5-Star Products Under $10 at Ulta

Hello everyone!

Today I have an Ulta haul/ first impressions! I challenged myself to find 5 star rated products under $5. This proved more challenging than I thought it would be but I ended up with 4 products under $5 and one product under $10. I couldn’t find a mascara $5 or under with a 5-star rating so that’s why this blog post is titled “5-Star Products Under $10 at Ulta.” 😜

Also, as a reminder, ratings are forever fluctuating. These items were are 5-star products when I purchased them but they could have changed slightly since then.

Now let’s jump-in to my haul/ first impressions!

The first thing I found was the J.Cat Beauty Shimmery Powder. I chose the shade Bronze to keep things on the more neutral side. It retails for $3.45 and comes in 12 shades.

According to the Ulta website:

J.Cat Beauty’s Shimmery Powder is a super fine loose powder that has a hint of shimmer to brighten up any look. The shimmery powder is a smooth powder that creates the most effortless look with just one stroke of a brush. It can be worn alone or on top of a base for a long-lasting wear. This shimmery powder gives an instant glow!

I fell in love with this pigment the moment I swatched it! It’s so smooth and pigmented, even when applied dry. I used it on my lid, over an eyeshadow primer, to add shimmer and light to my look. I will definitely be picking up more, if not all, of the other colors since it’s so affordable. I also give it 5 stars!

Next, I picked up the Essence Satin Touch Blush in the shade Satin Coral. It retails for $2.99 and comes in 2 shades.

According to the Ulta website:

Blush addicted! This silky-soft, highly pigmented powder Essence Satin Touch Blush instantly provides your cheeks with glowing color and a light pearl effect.

I found this blush to be extremely powdery and there was a lot of fallout when I tapped my brush in the pan. It is quite pigmented, which is a plus, but was slightly more difficult to blend out than the blushes I typically use. I love the color I chose and will use it again, however, I probably won’t purchase it again.

I also picked up the Wet n Wild Color Icon Bronzer in the shade Ticket to Brazil. I’ve tried this before and didn’t really like it because it was much too pink/ red for my skin tone. However, I didn’t realize it come in different shades! So, I picked up the shade with a more neutral undertone. It retails for $3.99 and comes in 3 shades.

According to the Ulta website:

Sunset tan! Wet n Wild’s Color Icon Bronzer is the grand daddy of the bronzer world! This big, hunky guy is the perfect man: he’s healthy for you (dermatologist-tested), not slimy (oil-free), has a great pedigree (winner of The Oprah Magazine O-Ward) and is so protective (from harmful UVB rays). Plus, he’ll always complement how you look!

Even though I’ve tried this product before, I haven’t tried this shade so I think it’s still a first impression. This bronzer applies very smooth and is easy to blend in. The only thing I had trouble with is this shade didn’t show up well on my skin tone. This is interesting since I have fair/ light skin. I eventually was able to layer it on and get it to show up but I need something fast to apply in the mornings before work and don’t really have extra time to apply this bronzer.

The fourth item I picked up is the Catrice Beautifying Lip Smoother in the shade Greatest Mauvie Ever. It retails for $4.99 and comes in 3 shades.

According to the Ulta website:

Beautifully smooth! The Catrice Beautifying Lip Smoother is a silky balm with a shiny finish designed to optically even out fine lines around your lips for flawless results. Pastel shades with a glossy finish ensure a soft, well-groomed appearance that complements every natural makeup look.

When I purchased this, I thought it was going to be similar to the Too Faced Melted Liquified Lipsticks. However, I didn’t read the description so I didn’t realize I was going to be sent a gloss balm. Since I was expecting a product with more pigmentation, I was a little disappointed when I first applied this product but I still love the overall results! As per the description, I feel like it does everything it claims. I decided to give it 4 stars because I’m not the biggest fan of lip gloss and didn’t feel the title of the product described it well enough.

The fifth and final product I picked up is the Catrice Glam & Doll False Lashes Mascara. When putting together this order, I tried to choose a variety of products that would allow me to create a full look on top of my normal, everyday base. This mascara retails for $6.99 and only comes in the shade, Blackest Black.

According to the Ulta website:

Drama Doll! The Catrice Glam & Doll False Lashes Mascara features a slightly curved elastomer brush, which reaches each individual lash and covers it with deep-black texture in just one application. Lashes instantly look amplified with extreme volume. Achieve the perfect doll eye look instantly, no false lashes required.

I think this mascara works great! The formula isn’t too wet or too dry and is very pigmented. It did an excellent job adding volume while combing out my lashes so they didn’t become overly clumpy. I also liked how the wand is on the smaller side, which makes it easier to apply it to my lower lashes. Overall, I love the results of this mascara. For now, even though I haven’t tested the longevity/ wear time of this mascara, I’m giving this mascara 5 stars.