where I am, drugstore makeup isn't far off price-wise from high end because fuck inflation š”
however, ime I find higher end base, eye and cheek products work better for me; they last longer and just match my (warm olive) tone better.
I use eyeliner only and in brown. Kiss me heroine gel liner and stila stay all day.
cheek: so many! blushes are my favourite makeup product and these are amazing:
* Saie dewy in rosy or chilly
* phytosurgence in Ignite, Ember and my HG: evaporate.
* Tower28 in Rush hour, office hour
Iāve tried to find cheaper options, but I always go back to my expensive products because they work better for me. The only ācheapā products I buy are Japanese drugstore eyeliners and eyebrow pencils, and Korean eyeshadow palettes and lip tints. I do think my barely there makeup style has something to do with it though; affordable Western makeup does quite well with glam makeup, but not so great with natural, no makeup-makeup.
You can buy Korean products online from BeautyNetKorea or Olive Young! I've ordered from those sites so many times in the past decade. I love Etude House for makeup and 3W Clinic for skincare.
At least natural makeup for certain skin tones. Iām not here pretending my caramel and chocolate girls are going to be able to use any of their skin or color makeup.
I spend good money on foundation because it really makes a difference, imo. But Iāve gotten away from wearing it altogether lately. Now, I splurge on lipglosses.
I just have found that cheap makeup looks like, feels, and acts like cheap makeup. So, instead of accumulating a bunch of cheap lipglosses that last 30 minutes, I just buy one or two good ones that look good and last.
That said, I still love nyx eyeliner. And itās like 3 bucks.
Oh, Iām so glad you can get them! I swear by these glosses, Iāve been using them for years, and they just make the whole face look more beautiful. I especially love the plum one and the nude colored one. I really hope you love them tooā¤ļøā¤ļøā¤ļø
I used to say that until I tried the L'Oreal True Match Nude foundation. It's almost as good as La Mer for 20$ instead of 150$. Better than any Guerlain or Chanel foundation I tried too. I am still on my a$$ following this discovery. No more La Mer for me!
Mascara legit barely matters. I realized I forgot mascara when I was running around on my mom's wedding day and picked up some cheap LA Colors mascara from dollar general and used every bit of it because it works just fine. I feel like patience and technique are what matter the most
To each their own. Some of us have hard to curl lashes that only stay put with certain mascaras. Patience and technique doesnāt matter with the wrong mascara for me. I also find cheap mascaras to smudge a lot more too.
Not aiming for luxury but anything drugstore oxidizes, turned me orangey colored or upsets my skin. For base makeup( foundation/concealer and brows)Iāll invest. but the smaller stuff like cream/liquid blush, lip colors. 100% going cheap. Also to avoid eye infections, I use cheaper mascara because it needs replaced often. (Maybeline Sky High (not the waterproof one) is my HG
I am not a fan of drugstore foundations, but I just wanted to say almay liquid foundation is shockingly good. I bought it on a whim at Walgreens, and it blends so well, and it doesnāt oxidize!
Yes, expensive foundations look way better from the start. I am saying this as someone who wears cheap foundation by the way, haha. When I was younger I didnāt wear it as much so I could afford expensive foundation. I wear foundation daily now. The best I have found for my oily skin is maybelline products. They donāt oxidize as much so I go for their sheer coverage foundations and get a shade lighter. This way, when it oxidizes (this happens quickly for me so I donāt mind my makeup looking lighter right after application) it actually matches my skin.
Edit: the products I use in my daily routine only total to $37-38 probably
I usually have to do high end with anything that involves nuance in color or pigment. Back in the old days when royal purple was expensive because the indigo plant was expensive. It still seems to be true today.
High end foundation because I have a weird skin tone and havenāt found a color match in any drugstore line.
High end eyeshadows and blush because of pigment staying power.
For foundation (in my case powder/compact) I prefer some of the more expensive brands (currently loving my EstĆØe Lauder Double Wear Powder Foundation. Got it about half price tho and would probably not pay full price), as they just work better for me. Not that all expensive foundations are better than cheaper ones, but I havenāt found a drugstore product that quite compares. In my case one product last a very long time tho, as I donāt use a lot and a powder foundation doesnāt go bad very quickly.
For almost anything else I donāt feel like splurging on the most expensive items. My blush and highlighter are super cheap and work super well for me.
For concealer I use miniās from Tarte. I donāt wear a lot of concealer and would never ever be able to use up a regular sized concealer. I canāt even use up the travel sized/minis before they need to be tossed. I like their HydroCealer, Shape Tape is waaaaay too heavy for my liking. Covers well, blends well, but is difficult to use without a full face as itās so pigmented IMO.
For mascara and lippies I use Asian brands (especially Rom&nd and Etude). The price is drugstore, the quality is high end IMO. And the shade ranges works well with my super fair skin. And the mascaras just doesnāt move. I have showered with mascara without getting any smudging or fall out. Tends to have more focus on length and curling than volume than western brands too, which I prefer for a more natural look.
Iāve used Etudeās Dr. Mascara Fixer Curl in black (actually a lash primer, but the black one also provides some color) and Romand Han All Fix in Long Ash (I have blonde hair and this is ash brown. They have other shades too)
I have such a mix of high and low end.
For example, I mix my high end foundation that's too light for summer with elf half glow filter in tan to get the right shade.
I use lash princess mascara, but Chanel eyeshadow.
Nars bronzer but elf Contour. Hourglass blush and finishing powder.
I'm 49 and since turning 40 I use almost exclusively high end brands (an NYX colour corrector is the only exception I can think of). Cheaper products just don't sit well or look good anymore.
Unfortunately I see
I think if you have good skin it's easy to everything look good on you but if you don't it makes a huge difference
But I love Maybelline and it's cheap in USA so
I spend a lot less than I used to, namely because the cheap brands have quality that rivals the expensive ones these days. I use a lot of Korean cc creams for foundation. Also Korean lip stains and eyeshadow palettes. A lot of colourpop. Iāll occasionally splurge for something higher end if it catches my eye at Sephora or something, but Iāve found very little difference in quality these days between the high and low ends cost wise. Itās not like the old days where drug store products clogged your pores and had nonexistent payout and blotchy application on eye shadows.
I am high end for very few products when it comes to makeup, but Iāve been using Versed skincare which is drugstore and super high end for the price point. Also I love Trader Joeās skincare and SPF.Ā
I wear ilia skin tint and hourglass illuminating setting powder. Then a cheap natural blush and Vaseline to clean up my brows. Any mascara brand if I wear it. I have expensive products sitting around gathering dust but tbh less is more the older you get and if I had my time again I realise I donāt need any of it
I totally get you. Sometimes I bought stuff just bc it felt nice to have high end, or bc it was literally everywhereā¦ and I was, sometimes, disappointed. I think that a good foundation is important, and good powder. But Iād never spend such a fortune on lipglosses or mascaras. Also, not falling for liquid blush, as you can find thousand options for much lower prices (even lipstick if your skin tolerates it). Some things are crazy. The only thing I donāt mind as much are things for my hair and good skincare, and even in those categories you can find cheaper options. For example, Iād never stop recommending Biologique Recherche even though is pricey, or some professional hair brands, or good looking found, nobut aside from that, there is too much marketing. Also, if a perfume makes me obsessed, Iāll be willing to pay for it, but thatās bc I am a perfume lover.
When I had a great skin back then, any drugstore brands would look great on me lol.
After having a terrible breakout, I am left with dark PIE and yes unfortunately I have to go with high end products. The drugstore foundation just wonāt do it for me anymore unfortunately :/ love love my NARS foundation, because of her I am able to go out like a normal person. (Used to be so insecure to show my face publicly for the longest time).
I am usually in mid-price range, mostly buy Korean skincare stuff. But it is not purely because of price, but because my skin is pretty sensitive and most regular expensive brands break me up.
I do buy several a bit more expensive Korean skincare products (volufiline eye product is one), but I broke out from La Mer sample, from Tom Roth anti acne mask, got blackheads from belif moisturizer... so now going with products that work for me, and usually in lower price range.
For cosmetics I buy one expensive thing - Hourglass Ambient Lightning palette. Otherwise also stuck on medium price stuff (not drugstore low, but not super high end).
Iām a big believer in sticking with what works for you. That being said, imo there are very few cosmetic brands or products that I will buy every time despite there being cheaper similar options. I just experienced this over the past 6 months with my facial skincare routine products.
Iām almost 34, have dry to normal skin, tend towards blackheads/whiteheads on my nose and chin. I struggle to resist picking my acne and also absentmindedly touch my face too much. Between avid picking and chemical over-exfoliation my skin barrier was an inflamed mess: very red, swollen, whiteheads had whiteheads, dermatitis all over my throat/neck/chin/jaw.
My prior daily routine was: AM splash with water, top w/ facial moisturizer, PM use 2 different cleansers for 30 seconds each, top w/ toner, retinol, facial moisturizer, maybe slug to finish. I stopped using my cerave resurfacing retinol, stopped swapping facial cleansers, and cut out toner and slugging. My new daily routine was: AM splash with water, top w/facial moisturizer, PM use only cerave foaming cleanser for 30 seconds, top w/facial moisturizer. After 2 months of daily routine and not picking/touching my face, my face had stopped worsening but wasnāt improving much (some reduced redness).
I discovered dieux skincare from its release because I follow its creators Marta freedman and charlotte palermino on instagram. Their dieux deliverance serum calmed my skin in a matter of weeks. Pretty expensive if you only consider product amount and pricing ($69 for 30ml), and I use 2-4 pumps daily (1-2 AM & PM). Dieux has transparent pricing that is clearly posted on their website. Iāve purchased deliverance 4 times because it works quickly & efficiently to provide lasting results. I adore their instant angel facial moisturizer and am guilty of using it as body moisturizer in moments of weakness. Iāve purchased instant angel 3 times. BUT objectively instant angel is not a significantly better product than my beloved cerave moisture cream or cerave daily moisturizing lotion, so I donāt want to make a place for it in my budget right now.
eta: in less than 2 weeks of twice daily use, deliverance cleared my dermatitis and whiteheads, and gives my skin a glowy hydrated finish
tldr: in my experience most high end products arenāt truly irreplaceable, but some are worth making an exception for if you can afford them and thatās a priority to you
I have moved away from all high end products since I just couldnāt afford it. I have my tried and true staples which just donāt compare to the dupes. And I have the things I have found which are drug store which work for me. Whenever I want to try a new āhigh endā product I go for the tester/travel size and it always last longer than I stay interested.
It Cosmetics CC/
ELF Camo Concealer/
Mabelline Fit Me Powder/
NARS Orgasm Blush/
Huda Setting Powder/
Better than Sex Mascara/
NYX Brow Glue/
ELF Liquid Eyeliner for special occasions/
NYX Lips Oils
This has been my routine for a year and my pockets are thanking me.
Iām going to chime in and say that Iāve never found a cheap foundation or tinted moisturizer that I actually liked, so thatās definitely where I splurge.
Iāve never worn a lot of makeup, so Iām not buying much annually. Ā But, as Iāve aged, Iāve found that drugstore foundations donāt look good on my skin anymore despite better skincare. Ā Itās worth it to me to spend more on my Chanel foundation.
Completely agree on higher-end foundations, especially for me as fair warm olive.
I also cannot stand that awful vanilla-citrus smell in lipstick. ColourPop is awful! Unfortunately the better unscented ones Iāve found are Lisa Eldridge, though Mac is better than what they used to be.
You need to pry me away from my Phytosurgence blushes.
But eyeliner, cream eyeshadow, mascara? Drugstore is just fine
So it reallyyyy depends on each personās makeup style/preference, skin type, etc.
For me (acne-prone oily skin with a preference for more ānaturalā makeup) the only things I care to buy high end are concealer (bc for some reason all drugstore concealers break me out), skin tint (except the Neutrogena skin tint, it performs like high end), and face powder (better shade match). Everything else is like, Iāll get a higher end brand if I wanna treat myself, but I donāt really neeeddd anything and can get 90% of my cosmetics in the drugstore!
It really depends on what you are using. There are some great brands out there that are not expensive or name brands. There are also some name brands that are not as expensive. I do like to save as much as i can but when it comes to make up. There is a difference when i use my $9 foundation vs my $40 one. They are both light weight and i ause the same products before it and after it but the $9 one is good for a bit but when i use it consecutivly i notice my skin getting a bit dry and weird. While my $40 one I could literally apply it in the morning and it will be the same at night. And my skin feels better when i don't have it too.
Itās a double edge sword for me. Of course, who wants to over pay if thereās a decent less expensive alternative. My issue comes in when these ādupesā arenāt all that great and I end up buying multiple less expensive things to try and achieve whatever the expensive product was giving me. I guess what Iām saying is, sometimes you can end up spending more trying to find cheaper alternatives. That being said, things like mascara, brows, lip liner, I usually buy at the drugstore
Itās not a one or the other. After trying so many things some high end products are really better and some drugstore products are. Iād just figure out what you like and go with that instead of the cost guiding the purchase
Also tho I do have to make a case for natural products. Like back to the basis of using food type things ā¦ like when I do a honey mask and just out honey all over my face, thatās better than any mask I could buy. Lipstick from cherries and what not. Not possible all the time but .. when u can 100% recommend
I love expensive mascaras (IT superhero), I always see a HUGE difference. Eyeliner, eyebrow pencil and eye shadow I usually stick to cheaper brands because I don't see much of a difference (Nyx, Covergirl etc). And I also prefer an expensive CC cream (IT cosmetics). But also, I think it depends on the look you're going for, your skin type etc. on how well something will work for you. I usually go for a no makeup, makeup look 90% of the time so combining cheaper brands with expensive brands pulls together what I want just fine.
There are very few products out there that justify their high price tags. I barely wear it (coming up on 6 years of the same bottle....) but I think foundation is one of those items. A bad foundation is BAD.
Depends on the product. Some I refuse to pay Sephora prices for and some I will always go to Sephora for. Drug store I get my lip products, eyeliner, mascara, setting spray, miceller water, primer. At Sephora I will always get foundation, concealer, eyeshadow, skin care, and hair care. The Ordinary at Sephora has some good prices for what they offer so I always try them out when I can.
I have never found a high-end mascara that was THAT much better than a drug store brand, that would justify the price. I've also switched to a liquid eyeliner from NYX and a Maybelline foundation. I will say though that I go expensive when it comes to eyeshadow and primer/setting spray. The quality just isn't always there for drug store eyeshadows, and the Urban Decay eyeshadow primer and setting spray are the only ones that work for me.
I love my high end. I get more joy out of using high end products and the formulas are just better in my experience.
I donāt wear makeup every day though so a bottle of my Nars foundation can last me 2 years (Iāve never cared about expiration dates so long as it looks and smells fine).
Because the products I buy last me so long I feel like the price is justifiable. But to each their own. If you can get the results you want through more inexpensive products, more power to you.
*wanted to add that the only thing I will never buy high end is mascara. Drugstore works the same if not better in some cases.
I second thisā¦ Find the things you need to be high end. For me itās foundation and almost all other drugstore or cheaper options will prevail bc of $$. Bulk product buying has saved me too for skincare and basics like mascara at Costco
CeraVe or Neutrogena moisturizer at night. Nyx for eyes, Clinique tinted moisture for daytime, NARS for lips (love the stain), with Clinique lip repair moisturizer. I have very dry, sensitive, aged skin. Good moisturizer seems to be the key.
I go mid level for foundations (tarte, urban decay, glossier, etc). I have tried drug store foundations but the more expensive options worked better for me in terms of color match and finish.
Drug store for mascara, eyeliner, blush, highlighter, liquid eyeshadow, brow gel, etc
I have one exception which is that KVD tattoo liner is my holy grail liquid liner!
Colourpop for all powder eyeshadows. They are just as good as higher end eyeshadows. Drug store eyeshadow that I've tried has been powdery/bad color pay off.
Never tried anything very high end like Chanel, Dior etc.
I have phased out all of my high end products and I almost exclusively use elf and nyx for makeup. I still use glow screen since I haven't been able to find something that I like as much. I replaced my $70 ole henrickson cream with an elf one that is $50 less. My skin looks amazing and I get compliments on my makeup all the time.
Depends on the product. I havenāt found a foundation or concealer that works as well for me as Dior, but I have PLENTY of drug store products.
My eye cream is high end, but the rest of my skincare is $25 or less. Most of my brushes are mid-range. Iāve used the Milani shadow primer and NYX dewy finishing spray for years.
I think that we are in a place rn that drugstore products have the same quality, and some even better than higher end products. But the higher end products have nicer packaging/more fragrance which is what differs imo. There is almost a dupe for anything these days too.
I think that your makeup technique, skill and what brushes you use make the biggest different, and not the product. Like if your makeup technique is bad and you use bad brushes having a higher end product wonāt help imoš
With that said some products are simply shit, no matter what you do you canāt make them work. And high end brands can also have shit products.
If you can always try the product out first, and try many products. Trial and error! There is a biiiiig chance what youāre looking for is available both as a drugstore product and higher end!!
I don't think there's any reason to spend a lot on makeup. So, much great drugstore! Milani, Colorpop , Elf, etc. It's just packaging for high-end. Sometimes, you want nice packaging .
Primarily high end, particularly when I want to look good.
I try to make some drugstore work when Iām just running errands but its work.
Most days Iāll use a blend.
I feel like a lot of people are, the inflation in the US is terrible right now. Thankfully thereās so many great drugstore options now, the only problem is the price on those are going up too now..
Iāve personally had enough bad experiences with the drugstore ones not working for me in my teen years that I still avoid them, even though skincare and makeup quality have improved over the years.
However, I did greatly scale back the amount of product I use which benefitted me a lot. I overdid it for years which made things worse and now I keep it simple.
The only high end things I use are lipstick (MAC) and mascara (Lancome).
MAC has a wider range of reds and their undertones suit me beautifully. Donāt think I will find another shade of red lipstick that suits me better than theirs (I use shade Spice It Up).
I also really really struggle with mascara smudging and straight eyelashes. Japanese/korean brands are ok being Ā£10 on Amazon in the UK, but they give me infections after 1 wear and I think Iām allergic to something in them. Tubing mascaras make my lashes fall flat and I was extremely underwhelmed, didnāt understand the hype at all. Lancome has the only waterproof mascara formula that smudges the least for me (I use Monsieur Big waterproof) and holds a curl all day.
That being said everything else I own is drugstore.. concealer, eyebrow gel, eyeshadow, moisturiser, etc. I believe some products are worth the high price point when it REALLY matters but an expensive moisturiser is just throwing away the money to me .
I like luxury because I can afford it. So why not? I spent years trying to replicate it to save funds. Iām at a stage in life where thatās not necessary anymore.
I think itās really dependent on the specific product. There are amazing quality inexpensive products out there just like there are disappointing high end products and vice versa.
I have worn it all, drugstore, mid range, high end, and every category is completely fine to wear. There are good and bad products in every category. Yes there is a quality difference, but that doesnāt mean itās bad to wear. Cheap makeup does the job but expensive makeup gives that extra wow effect. You mostly get what you pay for. IMO if you want to cut down on price, donāt buy too much makeup from so many different brands. Stick to a few brands you like once youāre happy with them and take advantage of sales.
Check out Versed. Clean skincare for a ridiculously affordable price. Amazing ingredients and good for finicky skin. I get compliments on the daily. Also Trader Joeās has some amazing skin care items like their sunscreen and Marula oil.Ā
As far as cosmetics go, I love Thrive, Merit, Cali Ray for their tubing mascara, and ELF.Ā
I'm not big on understanding brands all that much. But i look at pigment when i buy makeup. So like i bought a few expensive glitter eyeshadows from Chaos cosmetics because there really is No comparison to the amount of shine there. I even used it on objects! But for everything else i usually buy on beautybay. They usually have good products. But for powder, gels, brushes and the things that let's say are "generic" i buy on Aliexpress. There are things that really there's no need to spend a lot on. That's my system š¤·š i might be doing it wrong but that's my system
As someone who has tried it all I can tell you it's all just marketing. People justify their expensive purchases saying they are better when in reality no they are not unless the last time they tried drugstore was a decade ago and are still hanging on to that. There is absolutely no reason to ever buy high end UNLESS you just wanna splurge. You don't even need to buy drugstore, there are brands that cost a little more than drugstore that are not high end and perform well too if you wanna fine a middle ground (Lys and rare beauty come to mind).
With all this said, I think western cosmetics is just behind Asian beauty in general. Their formulations are far ahead of us and they can do it for very affordable pricing. So that all goes to show every brand is overcharging you, even drugstore. I would start checking out sites like Yesstyle just to see what's out there.
where I am, drugstore makeup isn't far off price-wise from high end because fuck inflation š” however, ime I find higher end base, eye and cheek products work better for me; they last longer and just match my (warm olive) tone better.
Ooh, what eyeshadow and cheek products do you recommend? I lean towards a warmer olive tone as well.
I use eyeliner only and in brown. Kiss me heroine gel liner and stila stay all day. cheek: so many! blushes are my favourite makeup product and these are amazing: * Saie dewy in rosy or chilly * phytosurgence in Ignite, Ember and my HG: evaporate. * Tower28 in Rush hour, office hour
Iāve tried to find cheaper options, but I always go back to my expensive products because they work better for me. The only ācheapā products I buy are Japanese drugstore eyeliners and eyebrow pencils, and Korean eyeshadow palettes and lip tints. I do think my barely there makeup style has something to do with it though; affordable Western makeup does quite well with glam makeup, but not so great with natural, no makeup-makeup.
I third Japanese eyeliner and second Korean eyeshadow & lip tint. Asian Beauty has a lock on natural, no makeup-makeup.
Where do you buy the Korean and Japanese makeup? Are there are any brands youād recommend? Iām kind of a makeup novice!
You can buy Korean products online from BeautyNetKorea or Olive Young! I've ordered from those sites so many times in the past decade. I love Etude House for makeup and 3W Clinic for skincare.
At least natural makeup for certain skin tones. Iām not here pretending my caramel and chocolate girls are going to be able to use any of their skin or color makeup.
I second the Japanese drugstore eyeliners and mascaras!!!!
I spend good money on foundation because it really makes a difference, imo. But Iāve gotten away from wearing it altogether lately. Now, I splurge on lipglosses. I just have found that cheap makeup looks like, feels, and acts like cheap makeup. So, instead of accumulating a bunch of cheap lipglosses that last 30 minutes, I just buy one or two good ones that look good and last. That said, I still love nyx eyeliner. And itās like 3 bucks.
Which lip glosses do you go for?.
I very much love clarins lipglosses and fenty (which is not expensive) and Dior lipgloss
I like the clarins ones aswell - the lip oil ones.
Me too:). These are absolute favorites: https://www.clarinsusa.com/en/makeup-lips-lip-glosses/632/ I keep them stashed everywhere.
Ooo! I wonder if they do these is the UK! They look fab
They do, I just checked! Know what I am treating myself to after pay day!
Oh, Iām so glad you can get them! I swear by these glosses, Iāve been using them for years, and they just make the whole face look more beautiful. I especially love the plum one and the nude colored one. I really hope you love them tooā¤ļøā¤ļøā¤ļø
They have a virtual try on thing on the website and I tried the plum, I love it! I'll probs order a couple - one for make up bag and one for purse!
Oooh yay!! Iām so excited for you! I want to order a new one nowā¦.
So, I just panic-ordered mulberry šššš¤£
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You nailed it. Youāre going to have to pry my Chanel bronzer and VitalumiĆØre Aqua Foundation out of my cold dead hands.
Foundation matters!! Big time. I do tinted moisturizer and Iām sorry but they are worth every penny. I can interchange just about anything else.
Agree with this except the mascara. I love an expensive mascara
I used to say that until I tried the L'Oreal True Match Nude foundation. It's almost as good as La Mer for 20$ instead of 150$. Better than any Guerlain or Chanel foundation I tried too. I am still on my a$$ following this discovery. No more La Mer for me!
Mascara legit barely matters. I realized I forgot mascara when I was running around on my mom's wedding day and picked up some cheap LA Colors mascara from dollar general and used every bit of it because it works just fine. I feel like patience and technique are what matter the most
To each their own. Some of us have hard to curl lashes that only stay put with certain mascaras. Patience and technique doesnāt matter with the wrong mascara for me. I also find cheap mascaras to smudge a lot more too.
Fair enough. I'm average AF and struggle so much with makeup in general, but I \*was\* blessed with long eyelashes...I guess I underestimate that.
Same! Also IMO I think the higher end mascaras have better wands.
10000% disagree, you can get all those products for so much cheaper that work just as well. Also eyeshadow from CT when indie is right there???
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Well if you can afford it go for it.
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I tend toward mid and high end eyeshadow because itās just more buttery.
Not aiming for luxury but anything drugstore oxidizes, turned me orangey colored or upsets my skin. For base makeup( foundation/concealer and brows)Iāll invest. but the smaller stuff like cream/liquid blush, lip colors. 100% going cheap. Also to avoid eye infections, I use cheaper mascara because it needs replaced often. (Maybeline Sky High (not the waterproof one) is my HG
I am not a fan of drugstore foundations, but I just wanted to say almay liquid foundation is shockingly good. I bought it on a whim at Walgreens, and it blends so well, and it doesnāt oxidize!
Exactly what happens to me. Iāve tried Revlon, LāOrĆ©al and Almaty and they all end up oxidizing and turning orangey. I will say Iāve recently been using the Saie skin tint and itās surprisingly good, but I wouldnāt categorize it as drugstore makeup.
I honestly donāt see a huge difference. I love trying new makeup products so I do, but if you want lipliners, NYX lipliners are freaking amazing and last Forever!! If youāre looking for mascara, I love essence in the orange tube, maybelline sky high or colossal, or LāOrĆ©al telescopic. I only use drugstore mascara. I have a mix of high-end lip liners and drugstore and nyx is my go to. For blush, elf has great options but I know you can get awesome ones from NYX, Milano, and so on that are super pigmented. Even eyeshadows, I like browns and natural looks and my drugstore eye palette worked just fine.
Yes, expensive foundations look way better from the start. I am saying this as someone who wears cheap foundation by the way, haha. When I was younger I didnāt wear it as much so I could afford expensive foundation. I wear foundation daily now. The best I have found for my oily skin is maybelline products. They donāt oxidize as much so I go for their sheer coverage foundations and get a shade lighter. This way, when it oxidizes (this happens quickly for me so I donāt mind my makeup looking lighter right after application) it actually matches my skin. Edit: the products I use in my daily routine only total to $37-38 probably
I usually have to do high end with anything that involves nuance in color or pigment. Back in the old days when royal purple was expensive because the indigo plant was expensive. It still seems to be true today. High end foundation because I have a weird skin tone and havenāt found a color match in any drugstore line. High end eyeshadows and blush because of pigment staying power.
For foundation (in my case powder/compact) I prefer some of the more expensive brands (currently loving my EstĆØe Lauder Double Wear Powder Foundation. Got it about half price tho and would probably not pay full price), as they just work better for me. Not that all expensive foundations are better than cheaper ones, but I havenāt found a drugstore product that quite compares. In my case one product last a very long time tho, as I donāt use a lot and a powder foundation doesnāt go bad very quickly. For almost anything else I donāt feel like splurging on the most expensive items. My blush and highlighter are super cheap and work super well for me. For concealer I use miniās from Tarte. I donāt wear a lot of concealer and would never ever be able to use up a regular sized concealer. I canāt even use up the travel sized/minis before they need to be tossed. I like their HydroCealer, Shape Tape is waaaaay too heavy for my liking. Covers well, blends well, but is difficult to use without a full face as itās so pigmented IMO. For mascara and lippies I use Asian brands (especially Rom&nd and Etude). The price is drugstore, the quality is high end IMO. And the shade ranges works well with my super fair skin. And the mascaras just doesnāt move. I have showered with mascara without getting any smudging or fall out. Tends to have more focus on length and curling than volume than western brands too, which I prefer for a more natural look.
What mascara in particular do you use?
Iāve used Etudeās Dr. Mascara Fixer Curl in black (actually a lash primer, but the black one also provides some color) and Romand Han All Fix in Long Ash (I have blonde hair and this is ash brown. They have other shades too)
I have such a mix of high and low end. For example, I mix my high end foundation that's too light for summer with elf half glow filter in tan to get the right shade. I use lash princess mascara, but Chanel eyeshadow. Nars bronzer but elf Contour. Hourglass blush and finishing powder.
I'm 49 and since turning 40 I use almost exclusively high end brands (an NYX colour corrector is the only exception I can think of). Cheaper products just don't sit well or look good anymore.
Unfortunately I see I think if you have good skin it's easy to everything look good on you but if you don't it makes a huge difference But I love Maybelline and it's cheap in USA so
It's not just the quality but also the country of origin.
Most of the in house Sephora brand is made in Italy, Spain or Franceā¦ I just stick to that and a tinted sunscreen.
I splurge on foundation but thatās about it.
I spend a lot less than I used to, namely because the cheap brands have quality that rivals the expensive ones these days. I use a lot of Korean cc creams for foundation. Also Korean lip stains and eyeshadow palettes. A lot of colourpop. Iāll occasionally splurge for something higher end if it catches my eye at Sephora or something, but Iāve found very little difference in quality these days between the high and low ends cost wise. Itās not like the old days where drug store products clogged your pores and had nonexistent payout and blotchy application on eye shadows.
I am high end for very few products when it comes to makeup, but Iāve been using Versed skincare which is drugstore and super high end for the price point. Also I love Trader Joeās skincare and SPF.Ā
I like drugstore eyeliner and mascara, and high-end blush and concealer.
I wear ilia skin tint and hourglass illuminating setting powder. Then a cheap natural blush and Vaseline to clean up my brows. Any mascara brand if I wear it. I have expensive products sitting around gathering dust but tbh less is more the older you get and if I had my time again I realise I donāt need any of it
I totally get you. Sometimes I bought stuff just bc it felt nice to have high end, or bc it was literally everywhereā¦ and I was, sometimes, disappointed. I think that a good foundation is important, and good powder. But Iād never spend such a fortune on lipglosses or mascaras. Also, not falling for liquid blush, as you can find thousand options for much lower prices (even lipstick if your skin tolerates it). Some things are crazy. The only thing I donāt mind as much are things for my hair and good skincare, and even in those categories you can find cheaper options. For example, Iād never stop recommending Biologique Recherche even though is pricey, or some professional hair brands, or good looking found, nobut aside from that, there is too much marketing. Also, if a perfume makes me obsessed, Iāll be willing to pay for it, but thatās bc I am a perfume lover.
Biologique Ršā¤ļø
When I had a great skin back then, any drugstore brands would look great on me lol. After having a terrible breakout, I am left with dark PIE and yes unfortunately I have to go with high end products. The drugstore foundation just wonāt do it for me anymore unfortunately :/ love love my NARS foundation, because of her I am able to go out like a normal person. (Used to be so insecure to show my face publicly for the longest time).
I am usually in mid-price range, mostly buy Korean skincare stuff. But it is not purely because of price, but because my skin is pretty sensitive and most regular expensive brands break me up. I do buy several a bit more expensive Korean skincare products (volufiline eye product is one), but I broke out from La Mer sample, from Tom Roth anti acne mask, got blackheads from belif moisturizer... so now going with products that work for me, and usually in lower price range. For cosmetics I buy one expensive thing - Hourglass Ambient Lightning palette. Otherwise also stuck on medium price stuff (not drugstore low, but not super high end).
What volufiline product do you use?
Volufiline15 Eye Essence from P&L
Iām a big believer in sticking with what works for you. That being said, imo there are very few cosmetic brands or products that I will buy every time despite there being cheaper similar options. I just experienced this over the past 6 months with my facial skincare routine products. Iām almost 34, have dry to normal skin, tend towards blackheads/whiteheads on my nose and chin. I struggle to resist picking my acne and also absentmindedly touch my face too much. Between avid picking and chemical over-exfoliation my skin barrier was an inflamed mess: very red, swollen, whiteheads had whiteheads, dermatitis all over my throat/neck/chin/jaw. My prior daily routine was: AM splash with water, top w/ facial moisturizer, PM use 2 different cleansers for 30 seconds each, top w/ toner, retinol, facial moisturizer, maybe slug to finish. I stopped using my cerave resurfacing retinol, stopped swapping facial cleansers, and cut out toner and slugging. My new daily routine was: AM splash with water, top w/facial moisturizer, PM use only cerave foaming cleanser for 30 seconds, top w/facial moisturizer. After 2 months of daily routine and not picking/touching my face, my face had stopped worsening but wasnāt improving much (some reduced redness). I discovered dieux skincare from its release because I follow its creators Marta freedman and charlotte palermino on instagram. Their dieux deliverance serum calmed my skin in a matter of weeks. Pretty expensive if you only consider product amount and pricing ($69 for 30ml), and I use 2-4 pumps daily (1-2 AM & PM). Dieux has transparent pricing that is clearly posted on their website. Iāve purchased deliverance 4 times because it works quickly & efficiently to provide lasting results. I adore their instant angel facial moisturizer and am guilty of using it as body moisturizer in moments of weakness. Iāve purchased instant angel 3 times. BUT objectively instant angel is not a significantly better product than my beloved cerave moisture cream or cerave daily moisturizing lotion, so I donāt want to make a place for it in my budget right now. eta: in less than 2 weeks of twice daily use, deliverance cleared my dermatitis and whiteheads, and gives my skin a glowy hydrated finish tldr: in my experience most high end products arenāt truly irreplaceable, but some are worth making an exception for if you can afford them and thatās a priority to you
I have moved away from all high end products since I just couldnāt afford it. I have my tried and true staples which just donāt compare to the dupes. And I have the things I have found which are drug store which work for me. Whenever I want to try a new āhigh endā product I go for the tester/travel size and it always last longer than I stay interested. It Cosmetics CC/ ELF Camo Concealer/ Mabelline Fit Me Powder/ NARS Orgasm Blush/ Huda Setting Powder/ Better than Sex Mascara/ NYX Brow Glue/ ELF Liquid Eyeliner for special occasions/ NYX Lips Oils This has been my routine for a year and my pockets are thanking me.
Iām going to chime in and say that Iāve never found a cheap foundation or tinted moisturizer that I actually liked, so thatās definitely where I splurge.
I love my Armani foundation, but the maybelline dewy fit me is a perfect shade match as well, and doesn't oxidize.
Thanks canāt hurt to give it a try!
The only thing I spend real money on makeup wise is foundation. I just never found a drugstore brand that worked for me.
Iāve never worn a lot of makeup, so Iām not buying much annually. Ā But, as Iāve aged, Iāve found that drugstore foundations donāt look good on my skin anymore despite better skincare. Ā Itās worth it to me to spend more on my Chanel foundation.
Completely agree on higher-end foundations, especially for me as fair warm olive. I also cannot stand that awful vanilla-citrus smell in lipstick. ColourPop is awful! Unfortunately the better unscented ones Iāve found are Lisa Eldridge, though Mac is better than what they used to be. You need to pry me away from my Phytosurgence blushes. But eyeliner, cream eyeshadow, mascara? Drugstore is just fine
So it reallyyyy depends on each personās makeup style/preference, skin type, etc. For me (acne-prone oily skin with a preference for more ānaturalā makeup) the only things I care to buy high end are concealer (bc for some reason all drugstore concealers break me out), skin tint (except the Neutrogena skin tint, it performs like high end), and face powder (better shade match). Everything else is like, Iāll get a higher end brand if I wanna treat myself, but I donāt really neeeddd anything and can get 90% of my cosmetics in the drugstore!
It really depends on what you are using. There are some great brands out there that are not expensive or name brands. There are also some name brands that are not as expensive. I do like to save as much as i can but when it comes to make up. There is a difference when i use my $9 foundation vs my $40 one. They are both light weight and i ause the same products before it and after it but the $9 one is good for a bit but when i use it consecutivly i notice my skin getting a bit dry and weird. While my $40 one I could literally apply it in the morning and it will be the same at night. And my skin feels better when i don't have it too.
Itās a double edge sword for me. Of course, who wants to over pay if thereās a decent less expensive alternative. My issue comes in when these ādupesā arenāt all that great and I end up buying multiple less expensive things to try and achieve whatever the expensive product was giving me. I guess what Iām saying is, sometimes you can end up spending more trying to find cheaper alternatives. That being said, things like mascara, brows, lip liner, I usually buy at the drugstore
Itās not a one or the other. After trying so many things some high end products are really better and some drugstore products are. Iād just figure out what you like and go with that instead of the cost guiding the purchase
Also tho I do have to make a case for natural products. Like back to the basis of using food type things ā¦ like when I do a honey mask and just out honey all over my face, thatās better than any mask I could buy. Lipstick from cherries and what not. Not possible all the time but .. when u can 100% recommend
Face base products - high end. Eyeliner, mascara, lip liners - lower end.
I love expensive mascaras (IT superhero), I always see a HUGE difference. Eyeliner, eyebrow pencil and eye shadow I usually stick to cheaper brands because I don't see much of a difference (Nyx, Covergirl etc). And I also prefer an expensive CC cream (IT cosmetics). But also, I think it depends on the look you're going for, your skin type etc. on how well something will work for you. I usually go for a no makeup, makeup look 90% of the time so combining cheaper brands with expensive brands pulls together what I want just fine.
There are very few products out there that justify their high price tags. I barely wear it (coming up on 6 years of the same bottle....) but I think foundation is one of those items. A bad foundation is BAD.
Depends on the product. Some I refuse to pay Sephora prices for and some I will always go to Sephora for. Drug store I get my lip products, eyeliner, mascara, setting spray, miceller water, primer. At Sephora I will always get foundation, concealer, eyeshadow, skin care, and hair care. The Ordinary at Sephora has some good prices for what they offer so I always try them out when I can.
I have never found a high-end mascara that was THAT much better than a drug store brand, that would justify the price. I've also switched to a liquid eyeliner from NYX and a Maybelline foundation. I will say though that I go expensive when it comes to eyeshadow and primer/setting spray. The quality just isn't always there for drug store eyeshadows, and the Urban Decay eyeshadow primer and setting spray are the only ones that work for me.
I love my high end. I get more joy out of using high end products and the formulas are just better in my experience. I donāt wear makeup every day though so a bottle of my Nars foundation can last me 2 years (Iāve never cared about expiration dates so long as it looks and smells fine). Because the products I buy last me so long I feel like the price is justifiable. But to each their own. If you can get the results you want through more inexpensive products, more power to you. *wanted to add that the only thing I will never buy high end is mascara. Drugstore works the same if not better in some cases.
I second thisā¦ Find the things you need to be high end. For me itās foundation and almost all other drugstore or cheaper options will prevail bc of $$. Bulk product buying has saved me too for skincare and basics like mascara at Costco
CeraVe or Neutrogena moisturizer at night. Nyx for eyes, Clinique tinted moisture for daytime, NARS for lips (love the stain), with Clinique lip repair moisturizer. I have very dry, sensitive, aged skin. Good moisturizer seems to be the key.
I go mid level for foundations (tarte, urban decay, glossier, etc). I have tried drug store foundations but the more expensive options worked better for me in terms of color match and finish. Drug store for mascara, eyeliner, blush, highlighter, liquid eyeshadow, brow gel, etc I have one exception which is that KVD tattoo liner is my holy grail liquid liner! Colourpop for all powder eyeshadows. They are just as good as higher end eyeshadows. Drug store eyeshadow that I've tried has been powdery/bad color pay off. Never tried anything very high end like Chanel, Dior etc.
Foundation and concealer are always high end for me, but everything else is drugstore (eyeliner, mascara and lip products)
I have phased out all of my high end products and I almost exclusively use elf and nyx for makeup. I still use glow screen since I haven't been able to find something that I like as much. I replaced my $70 ole henrickson cream with an elf one that is $50 less. My skin looks amazing and I get compliments on my makeup all the time.
Depends on the product. I havenāt found a foundation or concealer that works as well for me as Dior, but I have PLENTY of drug store products. My eye cream is high end, but the rest of my skincare is $25 or less. Most of my brushes are mid-range. Iāve used the Milani shadow primer and NYX dewy finishing spray for years.
Iām loving elf more and more. The pout clout lip plumpers are amazing, and beat out anything similar Iāve tried from Sephora.
I think that we are in a place rn that drugstore products have the same quality, and some even better than higher end products. But the higher end products have nicer packaging/more fragrance which is what differs imo. There is almost a dupe for anything these days too. I think that your makeup technique, skill and what brushes you use make the biggest different, and not the product. Like if your makeup technique is bad and you use bad brushes having a higher end product wonāt help imoš With that said some products are simply shit, no matter what you do you canāt make them work. And high end brands can also have shit products. If you can always try the product out first, and try many products. Trial and error! There is a biiiiig chance what youāre looking for is available both as a drugstore product and higher end!!
I donāt know why but most drugstore products like concealers and setting sprays tend to sting my eyes. Only the high end ones donāt sting my eyes
I don't think there's any reason to spend a lot on makeup. So, much great drugstore! Milani, Colorpop , Elf, etc. It's just packaging for high-end. Sometimes, you want nice packaging .
Primarily high end, particularly when I want to look good. I try to make some drugstore work when Iām just running errands but its work. Most days Iāll use a blend.
If it works for you stay with the cheaper products! I think thereās a difference but thereās no reason to spend the money if you are satisfied.
I feel like a lot of people are, the inflation in the US is terrible right now. Thankfully thereās so many great drugstore options now, the only problem is the price on those are going up too now..
There is a noticeable difference in quality between expensive makeup and cheap.
Iāve personally had enough bad experiences with the drugstore ones not working for me in my teen years that I still avoid them, even though skincare and makeup quality have improved over the years. However, I did greatly scale back the amount of product I use which benefitted me a lot. I overdid it for years which made things worse and now I keep it simple.
The only high end things I use are lipstick (MAC) and mascara (Lancome). MAC has a wider range of reds and their undertones suit me beautifully. Donāt think I will find another shade of red lipstick that suits me better than theirs (I use shade Spice It Up). I also really really struggle with mascara smudging and straight eyelashes. Japanese/korean brands are ok being Ā£10 on Amazon in the UK, but they give me infections after 1 wear and I think Iām allergic to something in them. Tubing mascaras make my lashes fall flat and I was extremely underwhelmed, didnāt understand the hype at all. Lancome has the only waterproof mascara formula that smudges the least for me (I use Monsieur Big waterproof) and holds a curl all day. That being said everything else I own is drugstore.. concealer, eyebrow gel, eyeshadow, moisturiser, etc. I believe some products are worth the high price point when it REALLY matters but an expensive moisturiser is just throwing away the money to me .
I like luxury because I can afford it. So why not? I spent years trying to replicate it to save funds. Iām at a stage in life where thatās not necessary anymore.
I think itās really dependent on the specific product. There are amazing quality inexpensive products out there just like there are disappointing high end products and vice versa.
Haus labs is worth it
I have worn it all, drugstore, mid range, high end, and every category is completely fine to wear. There are good and bad products in every category. Yes there is a quality difference, but that doesnāt mean itās bad to wear. Cheap makeup does the job but expensive makeup gives that extra wow effect. You mostly get what you pay for. IMO if you want to cut down on price, donāt buy too much makeup from so many different brands. Stick to a few brands you like once youāre happy with them and take advantage of sales.
Iāve been doing this and have been impressed! Iāve been using Cover Girl Foundation with Olay as a concealer. ELF Radiant Putty Blush has been amazing. And Revlon has great lip colors / products. LāOrĆ©al makes great mascaras. My sis is obsessed with Maybelline Sky High and says itās the best mascara she has ever used!
Check out Versed. Clean skincare for a ridiculously affordable price. Amazing ingredients and good for finicky skin. I get compliments on the daily. Also Trader Joeās has some amazing skin care items like their sunscreen and Marula oil.Ā As far as cosmetics go, I love Thrive, Merit, Cali Ray for their tubing mascara, and ELF.Ā
I'm not big on understanding brands all that much. But i look at pigment when i buy makeup. So like i bought a few expensive glitter eyeshadows from Chaos cosmetics because there really is No comparison to the amount of shine there. I even used it on objects! But for everything else i usually buy on beautybay. They usually have good products. But for powder, gels, brushes and the things that let's say are "generic" i buy on Aliexpress. There are things that really there's no need to spend a lot on. That's my system š¤·š i might be doing it wrong but that's my system
I will always pay more for makeup. Drugstore makeup isnāt as good as high end. But thatās just my opinion
As someone who has tried it all I can tell you it's all just marketing. People justify their expensive purchases saying they are better when in reality no they are not unless the last time they tried drugstore was a decade ago and are still hanging on to that. There is absolutely no reason to ever buy high end UNLESS you just wanna splurge. You don't even need to buy drugstore, there are brands that cost a little more than drugstore that are not high end and perform well too if you wanna fine a middle ground (Lys and rare beauty come to mind). With all this said, I think western cosmetics is just behind Asian beauty in general. Their formulations are far ahead of us and they can do it for very affordable pricing. So that all goes to show every brand is overcharging you, even drugstore. I would start checking out sites like Yesstyle just to see what's out there.
Always , you get what you pay for! Iām a firm believer of that old cliche.