high end vs low end products ?

whistlebait · 11-26-2005, 05:08 PM

I have lurked on this board for a while and noticed that a lot of you adore MAC/Benefit/Beseame, etc. I was wondering what differences you see between higher end and drugstore products if any?

If I could afford it, I would love to buy more expensive items, but then I would feel guilty using them, feeling I could only use them on special occasions.

Any input would be lovely...thanks
Tanya

Miss Neecerie · 11-26-2005, 05:57 PM

Welcome to the Powder Room and the Fedora Lounge!

I use mostly drugstore level products, just so you don't think there is no one out here who does. Granted, I also might not be the most accurate of dressers and all that, but a girl's gotta do....

A lot of the nicer drugstore lines, Loreal etc...are just as nice in my opinion, as the other brands. There might be some differences in shades available and maybe some things feel less nice going on, but give the same effect.

To me, a lot of it is packaging and marketing and how we fall for it. I am as guilty of that as anyone, but that does not mean its a must have.

My two cents, devalued for inflation

Trickeration · 11-26-2005, 06:46 PM

Hi!
First of all, welcome to the lounge!

I have to say, that I am a drugstore cosmetics girl, too. I don't have the time or the money to spend on the more expensive brands. We live on a pretty tight budget because I stay home to homeschool my kids. I guess look at it from a practical standpoint. For example, I could "splurge" and spend $26 for the little eyebrow kit that Benefit sells. Or I could buy a nearly identical kit, that does the same job just fine, for $5 at Wal-mart. The extra $21 could instead be spent on a splurge of taking my whole family to Coldstone Creamery for ice cream (with money left over), or be used for the practical purpose of paying a bill. That would cover more than half of my monthly internet bill, or buy over half a tank of gas.

As for quality, I can't say I've tried all the pricier cosmetics, but I have tried some when given things as gifts or had a gift certificate. I personally didn't see so much of a difference that it was worth spending the extra money. For me, the key questions with cosmetics are:

1. Can my eyes/contacts handle it? Many eye shadows and foundations wreak havoc on my eyes and my allergies.

2. Will it stay on? I get so busy when I play with our bands, that I don't have time to be re-checking and applying make-up throughout the night. Plus I kind of feel like a prima donna if I do that anyway. And not to forget the razzing from the guys like " Does having your lipstick match your drums helps your playing? "

3. Will it stay on? part 2. If I'm the drummer on a given night, especially in the summer, under stage lighting, I'm going to look like I'm melting. I don't want my make-up melting off and running in streaks down my face. I don't want raccoon eyes, either. That happens with both the sweating and with putting eyedrops in if I'm in contacts.

4. Value. I could never spend $20 on a make-up brush. I don't spend that on the art brushes I use, even with the level of detail I need to achieve. And it just doesn't make sense to spend a lot of money if you'll get significantly less product.

I guess that was my soapbox moment. Anyway, the make-up I buy is usually water and sweat resistant, and is easily found in the local drugstore. I do try different brands, and even if I'm not thrilled with something I'll finish or throw it in a gig bag as a back-up (I often run out the door bare-faced and make-up while my husband drives

), unless it really bugs my eyes or something.

I use the long wearing lipsticks like Max Factor Lipfinity. I prefer their Everlites because it's more comfortable. Or Endless Kissable matte lipstick which I think is Cover Girl. Both have decent vintage type reds and corals and I've gotten many compliments on them. Some girls don't like them because it makes them nervous that it doesn't just come off. I keep a chapstick in bag to remov any application mistakes. It'll take the stuff right off. Then I just tissue the chapstick off well and complete the fix.

Anyway, I'd love to chat more, but I my daughter and I have a date tonight since my husband is away with the Coast Gurad and my son is camping with his scout troop. I hope I didn't get too preachy. I have nothing against the higher end cosmetics or the girls that like and them. I just can't buy them myself and my practical side wouldn't let me even if I could.

Trix

whistlebait · 11-26-2005, 07:08 PM

Enjoy your date, Trix.

ITG · 11-26-2005, 08:28 PM

I saw a special the other morning on I think ABC or NBC's morning show. They did test where they put expensive makeup on one half of various women and drugstore brands on the other half of the face. They didn't tell the women which side was which. At the end of the day they regrouped the women to ask which side of their face they prefered in regards to how the makeup held up. Most of them chose the drugstore side and were surprised to find out it was the drugstore makeup they picked as their preference. I use a mix of everything:

base: Nicole Miller foundation
eyeliner: I switch between Clinique and Loreal
Blush: Clinique
Eyeshadow: I usually brush on my blush there or have a Clinique one I like to use
Lipliner: Cheap drugstore one
Lipstick: Clinique, Loreal Endless, Mary Kay, Besame (on special occasions).
Powder (rarely used): Coty translucent (drugstore stuff)

Lauren · 11-27-2005, 09:03 AM

I like Max Factor. Not only is it the original company that started out in Hollywood doing movie makeup, they have pretty good products! I used Max Factor's Lipfinity for quite a while whenever I was doing vintage. The only thing I didn't like was if I was too impatient putting it on I would end up with clotting lipstick (ick!). I used their powder and foundation in school as well.

rubyredlocks · 11-28-2005, 08:38 PM

I second max factor,which i just started using.

USO Gal · 11-29-2005, 12:05 AM

The best lipstick I have found is 'Revlon Red' which I borrowed from a friend at a reenacting event. Since then I have been hunting high and low to find it.

Now another friend has Clinique vintage red and I have to say I am a bit jealous of it.

I recently lost my best tube of Red lipstick and I am on the hunt for a nice vintage shade in a drugstore brand. Because I can magically lose a tube of lipstick... I don't like to make an investment.

whistlebait · 11-29-2005, 12:27 AM

'Revlon Red' should be easy to find since Revlon products are sold practically in every drugstore/chainstore. I bought a tube of 'Real Red' by Cover Girl last winter based on the site recommendation and found it was too bright for my taste. Recently I bounght 3 tubes of NYC Color's reds in Ruby, Retro Red, and Sheer Red. I can't say that I am overjoyed with them though, but my thinking was it was better to test out a difficult color match like red, than buy something more expensive. I think they were $1 a tube, which is hard to beat.

11-26-2005, 05:08 PM	#1
whistlebait One of the Regulars Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Midwest Posts: 118	high end vs low end products ? I have lurked on this board for a while and noticed that a lot of you adore MAC/Benefit/Beseame, etc. I was wondering what differences you see between higher end and drugstore products if any? If I could afford it, I would love to buy more expensive items, but then I would feel guilty using them, feeling I could only use them on special occasions. Any input would be lovely...thanks Tanya

11-27-2005, 09:03 AM	#6
Lauren Distinguished Service Award Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Sunny California Posts: 4,303	I like Max Factor. Not only is it the original company that started out in Hollywood doing movie makeup, they have pretty good products! I used Max Factor's Lipfinity for quite a while whenever I was doing vintage. The only thing I didn't like was if I was too impatient putting it on I would end up with clotting lipstick (ick!). I used their powder and foundation in school as well. __________________ http://wearinghistory.blogspot.com Romans 12:2

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11-26-2005, 05:57 PM	#2
Miss Neecerie I'll Lock Up Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: is the Little Old Lady from Pasadena! Posts: 6,239	Welcome to the Powder Room and the Fedora Lounge! I use mostly drugstore level products, just so you don't think there is no one out here who does. Granted, I also might not be the most accurate of dressers and all that, but a girl's gotta do.... A lot of the nicer drugstore lines, Loreal etc...are just as nice in my opinion, as the other brands. There might be some differences in shades available and maybe some things feel less nice going on, but give the same effect. To me, a lot of it is packaging and marketing and how we fall for it. I am as guilty of that as anyone, but that does not mean its a must have. My two cents, devalued for inflation

11-26-2005, 06:46 PM	#3
Trickeration Practically Family Join Date: May 2005 Location: Back in Long Beach, Ca. At last! Posts: 545	Hi! First of all, welcome to the lounge! I have to say, that I am a drugstore cosmetics girl, too. I don't have the time or the money to spend on the more expensive brands. We live on a pretty tight budget because I stay home to homeschool my kids. I guess look at it from a practical standpoint. For example, I could "splurge" and spend $26 for the little eyebrow kit that Benefit sells. Or I could buy a nearly identical kit, that does the same job just fine, for $5 at Wal-mart. The extra $21 could instead be spent on a splurge of taking my whole family to Coldstone Creamery for ice cream (with money left over), or be used for the practical purpose of paying a bill. That would cover more than half of my monthly internet bill, or buy over half a tank of gas. As for quality, I can't say I've tried all the pricier cosmetics, but I have tried some when given things as gifts or had a gift certificate. I personally didn't see so much of a difference that it was worth spending the extra money. For me, the key questions with cosmetics are: 1. Can my eyes/contacts handle it? Many eye shadows and foundations wreak havoc on my eyes and my allergies. 2. Will it stay on? I get so busy when I play with our bands, that I don't have time to be re-checking and applying make-up throughout the night. Plus I kind of feel like a prima donna if I do that anyway. And not to forget the razzing from the guys like " Does having your lipstick match your drums helps your playing? " 3. Will it stay on? part 2. If I'm the drummer on a given night, especially in the summer, under stage lighting, I'm going to look like I'm melting. I don't want my make-up melting off and running in streaks down my face. I don't want raccoon eyes, either. That happens with both the sweating and with putting eyedrops in if I'm in contacts. 4. Value. I could never spend $20 on a make-up brush. I don't spend that on the art brushes I use, even with the level of detail I need to achieve. And it just doesn't make sense to spend a lot of money if you'll get significantly less product. I guess that was my soapbox moment. Anyway, the make-up I buy is usually water and sweat resistant, and is easily found in the local drugstore. I do try different brands, and even if I'm not thrilled with something I'll finish or throw it in a gig bag as a back-up (I often run out the door bare-faced and make-up while my husband drives ), unless it really bugs my eyes or something. I use the long wearing lipsticks like Max Factor Lipfinity. I prefer their Everlites because it's more comfortable. Or Endless Kissable matte lipstick which I think is Cover Girl. Both have decent vintage type reds and corals and I've gotten many compliments on them. Some girls don't like them because it makes them nervous that it doesn't just come off. I keep a chapstick in bag to remov any application mistakes. It'll take the stuff right off. Then I just tissue the chapstick off well and complete the fix. Anyway, I'd love to chat more, but I my daughter and I have a date tonight since my husband is away with the Coast Gurad and my son is camping with his scout troop. I hope I didn't get too preachy. I have nothing against the higher end cosmetics or the girls that like and them. I just can't buy them myself and my practical side wouldn't let me even if I could. Trix

11-26-2005, 07:08 PM	#4
whistlebait One of the Regulars Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Midwest Posts: 118	Enjoy your date, Trix.

11-26-2005, 08:28 PM	#5
ITG Call Me a Cab Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Dallas/Fort Worth (TEXAS) Posts: 2,481	I saw a special the other morning on I think ABC or NBC's morning show. They did test where they put expensive makeup on one half of various women and drugstore brands on the other half of the face. They didn't tell the women which side was which. At the end of the day they regrouped the women to ask which side of their face they prefered in regards to how the makeup held up. Most of them chose the drugstore side and were surprised to find out it was the drugstore makeup they picked as their preference. I use a mix of everything: base: Nicole Miller foundation eyeliner: I switch between Clinique and Loreal Blush: Clinique Eyeshadow: I usually brush on my blush there or have a Clinique one I like to use Lipliner: Cheap drugstore one Lipstick: Clinique, Loreal Endless, Mary Kay, Besame (on special occasions). Powder (rarely used): Coty translucent (drugstore stuff)

11-28-2005, 08:38 PM	#7
rubyredlocks Practically Family Join Date: May 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 822	I second max factor,which i just started using.

11-29-2005, 12:05 AM	#8
USO Gal New in Town Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Chicagoland Posts: 12	The best lipstick I have found is 'Revlon Red' which I borrowed from a friend at a reenacting event. Since then I have been hunting high and low to find it. Now another friend has Clinique vintage red and I have to say I am a bit jealous of it. I recently lost my best tube of Red lipstick and I am on the hunt for a nice vintage shade in a drugstore brand. Because I can magically lose a tube of lipstick... I don't like to make an investment.

11-29-2005, 12:27 AM	#9
whistlebait One of the Regulars Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Midwest Posts: 118	'Revlon Red' should be easy to find since Revlon products are sold practically in every drugstore/chainstore. I bought a tube of 'Real Red' by Cover Girl last winter based on the site recommendation and found it was too bright for my taste. Recently I bounght 3 tubes of NYC Color's reds in Ruby, Retro Red, and Sheer Red. I can't say that I am overjoyed with them though, but my thinking was it was better to test out a difficult color match like red, than buy something more expensive. I think they were $1 a tube, which is hard to beat.