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How much do celebrities influence your beauty purchases?
None for me – even when I was young, I didn’t have celebrity crushes or celebrity role model. The most influence I could see happening is if a celebrity wore a shade and looked great in it, but it wasn’t necessarily an endorsement, just a look they wore – but I feel like this is true if I saw it and was struck by how lovely it looked on a non-celebrity, too! I am not, however, turned off by the use of celebrities in most cases, so it is a wash overall!
— Christine
A celebrity I dislike has more power to turn me off an otherwise-fine/good/great product, than a celebrity I like selling me on a product I wouldn’t otherwise buy. (Exception: pretty sure Cate Blanchett could sell me any complexion product, from tinted moisturizer to highlighter, regardless of whether I needed it.)
Good point – a celeb I disliked would absolutely be a reason NOT to buy a product or products.
Yeah I saw some Kardashian nail polish that I liked but just couldn’t buy it ?
Pretty sure Cate Blanchett could sell me anything too 🙂
Very good point, she’s one of the few who could influence me
Agree, Not just a celebrity, even the owner of a beauty company I dislike would make me a high rated product (example: Jeffree Star).
** would make me steer away from a high rated product!
Exactly!
JS certainly helped to dig his own grave.
His lipsticks suck anyway. Won’t be wasting money on those.
I wholeheartedly agree, Living Proof being one. I refuse to make Aniston wealthier, and I’ve tried enough samples to know I don’t like the products at all. A celeb endorsement to me, other than a established brand, generally means an inferior product at an inflated price point.
Agreed! If it’s someone I don’t like, I won’t buy the product! No matter what the color looks like, or the formula. There’s so many dupes, no reason to buy something that doesn’t reflect my tastes. Also, celebrities get paid a lot & get the products for free-something to keep in mind as we are paying premium prices.
Not at all! I don’t follow celebrity “news”, and like you celebrity endorsements can put me off. I’m especially annoyed when brands use a Kardashian/Jenner to promote their products. No way I’d buy something they endorse, so I was very disappointed when Estee Lauder started doing it.
I agree completely with you Lulle!!
They only influence a small amount of my purchases. The celebrity endorsement might get me curious enough to buy a product, but in the end, the product must perform regardless of who’s endorsing it. Like a tried a bunch of different products from Living Proof because Jennifer Aniston was the spokesperson, but I ended up returning almost all of it when they didn’t work out. And I’m curious about the Kylie Jenner lip products and the Honest beauty and skincare line. I bought the MAC So Select lipstick to support Caitlyn Jenner and transgender people, and it also was a great color too. But I’m sure there were products I refused to buy because of a celebrity endorsement as well.
You know I thought of this question completely differently. I never thought of celebrity in terms of product endorsement. Celebs don’t influence my makeup purchases. They do inspire makeup looks at least a little. ??
Not at all.
When the SA or magazine insist what ever celebrity uses a product. I just look bored and have no interest, in fact it would put me off trying it. I want to know if it works for ME!
Not much! Although, I did purchase a MAC Mariah Carey lipstick and a VG Rihanna lipstick & Lipglass, but not so much because of the “who”, as much as the fact that I knew these were going to look really great on me. I do happen to be a fan of both, and yet that wouldn’t have been enough. Now, when it comes to Selena….that’s more of a sentimental thing, but still needs to be flattering on me and work with my own style. I’m way to individualistic to copy a celeb beyond what I’ve just stated.
Selena is probably the only celebrity that I would buy something out of the makeup line just because it’s her ?
Not at all.
Ditto, none. I might get inspired by a celebrity’s look or style but that’s it.
As a teen, they were a big influence. I was really fixated on Angelina Jolie (I was a teenager in the 00s, so her heyday was during my formative years) and very insecure about my appearance, so I bought plenty of gray-beige lipsticks to try to trick people into seeing some kind of resemblance. Shout out to the super gray MAC Folio l/s, which was discontinued by the time I hit makeup buying age and I really thought might accomplish something if only I could afford it on ebay. Lol. I also remember wanting a red from the Dior lipstick line Monica Bellucci did ads for for similar reasons. More than specific products though, they STRONGLY influenced my application, again, particularly Angelina Jolie.
As an adult, I pay more attention if it is a celeb who I think is generally really stylish, but I’m past the point of thinking a certain product will make me look like someone else or wanting to buy something because of a certain fandom. I perk up for Rihanna, for example, but it is only enough to make me seek out a first look. Celebrity makeup artists like Pat McGrath and bloggers are more persuasive, but rarely enough for me to buy a product without trying it in person first.
None at all. I am neither more likely to buy cosmetics that are somehow attached to a celebrity I like/admire or less likely to buy cosmetics when they’re connect to someone I don’t. Color by far is the biggest factor in my makeup purchasing decisions, so I would (and have) happily buy something from a collection fronted by someone I loathe if the color is right.
Exactly what you just said about COLOR! That’s the only thing that matters for me, too. If it looks great, I don’t particularly care who’s name is on it. Which is *why* I have bought quite a few Sinful King Kylie polishes. They wear extremely well, and the shades I’ve gotten are ones I would have bought anyhow! And I cannot STAND anything K or J endorsed or named, LoL.
They don’t influence my purchases in terms of specific brands or anything, but I will sometimes try to replicate make-up looks that I like (particularly with celebrities that share my coloring or face shape).
Simple – they don’t.
My celebrity influence also comes in the from of shades as well. However, that’s about it. I’m not a huge trend follower.
Not at all. In fact, I hardly know most of the people who are “celebrities” these days and I also feel sort of sad for young women who want to “rock a Kim K look” or “do a Kylie lip”. Why not just look like yourself at your best rather than trying to copy someone else? I just don’t get it.
They don’t, really. I do like it when a brand uses a model in my own age group (over 55) prominently in an ad campaign, and those models are usually celebrities. Still, it gives me a good impression of the brand in general, but doesn’t influence me to buy the specific products advertised unless they’re products that I would like and would work well for me anyway.
Dare I say “BAZINGA” re the over 55 models (but spare me Jane Fonda, please). Thinking back (way back), when Isabella Rossellini was the “face” of Lancome (I think it was Lancome), I would be very tempted by some of the makeup items in the ads featuring her. But that was a long time ago and the products were, for the most part, classics.
When Lancome fired her because she was “too old”, I stopped buying it. So in a way, I guess that’s an influence?
I didn’t know they’d fired her, and for that reason. I’m off Lancôme then as well.
And yet… the last Lancome ad I saw with Emma Watson (for Blanc Expert), she looks very reminiscent of Isabella Rossellini. Of course, that might have something to do with the horrendous amount of photoshopping they do, so.
Agree! I’m not influenced by celebrities at all. Of course they look great! I’m interested only in how women my age can continue to look ageless. Lauren Hutton, I’m looking at you!
Not at all. I really don’t care what a celebrity is wearing/using. I care about what is going to work well and look good for me.
I think the only time this kinda applied to me was in 2007ish. Kiera Knightley wore this goooorgeous hot pink lip to the premiere of Atonement and I absolutely had to have it. Turned out to be a Nars lip lacquer in Hot Wired.
I have a board on Pinterest for inspiration. Looks I want to try or incorporate ideas from. I watch a YouTube for techniques or color combo ideas. Models, actresses, youtubers can be great inspiration. I take it in consideration but I don’t copy head to toe
Not at all. I don’t follow celebrities or the whole category of media. I suppose if some celebrity was sporting some trend or look that somehow might make it to new products and discussions like this site, I might be influenced, but I wouldn’t have known it came from some celebrity.
WGAS?
I’m actually LESS inclined to buy products endorsed by or allegedly created by celebrities!
That is my reaction as well. They are all paid to endorse things, so they are LESS reliable.
A fair amount, I guess. Pamela Anderson’s eye shadow placement/technique was my makeup aesthetic for years. I didn’t do the frosted baby pink lipstick, just the eye look. I liked Naomi Campbell’s and Linda Evangelista’s look also. I’d get my makeup done and request those kinds of looks. As far as celebriry brands – I’m jaded and just assume it’s a cash grab and the quality is crap and have never bothered. As far as collaborations or celebrity endorsed products – only if I like the colors and think well of the spokesperson. The last celebrity collaboration I liked and bought pieces from was MAC x Brooke Shields (I’ve been on a palette kick ever since). There are certain brands that I avoid because of the spokesperson, and collaborations I’ve passed on because of the spokesperson.
I’ll admit to first trying a brand based in part by the celebrity face of the brand – SK-II when Cate Blanchette was the brand rep. She has the most amazing skin and is very fair like me. I already knew how good Japanese skin care was, so the combination of the two made an impact. I very much enjoy their products and with the exception of Subday Riley and La Mer, my skincare is almost entirely Japanese and Korean. It probably doesn’t hurt that my in-laws are Korean as well, so I know how to track down the things that are always sold out at Sephora.
Not at all. I don’t follow celebrities. Even if I see a celebrity wearing something that looks good on them, I don’t assume it would look good on me, and it has never occurred to me to try to find out what someone was wearing, or what they really like. I don’t identify in any way with their lives, or choices, and I can’t imagine wanting to be like any of them. I don’t care about the “face of” promotions, and there’s no particular singer/actor/designer/etc. that appeals to me so much more than any other so as to pique my interest. The only thing I might notice is if someone is caught on camera wearing something unusual (like blue lipstick) because that likely means that choices like that will now become more numerous. At the risk of sounding like an anti-pop-culture snob, I can’t name most of the actors and singers that it seems like so many people know on sight, and I don’t equate their names to movies, songs or tv shows (which is bad, actually, as I’ve become a bit of a cultural desert).
None
No
Nada
Celebs are a turnoff for me.
I bought the “Finally Free” lipstick because it supported transgender causes and I really liked the lipstick color, but not to support Caitlyn Jenner. I support the cause, not the celebrity. I do not believe a celebrity should ever overshadow the underlying cause of support or others who have tirelessly worked for those causes with little recognition, though I know this happens all the time. I was definitely disappointed with Estee Lauder enough to a point that I got turned off from using their products. I used to order from them directly online but then over Christmas I got a massive picture of Kendall Jenner entitled “Beauty is a Gift.” ugghhh….If any celebrity influences me, it because of a certain look that they’re displaying or if they’re in a makeup tutorial.
zero percent. Most celebrities to me don’t represent anything truthful; because they are wealthy people who live a privileged life. When they are trying to sell beauty products especially anti aging I think they should also tell you about all the plastic surgery they had first and laser treatments before lying to us and trying to get us to believe that the lotion and potions and cosmetics they are trying to sell delivered the results.
Basically I use what looks best on me – but it is interesting to see the many highlighters that are on the market yet I don’t see many celebrities using it. I don’t follow celebs lives but I love to see their dresses which leads me to look at their makeup.
Absolutely none. I agree with Christine, seeing a pretty color lipstick on a celebrity with my coloring makes me research the lipstick on Makeup Alley, if I can find out what the color and brand was!
Nowadays, a beauty blogger has more influence than a celebrity. See all the recent beauty collabs .. ALL of them sell out like crazy when released. Unlike Celebrity collabs (excluding Rihanna for MAC) they don’t sell as fast as beauty bloggers collabs do.
They don’t, not one bit
No influence at all. Generally I don’t follow any celebrity news, makeup looks or endorsements. In fact, celebrity endorsements are more of a turn-off for me, because I realise that these people were paid big money to say good things about products. I trust poorly known newbie youtubers more, because of their unsponsored and unbiased opinion.
Not at all
Nothing. I just don’t care
The only thing they do is make me AVOID the products they endorse. Companies are shelling out so much money to get a celebrity endorsement, but it has nothing to do with whether or not the product is effective or meets my criteria.
Not at all.
lol I’m so far away from this! I really dont care about celebrities! Who they are for me? Nobody…They are not invited to help me in my life style ,even less in my makeup! Like you Christine i never have an idol or an icone for me even when i was young and im really happy with this…But if i see a beautiful makeup on celebreties or anonymous i will appreciate and give me some imagination maybe…
I must be in the minority on this one, because I really do love seeing brands endorsed by celebrities I like. I feel like when a company chooses a celebrity to be their “face”, they’re sending a very clear message about who they want to reach out to, who they’re making products for and what style they’re promoting. In my experience it’s a really good way to look at a brand and figure out what they’re about before actually buying any makeup. That also means, of course, that if I don’t like a celebrity or have no interest in them it can be an instant turn off.
If I really like a celebrity I will occasionally buy something just because their name is associated with the product. It’s nowhere near the majority of my purchases, but there have been a few that I can think of: I bought the MAC x Dita Von Teese lipstick and the Charlotte Tilbury Hot Lips Liv It Up lipstick without really considering whether either would look good on me just because I admire both women. I’m also very close to buying Secret Salma even though I’m almost 100% sure it won’t look good on me.
However, I haven’t ever bought a beauty product just because a celebrity I like was wearing it on the red carpet or in a photo shoot, simply because I don’t have cable (so I never watch celebrity events, and never look them up online) and I have very little motivation to look up what products were used if I do like a photo I see. I feel like if I see a look I like on someone, my makeup collection is large enough that I can recreate it.
Haha we are in the minority because I too am interested and influenced by their looks. I don’t watch events because magazines will have the highlights anyway, and the part I really care about is the fashion and beauty, not who won the awards.
I check them out all the time, mostly in magazines, to see what clothing and makeup they are wearing. In fact, I never get used to being in the minority on this. I am always shocked by the number of women who don’t read magazines and know about the latest in fashion and beauty. Not criticizing it, just suprised by it. All these magazines stay in business, yet 90+% of the women I know don’t read them. And here I am looking for foreign ones because I can’t get enough with just the American ones.
Most of the time little impact either good or bad but this Kerry Washington OPI fall collection is making me want almost every color.
Bobbi Brown switching to Kate Upton as their face has really limited the amount of BB products I buy. Anytime I try to get over it and visit a counter, there is always a man who stops by and watches/comments on the tv ads that are almost running at the counter. I usually then just get annoyed and leave.
When I see celebrities or models with deeper skin tones it says a lot about a brand; expanded marketing, more shade ranges and recognition that all women wear makeup ;-). I am more likely to consider the products or brands for future purchases because I they may carry my shades(eg Kerry Washington and Neutrogena/ Lupita Nyongo and Lancôme).
When I was younger, it might have. I recall Madonna posing on the front of Rolling Stone rocking an awesome lip (then unknown in the US, MAC in Russian Red). All of those “what can you not live without?” Interviews would say MAC Spice lipliner. I had to phone Canada to buy it and I did really love the products. These days, there is an occasional inspiration and since they are a celebrity, you can google what was used. In those rare cases, it is about the product, though, and not the “who”.
Until reading other responses, I hadn’t read this question as celeb-sponsored, but agree with everyone else that I may stear clear if I dislike someone and i don’t believe a paid sponsor.
I’m not influenced to buy products merely because of celebrity endorsements. However, if a celebrity with my skintone looks good in a particular lipstick or eyeshadow it may pique my interest. I’m more likely to check out a product if certain beauty bloggers I respect recommend it.
None at all. Sometimes I like the idea of a celebrity collaboration, but only if the products are of quality (I’m looking at you MAC).
The only way celebrities influence me on a product is not to buy it if I think they are hypocritical or just nasty people. I abhor Penelope Cruz’s views on Israel, so I will not purchase any Lancome product modeled by her in one of their ads. Nor do I buy anything modeled or promoted by Julia Roberts, another Lancome celebrity. She stole another woman’s husband, and as a result, I want NOTHING to do with anything promoted by her.
Also do not like Jennifer Lopez, who has a reputation for stiffing waiters out of tips and leaving fitting rooms a mess at boutiques, then walking out without purchasing anything. She also keeps doing these semi nude dresses on red carpets. It’s old, Jennifer! Louis Vuitton fired her after she did some of their handbag ads. They had said she could take some bags with her after the shoots as a gift from them. She took what she could and then sent an assistant to take the remainder. So I stay away from L’Oreal products Lopez promotes.
Who DO I like that do cosmetic ads? Kate Winslet, Cate Blanchett, Gigi Hadid, and Katie Holmes come to mind.
I wouldn’t say celebrities influence my beauty purchases but I do take inspiration from some celebrities, especially those that are similar in skin tone, hair and eye color to me. But I’ve never bought a product that a celebrity has endorsed or been stated as using.
No influence at all.
Hi Temptalia!
Same here Christine! They don’t play anything in what I wear or don’t wear. I’m always true to who I am and what I like. Whether a person at register at JC Penney or a famous Celebrity… it makes no difference to me. So I would have to say, no influence at all, make-up or style of dress. ? I enjoy being an original, not a copy. But that’s just me. ?
Not at all.
Never
As with many here, a celebrity is more likely to put me off a purchase if I don’t like her (or him), than make me buy smth. I will not even come near anything by the Kardashians, for example.
On the other hand, I bought Gwen Stefani lipstick cause I really do like her, but if the color was not right it would not matter.
In terms of seeing them in an advertisement, not at all. But seeing a look on them and finding out the products used has definitely influenced me, but it also depends on the celebrity. The makeup worn and used by women such as Cate Blanchett, Elizabeth Olsen, Chloe Grace Moretz and Jennifer Lawrence can (and has in some cases) influenced my purchased because these women share similar colouring and makeup styles to me. And if I don’t like a celebrity it will make me shy away from a product or brand entirely.
Celebrities have a polarizing effect for sure. I really prefer anonymous models so that I am not distracted by the silliness that surrounds most famous people. I even don’t really enjoy seeing the super models that much. I am much more interested in the person who DID the makeup for that celebrity and the reasons for their choosing certain things. Celebrity-owned brands are something I completely disregard. I have also stopped buying from brands that put out limited edition products that sell out in a hot minute thereby creating their own sort of celebrity in the process. Lately I am only looking for quality, beautiful products, even if I have to pay more.
Not at all. There are times they even turn me off, ie. a certain family whose surname begins with the letter “K”. I’m much more influenced by beauty bloggers (such as our lovely Christine) 🙂
A fair amount, if they’re in the over 55 age range. I know that they’re facing at least a few of the same issues I am, and I’m always curious about the choices their makeup artists make (and hair stylists, since their hair goes through a lot if they’re actively working). I found some HG products like this. I never would have tried Chanel Frivole blush if I hadn’t seen it used on a 60+ actress first. It’s not the celeb status, it’s being able to see a product in use “live.” FWIW, none of the ones I look to for inspiration do endorsements.
No influence to buy or not to buy.
But I remember that I was really embarrassed on my way to the counter to buy a Kardashian sister face palette. It is a really nice product, but I don’t want to be associated with them.
So far, not at all. Even as a little girl, I didn’t had any celebs that inspired me to buy/try stuff and now years later, the same goes for makeup.
However, I have to admit..
I read a while ago that Rihanna is coming out with her own beauty line and I’m really excited to see what she comes up with! I absolutely loved her collaboration with MAC and even her collab with Puma, which is not even makeup, was kinda cool and I loved it! So if her line launches and prices are reasonable, I might want to try a few things.
Not gonna lie, yes they do influence my makeup choices. Not so much my skin and hair care, as these are areas where I need to be more consistent and less experimental, but yes to makeup. I devour both American and British tabloids, but not for the gossip…I go straight to the fashion and beauty pages and check out the looks. If a celeb I like is wearing it, AND I like the look, I might very well buy it. I do this in other fashion magazines too, but the tabloids are weekly and more up-to-the-minute. I do love to check out and try trends, but only if I feel they are “me.” Ex. you won’t be seeing red or dark lips on this face no matter what’s in style. Celebs that I really like tend to get my look though, so their style is natural for me, and I like having a look before everyone else does.
Also, I really don’t hate any celebs, I either love them or am indifferent, so they don’t influence me not to try something. And I tend to skew towards celebs younger than me, as my fashion and beauty choices run younger than my chronological age. I’m 48, but I relate more to those around 30.
I agree with the ladies who say a celebrity can have a negative influence rather than a positive one. I don’t gravitate to a product because a celebrity has endorsed it, but I’ll definitely avoid a product if I have string negative feelings about the person (i.e. The Kardashians 😛 )
Oops, should have been “strong”; not “string”. Ugh! Autofill! LOL
Not at all, although I am influenced by looks I see on TV. I’ll be like “I wish I had that lipstick that actress is wearing” or “hm, that purple blush looks better than I thought it would”. But those are just makeup trends in general, I guess, not specific to celebrities.
Celebs with similar coloring is something I do look at. Emma Stone and I are similar so if I know a red carpet break down, it’s probably a safe bet I’ll look at least ok in the same colors.
None. Unless they’re going to BUY my skincare or cosmetics….NONE.
Not one bit. Actually if a celebrity endorses cosmetics it throws me off unless it genuine like Honest Beauty with Jessica Alba and Flower by Gwyneth Paltrow or Eva Longoria…I’ve tried their brands but not die hard fans.
Rihanna is supposed to be coming out with a line of beauty products and I am on the fence about it. The price points matter heavily so if hers are affordable then I may try something. Otherwise it’s rare that a celeb gets me to buy anything.