Hi Guys!
It seems that a lot of people nowadays are pretty confused about what they should spend their hard earned money on and what they should scrimp on. Some items are ok, or even preferable to scrimp a little on, but some products are worth the higher price tag. So, what should we spend on and what should be scrimp on, and why? Here is a list of some of the most used products and where to allocate your money.
1. Foundation: Spend
You know you need to spend a bit more on foundations the same way you need to pay a bit more for a good bra. Think of it as the foundation of your house. If you have a bad foundation, it doesn't matter how expensive or artfully crafted the rest of your house is. It's the same with cosmetic foundations. Most drugstore foundations look cheap because they are very, very pink. Why? Because, pink pigment is much cheaper to produce and buy than yellow pigment, so most drugstore foundations use a lot of pink. You CAN find decent foundations in drugstores, but it is worth it to spend a bit more on a really good one. That way, you can spend less on everything else.
Some decent drugstore foundations are:
L'Oreal True Match Liquid (doesn't photograph well)
Maybelline Instant Age Rewind
Some great department store foundations are:
Chanel Vitalumiere (for every skin but oily)
Too Faced Amazing Face
Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer
Chanel ProLumiere (for oilier skin)
2. Eyeshadow: Scrimp
There's no need to spend a ton on eyeshadows as long as you know which low-end shadows have great texture and color payoff. My favorites are by NYX and are as good as or better than most high end shadows. If you use a good eyeshadow primer first, then your shadow savings are even better because you won't use as much to get the look you want and your shadow will stay on all day without fading or creasing. Urban Decay Primer Potion and MAC Paint Pots are great. Try NYX HD Eye Shadow base. It's amazing and it's cheap. To me, shadow primer is an essential step, just make sure to dust a powder or flesh toned eyeshadow over your primer before doing eye makeup or blending will be impossible.
3. Mascara: Scrimp
It is a little known fact that most of our mascaras come from one of only 3 different manufacturers. There isn't a lot of difference between most formulas AND you are supposed to throw it out after 3 months, so why spend $30 for a mascara that you need to throw out in 90 days? Especially if the mascara is no better than a $6 brand? Some great mascaras are : Prestige My Longest Lashes, Prestige My Blackest Lashes, and Prestige My Biggest Lashes.
4. Blush/Bronzer: Scrimp
As long as you know which brands sell highly pigmented, smooth formula blushes, absolutely scrimp on these! NYX makes fantastic powder and cream blushes, but La Femme makes the most pigmented powder blushes I have ever seen and average about $5. You can buy them on Amazon.com.
5. Concealer: Spend
More expensive concealers are better pigmented and grab the skin better. You don't have to spend a mint but, you do need to spend something. MAC Studio Finish Concealer is great and you can use it all over your face.
If you simply can't shell out the money, then Maybelline Dream Matte is also amazing. The Instant Age Rewind Double Ended Concealer by Maybelline is great for the undereye. NYX Concealer in a Jar is amazing, too.
6.Eyeliner: Scrimp
Just buy Le Grand Kohl by L'Oreal. It's inexpensive and fantastic. Don't cheap out more than this, though. You will get into "really squishy and hard to work with" or "really hard and doesn't draw" territory. If you WANT to spend more, I recommend the 24/7 pencils by Urban Decay, but it isn't necessary. It's personal preference.
7. Makeup Brushes: You really should SPEND
A few good brushes will cost you a lot less in the long run then tons of crappy ones you don't like and will never use. Sigma makes great quality brushes for a very moderate price but, sometime you can buy one pricey brush that does the work of 10 brushes. The MAC 217 brush, for example, can do your entire eye look by itself, so it really is a good investment. It's up to you though. Good brushes= the best application and blending, which ends up being less work for you and your makeup will look 100x better than with bad brushes. Bad brushes can leave streaks, scratch your skin and make your makeup patchy.
8. Lipstick/ Lip Gloss/ Lip Liner: Scrimp
Yup, you can scrimp on all of these. As long as the pencil isn't so hard that it "drags" (meaning you have to really push hard to get any color) and the lipstick isn't too drying, you will find that a LOT of high end lipstick brands are no better than lower end. Why? Because, there aren't that many ways to formulate lipstick!
My favorite lipstick is Avon Ultra Color Rich. It's super hydrating and creamy. I like the "sheer" colors. Maybelline Color Sensational lipstick is also great and I love Maybelline Moisture Extreme lipstick in "Born With It" but this lipstick is verrrryyyy hard to find. Rimmel Moisture Renew is a runner up, but it sort of smells like crayons.
My favorite lip liner is Maybelline Color Sensational. I use Toast and Plum, depending on my lip color. These are all I wear. They go with everything.
I admit, my favorite lip gloss is Urban Decay Lip Junkie in Peroxide and it is NOT cheap. But,my price per use is very low because I wear it EVER DAY. I wear it alone and over every lipstick, so for me, it's not expensive. It also has made my lips a bit more pigmented and plumper, even when I'm not wearing it, so I love that. L'Oreal Color Juice and Cover Girl Wetslicks Fruit Spritzers are good choices, too.
Now For Skincare!
1. Makeup Remover: Scrimp
You can make your own with Alcohol-Free witch hazel and extra virgin olive oil, mix a 1:1 ratio of oil to witch hazel in a travel vial (you can get these in the travel size section of Target) or a small glass apothecary bottle (I got mine at Sprouts). It will look like a lava lamp. Shake it up before you use it, or else you will get all oil. You CAN use this for eye makeup, but please only use alcohol free witch hazel, not the normal 14% alcohol type.
2. Cleanser: Scrimp
Most dermatologists suggest you cleans with something soap free and gentle. This means cleansing with either Cetaphil or Purpose soap. I use Neutrogena Oil Free Acne wash, but I use either the green one or the grapefruit one. No sense in shelling out tons for cleanser. Any antioxidants or anti aging properties won't matter in a cleanser; the product isn't on your skin long enough for any ingredients to absorb into your skin so paying more for cleanser is a waste of money.
3. Toner: Scrimp
Alcohol Free Witch Hazel or lemon juice. 'Nuff said.
4. Moisturizer: Scrimp
Surprised? Well, 10 or so years ago this would have said "Spend" but nowadays, drugstore moisturizers are just as good as department store moisturizers and have just as much science behind them. Case in point, L'oreal has a serum called "Youth Code"; Lancome has a serum called "Genifique". Lancome is a L'Oreal brand. The difference between these two serums? One ingredient, and this ingredient is pretty worthless in the formula. Aside from that, they are identical. And, neither actually works. So, why is Genifique over $50 for a small size and Youth Code around $20? Don't even get me started on "Creme LaMer".
The best drugstore moisturizers are: Cerave (it has high end humectants in it and is super moisturizing), Eucerine Redness Relief SPF 15 (my fave), Garnier Moisture Rescue Gel Cream, and Eucerin Q10 Anti-Wrinkle Sensitive Skin Creme.
5. Zit Cream: Scrimp
Clean and Clear PersaGel 10 is the best. Hands down. Better than literally ANY high end zit cream.
6. Under Eye Cream: Scrimp...sort of.
It depends on what your definition of "spending a lot is". I get millia and styes from really rich eye cream, but my genetics say I need one. The best I have tried is about $13, which in "Eye Cream Land" is pretty cheap. It's by Kiss My Face and called "Eye Witness". You can get it at Whole Foods or really any health food store. I love it and it really works well.
7. Serums: Again...scrimp...sort of.
The trick here is not to spend tons on a serum, but to buy a serum that is in an airtight container, with a pump. Once antioxidants hit the air, they start to become unstable (they also start to become unstable when they hit sunlight, so it's best to use serums at night). There are plenty of great (and terrible) high ends serums you can buy. Kiehl's makes a great one called Acai Damage-Repairing Serum. However, Olay just came out with one called Olay Regenerist Night resurfacing Elixir. It's about $23 (but, if you get coupons from Ulta you can save some money on that) and is magic. Don't think that just because you splurge on a serum it is somehow better. A LOT of high end serums on the market are actually mostly silicone.
8. Body Wash: Scrimp
Body wash is easy. Just use what you prefer, but make sure it isn't detergent based and stripping your skin. Dove Sensitive Skin is a good one.
9. Body Lotion: Scrimp
My fave is Burt's Bees Milk and Honey Lotion and I use Neutrogena Age Shield SPF 30 on my hands. You can tell a woman's age by her hands. Nivea just came out with Express Hydration, which is good and St. Ives came out with a Coconut one that I hear is pretty good, too.
10: Nail Polish: Scrimp
I adore OPI nail polish, but they are like $8 a pop. My second favorite? Rimmel London Lasting Finish Pro Nail Enamel. This is the polish that comes in the square bottles and is about $3 a piece. They have great colors, great brushes, great formulas and last forever without chipping. I would say they are as good of quality as OPI, but lack the extensive color selection OPI offers. My secret weapon to a manicure that lasts is Sally Hansen "Hard as Wraps" in clear (don't get the one in the blue bottle though. It's different somehow and the plain old clear one works way better).Hard as Wraps comes in pink, tint, buff and clear, just FYI. I start with a coat of that, then do 2 coats of the Rimmel, then finish with a coat of the Hard as Wraps, again. Done and Done. The Sally Hansen One Step Manicure polishes are rubbish, by the way. My fave Rimmel polish colors are Purple Rain, Steel Gray and the navy blue one I can't remember the name of. Sigh.
Thanks for reading and please post any questions you have.
Warmth and Peace,
The Thrift Store Barbie
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