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The drugstore seems to be trying their best to follow trends, which is nice to see. The cushion k-beauty, unique lip colors. Seems like Nyx is the fastest at responding to trends, while the mega companies are slower (but releases like L’oreal’s spring release shows that they’re invested in trends too).
Is there a brand that doesn’t follow trends? The problem is that brands are releasing too much and the quality suffers. I’m done with it. I rather buy from the permanent line. I’ll pass on most collections with pseudo famous ahem gurus or overly gimmicky sub par releases with cutesy packaging ahem Too Faced. New this. LE that. It’s all too much. Not really healthy they are turning us into hoarders. Love makeup but it’s getting ridic lol
Well said, Erica. Is there really all that much that is unique? When there is, every company out there seems to get aboard because, of course, their main concern is profit so if “strobing” is the new, hot trend, they’ll all get on board ASAP. I’m not a big one for trends….I like what I know looks good on me so no matter what the “trend” is, you won’t see me wearing a nude lip or a matte lip or blue lipstick, for example.
I couldn’t agree more, Erica. Honestly, the whole industry really turns me off lately! It’s good for my pocketbook, though, but it’s hard to get excited for anything because it all BS now, from the “guru” sales pitch, the hype, to the actual product quality:( I find myself passing on almost everything, getting rid of stuff that I bought impulsively, and just sticking with my basic “holy grails”.
Almost everyone! I mean, what brand hasn’t released highlighters and liquid matte lipsticks in the past year? Even Chanel has. I’m trying to think of who isn’t following trends, and I’d say maybe Clarins, Paul & Joe… that’s about it.
Milk has to be the most unappealing brand to me. Just so off putting. Stick products do not appeal to me. They are so easy for me to pass!
I know some will balk, but going by the matte liquid lipstick trend, you can add Tom Ford to your list. I know he’s done highlighters, but Clarins does too. I’m just thinking matte liquid lips.
I think that Milk and Glossier are the 2 top brands setting the trend for marketing and product innovation.
Sorry I meant my comment for you. You mentioned Milk and they just do not appeal to me. Lol
Well, pretty much all of them. I feel like drug store brands are especially quick, since they really profit from having affordable versions of trendy items. Nyx, e.l.f., and Makeup Revolution are especially good at getting on things pretty quickly. It seems a lot of the higher end brands were quick with some things, such as highlighters/strobing, and Modern Renaissance-like red/warm eyeshadow palettes, but were rather late to the game in putting out liquid lipsticks.
I think almost all the brands follow trends; it’s kind of their job to feed into fads and trends in order to make sales. I understand fads — we’ve always had them and always will — but they seem so **extreme** lately. I mean, big dark eyebrows came into fashion and some people are nothing but gigantic spray painted brows. Highlighter became a fad and some vloggers seem to think that means sticking big distracting silver globs of glitter on their noses and chins and cheeks.
There are some drugstore brands that I think neither create trends nor follow them, and have the same products most of the time, like Almay.
I agree with Erica. I am D-U-N following the next shiny object. I have been so amazed following the threads here at the sheer volume of releases, the cry (on FB) for Christine to review NOW, and often the sub-par quality of what is being offered in collections and LE. (Christine, I so do appreciate your helping us navigate through the fog.)
As I have gotten more educated thanks to Temptalia and following the women here more closely, an interesting paradox has happened. Rather than inciting a mad rush to buy, I have really slowed down — not necessarily on quantity of late, but certainly of what I deem quality. Sometimes I buy high end, sometimes drug store. I have really zeroed on in what I want, need, and what my most flattering colors are.
The past month has really been a revelation and a maturation. I follow what’s new because it’s fun, and sometimes it’s worth checking out in person. Sometimes it’s not. But I shed the need to get the latest and the most new release. If it’s six years old and best for me, so be it. Quality and what works best — first, foremost, and, hopefully, forevermore.
Well said. Brava!
Also, is there anyone else who’s got a contrary streak and won’t try a fad precisely because it IS a fad? That’s me.
Hi Susan!
Rebels with a makeup cause!
That’s my relationship with the current deluge of lip palettes. I don’t care if every brand is trying to push them on me right now, they’re not my thing and I hate them! Liquid lipsticks to a degree too (I have actually tried a couple). Give me my lipstick in a bullet please!
Exactly!
Just recently I was in Sephora & ULTA and I didn’t buy any makeup, only skincare and only because I needed to restock. I’m tired of spending so much money on items I honestly don’t need. I’m letting my amazing collection inspire me and give me joy. I’m still purchasing but only products from brands I love and only products I don’t have a dupe for. No reason for 1 woman to have multiple red and pink lipsticks (30+). Girls got to draw the line somewhere. ?♀️
Amen. Great comment.
So true. I may not be spending significantly less on makeup, but I’ve certainly been smarter about my purchases. A few years back, I would just pick up the newest hyped up stuff that was everywhere on Youtube, sometimes even things I have a hunch won’t be that flattering on me, but I’ve since wised up. I think blogs, such as this, are more credible than Youtubers because the focus tends to be on the product itself. On Youtube, a lot of the time it’s about the personality in front of the camera. And I’ve personally come to believe that just because someone has charisma and comes off as likeable, doesn’t automatically mean that they are always trustworthy or unbiased.
Exactly how I feel Linda! I have been in Sephora so few times that the staff were asking me where I went and if I had moved away LOL but not only that in the last ten times I’ve gone in, I’ve purchased two items that I ran out of so nothing new.
I actually haven’t purchased any new item since the Le Marc Creme’s a few months ago. I am no longer interested in buying the newest item however I do love to read about new releases and check all the swatches and reviews; that’s becoming more fun than shopping for it lol.
Had the makeup game not got sooooooooo irritating and annoying I’d still be as much in love as I was years ago but now, I’m just sick of everybody on the new fad. BLEH
High five to you too, sister! You put it into words that I did not have. Checking out all the new stuff is TOTALLY fun. More fun that buying it all — 100%. When I go swatching around (fun), yet in my gut feel zero desire to buy it, I’m finally listening to that.
The makeup game IS totally annoying in many ways with the endless MAC churn being the biggest culprit, IMO. The endless MAC bombardment burned me out. In fact, it turned me off enough to change my buying habits as I got sick of being manipulated.
Makeup is still endlessly interesting and fun. But, like you, I found my limits.
MAC always seems to set trends rather than follow – but having said that, no brand can always foresee the future and set all of the trends.
Pretty much all of them. Obviously it’s the nature of drugstore to try to implement trends cheaper a bit later down the line, but most brands regardless of price point try to jump on the trends as fast as they can so they don’t miss out on potential profit.
I agree that it’s the nature of the game to put out products people are clamorjnv to buy, but I much prefer to wait the trend out and let brands I prefer come up with what they feel is the right formulation for their standard/brand. The need to churn out the next new big thing results in poor quality and the reason MAC resembles an overpriced drugstore brand these days. No offense meant to any die hard MAC fans or people who prefer drugstore, but the quality on MAC has suffered horribly from the constant churning out of LE releases on a weekly basis. I used to avoid them because they were too trendy, now I just find them a bit irritating. Based on the comments from fans of the brand, they’re frustrated as well. I’ll admit being content with the “get off my lawn” curmudgeon mentality of brands that stick to small seasonal releases. I frankly have so much, that as much as I like shiny new things, I have no need for a new release every week or month.
With regards to MAC, although it could apply to other brands as well, I personally feel that releasing so many LEs actually devalue the LEs. These products were meant to be special, but how special can anything be if there is one every other week? Also, I remember a time when almost all of MAC’s LE had special packaging on the containers or the powder is pressed in a different pattern or something like that. Nowadays, there are some LEs that don’t even look like LEs once they come out of the cardboard carton.
I couldn’t agree more.
Agreed and I totally didn’t mean to go on a MAC rant either. They’re just the best example of the influx of new and LE releases that have damaged the brand in my opinion. They were also so cutting edge in releasing bold colors (and foundations) for deeper skin tones. Victims of their own hype I suppose. You’re right that the same could easily be said for other brands. I won’t even get started on collaborations that are blasted at us.
I am probably going to be in the minority here but I like following trends and fads. I am 63 years old and many of the innovative products being produced now did not exist when I first started using makeup in my teens. Makeup is fun for me and an artistic outlet. It isn’t a business for me so I like to try and experiment. Sometimes I love the product and sometimes I don’t but I want to have fun with the whole process. I like going makeup shopping and coming out of the store with 25 different shades of lipstick on my hand! Sometimes you have to play with a product to see how it works and that is fun for me also. I have been trying some very fun products from smaller lines and Indie brands, like Nabla, Fyrinnae and a couple of cosmetic lines on Etsy. I hope it never stops being fun for me.
The only trend that I WISH the DS brands would follow is to expand their foundation range to include very pale foundation with pink undertones……
I think all the brands are on the highlighting bandwagon now with so many great releases with excellent quality.
I just don’t want to see any brand release products for the sake of it and their quality suffers as a result.
About 25 years ago, I found my perfect shade (fair, slight pink undertone shade similar to yours, I’m assuming) in the DS, no problem. It was great (CG or Loreal, can’t remember). And, I wasn’t even the lightest shade! Maybe 3rd lightest. A few years later, the DS lines changed their foundations to darker, more neutral and yellow tones. My shade was nonexistent! That’s when I was forced into high end brands (and prices). Very sad day. Anyway, I do recommend The Body Shop Lightening Drops (introduced maybe 2 to 3 years ago for $20). Now, if I find the tone (cool) and coverage I want for my dry skin, I can just add the drops to lighten it a bit. Voila! A drop with a pump of Dr Jart Beauty Balm SPF 45 Light to Medium is my every day shade. I’ll take it and run! I have a couple others that I lighten as well. If you need a bit more pink, try mixing with a bit of UD or Sephora pink corrector. It is difficult (DS and high end) to find foundations for fair skin, let alone for those with pink undertones as well.
A little bit in one brand, a little bit in another, and another….it’s really all over the place! There isn’t really just one or two brands that are bringing it, but many. And it’s quite piecemeal. I mean Estee Lauder just brought us a bunch of on trend shimmery and even a few metallic lipsticks, who would have seen THAT coming? LoL
The first brand that came to mind was actually Urban Decay.
It seems to me pretty fragmented — a few brands lead in this or that but follow elsewhere. Bite with its hydrating sparkly toppers seems to be leading in that slim category but is it leading in lippies considering E Lauder’s new hi-lustres or UD’s Vice launch last year. ABH has brow products and a fresh take on eyeshadow palette but for me, Viseart gets more than a nod in eyeshadow palettes. MAC’s frenetic LE launches pattern is almost its own trend but is it ahead on lips. Etc.
Soooo many and it’s becoming overwhelming although I do appreciate the drug store brands switching it up and meeting us in the trend. Black Opal revamped their entire line and packaging…completely blew my mind with how sleek and up to date and in trend it is. I don’t even mind the price hike.
I am with Erica on the it’s to much topic. I can honestly say that this sudden rush of MUA Gurus on youtube and IG and everywhere else has darkened my spirit for makeup. There is too much competition and LIES. I feel you are one of if not the ONLY beauty blogger who tells the truth and that’s why I come here first to find out about new products. You don’t PUSH stuff down our throats and your opinion is genuine.
Not only have I been on a makeup buying freeze I really haven’t been intrigued enough by anything new to purchase. All the new liquid lipsticks are subpar and it’s just too much. I have found myself at the drug store brands more now for mascara and powders, etc. and stick to my higher end brands only when I need something.
I feel like the oversaturating of makeup to fit the trend, is killing the excitement.