The obsession with expensive brands.

Feb 12, 2013

Kim S.

I know that some of the products really are good... But is it just me that thinks there's way TOO much hype over certain brands and products?
It's mainly eyeshadows that I think get way too hyped up. I spend very little on the eyeshadows I use. The brands I tend to use are beautyUK which are £4 for a palette of 10 colours and MUA which are £1 for single colours or £4 for 12 colours. I also have a 120 colour palette which I got as a present, but I think it was under £10 from what I can gather on the Internet.
I can usually tell from looking at an eyeshadow whether its going to be pigmented and easy to use. You can kind of tell by looking at the texture of it.
I must say I've never actually bought anything by mac/urban decay/sugarpill or whatever. The only thing I had was a turquoise mac eyeshadow that I got as a present about 7 years ago. From what I remember, it was hard to blend and the colour came out in patches of darker and lighter shades of the colour. Maybe it would have been better with a primer, but with the eyeshadows I use, I don't feel like I need a primer.
I honestly think its more about your skills in applying makeup than how much you've spent on the makeup itself.
I mean, the naked palette by urban decay... It's JUST some neutral eyeshadows... I've seen people post looks they've created with it and I can honestly say I could do the exact same thing with my cheap ones.
I'd really appreciate if anyone can explain why they go so crazy over this stuff and if there's anyone out there that agrees!?

Feb 12, 2013

Brandy M.

I agree. I do by some high end stuff but I also buy drug store. I have never understood the people that are kind of snobby about it and are like "I ONLY use Mac" well, you're ONLY missing out on some good cheaper products lol. I am not a brand diva at all and never really understood the hype some people associate with it.

Feb 12, 2013

Kim S.

And a lot of people that use expensive stuff are shocking at applying it. I'd much rather see a well blended £1 eyeshadow than a big horrible block of a £10 one :)

Feb 12, 2013

Ema D.

I so agree with you girls on overly hyped expensive eyeshadow brands. It's not that serious if your not a professional in my opinion.

Feb 12, 2013

Ema D.

I so agree with you girls on overly hyped expensive eyeshadow brands. It's not that serious if your not a professional in my opinion.

Feb 12, 2013

Claire W.

I like both. And I make sure I research an expensive product before I vut.

Feb 12, 2013

Claire W.

Buy

Feb 12, 2013

Kim S.

@Ema D do you think you need to use expensive brands to be a professional? I would say if you're a good makeup artist you could use cheap ones and still do something amazing with them x

Feb 12, 2013

Nicole S.

Yes I agree, I have a friend who's like bareminerals and nothing else, and maybelline is too cakey on her skin, even the eyeliner... and I'm like my god.

Feb 12, 2013

Ema D.

@Kim S no I don't feel you necessarily needs expensive products to create a gorgeous look. I do think that some but not all customers might want the professional to have a well rounded kit.

Feb 12, 2013

Cameron R.

I hate high end eye makeup because I feel it's overpriced for the quality & I hate drugstore face products because I feel they are poor quality and ineffective for my problem skin type.
My best friend is completely opposite in the way that she will/can buy all her face products at Target/Walmart, but will spend LOADS on expensive eye shadows and lip products, etc because she likes the pigmentation/color ranges and the ease of finding the different textures she needs that are harder to come across at drug stores.

Different strokes for different folks. All that matters is that the finished product reflects the look you are trying to achieve, and that you are happy with it.

Feb 12, 2013

Rica F.

Shoot me!! I'm indeed one of those persons!!

Feb 12, 2013

Alma M.

I think there are pros and cons with high end and drug store products.I love all makeup, if you have the skills to pull off a look with any brand that's all that matters.The drug store products have improved a lot through the years,I have to say because wet and wild in the 90's was like scrapping chalk and cover girl used to smell like noxzema lol so much has change and that may be why some people are hesitant to buy some brands.I also think You tube Guru's have brought the hype for the so called Must have products because people want to believe the product will make them more skilled but its not the case.I think its all in the skills with eye shadows and eye liners, lip products, but can be a little debatable when it comes to foundation or concealers. :-) Great topic.

Feb 12, 2013

Rafiat A.

I buy makeup like I buy clothes, I mix higher end products with lower end ones. I love drugstore lashes as much as I love opi or China glaze nail polish. I will say though that some higher end products just have the quality in them, you can't tell me that covergirl and MUFE powders are on the same level. As a person that uses both I can definitely say MUFE while expensive is just better quality.

Feb 12, 2013

Victoria D.

In all honesty, I can create an eye look using MAC, sugarpill, Urban Decay, MUFE, whatever, and create basically the exact same look using Wet N Wild, Rimmel, Revlon, NYX, etc. I use both high end and drug store products.

Feb 12, 2013

Shelley W.

I have both in my collection and I get just as much enjoyment out of my drugstore items as I do with my high-end. I'm not a make-up artist but I know what works for me and what doesn't and I've had far better success with high-end...especially when it comes to finding the perfect match for face products (foundations and such). I'm all about quality regardless of the price-point.

Feb 12, 2013

Emma T.

It really depends. It's kinda like clothes for me. If I buy an expensive staple piece or two, I can use it forever with different inexpensive and expensive pieces. Some things I like to splurge on but yes I don't care for when people say they only buy Mac. Different brands have different great things.

Feb 12, 2013

Alexa B.

Hahaha, I totally feel you chicas! Way too many women give into the expensive brands and not necessarily for the quality. I don't really care about my makeup brands like I do my face treatment products, because I've tried all the cheapy's. :) NYX is cheap and has some pretty good shadows and stuff.

Feb 12, 2013

Alma M.

Nyc has a really good face primer and Bonne bell has a great bronzer.

Feb 12, 2013

Becca T.

I'm trying to downsize my collection of makeup. Rather than having 20 items of the same thing I try to choose the best quality out of all. Items that I will use over again and again I tend to spent more on it. But if its only a seasonal item, I don't mind spending it at drugstore. Quality over quantity

Feb 12, 2013

Megan M.

I buy drug store and high end. I just go for what I think works best. Personally I think drug store eyeshadows are horrendous so I always buy mine from sephora. But when it comes to mascara I tend to lean more to drugstore. Eyeliners a little more high end, concealers more drugstore. Etc.

Feb 12, 2013

Savanna S.

I don't see the point in buying high end products when you can get the same quality or dupes cheaper. though that might be because high end items such as the urban decay naked palettes are $120 here in New Zealand.

Feb 12, 2013

Tiffany M.

I feel like all brands have hits and misses...I love my drugstore products but there are some luxury items I treat myself to...BUT if the product doesn't perform well I'm not buying it no matter what brand it is.

Feb 12, 2013

Chantal D.

I couldn't agree more I buy as since I shadowing blush wishes to 99 for four colors it's awesome. As for primer I do need it simply because I rub my face a lot I use urban decay for eyeshadow and Neutrogena for face. However got the urban decay at TJ Maxx for 10 bucks.

Feb 12, 2013

Cheyenne C.

I agree with Tiffany. I bought the Naked palette as a treat for myself, but I tend to reach for my Wet and Wild palettes and lipsticks more.