- On Wednesday, Instagram user @whitepolkydots spotted mystery makeup bags at a Sephora store in Germany.
- Each mystery bag costs $16, contains two sample-size products, one surprise sample item, and a Sephora collector’s pin.
- There are three versions of the bags available: the Mystery Eyeliner Kit, the Mystery Lip Kit, and the Mystery Cheek Kit.
- The mystery bags are not yet available online, but INSIDER spotted two of the bags on sale at a Sephora store in New York City’s Financial District.
On any given day, it’s difficult not to get distracted by the travel-size makeup that’s stocked along the register queues at Sephora.
That urge might start to grow even stronger, as the beauty store has started selling $16 mystery bags of sample makeup, which customers can pick up as they wait in the checkout line.
The mystery bags were first spotted in Germany
The bags were first spotted in a Sephora in store in Germany by Instagram user @whitepolkydots, whose post was then shared by makeup news account TrendMood. The post shows three different bags – the Mystery Eyeliner Kit, the Mystery Lip Kit, and the Mystery Cheek Kit – each labeled with a sticker that reads “$16 US.”
http://instagr.am/p/BoK2niFHOC8
Some say the bags will not be available until September 28, but INSIDER found some in a New York City store
Though the bags are not yet available on Sephora's website, multiple Instagram users shared some information in the comments section of TrendMood's post that suggest customers can soon buy the bags online as well.
"Some stores are starting to receive. They will be in all stores starting 9/28," wrote one Instagram user. "They will be online soon! They are in stores on 9/28," wrote another.
We took a trip to our local Sephora store in New York City's Financial District to see if they were available, and were able to find both the Mystery Lip Kit and the Mystery Eyeliner Kit stocked along the line queue. The Mystery Cheek kit, however, was already sold out.
The front of each bag tells you almost everything you need to know
Each bag is small, and features three makeup products. The two products that you are guaranteed to get are pictured on the front of each bag, while the mystery products you can receive are shown on the back.
The front of the bag also states that each bag contains one of eight collectible "Sephoji" pins.
The back of each bag shows three other products - one of which will be your mystery item
While the back of the bag reiterates the information on the front, it also shows which three products - and collectible pin - you could possibly find in your mystery bag. The size of each product is indicated on the back as well.
Customers who buy a bag can get one of three different product combinations
For example, those who purchase the Mystery Lip Kit bag would get one of the following combinations as well as a "Sephoji" pin (as sample-size products do not have a price, all prices below are given for full-size versions):
- Bite Beauty's Multistick in the shade Almond ($24) + Kat Von D's Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Ludwig ($20) + Ciaté London's Glitter Flip in Infamous ($19) = $63.
- Bite Beauty's Multistick in the shade Almond ($24) + Kat Von D's Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Ludwig ($20) + NARS' Powermatte Lip Pigment in Starwoman ($26) = $70.
- Bite Beauty's Multistick in the shade Almond ($24) + Kat Von D's Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Ludwig ($20) + Grande Cosmetics' GrandeLIPS Hydrating Lip Plumper in Clear Gloss ($27) = $71.
Those who happen to pick up the latter bag would therefore get the most bang for their buck. However, although the bags are cheaper than buying full-size versions of the items inside, you also get much less product.
When it comes to the mystery bags, you're paying for the size of the products you're getting. Full-size Bite Beauty Multisticks contain 0.17 ounces of product, whereas the samples found in these bags contain 0.07. Similarly, Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipsticks contain 0.22 ounces of product at full size, whereas the sample contains 0.15.
There's no word on whether or not these mystery makeup bags will actually appear online and in all Sephora stores this week, but if you're interested in picking one up, visit your local Sephora to see if they're available. If they are, there's a good chance that they'll sell out fast.
Representatives for Sephora did not immediately reply to INSIDER's request for comment.
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