Today we have another post from the lovely Jeanne Marie from Makeup Hungry. She’s going to tackle the ultimate question on saving vs splurging on your cosmetics. I hope you enjoy and be sure to stop by her blog and Facebook to tell her hello!
Hello Everyone!
When it comes to all things beauty for those who watch makeup reviews, they know that we are often bombarded with rave reviews from everything Urban Decay, Too Faced to the every popular MAC telling us that you can’t do your makeup properly without using these brands.
The question I often ask myself is: Is it ALL necessary? Don’t get me wrong, these companies have a right to charge the prices they do. They provide excellent quality products. But is it ESSENTIAL? Do we need MAC foundations, concealers, false eyelashes, eyeshadows. e.t.c ?
DISCLAIMER: If you have the money and you wish to spend it on Smashbox, Lancome and previously mentioned department store makeup then by all means do your thing girl. This post is for us girls on a budget.
Here are my list of beauty items I think are worth spending top dollar on and those who can Save.
Splurge Time
1. EYE SHADOW, EYE SHADOW, EYE SHADOW, EYE SHADOW.
Eyeshadow is something I am willing to spend money on. While brands like Milani and Wet n Wild have some amazing eye shadows, I am less likely to walk into Wonderful World or an American beauty supply store for eye shadow. Brands like Kleancolor and Beauty Treats, it is rare that you will get amazing pigmentation or that it doesn’t require a white base such as NYX jumbo pencil in Milk.
On the high end I would more than willingly purchase:
The Sugar Pill Cosmetics 4 pan eye shadows. They retail for about US$34 dollars and can be purchased on the Sugar Pill website. For your bright eye shadow looks I would highly recommend these palettes.
For my Caribbean makeup lovelies you can purchase them at the Facebook page:
Makeup Attitude for TT$250
For my more neutral eye shadow needs, I would recommend the Lorac Pro Palette which could be purchased at Sephora or on their website for US$42
Or at Makeup Attitude for TT$400
2. Eye primer
Don’t get me wrong, I love my Ruby Kisses eye primer and my Arlene Villarule Pro eyebase.
The primary function of all eye shadow primers are to stop eyeshadows from creasing. Even with amazing eyeshadows from Urban Decay to Lorac Pro Palette eye shadows a primer is required to make them last all day long or at least your work day.
3. Foundation
Foundation is that in itself. The foundation, the base. Sometimes I like using a medium coverage foundation and just placing the concealer in problem areas. However, the best foundations not only provide great coverage but last long.
For this I would recommend any liquid or mousse/whipped like foundation that promises coverage but with a light weight feel.
My recommendation would be Revlon Colorstay Whipped or even their liquid version. While this isn’t super expensive I would rather pay 60+ for a foundation that to use Klean Color or LA Girl that have poor shade ranges which usually consist of three to four colours from light, medium, dark and/or deep.
4. Makeup brushes
This can be quite controversial topic. While I don’t think everyone needs to have a brush collection filled with MAC brushes, I think certain key brushes need to be of good quality. Elf brushes are amazing but I wouldn’t rely on their flat foundation or stippling brushes to do the job. My biggest pet peeve is going to do my makeup and finding that the ferrule (the silver part that holds the hairs in place) is in pieces. While makeup sponge tip applicators can do a great job, most that come with eye shadow palettes will be destroyed after 5 uses if you are lucky. While you don’t need to run out to buy all MAC brushes, those cheap pharmacy brush kits that commonly consist of a face brush, mascara wand, eye shadow brush and an eyeliner/lip brush are disastrous. They usually are made with bristles you find on your hair brushes and the handle and the ferrule become disconnected by Day 1.
My suggestion would be to buy good face brushes from MAC if you are from Trinidad and Tobago (I think Sigma is a waste of time in TT because one of their brushes can cost $140-$175 and a MAC brush can be $150 and up. They are around the same price range.)
Savings Time
1. Mascara
I never spend much on mascara. (although the price of Ruby Kisses and Milani in Wonderful World I may as well buy L’oreal and Revlon which are more reputable and cost more in the US. Wonderful World convert US products by the US price by 10, while Pennywise where brands like L’oreal, Revlon, Maybelline are sold multiple their items by 7. So a Revlon item at US $9 would be $63 while a $7 item at Wonderful from Milani would run you $70).
I don’t see the need. When I spent money it is all about longevity. It is all about the formulation and the brush. Some require more liquid consistency, others prefer drier texture, while others partial to one that is neither liquid or dry in consistency. Most women choose based on their mascara needs.
Most mascaras last no more than four months and even the ones that are packaged as lasting a year tend to dry out. In my personal opinion, spending $100 dollars for something that you may have to throw away three months later, worse yet if you only wear makeup on weekends to church or happy hour with friends.
I recommend Revlon’s Lash Fatasy Total Definition. It comes with a primer that lengths the lashes with the mascara end provides volume.
You can purchase this at Pennywise for around TT$40 or any drugstore like Walgreens if you are living in the US.
2. Blush/bronzer
Other than Nars Laguna Bronzer, most of the hype surrounding bronzers have come from the drugstore. Elf has an alleged dupe and Covergirl bronzers especially the Queen collection ones have been getting rave reviews.
For TT makeup lovelies you can get the bronzers mentioned at Makeup Attitude on Facebook.
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| COVERGIRL Queen Collection Natural Hue Bronzer |
3. Lipstick/Lip gloss, Liquid lipsticks, Lipstains Liners
While MAC and other high end lipsticks have their place to be honest it is all in the finish. Matte lipsticks last the longest in most brands. There is no real need to run out to buy Ruby Woo or Riri Woo unless you simply love the colour or Rihanna. Wet n Wild has so many MAC lipstick dupes that are just as good. Same goes for lip liners, liquid lipsticks and Lipstains. There are great options from Wet N Wild and Revlon.
You can purchase them at Walgreens if you live in the US or again Makeup Attitude.
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| Wet n Wild MegaLast Mega Last Lip Color |
4. Face primer
Here is my problem with face primers. I have combination/oily skin. If I use a mattifying primer then I put an oil free matte foundation when first applied I look flat and powdery. If I try a dewy foundation over a mattifying primer the chemistry does not work and my face gets oily quicker than usual. So I rather use a great matte foundation instead. As long as you have a wonderful foundation a primer becomes redundant. Under long wearing foundation you don’t even notice the longevity and under normal foundations it only gives you 2/3 more hours.
Too may foundations are promising longevity for a face primer to be worth it. The only benefit I see in them is that they make your face smoother so less foundation may be needed. But like I said a good foundation could do the same.
Try Covergirl 3 in 1 foundation which is said to work as not only a foundation but a concealer and primer as well. Maybelline Fit Me Stick foundation has an inner core that works like a primer.
So do you lovelies agree or disagree? Sound off in the comment section below.
Tina Takes Beauty 