Share: do celebrities influence your beauty buys?

I had wanted to ask this question even before I wrote the entry yesterday but just so Raelynn mentioned in the comments that she could not resist getting a tub of the Nivea Pure and Natural Day Cream because Watsons cleverly promoted the news of Kate Middleton being spotted buying a tub of the cream in London hours before appearing at a star-studded gala charity dinner. News also reported that the Duchess of Cambridge has been buying it for some time and “swears by” the brand, which has also been hailed by Victoria Beckham. According to The Telegraph, “the sighting is almost certain to send the moisturiser flying off the shelves as fans clamour to recreate the young royal’s look.”

Yes, they get me excited
Personally, such news do affect my purchasing decisions. While I don’t get sold by advertisements, but I get influenced by press mentions – never mind that that’s probably another clever strategy of product endorsement. For example, I bought the Egyptian Magic Cream because I read that famous celebs use it.  It was the same with the Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat Radiant Touch. And recently, I almost tried to get the Rambling Rose Organic Lip balm by Figs and Rouge just because I read that Emma Watson has been given the product the thumbs up. Personally, I’m interested in what’s in their bags too and so if you show me a picture of a particular lip balm or handcream in their bag, there’s a high chance that I’ll dash out to grab that item. Yeah yeah, blame it on my weak right brain!

Hollywood factor
However, I seem to get influenced more by Hollywood celebrities than Asian celebrities maybe because I read more about them. The one Asian celebrity that influences my beauty buys is Barbie Hsu. I think I went out to grab the Kiehl’s toner because she mentioned it in her book.

Can you resist?
So are you like me or are you more rational? Is there a particular celebrity that influences you more? But I’ll say that I was more impulsive when I was younger than I am now. Hmm…let’s see if I can really resist getting that Rambling Rose Organic Lip Balm.

Comments

  1. Emily Chia says:

    I can’t resist things recommend by Niu Er, including his own brands too. My house got almost all his products.
    Emily Chia last post is: Haul from Sample Store and BHG

  2. sesame says:

    Oh Niu Er…he’s a hot fave with many ladies. His tips are good too.

  3. Stephanie/Yukaeshi says:

    Personally it doesn’t influence me much when it comes to cosmetics and skin care. In other words you can say I don’t really care if the celebrities are using it or not, lol! It’s not because I’m snobbish or whatnot, but it’s because I feel I have my own skincare needs and concerns, and cosmetics-wise I know what works for me and what doesn’t so celebrities don’t really exert an influence on me on them.

    Now fashion might be a different story- though once again it’s all individual ? What suits celebrity A and looks good on her doesn’t necessarily mean it suits and looks good on me haha!
    Stephanie/Yukaeshi last post is: Hello From Labuan!

  4. Carrie says:

    Hm… I would definitely be interested to find out more if a celeb recommends a product, but I wouldn’t go out there and buy the products straight away. I would do my research first before deciding if this is really the stuff for me. So it doesn’t affect me much to be honest.

  5. xin says:

    i bought SKII miracle water because i really couldn’t resist after seeing so many ads of the celebs with wonderful skin. and….it really turned out to be miracle for me…because it broke me out like crazy!!!
    xin last post is: NEW: Clarins HydraQuench Range and The Moisture Replenisher Facial Review

  6. Soos says:

    Not recently. I tried sweet almond oil from a health food store bcs I read that Jackie O loved it. It does smell good, and is light. And a body cream from Origins that Oprah used. SKII sounds really good – Cate Blanchett has AMAZING skin. When I was at Nordstrom, I could not get a sample of the eye cream, as hungry sharks with wrinkled undereyes had already wiped the display clean! In real life, I cannot afford to buy SKII. Good to know it’s not always a miracle, Xin!
    Soos last post is: On Fiber, Getting Enough of it, and Why?

  7. Chris says:

    It does influence me, but now that I am older I employ common sense, lol. When I was a teen, I didn’t known what colors looked good on me, so I would try to find out what an actress used if her complexion was similar to mine. Nowadays, that would mean people like Jessica Alba and Eva Longoria, but they work for Revlon and L’Oreal. So if Jessica says that Revlon mascara is her favorite, I know it’s probably in her contract to say a Revlon product if she gets asked what’s her favorite mascara. It’s fun to find out tidbits about celebrity beauty secrets, but I have to remember they are a part of a business that wants to make money off of their image.
    Chris last post is: Emily Blunt In The Devil Wear Prada- Green Eye Makeup

  8. sesame says:

    Yeah…I think a lot of times when we read tidbits like what’s in their bags, or what they like, most probably, the products were sent to them in the first place and they don’t reveal that.

  9. sesame says:

    I’m not a fan of SKII. Too many ingredients in there that make me uncomfortable. I’ve heard raves on the toner though but it’s so ex!

  10. sesame says:

    Sorry to learn it broke you out. The thing about advertisements is, they choose celebs with wonderful skin in the first place so not accurate.

  11. sesame says:

    I would if it’s skin care but stuff like highlighter, lip balms, hand creams, etc, I’m more incline to dash out to grab them. ?

  12. sesame says:

    No, not a snob…if a product gets my interest, it does not have to be used by a celeb. But if I learn that a celeb is using it, it might interest me more. Heheh. A bit shallow I know…

  13. Audris says:

    Mmm if it’s a product they’re not paid to endorse and have been consistently using it for years, I might be tempted. Especially if it’s suitable for my current skin/beauty needs. Otherwise, nah.

    I prefer to go for ingredients and also read what independent bloggers like you blog about that’d affect my purchase choices.
    Audris last post is: LOTD: Silk Naturals Summer Fling

  14. Marina(Makeup4All) says:

    If a celeb I like swears by a certain products – I’d be definitely interested.
    I remember how Victoria Beckham tweeted that she has been using Elemis (Japanese Camelia blend) during all of her pregnancies and how much she loves the brand. And I actually adore Elemis as well.
    Marina(Makeup4All) last post is: Chanel Les Scintillances de Chanel Holiday 2011 Makeup Collection

  15. Miggs says:

    When I read somewhere that the make-up crew for the show ‘Mad Men’ used Revlon cosmetics for a lot of the actresses’ looks, I thought, “Holy crap, good ole’ reasonably priced drugstore brand Revlon?”. I already use a lot of Revlon products, so there you go.

  16. Raelynn says:

    Mmmm it would affect me to a certain extent, for me to purchase the nivea cream, it was a combination of endorsement, price, accessibility to purchase but most importantly the ingredient list. Had the cream contained both alcohol denat and cetyl/cetearyl alcohol, I would not purchase. But because it was just alcohol denat, I was half hoping maybe the oils are sufficient to counter the drying effect. And perhaps I won’t use it daily as much as my skin pharmacy moisturizer. Another advertising lure that I gave in to was the skII facial treatment essence, it does help to smoothen the skin and speed up the healing of some blemishes. But for other things, my main moisturizer, serums, cleansers, sunblock, I’m still sticking to the skin pharmacy.

  17. Fiona says:

    I don’t think that celebrities influence my beauty buys at all. Good for them if the products they’re buying are suitable for them, but it’s not necessarily suitable for me. My line of work gives me an insight on behind the screen and post-production work, how much “alterations” goes into the person before they appear on screen or photo, and also learn a thing or two about product placements. Hence why nowadays I’m comfortable choosing products based on what feels right for me ?

  18. sesame says:

    Yeah, not the endorsement fluff…but sometimes it’s hard to tell if they are really are using the products…

  19. sesame says:

    I see…I’ve come across some celebs who swear by natural DIY recipes and I do like those better too. Like Catherine Zeta Jones and beer for her hair.

  20. sesame says:

    That’s a drugstore brand and very clever of them. It’s all part of the marketing and if we’ve tried the product and liked it, then more power to them.

  21. sesame says:

    Understand…it’s usually a combo of factors but the celeb / royalty would have raised our interest in the product to check it out further. But I do buy hand creams, lip balms, etc just based on reading that certain celebs use them. It helps if the product appear unique.

  22. sesame says:

    True…the ads themselves would have too much photo enhancements. But it does pique my interest if it’s a press mention and I’ll not hesitate to check out the product. A bit shallow…like I said about myself. Heh.

  23. Chelsea says:

    Definitely not as easily sold as my younger days… I have become a firm believer in doing one’s own research. I am, however, curious about that LifeCell cream that seems to be the latest rave in Hollywood. The company website itself reminds me of a snazzier Egyptian Magic Cream–which makes it seem gimmick-y. Huge turnoff. But I have been googling tons of off-site reviews from regular people and they are overwhelmingly praising this product. Not sure if I’m ready to try it though… it’s not even so much the price so much as it is the PRIDE! Don’t want to be caught with empty pockets and snake oil in my hands!!!

  24. sesame says:

    Ah…gimmicky. The Egyptian Magic Cream was just that! I didn’t find it great but yet, there were plenty of raves. Is there a sample to try first?

  25. Raelynn says:

    having said that.. i thought i’ll give physiogel a special mention, it was a godsend when my boyfriend and i went to melbourne during the winter season, even my acne-prone boyfriend who is super lazy about skincare voluntarily reached for it after his showers to apply, and we were using the intensive cream that is available only at hospital retail pharmacies (not the normal cream version that we see in unity and guardian). so i suppose the cream and lotion formula might be quite suitable for singaporeans with dehydrated skin… just watch the amount that you apply.

    and about the rambling rose balm, i’ll say just go for it, it should be quite cheap isn’t? lol

  26. Amanda says:

    I am sort of affected by celebrity effect, but just emotionally. I’m able to keep my sanity whenever I’m at the beauty counters. I never bought something just because a particular super star gave thumps up. So, from the beauty companies’ perspective, I may not be a good customer ?
    Amanda last post is: 8 Ways to Use Olive Oil for Beauty

  27. sesame says:

    I think Physiogel is in the like of QV and they do work quite well for most skin types. My hubs like QV very much.

    Oh for the rambling rose balm, I think I did add to cart and then abandon afterwards. Haha…let’s see if I’ll renew that order.

  28. Chelsea says:

    Sesame: no sample of LifeCell cream available, just a “30 day free trial,” during which time I’m sure people would have to jump through hoops to get their money back! (Which is exactly what I had to do when researching the actual PRICE of this product, because it isn’t listed anywhere on the website). Perhaps it had such great reviews because of the placebo effect, or because people didn’t want to feel ripped off.

  29. EcoBeauty says:

    Not really… but a model who has VERY NICE SKIN–regardless of whether she’s a star or not–has a huge, compelling effect on me. haha… especially those japanese girls with flawless, evenly fair, pinkish and collagen-filled skin. Lol, I hope i’m not sounding creepy.

  30. hazel says:

    I confess…. I picked up a moisturizer that I’ve tried and liked from Watsons last week, only to chuck it back on the shelf after seeing the tub of cream that Kate Middleton ‘has been buying it for some time’. (“,)
    hazel last post is: 7 minute egg?

  31. Althea Ramirez says:

    It is true that products endorsed by celebrities can awaken the interest of any buyer, even me. I’ve always patronized brands that I know are used by famous celebs. However as time passed by, and with the fast developing technology nowadays, I’m starting to lose my trust on such endorsements.

    Quite frankly, I think I’ll be believing a product endorsed by a friend of mine (*based on her experience with it) rather than that of a famous celebrity.

  32. sesame says:

    I know what you mean…I am less inclined to try skincare for the face when a celeb is mentioned (doesn’t mean I won’t though) but I always clamor for those small things they carry in their bags. ?

  33. sesame says:

    So you bought it? Haha…hope it works great for you. Someone mentioned that she might have been paid to do this but I doubt so.

  34. sesame says:

    Okay, very funny those Japanese models have very little effect on me. Their fashion styles yes, but not what they use. They don’t look real to me.

    But I’m not compelled by Hollywood celebs and those who write books…like Barbie. I was keen to try placenta supplement at one stage becos of her but then never had the guts + they’re so ex.

  35. sesame says:

    It’s very hard to say until someone you know tells you if it worked for her but then again, this placebo effect is really something very common. Hmm…makes for an interesting blogging topic, come to think about it. ?

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