Making the switch to more high end products.

Nov 1, 2015

Emily V.

Hi girls!
Previously, with a couple of exceptions, most of the products that I use are drugstore products. Though there are a couple that I love, I feel as if making the switch to some more high end products would make my makeup look more quality. I've been obsessed with makeup for like 6 years now and feel like it's time to make the switch.
A couple of days ago I went out and purchased Estée Lauder Double Wear stay in place foundation! Super excited about that!!
I'm wondering- what are some high end must haves to really give me a nice, high quality look??
Thanks girls!!

Nov 1, 2015

Sandhyaa M.

In my opinion , anything from Mac. 90% of my makeup collection is Mac. It's good quality and it's not ridiculously expensive so I never question if something is worth buying. You should try their prolongwear concealer it's amazing.

Nov 1, 2015

Katie C.

Definitely start off with products you know will be good quality and worth the money like MAC lippies... They're an investment not a gamble X NARs bronzer? Erm UD eye shadows (although I find some drug store eyeshadows work pretty much the same) X anything it particular you're looking at?

Nov 1, 2015

Alexis C.

Personally I think you can achieve a high quality look with drugstore products as well as long as your application is technically correct. If you get high end products and you're not getting the results you achieve (ex. cakey makeup) then that's an application issue and not a product issue.

As for products, I suggest Lorac Pro Palettes, Tarte Lights Camera Splashes, IT Cosmetics Brow Power, Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzer, MAC Blushes, MAC Lipsticks, Urban Decay Matte Revolution Lipsticks, Urban Decay, Revolution Lip Glosses, Kat Von D Shade + Light Palette, Kat Von D Studded Kiss Lipsticks

Nov 1, 2015

Emily V.

I guess I didn't really mean quality, I don't know what I meant, I couldn't think of the right word! I guess I'm just wanting to switch to high end products.

I'll look into things from MAC today when I hit Sephora, so thank you! Will grab some MAC lippies for sure! I've got a couple UD eyeshadow singles that I LOVE, so I'll pick some of those up as well. I'm not really looking at anything in particular at the moment, I'm browsing through some "starter kits" online right now, just trying to check things out! Thanks for all the suggestions.

Nov 1, 2015

Diana T.

I agree with Alexis - the products can be poor quality if your application and brushes are high quality - that's really what you should splurge on is brushes - high end makeup differes from drugstore mainly in ingredients but not always - it's usually just the preservatives that differ - and for me personally most drugstore face products have preservatives that break me out - so that's my main reason to opt for high end foundations and concealers - but if you have no adverse reactions to drugstore ingredients then I say - why spend more if you can achieve the same look at a lower cost? The main things aside from brushes I think should be good primers and/or setting powders and/or sprays but aside from that I think drugstore products work just as well as some high end products.

Nov 1, 2015

Diana T.

Also Sephora doesn't sell Mac products... They are only sold in Mac stores... Sephora has other good brands that Alexis mentioned like my favorites are tarte and make up forever

Nov 1, 2015

Mylene L.

What is your price range? There's nothing wrong in purchasing high end products. Just make sure it suits your skin. You can ask for samples in store and try it out. It's a hit or miss. Expensive products don't mean it will give you flawless makeup. It's the right ingredients and applications. Also, invest in makeup brushes. I would rather buy expensive brushes than spending too much on expensive makeup. But most importantly, while you're still young take care of your skin. Sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen! Invest in good skincare. You will thank your skin when you get old and no skin problems.

Nov 1, 2015

Emily V.

Oh, oops, that's embarrassing!😝 I didn't know that Sephora didn't sell MAC products. I will look into some good brushes; it's not that I don't feel my makeup looks good quality, I'm just not sure what I meant I guess. Just wanted to look into high end. My price range varies, there's some products I'd really like to try that I would spent high amounts on, but other than that I like to keep things at a reasonable price. Will do some research on brushes!

Nov 1, 2015

Mari E.

You can find Mac products at Macy's

Nov 1, 2015

Mylene L.

Emily, one great product from Sephora is the Cover FX Custom Cover Drops. Never have I seen a product like this before. I got a sample and I love the finish. You mix it with anything from sunscreen, bb creams to liquid foundations high end or not. It customizes your ideal level of coverage. Trust me it's worth a try. I'm getting one too. 👍🏻

Nov 1, 2015

Shelley W.

I would eye brushes as the girls suggested along with quality skincare products because I've learned from experience that if your canvas is on point (your skin) then just about any product you lay on it will result in a beautiful outcome. Coupled with learning proper application techinque then anything is possible whether it's high end or drugstore. I've come across some not so great highend products that were beat out by drugstore. I love going highend on foundation because I can get my desired undertone (I have a greater selection of shades to choose from),lipstick highend due to formula requirements (certain ingredients irritate my skin). That's just to give you an idea.

Some of my fave highend brands...Guerlain (for bronzers and Rouge G lippies, Meterorites powder), Bobbi Brown (foundation stick,lippies,blush,shimmer bricks,eyeshadow), Tom Ford (lippies, eye quads and blushe)

I have way more brand faves but it will read like a short novel.

Nov 1, 2015

Noemy M.

You can achieve anything with drug store & high end makeup it all depends on your application or your choices. I completely understand what you meant lol because I've been thru the same situation when I was switching. You can always try the ones your familiar with of course but what helped me is reading reviews on the products you'd like to try & find similar reviews to your helping like skin wise or liking the same type of eyeshadow a ect ect... It helped me out :) Mac is great! But sometimes it's not all that you think it has so much chemicals in the product that causes breakouts.. So just read about the product first that interest you & from there you'll continue to find things you like & suit you :)

Nov 1, 2015

Morgan N.

Jacqueline, you are fabulous and such a huge help to women (including myself) who are looking for good reviews/suggestions/guidance on makeup! LOVE YOU!

Nov 1, 2015

Chris M.

Jacqueline, I have some questions about your answer to Emily. First of all, which 2 high end mascaras do you like? Next, are the Ambient Lighting powders for "mature" skin? Same question about Kevyn's Candlelight Glow highlight powder...? Thanks in advance, and I second what Morgan N. said! You're amazing!!

Nov 1, 2015

Chris M.

BTW - I have Kevyn's Celestial Skin Liquid Lighting. Is that comparable to the powder?

Nov 2, 2015

Chris M.

Okay, thanks! I'll check into those...
IMMEDIATELY!! 😘

Nov 2, 2015

Rebecca S.

I have a confession: I'm a total makeup snob! Using high end makeup is just one way to make the ritual of caring for oneself feel even more luxurious. 😊
I love almost everything from Benefit and Smashbox, especially their primers, concealers, BB creams, and highlighters. Benefit's Hoola bronzer is the only stuff I've ever used that didn't make my porcelain complexion look ridiculously orange/sparkly. Seriously, I never wore bronzer before trying Hoola, and now that I have, I'll never use anything else!
NARS and Chanel make some amazing lipsticks and lip glosses (I always turn to Chanel when looking for a good red), and I also love Too Faced's melted lipsticks. I love Dior eyeshadow palettes (they're always so well coordinated!) but on a whim I recently purchased one from Givenchy. I was blown away by how soft, smooth, and pigmented the shadows were. Felt like applying satin to my eyelids! 😍 The only thing I don't splurge on is mascara, since I've never finished a tube before it was time to toss it. Whenever possible, I buy travel size mascaras, or, I wait to buy high end makeup until they have bonus giveaways with purchase, and that way I get a small size of great quality mascara that I know won't just wind up going rancid.
Joining a subscription service like Birchbox, Glossybox, or Ipsy is a great way to expose yourself to some new high end products without having to shell out big bucks for a full size product you may not like. Plus, Birchbox has a lot of starter and trial size kits for sale on their website, and each purchase from Birchbox earns you points that can be used towards a future purchase.
At $21 a month (there is a discount if you pay for a full year up front), Glossybox is the most expensive subscription service I know of, but they also have the highest end brands, and often times include full size products in each box. I'm a member of both Birchbox and Glossybox, and I've never received a box where I felt like I wasn't getting my money's worth and then some!
Good luck and happy shopping!

Nov 2, 2015

Ashley L.

I think I know what you mean. I started off using higher end makeup just for fun really. I started getting some Clinique lipsticks then went from there. Now though, my philosophy on makeup has changed. I reach for my drugstore makeup a lot more now and opt to spend on my skincare. Good skin=good looking makeup. Maybe try that route too. I think it's more fun personally.