Should MAC have jumped on the bandwagon

[shabdebaz]

....and made plushglasses? During MAC update, some of the girls got into a debate about how MAC should not have made lip plumpers because it goes into the whole cosmetic correctiveness thing and that made a lot of them uncomfortable.

One of the trainers mentioned that the lip-plumping business is a $35 million industry in the United States. I guess MAC wants a piece of that action.

I personally think that they probably shouldn't have jumped on that bandwagon because they have so far tried to stay away from products that make claims like that. Also, the tingling sensation you feel when it's on might be a little alarming to some consumers.

What do you girls think?

 

[user6]

I'll be honest with you, although this product is not at all appealing to me, I can see why they're doing it....think about it, if you had a successful cosmetics brand, and wanted to branch out, you have to come up with new products to appeal to more buyers, and say joe schmo likes lip plumpers, but doesn't use mac, he's walking through nordies and sees that mac makes a lip plumper, he decides to check it out because mac is a well known brand, well he ends up liking it! then in turn he's going to want to try more mac products, and recommend it to his friends, so it's all about new customers, as well as keeping current customers.....i say bravo if it works!!! lol

 

[merleskaya]

Interesting question. My view is that the lip plumping products are to lips simply what mascara is to eyelashes...not corrective (which in my view would be surgery), just another enhancement like all other cosmetics are. And plumpers are so popular now I think most women who'd be inclined to try them are going to expect that tingly sensation rather than be put off by it.

That said, I do agree with you that coming out with them now seems to be a sign of bandwagon jumping! Frankly, the whole category just seems overblown (so to speak) to me...I tried one of those theBalm glosses and wasn't impressed enough to buy it again when I finished it. And I refuse to shell out $$$ for the LipFusion. I'll try the MAC Plushglass at the counter, but unless I really find a unique color or really like the effect, I won't buy it.

merleskaya

 

[alurabella]

Quote:

My view is that the lip plumping products are to lips simply what mascara is to eyelashes...not corrective (which in my view would be surgery), just another enhancement like all other cosmetics are.

Ditto.

 

[scrapbookromance]

the interesting thing about these lip plumpers is that they are a semi-controlled allergic reaction that your lips are having to the product. thats whats making it tingle, a reaction that isn't normal, and blood rushes to the area, hence the plumping. I tried the Lip Venom brand, and after daily use for a few days I didn't get the same effect, but if I put it off for a few days and tried again I would get the effect again. it was weird.

but hey, the psycology behind them is great, and I"m sure it will have many women hooked - especially if the colors are nice!

 

[Postette]

in my opinion, this lip plumper does not reflect well on MAC...MAC has always been known for being a trendsetter and ahead of the curve...lip plumpers have been out for how long now??!i think mac is trying to get in on the money and forgetting about how they are usually the frontrunners for everything!just my 2 cents...i was very turned off that they just came out with these, especially while knowing their lines are developed like 2 years ahead (i use to work for MAC

)

 

[d_flawless]

i will not be buying this product, and it has nothing to do with any feelings of discomfort; i simply just don't need it.
i'm sure the only reason MAC decided to go ahead and follow suit was because of a genuine interest of their customers, not necessarily because of profit alone (though the interest would no doubt led to sales)...sure some things are innovative and are trial-runs of a sort, but it's not like this is the first product that MAC is producing their own version of, from what other companies have already launched (fluidlines, see thru color, etc.).
maybe i'm going OT, but i think it's just something to try out, and the sales will probably depict how long it stays in production.

also, i don't think the "tingling" sensation will cause alarm to anyone, at least not to informed customers who have seen these type of products from other brands and know that that is how plumpers work...

 

[glittergoddess27]

Ya know I have never really been into the whole lip plumping thing. Many of them contain a cinnamon derivative (which I despise) to get the plumping effect. I agree with Merleskaya,.. I will try them out if they have some awesome colors then yeah baby,.. and if not,.. then my purse will smile,....

 

[a914butterfly]

i think mac is getting a little too crazy with everything. they are comming out too fast with new collections and new products and alot of them are take-offs of other brand's products that are out there. its getting too commercialized. i can see that they want to keep up with the Jones's and expand and broaden their product lines, but enough is enough- it's overkill.

 

[lemurian]

This is an interesting thread.. IMO, I don't see a difference between a lip plumper and a concealer. Or a brow pencil. Or mascara (as was already mentioned). However, I do think that all these lip plumbers on the market are bogus -- either they don't work or they're damaging tissue. I do have a fondness for one of theBalm glosses, but it doesn't plump or make my lips sting. *shrug*

I do wish that MAC would just develop some more original, or at least interesting color stories rather than rehash the same old colors in different formulas :/

 

[fairytale22]

I may buy depending on the colors, but probably not for the idea, especially if they're expensive as lip plumpers usually are.

 

[aziajs]

Like several of the above posters have said, I agree that this is another example of MAC slipping up on the creativity. I like MAC and have remained a loyal customer because it is so different from other lines and it continually amazes me with how they stay ahead of the competition. They are cutting-edge, trendsetters. This just seems to show them following the pack instead of leading it. I feel the same way about a lot of the color stories that have been coming out. They seem to be repeating and "following" themselves.

 

[shriekingviolet]

Quote:

Originally Posted by merleskaya Interesting question. My view is that the lip plumping products are to lips simply what mascara is to eyelashes...not corrective (which in my view would be surgery), just another enhancement like all other cosmetics are. And plumpers are so popular now I think most women who'd be inclined to try them are going to expect that tingly sensation rather than be put off by it.

Agreed. What cosmetic product isn't about creating an illusion of something you don't carry naturally, be it thick/long lashes, clear & even skin, rosy cheeks, or pigmented lips? I find it a bit strange that people who are uncomfortable with lip plumpers are comfortable selling makeup.

That said I'm excited about the plushglasses. Not because it's a lip plumper as I'm fairly happy with the size and shape of my lips, but I'm always interested when MAC releases a single product-type release. We get lots of new colors at once, and they don't all fall in line with the trends of the season or the theming of a color story so there's more variety. I'm itching to see all of the new shades, and if I find some that I like, I'll definitely buy them.

 

[cno64]

I'm a bit uncomfortable with the whole idea of fashion dictating to us what our features "should" look like.
Why can't a woman with thin lips be considered beautiful even during a time when full lips are "in?"
If you as an individual want one of your features to look different, fine, but we all don't have to be beautiful in the same way. God designed us each differently, after all.
All that said, I wish MAC had stayed off the "your lips have gotta be full" bandwagon. I guess that would be unrealistic. As someone else pointed out, the full lips craze has created an enormous market for lip-enhancing products, and I guess we have to expect MAC to want a piece of the action.

 

[pinkfeet]

Quote:

Originally Posted by a914butterfly i think mac is getting a little too crazy with everything. they are comming out too fast with new collections and new products and alot of them are take-offs of other brand's products that are out there. its getting too commercialized. i can see that they want to keep up with the Jones's and expand and broaden their product lines, but enough is enough- it's overkill.

But thats EL way of doing things, they take from each other all the time, from EL, from Clinique, from BB etc. Sooo its no wonder MAC wouldnt eventually start doing it and not always be the first to start something. Actually at EL they have bidders who bid on who gets what first ( BB, EL. Clinique etc )

 

[d_flawless]

maybe it's just me but i still think MAC has an advantage over other brands: they're more affordable than most "high end" brands, their range of color and products are out of this world (including their usage of "trend" products in LE lines, which NO OTHER brand promotes as frequently), and their employees, for the most part, have serious skill. i don't personally care too much about the hype about copying other lines; in such a competitive industry like cosmetics, it's a given that you can't be the only brand coming out with new, useful tools to give consumers their desired look; nor do i condemn them for "copying" other brands.
though i understand people's need for being unique and choosing brands and wearing their look in a way completely their own, probably more than half of the people who even wear MAC could care less about the trend color stories, they come in for their staples and call it a day...i'm not being presumptious, but i think it's too simple to assume that everyone using MAC is cutting edge and only down with what's cool and new.
that said, to me MAC just represents beauty in a variety of forms (whether you prefer a more "beauty" look or a completely bright and "different" way of wearing color), and for some people, to feel beautiful, they want to enhance what they have so they feel more accepted...i think really the problem is that MAC has amazingly loyal customers and they want to be able to use and have a need for every new thing, since they know it will be quality. however, as i mentioned in my earlier post, not everyone has a need for EVERY single product, but still, as a brand, MAC is doing it's thing catering to all of it's clientele, including those who have a need to plump their lips.

 

[caffn8me]

Quote:

Originally Posted by scrapbookromance the interesting thing about these lip plumpers is that they are a semi-controlled allergic reaction that your lips are having to the product. thats whats making it tingle, a reaction that isn't normal, and blood rushes to the area, hence the plumping.

I think the notion that it's an allergic reaction comes from the name venom. Trying to induce an allergic reaction of any kind would be too dangerous for a cosmetics company. Repeated exposure to an allergen can cause a major allergic (anaphylactic) reaction which is sometimes fatal.

The active ingredient is simply an amino acid, L-arginine which causes capillaries to dilate allowing more blood to flow into the area. More blood=fatter lips. The stinging is possibly due to the solvents used to carry the L-arginine through the skin and menthol which is also often added to lip plumper preparations.

Interestingly, L-arginine itself is used in Alpha Hydroxy and Glycolic acid facial peel preparations because it has been shown to reduce the stinging feel of the acid solutions on the skin [reference]

For the chemically interested, L-arginine is a natural precursor of Nitric Oxide which relaxes blood vessel walls. Just think of lip plumpers as being Viagra™ for lips

 

[shriekingviolet]

Quote:

Originally Posted by cno64 I'm a bit uncomfortable with the whole idea of fashion dictating to us what our features "should" look like. Why can't a woman with thin lips be considered beautiful even during a time when full lips are "in?" If you as an individual want one of your features to look different, fine, but we all don't have to be beautiful in the same way. God designed us each differently, after all. All that said, I wish MAC had stayed off the "your lips have gotta be full" bandwagon. I guess that would be unrealistic. As someone else pointed out, the full lips craze has created an enormous market for lip-enhancing products, and I guess we have to expect MAC to want a piece of the action.

I'm not sure why MAC coming out with lip plumpers makes the statement that they're pushing the idea everyone's lips ought to be full. If they were putting plumping agents into every one of their lip products, fine, but just having a plumping line is no more promoting the full-lipped fashion agenda than Revlon or L'Oreal would be pushing the idea that Blonde hair was the only way to go when they came out with an extra line of blonde hair color.

 

[GreekChick]

Quote:

Originally Posted by d_flawless maybe it's just me but i still think MAC has an advantage over other brands: they're more affordable than most "high end" brands, their range of color and products are out of this world (including their usage of "trend" products in LE lines, which NO OTHER brand promotes as frequently), and their employees, for the most part, have serious skill. i don't personally care too much about the hype about copying other lines; in such a competitive industry like cosmetics, it's a given that you can't be the only brand coming out with new, useful tools to give consumers their desired look; nor do i condemn them for "copying" other brands. though i understand people's need for being unique and choosing brands and wearing their look in a way completely their own, probably more than half of the people who even wear MAC could care less about the trend color stories, they come in for their staples and call it a day...i'm not being presumptious, but i think it's too simple to assume that everyone using MAC is cutting edge and only down with what's cool and new. that said, to me MAC just represents beauty in a variety of forms (whether you prefer a more "beauty" look or a completely bright and "different" way of wearing color), and for some people, to feel beautiful, they want to enhance what they have so they feel more accepted...i think really the problem is that MAC has amazingly loyal customers and they want to be able to use and have a need for every new thing, since they know it will be quality. however, as i mentioned in my earlier post, not everyone has a need for EVERY single product, but still, as a brand, MAC is doing it's thing catering to all of it's clientele, including those who have a need to plump their lips.

Ditto

 

[msthrope]

MAC is jumping on far too many bandwagons if you ask me.