How much would you pay for makeup you haven't tried on?

[zaxxon]

Maybe it's madness, but I'm sometimes tempted by lipstick or lipgloss I've never tried IRL. It looks so good online! And yet it's all posed by models (with perfect lips) and will no doubt look different on different people.

So is it a complete waste of money to buy this stuff? Presumably once the packaging is open, you can't send it back.

You can send it back with most companies.

Lots of companies do accept returns. I really like Bobbi Brown for this, they accept used items as long as they don't show signs of excessive use. It's free to return too. I've done it a couple of times for lipsticks that didn't work for me and it was really straightforward.

Surely it’s easy enough to stick to those brands / websites that offer virtual trying on?

I buy very little but can have hours of fun on both the

Gucci

and

Hermes

websites - where you can try on all their makeup virtually, using your phone camera. I dare say other sites do this too?

I wouldn’t take the risk of buying any colours online in the absence of that facility.

That's good to know you can send stuff back! Bobbi Brown is always nice so I'll have a look there.

The thing I have my eye on is from the Korean brand Rom&nd, and you have to go right into central London to try it on. My laziness is getting in the way lol

Never try lipstick or lipgloss on before buying these days. I look at various images of the colour online and decide if it is a colour I like. I know the colours I like. I have balms to thin a lipstick down if required and I also mix different lipsticks together. This cuts down on waste.

I never try make up on anymore tbh. I can usually guess from the pictures. I haven't had any nasty surprises yet. Actually, the only time I've been put off something I'd bought was when I'd bought it in store and then realised it had been used already. I was able to take it back thankfully

But I think I'm quite straightforward to choose colours for tbh.

I like to watch YouTube videos and look at photos where colours have been swatched which gives a more accurate impression than just the company website.

Space nk you can send back tried on stuff for credit.

I haven't tried makeup on for donkey's years. Nowadays I buy it online, so am mainly guessing at the shade & texture. I'm always appreciative of detailed reviews.

Since moving to online shopping, I rarely spend over £15 on makeup. I bin items that don't work for me, probably around one in five of the things I buy. I didn't know you can return some cosmetics! That'd give me more confidence to try higher-priced brands.

Yes, I do this and it's helpful. Reddit is good for swatches, too.

But it's funny how people's different colouring affects the final colour. I once bought a Merit lip tint convinced it would be a beautiful red on me - in fact it was practically brown. Now I've grown to like it, but at first I was kicking myself for spending the money. (have I learned from this experience - clearly not!)

Good to know. I wonder what they do with it all?

I do, but I will then google search images of the product and shade and add the word 'swatch'. Then you'll get dozens of photos of how it looks on skin/hands/lips/different light etc. Never had a bad buy personally.

The only make-up I'd reluctant to buy without trying is foundation/base, as screen colours can be so hit and miss, but running the options through Findation is a pretty good ballpark guide. After 128 years of colouring in my face, I know what colours suit me when it comes to eyes and lips, so rarely get anything truly duff.

Typically only if it's a brand I already know and use, so can trust the outcome. And often even product.

Love Chanel lipsticks / glosses - so will now buy any colour, but find some of the skincare too highly perfumed in a way that smells unnatural. Plus now moving to brands with no animal testing AND good ingredients so you're not swallowing rubbish ( I like Victoria Beckham for that)
Love Dior eyeshadow (great staying power) and skincare range - quite natural smelling and v good but animal testing an issue
Have good experiences with Chantecaille

Brands I bought in the past without trying on and regretted:
Bobbi Brown eyeshadow - somehow come out too dark
Laura Mercier eyeshadow - too weak
A million others where the lipstick / glosses ended up either being drying or having some vile taste