Like the smooth on the peanut butter, or the ice cream before the first spoon interrupts its topmost layer, here sits my new blush, unblemished by brush or hand, uncracked by me dropping it on the floor.
If you looked in my makeup stash you would notice something very quickly. I don’t own fancy eye shadows or moisturizers. I don’t have THE eyeliner or mascara. I’ve never had a makeup professional tell me what colors would look good on me. I’ve never once been the beneficiary of a “free gift” from Clinique or Lancome. Because I am cheap and I buy all of my makeup at the grocery store.
It’s not that I don’t want to own nice makeup. I do! In fact, the older I get, the more I think I need to visit the makeup counter at Nordrstom or some other overly priced department type store, because I’ve got wrinkles and lines and places where good makeup might actually help.
But I’ve worn makeup for twenty-four years, and during that time, Maybeline, CoverGirl, L’Oreal and Neutrogena have been just fine for me. They don’t make me break out. They don’t cost a lot. And I think my makeup looks decent enough.
Then again, six years ago I thought I was doing great with round brushing my hair and then someone introduced me to the flat iron and it changed my life forever..
Do I need to try expensive makeup? I’m asking you, dear readers. What has been your experience? What is the number one tool in your makeup arsenal and where did you get it? Are you loyal to a fancy makeup brand or are you cheap like me?
Weigh in so I can start planning my Christmas list, which may or may not include expensive makeup.
13 comments:
I'm mostly cheap. But even cheap seems pricey to me. Cheap: Maybeline mascara. Expensive: Elizabeth Arden Visible Difference face cream (but I've found it at discount stores for much less than department store prices) and an occasional fancy lipstick.
I'm pretty cheap too, but grocery store makeup has historically not agreed with me -- sensitive skin. I buy a couple of clinique items at bonus time, and the bonus items are a treasure! I never buy lipstick or eyeshadow, because I have so many from the bonuses (yes I know I should throw them away after a year, but I don't). I don't wear makeup every day, so the items I do pay "top dollar" for last me awhile.
With my fair/blotchy skin I splurge on mineral powder that nicely evens out the tone. Even though I live in NYC I prefer to have my powder shipped from Oregon because I know what I am getting and that it works. I would have never gone the mineral powder route had it not been for the birthday consultation gift from mom one year. Happy list making!
Mascara is where I splurge and spend $10.00 on a tiny tube. Which sounds really expensive to me. Everything else is cheap.
I'm a cheapskate, too, when it comes to makeup. If I can't get it at the grocery store or Target, I don't buy it. Brooke did surprise me and the rest of the Wilson sisters awhile back with a little package of makeup from eyeslipsface.com and they have GREAT prices if you're not a makeup snob. You should check them out. Brooke swears by the bronzer and I loved the eyeshadows and blush but didn't love the mascara. My favorite mascara is Maybelline Full N Soft.
Since I went to a makeup seminar put on by MAC in college, I have been completely loyal ever since. It really is the BEST makeup. Before that I was wearing the grocery store brands too, but once I tried it and saw what a difference it made, I could never go back. I have extremely sensitive/oily/finicky skin (that fair thing, ya know), and it hides and evens everything out. Their product I absolutely could not live without is Studio Fix--a powder plus foundation. LOVE IT!!! You apply it with a big blush brush. Just one step, instead of two! I would never go back to liquid foundation ever! I buy it at Nordstrom. They have great shadows and a variety of moisturizing lipsticks too. Over the years all my sisters have changed over to MAC too. They also have a cool recycling program...5 used up products and you get a lipstick free.
I have super sensitive skin and most products make me break out. And I itch after an hour or so of wearing them. I recently tried bare minerals or bare essentials. It's the same company but they change their name for nordstrom. I love it, haven't had any problems. I've used Mac a little and a similar line called mirabella. They are both pretty good. I just like the mineral make up better. Although Mac often does specials where they have gift sets for a killer deal and I'll occasionally get them. I'd be careful about keeping make up for years, even if you don't wear it often. It gets full of bacteria and can led to infections. At least clean your brushes often.
I'm cheap on most things, but makeup is not one of those things. I used to buy grocery store makeup until I tried MAC makeup. Now I can't live without it. I LOVE IT! It really makes a huge difference to me. I have been known to spend a ridiculous amount on makeup there, but I have no guilt whatsoever. If you look good, you feel good, so its worth it to me!
I'm willing to throw down some extra cash for Bare Minerals foundation and Mary Kay Lash Lengthening Mascara. I've tried cheaper alternatives to both and decided that they are TOTALLY worth the extra expense.
The Bare Minerals is usually $25.00, but right now you can get a whole starter kit (including foundation, bronzer, brushes and mascara) on the website for $29.99. Go to:
http://bareescentuals.com/
and click on Bare Minerals at the top, then choose the TV offer get started kit.
I used to like Clinique, but got tired of paying the higher prices for it. I use Bare Essentials powder. It really covers up a lot, and if you have a little boy who doesn't always sleep well, those dark circles need to be covered. Otherwise, it is Maybelline and Cover Girl (and the new Renew by Oil of Olay for my face moisturizer....LOVE that).
Well, I use Proactiv (their gentle formula) for washing my face and moisturizing it. As for makeup I too use cheap brands. I used to get Cover Girl Smoothers Compact Foundation but even their lightest color was too dark for my white skin! I just started using CG Simply Agless (that I had gotten very cheap with coupons and deals at a store), and it works so much better (it's smoother and the color matches my skin better)!! So I guess, even when you get "cheap" makeup, even the more expensive stuff can make a difference in appearance and feel.
I always like the pricier stuff but between being busy, tired, the cost and toxicity - I don't feel so disappointed in myself about going o'naturale most days. I totally recommend doing the makeover route at the counters to see what looks they can give you and how you like the feel of products - most make me itch so I don't buy on the spot but come back when I know I like it. Also, you can check out the toxicity level of any kind of product, rated great at 0 to bad at 10 -- http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/
I used to be a make-up snob ; ) I used MAC everything, and was VERY happy with it. Then I had kids and no more cash for pricey make-up. Luckily, stuff lasts many years so I've been working with what I had, and switched my foundation to Bare Minerals. It's great for combo skin (if you're like me). And, because it happens at least once to everyone, it's not horrible on your face if you sleep in it. Just sayin'.
BUT, I just read this on another blog, if you have REALLY pale skin, try Baby Powder as your foundation to just even things out/absorb oil.
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