Favorite High End Products?

Sep 14, 2011

Francesca C.

Hey everyone!
I am wanting to venture out and get some high end products. My collection is mostly drugstore and I am wanting to expand it with brands I don't already have. So I have come to ask you all...What are your favorite high end products?!

Sep 14, 2011

Melanie G.

I'd suggest checking out Benefit! Their boxed blushes are really nice and so is their Boi-ing concealer. :)

Sep 14, 2011

Shelly T.

Let's see...

Primers...
* Face primer: I've been using Smashbox Photo Finish Light for about a year or so, as well as the travel-size version of Make Up For Ever HD. I used to like the former, but recently I've been having second thoughts. A couple I want to try are Too Faced Primed and Poorless and Laura Mercier's oil-free one.

* Eyeshadow primer: Urban Decay Primer Potion (thumbs up from me) or Too Faced Shadow Insurance (haven't tried it but have heard good things)

Foundation...
I haven't tried very many higher-end foundations, largely because many brands just don't go light enough for me. (Although I am pale, I am not as pale as my icon picture suggests.) Hopefully, some others will have suggestions. :)

Tinted Moisturizer...
I've been using Bobbi Brown Oil-Free TM all summer and really like it...except for the smell. IMO, it smells like an old bandaid. Beyond that, I know there are lots of fans out there of Laura Mercier's TMs.

Concealers...
* Under the eyes: I've been using Bobbi Brown Corrector since June, and I have hit pan on it! (First time I've ever done that for any makeup product!) It's something I'll likely repurchase, though I also want to see how well MAC Studio Sculpt does there. I've also heard good things about Eve Pearl Salmon Concealer.

* Blemishes: Currently using Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer. It's not bad.

Eye Shadows...
I've been happy with the MAC eyeshadows I've tried, but I want to try Inglot's. I'm also a fan of Urban Decay's Naked Palette.

Eye Liners...
My only experience with higher end eyeliners is the double-ended Urban Decay 24/7 pencil one that used to come with the Naked Palette. While it's not too bad on the lashline, I think they suck on the waterline.

I don't have much experience with higher-end mascaras, apart from an Estee Lauder one that came with a full makeup set I got years and years ago, but I couldn't tell you much about it because I don't remember what it was like.

Ditto with loose and pressed powders. And bronzers.

Blush...
Never tried any cream blushes (high end, mid end, or drugstore). I think NARS Orgasm is fantastic, but it's very dupable these days. I have a Philosophy blush duo that's not bad, but I'm not completely in love with it. The one that gets the most love from me is MAC's in Dame. (I don't have many blushes at the moment.)

Lipstick...
From what little I can remember, the Estee Lauder lippies I got with my set years ago applied very well. I'd like to think they still do, although I've not purchased one in the interim. MAC ones are good, too.

Lipgloss...
I have a MAC Lustreglass, but it's not something I'd recommend. Had a normal l/g at one point, don't remember what I thought of it. :(

Brushes...
Most of my brushes are either drugstore brand or Sigma (which I'd consider on the low side of mid-end, probably). But I do have some MAC brushes, which I really like. But there are a slew of other brands I want to try.

Probably not a ton of help, but at least it's something? :)

Sep 14, 2011

Korie S.

Well the only one high end product that I am crazy about it the Laura Mercier Oil Free Tinted Moisturizer! Love that stuff and its totally worth the money in my opinion :)

Sep 14, 2011

Andrea F.

Oh my goodness, I don't even know where to begin. There are so many products I love right now... :) Haha!

I guess my favorites are: Lancome Teint Miracle foundation, NARS Orgasm blush, Benefit BadGal mascara, Orly nail polishes, Stila lip glazes, and ANYTHING by Urban Decay... Oh! And Tarte lip stains and Tarte Amazonian clay blushes!  

Sep 14, 2011

Soma S.

If you start out with high end, I would push you towards the direction of investing in pieces that will last you long in your collection - like brushes. I own a good amt. of MAC, Louise Young, and Hakuhodo - and I love them all. Many of my MAC brushes are still as pretty and functional as they were when I first purchased them 5 years ago... and I still see them lasting me longer by tenfold!

Also, a good lash curler [Shu Uemura]... or even a Clarisonic? Pricey, yes... last you ages and makes a big difference in your overall appearance? Yup. These were the types of high-end investments I made when I first started just because I wanted to get the most for my money.

If you're not so much interested in tools as you are makeup, I would definitely suggest you wait till Xmas or purchase a holiday set. I bought the MUFE Rock For Ever train case last year, and it was one of the best HE purchases ever! $350 or so was spent, but I received at LEAST $600 in full-sized items in that kit! Something similar you can get right now [without waiting for it to be a seasonal item] is Tarte's Glow Your Way To Gorgeous set on QVC. I HIGHLY suggest their Amazonian Clay products, and that kit has Peaceful, which is a very nice satin peach blush color and 8 other full-sized products I ADORE for only $54 or less depending on the day you order.

The Tarte set is my only "set" recommendation, [I purchased a few this summer, and that was by far the BEST value for money!] but here are my single product recommendations:

mascara: MUFE Aqua Smokey Lash [buy the set on Sephora that comes with the eyemakeup remover deluxe sample online, you'll get more for your $]

foundation: MUFE HD

blush: Tarte's Amazonian Clay Blushes [last long, great colors, non-reactive with my skin unlike NARS and MAC blushes that broke me out] For tanned/olive skin, I would suggest Tipsy [intimidating, but beautiful flush] and Exposed are great colors if you decide to go the single purchase route.

eyeshadows: MAC [affordable if you buy the 15 refillable pan/palette and def. cheaper on the high-end spectrum when it comes to personalized palettes], NAKED if you have no neutrals [if you do, skip this], UDDP [primer]

Sep 14, 2011

Kristen I.

My highest end product is my Urban Decay Naked Palette, and that's it. I don't use it a lot but when I do I realize why I bought it.

I also love my too face palettes. They're great, kinda bulky but doesn't bug me too much

Sep 14, 2011

Francesca C.

OMG ladies! Thank you soooo much! I'm so excited to go wander around Sephora! lol If anyone else has any absolute must-haves, please share them!

Sep 15, 2011

Selena B.

I really love dior lipsticks (the rouge dior ones) they go on like a lip balm yet they are still really pigmented...... For blushes I love illamasqua (both the cream and powder) they are so pigmented one tap is all you need so they are a good investment because you will probably have them forever! In my opinion they are better then nars and cheaper too!.....As far as eyeshadow goes I love the UD naked palette.  :)

Sep 15, 2011

Steff J.

I totally agree with Selena... Dior's lipsticks are BEAUTIFUL. They're really creamy, velvety, long-wearing and pretty pigmented, yet shiny, glossy & smooth. haha.

I love Hourglass' Mineral-based Veil primer with SPF 15, Makeup Forever's Aqua Creams as an eyeshadow base, Makeup Forever's HD foundation, their Face & Body foundation, their eyeshadows and Aqua Eyes pencil liner. =] Here's my thing about high-end products, yes, they are a bit more expensive, but they do last quite a long time.

Sep 16, 2011

Theresa G.

My favorite hig end productsnwould have to be my Chanel pro luminere foundation, sole de tan bronzer and blush which smells like roses : )

Sep 16, 2011

Samantha G.

i'd look into nars and urban decay. there's usually never a complaint about their products and they're highly pigmented. :)