I do not have sensitive skin, but they have testers in the boutique you can try on a small area first before you purchase to see if you get a reaction.
Yes! They are soft!
Hermes Skincare & Makeup
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I do not have sensitive skin, but they have testers in the boutique you can try on a small area first before you purchase to see if you get a reaction.
I will get those brushes next time. Was going to get them last week but I totally forgot 🙈😱
I wish I had done a search on this post before my recent purchase. The LE Violet Manganese nail polish popped up on the US site recently and I ordered it. On the site it looks like a bronzey plum color, and that's what it looks like in the bottle, too. Well I gave myself a pedi with it this weekend and on the nail it just looks BROWN. Very little metallic shimmer at all and no purple whatsoever. BLAH!
I am very attached to my Shiseido eyelash curler (of which I have two, one for my travel makeup bag), but this would make a great holiday gift.
I went to the store to check out some things in person. Picked up the Rouge Bruni (which I liked so much, I ordered another one) and a blue mascara (haven’t tried it yet). I am very fair and I was worried it would be too dark, but it is quite sheer (although layers well to build up to a more opaque color).
The eyeshadows seemed nice, but I have so many palettes, I didn’t want to have another one collecting dust.
The brushes were really nice. Not as nice as my Hakuhodo ones, but getting there.
@880 and @Crapples, I’m tagging you both here so as not to go OT in the relationship thread. Wondering whether you think H cares that serious make-up afficianados are less than enthusiastic about the new line. I mean I'm sure they care about everything, and they are demonstrably committed to vertical ownership of lines of production so keeping the Beauty line in-house isn't a surprise, but do you think it demonstrates a fundamental mis-read of the beauty business? Are they just making more 'first floor' aspirational products for those who will be disappointed that a bag, BKC or otherwise, is not likely for new, less well-heeled customers? Or, to take the really cynical view, do they just want the money, and will take it from anyone including those who just want a little of that H magic even thought the product is less than what it should be? 
SUCH a great question! If I were a betting woman, I think H would want to position itself as a go to for high-end make up artists as a finishing product (at this moment I just don’t think that H cosmetics have the horsepower to be mainstay application products like MU4ever or Armani or even Fenty or “unbranded” theatrical makeup). Like I think they would be ecstatic if Cate Blanchett’s MUA said we topped off the look with Hermès lip oil in shade XYZ. They, however, are simply not making formulations in depth enough to be full red carpet looks. I do, however, wonder if they’ll ever go down the route of a celeb face for beauty.@880 and @Crapples, I’m tagging you both here so as not to go OT in the relationship thread. Wondering whether you think H cares that serious make-up afficianados are less than enthusiastic about the new line. I mean I'm sure they care about everything, and they are demonstrably committed to vertical ownership of lines of production so keeping the Beauty line in-house isn't a surprise, but do you think it demonstrates a fundamental mis-read of the beauty business? Are they just making more 'first floor' aspirational products for those who will be disappointed that a bag, BKC or otherwise, is not likely for new, less well-heeled customers? Or, to take the really cynical view, do they just want the money, and will take it from anyone including those who just want a little of that H magic even thought the product is less than what it should be?
For every day buyers, I do think they care about quality because there’s a lot to lose. Most H makeup customers are already clients of the brand (versus other luxury brands who eventually cultivate RTW clients from their cosmetics buyers). While they are working on developing some level of recession-proof first floor clientele, H’s main focus now and in the past has been on top tier clients. Alienating big spenders with a poor blush formulation is a bad look. Which is why I agree with @880 that established SAs don’t spend a ton of time with their $$ clients in the cosmetics sections. Again if I were a betting gal, I would believe it’s because they want to give those products lines a bit more time to be proven out before they actually recommend for purchase.
ETA: to answer your question more directly…
I think H sees the financial benefit in developing a cosmetics line. I truly think some customers were clamoring for it and they responded (now when will they listen to our cries for sunglasses). It’s neither a selfish grab nor is it altruistic. I do think they overestimated how much the product market has developed over the last 15 years and (with hubris) by keeping the line in house are missing out on cutting edge chemical science. I’ve no doubt that they will improve, but likely will cap out at Chanel level (and that will take time). I think they care but got caught up in anything you can do, I can do better and failed.
Thanks for your wonderful and thoughtful reply! I'm not a make-up wearer; lipstick and nail polish for my pedicures are the extent of my participation in that arena (adore the H nail polish colors!). I much prefer Lisa Eldridge for lips so while I tried a few of the H products I'm not likely to be a return buyer. It's this experience that has made me wonder about the thinking behind H's entry into this arena. I agree with your assessment that H seems not to have read the room very well. It can't be good that there's a sizeable number of people unimpressed by their efforts, and that they don't seem to have persuaded core H clients to switch from their current regimes to support the new lines. I sense there's a design buzz surrounding the packaging but not much enthusiasm for what's in the box....
A celebrity face for beauty would be fascinating; I bet they won't do it because it's too risky, too many ways to mess that one up.
Agree with @Crapples that Hermes should have outsourced beauty from the start, but I bet they took a look at Chanel and wanted to follow in Chanel’s footsteps. Never mind that Chanel did have sizable presence from raw materials to end product for fragrance and other things. The brands saw Gucci’s success and felt that cosmetics would be a cash cow. I think plenty of people might be very content with scarves and cosmetics and not venture further. i would also guess that lots of people who try H cosmetics are new to the brand. If I wore makeup these days, I would be interested in refillable containers. . .but that’s about it. But, I’m not their demographic. having said that I might pick up some of their lippies as gifts.
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I honestly think getting celebrity endorsement would put me off the H brand. I really dislike the so called "brand ambassadors" and I cringe when I receive a marketing email with their face on it. I just find the idea of buying something because a celeb endorsed it really off-putting. (I'm not gonna suddenly buy a chanel fragrance for DH because Timothy chalamet is the face of it etc, or some of the pop idol worship that goes on in Asia). Maybe it's just me. But I've always been that way. I like the fact that there are no visible brand ambassadors for H and we are encouraged to discover our style at the boutique.
I kind of like trying H beauty products just for fun (try a new lipstick, why not?) but I already have my own holy grail products so I'm not looking to switch to a permanent H regime lol.
I kind of like trying H beauty products just for fun (try a new lipstick, why not?) but I already have my own holy grail products so I'm not looking to switch to a permanent H regime lol.
I agree, I am not the slightest bit influenced by celebrity endorsements. Plus, IMO relationships between a celebrity and a brand are not the same as they were back in the pre-SM days of long term contracts with "silent" supermodels. Celebrities are more likely now to be vocal with opinions that might not align with brand values (as Nike and others have occasionally found out), so I could understand if that were another reason why H doesn't pursue the celebrity route.
I picked up a lipstick yesterday, but am unlikely to be making any wholesale changes away from my preferred products.
Absolutely no Thimothy on products for my hubby. At least it should be Jason Momoa
Back to topic i tried the mascara, i didn't like it. Way too thick for my lashes. I could not separate them. So back to Helena Rubinstein feline.
Refillables have been their smartest move in the game IMHO. Their packaging isn’t as nice as I’d like it to be at moment but it’s not terrible and it’s pretty.
Honestly I agree about most celeb endorsements but if Helen Mirren or Viola Davis or an opera singer signed on I would dig it. Someone classic not prone to scandal who oozes elegance, accomplishment, and talent. Like the watch companies do.
Christine Lagarde
if she ever pulled out an H red lippie while carrying her red bolide, I’d buy it lol
ETA: oh, who am I kidding. I would absolutely buy one for Helen mirren or even Cate Blanchette lol
Actually, I would love to see Camille Cottin pull out an H lippie
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Yes!!!!!Christine Lagarde
if she ever pulled out an H red lippie while carrying her red bolide, I’d buy it lol
Big fan here; always looking to see what she’s sporting. Does that mean I’m influenced? Hahaha, and H got that for free