likely to work on anyone darker than tan. Whenever I am unsure if a product will show up on me, I try to wait and see if EnamoredBeauty on Instagram will review it (since we have similar taste in makeup), and it was pretty much invisible on her. I also watched reviews of ladies with light to medium skintones being able to pull off wearing both Water Tint shades. The decision to launch only these two colors in similar depths is…interesting.

I’m glad I didn’t have my heart set on trying that product anyway. It also means that this brand review is complete with me having reviewed everything I wanted by the brand. Anything else I buy from VBB in the future should be new products and/or shade extensions to things I love.

Important Note About the Referral Program

Victoria Beckham Beauty has a referral program, which they send reminders about to customers via email. There are very few brands I like enough to want to spread the word about, but because VBB had become one of my favorites, I figured there was no harm in talking about it.
Looking back, I could have thought harder about the fact that although I see everyone I talk to in the comment section here on my blog as friends, as well as those I chat with via social media, they are probably not who the brand meant when they ask customers to “refer a friend.” In hindsight, they most likely meant people I know personally, even though I am extremely close with several online friends across the world that I have never met.
Still, I had the sense to check the fine print details in the email, the Referral Program terms and conditions, as well as the V-Suite Loyalty Program terms and conditions. As of February 2026, there was nothing in there prohibiting customers from sharing their referral codes publicly. There was no warning stating that it’s possible for a referral code to be able to be misused and that if someone misused it, it would endanger the standing between the brand and referrer.
Based on everything I read, there was zero reason to suspect that sharing the link with my friends and strangers via my blog would bring anything but a positive outcome. Posting on my blog would bring more business to the brand than sharing with my in-person friends who don’t buy luxury makeup.

What happened to me is that I shared my referral link/code in one of my Victoria Beckham Beauty reviews. Someone used it and everything was fine. Then, in another Victoria Beckham Beauty post, I wrote a thank you message hoping the person who used my link would be able to see it and I posted my link again. Other strangers used it and that’s when my account got blocked with no warning whatsoever.

I noticed that my year-to-date spending had been reset to zero and I had been knocked back to Tier 1, which is actually the reason I reached out to customer service. It was then that I was informed that whoever else used my referral link, “are using drop-shipping addresses to place their orders which is explicitly prohibited by the terms and conditions.” Therefore, I was kicked out of the referral program, loyalty program, and would not receive any other benefits.

I had to look up what drop-shipping is, and if you use ctrl+f to search for the word “drop” it does not come up at all in the terms and conditions. Accounts with fraudulent activity can be terminated or suspended at VBB’s discretion, which is perfectly understandable. The part that they don’t state is that by posting a referral link for the general public, any fraud that a stranger commits with that link (which a referrer has no control over), will result in them flagging the referrer’s account as participating in fraud as well. Since I don’t normally participate in referral programs, I didn’t know that it was possible for fraud to be committed through a link, and as I mentioned before, there is no warning written about that being possible in the terms and conditions. So, when a customer gets an email asking them to talk about the brand with their friends and encourage them to check out the products, doing so leaves that customer vulnerable to their own account being permanently blocked. Had I known this was possible, I would never have shared it with anyone! Not even my own family!
Another aspect that confuses me is the line in the TOC stating, “Referral benefits are subject to the referral program terms, which are separate from these Terms.” So, I would have accepted getting removed from the referral program, but to have my entire account blocked for something out of my control and not clearly stated anywhere on the website or emails felt unjust.

One other aspect that I keep wondering about is the fact that Influencers/Affiliates talk about a brand and post links and codes publicly. Out of the hundreds and thousands of people who use their codes, there’s no way that none of them are misused (for example if one of the customers continually buys products, uses them, and then returns them). Yet, not a single company would ever hold an Influencer or Affiliate accountable for what a stranger does. So an Influencer who gets paid by a brand is protected from something like this, but a customer who gets a 20% off discount to give more money to a brand is considered undeserving of the same protection.

Feeling quite defeated about the whole situation, I immediately deleted the referral links from my blog. I replied to the email and figured it was 50/50 whether my account would be reinstated or not. Two days later, I got the news that my Uncle (who was also my godfather) had passed away, so I honestly didn’t have any fight in me to post about the situation on social media or do anything further to contest what happened.
I have no issues accepting repercussions if I break terms and conditions, but what I did (posting my link on my public blog) was not listed as a prohibited action. Warning that what someone does with your link can jeopardize your own personal account was not listed either.

Another line in the terms and conditions states, “Any disputes related to the Program should be directed to Victoria Beckham Beauty’s customer service team. We aim to resolve disputes fairly and amicably.”
I can say that this seems to hold true. A few weeks later, VBB wrote back that they reviewed my case and so my account was reinstated. One of the points I had expressed was the fact that the terms and conditions should be updated so that all customers now and in the future will understand what they’re getting themselves into by giving their referral links to anyone, and so they can be aware of the possible repercussions that doing so could bring (not just the positives). I am grateful that the representative on my case accepted and even thanked me for the feedback. The response back to me was very kind and understanding.
This issue was able to be resolved, but it does not change the fact that I feel it is my responsibility to warn readers about the negative side and risks that are possible by sharing your customer referral links with others. I had made a post encouraging people to refer the brand too and thanking the ones who used my VBB link. So, of course I feel a strong obligation to talk about it here in the hopes that this doesn’t happen to anyone else.

This whole thing has not changed how I view Victoria Beckham Beauty products. Other than the Brightening Pencil and Concealer Pen that simply don’t work for me, everything else is a hit. The bronzers and eyeshadows rank in my Top 5 within both of those categories. The Posh Glosses and Satin Kajals are among my favorites as well. The brand got me to spend €66 on a primer, which I am even considering repurchasing in the future. I love many of these products, and based on that I still consider VBB one of my few favorite brands. However, I still have some lingering negative feelings over the whole ordeal. I was so happy initially when my referral link was used, and then what happened afterwards was like getting kicked down several pegs. As if I should know my place as a customer and not try to share things publicly as if I’m an influencer. The benefits of a loyal customer who is in the highest tier of their reward program isn’t anywhere near as important as an influencer with clout. That’s how it felt to me.

My account getting reinstated helped to repair some of the damage, at least enough that I made another purchase since then, but I honestly still have some lingering negative feelings. Regardless, my reviews of VBB products will continue to be unbiased. There’s no denying that they are high quality products with some of my favorite luxury packaging. I don’t expect those aspects to be any different in the future and I hope to only have good things to say about the brand going forward.

Thank you for reading, and I sincerely hope this has been helpful.

-Lili ❤