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OMG!! The Beauty Industry Is Downsizing!

22 May, 2018 - 06:50pm by - Head Pixie | 19 Comments

By BR Kellie

Little is big right now. Super big. Massive in fact. Little homes - people are into them. The Kondo effect is still doing the rounds with people removing anything that doesn't bring them a spark of joy. Even the beauty world is downsizing. And by downsizing I mean they're releasing miniature versions of their products.

Yes. Here for it. Love it.

Why? Well... I'd love to say it's because I'm a traveller and it means I can do carry-on with ease, but really it's because I'm a beauty lover who is like a bee looking for pollen. I flit between products at a great rate, leaving behind massive pans of unused colour, mostly un-spritzed setting sprays, and barely touched bullets of lipstick. 

I want to try everything... but I kind of hate how much is left behind, and the dent it leaves in the bank account when I buy a standard size product. Mini makeup fixes that! You don't spend nearly as much, but you still get the rush of trying something new!

So which minis are we loving right now? Check these pretties out...

Benefit, you blessed brand of goodness. How much do we love your minis? SO much. You give us lovely little versions of your primer, bronzer, brow products and more. But what's really got our bling-loving hearts all aflutter is the Gold Rush Mini.  

Mini doesn't always mean cheap. Or budget-friendly. Or even affordable. Sometimes it can still be downright gulp-worthy. BUT, if you're a fan of high-end brands but don't want to splash the crazy cash on a product you're not 100% sure about, a mini is a great way to dip a toe in. In this case if you've ever wanted to try the well regarded Hourglass Mineral Veil Primer, you can get an itty bitty version of it for all of $29.

Orgasm. Laguna. Orgasm blush. Laguna bronze. For a while there it felt like you couldn't watch a YouTube tutorial without hearing those two names every single time. To buy them separately, or even in the duo compact you're looking at a pretty penny, but the littlest NARS Laguna Orgams Duo version is less than $40, and can give you a taste of what every beauty guru and their little designer dog has raved about. 

I recently bought the full size Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in 'Radiant Light' after panning the mini-size in a trio palette. It's beautiful. It's lovely. It also cost more than what I paid a week in rent when I first went flatting (many, many, many, many moons ago). My love of Hourglass' Ambient Lighting Powders has led me to want to try more. Thank goodness their Ambient Strobe Lighting Powder comes in a mini size! It's still $38, but being a highlighter you know it'll last the distance - while looking next level amazing.

So it's not the ittiest or the bittiest, but the Too Faced Matte Chocolate Chip Eyeshadow Collection is a bite-size version of their Chocolate Bar pallete. And at $41 for 11 pans of colour, we think it's a fab way to indulge in a little chocolatey goodness.

Mini mascaras - aka deluxe sample mascaras - are by far and away my favourite kind of mascara. Why? You get through them quicky, and you don't have to worry about chucking them out when they're still half-full because they've expired and you don't want to risk getting a gungy eye! Benefit do minis. Too Faced do 'em too. But the one on our to-try list? By Terry's Mini Mascara Terrybly. Sure, you can get a full size drugstore mascara for the same price - but will you use it up before it heads into that potential eye-infection stage? Possibly not. So why not treat yo'self?

Heading out for the night and don't want to load up your pocket or clutch? A mini lippy sits sweetly next to a bank card and mobile phone, leaving lots of room while giving you va-va-voom! Pop the Mini A-Lipster Liquid Lipstick from Mecca Max before you head out - then have this pint-size pretty at at the ready for touchups. 

MIniaturising your makeup bag for travel is made easy with the Eye Do Liquid Eye Liner by Eyeko London. It's also the perfect way to try your hand at a liquid liner without committing to the full size price!

Beloved by beauty gurus and spritzed with while abandon in their tutorials, Urban Decay All Nighter Long Lasting Makeup Setting Spray is one setting spray that, while amazing, is pretty pricey. Thank goodness we can try it before we buy the big size of it for far less than the cost of an all nighter! 

So there you have it! Nine cosmetic cuties that pack a big punch! So, are you a fan of mini makeup? What are your faves? What's on your to-buy list? Or are these sweetie treaties are pass for you? And if so, why so? Chat away!

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Comments

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31st May, 2018

Love minis!!!! I like trying new things so don’t often get through a full size. Plus new products like serums are great in mini, gives you enough product to give it a really good try not just a day or two worth! Minis are perfect for this, great for travel and I don’t feel so bad buying them with the cheaper price tag

30th May, 2018

I love love love love love minis!! At the Airport i went straight to the benefit minis, but sadly they didn't had a hoola lite in mini :( but lot's of awesome minis all the same :D

27th May, 2018

I love minis because they look so cute! Mini mascaras are very practical because you can actually use them up before they expire.

26th May, 2018

It's a great idea especially for travelling

25th May, 2018

Not a fan of minis, they're not cheaper and just end up creating more waste overall

24th May, 2018

I like some mini products - lipstick if it is colour i don't wear all the time or a new perfume however on the whole I prefer full size .

23rd May, 2018

I used to like minis. They never last long . Especially perfumes . I power through them too fast.

23rd May, 2018

I love minis! I feel that I can actually use it up!

23rd May, 2018

I'm not keen on mini make up. I love mini skin care and fragrances though.

23rd May, 2018

Minis are always the more practical option and I love brands that offer this. I spend quite some time scanning the cashier area at Sephora and Mecca where they put all their minis from all brands. Just recently got the mini MAC fix+ to try out. I love those roller ball perfumes too! Super convenient to bring everywhere I go!

23rd May, 2018

I love minis to keep in my handbag for when I'm on the go or need an emergency makeup bag to spruce up my face.

23rd May, 2018

Yes, yes and yes!!! Makeup minis are my weakness! A few years back I bought the Two Faced Matte Chocolate Chip. Look at the photos I posted it truly is adorable. I love matte eyeshadows and minis so when I heard of its existence I was determined to own it and paid big bucks for a mini palette housing 11 eyeshadows mostly just 0.5g each, all matte and smells like chocolate. It's smaller than the Urban Decay Naked Basics palette. It's amazing how uninterested I am in the full sized versions and shades until the brand develops a mini sized version of it and then I have to have it.

23rd May, 2018

I love minis particularly for things like mascara which I don't often finish a full size before its expiration date. And for high end, it often brings it more into a price range you are used to spending, so you can decide if you really love it before committing to the full size product.

23rd May, 2018

I have a few full sized products that I will probably never ever pan (looking at you Becca Highligthers!) so having mini's available to me would be wonderful.

23rd May, 2018

I love mini sized it's so cute. I like that they are smaller and easy to carry but that you also waste less product before expiry time. I rarely buy them but I do like them a lot.

tannygirl
23rd May, 2018

I live for make up minis. It's amazing how I'm not attracted to the shade or product in full-size but the miniature one just grabs me.

tannygirl
23rd May, 2018

Becca's actually really good at coming up with those mini hightlighter duos. There's no way I would finish a full sized one but a mini....loooove minis.

tannygirl
23rd May, 2018

Another mini palette that I really wanted but never was able to get ahold of was the Natasha Denona Mini Sunset palette. Gorgeous shades I'm into but don't have but unfortunately was never available for purchase on Beautylish or at Sephora.nz.

tannygirl
23rd May, 2018

Of course it was available for a long time at Sephora.com and I even asked if Sephora.nz would stock it but unfortunately all I got was a round about answer and they didn't stock it. :-(

MareeB
23rd May, 2018

Especially if they come in sets!

tannygirl
25th May, 2018

I'm the opposite I prefer full sized skincare generally (although mini is great to try or if it's an item than will last a long time for the amount you get) but I'm all about the makeup minis with the possible exception of setting powder.

Julieal
26th May, 2018

I prefer full size skin care but mini make up would suit me.

tannygirl
25th May, 2018

I absolutely love mini lipsticks probably even more than full sized ones. It's just so much easier to apply and get a precise line, especially the bullet ones because the lipstick is narrower. I'm more likely to reach for mini lippies than fullsized

tannygirl
25th May, 2018

lipsticks just because they offer than convenience.

Julieal
26th May, 2018

I agree Tannygirl and no waste .

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