Are there certain beauty products you refuse to spend a lot of money on? If so, which ones & why?
.
Body sunscreen is definitely an area where splurging may be nice, but it’s not at all practical, given how much you have to use!
- Burberry Beauty Spring/Summer 2012 Collection
- Lancome Rouge In Love Lipcolor & Le Vernis
- Le Metier de Beaute Northern Lights Collection for Spring 2012
- Paul & Joe Beaute for Spring 2012
- MAC Viva Glam – Ricky Martin & Nicki Minaj for Viva Glam
- LUSH for Valentine’s Day
- MAC for Beth Ditto Collection for Summer 2012
- Chanel 2012 Spring-Summer Haute Couture Show Makeup by Peter Philips
- MAC Viva Glam – Ricky Martin & Nicki Minaj for Viva Glam
- MAC for Beth Ditto Collection for Summer 2012
- MAC Shop MAC, Cook MAC Collection (Shop Shop Shop, Cook Cook Cook) for Spring 2012
- MAC Vera Collection for Spring 2012
- MAC Lightfully New Collection for Spring 2012
- MAC Perfectly Finished Collection for Spring 2012
- MAC Mineralize Skincare
- MAC Metal-X Cream Eyeshadow Collection for Winter 2011 – Official Information & Photos
- NYX Stella Lipstick Review, Photos, Swatches
- Haus of Gloi Lavender Sugar Bubbling Scrub Review, Photos
- Milani Blue Liquif’Eye Liquid Like Automatic Propel Pencil Review, Photos, Swatches
- NYX Haute Melon Lipstick Review, Photos, Swatches
- Milani Photo Flash Lip Flash Gloss Pencil Review, Photos, Swatches
- Milani Flashy Lip Flash Gloss Pencil Review, Photos, Swatches
- Video Review: Maybelline Color Tattoo 24-Hour Eyeshadow
- NYX Violetta Eyeshadow Review, Photos, Swatches
Get Updates by E-Mail
Local Guides
All Local Guides
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
DC
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
DC
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
probably mascara because it only lasts for about 2-3 months
This mascara lasts for 2-3 months and you really are will not feel a changes. Ase was the first day as you will. I agree with you. And I like that.
Eye makeup remover! The Sephora and drugstore brands work just fine for me!
same with me! forgot about that one! plus i love drugstore mascara!
lipgloss. i use it up too fast to spend even $15-$20
so drugstore lipgloss is great plus i think on your lips you
can’t tell as much as say a cheap foundation or chalky eyeshadows that might
be inexpensive.
Face wash, sunscreen, mascara …Can’t think of other stuff.
Absolutely! I wouldn’t spend a ton of money on a body scrub when a cheaper generic brand would do.
mascaras..since you have to replace them every three months! i would not shut out more than 15 for one.
Mascara – maybe this i because i have yet to find a mascara that does anything worth paying a lot for…
Makeup remover, nail polish remover… anything you go through at a high rate. I agree w/your sunscreen answer, although it’s important to find one that works well, even if it’s not the cheapest!
Nail polish remover and make up remover
definitely mascara since you have to change it so often
Body products in general. Lotions, sunblock, body wash, etc. I also agree with face wash and mascara. Once in a while I will splurge on mascara but it almost kills me!
jups… yesterday i bought Collistar ‘Christalli Di Luce – Couture Make-up’
It’s so pretty !!
xxx Ilja
chapstick!
Body care stuff like lotions, soaps, and scrubs. I feel that you have to use so much on your body so spending a lot of dough on it is kinda a waste. Especially since there’s a lot of cheap drug store brands that work really good.
mascara
Mascara, I have been tempted to try the Buxom mascara, but $18 is a bit too over priced for me, but I know one day I’ll cave lol just because the #1 makeup item I cannot live without is mascara and I’m (like many others) still trying to find my HolyGrail-can’t live without-best ever mascara. (:
makeup in general. I can understand SOME skin care products being more expensive, but the average female goes through makeup fairly quickly due to constant use…so it makes no sense to buy a lipstick for $20-50+ when you can get one that is similar if not identical for much cheaper and be able to replace it for less when you do finish using it. The 50+ you spend on your lipstick could go to a charity, buy a family of three dinner at a buffet, buy a parent at a shelter 2-3 boxes/bags of diapers, etc. It’s a waste, really.
Agree 100%.
Black eyeliner. I wear only a tiny bit and smudge it anyway. Avon’s my favourite for that.
Mascaras!
Facewash, lotion and bodywash. The drugstore has lots of good quality products at an affordable price. I love Cetaphil !!!
I usually don’t spend a lot on my mascara the most 10.00$, and nail polish around 5.00 unless it’s a color I can’t do with out and I’ll bite the bullet and purchase it.
same! nail polish i always tend to go cheaper on, especially since chanel might be pretty, i’ll use it up pretty fast
I know what you mean, I do my nails maybe every three days and I can go though nail polish very fast so I usually have to re-purchase and I don’t want to spend a lot because it can get very expensive
chapstick/lip conditioner i.e. i wouldnt buy sugar no matter how good it smells i go through like 3 sticks a month. that would add up a ton of cash.
mascara.. because there are a lot of drugstore ones which are as good as the high-ends!
also face-wash, bodylotion, primer (since i use monistat), nailpolish
1. nail polish .. if a higher brand comes out with a particular color during that month, i can easily find a dupe for it and no one can tell the difference.
2. Eyeshadow. I’ve yet had someone come up to me and tell me how lovely my mac shadow was. If a 2 dollar shadow works why shell out 12? Sometimes the pigmentation is much better than some of the colors mac comes out with.
3. Lip gloss. Sheer or clear .. it’s all the same.
Body wash!
Body wash! It goes so quickly and you can always get nice ones on sale during holidays!
drug store makeup-
if its around the same price as higher end makeup then its pointless .
Yes of course! I don’t spend a lot of money for body, hands, foot and hair products.
nailpolish remover and tweezers
also mainly a lot of drugstore things, i feel they just arent worth it. like 10 dollars for a drugstore mascara no thanks, id say 5 is decent
Without a doubt, I refuse to spend $$$ on mascara (as noted, it lasts such a brief time, it’d pain me to spend a lot on something so short-lived), as well as lipliner (I’ve found my HG in the d/s, which goes with everything I wear … no need to look for something as boring as l/l for tons of money LOL).
mascara
cleanser
moisturizer
eye makeup remover *baby oil all the way*
mascara, for the most part
lip balm. why wuld i spend more than 5 bucks on it?
body lotion.
Latisse or any product in this category , It is Rogaine for eyelashes. When you stop using the product your lashes go back to their natural state. So just invest is some good mascara or false eyelashes.
mascara!
Mascara, I don’t think the more expensive ones do anything different or better!
mascara, sunscreen , face wash
Body scrubs, eye makeup remover (I found Yves Rocher works better than Lancome’s bi-facil!!), body lotion (I use high end and low end, but there is no significant difference!), makeup cotton pads, face wipes (drugstrore ones work as Estee Lauder ones!!). I save for getting high end makeup!!
NAILPOLISH REMOVER WALMART IS COOL W ME.. PLEASE N THANKS
Nailpolish remover!
Let me rather say this: The things I DON’T mind spending money on is the best mascara, foundation and loose powder I can afford. For the rest I don’t mind buying the cheaper stuff.
Silicone serum! It’s all silicone and Friss Ease and Citre Shine work awesome.
actually nail polish, we have this brand in Malaysia that does nail polish for like rm5 which is about a $1.50 and the colors are stunning so why pay more?
Clear Brow Gel
Body products such as lotions, showers and scrubs. Its all about the face
I would say eyeliner. I like to play with eyeliners with different colors and so cheaper ones let me experiment more.
Skincare. I can get exactly what I need at the drugstore. I don’t see a need, personally, for overpriced stuff that’s probably no better. Also, mascara. Same thing!
makeup remover…i use baby oil, it works great, especially since I have dry skin. If I want lipstick in a color I don’t think I’ll use a lot I try to find a dupe, and definitley mascara. I haven’t found any high end mascara thats superior enough to the drug store brands to make it worth it.
Or single eyeshadows. I rarely spend a ton of money on one single eyeshadow; I’d prefer eyeshadow palettes or quads for more expensive brands.
Mascara, because you have to replace it so often, and the drugstore ones work really well for me
So why spend more.
MASCARA: Drug stores work well
BATH PRODUCTS: Esp hyped ones like LUSH…
All of you are right!
I don’t spend a lot of money on face wash, toner, eye makeup remover, and chapstick/lip balm. I work at a drugstore so I usually will get the store brand plus I get my employee discount.
makeup remover, nail polish remover, lip balm, shampoo, hands cream… but generally even nail polish, except if i REALLY LOVE the shade and i can’t fin a similar one anywhere…
oh, i forgot to say why… well because you can find all of those products in a drugstore and they work perfectly!
-Mascara because I haven’t found the expensive brand mascaras to be any different than the drug store mascaras.
-Spray Tanning cause it’s freakin expensive and it only lasts for a couple of days
-Face/Body Lotion
-Makeup remover
I don’t think I’d spend a huge amount on a lip gloss. Foundation yes, a good moisturiser yes, but for a lipgloss, heck even a lipstick – I could never justify it!
mascara. there are too many good low prices ones.
Mascara and makeup remover! I’ve found great drugstore products in both categories, so I see no reason to spend more than $10 on a mascara or remover. Just not worth it! I’d rather buy a nice shadow with the extra money.
Brow gel is the only thing I scrimp on – any old clear mascara will do. Other than that, I buy everything high end.
Mascara, for sure. I do replace them every 3 months so I don’t want to invest into it that much. Plus I have long lashes and so far drugstore brands and MAC have been doing a pretty good job as it is. And nail polish, I love it, but I can’t spend a lot on it because my love for certain shades changes all the time. I can’t justify spending a lot on something I may only use a couple of times. I stick to OPI and China Glaze mostly.
I try to stay away from high-end brands, because I know the moment I buy that Givenchy palette I want … it’s all over! I won’t be able to stop myself.
I would list a whole bunch of other stuff but I realize that I do spend more than my friends to on beauty products but I consider myself pretty reasonable.
Mascara! You have to throw it out in three months anyway!
black pencil eyeliner & black gel or liquid liner. I can spend more on colored eyeliners that are exclusive to certain lines (MUFE, Urban Decay), but not on black – the drugstore black is the same as the high end black! I’ve tried both and not seend a difference.
I would say mascara, only because although department store brands can be significantly better, for the most part unless some one is a MUA, you wouldnt really notice the difference on the eyes
I keep telling myself that I need a new foundation, but instead, I walk away from MAC with everything but the foundation.
Facial cleanser, mascara, lip balm and eyeliner
There are quite a few things I won’t pay big bucks for. To name a few, I think body sunscreen, blotting papers, and lip moisturizer would be my top three.
Facewash makeup remover nailpolish
definately make up remover. I actually just use baby oil to remove my makeup, then wash my face to gel rid of the excess oil. works well and only costs me 99 cents for a bottle that can last me months.
after make up remover id have to say moisturizers. My favorite one is olay from drug stores.
Nail polish and remover
Oh, I forgot to add that I barely ever buy nail polish! In fact, I have only two! I like to paint my toes, but not my nails. As a mom of a ten month old, I find that I can’t keep up with the maintenance. Plus, I’m constantly doing dishes, laundry, and other stuff, so the polish is always quick to chip. I’d just rather not bother!
Basically any one product that is over $50-60 i won’t buy. Sometimes mascara if its over $25… And face/body products because drugstore is just as good in my opinion.
Mascara, the best one I’ve ever found so far was Maybelline.
Also, generally, I buy even my OPI on Amazon or on sale at Harmon, unless there’s a color I cannot be without (Teal We Meet Again was a color I bought at retail price, haha.)
Also, I often buy drug store blushes, but I’m started to be turned by the more awesome unique (or natural) shades I find at the more expensive brands.
Other things I buy on the cheap are brushes I don’t use often, eyeshadow colors I need for a specific event (wedding, etc) and know I don’t like all that much and body wash (I buy inexpensive handmade soap on etsy).
probably mascara… i really like Plushlash. Wouldn’t spend more money on any other mascara
I will not spend lots of money on mascara. It lasts such a short period of time and it’s taken me many-a-trial to find the right one for me.
Mascara, lipliner, and eyebrow pencil. I spend way too much on lipsticks/glosses, eyeshadows, etc. so I need to attempt to save somewhere, Lol
Face wash and makeup remover
Body wash, body lotion, makeup remover. I go through a bottle of body wash basically every month, so there’s no point in getting the pricey stuff.
probably pencil eyeliner. I have bought MAC eyeliner and plan on buying Urban Decay 24/7. I feel Rimmel works just as well. There’s so many other options too such as gel liner, eyeshadow, etc.
Body lotion
I don’t splurge on makeup remover, self-tanning products, eyeliners, or mascaras. There are too many good drugstore alternatives.
Mascara,definetely!I’d love to try out a high-end one,but 30 Euros for a Chanel or YSL Mascara is crazy.Even 18 Euros for a MAC one is still expensive to me,but Splahproof is my favorite.I’m trying to find a drugstore mascara that is just as good.
I like expensive and luxury beauty products in general, so all is good for me. But false lashes,they only last up to 4 or 5 uses really. I just use Ardell, Andrea, or Quo ones. I’ve seen some lashes for 60+ dollars a pair, they were mink and/or human hair lashes.
Mascara.
Body products! I use mostly drugstore stuff.
Expensive shampoo. I have very long hair which I wash and condition every day so to spend $25 a bottle would be hell on my wallet.
nailpolish! I just invest in a good quality (but not expensive) under and topcoat, but I totally don’t get why I should pay a lot for designer nailpolish when the quality isn’t necessarily better than cheaper products.
Mascara.
I use brow pencils from the drug store always since I go through them so fast!
Mascara because IMO the higher end versions do nothing more than the drugstore kind =)
I generally don’t like to spend a lot on makeup. I’ll splurge on things like face powder/blush, but not on mascara/body products.
Mascara and eyeshadows. You throw mascara out about three months later and the most I’ll spend on an eyeshadow is from MAC but NYX are $4 and sometimes more pigmented. At the end of the day you take it off anyway. No need for $40 designer eyeshadow.
Eyelash curlers. False lashes.
brow stuff. this is one product where i actually went from expensive high end brands to find that they are now making comparable low end brands that do the trick if not better
Lip liner pencils, nail polish, eyebrow tweezers, face glitters, anti-wrinkle creams
Oh man. I am the thriftiest girl on the planet, so I could write a book about all the stuff that I buy the “cheap” version of… I know that some products really are worth the money, but $30 mascara? Really? Here’s mine:
1- Mascara. Haven’t found a brand better than Maybelline Lash Stiletto- $6 at Target or buy one get one free at Ulta.
2- Makeup remover- Target brand, $3.
3- Makeup tools- sponges, sharpeners, applicators. I can’t for the life of me understand why anyone would pay $6 for 2 MAC sponges. You can get a pack of 20 at Target for less than $2. I have splurged on nice brushes too, but at the end of the day, I just use the little disposable sponges they have for free at Sephora. I grab a handfull of them whenever I go, and a couple mascara wands too. For free ninety nine!
4- Foundation and powder- never understood this one. My mom pays $50 a bottle for hers… Mine is about $8, Revlon, used the same for years. I understand that some people have very difficult to match skin tones, or maybe have acne/scars that needs really good coverup… but most women can get away with drugstore brand and still look amazing.
Mascara, I hardly ever use it anyway.
I am so surprised a lot of viewers don’t splurge on face wash – it’s your FACE for goodness sakes! Anyways, I won’t spend money on eyebrow gel ;P cheapie drugstore brand or even regular hair gel on those off days does the trick =)
It’s easier to list the things I buy at the d/s to begin with. Other things I buy elsewhere.
1. St. Ive’s scrub for face. This is a standard. It’s fantastic and even smells good. Yay for peach pits!
2. Shampoo. I’m not going to spend all my makeup money on organic goat’s milk conditioner and exotic rhino secretions shampoo when I can get a nice sulphate-free thing at Target for $5. I’ll even put up with the awful rosmary/mint scent.
3. Lip balms. Not necessarily glosses, just balms. Even if my heard didn’t already belong to Nivea “Touch of Moisture,” I could buy any number of $3 balms from indie Etsy sellers and slake my desire for all natural, organic, vegan lipgloss that smells/tastes like cake.
4. lip scrubs: I have sugar and vitamin E at my house; do I really need to pay $20 for someone to put it in stick form FOR me?
5. Mascara. I haven’t seen a big diff between high end and d/s anyway and you toss it in 3 months, so why bother?
6. Face primer. Nearly all the gel-based primers are chemically identical to the Monistat chafing gel formula. It’s just a silicone gel; there’s not much you can do to change that up. So spend $6 and get 4x the product.
7. Nail Polish. I buy Sinful colors more than any other brand. It last nearly a week, despite constant hospital-work handwashing (yay medical fields!) and it comes in a fantastic array of colors that can dupe nearly anything out there. And it’s $2 a bottle even when it’s not on sale.
I guess that’s it. I don’t buy established brands of shadows that much, but I can’t really say it’s an economy thing. A lot of time the mineral/indie shadows I buy wind up being quite a bit more by volume than MAC or Chanel or Shiseido or some of the others. But my lipsticks are pretty much 100% MAC anymore and my l/g is all Buxom and my foundation is all BE (right now, unless I find another powder foundation that I love) and I doubt I’ll ever go back to liquid foundations.
If perfume counts, I can’t buy *any* commercial scents anymore. I am pretty well spoiled by Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab. Yeah, it’s $17.50 – $27.50/teaspoon, but it’s WORTH it.
Although i love makeup i think that most of the high end MU is simply a gimmick and you tend to spend your money on them not coz they are that much better than cheaper ones but because it makes you feel more ‘special’ or ‘luxurious’.
Most of these products are way overpriced deliberately because the high price tag sends the message that it’s the best on the market you can possibly get. If you base your purchases on common sense as opposed to impulse buying, you will most probably find out that the only beauty products it’s worth splurging on are quality foundation, MU brushes and maybe well pigmented blushes, eyeshadows and lipsticks/glosses. I say for skin, hair and body – the simpler, the better. Harmful chemicals, fancy packaging, expensive advertising campaigns? No, thanks.
Let me start by saying I like nce thingsand I now shop for my department store items at discount makeup sites.
I will not spend a lot of money on mascara, facial wipes, eyeliner, lipliner, body wash, nail polish, body lotion, body scrubs, nail polish remover. eye makeup remover.
Reason being is these products are necissities (sp) and I can find good producs from the drugstore. target or walmart.
I never spend a lot on body lotions, shower gels, scrubs or sunscreen. That said I am an aesthetician so I get polish, etc for cheap, I have the MAC Pro discount so I pay, like, drugstore prices for it, and I work for Lancome so I get some stuff for free.
1. Bright eyeshadow. No matter how pretty it is, I know I won’t wear it – that’s what my 78 palette is for.
2. Mascara. I’ve received a few for free from MAC (I’ve had my makeup done there many times for weddings, prom, etc.) and I’ve bought sample sizes of high-end mascaras in the past… but I’ve found drugstore brands that work just as well for half the price so why splurge?
Other Items: sunscreen, body wash, lip balm, nail polish remover…
i would never spend to much on mascara since you have to throw it out every 3 monthes. also shampoo… john frieda and suave work fine.
Hah! I wish there was something I wouldn’t be willing to spend big money on. I’m just such a sucker for pretty packaging. I swear sales people can see me a mile away and sell me on any fancy thing.