I’ve spent a lot of time discussing a few of the ways one might use makeup as art — on the face or the body with beauty products or prosthetics — like paint on a canvas. But sometimes the products and packaging themselves are so stunning that you can’t help but purchase them as display pieces or collector’s items. While the shadows, lipsticks, highlighters, or blushes inside are completely worth using, it can be quite difficult when they’re exceptionally beautiful.
The Guerlain Meteorites, a permanent item by the luxury brand, are some of the most coveted highlighters because of their gorgeous appearance. They also produce limited edition (LE) collections for the holiday seasons, and the results are stunning.
Seriously, why wouldn’t you want this sitting on your vanity to look at every day? (Ok, I can think of several reasons why you might, but humor me.) It may seem strange to consider purchasing makeup items to display as though they are actual works of art, but when they look like the Meteorites, it can be much easier to understand.
Sometimes the product inside is something you might want to use on a regular basis, but it’s housed within packaging that can be anywhere from fantastical to bold.
Urban Decay recently launched an entire LE collection based off Disney’s upcoming Tim Burton film, “Alice Through the Looking Glass.” The eyeshadow palette sold out almost immediately because the packaging is bright, bold, and incredibly unique.
When you open the top, you’re met with a Lewis Carroll quote on two small doors that open to reveal a pop-up butterfly. Slide the eyeshadow palette out, as though you’re opening a drawer, and the product inside is quite lovely as well. There have been mixed reviews about the quality of some colors, but I’ll be the first to admit that I purchased it merely because of the packaging. In the event that some of the eyeshadows are no good, I won’t mind too much because I have a pop-up butterfly.
Disney also partnered with Sephora to create an entire LE collection entitled “Minnie Beauty,” complete with makeup brushes, handheld mirrors, lipsticks, liquid eyeliners, and an eyeshadow palette that doubles as a clutch. (We might as well get this out of the way — I am a Disney fan through and through, even though I am 32 and have no children. No shame.)
The packaging is whimsical and feels very reminiscent of Minnie Mouse herself (I can imagine her tucking the clutch under her arm and heading to Disney World). Inside are twenty shadows with Disney-themed names, such as “Mickey’s Squeeze” and “Miss Minnie.”
Makeup is artwork inside and out. Even if you don’t use it on yourself to create elaborate looks as I’ve featured in past articles, you can still enjoy it and its ornate packaging.
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