What makeup brand are you most likely to purchase from without a lot of research?
Most of the major brands I’ll buy from without quibbling over will it or won’t it be decent. I have started to hold back on buying full lines of certain types of products that seem like they might not be worth reviewing every single shade for (because they’ll fail based on metrics, e.g. 24-hour wear times, the colors all look about the same, like a super sheer gloss, or the price point is too high and is only worth weighing in on from an overall perspective and not for every shade).
— Christine
I was going to say “none” because I really rely on this site almost exclusively for information before I consider a purchase. But when I stopped to think about it, I realized that I do buy Lise Watier products quite regularly and that’s one of the lines that is never reviewed here. More and more, I am attempting to purchase Canadian company offerings (though much of LW’s line is made in France) and so I resort to testing in-store rather than looking for online reviews.
I agree. Lise Watier is a great Canadian line, excellent quality and lovely packaging, but because it’s Canadian, it’s difficult to find reviews beforehand. I’m exploring other Canadian lines this year, too, though so far, LW remains my Canadian go-to.
Wet N’ Wild – the price is so low, it’s not much of a risk. I’ve had success with most things I’ve tried from the line so I’m typicaly pretty happy.
The only brand I ever really buy from without doing research is Becca… I do look up some swatches to see if a shade will look nice on my skin tone or if the product is a match for my skintone, but I don’t do full researches about how long it wears, quality etc. I trust the brand and I really love most of their products, so I guess it’s worth the gamble for me 🙂
No single brand comes to mind, for me it’s categories… blush: NARS; single eyeshadows: UD, MAC non-LE/originals, ABH; eyeshadows generally: Viseart; lipstick: Chanel, UD Vice; lipgloss: NARS, Buxom; eyeliners: Marc Jacobs.
MAC and Pat McGrath for no-hesitation-buys typically, but I will have Tom Ford and Chanel eye shadow quads sitting in my cart until there’s a review.
I’m not so sure about buying sight unseen for any brand. I really need to at least see whatever it is swatched, even if I trust the brand’s quality. There are a few brands, or specific products from select brands, that I have been known to buy from based on swatches alone: Viseart, Pat McGrath, Fenty, and MAC permanent line and occasionally something LE of theirs that looks solid from the swatches.
I feel like there use to be a lot of brands that I would purchase automatically if the product appealed to me and looked like it would work for me. Over time and as many previously reliable brands have started to have significant misses, I don’t pull the trigger as quickly or as easily. Some of that may have to do with being better educated about brands and what makes a good product, based on information I have learned here on the blog. I feel like the only brand that I will buy without too much trepidation is ColourPop and then it is only because their products are generally so inexpensive that I wouldn’t be breaking the bank if they didn’t work. Of course, they have to be products that work for me. There are two luxury brands that I purchase quite a bit from and they are not always reviewed well. Those brands are Dior and Chanel. I have a real weakness for those brands and in general, I have good luck with their products. With the exception of those two, I wouldn’t buy any luxury brand makeup without reliable reviews.
I agree. I few years ago, MUFE, Tarte, and Too Faced would have been on my list, but they’ve become too inconsistent. Even Urban Decay isn’t as sure of a thing as it used to be for me.
ColourPop. So little ventured, yet so much to gain. Though usually cannot say fully unresearched. But will pick from outside comfort range. And occ choose something before you review it. Have done Viseart and some Nars: lips, blush. Even if they are not as expected, they are likely to be good for me.
For me it depends on the type of product – lipsticks I am happy to buy from Elizabeth Arden’s Ceramide and Exceptional beauty range because I have had such good value from those in my preferred shades. Ditto for Clarins Jolie Rouge line of lipsticks too.
Eyeshadows – I rely 99% of the time on this site here for reviews, although I have occasionally purchased Sephora’s own brand – the It Neutrals and recently Mecca Cosmetica’s own brand Vivid Impact palette and have been very happy with both. But it’s because I have been able to swatch in store and I know what I like and what to look for.
Not many. ColourPop (except for the Ultra Matte liquid lippies), Wet n Wild, Hard Candy, and e.l.f. are inexpensive enough and usually high enough quality that I don’t worry too much. On the mid-range end, Urban Decay, Anastasia Beverly Hills, and theBalm. Even with these, I’d rather do research if I have time (not always possible with LE collections).
Most brands are inconsistent though. So for example, I would buy NARS or Tarte blushes without much research, but not their eyeshadows.
My favorite indie brands such as Notoriously Morbid, Apocalyptic Beauty, Darling Girl Cosmetics, My Pretty Zombie are also consistently great, and I don’t worry too much about their products.
The answer to your question is definitely Bobbi Brown. I have loved every product I’ve tried from the brand, so I never worry about purchasing something blindly (without research). I wear almost a full face of Bobbi Brown because I love the company so much. The products work really well with my significant allergies and very dry skin. I would recommend Bobbi Brown to anyone. The only thing I don’t like about them is that they are not cruelty free. If I didn’t have such severe allergies and could wear anything, I would switch to Marc Jacobs.
WetnWild! ?
Narz also.
Cle de Peau. The only thing I have ever been disappointed with from CdP was the longevity of their lipstick. Other than that everything I have ever bought from them has been true luxury!
Any brand. I will purchase from just about any brand where I have a certain educated feeling (meaning if I have absolutely never heard of them I’ll read on the product about where it’s made, with what; I guess technically though that’s research, but I figure the question was more about online or more extensive research, as well as just looking at the product: color, quality at swatch, etc.) The key is do I like the product (i.e., is it appealing to me color or texture wise, is it unique, and more and more, do I need it it or REALLY REALLY want it.) Also more and more I ask myself do I feel it adds to my collection without being overly priced. Since like a few of us here I rarely “need” a product and it’s mostly trend following or adding a few unique products to what I have, I steer away from high-end, overly priced brands. For example the last buy from Dior I did because I thought they had reasonably priced most of their new Backstage line (at least I thought that for them it was much less expensive and in line with other brands that have similar products). It still isn’t cheap and yes, you can find just as good for less, but I though it was a good deal for Dior.
I actually don’t rely on research at all to buy something. Sometimes, even if the reviews are bad, I want to try it for myself. I read blogs like this one and watch YouTube videos to see if others have the same experiences as I do, but not so much for guidance on what to buy. I pretty much know when I see something if I want it.
Sugarpill! Their products seldom disappoint.
First off, I have to do enough “research” to know what color or finish an item is — I’m not going in blind. That aside, there’s no brand from which I’d buy *any* product (no matter the type of product) they offer happily without research.
However, I’ll buy any of a particular *type* of product from certain companies without reviews. For example, I’d buy any blush or eye shadow from Aromaleigh and Shiro Cosmetics. Any lipstick from Bite, Lipstick Queen, Urban Decay, Colourpop, and Silk Naturals. Any eyeliner from Marc Jacobs and Urban Decay. Any just blush from Benefit, Hourglass, or Fenty (stick). Any just eye shadow from Viseart, My Pretty Zombie, and Concrete Minerals.
The only company I might be tempted to buy *any* type of product from without research is Kevyn Aucoin: oddly, I don’t own anything made by them.