With a whole wealth of beauty products out there, from MUA to Tom Ford, it's hard to know where to invest your hard earned cash, and where to save. Because of this blog, the nature of my job, and even to a certain extent the uni I attend, I have had the opportunity to try a whole wealth of products from so many different brands, and it's become glaringly obvious that there are some products worth the splurge, and others that high end brands don't do any better than the highstreet.
Where To Splurge
Skincare - There's no point buying a tonne of expensive makeup, if your skins not looking it's best. There's something to be said for spending good money on your skincare routine, since upping the anti in mine, my skin has never looked better. You don't need to spend a fortune, but look for products with natural ingredients.
Brands to try - Bioderma, Origins, Liz Earle, Trilogy, Aesop.
Primer - Along a similar line to skincare, what's the point in expensive makeup if it's looking worse for wear by 6pm? I'm a big believer in primers, not only do they increase the wear of your makeup, but a good one can also blur imperfections, smooth uneven skin, and create a barrier between your skin and makeup to prevent breakouts. I have yet to find a drugstore primer that's as effective as a high end one, if you have any suggestions please leave them below!
Products to try - Hourglass Mineral Veil Primer, Smashbox Photo Finish Primer, Laura Mercier Radiance Foundation Primer.
Foundation - A good base makes the difference between looking okay, and looking incredible. Whilst the highstreet has certainly upped their game on the foundation end in the last year or so, I truly think this is an area still owned by high end brands. There's just something about high end foundations that wins that battle in my opinion. Plus, all the highstreet foundations I do like tend to have a really strong scent, which puts me off massively.
Products to try - Diorskin Nude BB Creme, Chanel VitalumiƩre Aqua, YSL Le Teint Touche Eclat, Benefit Hello Flawless Foundation.
Blush - My love affair with blusher has been renewed in recent months. Whilst I do like some highstreet blushers, namely Sleek, Revlon and Soap and Glory, I just find that they've disappeared from my face by lunchtime. I don't ever find that with High end blushes however, they've completely stolen my heart, they all just seem to have incredible staying power!
Products to try - Nars Blushes, Benefit Blushes, Le Blush Creme De Chanel, Bobbi Brown.
Eyeshadow Bases - Eyeshadow base products seems to be something that high street brands haven't really dabbled in much. Whilst Rimmel do have one that I love, on the whole I much prefer higher end offerings, for staying power, increasing shadow pigmentation, and preventing creasing.
Products to try - MAC Paint Pots, Urban Decay Primer Potion.
Eyeshadows - I have a lot of eyeshadows and I've tried a lot of eyeshadows, but to me there's nothing on the high street comparable to the buttery texture, intense pigmentation and blendability of most high end shadows.
Products to try - Urban Decay Shadows, NARS shadows, Stila Shadows, MAC Shadows.
Eyeliners - Whilst I do have a soft spot for the Rimmel Scandaleyes liners, I haven't found anything on the highstreet that stays put as well as some of the high end liners I own, especially on the waterline. You gotta pay good money for lasting power!
Products to try - Smashbox Liners, Urban Decay 24/7 Liners, YSL Waterproof Eye Liners.
Lipsticks - There are brands on the highstreet that do nice lipsticks, but nothing beats luxury lipsticks for me. There are very few high end brands I've tried that don't do incredible lipsticks, they also tend to have shade selections!
Products to try - MAC Lipsticks, Urban Decay Revolution Lipsticks, YSL Lipsticks, Chanel Lipsticks, Bobbi Brown Sheer Lip Colours.
Makeup Setting Sprays - I tried a few of these from the highstreet this summer and they did nothing at all, whereas my high end alternatives are life savers. This is something I don't mind spending on, since they last forever and make a big difference.
Products to try - Urban Decay All Nighter, MAC Fix+.
Where To Save
Concealer - I've tried a whole wealth of concealers from all over the place, and with the exception of the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer, I haven't found a single high end concealer without a drugstore dupe that's just as good, if not better.
Products to try - Seventeen Phwoarr Paint Concealer, Maybelline Instant Eye Eraser Concealer, Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer.
Setting Powder - Whilst I'm partial to my Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powders and Chanel Les Beiges, the drugstore has really upped it's game in the setting powder department recently. Affordable, good, and if they break in your handbag it's not the end of the world.
Products to try - Bourjois Healthy Balance Powder, Rimmel Stay Matte Powder.
Highlighter - Highlighter is a tricky one, I have a good mix of both high end and highstreet highlighters in my collection, and I love them all, but when it comes down to it, I love them all equally, there isn't anything particularly special about the high end ones, the highstreet ones are just as good, so it's worth saving your pennies and going for drugstore this time.
Products to try - Topshop Glow, Revlon Photoready Skinlights, Topshop Sunbeam Powder.
Brows - My three favourite brow related products were all from the highstreet, so this one was easy. I wasn't impressed with the MAC brow pencil, and I found a dupe for the Anastasia Brow Whizz, so drugstore wins this round.
Products to try - Along Came Betty Br-Wow, Maybelline Brow Drama Mascara, Soap and Glory Archery Brow Tint and Pencil.
Mascara - I'll always love my YSL Shocking Volume Mascara, but the drugstore has so many amazing mascaras you really don't need to fork out on a high end purchase.
Products to try - L'Oreal False Lash Telescopic, Max Factor False Lash Effect, Max Factor Waterproof Masterpiece.
Bronzer - This was another one where I have a good mix of high end and highstreet, and I do love a few high end ones, but there are a few drugstore ones I'm currently hooked on. It can be hard to find a non orangey bronzer in the drugstore but there are a few out there!
Products to try - Soap and Glory Solar Powder, The Body Shop Honey Bronzer, Bourjois Bronzing Primer.
Lipgloss - I never used to be a lipgloss sorta gal, I would never fork out loads of money for a non sticky gloss that wore off after a couple of hours, but now that there drugstore has started appearing with non sticky glosses too, I've gotten a lot more into them.
Products to try - Tanya Burr Lipglosses, Revlon Super Lustrous Lipglosses, L'Oreal Glamshine Splash Stains.
To anyone who's looking for a new product, or building up a makeup collection, I hope this helps!
What products do you like to splurge on?
This is awesome! I agree with so much of this, and it's good to know peoples recommendations too :) I have added so many things to my enormous shopping list...BrodieJay.com
ReplyDeleteThis is such a great post and very informative! I totally agree that you should invest in your skincare and base as they are so important! Xwww.whatlouiseisloving.com
ReplyDeleteLove this! I'm a huge skincare fan.The Jewel Beauty Blog - A friendly Beauty & Lifestyle Blog
ReplyDeletei totally agree that skincare is something you need to splurge on, if you have good skin you have no need for things like foundations! xxxmollyox.blogspot.co.uk
ReplyDeletethis is a great post! i feel like printing it out and taking it shopping with me in the beauty aisles!hanh x | hanhabelle
ReplyDeleteFantastic post Hun! I agree, skincare is so important! There's no point spending loads of money on make up it your skin is terrible underneath! LouLovesbeauty xxx
ReplyDeletegreat post. Agree you can save on concealer and setting powder definitely. I do love Rimmel eyeliners so I save there too. I also think you can save on an everyday foundation (e.g. Rimmel Wake me Up or Dr Jart BB) and have a splurge on something for special occassions (e.g Laura Mercier)xxx
ReplyDeleteAhh thank you! Haha oh gosh, I'm good at enabling people!
ReplyDeleteThank you! Definitely, it's the most important part! x
ReplyDeleteExactly! Thank you so much :) x
ReplyDeleteExactly! xxx
ReplyDeleteHaha you should! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteExactly, it's so important! What's your favourite base? xxx
ReplyDeleteThank you! Exactly, that's why I never begrudge spending money on skincare! xxx
ReplyDeleteAhhh I'm glad! xx
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, I hope it helps! x
ReplyDeleteThank you! Yeah there are a lot of high street foundations I like but my favourites are all high end! xxx
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I'm definitely someone who invests in their skincare more than makeup. I want to feel confident without makeup as well as with it on! All my concealers are budget ones - I really recommend Seventeen Stay Time Concealer, it's my current favourite. Which brow product is the dupe for Anastasia? xx
ReplyDeleteAhh I'm glad! What would you say differently? xxx
ReplyDeleteThank you! I think that's really important! Ooh I'll definitely have a peak at that! The pencil on the Soap and Glory Archery Brow Tint and Pencil is IDENTICAL, I've had them side by side and compared them, plus I really like the tint end too for drawing in hairs in sparse areas! xx
ReplyDeleteThis is brill!! I agree so much that foundation & skincare are mega important to get right. Such a fantastic post, and I love your recommendations too! x
ReplyDeleteThank you! x
ReplyDeleteThank you! I hope it's helpful!
ReplyDelete