Drugstore vs. High end makeup Options

[angelrevelation]

In your opinion, is it worth it to get high end makeup from department stores or other places like Sephora, or is the quality of drugstore makeup the same? It must depend on the brands, so which do you think are just as good? I don't want to waste money on makeup, but I don't want it to give me eye infections either.

[transcendentalis...]

it depends on what you're buying.

mac is pretty much legendary for eyeshadow, but many milani shadows can do a very passable job. loreal shadows are also rated extremely high.

for concealers.. you have that one gold tube concealer? i think it's lancome or yves saint laurent. it's maybe $30, but the revlon under-eye concealer's been rated just as highly.

for brushes.. mac, again is legendary. but i'm perfectly fine with my costco brushes.

maybelline is decent in general...

i like my high-end stuff. smashbox = love.
however, although many drugstore brands can do a wonderful job, many of them test on animals and i'm not really into that.

i could write such a long post on this :/
splurge on brushes (unless you have a costco nearby... $20 for 12 brushes, case and cleaner). and check out the mac 187 brush too!

[redpeony]

I spend a lot on [undereye] concealer because Bobbi Brown goes beyond anything I have tried (and has rave reviews) and eyebags are a problem for me. I got a brush from Benefit because my first concealer was purchased there. I also like to splurge on lipcolour because I personally feel there is a difference.

However the rest of my make up comes from drugstores. The best pencil eyeliner I have tried so far is Annabelle and I am satisfied so I stick with it. I don't have a super thick lashes being asian and Maybelline Full n Soft has by far been my favourite mascara so far. I've tried Estee Lauder, Lancome, Benefit, Mac... and I always go back to Maybelline.

As revoltaire said above, completely depends on the product for me.

[Rachel]

Most of my eyeshadows are from MAC, mainly because I love the colors. Foundation is Sephora, although I rarely use it. My mascara is Maybelline, the pink tube fabulous. My powder is Cover Girl, I've tried MAC and others but they feel too heavy. Oh and my eye liner is Wet & Wild, can't beat $0.99.

[HakunaMatata]

I have things here and there from Sephora and MAC, but for the most part I deffffinitely vouch Drugstore makeup. While MAC is famous for their eyeshadow, I use Rimmel and honestly - it does the job. I've had my makeup done at MAC before, and I went home and tried it with Drugstore products and wa-lah, overall, the same quality. Admittedly, the MAC makeup had more *oomph*, but for the average day, I don't think there's too much need to spend too much cash on makeup.

P.S. Buuut, I can't vouch for either side about foundations or concealers, because I haven't tried it from either options.

[Gigi]

Unless you buy makeup from some really obscure dollar store, you won't get eye infections (unless you're allergic, but in that case you would be allergic to even the expensive makeup).

I think the biggest difference when it comes to drugstore and department store makeup is pigment, especially for eyeshadows. If you take a similar shade from a drugstore and department store brand and apply some to the skin, the more expensive brand will have a more saturated, darker pigment. The reason for the price difference in most cases is the price for pigment (and packaging, etc).

[*Michelle*]

It really depends on what you're using the make-up for. For me, I use a mixture for everyday make-up: Anna Sui, Revlon, Almay, NARS, Make-up Forever

But when I'm doing make-up as an artist for photography or whatever, high-end "designer" make-up just works so much better. The colors are brighter, the stuff is easier to blend and work with, and the brushes work wonders. I love NARS, Chanel, MAC, Givenchy, and some others. They're fantastic for make-up.

[reeenana]

.

[sweetest-emotion]

WHAT YOU PAY FOR IS WHAT YOU GET! buy cheap, you get cheap...
although, i must say maybelline's full and soft mascara has gotta be the BEST mascara i have ever used...so +1 for the drugstores, but +a million for department store brands. the eye shadow has staying power, better colors, vibrant ones, shimmer in unexpected ways, just overall fab stuff. plus chanel's double perfection compact (foundation/powder) is seriously the best foundation and powder product i've ever used. well worth the money.

[Peanups]

depends...

[oooohlala]

I don't have a super thick lashes being asian and Maybelline Full n Soft has by far been my favourite mascara so far. I've tried Estee Lauder, Lancome, Benefit, Mac... and I always go back to Maybelline.

i'll have to try that sometime.

i only wear mascara and a bit of eyeliner. i pay about $15 for clinique mascara and my eyeliner is not high end at all. actually, i don't think my eyeliner is a brand at all; i got it in china. i tried wet n wild mascara ($2?) and it was pretty bad.

[1angel3]

I get my makeup at drugstores but I avoid dollar stores but their lip gloss make my lips itch.

[monxcheri]

I never bought make-up from drugstores but I suppose they would be the same.

[K0olkiid]

i think itz really different
i cant wear make-up from drugstore

[misoshiru]

i love high-end makeup. a lot of cases, i just feel that drugstore makeup doesn't apply as well as high-end makeup does.

[$$$ soul]

I have things here and there from Sephora and MAC, but for the most part I deffffinitely vouch Drugstore makeup. While MAC is famous for their eyeshadow, I use Rimmel and honestly - it does the job. I've had my makeup done at MAC before, and I went home and tried it with Drugstore products and wa-lah, overall, the same quality.

Agreed, since I use Rimmel as well. Sephora makeup just lasts a tad longer and doesn't run as much.

[heyyfrankie]

My mom always gets her makeup from Dillards & Macy's.

[arghrawr]

I rather drug store stuff. Cheaper, and if you buy the right stuff you basically get the same/better quality than some high end makeup stores.

[kimmytree]

I only buy high end pressed powder... because from what I've seen it's the only product that seems to be any better.

[$$$ soul]

My mom always gets her makeup from Dillards & Macy's.

Macy's isn't a drugstore...they sell high end makeup like Clinique, Dior, Chanel, Lancome, etc.

[*stephinika*]

I don't wear much makeup, but I use a mix of drug store makeup and the more expensive stuff...when it comes to eyeshadow, I've recently fallen in love with MAC stuff just because it blends and stays on so nicely.

[x_curse_of_the_c...]

I get sephora stuff because cheaper brands test on animals.

[cyb3r0ptik]

if i had a credit card, i'd be buying some bare minerals.
that is the best concealer/foundation that i have ever used in my entire life.

since i'm poor and can't afford that tho, i usually buy the maybelline matte mousse foundation. it works wonders for me.

i go cheap on eyeliner. partly because i use it. a LOT, but also because i've found that wet n wild liquid does just perfectly fine for me.
eyeshadows, i like all the wild colours, so I have to get MAC, or even now i've found that Max Factor has come out with a really cool line of colours that i adore.

i guess it's just a mixup of what i can afford vs what i want.

[$$$ soul]

^ I use matte mousse fondation (rimmel) sometimes too! it's sooooo much better than regualar foundation, but i also use Prescriptive's foundation, where they custom make your foundation on the spot and give it to you in a bottle. Prettty expensive but welllll worth it.

[cyb3r0ptik]

^ I use matte mousse fondation (rimmel) sometimes too! it's sooooo much better than regualar foundation, but i also use Prescriptive's foundation, where they custom make your foundation on the spot and give it to you in a bottle. Prettty expensive but welllll worth it.

yeah, it makes my face feel much more smooth than regular liquid foundation. and i feel that it covers those imperfections a LOT better.

i haven't heard of perspective, but clinique does the same thing at their cosmetic counters at our local mall.
22.50 for a standard foundation sized bottle.

[$$$ soul]

yeah, it makes my face feel much more smooth than regular liquid foundation. and i feel that it covers those imperfections a LOT better.

i haven't heard of perspective, but clinique does the same thing at their cosmetic counters at our local mall.
22.50 for a standard foundation sized bottle.

Plus i feel like mousse foundation isn't as icky or oily. it goes on REALLY light.

yeah, prescriptive was the counter right next to Clinique at the mall, but i guess its more expensive since the bottle is $32 ahhhh

[heyyfrankie]

Macy's isn't a drugstore...they sell high end makeup like Clinique, Dior, Chanel, Lancome, etc.

...i know that...?

[iDecay]

...i know that...?

All of my cosmetics are high-end except for my lip makeup. I've been using drugstore lipgloss and lipbalm for forever. Maybe I'll take advantage of B2M soon and try out their lipsticks. :D Like someone already said on the first page, the pigmentation way better and stays o longer. I don't like having to touch up much and using a whole lot of product because I make a big mess when I apply my makeup.

[breakingdawn]

Since the only makeup I wear is mascara, I opt for high end. I've tried like all the drugstore mascaras out there, and they're either too flaky or too clumpy or don't lengthen or curl or thicken as well as the department store brands I've tried.

[pinacoolada]

I kind of have no choice right now...although all I really wear is eyeliner and lip stuff sometimes. My mom always makes me get mac.

[dowhead]

I used MAC for a few years and then I switched to Laura Mercier.
I like MAC for the shadows and lip colors. I like Laura Mercier for the concealer and base. I have gone all the way to Laura Mercier now, for no reason in particular.

The problem I have with MAC and Laura Mercier is that they don't have oil free base and concealer. I know Laura Mercier doesn't, I actually don't remember if MAC does or not. But I have a problem with both of them because my face is so darn oily that nothing can cover my shininess. It stinks! Even drugstore brands.

So, I guess I don't have a preference of high end or drugstore. I guess I'm saying I need help. If you know of a makeup brand that doesn't help you be shiny or really oily, tell me!
I'm thinking about trying Bobbi Brown soon.

Thanks girls!

Michelle :-)

[$$$ soul]

I used MAC for a few years and then I switched to Laura Mercier.
I like MAC for the shadows and lip colors. I like Laura Mercier for the concealer and base. I have gone all the way to Laura Mercier now, for no reason in particular.

The problem I have with MAC and Laura Mercier is that they don't have oil free base and concealer. I know Laura Mercier doesn't, I actually don't remember if MAC does or not. But I have a problem with both of them because my face is so darn oily that nothing can cover my shininess. It stinks! Even drugstore brands.

So, I guess I don't have a preference of high end or drugstore. I guess I'm saying I need help. If you know of a makeup brand that doesn't help you be shiny or really oily, tell me!
I'm thinking about trying Bobbi Brown soon.

Thanks girls!

Michelle :-)

The matte mousse foundation cyb3r0ptik and I was discussing earlier isn't that oily. It goes on REALLY light and it's a huge difference from the liquid base foundation you find anywhere else.

[dowhead]

Thanks! That helps. ;-)