Makeup items with a cult following. Are you part of it?

Jun 20, 2016

Breeze T.

Hi all,

It's been a while, I finished my finals this session so I have
some time to spare heehee :)
I was looking up which lipsticks are so iconic that they have created a cult following, and I wanted to extend this to all makeup in general.

So here are a few questions:

1. What specific makeup products do you think belong in this category?

2. Why do you think these items are so popular, what makes them different?

3. What have you tried, what are you dying to try and what are your impressions on them?


We can add more questions if the thread gets juicy!

1. Off the top of my head, I can think of a few just to get us started, but this is not a complete list my any means!

Face products:

Guerlain Meteorites
Guerlain Terracotta bronzer
YSL Touche Eclat
Nars Orgasm blush

Lipsticks:

Dior 999 lipstick
Chanel Pirate lipstick
Clinique Black Honey lipstick
Revlon Cherries In The Snow lipstick
Mac Ruby Woo lipstick

Mascara:
L'Oréal Voluminous mascara
Maybelline Great Lash mascara

Moisturizer/primer/balms:

Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream
Pond's Cold Cream
Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré
Nivea Cream/Crème (the blue tub)

And a few new entries:

Anastasia DipBrow
Naked Palette
Beauty Blender

These last ones cannot be defined classic items at all but they have taken the world by storm in the last few years!

2. My question is honestly because I would like to know what sets them apart from the rest in your opinion.
I haven't tried most of these, but I'm guessing that a lot of these products are very versatile and work on many different skin tones and textures.
For example, I LOVE my Clinique Black Honey and I like it on other people too, it's so universal!
And that's what they say about Nars Orgasm too, although I'm not such a huge fan of shimmery blush, so I gave it a pass and chose the shade Gilda instead, which is basically the same color (very similar), without the shimmery bits. :)

3. I've tried the Clinique lipstick (love it), Eight Hour Cream (my mother had a bad reaction to it), Nivea crème (I like the smell of it so much), Embryolisse (I use it most days as a primer mostly), Maybelline Great Lash mascara (it does my lashes justice without weighing them down and clumping).

I'm dying to try all of the iconic red lipsticks that I mentioned (Dior, Chanel, Revlon, MAC). On the other hand, I'm not insterested in the Naked palette because of all the shimmery shades- I wouldn't use them much and I know because I bought a dupe palette just to see if I could create lots of things. Verdict: not worth my money for what I like to do. Also, I'm not interested in the DipBrow because I have my trusty MUFE Aqua Brow and it's so sanitary in that little package.


Share your thoughts, I want to know! And I may pick up some of the things you suggest next.
Also, I wanted to keep this mostly about makeup so I am not going to add any famous hair items, nail polishes or miracle skincare treatments but if you feel like you HAVE to share, then do!

Jun 20, 2016

Katherine W.

I love Clinique's Black Honey! I'll have to buy another here shortly. I think it's such a great product since each individual will have it change to their own personal shade.

Also, I'm on the urban decay setting spray bandwagon for now. I use the "de-slick" since I need that shine control. It comes out in such a fine mist.

And I don't know if it is a cult status item but I use the BECCA mineral blush in Flowerchild. It's very pigmented so a little goes a long way. Gives my cheeks the color they need.

I tried the Hourglass mineral veil primer that everyone seems to LOOOVE but sadly I'm sensitive to silicones and it made me break out. I did love how it felt when I put it on though. *sigh*

Jun 20, 2016

Breeze T.

Thank you for replying Katherine! Yeah I am wearing Black Honey right now lol.

I've never tried the UD setting spray, I'm more of a MUFE kinda gal, haha. Love my Mist & Fix!

That's too bad about that primer, I haven't tried it but I'm not *that* into primers :)

Jun 20, 2016

Rachel W.

Another couple of products that have a cult following are the NYX soft matte lip creams. At the low price point and their pigmentation and staying power, there isn't a reason for someone to NOT love them. They're always sold out near me.
And the BECCA champagne pop highlighter. It only came out last year, but it seemed to get everyone on the highlight bandwagon, and for good reason. It's a perfect glowy highlight for all skin tones and it's soooo buildable.
I think you've covered everything that has a cult following.
IMO, I don't think the Naked palettes should have such a huge following. They can create a lot of fallout and the couple of matte shades in the palettes are impossible to blend. I do know that lots of people love shimmery shadows so of course these palettes would have all the shimmer you could want!

Jun 20, 2016

Katherine W.

I had the MUFE setting spray and switched. I felt the MUFE came out in big droplets and left my face wet.

Jun 20, 2016

Dana E.

I actually have two NYX lip creams Rachel and I'm not a fan :( they are super drying and uncomfortable on my lips.


I honesty loveeeeee my beauty blender so much! The RT one doesn't compare in my opinion.

I have Mac ruby woo but I honestly barely wear it, lol. I'm not a red lipstick person.

Jun 21, 2016

Jacqueline H.

Cult items... :) For me, the definition of a cult item is one that isn't mainstream, and flies very low under most people's radar's. Cult items in my opinion, are items that are kind of hard to get sometimes, and always a hair away from being discontinued but for the loyal following of a dedicated few. ;)

My favorite 'Cult' Items:

Max Factor Pan Stick
Max Factor 2,000 calorie mascara
Smith's Rosebud Salve
The Coty Airspun Powder
Lancome Juicy Tubes
Maybelline Great Lash: This mascara has been around since I can remember, and millions of people love it. If this one was taken off the shelves, there would be a huge public outrage.

Lipsticks: Colors that have very dedicated followings: MAC's Angel, Ruby Woo, Russian Red, Lady Danger, Chanel Rouge Noir, YSL #19, NARS Funny Face, Jungle Red, Revlon Red, Cherries in the Snow, Bobbi Brown's Brown, Dior Lip Glow, Cle De Peau #311, D&G Iconic, Estee Lauder Intense Nude, Lipstick Queen Poppy, Kevyn Aucoin Bloodroses... I'm sure I am missing a ton more.

MAC's Spice Lip Liner

Micellar Waters: In my opinion, there are only 2 that have divided the masses in terms of which one people think is 'better.' Bioderma and Koh Gen Do. I've seen some really hot arguments among muas over these 2. I prefer Koh Gen Do over the Bioderma.

Evian Mineral Water Spray: We use it to dampen sponges, and brushes and to also spray down a cranky model.

Egyptian Magic Face Cream

Bag Balm: This stuff has been around forever. I don't use it but it's technically used to soften cows nipples... Yes, that's right. Mua's love this stuff... It softens cracked heels, hands, and super dry skin.

Lucas Papaw

Embryolisse Lait Creme Concentre: Every mua I know has atleast 2 tubes of this product in their kit at all times. I liken the Embryolisse Lait Creme Concentre to Coconut oil: Mua's use the Embryolisse for almost anything and everything: Removing makeup, as a shave balm, a moisturizer, and if our significant others start acting out of line, throw a little Embryolisse Lait Concentre on them and see what happens. ;)

Ponds Cold Cream
Oil of Olay Beauty Fluid: Whose mother didn't use this?

Jao Hand Conditioner: A hand sanitizer that we all use.

Parian Spirit: This brush cleanser has been around for a long, long long time, and before sites like Beautylish and Sephora started to sell it, it was and still is primarily used by professional mua's. I would seriously have a temper tantrum if I couldn't get my Parian Spirit.

L'Oreal's Elnett Hairspray: Superglue for the hair. I love it.
Sun In: Remember this stuff? How many of us turned our hair orange with it? I know I did.

Jun 21, 2016

Breeze T.

Rachel, I've never tried any NYX products, we don't have that brand in Italy but I'll be sure to try it the next time I go back to the US!

Katherine, it is true, the droplets are large but it still works for me!! And also I usually put it in a Muji spray bottle of my own:)

Dana, that's what I'm worried about.. Not using them after I finally buy a long-coveted product.

Jacqueline, there are a few of these that I was thinking of putting in: the MF Pan Stick, the Coty Airspun and Bioderma.

I totally forgot about Mac Spice! And the juicy tubes... Good times... I had one that tasted like caramel. Omg it was so tasty I wished I could eat it. Plus it looked amazing with that hint of gold on my lips, just gorgeous!

I like your definition, it works!
I've never tried the Airspun, but then again we don't have Coty here so that'll have to wait until my next trip to the us of A.
Funny enough, we have Max Factor here, no issues finding his products but I hear they were discontinued in the US... On the other hand, I have a lifetime supply of Great Lash classic mascara from my trips abroad because it cannot be found in Italy, despite the popularity of Maybelline. I guess each brand tailors to different countries in various ways. I know I'd be outraged too if I couldn't find it anymore!

The Evian water spray reminds me of thermal water spray! I love that stuff... Unfortunately not everyone does... I had to learn it the hard way. I had a bit of a sunburn (I was 18 and too dumb to wear sunscreen in July at noon) and the water helped me feel better... I basically bathed in thermal water. Let's just say I didn't smell like roses. Haha!

Elnett... I love the smell of it, I have it here at home... I don't use it on myself with my curly mane but it works amazingly when my hair is short or when I'm styling my mother's hair in a 60s beehive style. And then it just comes off by brushing! Amazing!

:)

Jun 22, 2016

Jacqueline H.

Reny: I don't :( You can still buy it online, but like you said...Max factor products have been gone from the US brick and mortar stores for quite some time.

Jun 22, 2016

Nathalie C.

Here we have Max Factor in every store. I'm usually attracted to powder products and theirs really suck. I heard some good things about their primer and mascara so I might try it, but it's quite expensive in fact for what it is.

Jun 22, 2016

Breeze T.

I suppose you just don't miss it until it's gone... I too don't use many of his products.. I used to LOVE the Lash Extension Effect mascara for a barely there look... Unfortunately it's gone!! D:

Jun 23, 2016

Jacqueline H.

I also used to love the Max Factor Lasting Performance foundation and the LipFinity lip colors. I believe that both products are still in the Max Factor lineup. You're right Breeze, you really don't miss it until it's gone. :(

Max Factor was an interesting and brilliant man... He developed flexible grease paint that was the very first foundation type of product ever seen on the screen, and his Pan Cake makeup was the very first commercially available foundation. He also came up with the very first concealer product called Erase.

I believe it was around 1920 when he launched a full range of cosmetic products which he called “make-up," which is a phrase the he, and he alone coined. He really is the OG makeup artist, and if it wasn't for him, we wouldn't have half of the cosmetic products that we have. There's a lot of history behind Max Factor, and a lot of the vintage looks that we try to recreate to this day came from Max Factor. ;)

Jun 23, 2016

Aurora S.

I'm definitely a huge fan of the Ruby Woo lipsticks.
I love the shade of it but what really stands out to me is the waxy/drier formula.
I know some people hate it but I LOVE it lol.
It's a red lipstick that (if it's windy and my hair gets on my lips) it won't stain my hair.
It wears longer than most, if not all the other conventional lipsticks I've used.
Didn't have a problem with transferring either.
I believe revlon has a color that's quite similar to the Ruby woo but the formula isn't as matte so I didn't bother.
The color itself is nice, quite a vivid blue based red that doesn't end up looking muddy/maroon on me.

I'm also a huge fan of the Lady Danger lipstick. It's definitely not matte but the color is lovely. A bright coral red. I'd get tons of compliments on it and how bright the color is. On me, it looks like quite a Scarlett Red which is actually my favorite kind of red but the only downside of that one is that in pics it can look more orange than red so I just make sure to use a more red lipliner under or use Ruby Woo under I'll be taking pics.

Jun 24, 2016

Breeze T.

Jacqueline, actually I think we still have that concealer, only here for some reason it's Erace with a C... Don't ask me why lol. Anyway that's why I'm happy that I travel so much, even around Europe I tend to spot different brands than what we have here so I just pick it up!

I think I would like Ruby Woo Aurora, but I think I'd only use it as a stain because of the dry formula. I think it would work really well for a daytime soft not-too-crisp red lip.
I guess having blonde hair can have its problems, I never thought of stained hair but that's definitely something to keep in mind!

Lady Danger is definitely a pretty color... Guess what, I have a bright orange lipstick (it's a matte shade by Kiko... shade 604 made to resemble Morange by MAC)... Well, I also use it with a blue-based red lipliner. It's so beautiful! I love creating my little custom shade with that touch of ombré that makes my lips look so plump!