January 20, 2020

Not Sure How I Feel About Hard Candy Marilyn Monroe

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Has anyone actually ever tackled a Marilyn Monroe Makeup Collection? I can’t recall one! Oh wait! I lie! MAC did a Marilyn Monroe Collection that slipped my mind! Hard Candy x Marilyn Monroe arrived at Walmart.com over the weekend and I’m not sure exactly how I feel about this one. A makeup collection inspired by Marilyn Monroe sounds absolutely divine but I’m not sure I’d have picked Hard Candy as the ones to do it.

I mean, Marilyn Monroe is old Hollywood glam right? Everything we know and love about 1950’s Hollywood probably starts with Marilyn Monroe. Actress, model, and singer she was everything and than some. The original blonde bombshell, a true pin up girl, and sex symbol of her age.

That’s why I’m not sure that some pink, rose packaging display her images is the way to go with a Marilyn Monroe Collection. Don’t get me wrong I love a lot of what Hard Candy does lately! They’ve released some highly affordable and great picks! But I’m note convinced the Marilyn Monroe Collection is something I want to throw my money at!
What do you think?

Hard Candy Marilyn Monroe Tinted Lip Balm $5
Two different flavored lip balms of Strawberry and Coconut Rose that smooth and hydrate lips with a hint of red or pink!

Hard Candy Marilyn Monroe Syrup Kiss $6
A non-sticky lipgloss available in two shades infused with rosehip oil to moisturize lips and add shine.

Hard Candy Marilyn Monroe Liquid Eye Liner $6
A liquid eyeliner available in three shades to create super smooth and precisely lined eyes.

Hard Candy Marilyn Monroe Starlet Glow Strawberry Face Serum $7
Marilyn cleaned her face with a homemade strawberry cleanser, which created softer pores and a subtle pink tint to even out skin tone. Hard Candy’s Strawberry Face Serum to pays tribute to her love of strawberries with this revitalizing serum that brightens and leaves skin soft and velvety!

Hard Candy Marilyn Monroe Precision Brow Pencil $6
Available in two shades this brown pencils allows you to fill and create fuller looking lashes that mimic the look of natural hair.

Hard Candy Marilyn Monroe Starlet Glow Dry Shimmer Oil $7
A tropical strawberry scented fast absorbing body oil that gives skin a boost of illumination!

Hard Candy Marilyn Monroe Luminizing Body Powder + Rose Hip Oil $7
Dust this shimmering body powder on your shoulders, face, and decollete for a Hollywood glow!

Hard Candy Marilyn Monroe Translucent Loose Powder + Rose Hip Oil $7
A velvety finishing powder that gives a sheer glow to skin with a weightless, silky formula that blurs imperfections and sets makeup!

Hard Candy Marilyn Monroe Rose Drench Refresher Spray $6
A refreshing facial mist with Rosewater + Hyaluronic Acid that softens and hydrates skin!

Hard Candy Marilyn Monroe is available now at Walmart.

What do you think of it?

Where to buy

Walmart

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I receive a small commission if you shop through my link.

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

  • courtney

    I will say that i am enjoying the imagery on the packaging for this collection. Even without Marilyn’s face and signature, it still is beautiful to look at. But I’m with you, I feel a little weird about Hard Candy promoting products with Marilyn’s image. I know it’s typical marketing, and I’m sure these products will sell, but I feel odd about the marketing aspect of this collection as well. I also, like you, envision Marilyn as this timeless actress, model etc… I guess, for me, Hard Candy ( an inexpensive drugstore brand) and the ever timeless Marilyn don’t seem like a good match, if that makes sense?? Maybe someone like Fergie or Kesha or someone of that nature would have been a better fit for a Hard Candy x Celeb collab. No disrespect to Fergie, Kesha or Hard Candy, but hopefully all who reads this knows what I mean. 🙂

    • Isabella Muse

      I’m the opposite of you! I actually don’t like the packaging. It feels almost too childish to me. I agree about the budget beauty versus Marilyn being sort of diamonds are a girl’s best friend luxurious. One would expect a more prestigious brand to represent her! Makes sense to me! Fergie did the whole Wet n Wild thing a few years ago! Which actually surprised me as well because Fergie doesn’t even seem a fit for WnW. But I think Hard Candy projects a more different image and Marilyn isn’t it. Not that HC is horrible! They have GREAT products! I just don’t see the fit with Marilyn!

  • kjh

    Meh. Does not channel her vibe in the least, to me. She might have worn tinted balm….if it had been invented in her day. So many of these contemporary homages of past icons miss the mark, because the ‘feel’ is not the same, even with today’s better product technology.

  • Hollie

    I would love to see Besame do a Marilyn line…

    This one is a pass for me.

  • CL

    It’s so tacky to use the name and likeness of a dead person. Odds are she would not have approved this. I wonder who has the rights to her name and likeness now.
    Her original heirs are now dead.

  • Kelly

    The loose powder sounds good for dry skin maybe? I do not care for the tacky packaging one bit. I would LOVE to see Besame do a Marilyn collection! I would snap that up in a heartbeat! Marilyn deserves a lot more class than what Hard Candy has done here.

  • MDW

    About the Marilyn Monroe look, I’ve been looking for modern examples but have not found them.
    The super thin winged eyeliner and winged out lashes.

    Too many eye shadow palettes these days I suppose. Yep, too many eye shadow palettes. A far too easy and too cheap way to promote brands.

    Back to the Monroe look, did the makeup artist Amy Greene, along with her husband, Milton Greene, create that look for her?

  • Wendy

    Marilyn Monroe used 5 different lipsticks to get her signature red. Her estate has whored her name out for fragrance and cosmetics and everything you can think of. This has nothing to do except robbing her grave…again. Let this intelligent, athletic, amazing and troubled woman rest in peace. HC could have released this in the same exact packaging left her out of it, rose and baby pink is big right now. It has nothing to do with Ms. Monroe.

  • Veera

    The packaging is awful, its not glam like I waited, it is tacky. Products are interesting but not gonna buy because of the package xD

  • Susan

    Why not choose a makeup brand that has been around since back in the day. Like Max Factor, too bad that is so hard to come by. Please bring it back to the states! I loved their mascaras. Nice to see a collection dedicated to her, but Hard Candy? Oh well, there goes my wallet getting thinner!

  • Rachel Runyan

    Yeah, I don’t get the whole rose and strawberry thing. I realize it’s going for a vintage look, but the packaging is really ugly, IMHO.

  • Karen Hill

    I am going to give it a shot. I am more if the product actually works well than the pkg. I mean you can have pretty pkg and the product suck. You can have a product with ugly pkg. but works great. I have not ever tried Hard Candy. But this has piqued my interest.

  • Chelsea D.

    I found your blog while searching for information on the strawberry face serum, and while I’m glad to have found this, I’m still looking for info on the serum! I assume you put it on a clean face by itself or under makeup, but I honestly can’t find directions anywhere, and the two times I’ve used it, I’ve broken out a little bit. 🙁 I want to love it so badly!

    • Isabella Muse

      Hi Chelsea! Nice to meet you! The site is a little vague: https://hardcandy.com/products/strawberry-face-serum?variant=31809816264809 I assume it can be used on clean skin after moisturizer in the evening or perhaps as the first step in your morning routine! Oh be careful! No one wants wants a flare up!

      Just looking through the ingreds and there should be anything too crazy to make you break out. Maybe it’s the fragrance? Are you allergic to strawberries?

      Water ((Aqua)(Eau), Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Isononyl Isononanoate, Tromethamine, Phenoxyethanol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Dimethicone, Phenyl Trimethicone, Fragrance(Parfum), Fragaria Vesca (Strawberry) Fruit Extract, BHT, Red 40 (CI 16035), Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Tocophero

  • Lesley

    Who cares about the packaging, these products are great! I especially love the brow pencil. Best one I have tried in awhile.

  • Abby

    I’m very late to this and I don’t live in the U.S., but I was confused by the wording “collaboration” (used in other articles and some promotion) as it makes me think of influencer/celebrity collaborations. In those cases a person usually has some actual creative input with the collection, not to mention earns a share of the proceeds.
    With this I think it’s not accurate to call it a collaboration when they just paid licensing to use her image.
    I know they are a drugstore brand, but I feel like more effort could have been done to make it more involved with Marilyn Monroe. Maybe involve a charity? She was involved with a good number of charities and causes for children, medical conditions, and mental health during her life. They could have even just used better pictures of her.
    Not to mention the general theme and packaging. I agree with what you said in earlier replies to comments saying it feels a little childish. It comes across as a lazy, half-assed cash grab.
    Ultimately, it’s cute but forgettable (the marketing) and I’m sure the quality is decent.