Save Vs. Spend: Makeup Edition

I thought I would do a post today on some products I am willing to splurge on, and some products I never see the value in spending more then drugstore prices. This is just my opinion remember, and this selection will be different for everyone, but it is good to determine for yourself what your important products are so you don't waste money on products that wont deliver noticeable results.

Splurge Items

*Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion*

*Smashbox Photo Finish Light Primer*

*Bourjois Healthy Mix Concealer*

You may notice a faint trend here. It goes without saying that the products I don't mind splurging on are all fundamental makeup items. With many things in life, having good fundamentals is important, and I feel if my basics are in order, whatever I put on top of it will look good. For instance, I don't buy expensive eyeshadow, so a good primer is essential in making sure what I do use stays in place and doesn't crease. That paired with the fact that I do have oily eyelids, makes a good primer essential in my collection. I was using a primer by e.l.f previously, and I have to admit I was happy with it and made excuses for it when my eye shadow creased 4 hours in. I could never go back after using my Primer Potion. My usual weekday is 10-11 hours long... and I come home with eyeshadow that is still in place. To me, that is worth the $24 I spent on this.

I've mentioned before that I have oily skin and that is very much true. That coupled with the fact that the office building I work in is always so hot (even when its -25 outside) usually just destroys any chance I have of making it through the day looking presentable. While I did previously love my Sephora brand primer, it is very sticky and not really a product for all over the face. I felt as though that primer was doing the job my MAC blot powder was already doing. This Smashbox primer is amazing and keeps my shine under control and the rest of my makeup in place all day long. They have a few different kinds, all dealing with different skin problems, but the Smashbox specialists recommended this one for me because my biggest problem is oily skin. You only need a tiny bit, so it lasts for a long time, actually making it a good value for the money. I paid $42 for this, and it is worth every cent in my mind.

My final product is concealer. Now technically I only paid $13 for this product, and I found it at Shoppers Drug Mart. However, but it is in this category because I would be willing to pay high-end price for a good concealer. I have dark circles and discolouration around my nose, and it's amazing the affects a good concealer have on my overall look. I look like I got a good night sleep (which is almost always a lie!) and my face looks polished and put together because my overall colour is even.

Save Products

*NYX Eye/Eyebrow Pencil-Black*

*Covergirl Lash Blast - Black*

*Love & Beauty Lip Gloss - Pink*

Now, in no way am I saying that if you spend say $40 on an eye liner it wont be better quality then my $3 liner. What I am stating here is that I simply do not see the value in the additional cost. When it comes to my eye liner, I find that my NYX eyeliner glides on smoothly, and stays on my waterline well throughout the day. When it comes to mascara, I just find that drugstore brands have come out with such good quality options that there's not reason for me to spend more money. Additionally, since mascara has a shorter shelf life then many other beauty products, the need for a hefty investment just doesn't resonate with me. I have been using CoverGirl Lash Blast for a loooonngg time and have always been happy with it. I do have quite long lashes though so if you have shorter thinner lashes the investment in a good mascara might be worth the money. The final product is lipgloss. This particular one I picked up at Forever 21 for $1.30! I don't notice a difference between it and any other gloss that I own. I actually own the O-Gloss by Smashbox and actually like the consistency of this one better. Since gloss rarely has a truely opaque colour, I think a cheaper alternative will get the job done, and save you money for investing in something that will make a difference to your overall look.

What it really comes down to is this: invest in the products that help your trouble areas. Have oily skin like me? Invest in a good primer and matte powder. Have short eyelashes? Find and invest in a good mascara that masks that problem! Have uneven skin tone? Invest in a good quality foundation. When your problem areas are taken care of, everything else will come together easier and look better!

What are some products you splurge and save on?