Splurge or Save?

Jul 1, 2014

Kelly V.

I think it depends on the product. Nail Polish, at least in my opinion, is not really worth a splurge. I've used 99? that are better then opinion/Essie/butter. I think Revlon lipsticks are just as good as Mac. wet n wild eyeshadows are just as good (if not better) then urban decay. although, I do think that splurging on hard products is always worth it. store bought cheap products don't have the same benefits for Your hair as professional products do.

Jul 1, 2014

Kelly V.

Woah typo city...I mentioned hair products not hard products. and 99cents not 99? opi not opinion.

Jul 1, 2014

Hannah K.

So...I have some things that I'll spend money on, and some that I won't. I have a Clarisonic, which I think is 100% worth the splurge, but I use it with $10 Neutrogena face wash. I adore the Aveeno Positively Radiant moisturizer more than any other daily moisturizer I've tried, including Philosophy's Take a Deep Breath, Sephora's day cream, Clarins day cream, The Body Shop Tea Tree moisturizer, just to name a few. Things I refuse to buy cheap: eyeliner. If it's cheap, it smudges on me. Without fail. Rimmel, Maybelline, L'oreal, Covergirl, Almay...all of them fell short. Nothing at all compares to my Urban Decay and Marc Jacobs eyeliners. I also refuse to use cheap eyeshadows; I find them crumbly, powdery, less pigmented and full of fillers that prevent them from applying well. Cheap lip products are usually fine, unless it's lip balm; cheap lip balms are usually petroleum based and therefore don't moisturize my lips. I prefer the Fresh Sugar Lip Treatments or the Nuxe Reve de Miel to any drugstore lip balm. Also, the best BB cream I own is the $15 Lumene BB cream from CVS, it covers everything and stays on all day. It's better than the Urban Decay, Smashbox, Benefit, whatever. It just depends on the products. There are always hits and misses within any line. Those are just my opinions and experiences.

Jul 1, 2014

Jocelyn S.

Mascara I think is something you don't need to splurge on. I find I splurge on blush, foundation and eyeshadow. Love Maybelline lipsticks, but I have MAC as well. I also splurge in skin care (Murad.)

Jul 1, 2014

Kitty K.

I splurge on cosmetics without a thought. My first purchase was high end... I tried drug store because of all the recommended products I see on Beautylish. The only things I've been kind of happy with are Wet n wild lippies and Jordana Mascara.
Skin care is tricky to actually say. My face wash cost me $7.00 but when it comes to antioxidant serums ( Vitamin C serums for example ) it will have to be an investment because cheap alternatives are usually useless.
Nail products I save on. We have a beauty supply store that sells Essie for $3.00 and OPI for $4.00. I'm a one color kind of girl.. Not really into fancy nail stuff.
Hair is tricky as well.. You have cheap products that work nicely and expensive products that do nothing.

Jul 1, 2014

Hannah K.

Good point on the hair products, Kitty. I personally prefer most of my drugstore products to my high end hair products. For example, hair masks. I'm obsessed with hair masks, because if I wasn't my hair would be drier than the sahara. I prefer the L'oreal Power Moisture Mask to the Macadamia Deep Repair Masque. It's honestly just better for me, it's lighter and leaves my hair softer and less greasy. I also happen to prefer most drugstore shampoos and conditioners to high end.

Jul 1, 2014

Kendall O.

I honestly splurge on cosmetics more than I save. I use some drugstore products because I like them. & I never buy high end mascara because I wear false lashes every day. I just have found high end products to work better for me. I have very dry and sensitive skin, but it's very clear so I like to keep it that way.
Skincare is just whatever works best for you, but because of my sensitivity, I tend to splurge.
As far as hair care, never ever would I recommend cheap products, especially if your hair is damaged or colored. I'm a professional hairstylist, so I've used almost every line there is. There IS a difference

Jul 1, 2014

Kendall O.

Nail polish though, I rarely buy and when I do I don't spend more than like 3-4$ on it

Jul 1, 2014

Diana T.

I'm willing to splurge on hair care and face makeup products because a lot of things break me out so I have to be careful of the things I put on my face - on the other hand I find very cheap skin care items that are more natural and work better most other products out there.

Jul 1, 2014

Shelley W.

I don't splurge on toners,facial cleansers, mascara,makeup remover,nail polish ( I refuse spend $25+ on nail color) but for everything else I will go buck wild and throw caution to the wind. Skincare though I'm very particular and find that the higher priced skincare items that I have do an awesome job. My ReVive Moisturizing Renewal Cream is one such item. I'm going on my 2nd year of using it in my skincare rotation and its worth every pricey dollar. I'll go drugstore for some goodies but for those core products I don't skimp.

Jul 1, 2014

Shiro M.

For me, skincare is worth splurging on because it's way worth the money to have healthy skin. I might spend a little more on concealer/mascara, but other than that I'd rather save. ☺️

Jul 1, 2014

Lizzy W.

As an almost broke student cliche, I don't really have the luxury of splurging. My only high end products are my beloved Stila In The Light palette, and my Clinique Mild Face Wash & Dramatically Different Moisturising Lotion. At times I've ventured into the world of high end hair products, and I've been disappointed every time. They're okay, but for that price I expect to be blown away & see a dramatic difference compared to drugstore alternatives.
As you can tell, I haven't tried much high end makeup, partly because the brand & product selection in South Africa is not the best. That being said, I'm happy with my small, cheap collection, so although I have what seems like an infinite wishlist at the back of my mind, I don't mind not spending the big bucks on makeup.

One product I would always splurge on if I had sufficient funds is the Dermalogica Microfoliant. It's hella expensive, but it's an amazing, one of a kind product. There's nothing else that compares in texture or performance (can you hear my wallet weeping?). I've tried dupes but sadly they don't even come close, so it just sucks that the price is so ridiculously high (if anyone wants to take pity on me and send me a bottle as an early Christmas gift...)

Jul 1, 2014

Alma M.

I think its just one of those things that's a personal preference.What's ones junk is could be another person treasure.For example I buy 99 cent nail polish but I appreciate a nail tech when they buy an expensive polish because they work in that field they know their stuff when it comes to that same goes for any one, it also comes with time or experience.I buy makeup because after all its what I do mostly is high end but that took time and experience to know about the good & bad I also have low end because lets be real here they have upped their game plus most companies are sister companies (research related brands) everything comes into play. I say worth it sometimes just like if its worth spending $15 on a lipstick you just have to try it and move on.You make the call :-)

Jul 1, 2014

Alma M.

Janelle great topic by the way ;-)

Jul 1, 2014

Hannah K.

Why thanks, Jackie! I'll definitely check out that lip balm, I'm on a constant search for the best of all lip balms. Absolutely lets go shopping at some point, that would be fantastic! Total fiscal devastation ;) as for the UD liners, they just seem to work exceedingly well on me, and I'm not going to change brands when one is fine :)

Jul 1, 2014

Art I.

The only thing I really splurge on is my hair care. I have frizzy, dry hair and loccitane just happens to work for me.

Don't really have problem skin so my neutrogena facial wash, and a boots moisturizer work fine on me.

Makeup I tend to use very minimal and it's more about the shade/texture that I like rather than the brand. So I have a mix of drugstore n high end stuff.

I notice ppl tend to splurge when they have problem skin/hair or if they are experts in the certain field(ie mua, hairstylist). Or just when $$ is just not of any issue to you. Lol!

Great thread! Haha. I haven't seen so many moderators in one thread!

Jul 1, 2014

Lizzy W.

Jacqueline, I have a quick question: For someone like me who does not have a lot of extra spending money, do you think it's smarter to first invest in good quality tools before I start expanding my makeup collection? In my mind, an excellent foundation brush can make a bigger difference on a low quality foundation (not that I have a problem with my current foundation), whereas the thought of using a cheap brush on a high end foundation seems like a waste.

Jul 1, 2014

Emily B.

I'm willing to splurge on hair oils and masques, repair stuff because my hair is damaged. I only buy after extensive research of reviews though. I don't like splurging on makeup, I don't wear enough or often enough to worry about my eyeliner smudging or lipstick fading. I do also splurge on skin moisturizers

Jul 2, 2014

Megan F.

I splurge on eyeshadow and eyeliner!

Jul 2, 2014

Amy S.

A good way to save money, on quality.. look independent... rcma, sugarpill... excellent lines... nice pricepoint... inglot too... often you pay for ads and packaging... there are some awsome cult brands out there.

Toners, thayers which hazel. Retail, its like 8 bucks.

I'm a guilty splurger... but, I'm also picky about ingerdient... hard to find quality cheap.

Jul 2, 2014

Amy S.

A good way to save money, on quality.. look independent... rcma, sugarpill... excellent lines... nice pricepoint... inglot too... often you pay for ads and packaging... there are some awsome cult brands out there.

Toners, thayers which hazel. Retail, its like 8 bucks.

I'm a guilty splurger... but, I'm also picky about ingerdient... hard to find quality cheap.

Jul 2, 2014

Alyx T.

I splurge most of the time. I have super sensitive skin and the fillers in most drugstore items break me out in hives. I don't splurge on hair care though. I use 8$ shampoo and 8$ conditioner. Skincare wise it's in between. I buy the body shop stuff, so it's usually 8-16$ an item. More than drugstore but less than at sephora.

Makeup I almost always have to splurge. I can't use any drugstore foundation, lipstick or mascara. Eyeshadows I can sometimes use but it's iffy.

Nail polish I don't splurge on. I bought the formula x's 22 kit and it's lovely, but it came out to like 4$ a nail polish and 5$ is the max I'll ever spend on nail polish.

Jul 2, 2014

Mrs B.

Shiseido skin care products are so worth the splurge

Jul 2, 2014

Amy S.

I agree with jacquelline.

Actually, I'm loving my bdellium brushes. I seem to reach for them the most... cheap, wear amazing, really apply nice makeup, wash well, never shed.

Great line, great investment.

Jul 2, 2014

Amy S.

And apply every type of makeup I used them on... from zombie to bridal.