My Honest Opinion on Haus Laboratories, as a Makeup Enthusiast

[Zander 14,910]

8 minutes ago, MrDarkGa said:

As someone totally removed from the makeup industry, are we at a point in the game now where everything revolutionary and bew has been done? 

Pretty much.

We always had foundations in various shades but releasing 40+ foundation shades was a game changer and gradually becoming a new standard thanks to people like Rihanna. There’s ton of products out there that are interesting in their ideas but gimmicky or poor in their execution. It’s more about finding interesting ways to market and get buzz talk about things that already exist (and good formulation is key). 

[yungpancake 593]

3 minutes ago, mr.peter said:

How do you feel about the packaging ? 

 

The matte black's quite beautiful, honestly, but the designs are just something we've seen before. I'd really love a logo change though. The font feels like something off WordArt. 

[Magui 2,628]

I see. I don't know a thing about makeup. But i understand that's a saturate business, and don't even know what else is there to improve. That's why I'm curious to know if she can make her brand successful and have a solid future. 

[yungpancake 593]

5 minutes ago, fabskt said:

Also remember the whole controversy with Kylie doing a skincare video with a filter on?? My god it would be such a killer move for gaga to be like yeah this is what people actually look like.  no filter

Ugh, I just wish we could somehow pitch ideas to the Haus. You're a genius. 

[Magui 2,628]

8 minutes ago, yungpancake said:

That's what I really fear honestly. There's just so much stuff out now that it would take a complete genius to put out something that has never been seen before. Who knows, maybe Gaga could be that genius 

From what I'm seeing the risk of this venture don't be quite successful is high. But who knows lets wait and see. I'm not really the best person to give an opinion on this things, i really don't know anything about the makeup and the industry. 

[Ashley 9,518]

I appreciate your post but I doubt this is anything the Haus Laboratories team isn’t aware of  They know what they have to do and know their competition. It’s not like they’re going into this with no plans, it’s been years in the making.

[Dijinseven 11]

I've been lurking here (since I was 13 jk) for a long time since ARTPOP, and as an MUA and a makeup enthusiast, I think I have to point some things out. 

The fate of HL does indeed lie on the hands of beauty gurus and youtubers.  It makes me cringe how many Monsters are bashing Jeffree over the "Jeffree Star approved" post when they don't even know what it means.  Beauty gurus are important mainly because they are also my guide and the guide of other MUAs and makeup users as to what we should and should not buy.  Makeup geeks and casual users can't afford to just buy a product and throw them away if they don't like it or it doesn't work for them.   It's not cheap, and it's very embarrassing to be caught in public with foundation oxidizing (turning a shade darker/becoming super orange) or melting over your face, your eyeshadows fading or washing off from sweat, or your mascara or eyeliner blotting in the middle of the day!   Also, I cannot risk my reputation (and budget) in trying new products on clients so I rely greatly on online reviews, especially that US brands are quite expensive for a Filipino like me when converted to our currency.  Nevertheless, if HL is a hit, I definitely will add it to my essentials to support Gaga. 

To answer the question, yes, liquid to powder foundation and pigments have been around for years, but Gaga claims that her formula is different and it doesn't crack (they're risky so I use pure powders or liquids and not really keen on hybrids like these).  I'm excited for her eyeshadow palettes!   Also, she better release 40+ shades of foundation/concealers as well (if she will release such) or else she'll be "cancelled."  Kylie Cosmetics, Urban Decay, Anastasia Beverly Hills, and Fenty Beauty among others are tough competition if she wants to win the GP; and lots of professional makeup artists trust RCMA, Ben Nye, and CoverFX for theater makeup, as it appears she mentioned the "show proof" ability of HL makeup in her Allure interview.

Packaging is a big factor aesthetically and users also consider if it includes a mirror, if it's scratch resistant, if it survives drops, how easy is it to open/close, is it spill proof, etc. so I do hope her packaging is beautiful and durable.  

As what above users said, she better deliver something innovative or else she would be lost in the sea of endless beauty brands.   This is a brand of 2 years in the making so I hope she has something up her sleeve that would set HL apart and would make people go crazy over it.  

Good luck to Gaga and Sarah. 

[tomdsgn 1,916]

I’m a guy and I don’t know a lot about make up, but I know enough to realise that this will either go incredibly well or spectacularly wrong. 

As much as a name has always been able to sell a product to fans, you can’t get away with anything when it comes to the make up community. So they’ve got to bring their A Game. 

[ChromeAngel 3,230]

2 hours ago, Didymus said:

Thanks for sharing I don't know anything about make-up so I'm always really curious to hear the thoughts of people who are knowledgeable and passionate about it.

I share the same doubts. So far the only thing that really stands out about this line is the message but even that message isn't really something we haven't heard before. It's just nice and pleasant, another example of self-empowerment, blah blah, great, I'm sure the public will appreciate that but will that automatically be an incentive to purchase the actual products? Probably not

Are most of these celeb lines cruelty free/vegan though? I don't know about that part. Maybe she can be unique in that regard?

Yes actually. I believe Jeffree Star and Kylie cosmetics are both vegan as well as most indie brands these days 

[Guillaume Hamon 6,531]

The beauty industry will cancel HL if it's not:

-vegan/ cruelty free

-using materials you can recycle for the packaging

-having a large shade range

-avoiding these glitter type that use micro-plastic that end up in the ocean or any non biodegradable elements.

-Avoiding any controversial component when it comes to the skin reactions

The good points so far are:

Making it not "gendered" or overpriced while showing unretouched campaigns, having multi-usage products and getting a consensual designs that everybody could be okay to see every morning.

 What we don't know about yet but would be a plus:

If the foundations have an SPF protection and if she doesn't go to divisive with the smell of the products

PS:

Some were pissed by the amazon thing but it make it very fast to deliver and make up fans often complain having to wait too much so that's a risk that could either annoy folks or  pay off big.  

[Duella Dvil 10,517]

3 hours ago, yungpancake said:

Here's the thing, I'm really into makeup. I'm a makeup artist, i've been (guiltily) observing the beauty community for years now, I've been aware and wide-eyed about every MAJOR release that has come out in the cosmetics world, and I have some pretty honest thoughts on Gaga's upcoming brand. This isn't meant to shame Gaga or to drag the execution of this line, these are just my honest thoughts on the release and I hope you are open to understanding and respecting my views. 

When I first heard around that Gaga was coming out with a makeup line, I was honestly PUMPED to know what she was gonna come out with. We've all known Gaga to be very out of the box with everything, and I pretty much anticipated how she is going to shake things up in an industry wherein you can easily find duplicates for products that are synonymous in use, feel and appearance. So, when the advertisement came out, I was thrilled to see that Gaga was coming out with a brand that I expect to not come out with the essentials (foundations, powders, brow products), but with products that are actually versatile in use, and are more geared towards self-expression, a very important factor of cosmetics.

The thing is, the beauty community is HARSH. It's an ironic, ugly truth. 'Beauty gurus' strip and drag products to the bone, and whether we like it or not, their power lies beneath their audience, and their opinions can make a product be hated by a good percentage of  the community, or become sold out within a couple of minutes. 

So, what does this have to do with Haus Labs? Well, for me personally, I admire how the brand is all for everyone's uniqueness and such, but is their recurring tagline special... enough? 

Okay y'all, here me out, and if you're not liking what you're reading, please stick with me and keep on with my point here. 

I'm afraid that this is the part where I start comparing HL to other brands, and we all know Gaga is an incomparable queen yeah, but in this industry, what makes a brand thrive is through rising above inevitable comparison. 

Fenty Beauty is known for becoming one of the first brands to release 40+  shades for a foundation, which sparked the conversation of inclusivity within cosmetics. Glossier is known for releasing products that almost-perfectly cater to the no makeup-makeup look, with a revolutionary brow gel adored by many. Juvia's Place is known for it's highly pigmented eye shadows.  Kylie Cosmetics for making liquid matte lip kits popular.  

What i'm trying to say here is that Haus Laboratories needs to release a product that is so unique that the brand will be known for it within this community. The perfect time for Gaga to have released something like this should've been on the first announcement of the brand and the products. I mean, a liquid eyeshadow isn't really unique, and don't get me started on the lip glosses and liners. But their formulas could be!

I'm not saying that it's too late for Gaga to really thrive, and I know that she knows what she's doing, but one wrong move in this community and her brand could potentially be ripped to shreds. Let's just hope that will never be the case. 

Again, these are just my opinions.   Best of luck to Gaga, can't wait to see how this story unfolds with all of you guys 

I like this attitude because it sets the tone for what the beauty industry is like not how to perceive Gaga or her products

[Fresco 1,688]

These first kits don't look like foundation. But I wonder if HL ever does sell foundation, how a person is supposed to pick the correct shades over the internet? Different display devices show the colors differently.

[ChromeAngel 3,230]

1 hour ago, Guillaume Hamon said:

The beauty industry will cancel HL if it's not:

-vegan/ cruelty free

-using materials you can recycle for the packaging

-having a large shade range

-avoiding these glitter type that use micro-plastic that end up in the ocean or any non biodegradable elements.

-Avoiding any controversial component when it comes to the skin reactions

The good points so far are:

Making it not "gendered" or overpriced while showing unretouched campaigns, having multi-usage products and getting a consensual designs that everybody could be okay to see every morning.

 What we don't know about yet but would be a plus:

If the foundations have an SPF protection and if she doesn't go to divisive with the smell of the products

PS:

Some were pissed by the amazon thing but it make it very fast to deliver and make up fans often complain having to wait too much so that's a risk that could either annoy folks or  pay off big.  

Why is everyone talking about foundation? Did I miss something? I’ve seen several if these comments so I did some digging but I can’t find anything about foundation 

[GypsyBabe 22,836]

As a makeup person (currently obsessed with Natasha Denona) here are my thoughts. 

I think the original products should be more unique and attention grabbing, as should the ads. That being said, liquid eyeshadow is all the rage right now and most major brands are doing it WRONG. They dry crusty and crease and are just all around messy. If she actually releases a liquid shadow that is awesome, then that could be really big for her. All she really needs is one really great product. I swear KVD only remains in business because of the tattoo liner. Another thing that popular brands have been able to nail is a good lip gloss. If she has a good one then that would be great too. Overall she is picking very risky products to begin a line with. Ballsy or stupid remains to be seen. 

She needs to work on marketing. A couple pics aren't going to do it. Swatch them etc. I feel like I can’t tell anything about the products from a couple pics. But I guess that will be coming in the next few days. 

[Guillaume Hamon 6,531]

2 hours ago, ChromeAngel said:

Why is everyone talking about foundation? Did I miss something? I’ve seen several if these comments so I did some digging but I can’t find anything about foundation 

I don't know if they revealed a HL foundation yet but the brand will include it.  

People surely talk about what the foundations a lot cause since Fenty beauty ( Rihanna's brand) you get cancelled if you don't have a large foundation range adapted to every skin tone so gaga better be careful with it.