Online, just because I have a good idea of what I want and reviewing products means I don’t have to research ahead of time whether it’s good/bad or whether it’ll work for my coloring.
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In person. I like swatching the testers; interacting with a nice, knowledgeable sales associate; and the instant gratification of getting the product immediately.
In person, i like to see the makeup to see if it is right for me.
In person, for sure (glad to see I’m not alone in this) because I also like to see the products for myself, see how they look to my naked eye, against my skin tone, what the texture is like, etc. And I like the instant gratification, when I find something I like, of paying for it and having it in my hot little hands right away!
I look online to see what products speak to me, but I prefer to buy anything new in person (unless it is Indie and then I have to buy online). For products that I am already familiar with I will usually buy online because I don’t need to deal with going into the store. Then again, Ulta is 5 minutes down the road so sometimes, just to get out of my house, I’ll go peruse the store and pick up my usual products in person (and leave with several I didn’t need haha).
I prefer online. I mostly repurchase the same products again and again, so I don’t have to test anything. I get better deals with online codes, rebates and so on. And I just don’t like to go to cosmetic stores nowadays. Maybe I visit a shopping mall once every 3-4 months or when I am on an airport.
I prefer shopping online because I don’t like being crowded by sales people, and most stores have really good returns and the ability to just drop stuff off at the UPS store.
Never got back to IRL cosmetics shopping, even before Covid. I don’t like malls and crowds. The older I get, the less tolerance I have for throngs at Sephora, etc. Since I buy very few color cosmetics now, it’s way easier. I would go, if I needed a new foundation, etc. Plus, I like a lot of Asian products and have to deal with YesStyle, etc., instead of being able to see in person. Much of what I wish in US stores is online only. BITD, before big bag cosmetics stores, it was counters all the way. Kind of miss it.
Overall I would say I prefer in person shopping. I, like others have said, like the whole experience. I like swatching and walking around the store with 15 lipstick shades on my arm! I can mostly do without the sales associates and after the first greeting, prefer to be left alone to shop. Too much bugging me begins to wear on my nerves. When my daughter and I were at the Sephora in Vancouver we were bombarded by assistants. She and I have a game we play and after an assistant has asked to help us we raise the number of fingers that correspond to how many times we have been asked. We always say that after 6 we are leaving. I know it is their job and I don’t fault them for doing it but it was ridiculous. One guy asked me at least 4 times alone. I am pretty sure he would remember me as I was the only person in the store older than about 40. It was busy though. I also saw a lot of brands that I hadn’t been familiar with and was a little overwhelmed by the numbers. We went to Sephora in Seattle before we left and they didn’t have as many new brands. I don’t know if it is related to the size of the Sephora in Vancouver or just that it is not in the USA. Because it was so busy, it was difficult to get to swatch and so I didn’t end up buying anything from the new brands except new to me, Rare Beauty. I think that line had just started when I sort of took my sabbatical. I recall picking up a setting spray but was not familiar with anything else. I did get two lippies, a blush and an eye shadow palette which I mentioned in my last haul.
Since I have been ordering makeup online from Korean brands, I have become more comfortable with online ordering but would really like to see and test those products in person, if I could.
For foundation, concealer and finishing powder, perhaps even a rare few color face products (blush, bronzer): in person.
For everything else: online!
I prefer online shopping in general, but I also *have* to do the majority of my shopping online due to chronic, incapacitating migraines. Most of the time I can’t handle going into stores, particularly any place that has perfumes or loud music. So I rely heavily on reviews and online swatches like Christine’s to help me get a sense of how items will look IRL, and whether they’ll work for me. Ulta’s return policy is a huge help for me, since I can return things if they just don’t work out. (I try to avoid opening anything that I can tell won’t work by looking at it – like face cosmetics that are too dark, or products that I can smell without breaking the seal.)
Largely online…I already work at an Ulta currently and most of the time in store I get distracted by “x needs fixing,” or “ooh we don’t have that in my store” etc. I do prefer in-person for certain things: fragrance, foundation matching, and comparing neutrals. But most of the time I buy online.
I do like the luxury of shopping in person so that I can see the shade colours for myself. Particularly when purchasing foundation and blush, I think you really need to test these out for yourself.
However, seeing as so many eyeshadow brands either don’t come to Australia (eg Lorac or SG), and if they do, they are so much more expensive (PMG) or have a limited range, I am often forced to purchase online.
The caveat is that I see it first on the this blog and have it reviewed and rated by you Christine. That lets me know about the quality and I get true to life pirctures of the swatches. I haven’t been disappointed yet.
Online for sure unless it’s something that needs to be color matched like foundation or concealer. Some of the brands I follow (Lisa Eldridge, Linda Hallberg, some Korean stuff) aren’t available in stores here anyway. There’s generally enough reviews and swatches of everything online from bloggers or vloggers and I usually don’t want to be bothered to drive to the store or mall, deal with parking, etc. Sometimes I’ll stop at Ulta if it’s a makeup or perfume “emergency” but going to MUFE, MAC, or Sephora in the mall.. nah. I’d rather not anymore.
I love makeup. Since I was a child the idea of looking at, smelling and applying makeup has made me happy. So, I love real time makeup buying. The only way I’ll buy online is if it’s a repeat. Makeup makes me happy. I’m sitting here right now reading this while doing my makeup. It’s soothing to me. Most women I know find makeup necessary but drudgery. I can’t imagine that. I respect it but it’s the opposite for me.
As I now live quite a distance from any decent makeup store, I do my shopping online. If I still lived in a large city I would probably shop everything I could in store. I loved visiting Sephora and our local makeup store, as well as the bigger department stores.
I visited a makeup store last week however and they didn’t have much fun to look at at all. Maybe they were making space for new collections, but it was a dull experience, even though I did buy 3 nail polishes.
So, online will have to be my answer, besides that way I can buy loads from indie brands, and that is so much fun!
The only downside of shopping online is when I want to try a new foundation. But, I have been so mismatched in stores , so using online help like the Foundation Matrix here and reading (honest) reviews are a big help when buying base products online.
Not much choice if I want variety, but to purchase online; however, if I could find it all (or most new brands) I’d prefer in store–so as to touch it, smell the odors (not close up, but in general) and discuss it (with pros, even if I often may know more about the brand or product then they do).
Largely online, because of the variety and because it’s easier to work into my schedule. However, it’s always fun to spritz some paper strips when I have time to pop into a Sephora, and the employees at my nearest location are always extremely friendly and helpful!