May 17, 2016

Are Too Many Sales Cheapening Your Favorite Makeup Brands?

Are Too Many Sales Cheapening

I read a really great article recently about Nordstrom undercutting themselves because of the Rack and Hautelook sales. Apparently their store sales are down 15% due to the many sales at both the Rack locations and online at Hautelook.

Apparently even folks with disposable income or higher salaries weren’t buying at full cost and waiting on a sale. I mean imagine being a billionaire and not buying that new Hermes Birkin Bag because you might be able to score it for 20% off or more at the Rack or online with some coupon code or another.

I love Nordstrom, I shop there often for a variety of things outside of makeup but I admit I head into the Rack like Indiana Jones on the quest for the Lost Ark. If I had a fedora and a whip I’d be all set. On any given Sunday, after our standing dim sum brunch date, you can find me and four of my closest friends at the nearest Rack store looking for buried treasure. I’ve found incredible purses, shoes, and accessories at the Rack and of course, makeup too.

But I digress, this isn’t about Nordstrom, this is about some of our favorite makeup brands.

Do you think too many sales are cheapening your favorite makeup brands?

Stila is a good example in this case.

A few years ago Stila was in some financial trouble. It was a rather sad day but they were able to put their big girl pants on and got down to business. Now, it’s a funny thing about Stila because I remember the first time I purchased some of their items! One of which was a $50 blush brush! Yes, $50 bucks! At the time I had extreme buyer’s remorse as I was young and I questioned if I really needed a brush that cost $50 bucks! I kept it and didn’t regret it as I loved that brush hard.

One of the things I was most attracted to about the brand was their adorable Stila girl packaging and marketing. Everything they created was all kinds of cute and that totally appealed to this packaging junkie! But their price range always seemed a little high for something that I considered a mid-range brand.

Fast forward to 2009 when Stila was in a heap of trouble. In swept Lynn Tilton to save the day and the recreation of Stila began. I remember Stila getting cheaper at this point and I also recall their many, many Travel Girl Palettes which ranged in price from $10 to $14. This was a novelty for many Stila fans as we never imagined that we’d be able to purchase our beloved Stila at such affordable prices.

Yes, it was fabulous but I think the brand suffered for it a bit as fans began to expect good deals from Stila. We wanted to pay $20 and under for Stila, we liked paying $20 and under! Stila has since evolved yet again and about two to three years after their trouble the prices started to rise and the whining started. I mean, I can even recall myself cringing and ranting that the prices were being hiked up.

Nowadays, I think makeup users look at Stila and think, “$40 for a palette!? No way!” It’s actually something I hear quite often myself when I post something new from Stila. “Oh but the price!” Stila unfortunately conditioned us into a cheaper mind frame when viewing their products and this hurts and hinders them in some aspect.

Let’s not forget Bed, Bath, and Beyond are running into issues as well lately courtesy those 20% off coupons as most of their consumer base won’t consider buying a damn thing at retail without bringing along a 20% off coupon. Apparently those coupons are going to be cut down and they’ll be offered less and less. The problem with this is, I’m doubtful anyone will actually shop retail at BBB at this point because they are too spoiled by the coupons!

Friends and Family Sales we’re a rarity several years ago but now it seems like every brand has an FF event at least twice a year. And if it isn’t a Friends and Family Event it’s a Memorial Day Sale, a Mother’s Day one, a 4th of July 20% Off, etc…etc…etc….

Are too many sales cheapening your favorite makeup brands to a point you won’t even consider purchasing something at retail but prefer waiting on a sale? Do you expect to pay less for something because you’re so used to the sale that are offered and when the sales stop does that mean you aren’t buying?

I like a good deal as much as the next person but I don’t want to forsake my favorite products or brands to score that deal.

Another words, I don’t want them to tank because I’m wanting to score a deal.

About the Muse

Isabella MuseIsabella is just an average everyday geeky girl who doesn’t blend her eyeshadow correctly, wears too much blush, and hopes she never finds her holy grail products because she likes the thrill of the chase so much. Her mission is to bring you super honest reviews on makeup, skincare, fragrance and all things beauty. She’s in no way an expert on the topic and she sure as hell isn’t a super model. But she’s passionate about makeup and is seeking like-minded individuals that like pina coladas, getting caught in the rain, and ones that enjoy spending hundreds of dollars at Sephora without feeling buyer’s remorse. If you’re that person feel free to reach out and leave a comment or follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Bloglovin‘.

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Comments

  • Joyce

    I think so! Since I know I can get things cheaper at certain places and during certain times, I’ll just hold out.

    For example, I know TheBalm runs 50% sitewide sales a couple times a year so I’ll wait until those times to buy anything TheBalm.

    Another example is Sephora Collection products and their value sets. Whenever new SC products/value sets are introduced, I’m like “Oh nice! Now let me wait another couple months because they’ll inevitably go on sale or clearance!”

    Drugstore sales– well, I think the price of drugstore makeup is decided based on sale spending habits. These brands know people will wait to buy them at buy 1 get 1 50% off at the very least, so I think they price the products higher accordingly.

  • Lauren

    I don’t think it’s too many sales, as much as declining product quality that’s hurting some make-up brands. I think when a brand has a good product, they tend to knock it out of the park, but when there’s a so-so product or one that’s unforgivably bad, it tends to hurt brand loyalty of customers, so they are more likely to wait to buy a product when it’s on sale instead of rushing out the instant it hits the stores. I know that I’m much more willing to pay full price at any point when I know that the product is going to be reliable in quality. I’m not willing to pay $40 or so on a product that is produced by a brand that has a lot of misses, though, especially when I know that it’s likely to land at a discount retailer within a fairly short time (Nordstrom Rack, TJ Maxx, etc.).

    • Isabella Muse

      Agreed! That as well! The quality is considerably different! I see it from UD as well as a few other brands so it isn’t always sales but also formula.

  • Julia

    I think you’re right about the sales nowadays. There’s always a coupon available somewhere and things that were once luxurious are now much more affordable and within reach. Speaking about Stila, I have to say I miss the old packaging and branding. Those silver cardboard compacts for shadows were so different than all the other hard plastic on the market. So many products that they’ve released recently are very good (the watercolors, for example) but the packaging is sturdier and less imaginative (part of the lower price point before the recent uptick you mentioned). At the same time, with sales on cosmetics I don’t necessarily feel that the brands have become less desirable- I still feel like the quality of Stila at its core is good, as good at least as many of the high end brands like Hourglass.

    • Isabella Muse

      I couldn’t agree more! I miss their packaging as well! It was very nice and different! It’s a shame because they were popular but producing those cheaper palettes spoiled people a little bit now fans are less inclined to splurge on Stila and that’s sad!

  • Jay

    YES!!! MAC is a prime example. I’m forever a customer but that $6 eyeshadow price drop was a cheap, unnecessary way to quickly boost sales. And I fell right into the trap damn them! New makeup companies are popping up everyday with splashy ultra-filtered Instagram pages, and everyone is desperate to attract new people. I hate playing the sale game, websites crashing, products out of stock, quality suffering, etc. Same with clothing. People flock to H&M and buy 5 shirts that will last 1.5 seasons, rather than build a wardrobe over time that will last for years (guilty as well…but I’m working on that one!). If nothing else, it does separate luxury from the rest. If I see something new from Dior that I like, Ill buy it immediately & sacrifice getting other things. If I see something from Tarte, I’ll wait for a sale because I know it’ll be discounted eventually…

    • Isabella Muse

      thank you for this as I couldn’t agree more. Why buy cheap clothes that aren’t going to last when you could be building a wardrobe of good quality items that will last you years and remain timeless!?

      • dia

        You know, I’ve never understood that? Pretty much all my clothes are cheap- H&M or Target. And I’ve made them last for years. What are people doing to their shirts that they only last for a few months?

        • Isabella Muse

          I have to disagree on H&M. A lot of their stuff isn’t great once you wash it. It shrinks, wrinkles up, etc…! Target, depends, some of their designer collections are lovely but for example, every single Jason Wu dress I brought had a zipper that busted within a day of wearing it. I was so crushed 🙁 The zippers were just too tricky and ended up sticking and catching in the fabric. 🙁

        • Kimmwc03

          I’ve had plenty of Target items last for years. Longer than some of my more pricey items. I think people need to read labels on how to care for clothes. If it says lay flat to dry, I do just that.

        • sleepybird

          Gaining weight, losing some, gaining more back. I could never afford to keep having clothes altered again and again. Probably why I buy cheap clothes and more expensive makeup. Eyeshadow ALWAYS fits!

  • blee

    I love a sale but I buy retail too. When the sales are on I buy more 🙂

  • Rachel R.

    Somewhat, but in general, I think brands are cheapening themselves for a few reasons. People don’t want to pay full price; people can’t afford to pay full price in this economy; L’oreal, Estee Lauder and other giants have been buying out the other brands pretty steadily, and they’ve cheapened the ingredients to maximize profit (L’oreal with Urban Decay, Kose with Tarte); drug store brands are getting better and better and eating into the profits of mid-range and high-end brands. MAC decreased it’s eyeshadow refills to $6, Urban Decay’s new lipsticks will be $17 instead of $22. I think it’s going to continue to be a trend.

    I think Stila has really gone down the tubes, but they still have some good products, and at least they’re still around. I buy full price and shop sales. I figure that waiting for sales for big ticket items is better for the company than not buying at all.

  • Denise

    It’s against my religion to pay retail. Ever. If I’m not getting a sale price, there’s gotta be a ton of rewards points or a damn fine GWP.

  • Justin

    fuuny seems that department brands are doing more sales and drugstore brands keep going up in price

  • Pdo

    It’s also supply vs demand. Let’s face it everyone and their mother is popping up with their own makeup line. U gotta do something to attract more customers to your brand, sales are an easy way to do that and I guess in only having these sales a couple times a year it shouldn’t cheapen said brands too much. I almost never pay full price, even if something is not on sale I will buy online through the site that offers the most cashback through ebates or other similar sites. It’s that thing inside of me that tells me I just have to get a deal when I purchase anything not just makeup.

  • dia

    My worry is that they’re overcharging on “retail price” so that they can mark it down later. Kohl’s is huge with this. They’ll slap a $50 tag on something so they can sell it for $15 in the 70% off rack. It’s so frustrating! Like, how much is that item /actually/ worth? I don’t need perks or promotions, just an honest answer. Usually I just end up asking myself how much that item is worth to me. How many hours am I gonna put into my job to pay for that lipstick? Is it worth as much as a sandwich, or a steak?

  • Michelle

    I don’t think the sales are the problem. I think the over productions of new products leading to stagnant inventory is. These companies are coming out with so much product over the last few years. To keep up with the “Jones” makeup companies have to constantly “reinvent the wheel” of products leading to too much inventory. A quicker way to get the inventory out is to put it on sale. Sales also help generate demand and lead to higher volume sales. It is called “equivalent volume” you make the same money when you can sale higher volumes at a lower prices versus lower volume at a higher price.” The sales are very much built into the overall strategy of the brand and overall gross return on product.

    It seems like the current strategy for all makeup companies is too: Over-hype product to generate early sales and demand. Run quick “flash” sales to keep customers on the hook. And blow out inventory to make room for cycle to repeat!

  • Erin Coward

    I’m sorry, it’s nitpicky, but the Archaeologist in me will not be silent. He’s “Indiana Jones”, not “Indian Jones”. OK, she’s satisfied.

    And now the snob in me: I feel like these sales are similar to how designer handbags were at one time. I was so proud when I earned enough money to buy my Coach bag from a real Coach store (don’t judge, I was young). Then I went to WalMart and saw a woman in pajama bottoms that had a Coach that was bigger than mine. It kind of cheapened the whole deal. Not that I think everyone should not have access to nice things. But mass appeal leads to shoddier construction, and I find that in makeup as well. Things in the sales are often rejects that don’t have good quality. Now, I snap those sale items up like a starving dog, so I’m not really one to point fingers.

    • Erin Coward

      Forgot to add something good about those sales: They do allow people to try different makeup brands. I was a hardcore Drugstore girl only for the longest time. The I bought a Too Faced palette that was on sale and learned that sometimes it’s worth it to pay a little more. Now, I’m a more savvy shopper with brands that I find work best for me, but don’t go for just the name. I can’t make Urban Decay look good on me, so now I won’t buy something that I’ll regret just because it’s brand name.

    • Isabella Muse

      Sorry about that 🙂 Auto correct plugin no work good at all! I’m an Indy fan too and should be shot for that mess up 😀

      • Erin

        I hate autocorrect. I use Talk to Text because I’m the slowest texter in the universe and it ALWAYS gets it wrong. My friends have learned they need to read my text out loud so they know what I really mean.

        • Isabella Muse

          LOL I think a lot faster than my hands type. I get it, I totally get it 😀

  • Kate

    RE BBBeyond, I thought their coupons was a way not to constantly offer sales in their stores every week, I guess now that is backfiring.
    If they get rid of coupons there will need to be some other incentive to get buyers there as their prices are not exactly competitive without the 20% off

    Thoughts?

    Just don’t mess around with my Harmon BBB

    • Isabella Muse

      Apparently it is causing mega problems for them so they want to offer them less. Their prices, in my opinion, are a bit high to begin with so those coupons are always welcome as they actually bring the item down tor retail price lol!

  • Jennifer

    I buy many items at full price which is why I have a healthy mix of drugstore and expensive brands in my collection. I save the coupons for the super splurge items…. like do I REALLY NEED another highlighter or blush? Or if I am trying something new. Beauty.com just had a 20% and I finally tried the IT Cosmetics CC because of it. I’m hooked now. So, that will end up on my must have list and most likely be repurchased at full price. It’s called marketing and it works!!

    There are so many awesome brands out there now. I watch the YouTube reviews and read the blogs and get so overwhelmed. So, yeah, marketing wins out sometimes and the YouTube item I chose was because it was the one that was on sale this week. Maybe discounting hurts some brands but I think it can help boost sales and get new people hooked on others.

    And on an entirely related yet difference thread…. Let’s talk about how much these items are marked up to begin with?

  • L

    I feel like makeup isn’t marked down all that much, at least from the brands I love. In the beginning, any sale would trigger me to buy. Now, I buy something when I want it and know I will use and love it. So I steer clear of marked down holiday palettes or stuff in the Sephora sale bin unless I truly wanted it anyway. I also tend to buy permanent products which are rarely marked down. True, I can wait for a sale, but I don’t often do that since the sales tend to all cluster and I’d rather buy things when I think I want them, rather than wait 4 months for a 20% off code. Honestly, the brands I buy just don’t tend to be marked down very often – Too Faced, Hourglass, Makeup Forever… They just don’t discount that much. Now, I wouldn’t buy an Ofra lip cream or Morphe brushes without a coupon code because coupons are always around for this, but my staple brands? Unless I am stocking up, I don’t wait for a sale.

    • L

      BTW, with clothing, I’m the total opposite. I never EVER pay full price for clothes, handbags or shoes. I have an extensive handbag and shoe collection and every single item was purchased on sale.

  • Agona

    I think I read somewhere that the economy is soft right now and retail sales in general are down. (Apparently, home improvement and electronics is up?) I think companies are trying to fight for your dollar. I’ve gotten tighter on my spending too (although I recently moved back to the east coast so that may be way I feel like my living costs have gone up.) I agree the poster that some brands are inconsistent with their quality; for example, I can safely buy 90% of bareMineral’s Ready eye shadows pre-reviews because their quality is always good, it’s only the cohesiveness of the palette that I question. But with as much as I wanted to love tarte’s Amazonian clay eye shadows, I did not; but their Rainforest of the Sea formula applied and blended effortlessly and I love it, but who’s to say that they continue to produce products in that formula?

  • sarah

    We had this problem at the frame shop (in a nationwide craft store chain) I worked at. We always had a sale on frames because the word “Sale” drives actual sales. They tried just lowering the prices 40% and not having a sale. Our sales plummeted, but instead of hanging in there and waiting for customers to get the idea they raised prices and instituted the “sales” again after about a month. However, it did not go so well as customers realized we always had 40% off and started waiting for our once a year 50% off. Sales went up and they ran 50% off more often. Guests caught on again and started waiting for the once a year 60% off (replaced the 50% off deal). I don’t work there anymore but I get their flyers in the mail and they pretty much run 60% off all the time now.
    One of two things happens when this becomes a companies sales tactic, quality goes to the crapper and the base price goes up. Of course this does not address the issue that most things are over priced to begin with and most of the money is going into CEO’s pockets, not to the person who sells or manufactures said product. That’s why I prefer buying from small companies or individuals when possible.

    • Isabella Muse

      I think this also happens with BBW candles, Sarah. People refuse to buy them full price and wait on sale and BBW now does weird sales which are 2 for $30 sometimes and people won’t buy, they wait for 2 for $25 to come back around or some other low incentive. I noticed BBW has been playing a lot with candle prices, obviously they are trying to see what works for them but in the end, they are kind of cutting their own noses off !

      • sarah

        Exactly. And the people who suffer most is the poor sales clerks (and all other bottom rung positions) who are barely earning minimum wages, who get their hours cut because the companies profit growth isn’t matching their projected numbers. Companies love to say their sales are down but, (with a few exceptions) what they mean is that their profit is up, but just not as high as they would like it. I was with my company for 5 years. Each year we had record profit, higher than the last, but because we were not hitting our projected numbers (numbers they came up with before the recession) so they ‘d say our “sales were down”. Their response was cut quality, increased base prices and cut staff down to a quarter of what they had and expect customers to not notice lower quality goods or understaffed stores.

        • Isabella Muse

          That’s so sadly true 🙁 And let’s not forget understaffed stores make for a poor experience for consumers which means we are less likely to return and that could mean more lay offs or more cuts to salaries. It’s a vicious cycle 🙁

    • Jessica

      I agree! I prefer to shop small businesses when I can, too!

      I learned this a long time ago and it has saved me a lot of money: large chain stores are ALWAYS playing with human behavior. They hire psychologists and statisticians (of sorts) to analyze consumer buying data (via those magical plastic cards we all love), just like you said Sarah, and they make marketing decisions based on that data. It’s all about playing with the customer’s head, getting the customer to buy more than what he/she actually needs and to pay as much as they can get the customer to pay. The ONLY way to fight this, as a consumer, is to be aware: pay attention to prices, make lists of what you need, and resist impulse purchases by planning. For instance, people call me crazy but I always think about my cosmetics purchases for at least a few days before heading to a Sephora or other beauty shop! I always feel so happy when I buy from a small business because I know I’m supporting someone who genuinely loves what they do and is making an honest living like me…rather than supporting some CEO who probably doesn’t even take care of his/her employees and just views them as pawns (sadly, this is the new reality).

      • Agona

        My friend is a salesman and he actually walked me through all the statistics they have to know when they approach a customer. It’s crazy, stuff like: within the first 7 seconds, have to make an impression and 20% of people are going to dislike you immediately for factors you can’t control (I don’t remember if these numbers are right; he said a whole bunch so these are examples), etc. It’s crazy interesting; up until that conversation with him, I never realized sales was all about getting the most buck from your customer as possible.

        • Jessica

          Yep, it really is crazy! Everything we see is basically marketed especially for us; especially to get us to buy it. It is very interesting to analyze how social media has impacted the way business is done (the way in which companies market their products). I actually wrote a nice post explaining this in great detail, but I guess it wasn’t accepted for posting. Some businesses know how to leverage the practice of sales better than others (Stila is perhaps a poor example). But what you said is true, and just the tip of the iceberg in the very important business of understanding how consumers drive markets.

  • Maggie

    Honestly? I think it is competition that is hurting the brands and retailers–THEY are hurting each other. And the competition keeps growing exponentially: seems like every week I learn of a different beauty brand or retailer/e-tailer that has not been around before–the constant emergence just keeps my head spinning. And why this sudden growth in the sheer number of beauty brands? Because this is a response to the consumers’ spending pattern–globally, we are spending more money on beauty than we ever have before. But even so, consumers and their wallets cannot sustain ALL the ever-growing number of beauty brands/retailers. In this case, someone is going to tank. Brands/retailers each fight each other for our attention–and one way to do this is through sales.

    Now as far as my own spending habits, the massive number of beauty sales has caused me to spend more on beauty than I ever have before. Before, when I used to pay MSRP, my color cosmetics mostly came from GWP’s; I only paid for base products, mascara, and eyeliner. I did not even have proper brushes–I used whatever came in the compacts. Now, with sales, I became much more willing to try things I would not have before. Now, I have buckets of brushes and more makeup than I could ever possibly use up–AND I am still buying more. It has gotten quite ridiculous.

    • Jessica

      It’s true; there is fierce competition in the cosmetics industry! It makes me so happy to see small businesses able to pop up and succeed in the cosmetics business because it really is so difficult. There is an extremely high mark-up on most high-end cosmetics products. That’s not to say they aren’t better than drugstore products; sometimes they are and sometimes they are not. The age of social media has blessed us consumers with access to lots of info before we purchase, which makes it even harder for companies to sell their products. It’s great that people like Muse can engage their talents and passions to review makeup products; I personally really like this blog. The competitive platform for cosmetics companies is just so different now that people can know how a product performs virtually before it even hits the shelves!

  • Jessica

    Love your blog! It’s so helpful and entertaining…whenever I’m searching Google for a review for something, your blog always comes up and your reviews are always helpful!

    Re: Beb, Bath, and Beyond – at least from my perspective, any trouble they are in has little to do with their 20% coupons. The problem with BBB is that EVERYTHING in their store is hiked about 20%. Whenever I would go in, I couldn’t buy but one thing because I wasn’t willing to pay more than what I would pay next door at Target, etc. Nowadays, people are just more aware of prices maybe? Possibly more frugal? Not sure. But I know that BBB’s business model (hike everything by 20%, people will come in for that one big-ticket item with their 20% off coupon and then buy other things because they like one-stop-shopping) just isn’t working anymore now that Target and other places have upped their game.

    You are right about that whole Stila thing – is it very tricky business to raise and lower prices like that. I mean, once people are used to a certain quality at a certain price, if that changes then the demand will most certainly change. When M.A.C. suddenly dropped their beloved shadows to $6 ea. recently, there was practically a run on the website with many colors out of stock because demand was so high it was outstripping supply. In Stila’s case, people are accustomed to the lower prices, so demand has gone down since they raised them (i.e. “the quality hasn’t changed…so why should we pay more for the same thing?”)

    The cosmetics industry is so unique. There is the fraction of it dominated by half-crazed girls who hang on every word of their favorite YouTube beauty gurus, etc., and rush to buy and try every new product – but they have a really short attention span and continuously move onto new products. This consumer style has been fostered by the social media culture. Colour Pop is a perfect example: they are COMPLETELY social media driven…all their advertising is driven my social media. It’s a simple business model: develop a cult following to produce consistent, high demand…run flash sales that make everyone go nuts, and capitalize on the social behaviors of humans to buy OODLES of products they wouldn’t normally buy if they just walking through their drugstore. Then, offer no return policy (so it’s clear that “buyer’s remorse” is their main money-making strategy).

    To be clear, I’m not trying to dis Colour Pop. I just think that, to answer your question, it is less about sales “cheapening” a product and more about a consumer culture that is driving business decisions.

    You don’t see this same “cheapening” so much with brands such as Chanel, Estee Lauder, Lancome, Shu Uemura, Make Up For Ever, M.A.C., etc. because those brands (esp. the first 4 or 5) cater to a different audience: generally make-up artists and more mature women who are less obsessed with having the latest, trendiest cosmetics and more focused on getting and maintaining their best “look.” Neither is wrong, just two different consumer cultures who drive business decisions and cosmetics markets differently.

    • Isabella Muse

      Thanks Jessica!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🙂 That means a lot!

      I couldn’t agree more. BBB is already overpriced to begin with so that 20% off actually only ends up bringing things down to retail price in the end. Although occasionally, you can score a nice eal or two when using those coupons but on a whole, it’s true, they are grossly overpriced!

      I’m like this I fear! I’m always on to the next thing. I personally blame on the blog and the need to get new content live for readers but really, sometimes it is just me and a lot of it stems from the hype that brands produce across social media. Very, very well said! You’re right! Many brands rely on social media to hype up a certain release and generate enough of a foam that fans are literally worked into a state of utter “I can’t live without it” excitement lol!

      I like Colourpop a lot, nothing against them at all, but I there business seems like they want to start small but at some point go larger. I see that happened for them if Sephora or Ulta pick them up. I think it is only a matter of time before Colourpop is snatched up by Sephora and the prices will be raised. Whether or not that will gain them fans or not is questionable though as who wants to pay for more when we have paying less for so long!

      • Jessica

        You’re right – if ColourPop is snatched up by Sephora or Ulta (or any other big box store) their prices will certainly go up. Those stores charge high fees to features a brand on their shelves, from what I hear.

        What usually happens with these companies, to be honest, is that the original founder makes enough money and before the tide slows down he/she sells that company to someone else, whose goal might be to “stabilize it” or just to be a business owner (or maybe he/she sells it to a company, who annexes it to their own lines). Then, we see it appearing on shelves of big box stores (especially if its a brand that already has products on their shelves, because they negotiate a good deal on adding an additional brand to the store). Then the brand’s prices go up but it sort-of stabilizes…maybe less of the extreme “rush” like we see with Colourpop today.

        Personally, I think people like you play a really important role. You help guide other consumers on which products are worth the money and which are not. I feel so much more confident in my purchases now as compared to 10 years ago or more. I used to have a sea of drugstore products, many flops, and always wondering whether I should just cough up the extra cash to buy more expensive brands! Now, I feel more confident on how to use my “beauty budget.” So thank you for all your efforts and talent on this crazy beauty scene!

        • Isabella Muse

          I’d love to see Colourpop launch at Sephora but not at the higher cost :-/ Aw thank you!!!!!!!! I really hope others feel the same way. I honestly love giving my thoughts on products and if that helps someone, all the better! I agree! I think my tastes have evolved over the year and I’m much more inclined to skip over items I know won’t work. With age comes wisdom? 😀 thank YOU! your comment made my day 😀

  • mirandagrosvenor

    I couldn’t agree more with this!!! There is NWIH I would ever buy Physicians Formula at full price (there’s not much I want to buy in it, but anyway) because every other week at Rite Aid, it’s on sale. They actually had…I think a 60%, but it may have even been 70% off sale on it the other week!!! Now sales like that are one thing at local stores…they overordered or whatever and want to get rid of it. But a chain wide sale like that? Crazy!!

    We have a Nordstrom rack scheduled to open in the fall, & I’m anxious to see if we’ll actually get some of these amazing cosmetic markdowns. Our TJs and Marshall’s….well let’s just say the most recent highlight was limited edition Baby Lips and that’s as “high end” as it gets.

    And Stila. Oh my. I pulled out my OLD Stila quad the other day…remember the silver ones where you picked your own shades and put them in? I’ve been using it for the past week or so and realized “wow, these were REALLY good!!” But they’ve been through so many owners and incarnations, it’s hard to know or trust where they’re at at this point. I think they’re a prime example of how you sometimes have to sell your soul to get into Sephora. And now, of course, they’re on their way out of there.