For makeup, it doesn’t typically influence the decision either way. For skincare/hair care, I will go for a larger product that has a better value if it’s something I know I’ll actually use up!
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Quite a lot actually…..If something is grossly expensive I appreciate a trial /travel size to start off with. Just trying something in the store doesn’t always work after you get it home and start using it. Not everything plays well together and paying $110+ for a moisturizer or foundation and then not being happy with it is not fun….even though bigger sizes are a much better deal and I do purchase if I’m sure I already love it I would sometimes like the option of purchasing a small size just to be sure since prices are getting so outlandish for luxury brands especially.
In some aspects…
I hate bulky packaging, huge palettes, so I won’t buy something excessively large when it comes to makeup. The new MAC concealer pen for example is so large and bulky, that I won’t repurchase it just due to size.
And mascara I replace every 3 months, if I can buy mini I will.
When it comes to skincare I’ll take a bigger bottle for cleansers and make-up removers, as long it’s not humongous and barely fits my counter. For a vitamin C serum I’ll buy the smallest size every 2-3 months because that also goes off fast.
I refuse to purchase minis.
That depends on the product and also how often am I going to use it!
Skincare, body care, hair care, plus foundation and finishing or setting powders, I’m definitely looking for generous or at least “standard measurement” size. Same with lipstick.
But not as much so with other color cosmetics in powder form, as it’s unlikely that I will ever use those up. With fragrance, I weigh the cost against how much I love it and how much is in the bottle.
When it comes to makeup it doesn’t affect me at all. The quality and the ease of using are more important to me, although I will throw both out the window when I really want something. An example, I hate the way the PMGL palettes open but don’t lie flat. I wouldn’t purchase them if it wasn’t a color story that I really loved and that is likely why I haven’t purchased any since I returned to makeup. I am sticking with more smaller palettes but again wouldn’t let that keep me from buying if I wanted the palette. Some of the petite Viseart palettes don’t open flat either and I really hate that. The PMGL are worse though. I don’t use the mirrors in the palettes so I prefer them to be flat so that I can get my brush into the shade without fighting the packaging and trying to hold my magnifying mirror. I generally put something heavy on the other side of the palette to act as a counter weight and that helps a little but they still don’t lie flat.
That’s a very good question Christine and it really depends on the kind of beauty/skincare/haircare product you are after – bearing in mind expiry dates.
For skincare – I do prefer a larger size in a moisturiser, cleanser etc because I know I am going to get through it. If I am trialling a new product, I tend to pick the smaller size first to see if its OK. Serums tend to come in small bottles anyway.
For perfumes – if it’s ones of my favourites, like the one I just purchased – EL’s Knowing – the 100ml was on sale at an amazing price, so that was good value for me.
Makeup – foundation sizes vary, but again, if it’s one I use a lot of – then I will purchase the larger size.
With lipsticks – now that some brands are bringing out the ‘slim’ versions – they are not as economical as the traditional size and you do have to see if you are getting enough product for the price. An example is Shiseido’s Visionary Gel lipsticks, which retailed here in Aus for $43 – so very expensive for such a small tube. Luckily I got mine for $15 each – which is about what I would pay.
Haircare – I do prefer a larger rather than smaller container of my favourite ones because they last longer.
It all comes down to the price, the sale deal and value for money.