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The Archive Check: The Design Flaws We Still Can’t Ignore
Ok, so this is going to be a bit of a different post for me. I thought it would be fun to go through some of the makeup I own and pick out the items with packaging that I absolutely hate. To be totally clear: it doesn’t mean the product itself is bad. In fact, I genuinely love all of the makeup inside these containers. I’m just not a fan of how they are packaged.
This is all my personal opinion, so please don’t come for me if I mention a design you love. It just doesn’t float my boat. Let’s dive into the worst makeup packaging in my collection
Wet n Wild | Megaglo Highlighter
The Formula: This is one of my all time favourite highlighters, as you can probably tell from the massive size of the pan. The glow it gives the skin is beautiful.
The Packaging Crime: The packaging is absolutely not the one. It always irritated me because it never shut with a clean, satisfying click (which I must admit is a very petty complaint), but now it doesn’t shut at all. The actual component is fine, I just wish the plastic clasp was better quality.
Rimmel | Stay Matte Powder
The Formula: A total classic and a long time staple in my collection.
The Packaging Crime: While we are on the topic of products that refuse to stay shut, we have to talk about the Rimmel Stay Matte powder. It is an absolute drugstore staple, but I am genuinely shocked that the brand hasn’t completely redesigned this container yet. The clear lid is extremely flimsy, and mine has cracked in numerous places. It looks in such bad shape that it’s practically a hazard. In fact, I just took the lid off and put it back on, and another piece of plastic literally broke off in my hands.
ColourPop | Lippie Stix
The Formula: Another product that I absolutely loved for its smooth texture and rich pigment payoff.
The Packaging Crime: The pen-style tube just never did it for me. Because all the tubes look identical from the outside and the shade name is hidden on a tiny sticker on the bottom, it’s a nightmare to navigate. Unless you store them upside down, you have no idea what colour you are grabbing. It would have been so much more helpful if the lids matched the shade inside.
The Status: These original white twist up sticks have since joined the list of discontinued makeup products.
Physicians Formula | Butter Bronzer
Packaging Since Updated
The Formula: I was so excited to finally be able to try this bronzer, as it used to be almost impossible to get hold of in the UK. Luckily, it’s widely stocked over here now, and the smooth, buttery formula completely deserves the hype.
The Packaging Crime: I just wish the packaging wasn’t so unnecessarily bulky. The bronzer section flips up to reveal a chunky sponge applicator and a mirror underneath, which makes the whole compact incredibly thick and awkward to store.
The Modern Update: It seems the brand finally listened to the collective sighs of beauty lovers! Physicians Formula eventually streamlined and flattened their classic compacts, losing that extra bottom compartment to make it much sleeker for makeup bags.
ColourPop | Going Coconuts Eyeshadow Palette
Packaging Since Updated
The Formula: A gorgeous, dependable cool toned neutral palette that creates the most effortless daily eye looks.
The Packaging Crime: I mentioned my dislike for this packaging in my initial review, and my opinion hasn’t changed. I absolutely hate any packaging where the outer printing fades away after a short while, and I’m already on the way to losing a few letters on the front. It’s also a total pain to open, and I often find myself leaving it slightly open because you have to forcefully click it closed.
The Modern Update: ColourPop did eventually update the packaging for this collection, moving it into a cleaner, more secure layout that fixed the annoying clasp issue.
Urban Decay | Born to Run Eyeshadow Palette
Discontinued
The Formula: A massive, high quality eyeshadow palette packed with an incredible variety of colourful and neutral shades.
The Packaging Crime: I believe, this was the first high end palette I saw that used real photography collage imagery on the cover. Rather than a sleek, digital design, and I hated it. I know the images relate to the travel theme of the palette, but it instantly reminds me of being on Tumblr back in the early 2010s. The whole aesthetic feels very cringe to me. It’s almost like Google Images threw up and this was the result.
The Status: While the formula inside was excellent, this heavy plastic travel palette has since been discontinued by Urban Decay as they shifted their focus back to the Naked franchise.
The Final Verdict
At the end of the day, excellent makeup will always win us over, but the worst makeup packaging can make using your favorite products feel like a chore. Whether it’s a lid that cracks in your hands or a design that looks like a 2012 mood board, we deserve formulas that are beautiful on the inside and functional on the outside.
Let’s chat in the comments!
Please don’t take any of these critiques to heart if you love these designs, it’s just my personal experience. I would absolutely love to hear from you: what is the single most annoying piece of makeup packaging you own?
Thank you for reading!
What a unique post! Funnily enough I have 3 of the same products! Although I don’t mind the born to run palette I absolutely hated the stay matte palette! Bought it twice and cracked twice – really did put me off. Great post!
http://www.sophiapatel.co.uk
I am so glad you think so! Ah no way haha! It’s funny how we all have different tastes isn’t it? They really need to update the packaging, it’s terrible!xx
I have the same issues with the born to run, the physicians’ formula, and the wet n wild one! Great post, it’s so funny, because I originally had an issue with the born to run palette, cause the packing is an ugly design! Then, I got used to it, but now that you bring it up again, it’s like I can’t un-unsee it! Great post han xxx
Melina | http://www.melinaelisa.com
So glad it’s not just me! Thank you, I am so glad you think so. Haha, sorry for reminding you about it. It’s such a weird choice isn’t it? Thank you so much xx
I have to say I agree with all of these! Really wish the Rimmel Stay Matte powder had a less breakable packaging!
Katie | katieemmabeauty.com
So glad it isn’t just me haha! Me too, you’d think they’d have updated it as it’s so bad!xx
I actually love the packaging of that palette with the photos. Looks cute to me!
http://www.fashionradi.com
I am glad you like it! It’s just not for me at all xx
i had literally the EXACT same thought about the born to run palette. It’s just a bit… cringe? Like a tacky collage you’d make when you were like 15 xx
I am so glad it’s not just me who finds it cringey. Yes definitely!! Someone somewhere had to have something like that on their wall haha!xx
I also don’t get on with the Wet n Wild highlighter packaging. Mine has broken because the clasp is so flimsy. It only doesn’t bother me because the highlighter is so affordable!
Lol the Physician’s Formula packaging is not the one. The little sponge it comes with is so rubbish, they should just get rid of it altogether because the bronzer is BOMB.
Haha your comments on the Born to Run packaging made me laugh so much. I never got the palette because I wasn’t a fan of the colour story but what you said about Pinterest throwing up is TOO accurate lmao
It’s a shame that they don’t fix the clasp, as it is such a lovely highlighter. At leas it’s affordable like you say.
I have no idea why they still include it, does anyone actually use it? It’s such wasted space.
I am so glad you think so haha! It’s so weird isn’t it?!xx
I think packaging is definitely an important part in our experience with makeup so I’m glad you were able to notice what you didn’t like for these products.
That is so true! Thank you so much xx
I’m so glad someone mentioned the Colourpop Go Coconuts Eyeshadow Palette. I’m sure it’s beautiful so I decided to use it at the gym and oh my god one of the eyeshadows completely smashed (ofc it had to be the shimmery white one) and it went everywhere. The packaging is so useless. Also I think the Rimmel matte powders are notorious for bad packaging. Mine are always broken meaning I can only use it at home but it’s so cheap so I think I’ll continue repurchasing sigh haha
http://thesydneysider.com/
I know what you mean, I’ve not really seen anyone else talk about the packaging of it, but it’s not the best. Oh my God, that’s horrendous! That’s one of the best shades too!! Yeah the price definitely helps to redeem the Rimmel powder, but I really hope that they make it more sturdy one day xx
Oh, thank you for saying it out loud. The Born to Run packaging is really cringe!
xoxo
Lovely
http://www.mynameislovely.com
It’s no problem! It’s so bad isn’t it?!xx
Ah such a great post! I used to use that Rimmel powder back when I was like, 12 I swear, HOW has the packaging not changed haha! I’ve had those before where the plastic just breaks in your hand too. I see what you mean with the UD palette feeling very… Tumblr-esque!
Thank you so much, I’m so glad you think so! I know what you mean, you’d think they’d have changed it, because it’s just not cutting it!! It’s so bad. I’m so glad that it’s not just me who thinks so xx
This is a great post idea! I definitely agree with the Rimmel powder, I wish they update their packaging. The lid keeps breaking for me too.
xoxo Olivia | http://www.oliviaandbeauty.com
I am so glad you think so, thank you! It’s in definite need of an update, that’s for sure xx
I love these types of videos on YouTube and I’m glad someone did a written version! So thank you! I completely agree with you on the Wet & Wild highlight- it seems like this happens with all of my products from them and it’s so frustrating!
They’re good aren’t they?! It’s no problem, I’m glad you enjoyed it. It’s so annoying isn’t it? You’d think they’d update the clasps, so it protects the products xx
Packaging is so important! That always affects how I feel about a product too!
That is so true! So glad it isn’t just me!xx
I completely agree with you about the Physician’s Formula range. I enjoy a lot of their products, but the packaginging just throws me off. I had a blush a few years back that basically took up all of my makeup bag when I traveled and it drove me nuts!
Ashlee |
So glad it’s not just me! It’s a shame, because there products are great, but the packaging is so bulky. Oh god, I don’t know why they make them so big xx
This was such an interesting post! I’m definitely someone who always wants the pretty looking products 😂 but one thing that does bug me is when the writing rubs off the packaging!xx
Lauren
I am so glad you think so, thank you! The pretty ones definitely draw people in haha! Yes, I hate that too!xx
I agree so strongly with so many of these!
Danielle xx
So glad it isn’t just me haha!xx
I would have to agree with you on most of the packaging here. Though I do like ColourPop I have the blush palette from them and it is not fading or hard to open. But I think it is later then Going Coconuts.
Allie
I am so glad you think so too! Oooh maybe they changed it, it’d be amazing if they had xx
I shop with my eyes a lot and I’m driven to cute looking packages as well, I’m definitely guilty of buying some items I barely used just because they looked cute. But as long as the product is great, I can put up with the not so good looking package 😉
So glad it isn’t just me haha! That’s true, if the product is good then it doesn’t really matter xx
Anything that doesn’t close properly would really bother me, but I love that UD palette packaging because it’s so different from what they usually do! Nars rubbery packaging sometimes bothers me as it gets so grubby! x
It’s not the best, that’s for sure. So glad you like it, and I agree that it’s different. I hate packaging that gets grubby xx
Great post! I love your blog <33333333
Thank you so much xx
I love this post! The idea is so unique! I hate the UD Born To Run palette’s packaging as well. I never even considered buying it purely because of the packaging haha x
I am so glad you like it! I don’t blame you haha, it gives it such a weird vibe xx
I feel like you read my mind! The butter bronzer, wet n wild highlighter rimmel stay matte powder are at the top of my list regarding makeup with crap packaging!
haha, glad we’re on the same page! They definitely need a revamp xx
lol I totally agree with so many of your picks here – the Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer is such amazing quality (literally the top ranked in my collection), BUT the packaging truly sucks. It’s too big and clunky. Also, I feel like so many CP products’ lettering fade away after a lot of use.
Glad we’re on the same page haha! It’s an amazing bronzer isn’t it, it’s just such a shame about the packaging. I suppose it’s what comes with the low price tag xx
I love this post, it’s so original! Packaging is the first thing we see when we buy something- and so it’s good you’ve given some of these a try despite packaging that’s a bit of a let down. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Thank you so much! That is so true. Most of these products are actually great, it’s just a shame about the packaging. It’s no problem, thank you for stopping by xx
I despise that butter bronzer packaging, why so big and chunky? Also it’s so bad to transport with because it causes the pan’s to break far more easily! xx
I know! It definitely has no right to be that big. It makes no sense haha xx
I love the concept of this post. I’ve got a few products where the clasp to get into it is so tricky to open. Rimmel blushers are the worst for that.
Thank you so much! Ah, those are the worst. It sounds like Rimmel need to work on their packaging xx
This post made me chuckle. You are totally right and onto something here! Thanks for sharing!
I am so glad to hear that! It’s no problem, thank you for stopping by xx
I loved reading this post! I used to use the Rimmel Matte Powder and I thought the same about the packaging of it too! x
Lucy | http://www.lucymary.co.uk
Thank you so much! Hopefully it gets an update soon xx
WHen I first saw your picture I was like, what’s not to like about the packaging of the UD Born To Run palette? But now I’ve read it, it’s purely the aesthetics on the outside that bother you. I agree on that, it doesn’t suit the rest of the brand to be fair. But I love the practicality of that packagin, it’s sturdy yet slim and has a huge mirror on the inside.
Also totally with you on the Rimmel Stay Matte powder lid, I cant’ believe we’re in 2020 and they haven’t solved that issue yet :’D
Love, Charline | Charline Has a Blog