What luxury brand and/or product would you recommend for a first-time splurge? Share!
Guerlain Rouge Gs or foundation, or Tom Ford Blushes!
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I was thinking of splurging on the new Nars lipsticks and YSL’s new Fusion Ink foundation since I have oily skin. Would those be good?
ME TOOOOOO!!! The only thing is I’ll have to buy the colors I want for the NARS lippies directly from their site (Deborah and Liv).
Oh and I was reading the reviews for the YSL’s Fusion Ink foundation and I’ve heard people with oily skin (like us) say it’s really great!
Haha, all these new releases are looking good. I’ve read similar reviews which is why I’m excited to try it.
Are those the Barney’s exclusive ones?
YSL Lipstick or a Chanel Les Beiges, but after seeing your review of the new Tom Ford Cheek Contour Duos….I might have to recommend those!
Hourglass foundation. ….
Anything hourglass, really!!
Hey Christine! Apart from Lovelust, which TF blush would you recommend? I am NC37-40 and thinking of splurging on some TF products.
I think they’re all really nice quality! You might like Flush (brighter) or Ravish!
Thanks!!
Laura Mercier Caviar Eye Sticks! I think they’re well worth the money.
After seeing your reviews I bought LM caviar sticks and wow worth every single penny such buttery smooth and long lasting formula thanks for introducing me such great product 😉
YSL lipsticks or powders or Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua
MAC Paintpot or Make-up Forever Auqa Brow
Armani foundations or NARS anything.
Armani for concealers.
DIOR
Guerlain Rouge G lipstick 100% !
Chanel creme blushes! 😀
I think Dior! anything Dior! 🙂
I would say Chanel, it’s all good – well, perhaps the liner is a bit lacking but everything else is all good.
Which Guerlain Foundation would you recomend for combination skin and medium coverage? I’d want to try one, but I have no idea about Guerlain Foundations.
Chanel foundations, especially the Perfection Lumiere. Beautiful!
For the brand I’d say Hourglass, and Guerlain Meteorites or les Voilettes, Chanel cream blushes or Laura Mercier sheer Lip Glaces for the products.
shu uemura lash curler, nars concealer and ysl touche eclat
Sisley!
Well at my price point Drugstore is a splurge if it’s not BOGO… But I’m gonna have to say lipstick from either Guerlain or Burberry.
Burberry eyeshadow singles, Burberry mascara, or Burberry lipsticks. Seriously, you can’t go wrong with any of those.
Dior lipsticks.
Cle de Peau foundation, concealer (my favourite), highlighters (just read about them in one of your posts). As well as the Guerlain G lippies.
As far as Guerlain, i feel that my foundation (finishing off the last of my Extreme) is more of a necessity than luxury. I don’t know what i will use after my Extreme is finished. I love the coverage in the winter. Any suggestions, Christine?
Same here with the extreme. IT WILL BE MISSED.
A really nice foundation. It will make anything look better.
CHANEL ROUGE ALLURE VELVET LUMINOUS MATTE LIP COLOUR
Giorgio Armani foundations/concealers.
Guerlain Rouge G lipstick
Hakuhodo S103 (H2004) $97 Blush Powder/Pointed Goat (Sokoho)
** Very soft brush, so I would recommend for a light touch blush or highlighter. The feel is pure lux!
Hakuhodo G543 (H2220) $98 Goat (Sokoho)
** I wouldn’t recommend this one for dry skin because the bristles exfoliate if your skin is dry, but normal or oily — this brush renders an exquisite, perfect complexion!
P.S. I blame Christine (in the most positive way) for my love of Guerlain!
I’d have to say Guerlain. I learned about the brand here, up to then it wasn’t even on my radar. My first product was the Meteorites, then Lingerie de Peau foundation, then I purchased the LDP BB and then Terracotta Joli Teint Foundation. I have to say that for me the Meteorites while nice, didn’t overly impress me but all of the foundations are INCREDIBLE.
I remember when I bought Naked 1 and it felt like SUCH a splurge because it was $50! Since then i’ve bought a few of the more expensive UD palettes (Vice 1 and 2), so $50 on a palette is less crazy. I think those are the most expensive makeup items I own. My $27 Clinqiue Even Better foundation was a big leap for me, from $8-10 drugstore ones, but SOOO worth the extra money!
For a real splurge (the kind that makes you want to close your eyes when the price is rung up) I would recommend Cle de Peau concealer. It’s the sort of thing I use almost everyday and, despite my initial expectations, far out preforms any of the other bands I’ve tried.
Georgio Armani Maestro Foundation is my Holy Grail foundation but it’s definitely a splurge (though not as bad as Cle de Peau’s concealer). However, the formula is so unique and just *perfect* for my combination skin that I still make room in my budget for it. The sale’s lady told me that each Armani foundation is inspired by the feel of a fabric and Maestro Foundation was inspired by silk chiffon. The formula really does match up as it’s so light, airy, and provides sheer but buildable coverage.
There’s also Georgio Armani Lip Maestro. Oh. My. God. The color payoff, the staying power, and the velvety feeling on my lips make this my absolute favorite lip product. I found my perfect red in Armani Lip Maestro 400 and a truly lovely MLBB shade in 501.
Suqqu
Any of the Hourglass Ambient powders or blushes, or Guerlain Meteorites or one of their perfumes (I’m saving up for a bottle of Chamade). I think the Meteorites and Ambient powders in particular are good splurges because you can use them often for a bit of daily luxury, and not worry about using them up too quickly.
Armani especially for lipsticks and lipglosses !!
Dior Vernis Gel Shine polish, NARS sheer lipstick or Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder
It really depends on what they like and what they consider a splurge. If they want the height of luxury, I’d probably point them in the direction of Serge Lutens or Cle de Peau. If they’re looking something more moderate for a first dip, I’d suggest Chanel blushes or Guerlain’s lipstick lines.
One of the few things I own that I could recommend to anyone are the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powders. I have yet to invest in luxury lippies, but when I pull the plug, it will definitely be Tom Ford.
Is it weird for me to feel like i know you too well for knowing for sure that you would recommend Gerlain Rouge Gs? Lol
Nope, not at all! I rave about them often enough 😉 That’s what is great about having a community – we get to know each other! There are definitely products I review that make me think of specific readers.
I did too, haha!
Guerlain (meteorites, mascara, lipstick) would be my first recommendation as their products stand out in terms of quality and packaging. Dolce & Gabbana Beauty (foundation, blush) has also impressed me and is worth the splurge.
I think a good starting point is to choose whatever type of product is your favorite (lipstick, blush, etc.) and then narrow down the brand and color. Whatever you choose to splurge on…use and enjoy it!
Marc Jacobs highliner gel eye crayons and lovemarc lip gels. Dior fusion mono eye shadows.
Hourglass powders
Burberry lip mist or Dior Addict lipsticks
Nars blushes
Bobbi Brown foundation stick
Burberry eyeshadows
Kevyn aucoin cream highlight in candlelight
Rouge Bunny Rouge highlighting liquids. There are 3 of them and they are gorgeous! You can get samples of them through Beautyhabit. They are super expensive and I have never ordered the full sizes. I have also been loving Charlotte Tilbury Bar of Gold highlighting powder and Wonder Cream primer (I mix with foundation). I don’t know if these are luxury brands, but I am obsessed!
Chikuhodo Z series makeup brushes. They are the ultimate in softness.
My most anticipated luxury treats were these below so I would recommend them depending on skin type and other requirements:
Out of this world performers in my opinion:
-YSL Nail polishes
-Illamasqua Nail polishes
Succesful to Very Successful on me
-Terracota Khol by Guerlain
-Nars one nigh stand palette ( with laguna, orgasm, deep throat + 3)
-Baume de Rose lipbalm or even better the Clinique superbalm
Just OK – maybe I had too much expectations with these
-Astalift ( the orange jelly)
-Skinesis overnight facial
Not for me I am afraid (but works perfect in about 90% of the population – or it seems so according to reviews and blogs etc:
-Benefit They are Real Mascara
Oops: not makeup but a gadget: i got my Parlux Hairdryer -after two years of being put-off by the price but really glad I did.
On second thought there is something I am really really looking forward to trying but I cannot really recommend as i haven’t tested them myself but everyone is raving about these:
Makeup- Something from Charlotte Tilbury. Everyone is talking about her products in this ( European) side of the pond. The prices are really high. I might get myself one of her “lip cheat” lipliners, possibly in the shade pillow box. The powders look amazing too, including eyeshadows but they will have to wait.
Skincare- Creme de la mer. I am holding to my little 7ml moisturizing lotion sample like golddust and would looove to buy something bigger as I do like the feeling of my skin when i use it .
Definitely YSL lipsticks! Purely amazing!
Dior Airflash. This foundation work so well and is very natural. I’ve had nothing but good experience with it. YSL Lipstick is also amazing.
I would recommend:
UD Vice Palette 2 – such an array of colours that are all beautiful
Guerlain – such a fan of the eyeshadow palettes – whatever takes your fancy
YSL lipsticks – fantastic
China Glaze nail polishes
Elizabeth Arden’s Perfectly nude foundations – lots of shades
Shiseido – eyeshadow trios, especially Jungle and Snow Shadow.
Chanel cream blush or ysl glossy stain
Chanel and Dior foundations, Chanel illusion d´ómbre eyeshadows, YSL powder and mascaras..
As my budget doesn’t allow, I’ve had very few luxury splurges; however, Chanel nail polishes are to die for. Dragon is my “go to” red. I believe it’s a favorite of yours, too. :). My daughter also covets Chanel polishes and has more than I do. She recently splurged on one of their new eyeshadow quads. I’ve become a fan of Estée Lauder eyeshadows and Resilience Lift Firming/Sculpting Face Creme. I plan to try the companion eye creme in the near future.
Tom Ford blush, lipstick or brush. Nars blush. Guerlain four season bronzer/blush.
Foundations by MUFE
I would suggest any one of Tom Ford’s blushes or a NARS Audacious lipstick.
Guerlain Black Liquid Liner and/or Chanel Vitalumiere Foundation
Actually or a lipstick from any brand that appeals. Lipstick is always a good place to start.
Sisley Black Rose mask
Hourglass
I would like to add YSl lipsticks and Hourglass ambient powders to the list too!! 🙂
Gurelian G rouge truly deserved the place here.. Tom Ford blushesss.. woo!! :drool:
I would suggest splurging on NARS foundations and primers. I think MAC lipsticks are worth the extra few dollars too
I don’t do luxury brands hardly ever. I would suggest that person splurge on whatever makes her happiest to have. If someone is looking to splurge/invest, a great foundation will truly be the base that anchors the rest of the makeup. Or perhaps invest in a great, grown-up perfume.
A product for a first-time splurge? I would either go for a lipstick by Armani or an eyeshadow by Laura Mercier or cream shadow by Bobbi Brown.
All of the UD Naked palettes; Naked, Basics, 1, 2, and 3
My favorites that seem most worth the price for my very dry, cool and fair skin are:
Foundation – Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua
Lipstick – Dior
Mascara – Lancome Hypnose
Eyeliner – Guerlain Liquid Eyeliner