What beauty products released this year were most surprising?
What beauty products released this year were most surprising? Share!
The amount of high-end and luxury goods introduced into the market that have seemed to resonate with customers–most notably NARS Audacious Lipsticks really come to mind, but also Louboutin’s polish, Gucci’s pricing structure, Estee Lauder Pure Color Envy Lipsticks, and so forth. I just see more brands pushing up their price points these days (and not just the typical increases you see every other year or so across brands), but I’m not seeing a lot of new, mid-end brands enter the market. So in general, I’m surprised that all of these higher-priced products have done well. I was surprised by Urban Decay’s Shadow Box release, not in a good way, by the lack of quality. I was more pleasantly surprised by Make Up For Ever’s Artist Shadow formula.
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I was very surprised by UD’s Shadow Box, as well…the quality was so atypical of the brand. I tried to make it work, but returning it seemed to be the best option. It was such a sad product from a brand that has put out so many great shadows.
Although it’s not high-end or mid-range, I would say the Wet ‘n Wild 5-pan fall limited edition shadows. The 5-pans have traditionally been mediocre in comparison to the trios, but WnW stepped it up with their fall shadows, and they made colors that are neutral that look good on everybody.
I think I’m most surprised by Estée Lauder’s EE cream; it’s quite good, but I can’t get over the name.. we just keep going on down the alphabet, don’t we?! Lol. Also, can you explain what you meant by Gucci’s pricing structure? 🙂
Gucci’s pricing is all over the place – similar to Chanel for a few items, then more like Tom Ford on others.
I will tell you what REALLY surprised me, it is the new DIOR Couture Creations Holiday palette that I just purchased at Nordstrom!!! I have bought their holiday editions in past years and they always disappointed me with no pigmentation, etc., and last years was such a bad one I skipped it altogether, so when I saw this years on the Nordstrom website, I stopped by today to test it out since no way was I going to order this $85.00 kit online and be let down again, and I swatched the tester and was in total SHOCK!! the pigmentation is awesome! Creamy and gorgeous! it has 6 pretty shadows, a blush and a shimmery highlight and 2 lip glosses, which I probably wont use those, but omg they really hit the mark at last!! The gal at the DIOR counter told me it was part of their new reformulation, and I have to say, they did a great job!! Right now thru Sunday you can buy it at 10% off because they are doing some sort of price match thing, so I went ahead and snagged it! LOVE!!!!
nars audacious lipsticks are surprisingly good. Not that impressed wither their other lipstick formulas. Also, totally agree about the price increases. Mac is getting less and less accessible as it is, and it’s technically a mid range brand.
totally agree with this! Love the new Nars Audacious Lippies, and have stopped purchasing MAC’s Collections that are too expensive for what we’re getting.
In a good way: MUFE Artist Shadow formula blew me away, they’re in competition with UD as far as having my favorite formula and color selection, although the color ranges are large and different enough that they allow for cross-over
In a bad way: Hourglass Ambient Blush palette, I feel like the palettes were shrunk from last year’s release, and last year there was a mini primer so it could’ve came with a mini brush or gloss or just SOMETHING. Plus the colors were similar to one another and it just was… it was bleh to me color-wise, even though the quality of the product itself is good.
I think I’d have to say the eyeshadows released from MAC with their Alluring Aquatics collection. Not for a long time has MAC got it so “right” with the quality, the colours and also some really likeable LE packaging. And the “revolutionary” (that’s irony and a bit of healthy skepticism) new moisturizer/serum/treatment/whatever from Jouviance that I got a few weeks back. I LOVE this stuff! As for the price increases you’ve alluded to, Christine, I commented about this when the Louboutin polish was released….I wonder if companies have some secret contest going on amongst themselves to see just how high they can jack up the prices of products that are nowhere near being necessities, products we can all easily turn our backs on but don’t, just to see how high they can raise prices and we’ll still pay. That’s one of the things that made me angry about the Louboutin polish – I feel like we’re all being “played”.
We are all being ‘played’ because we keep buying extremely expensive products. I agree completely about the Louboutin polish. I was sure I would purchase at least the red but I didn’t! I knew I wouldn’t wear it. I am very proud of myself.
I was also VERY pleasantly surprised by the EL Pure Color Envy formula and the MUFE Artist Shadow collection. And another product that really wowed me was Dior’s Pore Minimizer. The first pore minimizing primer in history to actually minimize the look of my pores! 😉
I agree wholeheartedly about the pricing. I’m noticing a serious hike in pricing implemented by almost all beauty companies, whether it’s nail polish, moisturizer, or make-up. It’s really frustrating. And I’m talking like 20% increases in some cases this year alone. I’m fearful of what will happen next year.
I agree – and the general increase in prices seems to be coming out of nowhere!
1. The overall poor performance of Kat Von D’s Studded Kiss lipsticks, considering her prior lip collection was wonderful.
2. How mediocre all the holiday sets are this year. I never participated in holiday makeup collections before, and hearing about famous sets in the past makes me envious.
3. The progressive downsizing of product you get for cost. I realize this is a pervasive issue that isn’t exclusive to makeup; think about pints of ice cream no longer be true pints anymore. It bums me out when high end brands cut corners and think we are too stupid to notice!
I have to agree that I’ve been kind of suprised by some of the ‘meh’ I’ve experienced from UD this year. Thing dramatic, but the Pulp Fiction palette and the recent quality quirks did surprise me.
Otherwise, just how much of a Year of the Lipstick it’s been (no complaints here…)
…or maybe how bad some of those KvD lipsticks were T_T
Make Up For Ever eyeshadows have always been good, but the new Artist Shadow formula makes them even better.
Stila new eyeshadow formula on the other hand was a disappointment. They wrecked Kitten which is one of their top selling shades as well. 🙁
I totally agree, Christine… Prices are spiking, which wouldn’t be a problem if quality were spiking with it. But man, I was surprised at how many people eagerly bought products that didn’t have much use and were poor value. I can’t get the mini beautyblenders out of my head because I bought them (and promptly returned them), and couldn’t imagine how anyone thought those things should cost $18.
I am also always shocked when brands try to charge more for something that just isn’t worth more (NARS Algorithm, Benefit Advent Calendar, MAC mini Pressed Pigments). As if we didn’t have the internet at our fingertips!! (thank you, Christine! ;))
Good surprises: How good Nyx is, especially the lipsticks; how good Color Pop is, Wet n Wild’s latest 5-pan palettes are really good, and their Megalast Lipsticks are awesome; Tarte’s gel liners are so good. I was about to give up on those till I tried Tarte’s. MUFE’s eyeshadow/”blush” quality and color selection has blown me away. More and more independent brands with great colors and quality.
Bad surprises: Kat von D studded star palette being horrible, and so many of the studded kiss lipsticks being bad. The disappointing quality and selection of this year’s holiday offerings. High end and luxury brands having so much stuff with mediocre quality. That so many more companies are selling in China and are no longer cruelty free.
As long as we purchase their products – at increased prices – the cycle will continue. I think it’s gotten to a ridiculous point where we are paying for the name and not the quality of the product.
This is going to happen over and over until the market can no longer support the steep prices.
One brand I haven’t seen mentioned so far is Makeup Geek. I have watched Marlena and her brand explode this year. Her blushes along with the Vegas Lights palette were 2 very anticipated product launches that didn’t disappoint. Her shadows remain a favorite of many YouTube and bloggers for their pigmentation as well as blend ability. I have read many reviews that compare the shadows to Mac with some believing that some, if not all, are better all around..
I look forward to her expanded line in the near future and plan to be a dedicated customer as long as the quality continues to deserve a much higher price point yet remain very affordable..This is really not as much of a surprise than a way to go, job well done. Maybe the surprise comes to all of the competing product brands who may have never seen it coming.
Mac is getting less and less accessible, I was frightened by Prabal Gurung Collection prices!U$30 each lipstick!!!!!
Just because it´s golden doesn´t mean it should be the YSL price range.
Another example is Heirloom Collection, ineralize blushes U$30 and nothing different from the others in the permanente collection.
Even the Alluring Aquatic Collection blushes didn´t cost that fortune.
How bad kat von d’s holiday palette is!! I’m such a fan of her makeup that I’m just so surprised at how she could even let them put that out with her name on it!!
The Nars lipsticks are amazing. When I saw that price I thought who would spend that much on a lipstick?! Now I want almost every color!! The formula is so amazing.
I was most surprised by Louboutin Nail Polish. I think it was brilliantly executed, the bottle an objet d’art, and at least the quality is there in the lacquer. I know there is a lot of controversy over the price point, but if you ignore that part and take it at face value, it’s a truly beautiful collection.
I can’t say I was surprised with anything per se. I did splash out on one LE item this year so far (though it was supposed to be two) and I rarely buy LE. I will agree with you that there seems like a real lack of mid tier excitement these days. I did get the Benefit push up liner which might be considered mid, but none of the color collections struck me out side of MAC. Since I don’t buy MAC regularly due to their animal testing, I was kinda left out in the cold on the mid front. Even high end makeup is getting costlier and it’s becoming unobtainable for those that aren’t bringing in the $$$. Makeup inflation seems out of control even when you compare it to food or gas… and don’t even get me started on wages. I do like that drugstore stuff is catching up to mid priced brands in quality but I don’t like the cost increase there either.
I think the Make Up Forever Artist shadows were the big winners this holiday season, with so many brands delivering sub-standard products (I’m looking at MAC, Urban Decay, Stila etc). I liked the Too Faced Holiday palettes – some of them were gorgeous. Yes, the pricing is outrageous for what you get in terms of quality and quantity. So many brands charge double or more when they ship to Australia it is really difficult to purchase their items. And if those items are average – well what a waste.
Another success recently was the Charlotte Tilbury the Rebel.
I am pleased to hear that Dior has finally got it right with their holiday palette.
I also meant to say, thanks to you Christine, we can spend our money on products that are worthwhile. I don’t buy many high end products without checking your review now.
Thank you! 🙂
I was pleasantly surprised by Clinique’s Cheek Pop Blushes – such pretty colors in a lovely designed compact that apply beautifully! I was happy to see a lot of love for this product, as I believe Clinique is overlooked more often than not, even though they do have great makeup products.
For me it was definitely the MUFE Artist Shadows -didn’t see them coming but they are KILLING it with these eyeshadows and a wonderful range of both neutral and non-neutral shades, with various finishes as well! The Artist Palette really put them on the map, proving they can put together a cool and top-quality palette. Already I’m leaning more toward MUFE than UD now!
WINS:
The MUFE shadows are fantastic- easy to blend, great color payoff and an array of finishes.
The Bobbi Brown highlighter from the holiday collection- BEAUTIFUL! It’s layers wonderfully and feels like a cream. It ‘s an LE and $48.00 but worth it. I think it could be this years “Heat Wave” (the infamous- made- famous by instagram highlighter that is now selling for 162 on Ebay -___-).
L.A. girl Pro concealers: Cheap but rival some of my higher end concealers (MAC, EL, Bobbi, MUFE)
Duds: The Benefit Push Up liner. I like the idea behind it but it took 5-6 years to develop or whatever. Really? EHHH.
Just shoulder shrugs:
1. Mini beauty blender. Was it really necessary? I got one in gratis ( I work at Sephora) but I haven’t used it yet.
2.The Anastasia Beverley Palettes: I adore Norvina and I also think Anastasia is a savvy and humble businesswoman. The power of social media, she is like makeup Oprah- PEOPLE ARE LIKE I NEED IT! IT’S GOING TO HELP ME CONTOUR TO THE GAWDS AND ETC, I’LL DIE IF I DON’T GET IT. The Amrezy, Maya y Mia and Tamanna palette were nice but not life changing! The pigments were good, it came with a brush (win!) and it was priced at $29.00.
Also, everyone thought they needed that contour kit. I would have clients that wore nothing but chapstick and concealer saying they needed it.
The NARS Audacious lipsticks!
While I totally agree with you, Christine, one thing I feel differently about, which is the Color Envy Lipsticks, because they’ve been around a long time, so they did not surprise me. Otherwise, I totally agree and will add that the poor performance of so many MAC items as well as palettes..the abuse of candy yum yum.. Bad surprises.. But I was also positively surprised by the Alluring Aquatics collection as well as all MJB! Yawns, surprised, and repeats, prices soaring, the introduction of higher end street brands performing and executed better than high end brands it should be expected from! Basically, there’s just been a trend for me of most things performing unexpectedly, whether good or bad, and that confuses my comfort zone! 😀
The Mac Matte collection that was recently released. I love last year’s retro formula promoted with the Riri collection but the formula for these turned out so much better. I can wear a matte lipstick by that brand very comfortably now!
Most of the products in the kit are not new (except for the face palette) but I had never purchased any of the products from this line and I have to say that the “it cosmetics it’s all about you” set was a very pleasant surprise; all of the products in this set are FAB-U-LOUS!