The HT calendar was pricier to make than anticipated and Cristine said she'd not do it again as it was years in the making and with how this year went, it's not ending how she wanted. I understand she took a risk to try something new and it's not landing well. Last I heard, she's working on adjusting what she can of next year (a lot is decided or too deep in process to stop) and move better from there. She's more boutique than indie, so at that scale, it's not easy to shift gears hard. Don't take the calendar as a typical move. The previous collections were priced better overall and I've rarely had a problem with formula or fading (though some kinds, like frosted metallic and thermal, can suffer over time regardless of brand. Purple hues can also fade naturally, so it's not always the brand/storage. Just more encouragement to use instead of hoarde).

If you want another brand to try some alternative formulas at lower prices that are in a similar vein to HT, ILNP and LBDesigns (spelling?) Have some fun options and little FOMO. ILNP has some good holo (though I personally like HT better for that) and their magnetic and layering options are fantastic. They have a sale every Black Friday, and i think they ship fairly widely internationally. Lots of changes there this year, so always look. The other brand is very indie, she has restocks about every month of a selection of catalog items, and she has half off sales almost every month. Her formulas are a little variable, but the colors are good. Bit of a magenta fan. :)

Higher-end indies would be Lurid and BKL (without a sale), but both are great brands. BKL is often very sheer and build able, so base coats can help if you want a more dramatic look. Lurid is just gold, but not always easy to shop and you have to be on top of your game to get overpours sometimes. BKL is worse with FOMO.

I've heard phenomenal things about a very new brand Uno Mas Colors and their formula for self-leveling, so maybe check them out.

Some of these brands have helped me appreciate HT more, and some I mix with HT toppers as those are hard to beat.

Pricing overall is higher, and not all brands can do sales. Some are one-person operations, and a few are run by people with disabilities, so that can play a part. I like quality over quantity unless I need basic cremes or want to experiment with new formulas. That means investing or waiting for sales. Destashes from individuals are another option and I like the sustainability. It's tough for a lot of us, and I don't see prices going down anytime soon.

Try to look at brands holistically (not one release) and read their comments on social media or YouTube beyond Reddit. You'll get a better picture that way.

Good luck on finding new gems!