Will your holiday beauty spending stay the same, go up, or be reduced?

I think it’ll be about the same, possibly a little down. I used to feel compelled to do a lot of reviewing of mini sets and kits featuring permanent shades, but in the last two years, the interest seems lower or else people feel good about purchasing regardless – I think that’s a testament to more sets being consistent in quality with full-sized offerings. This is especially true for lipstick!

— Christine

41 Comments

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Mariella Avatar

Probably less – a combination of Pandemic limitations, the recent glut of makeup “steals” I’ve found and indulged in and also a shift in my priorities because of the Pandemic (honestly, how much makeup does one woman really need?) – I think it’s created a bit of shift in what I consider important.

kjh Avatar

Maybe only a preteen gift. Tarte, Florence, etc. Most of my gifting friends don’t wear m/u. For me, probably not, but you never know what might pop up.

Rachel Avatar

Depends on how much longer we go on wearing masks. I wear makeup to work because I sit behind a giant sneeze-guard but have to wear a mask on and off throughout the work day. I find blush rubs off on my mask side elastics badly and they end up a weird shade of pink. Same with the lipstick, it doesn’t wash off well from the cloth masks.

That being said, I will probably continue to buy makeup for the eyes and probably look for for long wearing or lip stains this holiday season. If any lippies catch my eye, I will have to keep them in the box until we’re over this.

Sarah Avatar

Significantly reduced. I just don’t see the point, with the world being as it is right now. I do intend to send small gifts to close family (most not beauty related, I think I’m the biggest beauty consumer in my family), but when it comes to my personal beauty spending, it’s just not happening this year.

I’m surprised I even splurged on two pricy palettes this year.

Mary B. Avatar

Reduced. WAY reduced. COVID means I’m wearing less makeup than usual, and I’ve finally realized that many holiday releases are of such poor quality that I wouldn’t buy them at any other time of the year. Money saved to put towards a new Xbox, since we’re all staying in and playing games a lot more.

Lesley Avatar

It’s been years since my spending was motivated by holidays and I don’t expect that to change this year. I rarely give physical gifts (cash is king) so holiday packaging and special sets don’t tempt me. Holiday makeup seems to be all about sparkle but as I have aged, I find that adding sparkle with jewelry is much more flattering.

Arena Avatar

I think spending less but with meaning; I have been making a list all year, of special pieces of quality rather than a bunch of random stuff. For example, a really nice Givenchy cologne for my husband that I know he (and I!) love; I already scored a few palettes on 50% sale for friends; that Clinique pop set for myself that I know I will love (and is such good value for money). I have also been really into Etsy: just found hand-made headbands….so beautiful!

Carmen Avatar

Much much less. I have one item on my list, the Fresh Sugar Lip Minis, and that’ll be it for me. If I see anything I want, I’ll get them after the holidays when the prices are slashed if they’re still around. So far, I’m not seeing anything in the holiday collection release announcements that are interesting me so I think it’s going to be a big zero for me this time around.

Ana Maria Avatar

I usually don’t buy holiday releases for me, the only thing specifically that might interest me would be one of the Sephora hair products favorites, especially if they go on sale. The styling products and dry shampoo minis usually last me for the year. ?

I do plan on taking advantage of the holidays sales and deals, for items I need in the near future.
But my expenses will be lower, since in the past year I would buy presents for my family and friends back in Europe. This year… no travel, no gifts needed.

Agona Avatar

Reduced. I am not buying foundation, cheek, or lip products right now since there’s no point with the constant mask wear. And all my girl friends that I normally gift beauty products (I basically supply them since I’m the only one who is an enthusiast) really only wearing eye makeup right now too. Related but unrelated, I noticed I’m saving a lot more now because I’m not going out to eat or do things or vacation (which is where all my disposable income was going to besides beauty)–which is serendipitous because we’re looking to buy a house hopefully in the next year or two, so I don’t really have an excuse not to squirrel away more now.

Eileen Avatar

How much I spend really just depends on what is being offered by the brands that I favor. Some years I want it all. Some years I don’t want anything. Other years fall somewhere in the middle.

Eileen Avatar

Oops! Not sure how I managed to delete the last bit of my response, but I did, so here it is. This is one of those years where I won’t be buying anything because there just won’t be the kinds of celebrations and gatherings that justify a holiday look.

Teresa Avatar

I will be spending significantly less if any. As an avid makeup lover through the years I have found what I like and what I don’t like and what to buy or no. Like too faced sets are usually poor quality for holiday sets. I have completely stopped buying any lip products. So far all I really love is the new Pat Mcgrath holiday palatte

Jess Avatar

Reduced for sure. Normally I ask my spouse for palettes and so forth, but I’ve hardly been wearing what I already have. When I do wear eye makeup, it’s making my episcleritis flare up, so even without COVID I think I’d be wearing less.

Kim Avatar

I trying to just stick to a few luxury things instead of everything on sale. I started finding some amazing things- Suqqu powder, Gucci bronzer that I find so perfect that they makes me want to ditch my other stuff. Since I am teaching online for several months to come, my makeup needs to be way better than before. ?

Maggie Avatar

The last few years have been low actually so in comparison to that, personal spending might be upwards: I am in the middle of de-cluttering expired and “not clean” makeup and discovered that my collection needs to be updated on things: foundation, concealer, bronzer, talc-free shadow, and mascara. I have foregone wearing such things for a while but with zoom meetings happening I’ll have to step it up.

Brenda Avatar

Mine will go down. This year I’m going to be Ultra picky. I really need to have a chat with myself and decide if I’ll really use a product and not be blinded by “it’s pretty”.

Cat E Avatar

Mine will likely remain the same. I will purchase the Holiday items from brands I’m interested in normally and be done. My Holiday spending list is only about 4-5 items anyway.

Genevieve Avatar

My holiday spending will, most likely, be the same as a lot of beauty products out there are not really suited to me. I have ordered a few – PMG’s Sublime or Surreal”s 5 pan (which has yet to arrive) and ND’s Glam, but apart from that there is not many that I am seriously attracted to.
The genuine holiday spending will be about skincare deals for myself and my daughter in law – I always give her a big goodies bag for Christmas and for her birthday, so I am collecting for that.

Pearl Avatar

Reduced – no MAC, Chanel, Guerlain or Tom Ford for me this year. I’m starting to lose interest in these brands. Just a few pieces from Pat McGrath’s holiday collection, maybe something from Natasha Denona or if Sydney Grace releases anything. No beauty gifting either – noone else is a makeup enthusiast like I am and I gift throughout the year, anyway.

Martha Avatar

Like so many others here, my spending will go down. Since I have to wear a mask at work, I’ve stopped wearing foundation, blush and lip products. I’d be curious to know if companies have experienced a decline in sales with these products.

Jules Avatar

There’s just no point. I already have a ton of makeup that I’ve accumulated over the past 10 years.

Wearing a mask out in public already covers more than half of my face, so I don’t even need to wear makeup.

This is going to be a bad year for cosmetic companies.

Nikki Avatar

I don’t know if I’ll be getting anyone beauty gifts or if I’ll even be getting any gifts for anyone outside my immediate family this year-some family members who will remain anonymous are putting out feelers for holiday gatherings, but I wouldn’t want to go under the current circumstances.
I don’t really have any regular amount for my non-gift beauty spending-it’s based solely on what appeals to me at any given time-but I do have a few things in mind as possibilities.

DVa Avatar

Down for sure.
Everything I’ve looked at for the last couple of months, I realize I don’t need anything.
While I’m tempted by some new releases and new lines, in truth there’s nothing I can’t dupe; I have more than enough.

Skincare (stuff I actually finish) will be the majority of what I buy. Even hair items, aside from shampoo and conditioner, I’m not using much of these days.

Sarah Avatar

A bit reduced overall. I use holiday sales to stock up on beauty stuff for the upcoming year, but with how little I’ve used in 2020, I may still have enough to get me through 2021 lol. I also buy my mom whatever she’s low on, but she’s only mentioned mascara this year.

Gift-wise, spending will be lower as well. I won’t buy much makeup, but I will buy some skincare/bodycare type things. Maybe some more “relaxation” related items like masks or bath bombs.

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