Confessions #10 & #11: Tarte and Too Faced

Today is going to be slightly different. If you have read my original post in the series, as I said, I am a college student that is still definitely on a tight budget.  For this reason, I have pretty much exhausted my list of high end companies that I purchase (somewhat) frequently from and frequently research.  Two companies that I have some interest in, but have little experience with are Tarte and Too Faced. I have only purchased two items from Too Faced organically, and none from Tarte.  The items I have received from Tarte have been from a beauty subscription service called Boxycharm, which gives you 4-5 full sized items each month for $21 each, making it a huge steal in hopes that you will purchase from these companies in the future.  

So for today Tarte vs. Too Faced

Tarte has a created a community of followers by calling them "Tartelettes."  By tying this into their products they released a new Tartelette palette, which helps aid in the sense of community if you purchase one or more of these palettes.  For Spring 2015, they tied the new Tartelette palette into social media by creating a video of the photo shoot that they had with some famous beauty YouTuber's and vloggers.  By using socially influential women while still carrying the same messages that the Tartelette palettes have had in the past, Tarte has built an even stronger connection between themselves and those who like to include themselves as Tartelettes.

Too Faced has recently come out with a product based upon the culture of sharing pictures via social media.  This product is called "Selfie Powders" and is a palette contaning 3 colored powders: a golden-yellow called "Sunrise," a bronze labeled as "Totally Toasted," and a light lilac called "Moon River." Too Faced now has an easy way to tie this product in to social media, encouraging engagement by their followers to post selfies using their powders and encouraging #nofilter because the powders are "real life filters." Personally I think the product is kind of gimmicky and I would not purchase it since I have to be careful of overdoing color correcting on my fair skin, but I think it is a neat concept.  Too Faced has bridged the gap between social media and branding/products in a way that I have not seen any other cosmetics company do. 

Products I own by Tarte Cosmetics
 (prices based on Ulta.com):
Maracuja Bronzing Serum, $47.00
LipSurgence Lip Tint, $24.00 

Products I own by Too Faced Cosmetics 

(prices based on Ulta.com):

Melted Liquified Long Wear Lipstick, $21.00
Sweethearts Perfect Flush Blush, $30.00

Tarte
Website: http://tartecosmetics.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tartecosmetics
Instagram: https://instagram.com/tartecosmetics/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/tartecosmetics
YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/tartecosmetics
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/tartecosmetics/
Google+: https://plus.google.com/103695503093959855799/post

Too Faced
Website: https://www.toofaced.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/toofaced
Instagram: https://instagram.com/toofaced/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/toofaced
YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/toofacedcosmetics
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/TooFaced/
Google+: https://plus.google.com/+toofaced/posts
Snapchat username: toofacedsnaps

Confession #6: Benefit

Benefit Cosmetics sends you into the time machine to the 1950s with its packaging.  From it's bright colors in its packaging, era-appropriate names, and 1950s style advertising, you would think that this company's roots began then, but instead it was started as The Face Place in 1976 and turned into Benefit Cosmetics around 1990.

In my opinion, Benefit has used their own social media channels to enhance the persona created in their regular advertisements for a typical Benefit Gal, or Benefit user. A "Benefit Gal" is a little vintage, fun, flirty, and a socialite. Her makeup is fresh and usually not too bold, but she does enjoy her face to be flawless. You'll never find this definition straight on their website, but this is my takeaway from their campaigns.


 
When Benefit launched their brand new They're Real Push-Up Liner, this was an addition to their They're Real Mascara to create it's own mini line within their cosmetics. This was also so much more. Benefit was revolutionizing gel eye liner. Whether or not they succeeded is still in the air, but the main point is that they did it. They came out with a product that had the same formula that many makeup users love, gel eyeliner, but put it in a format that was much easier to use, a push-up pen. They relied heavily on social media on this campaign. I remember seeing advertisements on other makeup videos on YouTube. There were countless tweets and videos and pictures on Instagram.  The advertising through social media still left the customer wanting more information, which you would either have to wait for, or decide to try out for yourself. I chose to purchase it on my own.

I also think the Benefit does a good job with using their Pinterest.  Their Pinterest is organized well into their different lines of cosmetics within their brand, showing different tutorials and exciting ways to use their products. Yet, their Pinterest also has complementing things, such as party decorations, or date night hair to pair with your Benefit Cosmetics makeup look!







Products I own by Benefit Cosmetics 
(prices based on Ulta.com):

They're Real Mascara (sample), full size, $23.00
The POREfessional (sample), full size, $31.00
Hoola bronzer (sample), full size, $28.00
They're Real Push-Up Liner, $24.00
Erase Paste, $26.00
High Beam (sample), full size, $26.00
Stay Don't Stray (sample), full size, $26.00
Benetint, (sample), full size, $30.00
"That Gal" (sample), full size, $29.00
They're Real Remover, $18.00
Posietint (sample), full size, $30.00
Bella Bamba (sample), full size $28.00
It's Potent Eye Cream (sample), full size, $34.00
Ooh La Lift (sample), full size, $22.00








Products I have previously owned by Benefit Cosmetics (prices based on Ulta.com):
Hello Flawless Oxygen WOW, $36.00
BADGal Lash Mascara, $19.00
The POREfessional Agent Zero Shine (sample), full size, $30.00
Fakeup (sample), full size, $24.00
 



 


Website: https://www.benefitcosmetics.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/benefitcosmetics
Instagram: http://instagram.com/benefitcosmetics
Twitter: https://twitter.com/benefitbeauty
YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/benefitcosmetics
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/benefitbeauty/
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+benefitcosmetics/posts

Confession #4: Lorac

Carol....Lorac.

Yes, you guessed it. The genius behind this company made up the name by spelling her name backwards. Talk about hidden meaning. Anyway...Carol Shaw created a company based off of the fact that women sometimes have extremely sensitive skin, and that their makeup should not also irritate the skin.
 
An interesting thing about Lorac Cosmetics is that some of the products are sold exclusively at certain locations. Yes, you can purchase online via their website, but they only sell certain products at Ulta and Kohls. A special edition Mega Pro Palette was sold only via Amazon.com. Lorac used to be sold at Sephora stores as well, but discontinued in late 2013-early 2014.

 
The way that these companies interact via social media is interesting in my opinion.  I looked at Kohls' and Ulta's Twitter accounts and they do mention Lorac's products once or twice in the past 3 months. Granted, both Kohls' and Ulta sell many many brands and have to be fair about not promoting one company more than the other. With Amazon.com's Twitter account, they never mentioned the Lorac MegaPro Palette being on sale exclusively. I find this interesting because I would have thought that Amazon.com would want to capitalize on the fact that they exclusively are selling the product.

Instead, I see that Lorac has taken it upon themselves to market which places sell each product. Many times, #KohlsBeauty, #Amazon, or @Ulta_Beauty shows up in their Instagram and Twitter posts to ensure that their customers know where each product can be found. I think Lorac does a good job of using their social media outlets to let their customers know where the products can be found and how to use them.
 

Products I own by Lorac Cosmetics:
Lorac Pro 2 Palette, $42 (sold at Ulta, Kohl's, and Amazon.com)
SummerGLO Eyeshadow Palette, $24 (Kohl's exclusively)
AfterGLO Eyeshadow Palette, $24 (Ulta exclusively)
Behind the Scenes Eye Primer, Sample (Full size, $21)
 

Website: http://www.loraccosmetics.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LORACcosmetics
Instagram: http://instagram.com/loraccosmetics
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LORAC_Cosmetics
YouTube channel:  
https://www.youtube.com/user/LORACCosmetics
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/loraccosmetics/
Google+:  
https://plus.google.com/u/0/+Loraccosmeticsinc/posts
Tumblr: http://carolshaw.la/

Confession #2: Urban Decay

Urban Decay seems to be a company that likes to push the envelope with it's colors, color names, and overall brand image. Their motto is "Beauty with an edge," and they surely bring an edge alright.

 Cheeky lipstick/lip liner shade names, such as "69" and "F-Bomb"

The two major facets of the brand are the Naked line, and their more colorful counterparts with no continuous name.  The Naked line is designed to...well, er, make you look naked, or well a better version of your skin naked. This concept seems ironic when it comes to cosmetics, but it has been very successful for UD.  Their bright color choices were epitomized with their Electric Pressed Pigments Palette. Colors such as Chaos and Freak also show up in their 24/7 Glide-On Eyeliners. 


 

The company lists several products in their lines as "vegan" and is actually backed by PETA as being animal cruelty free, despite being owned by L'oreal, who is known for not being cruelty free. 




Urban Decay's Naked3 Palette was one of my very first high end makeup purchases, which was about one year ago. 

I watched at least 20 different videos on YouTube of makeup artists and aficionados sharing their opinions and tutorials of how each shade should be worn. Quickly, this brand became one of my favorites and is probably the high end brand of which I gravitate towards most of the time. It seems like constantly I am looking at their social media sites, especially Instagram.  Most of their products are packaged in very sleek, shiny packaging that aids in the high end feel of the brand that accompanies the price tags.  


Their Instagram page focuses on showcasing their products rather than trying to directly interact with their target audience by sharing quotes and pictures that do not directly relate to their brand. Urban Decay likes to highlight known makeup artists in the social world that use their products by reposting pictures from those artists.
 
Their Twitter account tends to show the same patterns as their Instagram, but also more "testimonial shoutouts" to makeup artists and videos of them doing so since Twitter's platform allows for this better than Instagram. Their social media presence is good as it pertains to the spread they have, but their content can become monotonous to some of their consumers, especially since it repeats content from platform to platform. This is definitely something that Urban Decay might want to focus on and study to see if boredom arises from consumers who happen to follow them on all social media platforms.

Products I own from Urban Decay:  
Naked3 Palette, $54
Naked2 Basics Palette, $29
Electric Palette, $49
Naked On the Run Palette, $54
24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Black Velvet, $20
Eyeshadow Primer Potion in Sin, $20
Naked Skin Weightless Definition Liquid Makeup in 0.5, $39
Perversion Travel Size Mascara, $12

-- xoxo, Paige

Website: http://www.urbandecay.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/urbandecaycosmetics
Instagram: http://instagram.com/urbandecaycosmetics
Twitter: https://twitter.com/urbandecay
YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/UrbanDecayYT
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/urbandecay/
Google+: https://plus.google.com/+urbandecay/posts
Tumblr: http://urbandecay.tumblr.com/

Confession #1: Overview

About one year ago, I saw a friend post on Facebook about a business called Ipsy. I had no clue what Ipsy was, so I clicked on the link to find out that it was a makeup subscription service. It was during Snowmageddon 2014, so I literally had nothing better to do than to watch countless YouTube videos of people "unboxing" their hot pink bubble mailers revealing their goodies.

In the end, I decided Ipsy deserved my $10 each month in return for a few surprises of products that would hopefully make me look presentable when I wore makeup. At the time, I was mildly interested in makeup, but I felt like I really had no clue what to do or how to use half of it, even though I have been wearing makeup since 7th grade. After receiving my first Ipsy Glam Bag, I was hooked. Hours upon hours of YouTube videos have now been watched showing me products that have raving reviews, cult followings, and some that just didn't hit the target.

So with this blog, I would like to highlight 10 of my personal favorite makeup brands. I will focus on their presence in social media and how they interact with their customers, but I will probably also add in favorite products, product reviews, and tutorials with the specific brands' products. With each post, I will include the website and social media websites for the brand.

--xoxo, Paige