your content is killer lately. thanks for really giving us the details and pulling back the veil for us. i think it’s important, especially because makeup prices are rising like crazy.
Marlena, you have been killing it with everything you have uploaded lately and we all thank you for sharing your vast knowledge with us! I think you are one of the most skilled and honorable people to watch..I pretty much love and respect who and what you stand for! Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!
As a business owner myself, I loved watching this! It costs a lot of money to run any business ethically. I enjoyed hearing your unique insider’s perspective on the makeup industry.
Is it actually possible to run any business 100% ethically? I've been wanting to start a business for years now and it's the only factor that keeps me from taking a leap of faith and do it.
As another business owner who sources components sustainably, we are committed to only supporting those who have rigorous standards. It's in our company's ethos. You can be part of social capitalism and what sets you apart. Take the leap! I guarantee you won't regret it!!!!! Best of luck
@@stefanelisabethgabriela4259multiple business owner here. Of course it is! How? Just do right by people even if it costs a lot of money. Own up to your mistakes. See things from the customer/client’s POV but don’t let that compromise paying yourself and your business appropriately. If you’re an employee, you’re absolutely not in charge of a company’s decisions. As an owner, the buck stops with you.
I love it Marlena! Could you please do the same talk about different lipstick formulas? I'm quite curious to learn how the cost of lipstick is build up.
As a makeup/skincare packaging designer, this video is on point and it brings me so much validation to have you speak on everything that goes into a product, especially the packaging. Your content has truly become one of a makeup geek and I love it.
Charlotte paid all that for a fancy cap, meanwhile every time I open that bottle I get chunks of red paint stuck to my hands. So annoying for an expensive product.
This so feels like old school Makeup Geek. When my twins were 4 years old (now 17) and I would relax after putting them to bed to enjoy Marlena’s videos. ❤
Because of serious chronic health issues, I had to retire very early. I decided three years ago that I was going to stop buying high end makeup and skincare products. I took a year and watched lots of TH-cam videos, buying products that I thought would work for my skin, with my goal being finding affordable products to replace the high end ones. I can honestly say that at this point, I love my makeup collection, and everything is affordable!!! One thing that I love doing is mixing complexion products, like a tinted moisturizer with a more high coverage foundation to get that perfect coverage for my taste. Your content has been SO AMAZING, Marlena!!!
I’ve asked for this type of authentic content to be shared for years. (Not to disown the brand(s) but rather, out of curiosity or to be aware and gain the knowledge. Honestly, what’s wrong with brand authenticity? It goes a long way with brand loyalty! JS). Thank you for listening to us! We love you! ❤😊
I'm from Brazil and those name brands here cost sometimes the a whole month of food for 2 people. Sometimes we get carried away by influencers and wanting a certain brand just for looks or name alone. I feel like learning these informations really brings a light to what exactly I'm buying whether it's imported or not. But specially for when I'm looking to splurge a little bit
@@MarlenaStellhow can I reach out to you about an order from Makeup Geek? I’m just looking for tracking. I hit the contact us on website and it wouldn’t let me. Thanks ❤
As someone who grew up watching your content as a teenager and now works in the makeup packaging industry, this was an incredible video! You are absolutely spot on and it was so cool to hear your honest take on these! Would love to see more of these kinds of reviews! ❤
Now that Natasha Denona has done numerous midi palettes, I think she needs to sell the shades as singles so that we can replace panned shades or trade out shades we don't use for shades we would use. Why else did she give us the little holes in the back of the palettes to pop out shadows? Not just to move around the existing shadows.
I think the holes are so that if you want to make a Z palette with all your most used or favorite shadows from different brands so you don’t have to take out ten palettes to do a look, these make it easy to do so.
This info is INVALUABLE in the current oversaturated makeup space - so many companies and creators claiming one thing about margins while the truth is something else entirely. Thank you Marlena!
Can you talk about the margins on a big sale like the 21 days of beauty where some items are 40-50% off? Assuming the brand is the one who has to eat % off?
It would be the store eating it because they are running the sale, however they order more products for these sales and get bulk buying discounts. They are loss leaders to encourage overall sales throughout the stores/ website
Could you compare to dupe products this way? Like Elf halo glow vs Charlotte. Or the Alter Ego vs Natasha. It would be interesting to see why it's worth purchasing the more expensive.
Girl!!! You are just showing out with ALL the tea lately!!! I love that you are willing to actually be TRUTHFUL and not lying to people to get your coin. We appreciate you're willingness to chance the wrath of the $ Grubber big corporations
Yusss. Talk to us Marlena! Biz is one of my favorite subjects. When the math isn’t mathing, brow raise! Youre so funny to keep that shot of you as you voiced over the ending 😂
I love how you’re sharing the BTS of cosmetics brands and their reasons behind their decision-making. It helps us consumers learn how to spend our money wisely. 🖤🖤🖤
I’m loving your videos!! I don’t want to hate TikTok but I hate the misinformation that it’s feeding people. Especially younger people who don’t know that they’re being given bad information.
This content is KILLER. This is educational. The educated consumer is going to piss off a lot of bigger brands/ or celebs/social media people who are just slapping their name on an item and marking it up. But this is just responsible educational information. Good Job Marlena!
Your videos are so interesting and educational. I always come away thinking how I can use what I already own more effectively rather than feeling I need to buy a bunch of new products, which is rare these days being bombarded with new launches all the time.
This was FASCINATING! I would love to see more videos like this. Having this type of information helps me to make a more informed choice instead of just getting influenced by reviews.
Dear Marlena, I know this is completely off topic, however I was wondering if you ever plan to do makeup tutorials again? I know that some are tired of doing them. Your makeup tutorials were so educations and so much fun to watch. And to be completely honest with you...I truly miss them. No one does them anymore. You are one of the only You Tubers that I actually have any trust in and seeing you put out a few tutorials would be so, so awesome!! ♥♥♥
Excellent information. A comparison of ingredients in luxury brands and less expensive brands would be excellent. Question, there has to be something about the CT foundation other than the packaging that keeps you reaching for it and purchasing it repeatedly. What is it? I’m actually impressed with Jones Roads deciding to give the consumer more product over an expensive package, just my two cents.
Knowledge is power and you’re giving us that power by telling us all this. I’d love to know if parent companies can shuffle formulas from brand to brand just in different (more expensive or cheaper) packaging…Like Estée Lauder Tom Ford and or Becca to MAC.
Very informative and enlightening, Marlena! Fascinating to hear all that goes into makeup products. It was helpful to have someone in the industry who knows what is involved to explain this to us. Thank you for this video.
Love!! Can you please do a video on what products you need that’s high end vrs drugstore I remember on one video you did this and said Foundations you need to try and get high end their better for your skin and all that?
I would love to hear about lip products in the next video! Especially lipsticks. I vaguely remember many years ago Marlena saying lipsticks are one of the cheapest cosmetics to produce and would love to hear more on that
I’d love to splurge on a few high end cosmetics but most add a “signature scent” to them. Fragrance does nothing for the health of skin, as far as I know. I purchased a Clinique foundation for the simple fact it had no added fragrances. Thank you so much for all the work and love you put into your videos. The info in this video is fabulously fire. ❤️🔥
Fascinating vid - thank you. I'm fairly new to your content and I really appreciate it. I'd like to add there's a massive cost you've not mentioned yet - product development + design. Colour testing, R&D, getting it past government standards so it's safe for people to use. Plus all the design teams to make the packaging + branding + overall look. As former designer it breaks my heart not to have that factored in too. Those teams work really hard + it can take years to bring a product to market. And that isn't cheap. So something innovative like Jones Road balms - brought to market by an independent paying for it all herself... can cost a lot upfront that has to be passed on to the consumer. A product from a big company - or a small company owned by a big conglomerate - will have access to their labs, teams, warehousing, economies of scale for ingredients as well as potential bulk discounts passed down from the larger companies. They'll benefit from a lot that smaller independents don't. All that makes something like the Jones Road slightly cheaper component more understandable.
Fantastic video! I was surprised about distribution. I always thought stores took a % of the sale. But of course then they would only get paid if the products sell. I’d be interested if it’s priced by unit in the store or the amount of space the products take in the store.
I love love love your educational content! And (this is a separate thing ) thank you for the recommendation of lactic acid! I started using the lactic acid + HA from the ordinary almost three weeks ago, and OMG! My skin is looking and feeling so much better! I’m fifty and had crepey fine lines, dryness etc. And now I don’t. It’s that simple. I simply don’t have dry flakes, my fine lines have decreased almost to non existent and my skin is producing natural oils again. I noticed that last night, which I had not expected, but the suppleness of my skin has returned. You said it would work. I trusted you and I am so glad I did. Thank you so much, Marlena! Can’t wait for Makeup Geek Academy! ❤❤❤
This was sit in front of the screen with my mouth open fascinating!! I can't get enough of this just to be an informed consumer, especially about what is going on my face. BUT. . . what about the costs of advertising? Some brands, like Lancome and Chanel, spend a fortune in women's fashion magazines for their cosmetics while others rely on influencers or product reviewers (something that didn't exist when I was coming up through the makeup selling game). That has to hugely inflate their costs as well. As for makeup made in China, what about the quality control issues? Can you speak to that? I have one brand that is fairly new that I love, but I react to every product in her line! The only thing I can figure is that it is made in China and there is some ingredient that is not listed but that is snuck into the products that I am allergic to. Since you asked, I am a mascara fiend, and I would really like to see a "true cost" video about mascara, since everyone touts their unique brush shape, etc, yet 98% (except the tubing ones) perform exactly the same. Sunscreen would be another great one to learn about. Thanks so much!!
Love how informative this is! ❤ Although, I keep thinking about the expiry dates on makeup. Like Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter Marlena mentioned that it could last up to 3-4 years but liquid products tend to have only 12-18 months. So it feels like sometimes brands tend to sell way too much product, which is barely ever being used until there is none left(unless you’re a pro makeup artist of course or if it’s a foundation that’s being used every day). I guess what I’m trying to say is that maybe smaller packaging with less product which could be safely used up until it expires = more affordable but still good quality/high end product for the consumer? 🤔
Hmmm...Only living things can expire and I found it refreshing to hear an American not wastefully throwing away perfectly good products because of an arbitrary date. Yes, products have a jar saying that they've been safety tested for x months. But that doesn't mean that it is automatically dangerous beyond that point - otherwise most British & European makeup wearers would be in hospital. Makeup and skincare aren't cinderella's pumpkin: they don't immediately go from good to bad on the strike of midnight! Manufacturers of cheap clothes often slap "dry clean only" labels because it's not cost effective to test various cleaning methods. Similarly, brands don't want spend what it would cost to test a product for 4+ years. That doesn't mean that the product is dangerous after the open jar date - just that they haven't invested in testing it beyond that time. Since the 90s, expiry days are *generally* not allowed on any goods here in UK/Europe unless something is genuinely dangerous (poultry, fish, medicine). This is because it was *proven* that expiry dates were responsible for
Thanks, Marlena! I love this! I worked in supply chain my entire career…pharmaceutical and then at Coca-Cola here in Atlanta. You are so spot on. Love the education you provide. Again, thanks.❤
Very useful information. Thank you very much. Yes, please make more of these videos. I can’t tell you how much money I’ve wasted on these luxury brands. And I never even use them up. They’re just sitting in my drawer lol!
TOPIC REQUEST: proper bronzer/contour/blush placement for maturing skin…. I’m now 49 and have a narrow long face. I’ve lost volume and feel I’m dragging down my face further with my placement of these products!
You are absolutely knowledgeable and a great person to follow not only for your beauty tips but, for providing consumer knowledge. I personally use to use European brands but, now I try to support more brands that are manufactured in the USA!! Great video ❤
Love this! It's such an eye-opener for me about makeup. I have always thought makeup is too expensive. I am working on taking care of myself more, and this video really helps me to understand the value you are paying for. This allows me to spend the money because it makes sense now.
Marlena, I have followed your channel since you started. This video is your best in my opinion. Why? You demonstrated that you are a great blend between an Artist and an Entrepreneur! Kindly give yourself a big pat on a back! And take it from someone who has a double Masters in Business and Finance with three decades of experience in a complex industry. GOOD JOB!!!
Marlena, can you review some of the holiday palettes? Specifically the hourglass ones. People keep raving but the price is insane, I just want to understand the hype
Great presentation on makeup products. Suggestions for part 2. First, can you feature these brands, Chanel, MAC, and Urban Decay, and their products such as lipsticks, eyeshadows, and foundations? Also, can you do a presentation on cruelty-free makeup products? 😊
I've been watching you since you started on TH-cam and I rarely comment on any video I watch (of anyone's). Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that I absolutely LOVE these educational videos you provide for us. I have really learned so much from you. Not only about products, but all the tutorials and tips. I appreciate everything you do for us!
Taught me how to do make-up. So glad to have you back on TH-cam & love the content! You are still learning me (and all of us) so much 👌. I never buy expensive eye pencils anymore thanks to your insights 😄. Would love to hear your thoughts on Patrick Ta eyeshadows. Are they really going bad with mold or is it ingredients separating like the brand says?
Hi Marlena! Could you do something similar with lipstick formulas? Mattes vs sheer vs satin? Or even just rank your top fave lipstick formulas in each finish? ❤
The video was so interesting! As a person that loves packaging, be it cookie tins, pens or makeup. I’m a sucker for packaging and design details. It would be interesting to hear about Chanel’s true cost. Especially for those seasonal limited editions.
Great video! I agree, I bought a Tom Ford lipstick yrs ago & I didn't regret it. But it wasn't worth it for me to buy a future Tom Ford lipstick in the future. The end of your video is funny! So glad you're back & doing well : )
I would love to see more! I’m curious about the rare beauty soft pinch blushes. They used to be $26, they just changed it to $32 and they don’t feel worth it anymore
your content is killer lately. thanks for really giving us the details and pulling back the veil for us. i think it’s important, especially because makeup prices are rising like crazy.
Agreed! I love stuff about this, a true makeup geek lol
Definitely giving us an education. 👍🏻👍🏻
Marlena, you have been killing it with everything you have uploaded lately and we all thank you for sharing your vast knowledge with us! I think you are one of the most skilled and honorable people to watch..I pretty much love and respect who and what you stand for! Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!
So glad you’re loving this content! ♥️
As a business owner myself, I loved watching this! It costs a lot of money to run any business ethically. I enjoyed hearing your unique insider’s perspective on the makeup industry.
Is it actually possible to run any business 100% ethically? I've been wanting to start a business for years now and it's the only factor that keeps me from taking a leap of faith and do it.
@@stefanelisabethgabriela4259 yes it is. Honesty is the best policy. I don’t have the time or the energy to be remembering lies.
As another business owner who sources components sustainably, we are committed to only supporting those who have rigorous standards. It's in our company's ethos. You can be part of social capitalism and what sets you apart. Take the leap! I guarantee you won't regret it!!!!! Best of luck
@@stefanelisabethgabriela4259multiple business owner here. Of course it is! How? Just do right by people even if it costs a lot of money. Own up to your mistakes. See things from the customer/client’s POV but don’t let that compromise paying yourself and your business appropriately. If you’re an employee, you’re absolutely not in charge of a company’s decisions. As an owner, the buck stops with you.
I love it Marlena! Could you please do the same talk about different lipstick formulas? I'm quite curious to learn how the cost of lipstick is build up.
Yes !
Yes
Yes !
Another Yes!!!
As a makeup/skincare packaging designer, this video is on point and it brings me so much validation to have you speak on everything that goes into a product, especially the packaging. Your content has truly become one of a makeup geek and I love it.
Charlotte paid all that for a fancy cap, meanwhile every time I open that bottle I get chunks of red paint stuck to my hands. So annoying for an expensive product.
This so feels like old school Makeup Geek. When my twins were 4 years old (now 17) and I would relax after putting them to bed to enjoy Marlena’s videos. ❤
Because of serious chronic health issues, I had to retire very early. I decided three years ago that I was going to stop buying high end makeup and skincare products. I took a year and watched lots of TH-cam videos, buying products that I thought would work for my skin, with my goal being finding affordable products to replace the high end ones. I can honestly say that at this point, I love my makeup collection, and everything is affordable!!! One thing that I love doing is mixing complexion products, like a tinted moisturizer with a more high coverage foundation to get that perfect coverage for my taste.
Your content has been SO AMAZING, Marlena!!!
I’ve asked for this type of authentic content to be shared for years. (Not to disown the brand(s) but rather, out of curiosity or to be aware and gain the knowledge. Honestly, what’s wrong with brand authenticity? It goes a long way with brand loyalty! JS). Thank you for listening to us! We love you! ❤😊
I'm from Brazil and those name brands here cost sometimes the a whole month of food for 2 people. Sometimes we get carried away by influencers and wanting a certain brand just for looks or name alone. I feel like learning these informations really brings a light to what exactly I'm buying whether it's imported or not. But specially for when I'm looking to splurge a little bit
“BECAUSE I’M A MAKEUP GEEK”… same girl same! That’s why we are here and ONE of the MANY reasons we love you Marlena!!!
Can you please do a video like this about skin care? That would be amazing! Love you girl ❤️
I wish I could but skincare is outside my product development sphere BUT I can give skincare recs if that’s helpful? 🥰
@@MarlenaStellit’s time to make a skincare line. 🤞🏻
Why Marlena is still the Makeup Queen! ❤❤❤❤
Aww thank you :)
@@MarlenaStellhow can I reach out to you about an order from Makeup Geek? I’m just looking for tracking. I hit the contact us on website and it wouldn’t let me. Thanks ❤
Marlena please keep doing this and make a shorts/tiktok series evaluating different product's worth!!
We NEED more videos of this please! I could spend hours watching this..
there are so many products we want to see here as well! ❤
As someone who grew up watching your content as a teenager and now works in the makeup packaging industry, this was an incredible video! You are absolutely spot on and it was so cool to hear your honest take on these! Would love to see more of these kinds of reviews! ❤
The ending 😅 Priceless!!! Thank you, Marlena, for breaking this down for us 🥰
Now that Natasha Denona has done numerous midi palettes, I think she needs to sell the shades as singles so that we can replace panned shades or trade out shades we don't use for shades we would use. Why else did she give us the little holes in the back of the palettes to pop out shadows? Not just to move around the existing shadows.
I was thinking the same thing!
I think the holes are so that if you want to make a Z palette with all your most used or favorite shadows from different brands so you don’t have to take out ten palettes to do a look, these make it easy to do so.
For travels, or for touch ups while going out or to make your desired rows in the palette like you prefer
@@majas841 It makes me so upset that the 5 pan palettes don't fit the midi pans specifically because I want it for touch ups or travel
This info is INVALUABLE in the current oversaturated makeup space - so many companies and creators claiming one thing about margins while the truth is something else entirely.
Thank you Marlena!
Why is this the most fascinating video I didn’t know I needed
Loving your recent content! Our original queen is back!
You are killing it! This is what we want to see!!
Your content lately is great! Would love a similar breakdown of the cheaper brands like essence and ELF and catrice
Can you talk about the margins on a big sale like the 21 days of beauty where some items are 40-50% off? Assuming the brand is the one who has to eat % off?
It would be the store eating it because they are running the sale, however they order more products for these sales and get bulk buying discounts. They are loss leaders to encourage overall sales throughout the stores/ website
You are like a magician teaching us all the tricks. Yes, more of this so we consumers can make informed choices. Thank you!!
More of these videos! Love learning more of the back story and how to make more informed choices ❤
Brava 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 Please do MAC!!! Specifically their eyeshadows
Could you compare to dupe products this way? Like Elf halo glow vs Charlotte. Or the Alter Ego vs Natasha. It would be interesting to see why it's worth purchasing the more expensive.
Girl!!! You are just showing out with ALL the tea lately!!! I love that you are willing to actually be TRUTHFUL and not lying to people to get your coin. We appreciate you're willingness to chance the wrath of the $ Grubber big corporations
Yusss. Talk to us Marlena! Biz is one of my favorite subjects. When the math isn’t mathing, brow raise! Youre so funny to keep that shot of you as you voiced over the ending 😂
I always thought the holes in the back of the makeup were for preventing moisture. Thank you for addressing things so precisely. 💖
I love how you’re sharing the BTS of cosmetics brands and their reasons behind their decision-making. It helps us consumers learn how to spend our money wisely. 🖤🖤🖤
I’m loving your videos!! I don’t want to hate TikTok but I hate the misinformation that it’s feeding people. Especially younger people who don’t know that they’re being given bad information.
This content is KILLER. This is educational. The educated consumer is going to piss off a lot of bigger brands/ or celebs/social media people who are just slapping their name on an item and marking it up. But this is just responsible educational information. Good Job Marlena!
Your videos are so interesting and educational. I always come away thinking how I can use what I already own more effectively rather than feeling I need to buy a bunch of new products, which is rare these days being bombarded with new launches all the time.
This was FASCINATING! I would love to see more videos like this. Having this type of information helps me to make a more informed choice instead of just getting influenced by reviews.
This makes so much sense. I always though some brands we were paying for the name. I'm loving all the videos you've been doing!
Dear Marlena, I know this is completely off topic, however I was wondering if you ever plan to do makeup tutorials again? I know that some are tired of doing them. Your makeup tutorials were so educations and so much fun to watch. And to be completely honest with you...I truly miss them. No one does them anymore. You are one of the only You Tubers that I actually have any trust in and seeing you put out a few tutorials would be so, so awesome!! ♥♥♥
Excellent information. A comparison of ingredients in luxury brands and less expensive brands would be excellent. Question, there has to be something about the CT foundation other than the packaging that keeps you reaching for it and purchasing it repeatedly. What is it? I’m actually impressed with Jones Roads deciding to give the consumer more product over an expensive package, just my two cents.
Knowledge is power and you’re giving us that power by telling us all this. I’d love to know if parent companies can shuffle formulas from brand to brand just in different (more expensive or cheaper) packaging…Like Estée Lauder Tom Ford and or Becca to MAC.
Very informative and enlightening, Marlena! Fascinating to hear all that goes into makeup products. It was helpful to have someone in the industry who knows what is involved to explain this to us. Thank you for this video.
So glad it was helpful! Xo ♥️
Love!! Can you please do a video on what products you need that’s high end vrs drugstore I remember on one video you did this and said Foundations you need to try and get high end their better for your skin and all that?
I would love to hear about lip products in the next video! Especially lipsticks. I vaguely remember many years ago Marlena saying lipsticks are one of the cheapest cosmetics to produce and would love to hear more on that
I’d love to splurge on a few high end cosmetics but most add a “signature scent” to them. Fragrance does nothing for the health of skin, as far as I know.
I purchased a Clinique foundation for the simple fact it had no added fragrances.
Thank you so much for all the work and love you put into your videos.
The info in this video is fabulously fire. ❤️🔥
I can't believe soft touch costs extra, and that stuff gets so nasty after a few months!! 😣
I would love to see this same topic on fragrances.
Your content lately has been 🔥🔥
Thank you so much! xoxo
This is such an eye opener thanku so much for this ! I've heard brushes are cheap... But it's good to hear about other items xx
Brushes it depends on the quality of the fibers/hairs used and many other factors- some are cheaper than others
Love your content lately, Marlena! Learning so much! Hope you continue to be on TH-cam!
Thanks so much! Hope you’re doing amazing! Happy Monday ♥️
I appreciate your honesty so much Marlena! Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us as well as your talent.
Fascinating vid - thank you. I'm fairly new to your content and I really appreciate it.
I'd like to add there's a massive cost you've not mentioned yet - product development + design. Colour testing, R&D, getting it past government standards so it's safe for people to use. Plus all the design teams to make the packaging + branding + overall look.
As former designer it breaks my heart not to have that factored in too. Those teams work really hard + it can take years to bring a product to market. And that isn't cheap. So something innovative like Jones Road balms - brought to market by an independent paying for it all herself... can cost a lot upfront that has to be passed on to the consumer.
A product from a big company - or a small company owned by a big conglomerate - will have access to their labs, teams, warehousing, economies of scale for ingredients as well as potential bulk discounts passed down from the larger companies. They'll benefit from a lot that smaller independents don't.
All that makes something like the Jones Road slightly cheaper component more understandable.
Loved this video! Would love a series - like reviewing all Chanel to see which ones within the brand are worth it!
Fantastic video! I was surprised about distribution. I always thought stores took a % of the sale. But of course then they would only get paid if the products sell. I’d be interested if it’s priced by unit in the store or the amount of space the products take in the store.
Thank you soooo much Marlena. The sharing of your knowledge is allowing us to be a more educated, discerning consumer!❤
I love love love your educational content! And (this is a separate thing ) thank you for the recommendation of lactic acid! I started using the lactic acid + HA from the ordinary almost three weeks ago, and OMG! My skin is looking and feeling so much better! I’m fifty and had crepey fine lines, dryness etc. And now I don’t. It’s that simple. I simply don’t have dry flakes, my fine lines have decreased almost to non existent and my skin is producing natural oils again. I noticed that last night, which I had not expected, but the suppleness of my skin has returned. You said it would work. I trusted you and I am so glad I did. Thank you so much, Marlena! Can’t wait for Makeup Geek Academy! ❤❤❤
This was sit in front of the screen with my mouth open fascinating!! I can't get enough of this just to be an informed consumer, especially about what is going on my face. BUT. . . what about the costs of advertising? Some brands, like Lancome and Chanel, spend a fortune in women's fashion magazines for their cosmetics while others rely on influencers or product reviewers (something that didn't exist when I was coming up through the makeup selling game). That has to hugely inflate their costs as well. As for makeup made in China, what about the quality control issues? Can you speak to that? I have one brand that is fairly new that I love, but I react to every product in her line! The only thing I can figure is that it is made in China and there is some ingredient that is not listed but that is snuck into the products that I am allergic to.
Since you asked, I am a mascara fiend, and I would really like to see a "true cost" video about mascara, since everyone touts their unique brush shape, etc, yet 98% (except the tubing ones) perform exactly the same. Sunscreen would be another great one to learn about. Thanks so much!!
Love how informative this is! ❤
Although, I keep thinking about the expiry dates on makeup. Like Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter Marlena mentioned that it could last up to 3-4 years but liquid products tend to have only 12-18 months. So it feels like sometimes brands tend to sell way too much product, which is barely ever being used until there is none left(unless you’re a pro makeup artist of course or if it’s a foundation that’s being used every day). I guess what I’m trying to say is that maybe smaller packaging with less product which could be safely used up until it expires = more affordable but still good quality/high end product for the consumer? 🤔
Hmmm...Only living things can expire and I found it refreshing to hear an American not wastefully throwing away perfectly good products because of an arbitrary date. Yes, products have a jar saying that they've been safety tested for x months. But that doesn't mean that it is automatically dangerous beyond that point - otherwise most British & European makeup wearers would be in hospital. Makeup and skincare aren't cinderella's pumpkin: they don't immediately go from good to bad on the strike of midnight!
Manufacturers of cheap clothes often slap "dry clean only" labels because it's not cost effective to test various cleaning methods. Similarly, brands don't want spend what it would cost to test a product for 4+ years. That doesn't mean that the product is dangerous after the open jar date - just that they haven't invested in testing it beyond that time.
Since the 90s, expiry days are *generally* not allowed on any goods here in UK/Europe unless something is genuinely dangerous (poultry, fish, medicine). This is because it was *proven* that expiry dates were responsible for
Thank you for such an informative video; can't wait for Make-Up Geek Academy :D !
Marlena is out here killing it with content!!! So great to see you so much more often!
Thanks, Marlena! I love this! I worked in supply chain my entire career…pharmaceutical and then at Coca-Cola here in Atlanta. You are so spot on. Love the education you provide. Again, thanks.❤
Very useful information. Thank you very much. Yes, please make more of these videos. I can’t tell you how much money I’ve wasted on these luxury brands. And I never even use them up. They’re just sitting in my drawer lol!
TOPIC REQUEST: proper bronzer/contour/blush placement for maturing skin…. I’m now 49 and have a narrow long face. I’ve lost volume and feel I’m dragging down my face further with my placement of these products!
These videos are SO freaking good! For a makeup addict like me, it’s extremely eye-opening to hear this level of detail! You are a genius Marlena!!
DAMN that was informative. You are on FIRE, Marlena. I miss MG terribly. Every time I finish an eyeliner, I weep a little .
Oh Marlena I follow you for 7 years now and I have to say that your videos are better and better each time! 🙌🏻❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
You are absolutely knowledgeable and a great person to follow not only for your beauty tips but, for providing consumer knowledge. I personally use to use European brands but, now I try to support more brands that are manufactured in the USA!! Great video ❤
Love this! It's such an eye-opener for me about makeup. I have always thought makeup is too expensive. I am working on taking care of myself more, and this video really helps me to understand the value you are paying for. This allows me to spend the money because it makes sense now.
The next Paula Begoun! I loved this video and would love to see what you think about Chanel and Lancome! We need more!!!
The only product that I've kept the outer box from is a Pat McGrath mothership palette. That box is so pretty!
You are just the most informative and educating channel on here. I loved this video so SO MUCH! I think we all would love more of these videos!❤
Marlena, I have followed your channel since you started. This video is your best in my opinion. Why? You demonstrated that you are a great blend between an Artist and an Entrepreneur! Kindly give yourself a big pat on a back! And take it from someone who has a double Masters in Business and Finance with three decades of experience in a complex industry. GOOD JOB!!!
Marlena, can you review some of the holiday palettes? Specifically the hourglass ones. People keep raving but the price is insane, I just want to understand the hype
Would love a ‘best value makeup’ video!!
Great presentation on makeup products. Suggestions for part 2. First, can you feature these brands, Chanel, MAC, and Urban Decay, and their products such as lipsticks, eyeshadows, and foundations?
Also, can you do a presentation on cruelty-free makeup products? 😊
Loved this video Marlena! Especially around a time period where we are trying to watch our dollars and get more bang for our bucks.
❤ this is exactly what I am interested in.... really appreciate this content!! Lisa xx
I would love you to talk more about ingredients. So interesting!
I've been watching you since you started on TH-cam and I rarely comment on any video I watch (of anyone's). Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that I absolutely LOVE these educational videos you provide for us. I have really learned so much from you. Not only about products, but all the tutorials and tips. I appreciate everything you do for us!
Please do a price breakdown and detailing video for rare beauty products too❤
This was fascinating! I didn't know any of this, and now I feel like an insider. I'd love more analysis videos of other products.
Namaste from India! I loved this video, helps me understand what's worth my money when it comes to Indian makeup too! Thank you!
Can you make more of these??? Omg this was so enjoyable. I out it as background while doing laundry and laundry time flew by lol we need more!!!
Taught me how to do make-up. So glad to have you back on TH-cam & love the content! You are still learning me (and all of us) so much 👌. I never buy expensive eye pencils anymore thanks to your insights 😄.
Would love to hear your thoughts on Patrick Ta eyeshadows. Are they really going bad with mold or is it ingredients separating like the brand says?
This is probably the best most makeup video I have ever watched! Thank you Marlena!
Hi Marlena! Could you do something similar with lipstick formulas? Mattes vs sheer vs satin? Or even just rank your top fave lipstick formulas in each finish? ❤
Marlena bringing the best beauty videos on TH-cam!
Please do more price breakdowns like this!! Can you do a vid comparing products from prestige L’Oréal with mass L’Oréal?
I love this type of video! Please do another one sharing the price of lipsticks, lip gloss and mascara! ❤❤❤
This video deserves more views
Love this content. There are not many people that have all the facts and aren't biased ❤
Would love to see a video like this for skincare products
Wow! This must have been the most informative video I have watched in a long time. Could you do brands like Colourpop and Luna Beauty next?
It’s reminds me when I use to work in fashion and I had to do costing per garment.
Very well explained, love everything you do 🫶
thank you for taking us all to business school ♥️
This is a fabulously educational video Marlena! Yes, I would love to see more of these.👍
The video was so interesting! As a person that loves packaging, be it cookie tins, pens or makeup. I’m a sucker for packaging and design details. It would be interesting to hear about Chanel’s true cost. Especially for those seasonal limited editions.
This is one of the best videos I have ever watched on TH-cam! Thank you for all of this insider information Marlena!!
Great video! I agree, I bought a Tom Ford lipstick yrs ago & I didn't regret it. But it wasn't worth it for me to buy a future Tom Ford lipstick in the future. The end of your video is funny!
So glad you're back & doing well : )
Would love to see a breakdown on Pat McGrath palettes.
I would love to see more! I’m curious about the rare beauty soft pinch blushes. They used to be $26, they just changed it to $32 and they don’t feel worth it anymore