I feel like most products meet expectations, which is good because I’m either setting my expectations right or most products are decent! There are still surprises along the way, both good and bad ones.
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Once in a while I’m surprised in a negative or positive way, but most of the time my purchases meet my expectations most of the time because I’ve done my research. It might be a bit trickier in the future when stores reopen and I go out again, because I’m not going to be as comfortable swatching in person as I used to be.
Most of the time! I rarely return items. I think about what I purchase prior to buying. Sit on it and really consider things. Sometimes I like things more than I thought I would. With things I am disappointed , usually I don’t hate it. It is just not as life changing or amazing as people hype it. It’s more just OK or fine to me just not my favorite. I make most of what I have work. Some are favorites. Some are fine. And if I declutter it is bc I have something similar and I like the other product better. And by declutter, it usually means I pass it on to my daughter so I can use it again if I want?
Because I shop in person and rely on Temptalia reviews, my purchases almost always meet or exceed my expectations. And it sort of reinforces my “buy in store” approach that the one untried thing I got recently from Sephora online has been quite disappointing in spite of loving other things from the company (rms beauty).
I’ve been more cautious with my purchases, tending to do a lot of research first so most of the time I’m pretty pleased with them. There are the odd few that slip through that don’t live up to my expectations though.
Most of the time my purchases meet expectations. I try to buy at 1st launch anymore, relying on my history with the brand if reviews aren’t available. Typically I’m not disappointed but as the disappointments go, I would say Pat McGrath is leading the pack, if only because I had such high hopes for the rest of her products based on how I feel about her eye shadow palettes.
Because I research before I buy, my purchases usually do meet my expectations. Thankfully, we have this site Temptalia as well as many reputable YouTube beauty vlogs to look to you for direction and guidance before buying in this day and age!
They mostly meet it. I usually research as much as I can before buying.
Sometimes I’m amazed by a formula I haven’t tried before like Clinique Cheek Pops – my first gel-cream-powder blush – a revelation – the finish, wear, ‘melt’. And later I tried SSS eyeshadow and highlighters which were also amazing (esp at the price) but seemed in similar league as Cheek Pops (silicone magic?). But the omg,! feeling only comes w/the first experience of the new type. I’d put Wunder2 eyeliners in the same box, given the intense shine, wear time and some unusual colors. Disappointments still happen despite due diligence – especially when I can’t try before buying…. Like Essence Mascara. Fantastic look but stays wet soooo long it inevitably smears.
I am rarely surprised as I do a lot of research before purchasing but when you have to do a lot of purchases online, you do get a surprise now and then. I tend to be more surprised by skin care purchases as it is difficult to know exactly how something is going to feel when applying to the skin, how it will smell and whether it is a pleasant experience or not. Performance is a whole other thing, LOL!!
Rarely surprised in a positive sense. Sometimes surprised (as in disappointed) and most often they simply meet my expectation (so that I may not be thrilled, but I’m still content with the purchase).
My purchases are lately mostly repurchases, so usually no surprise. Otherwise, I research very well my purchases, I know what I like and what works for me, but there’s always that one thing that’s a big bad surprise…
I have a tendency to research makeup extensively before a make a purchase (a habit developed while living in a rural area without easy access to swatching/samples). More often than not, products do not meet initial expectations but then, as I play, I’m surprised by inventive applications for them or by new techniques I learn in the process (I’m still very new to makeup at the age of 42). I think that this comes into play when mixing color temps and textures, mostly, and I’ve learned to have patience with purchases rather than rush to return. I’m more likely to stick with one brand — to help ensure that the ingredients agree with me — so that helps to lessen the rate of disappointment a tad. Temptalia helps a TON and I know that pulling the purchase trigger only on A-rated products is wise!
Expectations? How about living up to my hopes? I’ve learned to be wary of new products. My sensitive skin reacts to many things–I haven’t been able to narrow down what exactly triggers a reaction. I usually buy a single product of a new line-up that has “good” reviews and test it out. And if my skin doesn’t react to it, then I ask myself: does it FEEL comfortable, do I like the way the product applies and do I like how it wears as time goes by, etc. Bc if the answer is “no,” then I won’t be interested in reaching for it. Sometimes, my skin or lips will bring out different tones than seen online in pictures so that is something else I have to look out for.
Because I research everything thoroughly I’m usually on the good side. But…just because something is good for some people doesn’t mean it will be good for everyone.
As I purchase pretty carefully (and have done so for the past few years) and generally the products I do purchase have been reviewed here, I am happily surprised by how good they are.
Examples of happy surprises are Colour Pop’s lux lipstick range, ABH Sultry and Maybelline’s Spice for Me lipstick.
Pretty much every Pat McGRATH purchase has been a disappointment; it’s very soft and make it difficult to not pick up too much product and the shimmer needs your fingers but it’s hard To get it off your finger and on the eyelid. My only Chanel eyeshadow quad was a bit of a disappointment because I couldn’t believe how tiny it was. A lot of blushes wind up being a disappointment because the searches are always too pigmented, and color really does depend on one’s own skin tone. That being said I’ve found a few brands that can do nothing wrong and I stay with them when I’m in the mood to spend frivolously