13 Comments

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Ana Maria Avatar

For me, they are. But I’m also a “special” situation of a person that uses one product at a time and repurchases mostly the same products. I have only one foundation or mascara in use, for example… so yeah, I need a back-up since if something happens with the product (I break it or it becomes defective, it suddenly finishes, etc), the back-up is the only option.
I wouldn’t purchase 2 back-ups (except for make-up remover 😅). Make-up takes such a long time to consume, having 2 back-ups it’s most times more than 1 year in advance of product, I don’t know what my preferences would be then.

Pearl Avatar

I used to think so. I’d buy two and three of something thinking it was the be-it-end-all product (MAC Oh My Passion!, Estée Lauder X Victoria Beckham Modern Mercury, most of MAC powder blushes and eyeshadow singles, Pat McGrath and Natasha Denona eyeshadow palettes come to mind), but the make up train never stops and I am a magpie. Five years ago I never thought I would go for cream or liquid blushes, bronzers, eyeshadows or highlighters and now it’s what I have been reaching for for the better part of two years. All of those powder back-up products I bought are just sitting, collecting dust.

Nancy T Avatar

Sometimes. Especially if one keeps it either refrigerated (lipstick, cream formulas) or in a dry, dark place (skincare, powder formulas). Many times, I do have my next jar or bottle of skincare/body care ready to go once I have finished what’s opened and being used. That has been a sound practical choice, I have found.
As for color cosmetics, I’m less sure. Especially after how the recent life-altering, makeup habit changing pandemic affected my own personal usage of products that had been HG. But masks definitely interfered with that! Like many, my lip product choices were reconfigured to adapt to wearing masks. Leaving most of my regular tube lipsticks and glosses largely untouched. So, my old UD Catfight and Streak are still perfectly fine and unspoiled, but I haven’t used them up either. By the time I do …?

Latika Avatar

At this point.. I feel like I only buy back up’s of mascara- because I use so much.. and maybe a powder or bronzer – something that I heavily use. I do not buy back ups any more of lipsticks, blush, eye shadow

Denise S. Avatar

I haven’t had the best luck with most back up products because the beauty industry is always fluent and better products are released frequently. Case in point Urban Decay and Smashbox eye shadow primers, I brought backups and now prefer Hourglass eye shadow primers. Sorry I gave my Mom my Urban Decay Naked palette back up though. Glad I brought a backup of Tom Ford’s Lavender Extreme fragrance that he discontinued though!!

Genevieve Avatar

Yes, they are! But, of course, it depends on the kind of back up you have.
I have backups of favourite lipsticks – because they get d/c very quickly – Maybelline’s Spice for Me, Colour Pop’s Teddy Bare, Foolish and Gallop.
I also have backups of foundation – my favourite L’Oreal’s True Match foundation in Porcelain Rose – I always get one when they are on sale.
Skincare too – I get back ups when they are on sale of my favourite cleansers, moisturisers, serums and facial oils.
Perfumes – favourite perfumes like Clinique’s Aronmatics, EL’s White Linen, Youth Dew and Sensuous – I have those when they are on sale at our local budget beauty shop.
But I think backups of eyeshadow palettes are not needed though – because something new and shinier always comes out.

Mariella Avatar

I wrote a review and then clearly forgot to hit “post”.

I do think backups are worth it for a few treasured and special colour cosmetics (MAC Craving, the Marc Jacobs skinny liners) – products that I use up far faster than things like eyeshadow or blush. But for skin and body care, they really are worth it – I go through cleanser, body creams, stuff like that, and as so many things are being either discontinued or not carried where I can get them, I love having backups. When I found Boscia cleanser (a favourite no longer at Sephora so no longer available to me, personally) at Winners, I was thrilled. I only wish I’d known The Body Shop was discontinuing almost all their Spa of the World body butters – I’d have bought backups of the two I love so much.

Helene Avatar

In some cases absolutely, in other not a bit.
I do wish I had a back up or two for MAC Hey Frenchie! I love the lipstick, had no idea they were going to DC it and the entire range it came in. I would also have loved to have a back up of Nippy’s Rose Lipstick, also from MAC.
If I ever find a foundation I love I will consider buying backups, as for other colour makeup, eyeshadow palettes I think no, there will be new even better ones. that said, if I panned most of a palette and it was still sold, I think I would repurchase.

StayK Avatar

As someone who has a set amount that I can spend monthly on beauty products, back-ups are a tough decision, especially when there are so many new things to try & your desire to want to try them all burns hot. I have staples, so when they go on sale, it’s hard not to want to purchase a back-up. I agree with others that skin/hair care products are good to have back-ups of, especially when ya love em & their on sale. Make-up though…I have only ever had a fave mascara or staple complexion product on back-up, again bc of a good sale.

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