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Are there types of products you splurge on that you feel most save on?


Are there types of products you splurge on that you feel most save on? Share!

Lip balm, body wash. I don’t think I’m necessarily extravagant on either, but I’m more mid-to-high-end on both.

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Lisa Avatar

Hmm well I’ve spluged now and then on most items! Most regularly I buy high end nail polishes and wraps. (almost weekly). I suppose I never ever buy drugstore blushes, always high end. Does that count? 😀

Emma Avatar

Definitely shower stuff like body wash and Lush’s famous body “conditioners”. I always get big sizes of the Lush Rose Jam body wash since it’s seasonal, so it can add up.

Natalie Avatar

This is so hard because everyone has their own idea of what is considered a splurge purchase by way of price, necessity, or frequent usage, etc. I would probably say lip treatments of all sorts are my weakness!

Marina Avatar

Lip balm (Dior Creme de Rose and Nuxe Reve de Miel), mascara and nail polish (Guerlain, Chanel, Nars and MAC). To be fair, probably 95% of my make up and skin care is high end, everything else I just buy whatever is most convenient or what I feel like trying at the moment.

xamyx Avatar

I own eyeshadow primers in every brand of eyeshadow I wear regularly. Most people have only one they know works for the, perhaps a second for more “finicky” products, but I own about 10… I can’t even allow myself to use more than one brand of eyeshadow at a time, so I “need” my primer & shadow to be the same, which brings me to my second “splurge”-I own many “duplicate” eyeshadow shades, even in the most “basic” shades depending on which brand I use that day.

Mariella Avatar

I’m so much the same with the eyeshadow in the same shade. I’ve often commented here that (a) it may be called by another name but I seem to keep buying the same 4 or 5 shades over and over again and (b) often when Christine shows a new shadow that really grabs me, it turns out that I have 4, 5, even 6 dupes of it already! But I still can’t stop myself!

Arianna Avatar

Night time lipstick! I know.. sounds ridiculous, but I just like the feeling of putting something luxurios on, with a moisturizing formula that will keep my lips soft and nourish them overnight – regardless of shade. Much like some people like to put perfume on before going to bed, I like to go to bed with lipstick instead of balm on! 🙂

Katherine Avatar

Facial creams and serums. Foundation and mascara. I will buy high end lipsticks but I also wear drugstore. There is just something about a Chanel lipstick that I can’t put my finger on and it’s not the name or packaging. Now that I’m older I will pay more for nice packaging and presentation but only if the quality is there in the product.

Maddie Avatar

Nail polish. I like to support indie/boutique brands, which tend to be more expensive than OPI/Essie or drugstore brands. I prefer the diverse range of colours and finishes, and love the fact they’re 3 or 5-free and cruelty free too.

Tiffany Avatar

For me, it would be skincare and mascara. I think skincare is so important because you can switch up your makeup everyday but you only have one face and no matter how much concealer or foundation you pile on, it won’t cover your skin if it’s not taken care of- it will show through. So skincare for sure- but mascara too because I’m such a mascara junkie! I have short stick straight Asian lashes so when I do find a good mascara, it’s worth the splurge! My fave right now is YSL’s Babydoll. 😉 merry Christmas Christine!!

Rachel R. Avatar

Foundation, because I can’t wear drugstore stuff. It’s so hard to find a color match that doesn’t oxidize or lean too heavily yellow or pink. Lotions and creams, too, because of my eczema and ultra-dry hands and feet.

ilovemakeup Avatar

I definitely splurge on foundation. With my oily skin I usually don’t trust drug store brands because they all seem to separate and become a mess within a couple of hours, so I just break down and spend the money on a good quality one. I usually do try to buy my foundation when Sephora has a sale, though, so it doesn’t hurt quite as much lol.

Mariella Avatar

Hair care stuff, foundation (I’d like to find a cheaper one that works well but I haven’t), sunscreen and moisturizers/primers containing sunscreen. And looking at the replies from others, it occurs to me that I don’t own any drugstore blushes, though it never really occurred to me that this is an area where I “splurge”.

CE Voucher Avatar

I’ve always been a high-end makeup person but one of the fun parts of this year has been discovering that lower-cost makeup has come a long way in terms of quality. It just takes some experimentation to find what works for you. That said, I simply can’t work with drug store foundation. It’s the one product where I have yet to find a decent, low-cost dupe.

jacqueline Avatar

so funny. body wash is prob one of the few things i don’t splurge on. i love the suave ones! and they are like $3 max! and anytime i’ve splurged on lip balm, i am often disappointed. my biggest splurge this year was a chanel highlighter!

Jennifer Avatar

I think the most I’ve ever splurged on body wash was getting the good drugstore brands, lol. Shampoo I also care not about, it’s conditioner that makes my hair finicky. I’ve tried a lot of fancy conditioners, and then realized that drugstore conditioners were fine as long as I shopped the ethnic hair care section. I use tiny amounts of product compared to someone with curly hair so bottles last forever too.

I splurge on lippies, brushes, and my sister. If my sisters presents happen to come with gwp perfect for me it’s just coincidence, promise.

fancie Avatar

Sometimes I splurge on eyeliner and nail polish. Not for any particular reason honestly lol. I’ll just buy it if I like the color. Now that I think of it eyeliners and nail colors can be a little harder to . So I’d rather just get what I like before searching around like crazy for a dupe

Melissa R C Avatar

I would say I spend a lot on nail polish. I buy Indie brands, mainstream brands, I love nail polish. One of my favorite brands was Illamasqua, but unfortunately, they no longer have a US distributor. I was willing ot pay $17 per bottle, but not $25 or more with the British exchange rate and the high shipping prices.

Katherine T. Avatar

*Skincare -Peter Thomas Roth Fimx Peeling Gel & 40% Triple Acid Peel are awesome
*Facial sunscreen-I haven’t found a drugstore version that performs as well
*Foundation, BB cream, Powder -haven’t found any drugstore versions that match my skin or perform as well

Erin Avatar

1. Lip balm. I own By Terry Baum de Rose. I’ve had it forever and use it when I know I’m in dire need or before an event. It’s lasted several years and I’m almost out.

2. Skincare! I know lots of ladies love Olay and other DS brands and get fab results. I’m not saying I can’t get nice results as two of my favs are drugstore but on the whole I need to avoid the DS formula pitfalls of silicones, fragrances, jojoba, and the horrible oils/petroleum ingredients. This is even unavoidable in high end brands too so I need to go for smaller batch and more natural skincare 75% of the time. Luckily, Derma E isn’t too expensive and I have a few of their products. Normally, I use stuff you could find on Spirit Beauty Lounge!

Catherine Avatar

Finishing powder, which half the time, I use simply all by itself. After a lady has achieved a certain level of maturity, full foundation makeup can look a bit dull and forced, so I really appreciate the subtle, light diffusing glow that a quality finishing powder can impart to less-than-babysoft skin. I have definitely splurged at the cough!Guerlain!cough! counter and been deliriously happy with the results of those extra dollars spent. It’s always a good thing when you see your reflection in the mirror and you DON’T see the Tilda Swinton character from The Grand Budapest Hotel movie staring back at you, LOL!

Heather Avatar

I guess it depends on how you define “splurge” and “most.” 🙂 My sister is happy with her drugstore mascara and thinks it’s weird that I’d spend $23 on a tube, but I think it’s weird that she only uses MUFE finishing powder when NYC’s is $6 and works just as well.

All of my shadow and blushes are at least mid-end, but that’s only because I don’t have the necessary skills (or patience) to make underperforming color cosmetics look good. 😉 I can’t use cheap foundation, as I have very sensitive skin.

I’ve learned that price isn’t always indicative of quality–which is why I appreciate your blog so much!

julieta Avatar

Mascara, i know most people think drugstore mascaras are the same as high end for a third of the price but i disagree! I love my lancome mascaras.
Powder, my skin is really sensitive so i only use laura mercier or clinique mineral powder
Lipstick, i consider Mac high-end (specially here in Mexico) and prerry much my entire lipstick collection is from Mac, i have about 25 D:

julieta Avatar

Now i think about it, the only drugstore items i have are Milani’s “Luminoso” blush and Nyx clear brow gel.
I don’t have that much makeup AT ALL, but i like to invest in products i know are amazing and that i’ll use all the time rather than randomly picking out things at the drugstore if i can’t swatch them or be sure they’re good or safe for my ultra sensitive pain in the ass skin haha

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