What was the last product you didn't purchase because of the packaging?

Hmm, I cannot recall an instance! I think because I tend to purchase new products to review, I barely pay attention to packaging, lol!

— Christine

23 Comments

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Ana Maria Avatar

I feel the same about that silver cheap wand aesthetic of Benefit Brow products. I mean… it might be 7-8 years since they change them, but I still miss the old one. 😅
For a while I repurchased then in spite of the packaging, but ABH and Hourglass brow products are just as good (or better) and look way better. Even NYX has comparable products and looks better than Benefit.

Erica Avatar

Luckily I’m not impressed with the quality of the Benefit brow products so it’s an easy pass for me. And I don’t like their shade range. ABH is just better at that imo. But even on sale I cannot be tempted to buy bc that packaging irks me. It’s cheap looking. Tacky. Bulky. Nope not what I want on my vanity. Yes I’m petty but I just cannot lol

Violet Avatar

The last thing that I didn’t buy because of the packaging was Pat McGrath’s mega palette last Christmas. It was gorgeous and I was tempted, but it was just so darn big. I suspect that I won’t buy this year’s either, since it looks even bigger. Several years ago I bought the UD Heavy Metal palette and always kind of regretted it because it was so clunky and annoying to use and I rarely reached for it, even though I liked the eyeshadows.

Andrea Avatar

That’s a tough one to answer actually. Things that I decide not to buy just sort of fade away from my memory over time. Bad cosmetic containers generally put me off. Klorane has these hair products that come in what looks like lotion tubes; the caps are a nightmare to open when you’re in the shower and your hands are wet!! Right now I have a conditioner from them and I had to remove the cap permanently in order to be able use it- it is indeed better to use but now I have to be careful when I store it (too much trouble for an average conditioner if you ask me!). I’ve pretty much decided when it’s over I won’t be buying absolutely anything from a single brand which serves the same purpose and comes in a similar tube.
I use the kerastase therapiste shampoo and it has a screwcap which keeps ending up on the floor as it isn’t attached: if the product weren’t so great I would probably think twice. I don’t like having to hunt for a cap after showering tbh.
Don’t know if it’s just me but the older I get, the pickier I get too. There’s SO MUCH choice out there, I feel I don’t need to settle for less.

Erica Avatar

I specifically won’t buy Philosophy body wash bc the plastic is too hard and difficult to squeeze to get the product out. Who needs that in the shower? Idk if they changed that but they come to mind as well. Cannot imagine if you have dexterity issues!

Andrea Avatar

I’m with you on that, who needs that in the shower?! Do I really need to ruin my nails to be able to condition my hair? With all the options out there, I’ll pass, thank you very much!

Lucie Avatar

Bite Beauty’s cream blush. I mean, the horrible reviews and and pictures of horrible patchiness solidified it, but even before the reviews came in and I was holding out a glimmer of hope it would be halfway decent, I pretty knew off the bat I wouldn’t be buying based on the poorly designed packaging alone.

The more frequent occurrence is packaging stops me from repurchasing. Packaging doesn’t usually stop me unless there’s an obvious flaw (like no clasp or magnet to keep something closed), but it will keep me from buying something again. My most recent instance is the Fenty face wash. I like it enough, but it’s just so thick for the type of packaging it’s in that even when I make sure the hole is clean and not gunky it’s a major effort to squeeze product out.

Andrea Avatar

Oh my goodness I just remembered the luscious Burberry Lip Velvet lipsticks! Boy do they look sleek! I have 4 of them and I feel they have a poorly designed magnetic cap. It seems fine when I put it on but when I pop the lipstick in my handbag, the cap will come loose every now and then – happens to all so it’s a design flaw rather than bad luck. I haven’t had any accidents yet but if I were to buy any again at full price I’d probably think twice.
I also don’t like pencils when they don’t have a cap -quite rare now I think?- but I’ve avoided those for soooo long, it’s not an active decision anymore but more like a reflex.
Ahhh and how could I possibly forget!!! You know how perfume comes in these really posh and ornate bottles? Occasionally the bottle will look massive but then you look closely and you realise it’s actually the design that makes it look so big. I’m saying perfume but it goes for all things makeup! That’s put me off so many times but like they say history belongs to the victor or in this case to what’s been bought. I mostly remember what I’ve bought not what I didn’t buy.

Ana Maria Avatar

Almost every overhyped concealer launched in the last 2-3 years which has a doe foot applicator. I am very curious about new concealer formulas (to save my genetically darker under eyes), but I decided that for me that type of applicator is not the most hygienic, so I stick to squeeze tubes or pump dispensers.

Nina Avatar

About a month ago I wanted a blue eyeshadow. I was at Ulta and saw a Morphe pallette blue something or another. Many pretty colors but it felt big and bulky and looked and felt cardboard cheap so I passed. I’m back to single pans that I can tote with me one or two at a time and I’m not embarrassed to pull them out for touch ups.

Genevieve Avatar

Quite a few years ago I was considering purchasing the UD Heavy Metals palette – but didn’t because of the bulky packaging and the mirror, uselessly, placed in the middle. I wished at the time that UD had divided the palette into two. I really just like the neutral side. So I didn’t end up purchasing it.
Those super skinny lipsticks and those with a rounded, blunt end I don’t purchase either because I think they will be tricky to apply and/or break easily in warmer weather.
Cetaphill bought out a cream body wash in a tube and I thought this would be handy. Never again – it was just too dificult for me to squeeze out the product when my hands were wet.
Screw top cleansers annoy me as well in the shower because they are hard to get back on.

Chsaii Avatar

For a second I gasped, looking at the picture and thinking you skipped the Pat McGrath Palette. In the world of YouTube and Instagram I still like your Blog better and rely on your review and swatches before making a decision. I am a silent reader of your blog from the year you got married. I appreciate all your hard work a lot.

bibi Avatar

Pretty much anything from Essence or Wet & Wild.
I love Essence’s Pure Nude Highlighter and all of their powder blushes but the hinge on the cheap plastic compacts they come in usually breaks in a week or 2 so I end up depotting them. Same for Wet & Wild’s eyeshadows like Creme Brulee single and the Silent Treatment quad, both are staples but the crappy compact hinge breaks within a week so I must depot them.

Helene Avatar

I don’t think I’ve found a packaging so far, keeping me from purchasing if the product is great.
I have a facial cleanser from Elemis that I’ll not repurchase as the plastic in the tube is so stiff it makes it almost impossible to get anymore product out of it, and there’s quite a lot left.
For makeup the packaging must be horrendous to keep me from buying if the product is great, examples would be if it’s so hard to open you break nails trying.

Jane Avatar

Nothing. I either buy it because:

1.) I really like the color scheme and the pigmentation, so packing doesn’t matter.
2.) The reviews (especially yours) are good and 1.)
3.) I REALLY like the packaging (i.e., I want to keep it as a keepsake or an art object on my vanity – future vanity LOL!) and the quality is at least medium level.

Moxie Avatar

A really gorgeous lip tint that I’ve used before that was going to be discontinued, but it’s in a pot and in these times I’m not going to be so cavalier about reapplication from pots with bare fingers.

Deanne Avatar

This is kind of funny because I care about packaging *almost* as much as quality. If the quality is great but it’s in a sad ugly cardboard thing I have a hard time using it. Ridiculous I know.

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