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Hi friends! Today we’re talking about beauty brands. Specifically we’re talking about 5 brands whose releases always excite me and the bottom five. These are brands that I probably like products from, but their releases never leave me doing the “double take.”
This is a tag created by Samantha March on Youtube, but I thought it’d be fun to do over here as well. So let’s jump right in with the 5 brands that excite me and the 5 that fall a little flat for me right now!
PS: Grab some water. This is a long one.
5 brands that don’t excite me
I was going to start with the top 5 beauty brands, but I wanted to end on a positive note. So here we are! When introduced to this tag, I immediately knew which brands were going to land in this category. But what’s really funny to me is that some of these brands are really popular, well-loved brands that excited a lot of the other creators that did this tag.
1 | benefit
I’ve recently touched on Benefit in a recent anti-haul, and I just have a lot of feelings toward the brand. In my opinion, Benefit has relied so heavily on their cult classic products. I like a lot of the products I’ve tried from them – I love their brow products and the Watts Up highlight is currently in my everyday makeup drawer. But when it comes to their “new” releases, I’m so freaking bored.
I feel they’re lacking in so many ways. Remember back in the day when they had those cream eye shadows? Those were bomb, and they discontinued them. And when they re-branded, they focused on this old-timey packaging but their product can be so much more modern. Aside from the single item they release every now and then, their releases are boxes full of existing products. I don’t need to buy 5 of your new releases because then I’d have 5 of the same exact product.
And on that note, if Benefit wants to focus heavily on brow products, that’s fine. That’s great. Do that; because that’s really where they shine IMO. But if you’re going to do that, release more shade options. Truly focus and revolutionize the brow game – kind of how Fenty did with foundation. I want them to stop re-releasing the same kit 4 times a year.
b e n e f i t favorites:
2 | too faced
You knew this was coming, so I’ll keep this part kind of short! I’m just not interested in Too Faced like everyone else seems to be. The brand launches these large collaborative collections that have adorable and flashy packaging. It reels people in and creates a lot of buzz, but I just don’t care. And I’m not sure why that is.
Yes I do. Kinda. I can’t figure Too Faced out; I can’t figure out what their demographic is. The packaging is generally really bright and whimsical and over the top – quite frankly a little juvenile. Which is completely fine if that’s your branding. But then they come out with collections with hella sexual names like “Pat the Pu$$,” and I’m like “Wait…maybe this isn’t for a pre-teen.” Idk, I can’t figure it out. All I know is I am not their target customer.
Their products are fine in terms of quality, but I’m just so put off by them for some reason. And that leads to me to completely disregard their product launches. The only thing recently that’s even remotely intrigued me is their jelly highlighter things they released as part of their Tutti Fruity collection; but otherwise, I’m completely uninterested.
t o o f a c e d favorites:
3 | morphe
Ugh, I hate talking about Morphe because people are in one of two camps. People say “This is a great brand. They release high quality products for a very affordable price. It’s one of my favorites. All hail Morphe.” Or they say “Meh.” I’m in the latter camp.
I was excited when they released the Jaclyn Hill palette. It seemed new and different from their typical 35 palettes. There were a few bright colors and some interesting shades. And while I like that palette a lot, I wasn’t wowed enough to try anything else from the brand.
Honestly, I couldn’t tell you their most recent release. Because I really just shrug them off. Maybe their products are quality, and I’m missing out. But every time they release something, I think to myself “you know, I have something already that I love” and end up passing. I’m just not excited when they launch products. Nothing seems innovative and different; it’s more or less just their version of something else. And I have my handful of preferred products already.
m o r p h e favorites:
4 | urban decay
Number 4 on the list is Urban Decay. I know! This might be shocking to some of you! There is a special place in my heart for Urban Decay. When I was first getting into makeup, this was a brand I really connected with. It’s fun and quirky and edgy, and back then extremely innovative. I used to love primer potions, the little lip potion stains. The packaging was really cute, and I thought the products were #1! But as time has gone on, I feel like that out there approach has sort of left.
That’s not to say they don’t release new products – they actually release quite a bit – but I feel like they are just kind of doing what they’ve always done. And it’s a little boring. When the OG Naked palette came out, that was incredibly revolutionary. There hadn’t been a palette like that, but I feel like they’ve capitalized on it so much that their whole brand is becoming “Naked” and none of it is innovative and different. And when they do release color it’s the same jewel tones every time.
I’m just kind of at a point with Urban Decay right now where when I see they’re coming out with something new, I already know I’m not going to buy it.
u r b a n d e c a y favorites:
5 | mac
Mac is one of those brands similar to UD in the sense that they were EVERYWHERE a few years ago. You couldn’t hear a makeup recommendation without hearing about Mac. I just feel like the excitement train has gone out of commission. And I really love the products I have from the brand. But I have pretty classic products like some of the brushes and their lipsticks and Fix+. I haven’t bought anything newly launched from MAC in probably 2 years. To be exact, I haven’t even thought of buying anything new.
Wow, harsh. The things with Mac is they are releasing new collections too often, and when they do release “new” products, it’s just re-promoting products they already had.
It’s not that I don’t like MAC – I just feel like they lost their wow factor. So many other brands have popped up over the past few years who are doing similar things and have almost replaced MAC as an artist staple. Any time they come out with a new release, I think “Ok, let’s see it,” but in the back of my mind know it’s probably going to be something in new packaging. It’s kind of the same thing I said with Benefit.
I really want MAC to come back with a vengeance and start creating buzz again. But right now I’m just bored.
m a c favorites:
5 brands that excite me!
1 | colourpop
This probably won’t surprise anyone! I love Colourpop; it’s one of my favorite brands. In terms of quality, they have so many incredible products at very affordable price points. And there are very few things I’ve tried from Colourpop that were disappointing.
I also complain about Colourpop a ton regarding how frequently they release collections. And while I feel like some of their collections recently have been repetitive and not exactly up my alley, I am still excited every time they announce a new release. I can’t wait to find out what it is and see swatches and reviews.
Even if I don’t buy anything from a collection, I still get extremely hyped. The marketing is so bold and fun and engaging, and it gets me excited!
c o l o u r p o p favorites:
Glass Bull Pressed Shadow || Taurus Lippie Stick || Telepathy Super Shock Shadow || Guilty Pleasure Super Shock Highlight
2 | juvia’s place
Oh, Juvia’s Place. You hear me talk about them frequently and for good reason. The eye shadow formula is great, and the price point is amazing for the quality product. Juvia’s Place has interesting and unique color stories that really pull me in and generate creativity. The artwork is gorgeous and makes me happy to use.
They recently were put into Ulta, and how awesome is that? It’s exciting to see small brands get picked up by these large stores so they can reach a larger audience. I’m excited to see Juvia’s Place expand their entire line. They’re known for eye shadows, and they have some powder blushes and highlights. But I’m excited to see foundations and concealers and see them create a full line.
j u v i a ‘ s p l a c e favorites:
3 |bare minerals
When I think of the ideal Bare Minerals customer, I don’t think of someone who wants a vivid, over the top makeup look. I imagine pretty natural looking skin that’s bronzed, eye shadow that’s very blended and seamless and neutral, and lipstick that’s impactful but not too much. No lilac lipsticks or anything. And I think a lot of people see those kinds of brands as boring, but I get so excited anytime Bare Minerals releases something new.
Their recent releases have been right up my alley. Their quality is amazing. The price point is fair based on product quality; it’s not too expensive. I find when I want an natural, sophisticated, effortless, everyday makeup look, Bare Minerals is my go to. It’s one of my favorite brands of all time, so I find I’m a bit biased here, but their launches really do excite me because I know they are new products that are different for their line, that make sense with the rest of their range, and that I’m probably going to like.
b a r e m i n e r a l s favorites:
4 |wet ‘n wild
The 4th brand to really get me excited is Wet ‘n Wild. I don’t always gets excited by drugstore launches. They typically aren’t especially new and revolutionary. Drugstore launches are typically trickle down products – meaning we see trends on runways, products from high end brand, and then we see it at the drugstore. And a lot of brands at the drugstore, like Covergirl, Revlon, and L’Oreal, aren’t necessarily safe/boring but their goal is to reach as many people as possible. That’st just the nature of these big box brands. But Wet ‘n Wild is always peaking my interest, without fail.
Wet ‘n Wild is super affordable. Like if you have $5 and need a new eye shadow palette, Wet ‘n Wild is your go-to. You’ll find something that’s good quality, they’ve got interesting colors, and are always coming out with seemingly innovative products and concepts in comparison to some other drugstore brands.
I always get excited about their themed collections. Even if I don’t purchase them, they’re very intriguing and creative.
w e t ‘ n w i l d favorites:
5 |marc jacobs
Marc Jacobs is definitely one of those brands that’s pretty pricey, but there are just so many products from the brand that I get a lot of joy and use from. The lip products, specifically the lipsticks and gloss sticks are some of my absolute favorites. Their Eye-conic eye shadow palette in Glambition is my #1 favorite and most used eye shadow palette.
I can’t buy everything Marc Jacobs releases, because they’re still very pricey. But every time they release a collection, I always do a double take. I really think about if it will make sense in my collection and consider it. Definitely due to quality, but I also think I’m intrigued by their launches because of their aesthetic. It’s classy and sophisticated and one of those product lines you want to leave out on the counter because they are so beautiful.
I also think Marc Jacobs releases at a good rate. They don’t release so often that you are overwhelmed but not so seldom that you forget about the brand.
m a r c j a c o b s favorites:
If you made it this far, bless you! And TAG, you are it! I’d love to know what brands excite you or don’t, so be sure to leave those in the comments section below.
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