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Do you actively seek out new products/brands to try?


Do you actively seek out new products/brands to try? Or do you tend to stick with what you know and already love?

I am always on the hunt for something new!

>em>Thanks to Chris for today’s question! Do you have a question idea? Submit yours here.

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divinem1 (Melissa) Avatar

If there’s new hotness creating buzz in the beauty community, I’ll check it out. However, when it comes to skin care, I have to stick with what works because of my ultra-sensitive skin. I can only use 1-2 mascara brands for the same reason — allergic reaction. But I am always on the hunt for the HG highlighter.

I’m also a professional brush hoarder. LOL

Karla Avatar

I heard i the Dior Amber diamond highlighter its pretty good, i dont have it but i do have the wet n wild one in reserve your cabana which its a very pretty, subtle highlighter and looks so natural on the skin, btw have you tried the shiseido foundation brush, or the dior one that looks a lot like the shiseido one? Im planning on buy a good foundation brush thats easy to use and gets a natural, airbrushed finish

Malia Avatar

Hope it’s not rude to butt in but I do have the Shiseido brush. It gives a great finish, but it takes a very long time, the brush is so small. The head is completely flat, and I prefer a rounder one or a shape like Tom ford, it’s easier to apply and buff simultaneously.

divinem1 (Melissa) Avatar

Thanks for your thoughts on the Shiseido foundation brush, Malia. I did check it out, of course. It does look sort of small.

I have the Hakuhodo G543. Paid $94 for it, and it was worth every penny. It’s crazy how well this brush buffs foundation into the skin. Perfection.

divinem1 (Melissa) Avatar

I haven’t tried Dior or Shiseido brushes, Karla. I drank the Hakuhodo Kool-Aid and, most recently, the Wayne Goss brush collection. I probably have $2k+ in brushes, so a new one has to be over-the-moon special to catch my interest. I will give them a look-see though. Thanks for the heads up.

Interestingly, I tried the Dior diamond highlighter and it was just too frosty for my liking. I have a myriad of highlighters: MAC MSFs, Guerlain, Benefit, Edward Bess, YSL, Estee Lauder, Dior Lace Poudrier Dentelle. The list goes on — I need another one like I need a hole in the head. 😀

Mariella Avatar

Karla, I also have the Shiseido foundation brush and I honestly think it’s the best brush I have for applying liquid foundation and it works for powder blush, highlighter – so many things. In fact, I’m planning to pick up another one. I really like several of the Real Techniques brushes – especially the Stippling and Expert brushes – but the Shiseido is what I turn to when I want to be sure to achieve a flawless but “made up” look, if that makes sense.

Karla Avatar

Wow thanks thats good to know because i have never tried a foundation brush before so i dont want to buy just any foundation brush i come across without knowing if its worth it, i also like this shape of this brush for foundation, i wish mac had this kind of brush so i would build up my brush coleccion out of only one brand

Sarah Avatar

Is that a rhetorical question? 🙂 I am the ultimate consumer – if I see a big NEW plastered on anything, I immediately want to try it! If I read about some amazing new product, I am at Sephora, Ulta, etc. the very next day to look at it. What is wrong with me??
Pretty much that way with everything but cars, though, which is why I drive a 15 year old Saturn!

Carla Avatar

Sarah, I tell myself (at least partially jokingly) that I keep capitalism alive. But I fear that mostly I’m just wasting money.
A prime example is my under-mascara primer:
A while back, I tried Jane Iredale PureLash, and loved it. I thought, “This is the perfect one – it’s cruelty-free, relatively inexpensive, and it performs well. I can now just buy this one every time, without even having to think about it.”
What did I do next time I needed fresh lash primer?
I bought BeautiControl SpectacuLash, because it might be even better than the PureLash.
I did like it at first, but it wasn’t “magical,” and, as time went on, the less it seemed to do for my lashes. It’s almost time for new lash primer. I may go back to Jane Iredale, OR I may try that black one from It Cosmetics, if I can find it.
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

Sarah Avatar

Exactly! The new thing might be EVEN BETTER, so I must try it. it doesn’t even have to be new new, just new to me, especially if someone raves about it – I need to go check this amazing thing out.

Jane Avatar

LOL, I’m always wanting to see what’s new & improved, even if only to look upclose at it. Might buy it, might not just depends. Do that pretty much with everything except cars too – which is why I’m still driving my 19-year old Saturn!

Sarah Avatar

Yay, kindred Saturn spirits! How long do you think these old Saturns will last? I joke I’m going to drive mine until it dissolves into a pile of rust on the freeway…although they’re plastic…so until it melts? 😛

Jane Avatar

My goal is 20 yrs, but hopefully my lil car will exceed that. In my state, after 20 yrs would qualify for a “antique” license plate – kinda want one too.
I’m so desperately attached to the lil bugger after all these years & it really distresses me to discuss ever replacing it.

Dominique Avatar

Yes ! But the reason to that is quite simple in fact, we don’t have so many brands as you have in the US. Our Sephora website is, well,very small compared to yours. I wish we had the 4 elements Sephora/Pantone palette here but we don’t have Sephora Pantone……. 🙁 what a pity really !

Sarah M Avatar

I don’t know if I actively seek out new products or brands but I do love reading beauty blogs and watching beauty related videos on youtube and that sure is a good way to stumble upon a lot of new things!

Mariella Avatar

Sort of….that’s how I “discovered” Vasanti’s whole line but most especially their Brighten Up exfoliator and monoi oil, as well as Jouviance (Canadian skin care line that is fabulous) and some other things. But for the most part, I leave it to you, Christine – you alert me to new products and brands and also give me the information I need to avoid costly mistakes! Sites like Makeup Alley and some other blogs/youtube reviews do the same. The more info I have about a new product, the better able I am to make a good decision as to whether or not to purchase.

Veronica Avatar

Yep! Unless it’s an HG or skin care product, I never buy the same product twice. 🙂 I figure there’s enough variety out there that I can always try something similar or new!

divinem1 (Melissa) Avatar

Ebay stalking. Guurrlll, the one FOOL thing I did was pay $50 USD for a bottle of that damn Illamasqua Raindrops nail polish. I paid that amount when it was “permanently out of stock” and then they brought it back. -__- Never. Again.

Karla Avatar

I stick with what i know works for me most of the time but, with the naked palette i have never tried anything of urban decay before, until i started seeing rave reviews everywere for so long that i just bought it in im in love with it!! Another one is chanel, have never tried anything from that brand and a few days ago i got a sample of the vitalumiere Aqua foundation that came in a magazine and OMG what a beautiful thing it is!! I decided that its gonna be my next foundation purchase (i was going to buy the studio fix foundation ) and i have been using makeup brushes that comes in kits from 4 or 5 years ago and im so tired of them, the “blush brush” doesnt do anything to pick up the color from my mac warm soul blush which is a shame because its a beautiful color in the pan, so im gonna start saving to buy full size, good quality brushes

Z. Avatar

Yes. Many being high-end brands. I like drugstore brands, but high end products have a special place in my heart, they always make the drugstore products work better, it’s also a little luxury to me <3
Chanel; closest counter is in Nordy's 40 miles away..! Nail polish and lip products, maybe foundation?
Dior I like their polishes, but I want to discover their lippies and concealer.
Sheisido for their pale foundations and concealer.
Guerlain bores me- too expensive, but the Metorites spark my interest! Darn!
Armani will never get my money again for their "palest" foundation..what a joke… 🙁
Bobbi Brown: I would like to try their foundations but there is no close counter
Clinique will never get me- their pushy sales assistants break the deal
Shu Umera; because I've always admired their foundations.
Brushes should be on my list, but I'm picky when it comes to them!
I'm a foundation junkie, but only because I haven't found one that really makes me look fantastic, except MUFE Mat Velvet but a $36 price tag every time deters me away for a better looking foundation.

kristina Avatar

No, I’m out of that phase of beauty loving. My collection is very well curated, non impulsed purchased and I could care less what every one else is using. I love the art and science of make up. I do have a tonne of products, not as much as Christine of course, but I have been buying makeup for almost 20 years now. I think of it as a slowly evolving palette. My dream is to have my make up range orchestrated and aligned like a NARS counter…. just one of every hue in every product.
I am also the person who likes the 5 best lipsticks on the market rather than 15 of the average, so I guess that impedes me from constantly and actively seeking new brands to try because I’m saving up for a current wish list. I’m like that with all my passion items, shoes, clothes, housewares, furniture, art and jewellery…. so there are always savings and wish lists going on 🙂 But I do love reading about new beauty trends here!!

xamyx Avatar

It depends. If it’s a foundation/face product, or lip product, I’m open to trying a new brand. However, since I have an absurd aversion to using different brands of eyeshadow together, I try to stay within a small bubble. Even if I find an extraordinary shade in a brand I don’t normally use, I’ll skip it, as it would mean I’d have to buy more shadows from the same brand to wear with it (again, I know it’s irrational…). I used to be the same about face products, too, but I’ve gotten past it.

Judith Avatar

I am actively seeking new stuff, but I’m really trying to be more rational about it. I’ve just finish a huge excel spreadsheet cataloging my stash with remarks on finish, wear, pigmentation and price per gram. I also sorted out the color categories. It really helps not buying dupes. I do not need anymore purple eyeshadows anymore, but I do have some place for blues and greens. Same with lipstick, I need a bit more deep vampy colors.

Every new purchased it thoroughly researched. With my make up tracking I realised I have 2200$ worth of make up! (excluding brushes and tools) I’m still passionate about it, but I do want to be smarter about it

Emy Shin Avatar

I tend to stick to products I love. However, I’m picky and that list tiny — so I’m continually trying out new products, hoping to find my next HG.

Kitsch Vixen Avatar

I absolutely LOVE trying new brands and products! I try to do some research before grabbing the newest thing, but sometimes I just get so excited about something that I’ll buy it without seeking out other people’s opinions.

Jan Avatar

Brands, no. I tend to be a stick in the mud. By the time I try a new, marvelous brand, it’s usually on the decline. The only exception was MAC. When they first came to my area, I worked across the street from their selected storefront. Ironicalliy, I was asked to tape a weekly news show around that time. How was I so lucky to work across the street from a stage/movie type brand at that period of my life (don’t think they were in dept stores yet at that time)?

As for products – yes, I hunt them down. I read tons of reviews, and keep my eyes open for previews. I have very particular coloring and skin so there are always specific types of items I seek out. I really like many of the products you review, Christine. It

Julie Ann Avatar

Absolutely! The fun is in the hunt for something to really change up your look, or improve skin. Of course, your reviews are a huge help in my decision on whether or not to buy!

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