Confession #8: Pixi Beauty by Petra

Pixi is one of those in-between brands. It's not technically high-end, but I definitely would not consider it to be "drugstore" either. For my purposes, it's high-end, because as a college student, I'm balling on a budget and when I purchase one of Pixi's items...it's a splurge item or it's a huge sale.

From looking over Pixi's social media accounts, their Twitter stands out to me more than other cosmetics brand's accounts because Pixi relies on their customers to spread the word through videos on YouTube and blog posts. Pixi will either retweet their tweets, or more often will showcase their product and tag the beauty guru who did a review on it.  I really think this is a strong way for Pixi to create connections with it's followers because it shows that they do pay attention to what people are saying about them. Pixi has created through Twitter a platform for their followers to feel that when they tag Pixi or talk about a product, Pixi has a high chance that they will see it.

I also really like that Pixi uses their Instagram page to show their followers how to recreate celebrity looks using a cheaper alternative, their Pixi products. Many people try to recreate celebrity looks, so for Pixi to focus on that is very cool.

Pixi products are sold at Target, though not the full line, and on their website. I have found that the prices at Target are slightly lower than on the website. However, you can use the points system from Pixi's website to reduce the price of the products.

Products from Pixi Beauty by Petra that I currently own:
Glow Tonic Beauty Elixir, $29.00
Flawless Beauty Fluid, $30.00
Makeup Fixing Mist, $15.00
Lid Last Shadow Pen, $18.00
Mesmerizing Mineral Duo, sample, full size palette is $18.00


Products from Pixi Beauty by Petra that I have previously owned:
Tinted Brillance Balm, $14.00


Products from Pixi Beauty by Petra that I have ordered, but not received:
Fairy Dust, $10.00
Beauty Bronzer & Kubuki Brush, $18.00

Website: http://www.pixibeauty.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PixiBeauty?sk=wall
Instagram: https://instagram.com/pixibeauty/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/pixibeauty
YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/PixiBeauty
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/pixibeauty/

Confession #7: e.l.f.

e.l.f., or eyes lips face cosmetics is one of the most affordable cosmetic lines that I have come across in the drugstore. This company also has a surprisingly wide selection of items including a lot of prep products, brushes, and other tools in addition to their makeup items; they have also just launched their own skincare line. e.l.f. sells their products in Walmart stores, Target stores, Walgreens stores, K Mart stores, and recently at most Old Navy stores with limited items so far. In addition to retail stores, you can always purchase online at eyeslipsface.com, where they often have promotions and discounts, and their largest selection. 

 
Most of their products are under $6, with most being $1, $2, and $3. They have 3 lines of their products: Mineral, which are usually the most expensive products, Studio, which is their midline, and Essential, which is the most affordable line. Their skincare line just launched and those prices run from $8-$12. I have tried so many of their products and most of them are wonderful. There are a few misses and I can say that I have not tried a lot of their face products simply because I have rosacea and need special care with my face products. Overall, their eyeshadows and blushes are my favorite parts of the line. They are constantly coming out with new products and cycling out old ones, and their social media outlets are a great way to advertise those changing products. 

As far as e.l.f.'s social media channels go, I have been....well not disappointed, but not super impressed to be honest. They post a lot on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, but I'm not so sure that the reach is as good as it could be.  Facebook and Twitter throttle what shows up in followers' news feeds.  Their posts on Facebook and Twitter are simply about the products, not creating a strong bonds or relationships with their followers. Their social media sites are mainly for awareness.  Yet, I think their platforms work for them. With how inexpensive their products are, they kind of speak for themselves and just need verification, which comes in handy via their Instagram and sponsorships on YouTube. They post a lot of photos of their products in action via their Instagram, and I think that speaks volumes for their products.  I also have seen many YouTubers talk about e.l.f. products in their videos (such as my favorite YouTube makeup guru, emilynoel83 seen above with the e.l.f. Studio HD Blush). I have not seen e.l.f. straight up sponsor a video, but I have seen them send extra products in orders for YouTubers to try new products when they place their own orders, such as Andrea Matillano, another YouTuber I frequently watch.

Despite their large presence on social media being a positive attribute, they lack some creativity in their posts in my opinion, which can be seen as a negative. With that being said, they are known for their affordable, great quality products, usually seen as dupes for higher end products, and I think that their social media does reflect that. Their sites mimic high end cosmetic companies and I think that's okay. They are focused on discounts and sets, awareness for their products, and getting people to try their products rather than try to create a conversation with their followers. I think their affect is definitely evident based on the sheer number of products that I have tried from them.  They regularly have sales and that's when most of my purchases happened.

Products from e.l.f. Cosmetics that I currently own:

e.l.f. Studio 32-piece Geometric Eyeshadow Palette, $4.80 (sale)

e.l.f. Studio Prism Eyeshadow, $10.00
e.l.f. Studio Long-Lasting Lustrous Eyeshadow, $3.00
e.l.f. Studio Eyeliner & Shadow Stick, $3.00
e.l.f. Mineral Eye Shadow, $2.40 (sale)
e.l.f. Essential Smudge Pot, $3.00
e.l.f. Essential Beauty Book Eye Sets, $5.00
e.l.f. Essential Flawless Eyeshadow, $2.00
e.l.f. Essential Brightening Eyeshadow, $1.00
e.l.f. Essential Shimmering Facial Whip, $1.00
e.l.f. Essential All Over Color Stick, $1.00
e.l.f. Essential Custom Eyes Refill Pan, $1.00

e.l.f. Essential Expert Liquid Eyeliner, $2.00 

e.l.f. Essential Lengthening & Defining Mascara, $1.00       e.l.f. Studio Hydrating Under Eye Primer, $3.00                   e.l.f. Studio HD Lifting Concealer, $3.00
e.l.f. Essential Shadow Lock Eyelid Primer, $2.00
e.l.f. Studio Eyebrow Kit, $3.00
e.l.f. Studio Eyebrow Lifter & Filler, $3.00
e.l.f. Studio Lash Collections, $3.00
e.l.f. Essential Dramatic Lash Kit, $1.00
e.l.f. Essential Individual False Eyelashes, $1.00 

e.l.f. Studio Mascara & Shadow Shield, $3.00
e.l.f. Essential Eye Makeup Remover Pads - 24 Pack, $2.00
e.l.f. Essential Custom Compact with Mirror, $1.00
e.l.f. Essential Dual Pencil Sharpener, $1.00
e.l.f. Studio Eyeshadow "C" Brush, $3.00
e.l.f. Studio Contour Brush, $3.00
e.l.f. Studio Flawless Concealer Brush, $3.00
e.l.f. Studio Flat Eyeliner Brush, $3.00

e.l.f. Studio Angled Eyeliner Brush, $3.00
e.l.f. Essential Eye Shadow Brush, $1.00
e.l.f. Essential Defining Eye Brush, $1.00

e.l.f. Essential Smudge Eye Sponge, $1.00
e.l.f. Essential Eye Crease Brush, $1.00
e.l.f. Essential Eyelash & Brow Wand, $1.00
e.l.f. Essential Jumbo Lip Gloss Stick, $2.00
e.l.f. Studio Matte Lip Color, $3.00
e.l.f. Studio Moisturizing Lip Color, $3.00
e.l.f. Essential Lipstick, $1.00
e.l.f. Studio Lip Liner & Blending Brush, $3.00
e.l.f. Studio Lip Exfoliator, $3.00
e.l.f. Studio Conditioning Lip Balm, $3.00
e.l.f. Essential Lip Balm Tint, $2.00

 
e.l.f. Studio Blush Palette, $6.00
e.l.f. Studio HD Blush, $3.00
e.l.f. Studio Contouring Blush & Bronzing Powder, $3.00
e.l.f. Studio Contouring Blush & Bronzing Cream, $3.00
e.l.f. Studio Blush, $3.00
e.l.f. Studio Kabuki Face Brush, $6.00
e.l.f. Studio Powder Brush, $3.00
e.l.f. Studio Complexion Brush, $3.00
e.l.f. Studio Small Stipple Brush, $3.00
e.l.f. Studio Blush Brush, $3.00

e.l.f. Studio Small Tapered Brush, $3.00
e.l.f. Studio Pointed Foundation Brush, $3.00
e.l.f. Essential Foundation Brush, $1.00
e.l.f. Essential Fan Brush, $1.00
e.l.f. Studio Cool Bronzer, $3.00
e.l.f. Essential Acne Fighting Gel, $2.00
e.l.f. Studio SPF 20 Face Primer, $3.00
e.l.f. Essential Nail Polish, $2.00 
e.l.f. Essential EX-tra Lip Gloss, $2.00

Products from e.l.f. Cosmetics that I have previously owned:

e.l.f. Studio Eyeliner Stick, $3.00
e.l.f. Studio Eye Primer & Liner Sealer, $3.00
e.l.f. Essential Waterproof Eyeliner Pen, $2.00
e.l.f. Essential Jumbo Eyeshadow Stick, $2.00
e.l.f. Studio High Definition Undereye Setting Powder, $3.00
e.l.f. Studio Eye Makeup Remover Pen, $3.00
e.l.f. Studio Makeup Remover Cleansing Cloths, $3.00
e.l.f. Studio Makeup Lock & Seal, $3.00
e.l.f. Studio Lash & Brow Comb, $3.00
e.l.f. Essential Lip Stain, $2.00
e.l.f. Studio Maximum Coverage Concealer - Oil Free, $3.00
e.l.f. Essential Cover Everything Concealer, $2.00
e.l.f. Studio High Definition Powder, $6.00
e.l.f. Essential Flawless Face Powder, $2.00
e.l.f. Studio Stipple Brush, $3.00

Website: http://www.eyeslipsface.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elfcosmetics
Instagram: https://instagram.com/elfcosmetics/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/elfcosmetics
YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/eyeslipsfacedotcom
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/elfcosmetics/
Google+: https://plus.google.com/+elfcosmetics/posts

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 5: NYX

NYX Cosmetics is quickly becoming one of my favorite brands. I hadn't really heard of them before I began shopping religiously at Ulta about a year ago. A smaller selection of their products are sold at most Target stores. They try to push the envelope some with some wild colors, such as these lipstick shades, but it's not in the same way I described Urban Decay as wild, and definitely should not be compared to it. They encourage bold looks, but also everyday as well.



I think a smart move that NYX did recently through social media was launch their new Highlight and Contour Pro Palette right before the Grammys and then show via Instagram and Twitter that Kelly Osborne was getting ready using this new product. Highlighting and contouring is a huge trend in the makeup world and has been for quite a while now, but most "drugstore" brands do not have such a huge palette for highlighting and contouring, so I think their timing of the launch for this product was phenomenal paired with this image on social media. 



 


They also showed Charli XCX having her makeup done for the Grammys with NYX products by a makeup artist named Colby Smith.
Since Charli is very popular right now, this is a good way for NYX to show that they are current and popular and a good choice for makeup.

While NYX has many social media platforms, they do not use Facebook very often. They tend to post most on Instagram with looks showing their products, which is very wise for a company whose products are supposed to be photo worthy! They also post a lot on Twitter, but they remain to <5 posts per day as to not clog up their follower's feeds. They post links via Twitter to direct their followers to their own website, blog posts with their products mentioned, YouTube tutorials and reviews done by makeup artists, and Ulta's website with NYX products. I think this is great because it makes it so easy for the consumer to purchase the product once they see it in action.

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

Soft Matte Lip Creme, $5.99
Slim Lip Pencil, $3.49
Butter Gloss, $4.99
Hi Definition Photo Concealer Wand, $4.99
Butter Lipstick, $5.99
Jumbo Eye Pencil, $4.49
Slide On Eye Pencil, $7.99
Hot Singles Eye Shadow, $4.49
Cream Blush, $5.99-$6.99
Butter Lip Balm, $3.99
Wonder Pencil, $4.49
Love in Rio Eye Shadow Palette, $5.99
Studio Liquid Liner, $4.49








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