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If you could go on a $500 beauty shopping spree, where would you go and what would you buy?


If you could go on a $500 beauty shopping spree, where would you go and what would you buy? Share!

Neiman Marcus, and I would replace a few Rouge Gs that I use often, a handful of Tom Ford Lip Balms, and Cle de Peau Lipglosses/Lipsticks. It wouldn’t go far if I spent it that way, haha!

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Joan Avatar

I would buy a ton of liquid lipsticks (KVD, Sephora) and colored eyeliners (UD, Marc Jacobs). I’d also buy some Fresh skincare and a nice perfume. Maybe Stella by Stella?

Lizzi Avatar

I would go on a “tech” beauty shopping spree. I would buy the Glo teeth whitening system for me and the Clairisonic Alpha Fit for my husband from Sephora. And then I’ll spend whatever’s left towards getting my husband the $220 Sonicare Diamond toothbrush (in black) for him as well. I LOVE mine, it’s really made a huge difference, and I keep telling him I’ll buy him one if he wants it. But he’s a low maintenance kind of guy and says he’ll stick with a disposable one. And the Clairsonic Alpha Fit is because he keeps trying to grow out his facial hair for a scuffy look, but his facial skin flares up with the irration and he has to shave it off every couple of days. He may just get that one for a gift.

Nancy T Avatar

The “where” is fairly easy; Sephora. But the what has me scurrying to recall all my dream items! Definitely a tube of Guerlain Air Kiss, Nars Audacious Anna, Hourglass Ambient Lighting powder palette (3, not 6), Marc Jacobs new eyeshadow palette (depending on how it reviews!) or Visart Paris Nudes palette, skincare to keep the canvas in shape, and possibly Tarte Tartlette palette and Amazonian Clay Foundation! BTW, I stink at math, lol!!!

Lulle Avatar

Most likely I’d go to… my couch and order my entire wish list online, mostly at Nordstrom. Or, I would make an appointment with a good makeup artist for a brand I don’t own much from (Charlotte Tilbury or Nars or MUFE) and let them guide me into buying an entire “wardrobe”.

Katherine T. Avatar

Some expensive makeup I haven’t been able to bring myself to buy — Guerlain Rouge G, Tom Ford Quads, Suquu shadow kits, Giorgio Armani foundation, Cle De Peau shadow kit. I would go to whichever store had a good return policy and the best deal, either via promo, GWP, points, or cash back, but my fave is the local Neiman Marcus, as they have the friendliest and most helpful staff

Ray Avatar

Hmmm, probably Harmon. God, I freaking love Harmon. Where else can you get 8 balm stains, 4 blushes, a beach chair, pop chips, candy bars, leg warmers, plus like all of your shower stuff?

Karla Avatar

First of all i would take my mom with me so she can buy some stuff too since she LOVES makeup, but I would go for sure to neiman marcus first to get 2 TF blushes, the cle de peau pastel highlighter, and then to sephora to get maybe a lipstick or eyeshadow

Raeanne Avatar

Nordy’s! I would tackle a few items on my wishlist: Chanel Jersey, Chanel Alazane, Chanel Malice, TF Love Lust for blush. I would also get a handful of MAC lippies including some of the pro lip liners, and some brushes.

Kuávsui Avatar

I think I just did this weekend actually! But I would probably spend it all online and get Hourglass blushes, another Ambient Lighting Powder plus one of their foundations, and a refill for the Veil Mineral primer, some things from Becca (base products, powders), stock up on skincare at Paula’s Choice and blow the rest on a By Terry palette and Suqqu brushes.

Astrild Avatar

I’d go to El Corte Inglés, the mayor department store, here in Spain. They have both high-end and drugstore brands and some of them like Tom Ford, Jo Malone, Giorgio Armani or Dolce and Gabbana are extremely dificult to find in other stores. They even have counters of Sephora in the store.

Deidre Avatar

An easy question. I would go to Charlotte Tilbury’s website. I would get the 2 eye shadow quads I don’t have and lusting after (Glamour Muse and Rock Chick), 2 blushes I don’t have (Sex on Fire and The Climax) Goddess Mask, Iconic Nude lip liner, a backup Magic Cream, backup Nude Kate, backup Pillow Talk lip liner.

Lacey Avatar

My practical side says stock up on all my basics at Sephora/Ulta so I would have more money for “fun” things later! But then I also haven’t tried much from high-end brands because of my overall budget, so I would also like to try Burberry, Charolotte Tilbury, Chanel…

jaz Avatar

I’m going to either Saks /Neimans/Nordstrom /Bloomingdale’s , and I would splurge on Charlotte Tilbury quads, Tom Ford quads , diptyque candles , and maybe Armani.

Gusnail Avatar

Definitely hit up Nordstrom. I’d get mostly GA stuff-a tinted moisturizer and a couple lip products. Then I’d get some eyeliners from UD. And some face creams from Caudalie.

Alice Avatar

I’d kind of go all over. I’d pick up Cle de Peau highlighter in Pastel or Delicate Pink, a bottle of J’adore Dior, the 2 Louboutin lipsticks I want (sheer Rouge and Eton Moi), an angled cheek and some eye brushes, a handful of eye shadows from My Pretty Zombie, a couple lipsticks from Ka’oir, maybe a few things off my Sephora and/or MAC wishlists to round out the $500.

Kimberly Avatar

I’d probably get everything at Sephora online LOL! Would definitely check the NARS Audacious lipsticks off my wishlist (Barbara, Anita, Rita, Vivien, Audrey), some Issey Miyake perfumes, Estée Lauder stuff for my mum, Fresh skincare and maybe some UD eyeshadow singles.

Kat Avatar

Nordstrom, or some other department store, so I could finally dip my toes into luxury beauty! I’d get a few Tom Ford lipsticks, probably the Chanel Tan De Soleil just to see what all the fuss is about and maybe a Joues Contraste, Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk foundation (I got a sample of it once and it was totally the wrong shade but I loved the texture and finish of it), the Charlotte Tillbury Filmstar Bronze and Glow. Wow, with luxury makeup, $500 doesn’t take you far at all!

Rachel R. Avatar

I was thinking about this. It’s really sad how little $500 buys if you’re going mid-range to high-end. I’d go online and order Eslor Firming Collagen Day Cream, Guerlain Metorites (I only have pressed right now), and the MUFE holiday eye palette coming out next month. I’d also order some Sugar Pill palettes. The rest I’d spend on various indie brands, most likely.

Nancy T Avatar

Rachel, I saw the MUFE Palette and OMG, I am blown away! And I normally don’t do blues, but 2 of the 3 are teal blues, and heck yeah, I wear teal! ( But I still long for Spectrum *sniff, sniff* ) Me thinks MUFE will make up for it!

Nancy T Avatar

Nope, I missed getting it by mere HOURS! And all because of a computer glitch on Sephora’s website. It wasn’t recognizing my VIB status, I sent them an email about it, but in the time it took to fix it, it went out of stock. I was crestfallen! After calling both Sephora and UD, both claim to not know when or if it’ll be back (shades of Vice LTD, eh?), but I call bs on that *claim*! Worse comes to worse, I’ll try getting it on Evil-Bay.

Rachel R. Avatar

I’d be ticked if I lost it due to a computer glitch, too. Last year they “found” a bunch of Vice Ltd. they “forgot” about in a warehouse. Maybe the same thing will happen this year. Good luck!

Marissa Avatar

i do a lot of research before buying lol but at a first glance maybe ill spend it in like a few tom ford lipsticks, a couple rouge g’s, too faced and ud palettes, a few nars audacious ones, single eyeshadows and a contour kit. you know some expensive things i cant afford and a few things i’ve always wanted but havent bought yet.

Anne Avatar

Knowing me, probably Charlotte Tilbury. I have a weakness for the brand and some emotional connections to it. I’ve been eyeing the complete matte lip set which is like $300, and then probably go for their finishing powder, a blush, a bunch of their cream eyeshadows (which are amazing!), and maybe if I had some money left I’d get a quad like The Dolce Vita.

Christy Avatar

Just what I was thinking! I’d like Hakuhodo brushes for cream blushes (J544), highly pigmented powder blushes (K020), two sizes of small crease brushes (J146, J5529), another J242G (laydown) and J142 (crease), highlighting (J5521), contouring (black fan brush?), bronzer (J110?), a couple of sizes of pencil brushes (G5528, G5520 or J5514?), j125R for undereye concealer, and maybe something for lightweight liquid foundation (G5557?), plus another brush case. And I do believe that’s around $500! 😀

Donya Avatar

I would order a full set of professional brushes in matching colors from Sigma Beauty and then with the other $200, perhaps try one or two things I have heard members rave about, such as CDP concealer and anything Tom Ford. Echoing…$500 does not go that far!

P Jill Avatar

I would probably go on E Bay and buy up a backup Tom Ford Pink Glow palette, a couple things that I missed out on, like naked bronze shadow, Chantecaille Sea Turtle Palette, and that silvery Chanel Highlighter Compact I passed on and regret, from last winter!

Genevieve Avatar

I would start with:
Eye shadows: the UD Spectrum palette, Lorac Pro Metals Palette
Eye liner: A couple of Giorgio Armani’s Eye tints – love their colours
Lipsticks: Estee Lauder Colour Envy lipsticks in Emotional and Dangerous
Foundation: I would try the Cover FX in my shade
Blush: Chanel Malice Blush
Highlighter/Powders: One of the new Anastasia Illuminator powders – probably So Hollywood, Guerlain’s Meteorites powder
I think that’s about it. I would have certainly spent my money.

Alice Avatar

I’m totally with you. Love Barney’s selections, my favorite place to discover new fragrances! I’d probably get a couple of Surratt lipsticks, more of the Tatcha SPF/primer, Serge Lutens perfume, maybe the Oliver Peoples Byredo.

Erin Avatar

I’d go to Sephora (for the points) and I’d get: Naked 3, LM Artist Palette, Bite Lippies, Clinique Cheek and Lip Pops, and Tokyo Milk Dark Bittersweet. I’d spend the rest on my skincare staples and probably something new from a beloved brand like Fresh, Sunday Riley, Caudalie, Nude, Ren or Korres. I might also splurge on trying some Tatcha.

I might also consider one of those new toothbrushes!

Pearl Avatar

I’ve got my wish list already and have been systematically knocking it down, but if $500 just fell in my lap . . .
Sephora, for back ups: GA foundation, Guerlain Meteorites Perles
Sephora, to buy: UD Naked 1 palette, a NARS Audacious lipstick or 2, Burberry eye cream color (whatever the gorgeous gold Holiday 2015 is) and their highlighter, GA eye tint in Flannel,
Saks/Neiman Marcus/Nordstrom: Tom Ford Quad in Cognac Sable and MAYBE Orchid Haze (still on the fence and should check my dupes), next Tom Ford eye cream, and maybe check out the Tom Ford highlighter.

I am so excited for the Holiday sets to come out! Especially excited for Guerlain ( the Meteorites, THEY HAVE PEARLY STARS!!!), Burberry, MAC and Tom Ford (not sure if TF ever releases holiday items, but I hope so!).

Kayle Avatar

To be honest the cheapskate in me sees a giant drugstore haul, but I’d definitely get some more high end products that I’ve always wanted to try – KvD liquid lipsticks are at the top of that list, as well as some Mac shades I’ve been dying to try. So I’d go to Mac first, then Sephora, then Ulta to spend whatever I have left on some Nyx things. Oh and I’d probably save some for a load of Colourpop shadows because seriously, that formula!

KK Avatar

I’d like to take my Mom and sis along!

A nice Rouge G or Estee Lauder Lippy for mom.

Anything that catches her fancy – for my sis!

And for me:
Couple of Tom Ford Matte Lipsticks
Couple of KVD liquid lipsticks
Cheek Brush from Suqquu
Another highlighter from CdP
Love Lust blush from Tom Ford
IT CC cream
Cushion makeup from Lancome or a Korean brand – I so wanna try them
And maybe – just maybe – the new highlighter duo from TF

Candice Avatar

Where? I hope I can chose to shop around!
I’d be ordering online from Sephora, probably a Korean cosmetics site, the ColorPop website, Paula’s Choice website and I’d have to hit up a drugsotre for 2-5 budget products, probably Pharmaprix.

I would get:
-Beauty Blenders
-Makeup and brush cleaning and sanitizing products
-Colorful Eyeliners, probably Sephora brand
-Ambient Lighting Powder
-2-3 lipsticks, possibly Kat Von D or Urban Decay
-BB cream with high SPF
-a BUNCH of stuff from Color Pop
-to be practical, I’d re-purchase my whole 3-month skincare routine which is over 100$ by itself
-A couple of drugstore foundations or foundation powders

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