A fun way to try makeup before you buy it
Makeup artist Jeanine Lobell (of Stila fame) is back.
I still remember the very first page I produced as a beauty editor—and I probably still have a copy of it somewhere around here. It was a fall makeup roundup, and it definitely included M.A.C and Stila (although the others escape me). I featured these brands because they were my favorites at the time (gotta love the editorial integrity) and I came to learn my new associate editor position allowed me to “call in” products. This basically means asking PR reps to send you whatever you want for potential inclusion in upcoming stories. Best. Perk. Ever.
Founded by makeup artist Jeanine Lobell (and acquired by Esteé Lauder just five years after its debut), Stila was a staple in my makeup bag for years and I’m pretty sure there’s still a “Kitten” eyeshadow in my beauty closet. In my opinion, Stila lost touch with its makeup-artistry roots over the years (and has been bought and sold several times since Lauder held the reins)—but Lobell is back with a revolutionary subscription-based makeup concept called Neen.
Imagine this… You get a card each month that has several applications of three eyeshadows and two cream-based colors that can be used to create five totally different looks. Ranging from subtle to dramatic, each look has a corresponding QR code that takes you to a video tutorial. You can follow along to replicate the look, pause, rewind or fast-forward the video with your voice and even use split-screen to watch (and record) yourself. This last feature makes it super-easy to share your experience (and tag @weareneen on social media). If you totally fall in love with a product, you can buy the full-size—or wait and see what the next month brings.
Fun fact: Stila was the first makeup brand to use sustainable paper-based packaging. Almost thirty years later, Lobell’s eco-friendly approach for Neen is next level. The brand is the first to use refillable, washable silicone compacts made of sand and oxygen that won’t leach microplastics into the water supply (without any extra materials like mirrors or metal hinges).
How great is this??? Neen (which is Lobell’s nickname) is totally making makeup fun again!
P.S. You can access the tutorials without subscribing (and try them out with shades you already own).
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