I tried 2 beauty products created by Harry Styles, and I wouldn't buy either of them again
- Harry Styles recently launched a line of beauty products that includes nail polish and skin care.
- I tried the brand's face serum and dual-use pen, which includes a lip oil and eye treatment.
Harry Styles launched his beauty brand Pleasing in November.
Speaking with Dazed at the time, Styles said the company was an idea he's "kind of had for a while," which became a "fun little project" during the pandemic.
"Firstly, I just thought it would be fun but, in actuality, Pleasing is about a couple of things," he said. "It's starting with nail polish, because that was kind of the birth of what it was for. Me seeing a color on a flower or a wallpaper or something and thinking, 'Oh, I wanna put that on my nails.'"
"I really think that the essence of Pleasing is finding those little moments of joy and showing them to people," Styles added.
I tried both of the brand's skin-care products. First, there's the $30 Pleasing Pen that includes two different serums.
One side of the pen features an eye gel, which is said to "awaken tired under eyes," "diminish signs of aging," and leave "lasting hydration" with ingredients like lingonberry, okra, and hyaluronic salt.
The other end is an oil made with marshmallow to replenish lips and leave a matte finish.
The eye serum in particular is described as "potent" with the ability to refresh tired eyes, but I didn't find that to be true.
I hoped that it would quickly minimize the bags under my eyes and add some moisture to my skin.
But unfortunately, it felt sticky when I first applied it, and later dried and all but disappeared from my skin. In my opinion, my under-eye area looked exactly the same as before I used the product.
I had higher hopes for the lip oil, but it also let me down.
When I applied the lip oil, my dry lips felt soothed thanks to the the slick texture of the product and the pen's steel roller, which creates a cooling effect.
But after 20 minutes, the oil dried into a matte yet shiny layer that gave the illusion of moisture, but actually made my lips feel more dry than before.
At that point, I just wanted to wipe it off my skin.
Next, I tried the $35 Pearlescent Illuminating Serum.
According to the Pleasing website, the serum is said to moisturize all skin types, while adding a "subtle, smooth luminescence."
It also says the product can be used daily, either "alone or as a priming base for makeup."
I liked this product a lot better than the Pleasing Pen, but I'm not sure it's worth $35.
The clear serum has a gel-like texture, which smooths onto the skin nicely and adds a glow that's far more natural than other pearlescent primers I've tried. It also felt cooling, which I always appreciate on my sensitive skin.
I used about two pumps to cover my face, and found that the serum dried into a tacky base that's perfect for makeup. And sure enough, my foundation looked great on top of it.
It made my skin look smooth, and gave a natural glow that I'd love to wear every day. I even hesitated to apply concealer because I was that impressed with how my skin looked.
But I'm not sure I'd buy it again as a result of its high price tag. There are tons of other illuminating primers on the market for lower prices — like the $7 e.l.f. option and the $26 Rare Beauty one — which have given me similar results.
There are things to appreciate about Styles' beauty brand, but I'm not sure I'd buy even the better product of the two I tried again.
Overall, I respect Pleasing as a brand — especially its efforts to be sustainable. Almost all of the shipping packaging I received, for example, was made from recycled goods and is said to be compostable.
As Styles told Dazed, he and the company "totally understand that we are putting more product into the world, so if we're gonna do that, then we have to do it the right way."
I also think that a male celebrity as famous and influential as Styles can have a profound impact on others who want to try expressing themselves through beauty but might not have the confidence to do so.
That being said, I thought the skin-care products I tried were a bit of a let down so I wouldn't recommend them. The Pleasing Pen left my skin with almost no results, and I found the serum to be too expensive to buy again.
Still, I don't think Styles has anything to worry about. If his fans' TikToks and Instagram posts about the brand are any indication, it seems that the British musician will do just fine in any industry he enters.
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