Would a Beautifect Mini be a disappointing birthday present if empty?

Oooh, the jungle box is down to £25 on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Beautify-Cosmetic-Organiser-Professional-Lockable/dp/B075WWP1ZR

I've managed to revive my long-forgotten obsession with compactable storage solutions 😳 Still, at least I'm not paying £30 over the odds for a plastic box rebranded as a designer gardening accessory!

It really is a complete marketing con for what is essentially a pvc bag with a mirror in it @LouXx12 (it's probably gained traction on TikTok by some influencers?)

This is ~£10, same size, same mirror, pvc, unbranded, just to show the ridiculous mark up.

You're prepared to spend a good amount, you'll definitely be able to find your daughter something fabulous, keep looking 👀

It depends. For keeping make up in, yes. For travel, no. I am ashamed to admit I have both this and the large size and they are never used. The large is so heavy and doesnt carry much. The small is nice for dressing table and keeping stuff together but doesnt hold much. If its a brand she hangers after, definitely yes and doesn't need to be filled but if shes a utilitarian practical person then no. The light charge lasts for ages. On the large, it tips all the time though if you are trying to actually use it for getting ready perched on a bed.

Thanks for that reminder about toolboxes, @GarlicAnywhere - I'd completely forgotten about them, & their practicality. I do need somewhere to store my make-up - as I do tend to buy my favourite regulars in multiples when I spot a deal, so our tiny bathroom is getting a bit over-full of my shit! The bedroom is also full of my clothes, with barely any space allocated to my partner ... 😶

I had exactly the same idea! They come in some nice colours, & are really easy to keep clean. Though they are quite large & heavy so mightn't solve the issue of carrying make-up on holiday!

Oh look - they must be the "in thing" again, as Plumo is selling a yellow one for £49 ... It doesn't even have compartments! But hey,* *"Shop The Look" ...!!!!

https://www.plumo.com/products/yellow-tool-box?currency=GBP&variant=55450061930881&gad_source=1&gadcampaignid=22541079721&gbraid=0AAAAADltM06Gfkhep34zlg7w6APdwpH&gclid=CjwKCAjwhZDUBhBGEiwAbi5bjpgew96o9FzgUgBP1Ra2P5u0VKt2VnzCiQyun44zo1MgENlonjWRdBoCAdQQAvDBwE

I must say, Plumo increasingly annoys me with some of its hugely overpriced "lifestyle" offerings - but this is silly! Even GrowUrban & Heals are only asking £36 ...

https://www.heals.com/products/y-type-tool-box-yellow?variant=53280946815309&gadsource=1&gadcampaignid=17737941831&gclid=CjwKCAjwhZDUBhBGEiwAbi5bjoYhc3LqstvewVcutw7zogDYilrGuwGtVxnUsOWRucFo6nWrOXPF3hoCtQ8QAvDBwE

... for the exact same product on eBay for £19.99!

https://ebay.io/m/C6Loep

Just having a quick look at cantilever toolboxes, and might have struck gold! It's bigger than the jungle-print case, it's all metal so will be easy to clean, it's a nice colour and the same price:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/DEUBA%C2%AE-Organiser-Lockable-Storage-53x20x20cm/dp/B01IHW42AQ

Less girly, obviously. But there's plenty of scope for stickers ...

Tool boxes were the in thing for drawing & painting students carrying their kit around, when I was at art college!

There’s also this one from Dunelm for £30. It has a mirror but only a handle:

https://www.dunelm.com/product/travel-cosmetics-bag-with-led-mirrored-light-1000267458?

Or this one from LF for £39.99 - again, only a top handle:

https://www.lookfantastic.com/p/sensse-glow-up-vanity-case-with-led-light-mirror/17891436/?

It’s giving TK Maxx vibes. If it’s not something she’s asked for too risky. You can defo think of something else for a 16 year old.

I thought it was a car too. If you are going to treat her, then I’d pop a few extra bits in, she can cut back at Christmas time to balance out the cost.

I don’t know why my reply has been hidden 🤷‍♀️

However, a quick Google has suggested that references to the first company I mentioned in my post might have been what caused it to be hidden.

Apparently BB went into administration earlier in the year, but are now trading again.

It might be better to stick with something like the case from SNK:

https://www.spacenk.com/uk/accessories/makeup-and-travel-bags/bags/zip-case-MUK200058535.html

It looks like a 6.99 primark make up bag?!

Back when I was really into makeup, I kept my many cosmetics in Black & Decker tool boxes. This was because make-up cases were the same design, but smaller and more expensive.

Since this is for a 16-year-old, have a look here. Wayfair seems to have a good selection. The Stylpro rechargeable mirror looks useful (https://www.argos.co.uk/product/3104697). Buy both and you'll still have almost £100 for a voucher, special brush or whatever works for her.

Unless she regularly travels, or has a long bus/train journey to school/college, and needs to do her makeup on the go, I’m not sure it’s worth the price.

if you want to “upgrade” her makeup storage, why not get something from Stackers or similar, and then spend the rest on a separate LED mirror?

https://stackers.com/makeup-beauty/all

Amazon-Vanity-Mirror

There’s loads of dupes for about £30.

You want to buy a £150 make up bag for a 16 yr old?

Unless she’s into big brands and it’s something she desperately wants I wouldn’t waste the money.

There are loads of other options for her, this one on Amazon is so much cheaper. There are also lots of soft plastic bags out there that are easy to wipe clean.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Organiser-Portable-Cosmetic-Adjustable-Compartment/dp/B0FJ8BMHVH/ref=asc_df_B0FJ8BMHVH?mcid=ed00f2563a19311784ee1916d10e83b5&tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=784426165114&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=1129266095828710311&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1007020&hvtargid=pla-2456340313894&hvocijid=1129266095828710311-B0FJ8BMHVH-&hvexpln=0&gad_source=1&th=1

personally I’d go cheaper option then either makeup she’d like or a nice makeup brush cleaner. Styl Pro have a brush cleaner which will go with her storage set.

If she's really into her make-up, what about a beauty subscription for a few months? Though I know I'd find that I didn't like certain things (I'm quite specific with the colours I wear). So it depends on if she's at the stage where she loves to try anything & everything?

https://www.independent.co.uk/extras/indybest/fashion-beauty/beauty/best-beauty-subscription-boxes-uk-b1954393.html

Alternatively, if it's the kind of thing you might like to do together - a beauty makeover & then afternoon tea?

@LouXx12 well there must be a compromise with a nice present, there are lots of make-up cases to choose from.

And also, it’s nice for her to have money to spend with her friends, isn’t it? And she can treat them for her birthday.

Could you not just get a travel make up case that’s cheaper?

@LouXx12 what made you think about this?

I saw something similar on QVC and they were saying how much you could pay… I thought they were talking rubbish, but now I see what the comparison is

I love my beauty stuff, but for goodness sake, unless you are a billionaire, this is a total waste of money! You could buy your DD all sorts of lovely things for that money!

and how good can a mirror be, ultimately it’s a mirror!

Given what you say about your daughter transporting her makeup in a bin liner I think a travel beauty box would be a lovely idea, but unless she is very brand-conscious I am sure you could get something very similar for a much more reasonable price.

Or, if she is not actually a vegan, you might even find something leather but un-branded for the same price. Plastic bags and travel items always go shabby very quickly “vegan leather” is such bullshit.