How comfortable are you buying a beauty product you can’t see in person? Only if there was no other way? Never?
I’m fairly comfortable if it’s a brand I have some experience with and the return policy is decent. If it’s expensive, a brand I’ve never tried, and I can’t return, then very rarely would I feel comfortable buying.
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I’m comfortable with brands I know, but I also read reviews and search for swatches.
I’m pretty comfortable with it as long as I trust the brand/website and the return policy is good (like Nordstrom). Also, if there’s good swatches and reviews online, I usually feel better about it.
If it’s makeup then NEVER! because I have to see the shade in person, even if there were so many swatches of it online..
I have to rely on it a lot of the time, because the best brands aren’t available in Australia half the time, and if they are, they’re twice the price. So I search for different reviews/swatches and see if there’s a consensus, and try to stick to brands I’ve purchased while on holiday in the US/Europe or brands I’ve heard great things about.
@morlonbrondo Consider having a look at beautybay.com, free shipping worldwide and decent prices for products – I purchased an Essie nail treatment that would have cost $22++ instore for $16 NZD. Just my 2 cents :3
I feel comfortable buying even if I can’t see it in person as long as you reviewed it. You’re all I got Christine. You’re all I got.
Oh, the pressure! The pressure!
I’ll read reviews and do my research!! And if I like the brand I feel more comfortable!
I’m actually really comfortable with it! The thing about mid-range to high-end cosmetic brands in the US, is that they all have excellent return policies. If I can’t make something work, I bring it back. That’s how I’ve discovered a few (okay one) HG product that I would have never thought of looking at in stores. It was an impulse online buy and I can’t be more thrilled I did! 🙂
95% of the time I won’t buy it if I can’t see it or they have a crappy return policy! I didn’t always do this so Id waste so much money on stuff that just didn’t work that I couldn’t return!
Usually, it depends more on what the product is rather than the price tag. Things that rely on very specific compatibilities, such as foundation, concealer, tinted moisturizer, etc., are the kind that I would always insist on seeing in person. Price tag can influence it, too, but as long as it comes well recommended, I’m willing to give it a shot.
I very rarely buy makeup online, but if there’s lots of swatches and reviews on the internet I’m fine with it. I don’t buy expensive makeup anyway so that helps too.
I do feel comfortable ifs fairly cheap, genuine and the majority of reviews on it are positive. If its expensive and there is over 40% bad reviews, it’s a no buy.
The closest mall is a good 2 hour drive for me, so I pretty much do all of my shopping online. Before I buy anything, I always do my research. Especially for anything that’s expensive. & I always always wait for you to review MAC collections before I buy anything lol.
I feel only comfortable buying even if I don’t see the product when it’s about niche perfumery or perfumes of high quality. But I would buy make-up too ( esp powder blushes or eyeshadows palettes ) if I didn’t resent customs or extra fees. As far as French websites are concerned I will gladly buy ( esp natural, bio make-up ).
For me it sort of depends on what type of product it is. Foundations and eyeshadows, in particular, I could never buy without seeing it in person. I have to be able to swatch them and test them out on my skin before I decide to buy them. But things like primer, powder, lipgloss, nailpolish, etc. I’m generally okay with just reading the reviews and ingredients. Ideally, though, I’d prefer to see everything in person so that I can judge things like texture and pigment and make sure that they work well with my skin type or my coloring. I hate to return things, so I always try to make sure that I know all I can about a product before I buy it.
I generally do not buy online except for Sugar Pill and Fyrinnae. And I had to research thoroughly for Fyrinnae. I am super happy with Sugar Pill…not just the customer service but the product. Fyrinnae’s shadows were only so so. I like the Pixie Epoxy. I really have to test the product to buy it. Much as I want to buy Jill Stuart and other Japanese brands, I have not done so.
After moving to Omaha, NE, I’ve had to become accustomed to purchasing beauty products I haven’t personally seen/tested. This was a major change for me coming from a large metropolis.
I find that I’ve become fairly adept at determining what will look good on me and where to go (online) to get multiple swatches and/or reviews to analyze whether the product is a good fit.
I’ve never done it before (besides a moisturizer I’d already used), so I’m not comfortable with it yet.
Hahahahaha, I wonder what made you think of this question?? ;P It all depends on the online swatches, how much I trust the source(s) and how reliably consistent *across the board* those swatches are. If someone whom I trust — like say, you — has not reviewed the product, I’m a lot less confident. But with enough research put in, I’ll still buy the product if it’s gotten good reviews *AND* if the swatches all show the same thing, from blog to blog to blog. In the case of NARS blushes, unfortunately, that is almost never the case. Eyeshadows and lipsticks, fine. Blushes…. no. I mean, hell, even within the *same* blog, the lighting can sometimes make one product look like 3 diff. shades! Since 90% of the time I buy just from online, I end up pretty desperate for guidance….
@Kafka Part of my schtick is photography and absolutely! Lighting is sooo important. I do not sell something unless I can capture the colour I see with m own eyes in my picture. Sometimes that means putting my camera away for a couple of hours until the sun hits the right level (I’m not a flash/studio photographer). I agree and must commend Christine on her swatches!!!
Thankfully, there are these little things called beauty blogs. Where I live, I can’t get my hands on many of my favourite beauty brands (Urban Decay, Illamasqua, Burberry, Laura Mercier…), so I regularly scout temptalia for reviews on products I have seen online. So far, you’ve never led me wrong… So, thank you, Christine.
Even with brands I know and even with doing research, there have been times when I’ve been disappointed or when I have had the chance to see the item and was still surprised and glad I hadn’t purchased without seeing/trying the item. MAC’s Groundcover eye shadow (from Fashion Flower) is the best example – it looked absolutely perfect but when I tried it in-store, NO shadow came off at all. I was so glad I didn’t order it and waited to SEE the actual product.
I’m very comfortable because of people like you, Christine! Thanks for all your work!
I am. I have to be! There are just so many brands that are only available from online shops in Belgium. I just do as much research as I can (with SO much help from you! I just splurged on the Bare Escentuals Urban Nature. It’s an awful lot of money for a 3ml tube, but I told myself: if Christine names it as one of her best eyeshadows in 2011, what can go wrong?) and hope for the best. So far I haven’t really got anything that’s awful *phew*
Christine, you sum up my position nicely. I would add that it’s very difficult to trust swatches on a vendor’s site, so I research swatches online. That’s actually what brought me to Temptalia to begin with.
Getting more comfortable! I’m getting better at knowing what works on me and what reviews to trust! It also depends on the brand and the cost. If something costs mega bucks, I need to test it in person to see if its worth it.
I guess it just depends! Some brands I don’t mind, but one brand I do have trouble with is Inglot. I can’t get myself to buy from them since I’ve never seem their shadows in person.
I do alot of research, if I can. If I know the brand, I generally feel more comfortable. A good shipping and return policy also helps!
Not very confortable, but I have no other choice.
I can’t afford to check things in person because:
1/ most of my favorite brands are not available in my immediate area, and I can’t spend 20€ or more just to swatch a lipstick that cost just as much.
2/ there is no return policy in my country (except if the product is in pristine condition, unopened, and unusued so they can put it back on shelves, *plus* you have to pay to return the product too).
So I rely on online swatches and reviews.
I’m pretty comfortable with it… I ALWAYS search for reviews of a product, before I buy it, so I almost always know what I’m getting myself into. :)HINT: Shop at Nordstrom and Sephora… GREAT return policy~!!
I always buy makeup online. I try to find swatches and reviews, but if I can’t I wing it and order stuff anyway. I have a skin tone that works with a lot of colors so I feel comfortable with that. As long as it is a brand I trust I’m fine with it. I tend to stay away from foundation since it varies so much. Any other item is usually a go.
I’m always afraid of getting something in the wrong shade or a bad shade, so I try to check everything out first. Returns can be a hassle, even if the policy is good, so I try to avoid buying things with the idea of “well, I can always return it!”
If I’ve seen it in here, like nail polishes, etc, I’ll buy it without trying it first. 🙂 Otherwise, and especially if it’s above 20€ or so, I’ll need to have a look before I commit to it.
Online or catalog shpping is something I do as little as possible, as I’ve been sent the wrong item, or in one case, I ordered the wrong palette (luckily, it was from Sephora, so I was able remedy it very easily), but twice, VS sent me the wrong thing, although my invoice was correct. That said, makeup is a bit trickier, and for me, swatches & reviews often aren’t enough. I like to actually go into a store like Sephora and swatch a new product next to other items I already have to see how they work together. Sometimes, a product may work well by itself, but not work with another brand because of formula/texture (i’ve only recently begun “mixing” brands, as I’m a bit OCD). As for things like foundation, I would *never* buy sight unseen; not only is color an issue, but I want to know how it feels/smells, and I will *always* ask for a sample prior. I was “color matched” in person at MAC, and it was soooo wrong, although the foundation itself was amazing. If I decide to try a new foundation, I don’t wait until I’m nearly out of my current one. Foundation is probably the one thing I don’t look for rreviews on, as everyone’s needs are different (I will turn to someone I know personally who has similar skin/issues, though, for recommendations). No offense, Christine, but your skin is *flawless*, so what foundation works for you, probably won’t work as well for me, LOL. Besides, part of the fun of makeup, for me, is goingto a store/counter and looking at all the pretties. I’ll only buy online if the item is DCd/LE, or if the store is *always* out of stock.
@xamyx I giggled over the OCD remark and mixing brands! We are all a little OCD about something or other. I’ve always mixed brands and it doesn’t apply to me, but there are definitely a lot of other things I get in a twist about. I have a method for how I stack and store my make-up.. I pity the fool who messes with my system. *evil grin*
Totally used to. I can’t find the products that I like where I live..actually, I never bought anything at the store :S
It depends on the product and the information given. I buy plenty of skincare online as long as all the ingredients are listed. I wouldn’t buy a foundation, concealer, or powder without testing the swatch unless the shipping was free or there was a great return/exchange policy, plus a detailed ingredient list.
I probably wouldn’t buy a lipstick or gloss formula that I hadn’t tried already, although I’d buy a color based on a blog swatch as long as I’d tried the formula at some point or was really confident with the reviewer (like you!).
For blush, I’d want to check out the ingredients before buying to make sure there’s nothing I’d react to, but I’ve bought several blushes online without seeing them in person and have been pretty happy with almost all of them.
I’d definitely buy eyeshadow if I’d read reviews that were good. I’m planning to get some Inglot palettes based on reviews. I’ve bought plenty of eyeshadows online as long as I know the brand is respectable and the formula is good. I’m willing to experiment with color anyways, so I’m not too worried if it isn’t exactly as it looked online (so long as the color payoff for whatever I was getting was good).
I’d see it the way you do.. If it’s a brand I’m familiar with then it’s okay with me.
I will read some reviews about it before buying if that satisfies me perhaps i would go for it … Secondly it depends on brands i hv used earlier !!
That’s where Temptalia comes in with your reviews and swatches! It’s the next best thing!
What are your thoughts about The Paris palette from Sigma? I won’t be buying it, but would love to hear what you think about the products in it!
I don’t know what to believe from what the people who helped make it are saying..
I always prefer to see things in person. But when I can’t, I hunt down swatches online.
Unless something is super LE and I need to order it ASAP if I have any hope of getting it OR it’s only available online, I’d really prefer to play with it in person first. It’s not really a quality concern, it’s just that I have so much makeup that I really have no business buying stuff I haven’t tried in person to make sure I don’t have anything like it or it’s definitely what I want. Online swatches are helpful, but my personal body chemistry skews acidic which means that colors tend to oxidize differently on me than they might other people. Lipsticks and lipglosses in particular tend to turn more orange on me than for most, so I really need to see things in person before I commit. I realize I could order something, test it and return it if it doesn’t work out but I hate doing that. You can’t resell a lipstick that someone’s opened up and tried on, so it just feels wasteful to buy something online if i’m unsure if it’ll work out.
If I can find plenty of swatches from various sources, then I’ll give it a shot. More expensive things though that I don’t have immediate access to (like MAC, my nearest counter is a fair way from me) I’d rather wait until I can see it in person. If it’s less than, say a tenner, I’ll give it a shot even without swatches/reviews. Although we can’t return stuff here and if I don’t like it I’ve still wasted money, I feel like it’s better to lose less than a tenner than to lose £25+.
I prefer to see them in person, I hardly ever buy from the internet unless my dad is giving me a gift : )
Not at all! If it is something I have used before, I’d certainly repurchase without seeing, though. I guess if the return policy would not make me expend money to send the product back I would be swayed to buy online without seeing it.
Well because of beauty bloggers like yourself, and getting to see swatches. A lot better 🙂
check for swatches if any at temptalia.com ..if the brand is familiar then go ahead ..
Living out in the sticks, I have become a master on-line shopper. The vast majority of my personal purchases come from on-line purchases. If something is going to be fairly expensive, I consult a number of sources first for info and colour swatches and go with my gut. I’ve made a few bad selections, but I can typically see that when the shipment arrives and they go back untouched. I can honestly say I am just as capable of making those bad choices when I am shopping in person at say Sephora where the choices are overwhelming and I find far too many things I think are going to be ‘perfect’.
@wwendalynne Same here, Wendy. I think that a lot of research can minimize mistake purchases or duds but there is no guarantee, just as there is no guarantee when shopping in person either. And I completely agree that one can overlook something or get overwhemed when shopping in-person. That said, I’ve suddenly realised that it’s much, much easier dealing with a brand one knows when buying online, than buying a brand one has no experience with and then buying sight unseen. That happened to me just this afternoon when the trio of theBalm’s Shady Lady palettes arrived. For the most part and with a few exceptions, they are so sheer and/or muted I would never have bought these had I tried them out in person. Never. 🙁 27 eyeshadows and I only really like a handful of them (namely, those 2-3 actually pigmented ones). I almost never return things but I really wish I could. (The company website doesn’t even have a FAQ page for me to ask about returns!) I think you ended up being lucky when shipping costs made you forego these.
@Kafka Noooooooo! Oh sh*t hun, that bites!!! I really hate when that happens and right now I seem to be buying far more palettes than I ever have before in my life. I’ve always been wary of them because I usually run into the same problem. I’ve got this damned $60 Naked palette #2 and tbh.. I really don’t like it all that much and everybody LOVES this palette. I’ve got to get myself onto the blending and highlight colours, but I always go back to the same old same old MAC standbys I use for those purposes: grain/brule/dazzlelight/vapour. I hate when I waste money like this when I could have had one product I really like. For example, right now my wish list is one of the Guerlain bronzers which I have never tried/Dior Nude bronzer. I can’t decide, but I do not want a dark orangey number whatseover. MAC Harmony blush is pretty good as a matte alternative for scultping, but I would like an ever so slightly bigger punch than that. So don’t feel alone, I feel your pain and I paid freaking duty on the sucker too 😛
I’d love to see Temptalia swatch products on darker skin tones!
I prefer to look at the stuff myself in store as i like to swatch them on my own skin to see how they look on me 1st but having said that if i have used the product before and i know the brand well and i know the colour type in the product i want then i have no problems getting it it sight unseen.
If i have a choice though i prefer to see it myself for the reasons i have stated above. espically if i am looking at eyeshadows and lipsticks as i am complete old lady when it comes to those items (read i know what i like so why change it? lol)
Not very comfortable….. I prefer to see the product, not only to check out the shades in person but because I hate it when new items are even a little damaged!
When messing around with MAC I have to go see it first. No online buying for me in this case, but if it another brand I’d take the plunge only if I’ve dreamt about it or kept thinking about said product…obsessed. Then I’ll buy it. I haven’t been disappointed yet. 🙂
For me, it`s like playing Russian roulette, maybe lucky, maybe – not 😉 Thats why I never buy expensive products on-line. I live in Eastern Europe, so return policies are often not applicable, sometimes I recieve the stuff after all terms have already been expired. I had an idea to buy some foundation online (MAC, for example, we have no MAC here) but very unsure with colour.
I have no choice but to buy most of my high end beauty products online as I don’t have a lot of high end counters near me such as YSL and Chanel etc. It is a bit of bummer when you realise you don’t like the colour but there’s not much you can really do about it :/
I do make sure to find lots and lots of online swatches though so I can get a good idea of what the colour will be like.
I feel exactly as you do, Christine.
I shopped online from time to time.
If it is something very cheap and wih some colours/products I know I only just want it for fun. ex. NYX. I would just order it.
if it is something quite expensive and some brands only supply basic and useful colours/products but focus on quality, ex Rouge Bunny Rouge. It ll take me forever to decide even though I read lots of fantastic review online for long time already.
If I can find multiple and consistently good reviews and if I can buy it from a company with a good return policy, I don’t mind. If these conditions don’t exist, I am likely to pass or put off purchasing it until I can view the item in person.