How do you do it?

May 12, 2014

Nala H.

How do you justify buying expensive makeup? (Excluding professional MUAs)

I went by the MAC store and was going to finally but the lip pencil in Cork (FYI it's one of the best lip liners for WOC who like nude lips) but I couldn't get myself to spend $15 on a lip liner. So how do you do it? Do you buy the makeup regardless? Or do you splurge only on items you know you'll get good use out of?

I don't wear lipstick often, honestly it's more like never. (I prefer lip balm/gloss/butters)

May 12, 2014

Kk B.

I agree with Jacqlyn^^
I pretty much splurge on foundation. Its in my opinion the most important. that's what people notice first about your face. your skin.

May 12, 2014

Dawn A.

I only buy expensive makeup that I'll use on an everyday that I can't find a drugstore dupe for. And I try not to buy more than a couple expensive products all at once. Like a few holy grails like my Anastasia Brow Wiz or MAC prolong wear concealer are items I use on the daily and can't live without so I don't feel bad buying them:)

May 12, 2014

Brianna M.

The only thing I can really understand buying higher end is foundation and eye shadow because yes foundation pretty much makes or breaks a look and higher end foundation there is a wider range of formulas for you to actually find the one for you and also eye shadow because it doesn't expire and you can get a lot of use out of it but however if I had the money I would buy everything high end lol but a lip liner for $15 is ridiculous.

May 12, 2014

M G.

Well if all my bills are payed, I don't really fill guilty lol.

May 12, 2014

Haley G.

I totally agree with mg that's how I feel. I try to get my drugstore basics, things I genuinely like (revlon lip products, milani blushes, nyx, any LE collection), then go to ulta or sephora as a next-step. imo I think eyeshadow palettes, value sets, foundations, highlight powders, and lip products are worth it. value sets really help justify cost.

May 12, 2014

Kitty K.

I started off buying high-end, so when I tried out drug store most of the time I found myself to be disappointed.
I can really only imagine buying lip liners, some mascaras, and some lip products but that's as far as my drug store collection goes. I personally don't mind splurging because
A. It's my money
B. I'm rarely disappointed
C. It's my hobby and there's no price tag on a hobby. Men splurge on video games and cars and I splurge on makeup and skin care.

May 12, 2014

Jennifer G.

I'll only buy something really expensive if I'm treating myself, or if it's something I can get good use of and lasts awhile. Most of my makeup is drugstore minus a few eyeshadow palettes. I love watching dupe videos on YouTube because really with some things why spend more than you need to if you can pull off the same look? I mean if I definitely had a lot of money I would definitely have a lot more high end makeup lol.

May 12, 2014

Rebecca J.

I wear a very natural look. usually just foundation and nude lip gloss. I started using drug store make up and I was disappointed because I never was able to get the right foundation color to match my skin and the same with lip gloss. So I started going to mac and sephora because I was able to get my true match and a perfect lip gloss.

May 12, 2014

Rebecca J.

And yes I splurge lol.

May 12, 2014

Rebecca J.

But yes I do splurge lol

May 12, 2014

Ileene M.

I'm with Maria :)

May 12, 2014

Alli P.

Well said, Alexis!
I'm with several of the other girls on this one. If I know that my bills and living expenses are taken care of, I go ahead and buy. Like Alexis said, it's my money to spend how I choose.

...Plus working in a makeup store doesn't help too much either though lol.

May 12, 2014

Roz X.

Priorities. Once the bills are paid, I'll treat myself. I don't do "hauls" but maybe twice a year. I go months without buying anything cosmetic or skin care wise. I know peeps that hoard drugstore cosmetics...and spend much more than me doing so. There is a certain financial line I won't cross at this point, but MAC makes killer lip pencils and you'd get a ton of wear out of it. I'm not big on them in general, but the lip liners last long and wear beautifully...even as lipstick. Jacqueline recommended the Nye lip pencils, which are less pricey. Perhaps you should try those. :)

May 12, 2014

Antonia S.

I splurge on things I know I'll get a lot of use out of. (Primer, foundation, concealer, and staples like nude lipsticks/liners, brow products.) I rarely wear colored eyeshadow so I know that an expensive shadow palette like the Urban Decay Electric Palette would be a complete waste of money for me.
I also go for quality products. I do heavy research before I purchase a new product so I am rarely unsatisfied with my purchases.
On another note, something I never understood was purchasing nearly identical colors for your own personal use. I always considered myself a makeup junkie, but maybe there is a higher tier above me. I just find buying two colors that are a half shade different from one another completely unnecessary.

May 12, 2014

Antonia S.

I also feel like something people don't fully understand that dupes are usually just for the color, and not really always the quality of the product. Sure, you can find great drugstore products but brands like MAC, Hourglass and Benefit price their items high for a reason!

May 12, 2014

Symone B.

I just think about all the lovely things I can use it for, especially my upcoming ventures with my YouTube channel

May 13, 2014

Caitlin M.

I'm with Kitty K. I find myself disappointed with so many drugstore products that I actually feel worse about wasting $5 on a drugstore product that sucks but I'm perfectly fine with spending $15 on something and being happy with it. I don't like feeling like I'm wasting my money even if its only $5. If I'm going to spend money at all I would rather spend a little more and be thoroughly satisfied with my purchase. I do still buy a couple things drugstore but it's limited. The only drugstore brand I'm overly thrilled with is Nyx honestly. I also like that high end stuff usually has a better return policy so if it turns out I am unhappy the chances of me getting my money back or switching out a product is much higher. Usually at drugstores once you open it, you can't return it. I also will read reviews and watch videos on a lot of the stuff I buy, so again my chances of being dissatisfied are slimmer. I really have no problem paying more for quality and I do feel like I get better quality. A bad product is a bad product though, and high end isn't an exception but I find that I'm rarely horribly disappointed with any of my purchases. And of course, bills and living expenses come first. But if those are taken care of I have no problem spending what's left on something I want and know I'll use. If you start buying in small chunks you'll probably be surprised at how quickly your high end collection will grow lol.

May 13, 2014

Christy A.

The only expensive makeup I'd but is foundation, the rest like lip colors / eyeliner / mascara are drug store.
I don't mind spending a lot on foundation, no regrets ;)