Staff Picks: Products that we bought because of celebrities, and whether we regret them or not
Even though we know that it's a marketing tactic, celebrity product endorsements are difficult to resist and impossible to avoid! I haven't (yet) given in to getting that gorgeous gold tube of 1946 Red Velvet by Besame Cosmetics that Hayley Atwell wore as Agent Peggy Carter, but that's only because I can't justify adding another lipstick to my collection. The other PV girls listened to their hearts though, and scored these picks because the stars made them buy it!
Claire: I hold Wayne Goss partly accountable for how accessible the beauty industry is today. He made professional makeup tricks so easy for the public to learn, courtesy of YouTube. I sit up and pay attention whenever he raves about a product, and then he fell hard for the RCMA No-Color Powder. So I just had to have it when he wouldn't stop talking about how affordable it is for the amount of product you get! And he's right; it does exactly what it says. It sets makeup without flashback - no fuss, all business. It's a great addition for any MUA's kit, since it works for all skin tones. BUT for personal use, I've found powders that do more than that, giving me the finish I want for my makeup. I don't exactly regret buying it, but I won't repurchase.
Kim: I consider myself immune to local and Western celebrity beauty endorsements but I am weak WEAK W-E-A-K for products endorsed by my Korean crushes! I had been lemming for the Laneige Two Tone Lip Bar ever since I saw it used by Song Hye Kyo in Descendants of the Sun, and crushing on Lee Sung Kyung in Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo gave me the final push to add it to my cart!
The Forencos 7 Days Mask Set is my most expensive sheet mask purchase of all time at P120 a pop but looking at Song Joong Ki's perfect, pretty face makes it worth it. (Please don't judge me.)
Angela: I can say I'm an easy person to sell stuff to (LOL). I purchased the Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes because Kim Kardashian keeps on raving about it! I got a huge box from Costco only to find out one tired night that the towelettes stung my eyes. I think the problem was that I was so tired, so that's the only thing I applied/used on my face before falling asleep. Seems like I had an allergic reaction to the ingredients, but I did try them again and found them to be okay as long as I still wash my face afterwards.
Frankie: My favorite celebrity-"endorsed" product was technically not endorsed at all! Instead, eagle-eyed fans identified these Sephora cult-favorite lip balms as being part of the personal skincare arsenal of my KPop "bias" (favorite group member), Jin of BTS. Like many other fans, I've long envied his full and soft-looking pout, so when zoomed-in photos of him carrying the Fresh Sugar Advanced Therapy Lip Balm emerged on Twitter, I couldn't help but purchase a tube!
This rich balm has a well-deserved 4.5 stars on Sephora: the product glides on creamy, coating the lips without leaving a greasy "lechon oil" shine. Once on, the balm eventually absorbs into the lips, leaving them feeling light and moisturized throughout the day. I actually prefer to use this overnight, while reaching for the Fresh Sugar Tinted Lip Treatment Sunscreen in shade Rosé during the day. Both balms make excellent bases for lip tints, allowing them to cling to and stain my lips without dehydrating them, and while I haven't yet seen any long-lasting effects, I'm in love with these enough that I probably would repurchase!
I know you're not immune! Tell us about the beauty buys you made "under the influence"! Were they worth it, or was it just good marketing?