Ever bought something just because of its name?

Feb 12, 2015

Breeze T.

Hi beauties!
I found myself reflecting on the names/descriptions of certain makeup and skincare products and what it is that draws me to them. As some of you may know, I'm a self-proclaimed “word nerd” and... what better occasion to mix the world of beauty with a discussion about the power of language?

So anyway I got thinking, and sometimes we get high-ish expectations from a product just because it has certain “keywords”, like “radiant”, “glow” or “natural”. I've found that whenever there's a “+” or “plus” in the name of a product I'm suddenly intrigued by it. Is that just me? Or foreign (especially French) names sometimes make it sound so appealing and more high-quality when it might not be the case (although sometimes it is!)
I've found that, in my opinion, the most misleading word is “natural”, because it doesn't imply anything, most of the times it's a simple marketing tactic.
Most of the products that I bought because of their name actually lived up to the hype I built in my head :)

Oh, and of course I can't forget to mention the products that have “naughty” names like Nars (not so much Orgasm, but Deep Throat sounds so graphic!) or just disgusting ones like “Mildew” by Urban Decay (it's actually a beautiful green- btw UD is famous for its product names, just have a look at their website for some fun). These I believe are made just for shock value, but I think they're pretty awsome! :D

So, now I want to hear it from you:

1) Have you ever bought something beauty-related because of its name?
2) Did it live up to your expectations?
3) What are the keywords that “speak” most to you?
4) Share the craziest product names you've run into!

xoxoxo
Have a supendous day ^_^

Feb 12, 2015

Julia K.

Yes I often find myself buying something because of its name or description, or because of the package... if I like the overall look of a product, I will most likely buy it haha.

Feb 12, 2015

Sabrina K.

Haha this is fun! Products do have some crazy names from time to time! I also react to names, especially when I buy nail polish haha a good name can definitely make me buy something!
But I'm much less sophisticated then you haha I a sucker for soft colors with like a soft name like Essies "Lady like" (Come on who don't wanna be lady like right!) or any pastel color called "powdered" anything - powdered blue, powdered lilac and so on.

And yes I think we can all agree that the naughty names do catch us in - I have the better than sex mascara, and I'm crazy about it - but I wonder if it would have gotten as much attention if it didnt have that name and a cute pink container.

As for key words I think I might be more drawn to colors, if a product is in green or blue I automaticlly think this will be natural, fresh and good for me (even tho I know thats not always the case). And I'm an adverticers wet dream - A good print add for a product can make me buy anything!!

Uh got a little off topic there ;)

Feb 12, 2015

Emily B.

I've never done this lol

Feb 12, 2015

Hannah K.

I'm currently eyeing the living daylights out of Urban Decay's Freak. Freak is "my" word and I'm instantly drawn to anything featuring it. I'm a word nerd, like you :) but to me this particular one is special. It's like my mark of individuality. It's how I sign my artwork, it's how I happily identify, it's me taking control of a word that theoretically could be hurtful or wielded like a weapon. It was part of my ringtone for years on end, and to me it's just...it's me. It describes every weird, unusual and unique aspect about me. I know everyone feels like that about something, but for me that particular word is freak :) it's part of my strength, and I've made that word mine, I've taken ownership of it. That was more of a tirade than I planned :)

Feb 12, 2015

Rissa G.

Have you ever bought anything beauty-related because of its name; Did it live up to its expectations?
Actually, yes. I have! The Urban Decay Naked foundation, because...hello! Who doesn't want to feel naked in their own skin?! It intrigued me because it claimed to be like second skin, which, it is. Totally lived up to it's hype.

What are the keywords that speak most to you?
Definitely "weightless" or "natural", now, I don't go on a buying rampage...but if I could, I probably would! Lol.

Share the craziest products you've run into:
I definitely think the sexual names are a bit out there lol. They're definitely eye-catching. I've also seen someone on here mention a product with the name "cottage cheese", ew? Lol. That's weird to me.

I'm not so much one for words, but more so a sucker for PACKAGING! Love cute packaging lol.

Feb 12, 2015

Breeze T.

These are such interesting points of view, and yes, I forgot to mention packaging! Duh!

Julia, so I'm not the only one hehe.

Sabrina, that didn't seem so off topic to me, you just improved it! And I also love good advertisements.

Emily, good for you, you're one of the lucky ones! I wish they didn't influence me as much!

Hannah, now I got that song "Super Freak" stuck in my head lol. I'll forever link it to you now! Lol. And I really like your philosophy!

Renay, "weightless" is one I forgot to mention, it speaks to me too! I'm glad the UD Naked skin lived up to your expectations!! I've never tried it. And "cottage cheese"? Yeah, that sounds plain nasty haha.

Feb 12, 2015

Alexis C.

1) I've actually never done this, now that I'm thinking about it. Am I the odd ball out now? Lol

3) Keywords I look for now are "lightweight" and "matte", "semi-matte" or "natural" when it comes to the finish.

4) I'm with you and Renay on the sexual names. They honestly freak me out and I don't want to say the names of them, which may sound silly but it just really bothers me.

Renay, "cottage cheese" is a NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil shade!

Feb 12, 2015

Breeze T.

Alexis, they don't freak me out as much, I think they're cool... it's just that sometimes I kind of giggle when saying the names, y'know?

Feb 12, 2015

Jessie D.

1. I don't think I have actually haha
3. Full coverage! I'm not into light foundations on my skin
4. I have to agree about the Nars names, they're so provocative! I think they even have a blush called Sex Fantasy. I also hate telling people I'm wearing my Too Faced Better Than Sex mascara haha

Feb 12, 2015

CPT- Lili R.

1. Yes I buy beauty products cuz of there names lol if not by there names by the packaging lol, I have one palette I got simply cuz of the name of one of the shadows it has inside its called david loves marge or marge loves david one of those to, my sons name is david and to have a shadow with his name AWESOME lol all I did was I got rid of marge cuz no one wants her next to my son lol... I was just looking at the nars audacious lipsticks to see if I found my name or some one I knows name to buy the lipstick lol

2. I didnt have any expectations for that specific palette but it was a too faced one so I knew it wouldnt let me down and it didnt, the things I guy cuz of cute packaging are from urban decay or too faced or kvd and lorac those are good brands so even if I buy it cuz of packaging it dosent let me down


3. My key words are people I care about names for example I have this kvd trio thats named dreamer, the color named chopper in the naked 2 and so on other then that matte, glow, things like that are like what ever cuz my taste change from time to time so its like what ever if its something I like thqts what I will get as simple as that 😊

3. Weirdest name I've seen on a beauty product its a gel and its called moco de gorilla it means gorilla snot lmfao ya people want to put gorilla snot on there hair lol you got to give them that, its very creative lol

Feb 12, 2015

Rissa G.

My boyfriend uses moco de gorilla!! Lmao

Feb 12, 2015

CPT- Lili R.

Lmao renay... The tjought of a gorilla snot gives me t he creaps lol.

Feb 12, 2015

Breeze T.

Oh yay, thank you for the input ladies! Moco de gorilla, that's very amusing!!

Feb 12, 2015

Kitty K.

Oh this is such an awesome topic!
A lot of people don't know that companies tend to hire psychologists ( or more so Consumer Psychologist and behaviorist ) to create names, descriptions, etc.for products. There's so many articles that are actually overlooked about consumer psychology and so many theories, ideas, and tactics behind them. It's funny just reading into these articles seeing how much goes into a successful product and how it is the product description that basically sells itself to you. It also makes me wonder how much goes into a product when making it.
This is a good simple eye opener article that isn't too long;
http://www.fastcompany.com/3032675/hit-the-ground-running/5-psychological-tactics-marketers-use-to-influence-consumer-behavior


All I have ever bought based on name is a mascara by Too Faced called Size Queen! I'm really good at just ignoring the names because I'm a sucker for packaging lol.

Feb 12, 2015

Taylor G.

I have never bought something because of the name. I have bough A lot of stuff just because it was cute, and no some of it did not live up to what it was supposed to lol.
And I agree with the Nars names. I read some of them and I'm like whaaa? Lol

Feb 12, 2015

Breeze T.

Jacqueline, every time I see you raving about Japanese brushes you inspire me to get one for myself. Fortunately - and unfortunately - I can't afford them just yet!
I too enjoy MUFE, they seem to be unable to make a bad product to me!

Thank you Kitty!
I love that article, it's exactly what I wanted to run into!

Xoxoxo

Feb 13, 2015

Breeze T.

Taylor, I know right?! So cheeky, as the brits would say!

Feb 13, 2015

t r.

Anything with the words, "easy" attracts me…lol...

Feb 13, 2015

Breeze T.

My mom is the same way, t.are.! Also, she likes "Fast". Haha!

Feb 15, 2015

Shelley W.

I bought a Tom Ford lipstick because the shade was named after my husband. I've also bought a nail color because it was named after my oldest dog named Blu (from Zoya).

Feb 16, 2015

Breeze T.

Haha Shelley, that makes perfectly sense!

Feb 17, 2015

Chante M.

For me, its not the name. I'm a sucker for packaging lol if it looks boring I don't want it.