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What beauty brand always surprises you?


What beauty brand always surprises you? Share!

Right now, I’d say Maybelline, because they’re really pushing out some great products at an affordable price point.

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Barbie Avatar

wet n wild because of their great eyeshadow palettes and lip products
milani because they also have great lip products, blushes, bronzers and eyeliners

xamyx Avatar

A little over a month ago, Walgreen’s started carrying Essence, and they were having a BOGO1/2 sale, so I decided to pick up a few items. So far, I’ve been completely impressed, and plan to try more. I especially love the Long Wearing pencil liner, which does not move from my waterline, even on long walks in very warm weather. The mattifying powder is also amazing; I don’t have oily skin, so I can’t attest to that aspect, but it really diffuses the look of pores, which is something I need.

Justine Avatar

I’d have to agree with you; Maybelline for me as well! The majority of my favorite drugstore makeup comes from them, especially since their face products don’t break me out (unlike other brands).

Vedrana Avatar

For the past year or so it’s been Turkish brand Golden Rose. They follow trends in beauty industry closely, especially when it comes to new technologies, and they produce quality products at an affordable price.

Quinctia Avatar

Positively, Milani, though I really oughtn’t be surprised much any more. But they keep coming out with new, great products.

Negatively, MAC. I was gonna type out a long spiel here, but long story short: it’s really difficult to watch a brand at that price point release LE items so prolifically and miss at hitting good quality so much.

Jan Avatar

I have to ditto you Christine. I used to be allergic to most of their products and found them to patchy, uneven or unflattering. Now, I find myself purchasing the brand with a fairly frequently. I like many of the original color tattoos and am intrigued by the pigments. My favorite lipstick is actually one of theirs as well. Who knew?

Jennifer Avatar

Wet n Wild and Physician’s Formula. They both put out products that exceed my expectations. The Physicians’s Formula eyeliners are some of my favorites for staying power surpassing most of my high end eyeliners.

Mariella Avatar

I’d have to say Wet n Wild. I’ve only tried their eye shadows and perhaps should try some of their blushes, bronzers and lip products but I’m always wooed by eye shadows and the ones they’ve come out with are amazing. I remember a time when WnW was considered a cheap, poor quality, garish line that some younger people would use because it was inexpensive and also gave the glaringly artificial results some young people first experimenting with makeup were looking for. But in recent years, holy smokes! I’d also have to say that Sephora’s house brand of makeup and skincare is really excellent. Their relaunched eye makeup (powder shadows, liners, shadow liners, etc.) are amazing. I used to steer away from this stuff and go for the other brands Sephora carries but not any longer.

Danielle Avatar

I also agree with Maybelline. I’ve been loving their products lately. I also always surprised by how good most of Julep’s skincare products are (not their DD Creme, which I found to be awful).

Emily Avatar

I would have to say Nyx! You can get some great deals on their products and I have been trying more and more from their line and love most of everything i have tried! And i also agree with you! Maybelline really have uped their game!

Allison@neversaydiebeauty Avatar

I agree with Maybelline, but I would also add essence and Nyx, both of which have some terrific, very affordable products. essence has some interesting and quite unique products as well. The I Love Extreme Crazy Volume mascara & I Love Stage eyeshadow base have replaced my prestige brands. And love those Nyx pencils.

Clio Avatar

My friend swears by essence — none of their products cost more than a few dollars, but that’s because as a company, they skimp on advertising instead of product quality! As for me, it’s Maybelline for sure. I used to write Maybelline off completely, but every new drugstore item I pick up is Maybelline these days.

Geneva Avatar

I’d have to say MAC. I was really pleasantly surprised with their Pro Longwear foundation. I’ve been using Chanel Perfection Lumiere for the past year and its a bit pricey. I tried MAC foundation years ago and didn’t like them. The makeup artist put me in an NC instead if the NW that I wore before. I love it and can save Chanel for special occasions.

VickyM Avatar

For me it´s Mac, they can fail sometimes, but the products of the permanent range are good and sometimes they come up with such great ideas like the Archie’s Girls collection. When it comes to budget makeup I go to Mac 😀 .

Carrie Avatar

I’ve found myself really liking a number of Sephora brand products. The Jumbo Waterproof Liner and Flashy Waterproof Liner are the some of the best I’ve found. I also like all of the Sephora makeup brushes I’ve purchased.

Lee Avatar

I’d say Wet & Wilds blushes are amazing especially for the price. Their blushes are extremely pigmented and rival some department store brands.

Nikki Avatar

Urban Decay, but not in a good way. I am always intrigued by reviews for Urban Decay eyeshadows and palettes, but whenever I try them for myself I’m always surprised by how much I dislike them. They just don’t seem to last on me, and they crease in my experience. The shadows I own from UD are just collecting dust. =/

Amara Avatar

Maybelline usually surprises me. I’ve always loved their mascara, the pink tube. When they came out with the color tattoo shadows I just had to start snatching them up… except Pomegranate Punk was disappointing.

Another company I sometimes am pleasantly surprised with is CoverGirl. Usually, I’m so disappointed with their stuff and usually would only get mascara not very often. Also, I think I’m allergic or at least very sensitive to their eyeshadows and most of their liners. A month ago, however, I for some reason picked up some foundation cause it looked light enough for me, and it is amazing. It’s that one that’s supposed to be primer + concealer + foundation..I still use primer and sometimes concealer, but it’s my perfect shade and it lasts amazingly through a LONGGGGG day at school. I’d probably buy that again, but nothing else of theirs.

Jackie Avatar

Maybelline’s newer lipsticks are ridiculously good, especially for the price point. Richly pigmented, fun, on-trend colors that last forever– they’re better than some of my lipsticks that cost 4x as much.

lenita Avatar

wow so many recs for wet n wild; i’d have to check them out.

for me it’s thebalm and nyx. i’ve been loving ecerything i pick up from them lately.

SandraJT Avatar

Avon, surprisingly. Their Mark line has really good eyeshadow singles, they have some amazing foundations that apply & wear like really high quality brands, and their pencil liners (Glimmersticks) and fat shadow pencils (Big Color) are absolutely phenomenal. Never in my life thought I’d have anything positive to say about Avon. Definitely never thought I’d rave about anything they sell.

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