Practical Magic or Impractical Waste

I post my hypothesis entries to see what kind of interest I get in them before moving forward with the series. It didn't seem like everyone was interested in packaging, dispensers, and boxes, like I am. I think the big companies are more interested in what their packaging does for us then readers would be. At least, in the form I was purposing.  So we aren't going to do a series on it. We're just going to do an entry on practicality, waste, and best product dispensers then move on to pricing. That is something I know consumers are interested in; after you pick the package up you turn it over and look for the price. If it isn't there you look around on the display. So we'll be talking about price point, in depth. This is something that I think we'll require some real time and research so I'll enter my post on dispenser practicality or impracticality, then my hypothesis on pricing and we'll get into it a little bit by Wednesday. The new idea portion of the series will have to do with Bestsellers lists. I noticed that they jump from between $35-$40 to $8. Where is the mid-priced non-drugstore higher end brand? Is there one? We'll find out soon enough. 

So packaging. It is one of my favorite things about make-up. I love the look and feel of it all (well the ones I like) but I do have to say that if a dispenser doesn't work for me, if it isn't simple enough or releases way to much product in one go I won't repurchase it. Even if I like the contents; pump, swipe, whatever. If I absolutely love the color, like a foundation color, then I may figure out how to transfer the contents into a dispenser I like better, if transferring doesn't waste most of the product. Foundations are really hard to find in my perfect shade, though. Other than coverage I won't usually go through the trouble. Most of our foray into dispenser will be liquid. Powder products are all dispensed in 2 forms; press and loose. You choose the brush (brushes will be a whole different series). Liquids on the other hand are packaged and dispensed in many different forms; tons of bottles of all shapes and sizes, click pens, upside down flat tops, sprays, and etc. 

We're going to start with click pens because I love and hate them. I love the way they make it so easy to apply products like Bare Minerals Well-Rested, where no matter what the type of dispenser is you're applying the product, or trying, in neat lines around the face. The click pen makes drawing those lines really easy. It makes applying gloss to lips a little more difficult. I always feel like click pens just don't work for lips. Tons of liquid-creamy lip products come in the clickable applicators but they come out thick and the lips are just not long enough to really smooth out the amount dispensed, unless you use your finger. Product gets wasted. Even though you technically need less product for your lips the clickable applicators, for lips, always run out quicker than a concealer, let's say. My concealer or highlight always looks better when I apply with one of the built-in brush/product combos (some don't click).

Click/Built-in Applicator Concealers- 

• Bare Minerals- Well-Rested Face and Eye Brightener 
• Maybelline- Instant Age Rewind Eraser 
• Maybelline- Dream Lumi Touch Highlighting Concealer
• CK One- 3-in-1 Concealer
• Lorac- Touch-up to Go Concealer  

Note- Some believe the sponge, on Instant Age Rewind, would be better replaced with a brush. They find the sponge to be dirty and a little wasteful but the product does apply smooth, evenly, and easily. It is a bestseller amongst drugstore concealers and a favorite of many make-up artists. 

Built-in Applicator

Wand Applicator

Click Applicator

 I added wand applicators in because they are part of the whole package and the wand is built in to the lid but they aren't on the same level with true built-in's and click applicators. They do not  give you the precision of either. I always find myself taking a small concealer brush and grabbing some product off of the wand. Now, that's not all wands. I think wands are very nice when it comes to lips. They spread the product out smoothly and lightly as long as you scrape the extra off on the edge before applying. 

Now, Bottles. Their are tons of them. I don't like the ones that are true bottles cap and circular opening, to pour. If your foundation comes in a bottle it should have a pump top dispenser or an eye-drop top dispenser with a firm form, so as not to over squeeze. The upside down varieties are usually a ticker consistency so they don't come pouring out when opened. They tend to have a less distinct dropper dispensing format; one short squeeze equals a drop. One long squeeze equals a line or about 3 drops. Less precise than a true dropper or pump but much, much more precise than a liquid pourer or True bottle. True bottled foundation ends up getting wasted. You pour out too little the first time and too much when you need more or you pour out an enormous amount to begin with. Its never precise, never the same. I like knowing what my face needs; one pump or two, 2 drops or 4. Whatever it may be I like to know so that I can reduce that for lighter coverage or increase for fuller coverage. I want to control it and I definitely don't want to waste product. It is not cheap. 
 

Pump dispenser.

Circular pour out dispenser.

 

Upside down squeeze dispenser. Less precise dropper, situation.

Pump and Drop Liquid Foundations- 

• MAC- varying lines in both pump and dropper form
• Giorgio Armani- varying lines in pump form
• Philosophy- Miracle Worker 
• Benefit- Hello Flawless
• Bare Minerals- BareSKIN
• IT Cosmetics- Ultra Repair 
• Lorac- POREfection 
• Revlon- Photo Ready Makeup

  Sticks and all the rest are pretty self explanatory. As long as you blend you'll always get a nice even application. We'll be moving on to pricing next. Enjoy this beautiful day!!!

Impulse Buy, Bye?

Like I said in my last post we'll be looking into the dispensers that all cosmetic products come in and their boxes or covers. Some, of course, as we all know are just the dispenser but the higher-end brands tend to truly box or package some of their products. We're going to start there. Start with the brands that attract us because of their dispenser and the box. I won't be writing a research entry today, though, because it's the weekend. We'll really delve into the issue in Monday's post.

I watch a lot of Youtube make-up artists. My fave is Jaclyn Hill, she had the best contour video I'd seen. As I was watching one of her "haul" videos I heard her say something along the lines of, I keep my new stuff in the boxes for awhile but since this one is hard to get out I'll have to tear it, aw! It reminded me of me. I keep all of my new products in the boxes for a little while. Depends on how often I use them. If I use them often they stay in the box less time and if I use them infrequently the products can stay in their box for months. I just love everything about cosmetics. Jaclyn Hill is also one of my faves because she seems to be a lot like me in that way. Maybe, she wasn't able to afford expensive stuff when she was younger or she tends to be a more frugal person, who knows, but she values what she does buy, especially, when it costs her more. The length of time my new products stay in their boxes is directly related to use and, most of all, expense. The more expensive it is the longer I want to protect it. Sometimes, I keep the box because I'm not sure about the product and want the option of returning it. Maybe it was an impulse buy but I ended up thinking I'd need it. Still I have to make sure because if anyone is frugal in this world its me. I will think and rethink a buy. Usually, I'll see something, go home without it, and if I'm still thinking about it 3 days later I'll return to purchase it. That goes for everything but especially cosmetics, unless, I went their specifically for it because I saw it online or in a video and haven't stopped looking at it online for the past week. So either way I give my purchases time but like everyone I do have my instances of impulse so I'll keep the packaging, in those case, a little longer not based on use or expense.

How long do you keep your purchases packaged?
Do you rip them open and throw the boxes away right away?
Do you ever really get rid of the box?
What do you consider the best packaged product out there? Dependent on practicality and beauty?

NYX, Chunky Dunk Hydrating Lippie swatches as promised. The 3rd from the right is Peach Fuzzy.