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What was your biggest beauty indulgence?


What was your biggest beauty indulgence? Was it worth it?

If massages count, those are probably the priciest beauty-related purchase I’ve made. Totally worth it! After that, lipsticks/lipglosses like Guerlain’s Rouge Gs, which are $48, and Cle de Peau #2 Lipgloss, which is also $48.

Thanks to Sally for today’s question!

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Mostly Sunny Avatar

Hmm I only get massage/facial/manicure/pedicure when I’m back in Taipei, because for the same price I get much better service there. If we’re taking about cosmetics… a Dior quint (which is 60 dollars)? Otherwise my splurges stay around 30 bucks (Guerlain Rouge Automatique, Hourglass duo, Armani Eyes to Kill Intense…). I don’t need to own A LOT (before I started blogging my stash really was pretty small), but I prefer to have one piece that I truly adore than buying 5 cheaper ones that are “meh.”

stacey Avatar

Depends on its purpose- eyeshadows- Tom Ford Quads, face cream- Creme de La Mer, eye cream- Sisley, loose face powder- YSL (about 20 years ago or more- I paid $75.00 for it….alot of money for it back then),

Brenda927 Avatar

I second the clarisonic. My GHD flat iron, Escada perfumes, and remy hair extensions are also splurges I don’t regret. As far as makeup products, NARS blushes and make up forever rouge artist intense lipsticks

GlamorPuss Avatar

I’m with you on massages, Christine!  I love them and they are the only thing that have alleviated my chronic back pain that no chiropractor or physical therapist could figure out.  Other than that, I would say my biggest beauty splurge has been eye cream.  I’m not usually willing to spend a lot on skincare but my eyes needed help!

lauratinapay Avatar

Guerlain Cruel Gardenia Iluminating Face Powder – $85 CAD
GA Eyes to Kill Eyeshadows – $47 CAD x 5 = $235
YSL Glossy Stains – $38 CAD x 5 = $190
 
Yeah, funny how things just add up…
 

nicoleg Avatar

Le Metier Kaleidoscope kit (eyeshadow).  I bought it with money I received as a gift, and I have used it every day since I purchased it.  I love it.  Is makeup ever “worth” it?  Christine has said before that makeup should be fun. . . the value of fun may be different for everyone, but I certainly don’t regret buying it.  I probably would not have splurged if the money had not been a gift, however.  My Clarisonic Mia was also a beauty indulgence, and yes, it was worth it for how it clears and brightens my skin.

Yazmin Avatar

It has to be Smashbox Halo powder.It costs £45 in the uk, and i was reeled in with the fact that it came with a Kabuki brush to apply it with, the brush was terrible and when i washed it, the water i was rinsing it with turned Green, the powder wasnt worth the money, and i just felt so annoyed that i pid £45 for a powder that didnt do half the job that my Mac MSF natural did. Never again! But the most expensive beauty indulgence i bought that i am pleased about is my Chanel No5 perfume. I paid half and so did my Boyfiend, as the large bottle costs £70. but its one of those smells that one spray is all you need, and everyone knows your wearing it! Well worth the money!

Mariella Avatar

I guess my biggest ongoing indulgence is the skin care products I use – Clarins products and Jouviance (Canadian skin care line) Complexe Magistrale.  In terms of makeup, probably the priciest single item I’ve purchased recently was Guerlain’s Cruel Gardenia highlighter and, while it is very nice and very pretty, it was definitely not worth the cost.

Haethre Avatar

I’m with you on the massages, Christine!  But I don’t think they count as beauty.  .  .more like health expenses (this is also a good justification haha)

KK Avatar

Aside from hair color and cut, I’d have to say my Guerlain Meteorites (I got the Pucci ones).  Expensive, but I love them, so I feel like it was worth it!

Summer Avatar

Diorskin Forever is a big indulgence for me, since I’m currently a grad student! It’s $47 a bottle but I don’t care. My skin looks amazing with it on and I hate DS makeup. It always ruins my skin, with break-outs or irritation. Maybe I could try something cheaper from a mid-end brand, like Clinique or MAC’s offerings, but the truth is, I don’t want to. Dior for life!

Summer Avatar

And I just realized that my new Chanel Illusion D’Ombre love is kind of ridiculous! $38 per eyeshadow, and I broke down and bought NARS Smudge Proof primer ($24) JUST so I could keep the ID’Os on all day! 

xamyx Avatar

My NARS Pandora duo, $34. The reason I consider this a splurge is because I own *so many* black & white eyeshadows (I can’t even venture a guess at how many), that I really didn’t *need* it, however, I absolutely adore NARS, and it’s nice having the two colors together. For some reason, all of my blacks & whites are either singles, or in separate pallettes.

JessicaW Avatar

My biggest indulgences have been the Clarisionic Mia and Ole Henriksen skin care products. I love all of my OH products and they are all worth the money but I don’t use my Clarisionic as much as I thought I would and I’m certainly not getting my money’s worth out of it.

Ak Avatar

non makeup would be my pmd & clarisonic >.<
makeup would probably be all my ysl lipsticks… 34 for one tube of lipstick kills me lol

Kafka Avatar

I guess my Chi straightening iron which was about $120 when I bought it (on discount via a friend’s pro card). It was worth it at the time as Chi was the only really reliable, good hair straightener back then; now, there are equally good lines for much, much less than Chi.  I also spent quite a bit on the Dr. Brandt Crease Release cream (“Botox in a bottle,” it’s called) which I got for about $75 on eBay instead of the usual $150. I’m not sure it was worth it as I never used it regularly the way I was supposed to and even less so now.  Make-up wise, nothing – I’ve never bought any item that is hugely expensive just by itself, even though several not-so-expensive items can add up.

Kafka Avatar

I guess my Chi straightening iron which was about $120 when I bought it (on discount via a friend’s pro card). It was worth it at the time as Chi was the only really reliable, good hair straightener back then; now, there are equally good lines for much, much less than Chi.  I also spent quite a bit on the Dr. Brandt Crease Release cream (“Botox in a bottle,” it’s called) which I got for about $75 on eBay instead of the usual $150. I’m not sure it was worth it as I never used it regularly the way I was supposed to and even less so now.  Make-up wise, nothing – I’ve never bought any item that I felt was hugely expensive just by itself (no $175 powders, $95 eyeshadows or $50+ lipsticks), even though several not-so-expensive items can add up. For me, the prices I’ve paid for my NARS or Ole Henriksen are pretty reasonable, esp. in light of the prices for other similar brands or the fact that I’ve gotten a few at great savings on eBay.

lilinah Avatar

I got Guerlain Terracotta 4 Seasons Tailor-Made Bronzing Powder in Blondes (i have brown hair but quite fair skin) for 2/3 the regular price, but it was still quite expensive. And, shockingly, it was worth it. The packaging is tasteful and classy – substantial pseudo-tortoise shell case in a brown velvet pouch. The powder slab itself is huge – divided in 4 colors that can be swirled together or used individually – and each is quarter is large enough to use easily. And the powder is super-finely milled, goes on like a dream, is matte without looking dead, blends beautifully, and is buildable for contouring or the look of sun-kissed skin.

FiaSpice Avatar

Probably the Bliss boddy butter lemon+sage. At 32$ for the medium format, it’s the only  stuff that hydrates my sking well without makeing me feel all sticky after.

Haethre Avatar

I live in Tokyo and I feel ya.  Thankfully I have friends who ship Sephora orders to me. from the States and save a LOT of money that way.  The only makeup item I buy here is YSL Touche Eclat, which is cheaper than in the U.S. at Ainz Tulpe.

AmandaElisabeth Avatar

I recently went on a trip to Ireland and decided to go to Inglot.  
I got a Freedom System 10 Palette that cost me €68…which comes to about $87.
 
You live and learn!  haha
 
 

sshine0923 Avatar

My weakness is definitely foundation. I think I seriously have a problem. I’ve found certain ones that I absolutely love (MUFE HD, Lancome Teint Miracle, Chanel Vitalumiere), and yet I still keep purchasing them. I recently bought the Shisedo one and next on the list is Estee Lauder Double Wear Light. Sigh…
 
And, I’m in med school with tons of loans. Life is grand…

wwendalynne Avatar

 @sshine0923 I have the same issue and I think it has something to do with believing there is always going to be something better.  Technology changes and formulas improve and skin changes over time as well or even between seasons.  I seem to always be stuck between two shades and forever buying 2 at a time of any given brand.  Right now my favs are by Guerlain and Tom Ford, but I’m already eyeballing the Illamasqua with the addition of the new .5 shades..  It’s like looking for the holy grail of foundation.. maybe it does exist!  

Terresa J. Paz Avatar

I to do massages – I try to do them once a month and my massage therapist charges $80 each visit, after that its getting my hair done, costs about $150, I don’t get my hair done often. Then the works on make-up, from Makeup Forever or M.A.C

Carrie Stoner Avatar

All the years I spent money on fake nails..lol.. wish I had it back.. love having real natural nails now! Saving so much money!! Oh yeah, and all the MAC makeup and Dior perfume I have bought over the years..

Quinctia Avatar

I feel like that every time I pay full price for Urban Decay!  I love it so much, but I try really hard to wait until I have coupons, or something is on HauteLook or something.  But sometimes, when I feel I really deserve some kind of pick me up, I’ll go pick up a gloss or liquid liner–always has to be something not easily dupeable, though, haha!

Leticia Avatar

I still feel thrilled while buying any makeup, but I guess my biggest indulgence was my MAC To the Beach Haul! I simply loved this collection and so far it´s the one I’ve bought more items from, including Marine Life, which is practically the only item in my stash that remains untouched. This haul was definitely worth it and if I had the chance, I would probably buy five items more :)!

Nikki Avatar

I would have to say lipgloss has to be my biggest indulgence.  I have so many, from high end to low end, that I had to separate them from the rest of my make up and store them more conveniently so that I can actually find the shade I want to wear when I want to wear it.  I try not to buy duplicate colors between different brands, but sometimes I just can’t help myself, and I end up buying a color similar to a shade I already own thinking that the new gloss might have a more favorable formula.  Lipgloss is definitely my beauty kryptonite!

Lauren Avatar

do hair products count?  i have two different kerastase products-the elixir ultime and the chromothermique styling milk–and they were sooooooooooo expensive ($50 and $38, respectively), but are totally worth every penny especially since i use really cheap dry shampoo (batiste) in between washings to stretch all my expensive products.

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