Musings of the Day: Leaves It!
This is a hard one because the Muse has never found a brand of cosmetic that she didn't like but she thought hard about it and here are a few that kinda sorta don't tickle my fancy!
- Sephora Brand
We all know and love Sephora but the Muse doesn't feel any great love for the Sephora brand cosmetics. I've purchased a few bits and pieces but I'm always somewhat disappointed with whatever I buy and honestly for the quality I think it's a tad bit over priced.
- Laura Mercier
Heck I love Laura! I think the Laura Mercier Flawless Face Kit was incredible! However, I do visit the counter and just pass by on a majority of the offerings. I find it a tiny bit boring in all honesty....
- Shiseido
I bow to the gods of Shiseido! But did you ever notice a majority of my Shiseido collection is from branch off brands within Japan such as Majorca Majolica? I never really indulge my need for Shiseido at my local counter. I dunno why but I really never found anything that Shiseido US offers that I absolutely must have aside from their killer face cotton!
I'm trying to think of more but hells knows this is a tough question for the Muse who loves just about anything and everything about cosmetics!
How about you? Which brands just don't interest you!
Tell the Muse!
Labels: Laura Mercier, Musings of the Day, Sephora, Shiseido
posted by the Muse @ 8:18 PM
46 Comments:
wet n wild, clinique, & avon. not that i'm too good for those lines, but they reminded me of a time when i was a teenager & had no idea i was applying & choosing my colors all wrong. lol.
I have to agree with you on Sephora these days. I do own two of their old palettes (offered a couple of years ago) that were in the rubber-like packaging but the color payoff wasn't that good so I never really felt compelled to buy more. Some other brands...Almay, Rimmel, Dior, Chanel (the last two just seem so ridiculous in price), Ulta (seems similar to Sephora brand) and anything with a gimic. Great post and question!:)
I agree with you concerning the three brands: Sephora (so-so quality at a MAC price), Laura Mercier, and Shiseido (I love their SPF 55, though)!
The brands that fail to make me rave like an Elvis fan (haha) are of the following:
1. Benefit - they just haven't had any good value sets recently. I read the reviews of almost all their products at Sephora.com and it seems a lot of people are getting frustrated as well.
2. Cargo
3. ck Calvin Klein - I don't understand the hype, and the packaging is too standard for me.
4. DuWop - Apparently all the Hollywood stars wear DuWop.
5. Givenchy - The eyeshadows have almost no color payoff.
And more are Laura Geller, Giorgio Armani, Lancome, LORAC, and Smashbox is slowing becoming one of them.
Thanks for letting me share, Muse. I love this feature (Question of the Day)!
I find that the makeup brands that don't interest me are ones that just don't really catch my eye packaging-wise. It sounds very shallow, I know, but that's what compels me to take a closer look at what they have to offer.
High End Brands: Clarins, Estee Lauder, Lise Watier (French-Canadian brand), LORAC, Make Up For Ever (looks too industry-based), Sephora brand (tries too hard to cover every type of product that exist), Smashbox, and Vincent Longo.
In Drugstores: Physician's Formula, Marcelle (a French-Canadian brand), and L'Oreal (some products looks dated).
I like some of Shiseido Maquillage items, their Design Cheek colour is just gorgeous! And their recent Xmas coffret with gel liner is lovely!
I am interested in their Neo Climax lippie, so I checking out your review. Tee hee~
You always review what I need to know! Tee hee!
Oh, back to cosmetics which don't fancy me.
MAC is one. :( I have no crazy lemmings for them though it's famous and stuff. I do love their 187 brush, and kinda like their Mineralized blushers, but that's about it.
I think I have a few more which I don't bother, but can't remember which! Bad memory!
I think I love JP/Korean stuff better than the Westerns~ I'm a little biased i think :D
Bare Escentuals never piques my interest ever. Clinique, Lancome, Estee Lauder are other ones I never bother to look at - I think its just because they always seem to be too pale for my skin tone and very boring, old school, almost grandmarmish to me.
Here are the lines that have just never really been on my radar. I can't really explain why-- but I just know that I have never been compelled to look at their products in a store or in an online store.
Elizabeth Arden
Shiseido
Urban Decay
Make Up For Ever
Smashbox
Am I a weirdo? :)
Hey Izzy,
Have you seen Shiseido The Makeup Proenza Schouler Blue Hydropowder Eyeshadow? It was a limited edition item featured in the November '08 issue of Allure. It's a vivid electric blue that looks absolutely divine and available only on Sephora.com now.
http://www.makeupalley.com/m_87569703
I think I need to get a CP of this soon!
Brands I'm not interested in:
1. Pixi - looks cute but overpriced. I prefer Pop Beauty!
2. ck Calvin Klein - doesn't come close to the previous line which I adored... sigh.
3. Sephora - everything looks like a knock-off.
I agree with you on the Sephora Brand. I'm not really interested in Tarte or Stila brands either. I've tried a few Stila shadows and a lip glaze and I wasn't impressed.
For one, Bobbi Brown =/ I mean, I love neutrals and all but even her stuff look so blah to me. I pass by the counter at Macy's and don't have the slightest desire to stop. And then there's stuff like Givenchy, YSL, and
Guerlain. The main reason being is that they are not available in my area, and I think it's just a weeeeeeee bit too much for my wallet. So I'll just admire from afar :)
Revlon always bore me, they never come up with anything that makes me think 'must buy!'
Rimmel I pass now because I've disliked the majority of their products I've tried
Lancome - hate them! Maybe hate is too strong a word but their cosmetics are really expensive and the things I've tried, expecially the cream eyeshadows have been hugely disappointing :(
hi Anonymous!
Ugh I actually should have added ALL ds brands b/c I've rarely found one that actually works!
Oh you have to try some of the avon I've reviewed lately...I honestly felt the same about avon a year ago and boy has my mind changed!
Honestly I kinda pass on clinique a majority of the time too..not sure why...hmm!
LOL I think when I was a teenager it was Jane...and bonnie bell..and a few others that were just plain wrong for my entire face :)
Lord knows I probably make the same mistakes now with some of the colors I use :)
hi aestheticcoo!
Sephora has to make some of the cheapest shaodow palettes around...sometimes they do excel but a majority of the time it's pure rubbish :P
Almay! I'm with you and Rimmel is such a nightmare isn't it!?
Mmm I understand about Dior and Chanel...they are truly high end prices :( I adore 'em but I'm not fond of paying $58 for a palette sometimes!
Thanks! Glad you liked it and replied :)
Hugs!
Happy New Year!
hello roxii!
Exactly on Sephora...Might as well go buy mac!
LOL!
I've ranted a plenty about Benefit. For me it's a hit or miss. I continue to try all their products simply because when they do make a winner it's a WINNER! However, about 80% of the time it's a loser :(
Cargo I've tried a palette or two and liked 'em but it's really not my first reach!
I'm with you on ck. Everyone keeps telling me I absolutely must try it but the packaging is utterly ugly :P
LOL @ duwop!
Givenchy has vastly approved especially with it's Fall release. Very pigmented on the shadows :)
The only reason that Armani doesn't appeal to me is the prices are well out of my reach...I'm tempted but I wince at the idea of shelling out $98 for a palette :P
Laura Geller is another one that I kinda don't reach for either :P
You're most welcome! Thanks for sharing with us :) I'm glad you enjoyed it! More questions to come or now I renamed it more Musings to come :)
hi anonymous!
I'm with you. If the packaging sucks chances are I don't even bother looking at it. It's not shallow in the least b/c I totally feel the same and can name a million other people that are of the same mentality ;)
I was curious about the Lisa Watier Color Wheel funny you mentioned her!
Amen on Sephora. they do do that don't they!?
I was just saying that I should have said ALL drugstore brands but I really haven't found many that actually work :P
Thanks for the reply ;) and sharing!
Happy New Year!
hello plue!
How are you little sis? You know me and Maquillage...:)
Everyone keeps telling me I need that liner so I may need to indulge before the coffret disappears! I didn't really like neo climax because of the stranger silicon texture :P but you may adore it..it has quite a fan base :)
aw shucks I try to get all the reviews out there and up hehe!
It's understandable you don't like mac..some people are just huge lovers and some love to hate it and others are just meh whatever :) I find that mac lovers/haters/etc come in those categories..sounds like you're a meh whatever kinda girl!
I'm biased too hehe :) i'm all about asian cosmetics and they can do absolutely no wrong :)
Hugs!
Happy New Year!
Morning J!
Happy New year!
Aside from occasionally kits and the glimmers BE does nothing for me either. Likewise on Clinique...it looks nice but mostly I pass it up!
I think Lancome and EL don't have appealing packaging and the packaging is quite old school which is prob why you pass it up or as you said too grandmarmish :)
I'm a sucker for good packaging and none of those brands have that which is why I do occasionally indulge but I sob over the unflattering compact design :P
Hi Kimmy!
Oh yes Elizabeth Arden for me too! Don't think I own anything but her!
Oh no not a weird-o in the least :) Some things just appeal and others don't! That's why taste is allllllll about :)
hey iris!
I did....I was kinda debating on it..I've wanted a few of the shades forever and the blue kinda sealed the deal :) But I never did pick it up ;)
Oh lord ANY time! Just email and you know I'm your willing servant :)
Lord that looks gorg from the swatches...I didn't see it in person just online! Yumms!
Pixi is just meh :P You're right not to lem it! CK doesn't appeal to me due to it's packaging :P
Amen on Sephora..they dupe everything and anything ugh!
hi jackie!
Stila is sorta a hit and a miss so I understand how you feel. Tarte makes some good stuff but I think the quality isn't always there for the price :P
Thanks for sharing hun!
hi tanya!
I used to be that way with Bobbi but some reason I've come to love her. The prices make me wince but I think the quality is REALLY there for the price. I understand why you feel that way though as a majority of releases contain a healthy dose of neutral. I think it's a mature brand that caters to a mature audience which is why they throw around so many natural/neutral shades :P
but she seriously has some staple products that I've come to love.
But again I understand how you feel between all the neutrals and the standard packaging I guess it's kinda a pass up!
I understand about all those brands :( I do wish the prices were more user friendly...kinda sorta good news is givenchy really took a step at lowering many prices this season..which was nice to see but it's still too high lol!
Thanks for sharing hun!
hi chica!
I was jus saying that I should have added all DS brands in my reply :) Revlon and everything else ds always disappoints me!
Rimmel is a nightmare. They make some good items across the pond but we get none of them and end up with utter rubbish!
I like Lancome's special releases but the general catalog holds LITTLE appeal to me :P occasionally I'll find an HG but it's rare...until they release an LE I def pass on it!
Thanks for sharing hun!
I always seem to skip by Clinique, and a lot of the drugstore brands over here like Revlon, Boots own brand etc,
There are also the ones I skip on because of the price, like Chanel...love their stuff but can only dream of affording it!
um, MAC. With all the CONSTANT limited editions, and all the constant hype surrounding what seems like every other thing they put out, I'm just... burnt out. Their stuff's ok, but I really haven't found anything there that I can't find at another brand, so I'd rather ignore it altogether and avoid that weird, almost cult-y feeling it has.
Sephora, Ulta, Maybelline, Covergirl...
Mostly though, I tend to go for a specific range, or even just one specific product with most brands. E.g. Totally don't give a hoot about most things Urban Decay (shadows, lipstuff, whatever), except for their eye liners! (24/7, glitter, liquid... all are fantastic) ;) Rimmel I totally pass over except for one of their mascaras... and so on :)
Hi Muse,
Have to agree with you on this one. The Sephora brand stuff are ok but not "Oh So Good" kind of makeup. Shiseido is a hit or miss to a lot of people. My skin does not like their powder stuff although my mom's skin just loves it! The American version of Shiseido is kinda bland but the Maquillage you sent me really rocked my world! It almost made me buy a ticket to Japan!
hey girl. Yup...I'm all about skipping drugstore brands :P should have mentioned that in my post...and I dunno clinique is another one that I kinda pass up on :P
Chanel is soooooooo expensive but I can't skip it...I just can't..lol!
hi anonymous!
I'm a mac groupie but I agree with you 200%! The constant limited editions are just annoying...two a month or even one a month is decent but 3-4-5 or more collections a month is insane. But hey I guess it could be called smart in the marketing world as it def feeds into the frenzy of the true cosmetic junkie...but I'm in agreement...it's just too damn much!
And yes it does have a strange cult like following lol! Can't help but laugh at that because I'm probably the ring leader!
Ulta I never tried but I have a feeling it's absolute rubbish. As for CG or Maybelline...I just say DS brands in general are crap for me.
Thanks for sharing ;)
hey dao!
Miss you!
Sephora is a total miss for me :P
I think Shisedio's popularity is huge with Asian women just do to it's popularity in Asian countries. The US branch off is just something that can pacify those who live in the US since we are unable to get anything else offered by the Shisedio brand aside from the US branch.
I'm positive they have some staple products but it just doesn't appeal and I'd rather spend the extra cash on airmail to get items from Shisedio Asia the way they were meant to be imo! :)
Lord knows Maquillage is only a DS brand too imagine what counter Shisedio is like in japan!? or anywhere in Asia for that matter. I'm not a big follow of Maquillage but I adore MJ and a few other DS branch offs from Shisedio :)
Though I fear for my life with this one. I just don't care for MAC. I own a few items and I like there collections but I just don't feel the need to get things from them. I do enjoy a few collections. but its just not a brand i would dye for.
and i also do not like
Clinique. omg i just cant stand a single product of theres.
I love urban decay best.
I admit I do overlook many brands and I don't have a good reason for it. I'll just mention the ones that are locally available: Laneige, Shiseido, Biotherm, Anna Sui, Guerlain, Givenchy, Kanebo, Kose, Lancome, Estee Lauder, ZA, L'Oreal, Revlon and some others that I don't even remember because I don't pay attention to them.
lmao robby :) it's ok! We don't love you any less for it! MAC is either a love, a hate, or a meh :)
I wish I could be a little less obsessed...I'm getting there but it's a slow road :)
I like UD best myself :)
Clinique...it's such a filler...I rarely get interested in the releases :(
hi connie!
You're so lucky to have laneige, kose, kanebo and anna sui locally :) I'd kill for those!
You know though...I should probably mention I'd pay out the wazoo for a Dior, Chanel, Guerlain perfume(and have...just won't for their makeup)!
I find Laura Mercier boring too!
Also Bare Escentuals, Benefit, Bobbi Brown, Napolean Perdis, Vincent Longo, Estee Lauder, Elizabeth Arden, Anna Sui...
Too Faced used to be on that list until the Smurf collection. Have you got yours? I picked my order up yesterday and they're so cute!
while i like japanese cosmetics and find even the drugstore brand ones to be interesting partly due to the innovation i'm never interested in korean cosmetics or skincare.
I am kinda worried with the silicone texture, I think I will go test it out myself first :)
Adambeauty sells both of the LE Maquillage liners separately, so don't worry bout getting the coffret. :) I got the GY831 on Adambeauty while getting the other red liner in the coffret set.
Suddenly struck my mind! I never bother with Lancome, Estee Lauder and Anna Sui! I just don't know why :P
LOL aestheticcoo we all have our vices :) fragrance is something worth splurging on imho!
hi ' * : . b | u 3 . : * ' !
I'm with you on NP, Also I think VL has maybe two products I actually like :P EL needs a package revamp....few great finds but seriously the grandma packaging has got to go :P
Yes indeed...I'm doing some FOTD's with it at the moment...I'm somewhat disappointed at the shadows..it's difficult figuring out the best way to use 'em :P plus the shimmery ones are SUPER gritty...but the rest is dreamy :)
hi lyn!
Ohhhhh really?! I love Korean skincare/cosmetics..especially since it's dirty cheap :)
hi plue!
Best to test out in person :)
I'll go have a look right now on Adams...Everyone keeps telling me I absolutely need these liners!
Lancome and EL need a package revamp...some good items but the packaging is way too old :P
For me?
Calvin. That's the brand. I kind of love his clothes, but not much for makeup.
You should try Shiseido's cream e/s. One of the best. The color's also very pretty.
Benefit - I've tried a lot of items from their line and have just never found any of it to be worth the inflated (in my opinion) prices
La Mer - I hear such great things about it, but I just can't bear trying something so expensive for fear of either: a)loving it and needing to buy more or b) loathing it and having wasted so much money! I do believe good skincare is well worth splurging on but La Mer is just not in my budget :(
Chantecaille. I just can't get excited over this brand. The colours look so...garden variety and rather boring. Even though I've heard the quality is superb, I just have zero interest in any of it!
Bobbi Brown. I can't really even say why I overlook this brand. I guess it just doesn't stand out to me?
I suppose I tend to favor wild colours and crazy/kawaii packaging. So maybe that's why brands specializing in classics and neutrals get overlooked by me lol >_<
vichaya I agree...I never tried the line and never was curious...the new cream shadows intrigued me but aside fromthat meh!
I've tried 'em actually but the rest of the line doesn't thrill me :)
Hey ghoulina
i find benefit hit and miss...some are good some are meh!
I love la mer but I can't really afford it in all honesty...it's too little for too much sadly :(
My current moisturizer is nearly 90 bucks but it lasts me for an entire year....if I added a few dollars on I can get la mer but fact is it'll last me 4-5 months b/c it's tiny..that's too much...I can't afford that!
I think Chantecaille has a cult following that isn't huge...colors for me are fab but for the most part the appeal is the packaging and design :)
BB never stood out for me but it's interesting :) promise!
hey I'm all about wild and kawaii lol!
Elizabeth Arden and all of the Grandma brands (no offense). I do like Estee Lauder's lipgloss (Tender Lipbalm SPF 15) though and some of the lipsticks. I never use L'Oreal and Lancome, even though I used to love them a long time ago. I tend to go for the more innovative and creative products nowadays.
hi wendy
i hear ya :) I really like unique creative products myself!
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