Well, to me, makeup packaging is very important.
Because makeup isn’t just about the way I look after I’ve made up my face. For me, more importantly, it’s about the overall experience and how much I enjoy putting it on.
I mean, it’s like when I go to a restaurant where the food is presented in a creatively appealing way. To begin with, the food they serve has to be good, but the way it’s presented definitely adds to the culinary experience.
(Speaking of which, if you ever come to Bologna, make sure you go to Casa Monica and La Taverna del Farneto, my favorite restaurants in the area. Amazing food, outstanding service and a relaxed atmosphere — a perfect combination, if you ask me!)
Same goes for makeup. The products have to be good, but if they also come in beautiful packaging, it makes the experience more enjoyable.
That being said, some pretty packaging costs a lot, so I think it’s great that there are also good quality products that come in plain, inexpensive packaging and retail for less than the cost of a kale smoothie. It’s good to have options, right?
Now that I think about it, when I said that makeup packaging is very important to me, I should’ve actually said that it’s very important for certain product categories.
Like, if they’re in my budget, I’ll usually buy beautifully packaged lipsticks, eyeshadows, bronzers, blushes and palettes, while, most of the time, I’m happy with drugstore mascaras and eyeliners (provided the quality is good, obviously).
With the latter, even when they’re high end, I don’t really get that luxe feeling that I get from those other products (especially lipsticks). Do you know what I mean?
Angela says
LOL I love pulling out my Chanel lipstick. It feels very *IMPORTANT* and elegant. The colour and formula are fabulous to be sure, but something about the weight and feel of the packaging is luxe.
Carolina Braina says
Hi Angela,
I totally understand! 😉
Have a great weekend!
looloolooweez says
Fun or pretty packaging is one of the factors I consider when buying makeup. So is the sturdiness of the packaging. There’s nothing worse than a fancy-looking lipstick lid not popping back on properly, or the hinge on a pot of eyeshadow snapping off.
Carolina Braina says
Oh, yeah, that’s for sure!
Tatiana says
I like nice packaging, but it’s not the main driver of my cosmetic purchases. Although, I have been known to rant and rail about poor packaging design. I just bought a Burberry Eye Colour Contour and the bottom half of the packaging just fell off, so now it’s hard to get the cap off or to twist the colour up or back down. That one I’m taking back to the store for a replacement.
I have to admit I really love Tom Ford’s packaging. I really like the push/pop out mechanism on the Chanel Rouge Allure lipsticks, too. Well Chanel packaging in general. So classic.
Carolina Braina says
Agreed, I love Chanel packaging, especially Rouge Allures. Oh, and Tom Ford, too, but I only have a lipstick.
That’s too bad about the Burberry shadow stick! Luckily, I’ve never really had any issues with packaging so far.
Enjoy your weekend, Tatiana!
Kiss & Make-up says
In the end it’s about what’s inside and how the product performs for me. But obviously it’s a nice plus when the packaging also looks pretty 🙂
Carolina Braina says
Definitely, what’s inside is what matters the most, but I feel like these days there’s so much great makeup that for me personally packaging plays a huge role in my decision to buy a product.
Amoure Jones says
For me packaging is important for various reasons. I feel like the company really cares when they take that extra step to creatively put work into their package and what catches the eye of the consumer. A pretty package also just looks nice on your makeup counter or vanity area. The eye is drawn to the outside and I find that people often pick the prettier packages even if the inside is crap.
Carolina Braina says
Hi Amoure,
I personally like to use all my makeup, so I always try to buy products that I think will perform well, besides looking pretty.
Have a nice weekend!
Mic says
I’m also big on makeup packaging, but for a very different reason. I really like sturdy or practical packaging so that I can bring these items on the go or for traveling. For instance, you won’t see me bring my Shiseido Synchro Skin foundation because it’s a glass jar with a high chance that it’ll break (I may bring my Tarte powder foundation instead or put it into a smaller travel case instead). I also am more drawn to palette packaging as well (does it come with a mirror? What does it have?). So I guess when it comes to packaging I normally check for quality then packaging (practicality and durability for traveling). Then I look at the prettiness factor. 😉
Carolina Braina says
Hi Mic,
That’s awesome, because I guess it means you travel a lot!
Now that I think of it, even if I only travel a few times a year, I’m instinctively drawn to travel-friendly packaging. For instance, I don’t have any glass foundation bottles (even my Chanel Perfection Lumière Velvet comes in a plastic squeezy tube), and tend to prefer the more edited-down palettes.
Enjoy your weekend!
Katie says
i feel like the packaging of products can have a big impact on ease of use for me (especially for liquid products) so I’d say it matters a lot! It doesn’t matter how good a product is if I can’t get to it or use it easily. And of course if it’s pretty all the better!
Carolina Braina says
Hi Katie,
That’s a good point! Ease of use is super important for me, too. For instance, I tend to stay away from loose powder products, because I feel like they’re not as convenient as their compact counterparts.
Have a nice weekend!
Lauren says
The packaging draws me to The product. Like you though, drugstore mascara all the way.
Carolina Braina says
Hi Lauren,
I recently got the Charlotte Tilbury Legendary Lashes mascara because I was curious about it, and it didn’t make me change my mind: I still think high-end mascaras are a waste of money (for me personally, since I don’t have an unlimited budget).
Have a great weekend!
Jen says
Totally agree that luxe packaging applies for certain product categories for me! Eyeliners, mascara and brow products are typically purchased in drugstore categories, whereas lip and cheek products that are toted around, I’ll be more willing to splurge on!
Carolina Braina says
Hi Jen,
I’m glad I’m not the only one who feels that way.
Enjoy your weekend!
Agata says
I agree, packaging is quite important. But I don’t buy makeup just because its packaging is pretty. It might be a contributing factor but not a sole factor. And I’d agree with you on the eyeliners but not on mascaras. Don’t you think that holding a gold tube of an YSL mascara would feel luxurious??
Carolina Braina says
Hmmm, no, not really! I mean, if I had unlimited budget, I’d probably buy everything high-end, but I really don’t mind using drugstore mascaras, whereas you’ll rarely see me using drugstore lipsticks, for instance. It’s something very personal, I guess.
Leah Rose says
Compacts are the thing I go for nice packaging for. Picking up say a Charlotte Tilbury blush feels so much nicer than a drugstore brand.
Carolina Braina says
Definitely!
Have a nice weekend 🙂
Erin says
I just think of it as a nice bonus. I’ve never bought anything just for it.