The obsession with expensive brands.

I hate people who are "makeup snobs" and only buy high end, even if the cheaper one is better, BUT I have to say you generally get what you pay for. I have loads of NYX eyeshadows which are nice and great for every day, but if I want a certain color to pop or last a long time, I tend to use my Urban Decay ones, because they are more pigmented. This might be because I have oily eyelids, but I find that the pricer eyeshadows are usually (not always) better. For a makeup artist's kit, high end is the way to go.

Feb 14, 2013

Stephanie D.

I am honestly willing to pay a premium for packaging and convenience. I would rather have a UD Naked Basics pallet than have 4 maybelline ones just so I can achieve the same color range and end up with a bunch of shadows I don't like or use.

I also find that I end up paying the same by buying 8,395 drugstore products rather than just buying 3 high end ones. The little UD pallet is what? $27? I'll easily throw out $30 to mix singles and quads. The idea that you're paying less money tends to be an illusion when you tally it up in the long run.

There are certain items I cheap out on or hit the middle of the road. For other things I'd rather suck up the price tag and be happy with it.

Feb 14, 2013

Hannah R.

I definitely do both, but prefer higher end on eyeshadows and face makeup. I'm a blush horror and love lorac's mineralized. I love revlon colorstay foundation, but I use MAC or MUFE to set it.

Feb 14, 2013

Hannah R.

*whore

Feb 14, 2013

Andrea C.

I'm just starting to explore other brands of makeup because I really didn't know slot of it was out there. Everyone has their own preference of what they like and don't like. I like both high end when I can afford it and drug store brand. I found this great concealer from the Cover Girl Queen collection and I love it and happened to pick the right shade the first time. And I have a lot of MAC products because I like the eyeshadows. I'm not about the brand, just if it works for me. I love makeup and don't care about who it's by or how much, as long as it works.

Feb 14, 2013

Veganbeauty L.

My ethics (vegan) and my ethnicity (afro latina/caribbean) determine what I buy. I buy what meets those criteria regardless of the price. Since a lot of cosmetics are not vegan, I buy from indie brands. The only drug store stuff I buy is ELF/Wet N Wild. I'm still on the search for a vegan foundation that perfectly matches me (I'm dark skinned). I'd actually be willing to pay more for a PERFECT VEGAN foundation. I wish more stuff was available to me at the drug store. Anyway, it keeps in me check. I don't own a lot of make-up, but what I do own, I love.

Feb 14, 2013

Alma M.

@Veganbeauty Have you tried LA Splash Mineral foundation?

Feb 14, 2013

Kaitlin S.

I'm a huge fan of drugstore products and while I do enjoy purchasing a high end product once in a while I find I stick to a certain kind of product with each brand. With Mac I really own lipsticks, with urban decay eye shadows (but only in palettes) and I think I own one nars blush. Where as with drugstore brands I love all kinds of products for each brand. I'd say my wetnwild eye shadows are of the same quality as my urban decay for sure. Of the high end products I own, I don't think they're overhyped. Mac has
Beautiful lipsticks and urban decay has great, long lasting shadows. There are definitely products from these lines I don't need in my life because they're not worth the hype which means I'll just stick with what I have :)

Feb 14, 2013

Veganbeauty L.

@ Alma M. - The Suntan shade might be a fit! Thank you!:D

Feb 14, 2013

Alma M.

@Veganbeauty your welcome :-) I loveLA Splash hope you enjoy it too.

Feb 15, 2013

Elisa S.

My mother works at a department store, so growing up I always had access to these megaflashy name brands she would get for free. My financial independence meant I could buy whatever products I wanted, which pointed me toward the cheaper drugstore brands. So yes, I have tried the high and the low from a time before I had these brand name/value connotations. I would love to say that yes: absolutely Urban Decay eye shadows are the best texture I've ever used, but honestly, Wet N Wild comes in a close second. For every other product, I've found similar if not better results from drugstore and even dollar store brands. Jordana and Lancome have similar quality foundations, Estee Lauder and Wet N Wild both have fantastic mascaras, e. l. f. and Laura Geller both make great face primers, etc.

Wear whatever makes you feel like hot stuff!

I will say that I first head of MAC on this website a couple of months ago hahaha and I don't see why it seems to be the cult favorite :]

Feb 15, 2013

Rikki P.

"Makeup snobs" with the high end stuff is just as annoying as "makeup snobs" with drugstore brands going "why all the expensive stuff get your drugstore too!" honestly. People buy what they buy and there really is no reason to call people makeup snobs if they like to buy high end all the time. Some of these comments are getting to be a little redundant. 

Feb 15, 2013

Caroline C.

I guess the packaging makes a lot of people fall for things.
But also, the ''you get what you pay for'' thing.

Feb 15, 2013

Tiffany D.

I agree with rikki people buy what they like and that's their business

Feb 15, 2013

Shelley W.

Thank you Rikki!

Feb 15, 2013

Kenzie G.

I personally don't think drugstore makeup works at all. Maybe it is just my opinion but the eye shadow creases, eyeliner runs and smudges,and foundation turns a COMPLETELY different color or wears off my face in NO TIME. I guess I am a "makeup snob" because I do only wear high end makeup.

Feb 15, 2013

Loren B.

I think some of the expensive brand palates may make it easier. The colors are pre matched. In the naked palette they are matched to be pretty much idiot proof any color will look great with any other color (s). In a super large palate or individual pans you need to exercise a more creative AND critical eye or it can look clownish or just visually unappealing. I love the maybeline 5 color palates but also enjoy the individual pans I buy. For professionals it may be more about image and providing what the model or company perceives as serious professional brands. I'd think a skilled MUA could use almost anything and make thier clients look great. Some items though may only be made by select companies. I love the feathery look of cake mascara which is pricy but lasts forever. I like max factor pan cake and have yet to find another foundation that goes on as a wet powder, happens to also match my tone really well. I don't get brand names for anything though. Maybe a carry over from my depression era raised parents. I don't get paying $200 more for some stitching that's not even holding anything together. Lol.

Feb 15, 2013

Loren B.

My favorite lipstick ever was a fly by night dollar store brand Emergé and I wish I bought 10 tubes. But I also love my leopard blush/ bronzer from too faced.

Feb 16, 2013

Kim S.

@Rikki P, I agree that people are being harsh. I wasn't calling anyone a snob it saying I hate people buying high end, I was more wanting to understand it better, having never used very much high end make up and feeling that the stuff I buy is perfectly good enough for me.
@Kenzie G I love my cheap eyeshadows that I use. They're drugstore AND they're cheap drugstore ones at that, but I like the texture and colours of the ones I get by BeautyUK and MUA, that's what I mainly use. I got bought a mac eyeshadow once and I didn't really like the way it went on, but I just bought a really amazing Dior eyeshadow. I do think you can get better foundation if you buy high end stuff. I'm sure there are still rubbish ones but the ones that do work, really work.
I'm using revlon ColorStay at the moment though and I love it!
I think it's more about trial and error and if you like something use it.
I just wanted to understand more why people will pay so much for certain things like a palette of neutral eyeshadows, because personally I can't justify it for something I could get a decent version of for cheaper. I wanted to know what makes it so worth the money, if anything :) x

Feb 16, 2013

Kenzie G.

Hmmm! Maybe I just need to try more brands out then! I haven't really tried many, but I will definitely give them a shot :)

Feb 16, 2013

Kim S.

And I need to try out more expensive stuff!

Feb 16, 2013

Kim S.

My eyeshadow today was from a palette of 120 colours that I think was under £10 and one was from a palette of 12 that cost £4 and with revlon ColorStay foundation, maybelline fit me concealer and collection 2000 powder on my face including my eyelids of course, everything is exactly as I put it on this morning :) that's mainly down to the ColorStay foundation though, best drugstore foundation in all the land! I think you can mix high end or at least more expensive drugstore brands with cheaper products like for example an expensive foundation with a cheaper blusher and eyeshadow, and get pretty good results. And save some money too! :)

Feb 16, 2013

Yesenia P.

I LOVE drugstore makeup. And I LOVE high end makeup!! Lol.

Feb 16, 2013

Sarah B.

Personally.. I disagree with this. I use what is best for me regardless of the price tag. I have come to realize that prestigious line cater the to finding a fix to the actual issue in your makeup routine. I have a BH Cosmetics palette that I just never use. Boring colors and textures. Doesn't fuse well with higher end shadows I attempt to use inthe same eye look.

When looking for a foundation, I keep in mind I am severely oily. But I hate a drab matte finish. Thus leading me to UD Naked Foundation.

I want a matte grey shadow, but after searching, the only one with the warmth I wanted was Bobbi Brown.

I want the blackest of all black liners.. But I want it to be easily smuggable, but set and stay all day.. And Tartes smoldereyes is the only one who could do it.

I'm picky and I want things to work for dramatic looks, but still easy to apply with any heckling when I'm in a rush.

Feb 16, 2013

Kim S.

@Sarah B Yeah, I don't disagree with the fact that you should use what's best for you. As I said, I've not used much high end stuff and that's why I wanted to know why people splash out so much... Like, whether its really that amazing that you can't do the same thing with a drugstore version of the same product. Thanks for the insight :). I'm happy with what I have makeup wise ATM, I feel like I can create nice things with them and I've got loads of lovely colours without spending a fortune. I would like to have a dabble with some fancier stuff, providing it was something I really thought made a huge difference for being high end. I do feel that what I have works though, I don't have any problems with things not lasting all day or not blending etc.so if I was to spend a lot on a product there'd have to be something very special about it. I am interested in the UD naked foundation that you mentioned... I get shiny really quickly but love the dewy, fresh faced look as well x