Archived Post

Are there any types of beauty products you refuse to spend a lot on?

There’s probably nothing I’d NEVER spend a good chunk of change on, but I certainly would hesitate to spend $100+ on any particular item in just about every category short of mega sets and the like.

— Christine

56 Comments

Comments that do not adhere to our comment policy may be removed. Discussion and debate are highly encouraged but we expect community members to participate respectfully. Please keep discussion on-topic, and if you have general feedback, a product review request, an off-topic question, or need technical support, please contact us!

Please help us streamline the comments' section and be more efficient: double-check the post above for more basic information like pricing, availability, and so on to make sure your question wasn't answered already. Comments alerting us to typos or small errors in the post are appreciated (!) but will typically be removed after errors are fixed (unless a response is needed).

We appreciate enthusiasm for new releases but ask readers to please hold questions regarding if/when a review will be posted as we can't commit to or guarantee product reviews. We don't want to set expectations and then disappoint readers as even products that are swatched don't always end up being reviewed due to time constraints and changes in priorities! Thank you for understanding!

Comments on this post are closed.
Deborah S. Avatar

I was trying to think if there was any type of product that I would never consider spending a large amount on and really nothing comes to mind. I know there are a lot of products that I won’t buy but it is not because they cost a lot but rather because they don’t work or have so many negative reviews that it would be silly to purchase at that price point, or they are LE and sold out. I also can’t justify spending a ton of money on products that I know I will never use or just don’t suit me, regardless of price. So, I have purchased some pretty expensive soaps, cleansers, mascara, etc. but I had specific reasons for doing so and I have to say, I haven’t regretted the purchases, except the Marc Jacobs Velvet Noir Mascara, sorry just didn’t work.

Sonya Mann Avatar

I’m not gonna spend more than $80 on an eyeshadow palette, unless there’s a LOT of inflation. I’ve *considered* buying Viseart palettes, but nothing more expensive than that.

I also wouldn’t spend more than $30 on a blush or $40 on a foundation.

Erica Avatar

I cannot say I won’t spend a certain amount on any product. I have bought higher end products in virtually every catergory. Is everything worth that high price no? It’s more like I cannot bring myself to spend a certain amount for what it is. Two things come to mind. 1. Urban Decay Original Primer Potion. It’s not bad but I don’t find the consistency, wear time etc any different than certain drugstore primers. Why pay $20 when I can get the same quality for $5? But will I spend $22 for MAC paint pot in soft ochre. 2. Original Beauty Blender. It is good and there are definitely bad blenders out there that feel like dragging an eraser across your face. I just prefer a few others. Ulta has one I really like and so does Earth Therapeutics and they are easier to clean, don’t bleed dye and don’t soak up product like the original BB. Plus $20 for something you should replace so often is ridicilous. I like Earth Therapeutics so much more and they are $6 a piece. Kohls always has it for 25% off. The Ulta one comes in a set of two for $10. But have I bought higher end mascaras, eyeliners, foundations etc. Yes and swear by them but I also like and swear by less expensive things too. It all really depends

Nancy T Avatar

Would I spend $80 on a Viseart palette? Yes. Would I buy a Tom Ford or Guerlain lipstick? Yes, and I have. Why though, when I’m quite the frugal one more often than not? They’re timeless.
But I’m not one to throw mucho dinero at something trendy or that’s just a fad or has du jsome fly-by-night celeb du jour’s name printed on it! Also, I am hesitant to spend all that much on anything that has a limited use. As in something I would only rarely use. No, it needs to be something I will never tire of and that isn’t “special occasion only”!

Rachel R. Avatar

I think it depends of on what one’s definition of “a lot” is. I won’t spend a lot just to get a designer name. If I’m dropping big bucks, a product had better have more going for it. I can’t think of anything I would pay $100 or more for, aside from the occasional bottle of a beloved fragrance. (Never say “never,” though. 😉 )

*I only buy drug store mascara and liquid eyeliner. If I’m using high end, then it was a free sample, GWP, part of a set, etc. With my sensitive eyes I’m allergic to most of them. Even if I’m not, I have to throw them out after 3 months or I get styes, so why spend $20 or more?

*I’ve never paid more than $20 for an eyeliner or lipliner pencil. If I spend more than drug store price, it needs to be a really good formula and an unusual color. Most of mine are $7 or less.

*I won’t spend more than about $25 for a single lip color, highlighter, blush, etc.

*Makeup remover wipes, cotton pads, blotting papers, etc. Drug store only.

Roxi Avatar

Liquid eyeliners! After I’ve tried Tom Ford, Stila, Kat Von D, etc, I’ve realised I still enjoy my $10ish Japanese drugstore liners much more, so there’s really no point for me to spend more!

Christy Avatar

Which ones do you like the best? I usually get KissMe Heroine Make Smooth Liquid Eyeliner Super Keep, but I haven’t tried any other Japanese brands for eyeliner.

Alison Avatar

Also, I use coconut oil to cleanse off makeup and rose water to tone. I use health food store mineral sunscreen with a squirt of argan oil to make it less dry. Nothing fancy there. With the exception of one product, I stay away from complex overly synthetic skin care.

Cheryl Avatar

I agree with you Allison, natural and I use coconut oil for makeup removal and moisturizer. I can’t stand all those horrible ingredients in products.

Kate Avatar

Like you, I’m hesitant to say never, but I can’t see myself dropping a lot of money on a body cream just because I’d need to repurchase it frequently.

Other than that, the hardest time I’d have justifying an expensive purchase would be for anything where I’ve found a “holy grail” product. If I already have something I really love, there’s little incentive for me to buy a more expensive product.

Marie-Estelle Avatar

There are a few… But less than before! Lol
Let’s say that if it is still reasonably priced and organic. I consider, wait for a discount and try it.
Nevertheless, I still don’t see myself splurging on body scrub (I did have a lovely sample recently and I want to reconsider my point of view lol) and shower gel, shampoo. Those are utilitarian products to me. So I’ll pay more for good quality ingredients, organic products… I am not interested by something fancy (organic or not)

Concerning make up I never found that high end mascara make a difference. Nothing I tried keeps my eyelashes curled… And my lashes are long so getting some volume and separation isn’t that difficult.

lisa Avatar

cleansers-too many out there that do the job, some of the brands are ridiculously over priced. I also can’t see any “anti-aging” benefits from a cleanser since it doesn’t stay on your face for more than a couple of minutes.

Mariella Avatar

Nail polish for sure – I was (and still am) not just aghast but also somewhat offended by the prices of those Louboutin nail polishes. And while I’ll spend a reasonable amount on lipstick (Bite, Guerlain Rouge Automatique, the occasional Chanel lippie), I won’t spend in the Tom Ford or Guerlain Rouge G price range. Oh – and bronzers….I rarely use them and I’m not wild about them so I won’t spend “stratosphere” prices for them.

Christine Avatar

I would never spend a lot on things I feel are just as good drugstore (mascara, eyeshadows- colourpop/juvias/morphe mean I don’t feel like I need to spend) or I will only use minimally (lip-liner, coloured eyeliner, nail polish, eyeshadows). Things like some shades of lipsticks, blushes and highlighters too, it would have to be mega- perfect or an incredible formula for me to splurge.

Things I do splurge on is foundation, it sits next to the skin so I want good stuff, primer (I am still a guerlain girl), and strangely enough bronzer- lower end are still not up to scratch IMO. I never scrimp on skincare either!

Debbie Avatar

Mascara. There are just too many great mascaras in the drugstore today in all kinds of formulas and brush styles. I used to get suckered into a high end mascara once and a while and I ALWAYS ended up going back to my tried and true Cover Girl Clump Crusher – ugly packaging and all! 🙂

MacKenzie G. Avatar

It depends on your definition of a lot. I refuse to buy luxury makeup (Chanel, Tom Ford, Dior, etc.), so if that’s what one considers a lot, I refuse to spend a lot on any product. But, for specific products, I will always refuse to spend more than about $30 on lipstick (the most expensive one I have at the moment is from Bite), and more than $30 on mascara is also outrageous to me personally. Basically, if I can find something I like for less money, I’m probably not going to spend the most. I buy a decent amount of mid-price makeup (Nars, KVD, Urban Decay, etc.) as I tend to go middle of the road on price. I don’t buy a ton of drugstore, but I don’t buy any luxury. Like you mentioned Christine, I’d be hesistant to spend more than $100 (for me, $80) on any single product.

EllieT Avatar

I’d say I wouldn’t spend a lot on a product that would dry out or go off quickly like a gel eyeliner. There are so many good products at a lower pricepoint.

kjh Avatar

Don’t really buy any UHE color cosmetics. Seems they don’t meet the cost:benefit ratio. Have been tempted by Serge Lutens lipstick. Love his history in scent and m/u. But a cartridge plus a case = too much for me. Also, I suspect they don’t sell well, and the stock could be quite old. With scent, it seems what I like is usually over 200, these days. So any scent could be considered a splurge. Gotta try some BPAL. Interesting stories/associations, something for everyone, and the pice is right.

Marla Rae Avatar

Mascara – it dries too quickly for me to spend a lot of money on it. I love Too Faced Better Than Sex, but to me it’s not worth it anymore – especially since I wear falsies a lot.

Amy Avatar

I only buy drugstore mascara now, as I’ve tried midrange mascaras and not seen any difference. Many times, the drugstore one outperforms the higher end brands for me.

Also cleansers and other wash-off products that only stay on the skin a very short amount of time.

And lipstick. I don’t think I’ve spent more than $25 on a lipstick, and I plan to keep it that way. Tom Ford lipsticks look beautiful and all, but I don’t think I’d even want to use them at that price range.

Erica Avatar

I cannot spend the price for Tom Ford bc it feels and smells like a MAC lipstick to me. Why pay $50 when you’re getting the quality of a $20 lippy? Go figure TF and MAC are both owned by Estee Lauder. Also every YSL lippy I’ve tried feels/smells no different than their sister brand Loreal. I don’t need a $10 lipstick dressed up in a $30+ packaging. If I’m paying more I expect more in quality, color, technology etc. I’ll go cheaper if the quality is virtually the same!

AB Avatar

“Refuse”, no. For me, there are types of products where more cost isn’t usually needed — I can get comparable performance and quality out of less expensive options. Like, cleansers, some eyeshadows, some eyebrow products (my eyebrows are only sparse, so all I need is a pencil filler). If I found an item in any of those categories that cost a lot but was a game-changer in terms of effect, then I’d buy it.

For instance, I am looking for a less costly eye cream right now, but so far not finding anything of comparable effect to what I have. Until I find it, I’ll keep buying my current one because it works so well for me.

Erica Avatar

Look at the full size moisturizers. Eye cream is often a face cream but packaged in something smaller and double the price. There are good moisturizers that work and meet the needs of the eye area. Js don’t be limited by labels like face moisturizer, eye cream etc. Read the ingredients of those products to see if it has the benefits you need

Mags Avatar

Makeup wipes, lip balm, and soap for sure. I am leaning towards saying mascara now that I’ve tried a lot of high end brands and don’t notice too much of a difference between them and drugstore, although I do have a mid-end favorite that I love: Clinique High Impact. I don’t buy it all the time, but when I do, I fall back in love with it.

Nail polish I generally try to stick to drug store brands although I love Marc Jacobs lacquer. They’re worth every penny as they last forever!

Highlighters are the last thing I won’t spend lots on. I just don’t wear them enough to justify the prices, and between NYX Snow Rose & Wet N Wild’s LE The Sweetest Bling, I’m covered.

xamyx Avatar

Mascara, liquid/gel liner, lip products, and nail polish. These all have to be replaced far more quickly than I can even make a dent in, and I have yet to find something I can’t get in a DS brand. Granted, there have been certain things about higher end brands that would be preferable, but not enough to merit the price difference. As much as I love Lancome mascaras, for example, I can find something good enough from DS.

Haircare products. I don’t use styling products on a regular basis, so I’ll just look for a travel-size option if I need something. As for shampoo/conditioner, I will look for sulfate-free products when I have freshly dyed hair, but those are also products I keep stocked up, and buy on sale and/or with coupons. That said, I do buy pricier products for my daughter, but her needs are different, as her hair is more prone to tangles, and it has to be something that rinses easily.

Skincare. I switched to a “natural” regimen about 5 years ago, and not only is my skin better than it’s been since I was a kid, apart from sunscreen, I spend about $100 USD a year.

Tools & brushes. Perhaps it’s because I started wearing makeup in the 80s, before we had any real choices on the commercial market, and just had to “make do”, I’ve never felt a need to spend more than $20 on a brush. I’ve never even owned a MAC brush, and my most expensive individual brushes are Sonia Kashuk, although I use my e.l.f. brushes the most. I do have a “real” Beauty Blender, but I never use it…

Erica Avatar

Loreal owns Lancome and they love to pass around very similar if not identical products among the brands that fall under the Loreal umbrella. Pretty sure you can find a similar mascara from Loreal. What to try a cushion foundation, the Loreal one is very similar to the Lancome one. Js

basbonbon Avatar

I spend a good chunk on everything except primer. I use monistat chafing gel. It’s wonderful and does an excellent job for me.

Shannon. N Avatar

Mascara – I replace my mascara pretty frequently. So I can’t splurge on $30as cars rvery two months. Plus I ADORE my Essence lash princess! It makes my short lashes look amazing!

Lip balm – the most expensive lip balm I use is $11, because I know I have normal lips. So I just use whatever works!

Face powder – I go through SO much of it. So I buy it a few at a time!! I like to use loose powder around my eyes, and pressed powder everywhere else!

Lip gloss – I wear lip gloss once a week. So when I buy it I make sure it’s a drugstore one, because then I won’t feel bad if it goes off while he half used!

kellly Avatar

Mascara. I can’t justify spending $20 for a tube of mascara when I get satisfactory results from a $5 tube of Essence mascara. What does really expensive mascara do that justifies the high price of the designer brands?

Cherie Avatar

Cleansers and eye cream. Doesn’t matter what the cleanser has in it. It’s never on your skin long enough to do anything and goes right down the drain. 20bucks tops for that. I Just use a heavier face cream for my eye area as you don’t really need a separate cream for your eyes!

Tini Avatar

Without a doubt mascara. I refuse to even spend 20$ on mascaras and I’m currently using an essence one for 4$ (and have been for the last 5+ years)
If I really like a product I do spend money on it, but in mascaras I just don’t see big differences or any at all compared to hogher drugstore and even highend mascaras. And I buy a new one every 2-3 months, so I also consider that. I don’t want to spend 200+$ a year on mascara.

Elina Avatar

Nail polish. I tried the high end brands but I find that, for example, Chanel has much weaker staying power than, let’s say, Essie.

Anne Avatar

As categories, definitely lip balms and lip liners. I stick to my DS mascara for the most part, but will buy Chanel Inimitable Waterproof when it’s 3 for 2 at Nordstrom. Someone recommended it to me a few years ago, and I tried it. Well hell’s bells (big-time sigh), if it wasn’t a killer. I hate spending that kind of money for some black goop in a fancy wand, but I end up forking it over anyway, wishing it didn’t exist.

Genevieve Avatar

There are lots of beauty items that I spend under $25 or so on: mascara, eye brow pencils, lipsticks, blushes and foundations.

The one item that I will splurge up to $80 -$100 for are eye shadow palettes. The DS ones (at least the ones here in Aus)) simply don’t cut the mustard. Now that Sephora has opened, some of your mid range palettes are available to us, still expensive, but better than the Dior, Guerlain prices.

Blue Avatar

Never say never because I keep spending more than I used to think was reasonable. lol.

So far, I don’t spend more than $35 on a face lotion or sunscreen (or any other skincare or hair care product) and I expect it to last four months bare minimum for that price. I was very tempted to try Glossier’s clear sunscreen but the container is TINY at one ounce and it’s $35, plus it doesn’t seem substantial enough to act as a daytime moisturizer/primer. I would have paid a few dollars more than I pay now for my Paula’s Choice stuff because I thought it was so great that Glossier made a sunscreen that wouldn’t leave a white cast on deeper skin, but it’s literally more than twice the cost per ounce and not as multi-purpose… I couldn’t do it when I’m already embarrassed to spend $29 for two ounces of a daily moisturizer with SPF.

For face makeup, I’m honestly to the point that I’m willing to spend what I consider “a lot” on almost any type of product if I really want it. My “a lot” is generally more upper mid-range to high end rather than luxury pricing, however. Until a few years ago I didn’t own any lipsticks that retailed for over about $25. Now I own maybe a dozen in the $25-35 range, but none above that.

Silvia Avatar

I guess I would spend the big money on skin care or a nice perfume or a great haircut actually have not spend on high end beauty for years. I been buying drugstore and with the help of these blogs and YouTube I’m quite content with what I have and I have several eyeshadows of different brands and colors of all range also in blushes, lipsticks, eyeliners, loose powder, foundation, bronzers and highliters. A good foundation, an excellent blush which I highly need being very pale is a must but still why blow my money on expensive items when drugstore is kicking butts lately and needless to say raising the price also. To me, is a sweet treat to just buy something at Sephora prices but I resist. Lately with such hype and competition amongst brands I just hate it! Don’t know whom to trust anymore. What’s really great out there for such high prices. I already own a few but continue to prefer shopping drugstore. I never fallen for brand names only if I like something a lot and mostly i buy on impulse anyways for excitement and fun.

Brenda C Avatar

Perfume as I love to smell delicious. Foundation and primer, as even my husband notices when I am wearing a high end foundation. The rest can be mixed DS or higher end. It depends if I feel like spoiling myself a little. Quo sells pointed Q-tips, and those are the only ones I will purchase as they can really get in the corners when you need to.

Elle Avatar

Mascara because I replace mine about every 3 months and there are drug store mascaras like L’Oreal Voluminous which work great for me.

Agata Avatar

Powder blush

They all look more or less the same on the face, and although some blushes are more finely milled and look less like powder on the skin, that’s why I just go for liquid blush (just picked up the Nars one in Dolce Vita!) since it gives the most blended, airy, natural look – far better than expensive powder blushes I’ve tried.

Satin lipstick

Because our holy lipstick God and saviour Maybelline makes loads of awesome ones for affordable prices! True, a more expensive line may contain your ~*perfect*~ shade out there, but you don’t know if it’ll be The One unless you give it a whirl, and I’m far too lazy to try out every lipstick shade that appeals to me in Sephora, and I don’t want to buy a bunch of shades only to find out that most of them aren’t anything special on me. Besides, chances are, there simply *ISN’T* The One shade that’ll make you look remarkably better than you already do – you’ll still be same old you, yada yada yada, it won’t change your life, like marketing often makes us believe it will.

Black eyeliner

Because the drugstore has *so* many good options when it comes to black liquid eyeliner. Can’t speak for pencil though, as I almost exclusively use /liquid/ eyeliner.

Monica Avatar

Shampoo & hair conditioner! I am a curly-kinky-haired lady and I run through so much hair conditioner. I used to splurge, but Trader Joe’s conditioner is like $3 and it gets the job done. I ain’t spending $$$ on something I rinse down the drain 🙂

Seraphine Avatar

I use drugstore mascara. I have tried high-end mascaras and have been disappointed every time. The only high-end mascaras I have now were free samples I received with other purchases. Recently, I got a free Too Faced Better Than Sex mascara. Although it has the best mascara brush EVER, the mascara itself didn’t wow me. I found a similar hourglass-shaped brush in a Rimmel mascara and, despite its not-so-great online reviews, I decided to give it a try anyway, and found I like it a lot. So I’m sticking to my drugstore favorites: Rimmel ScandalEyes Retroglam and Cover Girl Clump Crusher.

We try to approve comments within 24 hours (and reply to them within 72 hours) but can sometimes get behind and appreciate your patience! 🙂 If you have general feedback, product review requests, off-topic questions, or need technical support, please contact us directly. Thank you for your patience!