As a side-note to HerGreyness' comments above, I notice that the MES trios from ITG last summer are still available on the Canadian site. The MSFs sold out while the collection was still in stores. I can't see them making too many more efforts on the MES front, because there just always seem to be leftovers.
Hi ladies! Haven't been online much the past week. 'Got an afternoon to chill out now, at least.
I will have to say the MES trios from In the Groove were really excellent and a cut above MES that have come before - many colors had a really lovely reflective quality while still staying rather matte. That comes from the natural ingredients first, along with the manufacturing process.
I think the big problem is most women are really resistant towards sheer colors, even when they are formulated to be successfully buildable, like that last batch of MES. To make a formula that goes in the opposite direction, where the color goes on strong and then can be blended out to a sheer level, like the MegaMetals, seems like the compromise between what the designers and MUAs want going forward and what the average consumer's expectations are about opacity. Personally, I'd rather build sheer layers than blend and blend down (that's my fine art background talking), but I know this is against the grain. I know there's a big difference between pigmentation and opacity, but that distinction gets pretty easily lost out in the real world.
In any case we have MegaMetals and upcoming cream shadows now, which will satisfy people's opacity expectations, and I'm sure that the actual ingredients are cheaper than the Mineralize minerals, even if the manufacturing process is more costly (which I bet is the case with the fine milling on the MegaMetals). The glittery MES are probably cheaper to make than the In the Groove style ones too, and everyone loves them for the holidays, so barring the demands of fashion, they'll keep coming around. The main thing is the tech is marching forward at a breakneck speed, and it's geared towards making products that are more versatile, with better staying power, so even if old favorites pass away (*cough* tendertones *cough*), there's always something better right around the corner - and you won't run the risk of looking stuck in a makeup rut!
P.S, Hi HerGreyness! I hope you had much glamorous lounging in the surf with glamorous makeup and hot pink resort wear.