I get overwhelmed during the holiday season because palettes and kits take a lot longer to review (more photos, more swatches, more to test) that it can be hard to prioritize and get everything done!
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Oh goodness, YES! Sometimes, just keeping up with what’s going on in the beauty world, especially during major launch seasons, can send me into a deep state of IO (information overload). Add to this the fact that I’m a more visual thinker with extreme attention to detail and OCD, one can only imagine the maelstrom firing up in my head! Yup, I do know how crazy that sounds!
I only buy from a few brands so from that standpoint, no – if anything, I might get impatient, waiting for the next release (unless we’re talking about MAC) because most brands are not on my radar. For the holidays, though, I think I do get overwhelmed. I enjoy seeing the pageantry of it all but it’s an onslaught because nearly every brand is releasing either an LE holday collection or they’ve strategically picked that time to release a new (permanent) product or both. It seems like holiday releases are starting earlier (I think it was September this past year?) and then the winter collections are released in January or so and then spring and summer are released somewhere in March, I think. It feels like it’s back to back to back from September to March. ?
Yes, constantly. I feel like I would need to look at them every day to not miss on any that migh be interesting and I simply don’t have the time to do that.
Yes absolutely! I’ve been following new releases in makeup for 5+ years, and I feel like new launches have really turned into a mad frenzy for about 2 years, and it’s getting worse and worse. There are so many new products constantly being released nowadays that I just can’t keep up. It’s like launching something new every week has become the main marketing tactic in the industry.
On one hand it’s great: there’s always something new to discover. On the other hand I find it exhausting, and the hysteria surrounding some new launches strikes me more and more as futile. Paradoxically I buy a lot less than I used to: I used to purchase a lot of new releases from my favorite brands, but with something new almost every other day, buying today’s new product feels vain. And I’m not even talking about planned scarcity with LE launches.
Less since I found some staples for my collection, but when I started to research what existed (and it was just before the craziness started) I totally was.
Now, I just let go and follow the brands that interest me and are not “too” difficult to put my hands on (viseart, MUFE, KVD to give a few names). I like to know what is coming out but I definitely don’t try to keep up with the crazy tempo brands follow. It is exhausting… we should focus on creating and having fun with make-up!
Oh, very often! The logical part of me says “You only have ONE face” but the other part of me (more than 50%, which is why it so often wins out) loves the look of so much new stuff that it does overwhelm me. When MAC released their new Extra Dimension blushes, I wanted at least 4 of them even though I have so much blush – more than I can realistically even put a dent in, let alone use up. I used to be someone who owned three blushes (one by MAC, one by Estee Lauder and the third from Lancome) but those days are LONG GONE (and blush isn’t even my real makeup weakness!)
Yes! I think deep down we like to have “options” LOL. I want to feel like I could do xyz look if I wanted to, even if it’s only a handful of times per year. Sheesh!
I also used to only own a few items per category, and no blush, only one bronzer. And I was totally fine, gave it no additional thoughts. Now I have oodles, and constantly wondering if I’m missing out on something.
Linda, I so deeply relate to what you are saying! My stash used to be very modest around 6-7 years ago, it has exploded exponentially in my face, and now I can barely keep up with what I’ve got. Time for me to put the brakes down HARD.
Linda, that’s it exactly. Options…and possibilities.
I start to not care bc I cannot keep up with the constant release of things. I’d be happy for instance if Becca/ABH never release a highlighter or celeb inspired palette ever again
They all look the same after awhile!
not overwhelmed
but annoyed when I read about something and it’s not on the shelf when I go to look for it, around here the DS are the last to get stock
OR at the Dept store the sales people have no clue about it, and I know more about the new stuff, they obvi are not reading blogs !
At this point, I’ve gone beyond overwhelmed to numb. Seriously, very little is making an impact on me these days. It all looks the same, it’s all variations on a theme. I mean, really, there are only so many colors one in eyeshadow and every single one is out there by the thousands.
I’m finding that I’m paying more attention to the classics — things that have been around a loooong time, have staying power are the things breaking through to my psyche. Things like Guerlain Meterorites is what I mean. I’ll pay attention to quality brands and their product releases because the size of the release is often manageable and the offerings cohesive, like Chanel’s Coco Codes for example/
It’s all fun to look at, and I like knowing what’s out there, but comments and reviews here are far more likely to sway my decision to buy than the fact that products are new.
Coco Chanel has a famous quote: “One cannot be forever innovating. I want to create classics”
So many Linda ladies! I’m going to change to LindaP because my pic doesn’t always show up! LindaP–from Boston, with dogs Cali and Gus, Chanel quad and Viseart lover, mind changer, conflicted-spender-but-do-it-anyway–that’s me!
Absolutely. So I’ve put on certain bumpers like — I don’t follow LE releases; if one item in a line performs badly, I usually write off the whole line; I regularly edit down my wish list; I don’t follow certain brands — the ones with consistently poor performance — at all any more. And yet with all those practices, I still am always wanting something that’s new because I like shiny pretty things, it just is what it is.
Yes. It make me crazy. This ends up confusing me as to which is better or more appropriate.
Yes! Obviously during the holiday season (which seems to run from September to January anymore), but there are also about 3 days every month that it seems like brands like to launch new releases. So, at least for me, it feels like 5 brands are launching 3 new products each all on the same day at the same time, or within a day of each other and it’s suddenly a frenzy. Does anyone else know what I’m talking about? I feel like it happens more with “Internet brands” that don’t really have a store presence and have to constantly put out new products to remain relevant.
YES!! it becomes too much to follow. Lately I’ve not followed any new releases unless I see something you post but I can’t do it anymore, they keep shoving the same thing over and over in a different package with a higher price PLUS it makes the item nothing special when you know every year they will release something that will most likely be LE that you won’t be able to get unless you stay up all night and stalk the site waiting for a product to launch….not thanks lol
YES! But I love just following the releases, don’t need to buy it all of course. The “anti-haul” trend would not exist if there wasn’t just simply too much hitting the market these days.
Absolutely – and frustrated quite frankly. I’m content with the brands I prefer (Chantecaille, Armani, Cle de Peau and Tom Ford) and their modest release schedule. Of those, Tom Ford releases the most; but Chantecaille releases a capsule collection each season, CdP is very conservative in rolling out new products apart from the Holiday Coffret, and Armani has slowed down their releases and I’m totally fine with that. I feel like I have a chance to use things and enjoy them without getting caught up in the chaos of constant releases.
Absolutely, I miss the old days when there was only a handful of mascara’s to choose from. There are so many brands and so much to choose from it’s overwhelming.
And I wasted a lot of money checking new products and new brands out that all turned out to be duds. I keep thinking I might go back to the tried and true brands that have been around forever, like someone said the classics. Always had good luck with those brands for years.
Exactly! I enjoy seeing the pretty new releases on social media but don’t bother to go check them out in the store don’t really care for it and not falling for all the great hype as if my life depended on it. Although fun to check in person once in a while I’ll enter Sephora but stay firm not to buy a thing and proud of myself for surviving temptation. I think is mind blowing and frustrating with all the new stuff they continuously come out and having to check if the actual value (whether is worth it it not) it is just too much these days I’m finding it very annoying. Two names I detest are Too Faced and Mac don’t own a thing from either one and never will. So sick of hearing from these two. Lol! No kidding. Yuck. They loose their uniqueness and value pushing so much ‘junk’ down my throat. No thanks!
Yes, it seems like collection after collection is being released. Now that I have a really well rounded collection I’m a lot more selective on what I purchase and stick with the brands I know and love.
Yes. I end up not buying anything.
Yes! It’s usually a good thing unless a brand has just released a shit ton of sub par crap. MAC, UD, Too Faced and KVD seem to be the worst at that. Esp Too Faced.
Yes, and I feel like companies prey on that confusion. I have stopped buying holiday collections. They used to be really special but now they are just filler and easy eye-candy for the vulnerable. So I just limit myself to maybe one new big purchase and one extra and avoid the rest. I am now looking for something really special or gift-worthy otherwise I just ignore them. Lipstick on pigs is still just lipstick on pigs. A holiday purchase should be a really special investment and not just a cheap thrill. After all, just how many highlighters or eye shadow palettes does a person need. I still buy a lot but have become a lot more discriminating.
I have also stopped purchasing certain brands that do the limited release frenzy thing. Nope. If it is a good thing then make it available and accessible. Companies need to invest in their releases and if they are cult status then the cream will rise to the top.
Cheers,
Katalina
I’ve never been the kind of person who has to have something first, or even 101st. I’d rather wait to see what others say and their experience and let them spend their money and time before I invest either. But I’m not in the business and if someone is…that’s just the cost of doing business.
Definitely. A few years ago, my awareness of new products were from beauty editor columns or ads in Allure, Vogue or Glamour. But when I began consistently following bloggers and YT’s, is when I saw an explosion of new products being released almost every week. It’s definitely overwhelming. One can easily get caught up in the hype and that’s what most of it is, hype. Lot’s of style over substance. Holiday releases are the most overwhelming because brands are launching their entire holiday lines earlier in the season.
I feel like I really have become overwhelmed, even burnt out, over the last 6 months. The releases seem to be non-stop, and I can’t keep up. Aside from a few brands, I’m not even trying to keep up any more.
I remember a time when new releases were seasonal. Not every two weeks. And yes it is overwhelming, and sometimes it’s just not so special anymore. My reaction is oh no, another one, but they just released the You Have To Have It collection, now they are releasing the If It Ain’t Broke, Fix it Anyway collection. Ho Hum.
OMG yes. Basically all brands need to slow the hell down or come out with teeny collections.
Yes, when MAC releases collections every fortnight/month or so. They seemed to have ‘slowed’ down a bit recently and I hope that means an improved focus on the quality of their products.
I do get overwhelmed with all the lipgloss and highlighter releases too.
Absolutely! What I find even MORE annoying is how one brand will have multiple exclusive lines for different retailers. For instances Tarte has its core products, then Rainforest of the Sea line exclusive to Sephora & Double Duty Beauty exclusive to Ulta. And then there are multiple holiday releases for each line. And the quality of each line is not the same. This is way over the top….
At times I am overwhelmed. Like many have mentioned, the holiday releases are particularly difficult to track and since they are releasing earlier and earlier many items are out of stock by the time I get to them. That is frustrating when holiday releases are sold out before Halloween and Thanksgiving. I have stopped following several companies on-line since their products are frequently subpar and overhyped.
Sometimes! Though the discovery of sites like Poshmark and Mercari mean limited edition products always end up in a resale market. I get less stressed when I know there are no time constraints to buy something.
Of course it’s overwhelming! I already have enough eyeshadow to last me the rest of my life but I know I’ll be tempted by those LE holiday launches! I just have to be strong and remember Kimberly Clark’s mantra from her anti-hauls: “I don’t need it and I’m not gonna buy it”. We’ll see if it works.,,I’m such a sucker for shiny things!
I feel like I used to be but in the past year I have phased out many sources of cosmetics information, so in many cases I am oblivious to everything that is being introduced.
There are still two or three YouTubers I follow, plus a few blogs, including this one, which is invaluable. Once I decided I would no longer participate in the mad dash for limited edition-limited quantity items it took away the need to be on top of releases from the cosmetics companies. Now, if I need a product I research and purchase on my own schedule and am never overwhelmed.
I am on LE and new release overload. I am not really interested any more when they start their sneak peaks and the hype up to it. It’s become too much. I wait for the reviews now, if it’s really, really good and I NEED it, then I will buy. If it’s out of stock I really don’t care any more, something new will be released next week any way.