I haven't asked this question in a while so I thought it would be fun to revisit:
If you could pick one drugstore makeup brand to completely overhaul (packaging, products, shades), which brand would it be?
I think I said Almay or Neutrogena when I first asked this question, and my choices are the same today. I think there are some nice products and formulations in both lines but, overall, I feel that both brands need a packaging update and some extra pizzazz when it comes to their products (especially color cosmetics). Even though both brands seem to emphasize clean, skin-friendly makeup, I think you can still hold to that philosophy but also be exciting and innovative when it comes to packaging and color cosmetics. I'd like to see better pigmentation from both brands when it comes to lip, cheek and eye colors, and also an expansion of their face makeup shade ranges, with much-needed options for Women of Color.
Those @#$%ing Wet n Wild lipstick tubes where the product doesn't swivel all the way down. And any product that doesn't safety seal! Too many people like to "swatch" at the drugstore. :(
ReplyDeleteYes! I bought WnW Urban Nights last fall, and it has that same problem, along with the cap cracking, so it won't stay on unless it's stored standing up.
DeleteI'm often drawn to the price of N.Y.C., but rarely ever buy anything becuse the quality and selection is really lacking, in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteI have to go with Almay. Even bringing in Kate Hudson didn't change the fact that it just isn't hip. Idk if they don't want hip, perhaps classic instead but I feel I comes across as boring.
ReplyDeleteAgreed! They can still be minimalist without being dated and boring. Sigh...
Deletethat's why I like NYX. They are vegan but still have fun cute packaging. I would definitely haul on them.
ReplyDeleteI'd probably say Almay as well. I'd also revamp some of their ingredient lists, because I am actually allergic to quite a few of their products despite them being touted as hypo-allergenic. Their packaging is kind of clinical and I think the colors they use make it look really dated.
ReplyDeleteI would definitely redo NYC, I feel like the packaging is cheap, and just because it's inexpensive doesn't mean it has to be flimsy. I would also redo most of the pigmentation on their products beginning with the eyeshadows and lip balms. The only thing I wouldn't change with the NYC line is the Expert Last Lipsticks except maybe add more shades.
ReplyDeleteI'd also fix most of the Wet n Wild lip products.
If you changed their Big Bold Mascara or Grand Central Station polish, I'd have to destroy you. LOL!! I'm kidding of course, but those two products are holy grail material for me and I would be absolutely devasted if anything about them ever changed. ;)
DeleteI'm with you G! Neutrogena needs a makeover, although they have started with their all natural line. They need to.expand their foundation's range offerings, improve pigmentation and probably introduce specific products such eye lid's primer, primer with tone correction, and more chubbies!
ReplyDeleteYes! They keep releasing more foundations when they should focus on entirely new product lines like eyeshadow primers, highlighters, bronzers, contour palettes, brow color, etc. So frustrating. And chubbies without shimmer would be freaking fantastic! Also, I just can't get excited about those new eyeshadow quads (http://nouveaucheap.blogspot.com/2014/12/spotted-new-neutrogena-nourishing-long.html). Some of the shades seem so similar from quad to quad (they're duping themselves! lol) and the same ol' same ol' color combos we've seen at the drugstores for years now. I mean, I understand if they want to stick with natural-looking color palettes but hey, how about a really good matte palette filled with rose, taupe, mauve, sand, etc. shades? Not just the same medium warm brown shimmer shadows over and over. lol. End rant! :)
DeleteYes!! The eyeshadow quads!!! BORING!!
DeleteAmen! It should be a no brainer for them, women love their foundations and skincare, why don't be a little wild and give us multi-tasking primers and more colors, including matte finish, for their chubbies? I have no opinion nor experience with their shadows because for me colors and their little variations make or break a purchase. Their current offerings are not exciting.
DeleteWhen I saw those quads I thought someone had put the e.l.f. quads in a Neutrogena display.
DeleteI agree with you 100%, G. I honestly do not own one Almay/neutrogena makeup product. Their products are way too boring for my taste. I don't even bother looking at their sections when I pass by the makeup aisle because I know they never have anything exciting to offer.
ReplyDeleteCovergirl! They need to improve on their eyeshadows and blushes. The pigmentation just isn't all that great. I do really like the Outlast foundation and clump crusher mascara though
ReplyDeleteCovergirl has the worst eyeshadow. I wish the blush would go in little round pans. They also need an eyelid primer. Their Queen collection needs updating and newer colours. I also feel that the Queen collection needs its own blush, highlighter, contour, shimmers, and color correctors.
DeleteI agree with Neutrogena and Almay, definitely. And to overhaul an individual product, I want Revlon Super Lustrous lipsticks to have a lid with a tighter click! I have at least a dozen of those lippies, love em, but the lids keep falling off in my makeup bag. It seems like this just started happening in the last year or so.
ReplyDeleteI agree about Neutrogena and Almay ... those would be what I'd choose, too!
ReplyDeletePixi. Mother price point is far too high for such juvinial packaging. Either lower the price a lot or improve the look and make it more grown up and less cheap.
ReplyDeleteI just bought a few of those pixi eyeshadows on clearance at Ulta for .99. I was able to use the 3.50 off 10.00 coupon too.
DeleteFor sure Almay. *yawn* Although I do really like their intense i-color liquid liner, specifically in Violet Amythest and I think the other is called Raisin Quartz..they both really bring out the green tones in hazel eyes!! Also it lasts all day on my super sebacous lids (over primer and shadow of course!) ;) I also feel a bit bored with Physician's Formula, the new argan line seems alright but not special enough imo to make a purchase. Tired of the overuse of glimmery oversprays on blushers, bronzers etc. There really is no purpose for that. And why no lip products anymore??? The only PF product I have even a bit of interest in atm is the fiber-ish multi step mascara. I used to adore PF mineral compact face powders until they started going bonkers with the fine sparkle (kinda like the line by Revlon...was it photoready or dna/anti-aging foundations w the red cap and font??)
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with a lot of what I'm reading here. I pretty much ignore Almay, though I do like the lip gloss balms and the new lip butters, but the rest doesn't do much for me. Neutrogena, too. They have lots of foundations and stuff, but most of it is too orange on me so I stopped buying.
DeleteI do like Physicians Formula but sometimes it seems they have too much for the face. I actually get confused looking at all the CC, BB creams, foundations and concealers, etc., and the newer stuff with that glittery overspray doesn't appeal to me, aside from being pretty to look at.
NYC, while they're a good price, etc., I would love to overhaul their lipsticks so they're not scented. Good pigmentation, etc., but I get tired of the scent. And both NYC and WnW could use a bit better packaging, where the lids of lip and eye products don't crack right away and defeat their purpose.
This is tough because I love some things about all lines and am frustrated by some things. If I could invent my own line based off the mistakes of others, here are my priorities: I would have lipsticks that don't taste like mint (Revlon, Burt's Bees) mascara that isn't dry (CoverGirl) eyeliner that doesn't smudge (Pixi) and foundation in more skin tones (dang near everybody).
ReplyDeleteI would put safety seals on all the products. It's impossible to safely shop these days
ReplyDeleteBlack Radiance has the flimsiest packaging. The design has also annoyed me for years. I would totally give the packaging a more feminine yet regal feel. The font kills me. Ugh. Their website needs an overhaul swatches of the real product. I would make the colours cobalt blue and Rose Gold.
ReplyDeleteNot drugstore, but I'd pick Clinique. They could use a fresh start.
ReplyDeleteAgreed! I totally think of Clinique as the high-end version of Almay!
DeleteI agree Clinique and Almay are like sisters
DeleteOh my gosh. I can't pick just one. CoverGirl - particularly their eyeshadows look SO dated. I don't give them a second glance.
ReplyDeleteMost of NYC could do with a makeover too - they have great products at a great price, but the packaging is really off putting.
Almay is another brand I virtually ignore because of the packaging. They're in the same category as CoverGirl for me.
On the flipside, I think that Physicians Formula is a packaging rockstar :)