Ulta Gift Sets - Are they worth the money?

This time of year stores like Ulta and Sephora have lots of gift sets available that claim to be a large value for a small price.  I always wondered if these kits are really all they claim to be so I decided to check a few out to see if they are really a good deal.

The first one I choose was the Sweet Escape Collector's Set from Tarte.  This set claims to be a $364 value for $49.  When I calculated the value it came out to be about $150.  Not quite the $364 that they claim, but still a great value.  You get 25 new Amazonian Clay eye shadows, an Amazonian Clay blush, bronzer, highlighter, Maneater liquid eyeliner, Maneater voluptuous mascara and Glide & Go Buttery Lipstick in Nauti Nude.  While none of these products are full sized, they are still a good amount that any regular person won't go through any time soon.  Plus there is currently a bonus item of a deluxe size Tartesit Lash Paint mascara with any $35 purchase.

The next gift set I picked out is the Triple Decker Decadence set from Benefit.  This set claims to be an $89 value for only $39.  When I calculated the value, I got $91 (so even better!). Plus you will get your choice of Deluxe Size Precisely My Brow or Browvo with any $35 purchase. This set includes 3 full zied products and one mini. The full sized products are the BADgal BANG! Volumizing Mascara, POREfessional Face Primer and High Brow Highlight & Lift Pencil. The mini is the Gogotint Bright Cherry Tinted Lip & Cheek Stain Mini.

I also picked out the Stargazer Cream Eyeshadow Trio from Bareminerals. I have a few cream eyeshadows and I love the simplicity and ease of these types of products. This set is $28 for a $51 value and is right on the money with that. You get three full sized shadows in the colors Moonbeam (shimmering white gold), Dreamy Dusk (soft brown) and Aurora Night (soft plum).

The last gift set I picked out is a curated set by Ulta called the Luscious Lips and Lashes Kit. This set is $29 for a $106 value and once again the reported value is spot on. This set includes: Too Faced Deluxe Better Than Sex Mascara, Clinique Take The Day Off Makeup Remover for Lids, Lashes, and Lips, Tarte Maneater Voluptuous Mascara, PÜR Fully Charged Magnetic Mascara, Lancôme Cils Booster XL Enhancing Mascara Base, IT cosmetics Superhero Elastic Stretch Volumizing Mascara, bareMinerals Statement Matte Liquid Lipcolor in VIP, Buxom Full-On Lip Polish in Celeste, Urban Decay Vice Lipstick in Backtalk and Anastasia Beverly Hills Liquid Lipstick in Pure Hollywood. The last item is a $5 gift card towards the purchase of any of the items in the box.

Will you be picking up any of these gift sets?  Maybe there is a different one that you like?  Leave me a note in the comments below with what you'll be getting this year.