What Happened to Coastal Scents? | Origin Story + Theories

[@wendee13]

The weirdest part about their closure was how sudden it was. The rest of the site was still up when they announced their closure, and they couldn't even fulfill existing orders, they said they would refund them.

[@shadowsmoked88]

Yes! It was so quick

[@yazooshizoo4580]

Elle please be confident in your work. This was an awesome video and if you are holding back because you feel that your quality or presentation is not good enough then I want to say please don’t! Keep it up girl and just release/upload what you love and do 😘 can’t wait to watch more of your videos

[@ThePinkSage]

Don’t doubt yourself! We honestly appreciate the research and quality you put into your content.

[@jeannettep-w2135]

I actually purchased a bunch of singles from their last 50% off sale maybe 1 month prior to the announcement. I love making my own palettes and they were perfect because they had every color and a reasonable price. I was shook by the news when the brand closed.

[@Raymondgogolf]

Hi Jeannette 👋 I hope my comment didn't sound as a form of privacy invasion your comment tells of a wonderful woman with a beautiful heart which led me to comment I don't normally write in the comment section but I think you deserve this complement. If you don’t mind can we be friends? Thanks God bless you….

[@isabelasb]

omg the nostalgia seeing the allthatglitters21 + xsparkage clips showing the palettes!

[@karacoconutag]

I found it somewhat charming and down to earth that coastal scents, even up until their closing, kind of retained this 2004 - esque vibe via their website and branding. I don't think it was intentional, rather they didn't have the right staff to update these things, but it was kind of nice. Also, I absolutely adore your videos! Not being able to fully execute your creative vision has to be really upsetting, but I just wanted to let you know that I appreciate your videos fully as they are.

[@Steffi.EchoGraphix]

I keep my 252 palette for nostalgic purposes, and most of my brushes came from Coastal Scents.

[@debbiecruz6836]

Me too! I also have all the Reveal palettes. I gave my 88 eyeshadow palette away shortly after purchasing it back in the day. My favorite used to be the 252. It all brings back so many nice memories for me. It’s funny how people associate certain items with a particular period of time.

[@isabelasb]

The original 88 eyeshadow palette + the blush and contour one were my absolute intro to makeup. Kinda wish they could've rebranded like BHCosmetics.

[@unicornL]

Well they're under now too

[@gwendolyncampbell7932]

@lindsey bailes How crazy is that ? And Makeup Geek is gone now too along with Becca.

[@Soleils]

Give me anything in historic context. I never knew anything about Costal Sense except sometimes I would see it in makeup collections when I first starting Beauty KZbin

[@Raymondgogolf]

Hi Sylvie 👋 I hope my comment didn't sound as a form of privacy invasion your comment tells of a wonderful woman with a beautiful heart which led me to comment I don't normally write in the comment section but I think you deserve this complement. If you don’t mind can we be friends? Thanks God bless you….

[@sfeliciano1984]

Coastal scents was my intro brand back in 2011. I bought the 88 pan not just for me but other family members.

[@Barbara-nb8wz]

Came over from Abbey's video This was really informative thank you

[@jeannettep-w2135]

I’ve never clicked on a video so quickly! I was so curious about this closure and I’m glad you’re diving into this 😁

[@daisycate]

Fantastic!!! So exciting to see this notification, Elle!

[@epif1]

aww, the potential revival of Coastal Scents made me remember this series. I loved your previous ones on beauty brands.

[@sarahkmiller]

Love this deep dive! Sometimes I feel like makeup lovers could run a makeup business better than business owners. But we don’t have the means I guess…

[@JustSheilz]

I honestly have zero idea how I missed this. Great video!

[@susanstetson3435]

Love their brushes and agree totally that they were an inexpensive way to try colors that maybe I wasn’t sure about. Even if the quality wasn’t always the best the shade range was amazing and it was good enough to tell if the tone would work on me. They had lots of color before anyone else did. It was kind of a less expensive UD back when they were about the only non-natural game in the space.

[@Fireandblonde]

I’m so, so, so happy you’re back and uploading this type of content. It’s my favorite and I always look forward to your videos. I hope you’re doing better, Elle. I know this “new normal” has been such a struggle - but you and your content are so appreciated. Xoxo

[@shadowsmoked88]

Thank you very much!

[@sativaloves]

Your videos are amazing!! Don’t get down on yourself beauty, you got this!❤️

[@shadowsmoked88]

Thank you so much!!

[@quint_avi]

Yay, you're back! Very interesting video!

[@AdriannasDream]

Couldn't CS have waited until after the announcement to fire their Graphic Designer

[@shadowsmoked88]

HAHAHAHA

[@therealdonnawagner]

I used to buy from Coastal Scents waaaaaaaay back in the day when they used to sell micas and ingredients so you could make your own makeup. Kinda sad they're gone but, as you mentioned, it's not really surprising. They needed a brand update really badly.

[@midnightmonolgue]

I had no idea they had closed! They made one my favorite red eye shadow singles I think it was called "Vibrant Red". It's a shame to see them go under, but I'm not surprised either. I love these makeup history videos you make they are always informative! ❤

[@MonicaAdrianna]

Wow- I had no idea they had actually closed already! Thanks for this video- I love your history deep dives, I always learn so much!

[@maggiereedy4079]

I happen to completely adore you and your content, and I'm thrilled to see making any videos again whatsoever. You are talented, creative, and competent just as you are!

[@sharonkelly2086]

Great to see a new deepdive from you Elle. Your video quality is very very well done ❤️❤️

[@parkerlynne]

I just love listening to you confidently telling me the brand history and you always do that excellently :)

[@KFennnny]

I love your style of videos! Don’t worry about comparing yourself to others, you have your own niche and we are here for it!!!!

[@WARPAINTandUnicorns]

I still use their 252 palettes because if you need a colour it's in there for the most part but really was so out of the loop I only heard from other influencers that it was shutting down. But I knew a month after a lockdown in May of 2020 that a lot of makeup brands were going to take a hit. Makeup is s luxury rather than a necessity to living and the first thing to cut from everyone's budget especially while wearing masks and not going out to have fun. There is no point in getting dressed up either.

[@anonymousperson2839]

Yay! Another entertaining and informative video from Elle!

[@skylilly1]

I bought their shadows because they had blue/grey colors in their palettes. I still have some floating around in my collection. The Reveal palettes were hit or miss, but I used them for transition colors. Nice to hear from you, Elle!

[@emccamey1]

Your videos are brilliant!!! Please keep sharing them with us. You're a fantastic researcher!

[@irisl7817]

I am so excited to see a video from you. I hope you are able to get some stability and routine. I always feel lost without one. I think your videos are always well researched and thought out. I certainly love you presentation of the information. Your voice is easy to listen to. I come away knowing more than I began. This video is no exception. I didn't pay much attention to Coastal Scents before they closed. It's interesting to hear about a brand with so little controversy.

[@kay-rg7sx]

I loved the hot pots the shimmers are fantastic & the price 😩😭

[@Raymondgogolf]

Hi Kristen 👋 I hope my comment didn't sound as a form of privacy invasion your comment tells of a wonderful woman with a beautiful heart which led me to comment I don't normally write in the comment section but I think you deserve this complement. If you don’t mind can we be friends? Thanks God bless you….

[@turtledove8386]

Elle we will watch your videos however you present them to us. No need for fancy graphics or cameras! You have the best information and presentation skills.

[@HanasRoom]

I've been feeling the same way about my content! I got lost in a depression rabbit hole in March, and have only just started to come back up... I felt like my videos were trash because I wasn't turning out the content levels like those that I watch. But go to your favorite YT Channel, go to video, sort date oldest to newest.... you'll see they too started in a building state and got better with time. You won't be good at your first winged eyeliner, unless you're a god, but you will perfect it the more you do it. It's good to have you back! I love these bits of history, I feel more informed. Like I didn't know ABH kinda stands on the bones of another brand. (If you havents watched that Elle S video you really have to)

[@debbiecruz6836]

I love this video! Seeing all those popular images of the makeup and other influencers from back in the day brought back so many nice memories for me. Great job!

[@RaniaMich]

I was so happy to see new content from you. Girl, why do you worry so much? You make quality content and even if the "look" of the vid is not what you wanted it to be, in this type of video, it's not the imagery that counts, it's more the script. And you rocked this. I personally watched through since I never got on the coastal scents website and it was a real inside to how it looked! You rock, Elle!

[@fashingrl]

So excited for a new video from you! Love these types of story telling. More girl! You are great at it ! Your visuals work for me!!

[@cvl1030]

I really enjoyed this! I had one of the 88 palettes back in the OG beauty days.

[@arfarfanarf13]

Don't doubt yourself! Your videos are awesome!

[@AFFTFOMSICHTS]

Screamed when I saw this. I just love when you post.

[@shadowsmoked88]

Thank you so much!

[@hottopiccasey]

Don't use any of the face and eye palettes I bought around 2011 but I still use the brushes. Everything's still holding up great. Had no idea they shut down.

[@wmmars]

As always, thank you for the well researched deep dive. I will personally miss some of the matte hotpots, especially the indigo, but I'm hoping someone purchases Coastal Scents' assets and rebrands. They would need a more consistent matte formula and better quality metallic and duo chromes, but the potential is still there.

[@1015SaturdayNight]

These company history videos are so good! Please don't feel your content isn't good enough. I look forward to your videos so much ❤️ Anyway yes I bought from CS in the early days of YT makeup land, the hot pots and the silica spheres were pretty great. But I moved on like most others did. I wish them well :)

[@UncleMarco]

Just want to echo what everyone else is saying: I love your videos, you do the best research, your content is great even if you feel uninspired!! I was genuinely so excited to see this in my subscription feed!

[@Shadowsandflowers]

Coastal scents was my first big foray into makeup. I bought their 252 color palette and others of their big stacked palettes.

[@Foreverme764]

I just found your channel today and i wish i had sooner. You have some of the best makeup history content on the internet, love it elle!

[@ems_h.eartnotes]

Great to see you post. Very interesting video, thank you

[@practicepositiveprogress5396]

I ordered from coastal scents once or twice. I totally agree they are an intro brand, and then as soon as I discovered Colourpop, and some of the wonderful indie brands, and I never bought from them again. The thing I remember LOVING about CS is their range of colors. They were the only brand I could find a halfway decent cool purple from for FOREVER. There are like 2 or 3 pans I still have in my collection, although I probably could use to declutter them by now. They were very hit or miss, but I recall their range being larger than ANYWHERE else.

[@margaretd4115]

Missed ya, great to see you back. Your videos are always excellent and well thought out Elle. xx from Ireland xx

[@dawno5656]

Hi, I was thinking about you recently. I am glad to see your video

[@skateranddancer]

Great video. Please don’t question your confidence on these, you are doing an amazing job and going far more in depth than most. Really great content

[@lindab5680]

Appreciate the hard work that goes into these deep dives! I got so excited to see you had done a new one, hope you keep going

[@allwaswell4741]

oh wow, this was so interesting to me. I've really only gotten back into makeup in the last year and a half (and I've only been watching beauty youtube in that time too) and I've never even heard of Coastal Scents! (and by the way, I love these videos! I'm not sure what your vision is for them, but I think you're likely being harder on yourself than your audience is!)

[@abbiekershner832]

So excited to watch this!! I love all your content!

[@PrincessMia1078]

I think you’re very good at editing (in addition to researching). Just wanted to let you know that I appreciate your efforts :)

[@sybillebook1941]

Yaaay, welcome back. Hope you take your time to figure everything out. Don't feel pressured to rush your comeback. I love your well researched videos very much.

[@paillette2010]

Yay!! I remember when they were doing the Ghana stuff. I really love your videos and research. You do a great job. I think their time has gone. I think it was a step up from the drugstore stuff, but not as expensive as higher end. I got some hot pot minis, but after a while moved on.

[@rebeccaude4412]

Ahhh!! I was hoping you would do a piece on them! I remember when I first started wearing more than brown eyeshadow; I watched a video from @Angelica Nyqvist showing her favorite CS shadows from each color family, & I wrote every single one down🤣🤣! EVERYONE would hype up their "Hot Pot" sales & they were the 1st company I considered 'Indie' (granted, I had never heard that term, nor had a clue what private labeling was🤷🏼‍♀️). Up until high school, I didn’t know anyone who bought anything outside of drugstore makeup, unless it was AVON (who still has some of the best nail lacquer ever), Clinique b/c dermatologists recommended it & eventually Merle Norman😂! Small farm town life did not include single shadows. CS presented a way to play around WITHOUT paying MAC pricing. I would LOVE to see them come back as a streamlined, higher quality ACROSS the board (ahem Colour Pop), N. American answer to the 700 ‘Revolution' brands & gazillion CP releases! The comments to CP are always about restocking staples, leaving formulas alone on those products & that could be Coastal Scents in the RIGHT hands! Who that is…🤔? You’re the Detective Elle🔍👀! Love ya girlie, hope things are calming down in THE BEST way for you! Sending🤗💜🙏🏻 that you trust that God has huge plans for you! Trust me, I know what it’s like to feel betrayed & left behind although I have Faith; stand strong in front of the doors that open & TRUST that He will ALWAYS be with you. Lots of us, myself included are praying for you to find the things that you need, if we have that we are beyond Blessed🙏🏻🕊! 🥰🥰🥰

[@AMFibers]

Whenever I get a notification for one of your videos, it brightens my whole day 🧡

[@jacquelinealbin7712]

They were one of my first eyeshadow palettes! I felt so fancy making my own custom palette. The quality wasn't that great though, and their packaging definitely looked and felt cheap. It wasn't a brand I had really thought about for years tbh. But Coastal Scents walked so BH Cosmetics could run, is how I see it.

[@stampinprn]

These are some of my favorite videos!

[@susanlynn5159]

Thanks for the rundown. Interesting history and now waiting to see if anything comes of that offer to buy the brand name.

[@tugboatcaptainCC]

Michelle Phan used the coastal scents 88 palette for years and I nearly bought it because of her. The nostalgia is real 😭

[@hopee.wankenobi1085]

I’ve missed you over the past few months.🖤

[@amykh7647]

Love to hear your take, as always!

[@clarinetpride55]

I bought the CS Revealed 2 pallette ages ago and it's the only pallette of mine that I've had to throw out because it had actual stuff growing on it.

[@genevieverodriguez]

Love these types of videos! Would love evolution of those OG KZbin beauty gurus

[@sophroniel]

Missed you, Elle. Your video quality is great! Don't devalue your fantastic work 🥰 I hope you are doing better ❤

[@K_i_t_t_y84]

This was very helpful AND you posted it on my birthday too so double yay!

[@annewilkinson9611]

Bh Cosmetics has become the new Coastal Scents - cheap, beginner friendly yet still relatively good quality makeup while remaining drama free. CS simply just failed to evolve and remain on trend. Last time I looked at their site their products looked...nice I guess, but nothing about them to give anyone any reason to buy them over the 100's of other stuff in the same price bracket. I'd still be really interested in seeing what a rebranded CS would look like.

[@lavoixdevelours]

I remember buying their big palettes in the old school days of KZbin, but barely used them.

[@clairelabriola]

Sorry you've been struggling recently-sending good vibes your way ❤️

[@celestecelestial90]

I’ve tried their shadows and wasn’t impressed, and I always assumed they were just private labeled. They reminded me of morphe and I’m not a fan of the Morphe eyeshadows either besides the JH palette in the white packaging before they reformulated it. I don’t feel more inclined to buy a product if it’s a collab because I try not to get sucked into supporting a brand or influencer just for the sake of supporting them due to a para social relationship. However I’m often attracted to influencer collabs not because it was made by an influencer, but because they come up with beautiful color stories and partner with high quality brands. I always wish success for any brand even if it’s not a brand that I love.

[@thol1187]

Ahhhh!! So excited!! You just made my day

[@kfemme68]

Thanks for doing this and I love your videos and think the quality is great! I hadn't ever bought from CS but they were on my list. I just thought I had plenty of time to get to them and then they closed. It was very hard to hear that they weren't even going to sell out their stock. I'm sorry to hear that your year has been rough. Mine hasn't been the greatest. Between dealing with the symptoms of long covid, on top of my disabilities and then that has brought on my depression so it's been a really hard year to year and a half. I've also had a couple other things happen in that time in my personal life that haven't been great for my depression so I can definitely understand! Sending you lots of love, light and big hugs, k Ps...if you would still want me to look into getting corporate records (I think that's what it is that you need) because I live in Delaware...let me know. And my number changed and I don't remember if I gave you the new one or not, so please msg here if you don't have a 302 area code for me and we can figure it out.

[@jessicaharrison4719]

So excited for this!

[@jessicaharrison4719]

I'm bummed that they went down this year. I just tried their products about a month before they closed, and I told myself I could always buy more if I liked the products, and now, even though I really liked the stuff I used, I can't get it anymore. It has made it considerably more difficult for me to tell myself I can buy something later to try and curb my excessive makeup consumption.

[@jessicaharrison4719]

Also, last one, I swear, but your content is lovely! You have such a unique perspective, and the visuals you choose are well curated. I am sure it takes a ton of time to edit videos like the ones you make, and I am always excited to see the video ideas you come up with. While I understand being a perfectionist and being frustrated that I can't get things to look the way I want them to, you never have to apologize for it to us, the ones who eagerly look forward to your videos.

[@alliewagner5246]

Thank you for posting! I missed you.

[@notyetanotheralias]

welcome back!

[@Frog888]

Thank you for keeping up this series!

[@akbflo]

I was thinking about you yesterday, missing your content and hoping you are well!!! I will comment again after the video - just wanted to pop in and say hello!!!

[@InvaderMeep]

Currently their website links to Amazon! And they seem to be available there.

[@auranah_was_taken]

I used to get a bunch of singles when they had their sales and I could get hot pots for less than a dollar each. I still own a few shades from them, and I have gone through three pots of their matte white shade Snow Bunny. I have two of those left and I have hit pan in both.

[@eaglebeagle450]

Abby Williamson sent me!! 💖

[@objectif.aventure]

I still have my 88 shimmer palette! And I'm still using it in 2021 🤣

[@NikkiRaven]

For what it’s worth I loved how these were set up🥰

[@NikkiRaven]

What I mean is, that I completely understand how you feel and that if you want to change the video’s than you’ll want to, no matter what anyone says😅

[@shadowsmoked88]

Thank you! I appreciate that!

[@dawno5656]

I am not familiar with Coastal Scents, except that a panner I watch has almost finished a Coastal Scents 88 palette

[@StefsEdge]

I really liked the coastal scents products I tried- eyeshadow and brushes

[@trixy2002]

Costal scents walked so Morphe could run🤣🤣 This was a great video! Only thing I can say to improve on is the visuals, it got kind of repetitive at the ending. I get it's more to be listened to, than watched but I'm stupid and didn't realize til too far in🤣🤣

[@JulesHunterHillBigSkyBeauty]

I have a TON of CS product(all shadow and blush) a lot that have never even been opened. I used this brand for street work. Ie: face painting kids at the carnival, vigilante days...etc. (I'm a retired MUA) and I LOOOVED their blushes. It's funny, I saw CS bundle on Ebay just the other day. It was a full collection of their entire Passport compacts. Anyone remember those?? Passport to Rome, Passport to Greece...Italy...Japan. etc. I believe it was 8 or 10 in set? Each one had I THINK 12 Pan's and the formula was, oddly, notably better quality than their hotpot. Anyhow...this auction was an entire collection, had 1 day left, 37 BIDS and was up to 102 bones!!! I coukdnt believe it! I watched it because ....because!!! And it.closwd out for final bid of 139!! I was literally in SHOCK. For all the reasons mentioned in your vid here!! Its not like theres a cult following. But...there must be somewhere!!! LOL Back when i was still Tubin' , (i lost a daughter and havnt been.....really, ok..since)..I grabbed like, 5 of those sets for giveaways. Everyone loved them. Again, for the odd quality. Lol... And I still have them. Ain't even been outta their boxes. Kept in a light free temp controlled closet I had customized to.keeep ALL my product. I have SO MUCH TO SELL..... Guess I know what I'll be doing with THOSe. Ha! This was a great video. Thanks!! Oh...and I thought it was great. Your work here. Don't beat urself up. From MY chair, THIS video (that I stumbled on 100% by accident) was done well enuff, I hit that sub tab only a min or two in. You're easy to listen to. You got to your 'points', kept it informative, actually knew what you were talking about (refreshing much!?) And yhank younfor your hard work tracking it all down! GREAT job sistah!

[@adamal6657]

I didn’t try anything from the brand but your video was interesting 🧐

[@IrreverentBeauty]

I loved coastal scents. They were my Intro brand to makeup. I had all the palettes before the revealed line came out. They were a basic brand for sure but they weren’t bad quality. They just didn’t have the pizazz that new products and fancy branding can bring. They were stable and predictable

[@vivienvortanz7557]

I Love your videos! Keep going 🥰😊❤️

[@heatherreader]

Great informative video! I really enjoyed it.

[@bensadowitz3741]

Loved the video!

[@shadowsmoked88]

Thank you!!

[@Susan1Minnie]

Never heard of them, or remember seeing these products.

[@IWantABritishAccent]

This video was great!

[@ramblerjam]

Oh I'm so late to this video! Very interesting. Hope you are doing well and we see you again soon!

[@mamas7310]

I like how you create your content and I miss you. Waiting for an upload

[@violetgoggles3272]

Hey, have you considered making a podcast? I actually personally don’t care about visuals in the video that much, but I like long videos I can listen to while doing something throughout the day.