I went to
Sephora over the weekend for the first time in approximately one million years—and, maybe it was my breakfast Chinese leftovers coursing through my veins, but I decided to
buy stuff. I don't know that much about makeup, and I'm usually satisfied with cheap drugstore products, but it occurred to me that maybe makeup, like
certain shoes, is worth spending a little more money on. (Also, I had just bought the
world's worst eyeliner at Rite Aid a couple days earlier, and I didn't want to get burned again.)
Sephora products are pretty pricey, but the store definitely offers recession-friendly deals, many of which are available on the website. We have:
- Combination Sets — Bundles of products sold at a greatly reduced price. Granted, most of the makeup is overpriced to begin with, but you can easily save around 50 percent by investing in a set. And sometimes they suggest makeup combinations you wouldn't have thought of on your own.
- Weekly Specials — A page full of limited-time bargains. My favorite special up right now is the sample-filled metallic clutch that comes free with orders of $25 or more.
- Free Samples — You can pick three to go with your online order.
Anyway, here's what I bought. As I said, I'm kind of a makeup newbie, so I didn't go overboard:
Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil ($17)
I'm kind of an eyeliner fanatic, and, as I mentioned, I recently purchased a really crappy drugstore stick, the kind of thing that melted from chic to raccoon eyes after about fifteen minutes of wear. This 24/7 eyeliner comes in a lot of fun colors—more than you'd find in most drugstores—in addition to standards like black, brown, and charcoal.
I bought purple ("Lust") and black ("Zero"), which look good on their own or mixed together—purple eye makeup is really good for brown eyes, which I have. Next time, I'm probably going to go for one of the combination sets, like the
Hi-Fi 24/7 Set ($29) or the
24/7 Super Stash ($36).
And, seriously, this stuff stays in place. I fell asleep wearing it and even the next morning there was hardly a smudge.
Buildable Cover Complexion Kit ($34)
That price tag might seem a little steep, but this kit comes with six tools, which would cost $78 when purchased individually: primer, concealer, foundation, two makeup brushes, and a makeup sponge. It's also available in three shades—light, medium, and tan—so that even non-pasty-people (I bought light) can take advantage. And there are instructions, for dummies such as myself.
So far, the brushes make my makeup process feel more legit than ever before, and the makeup feels light and blends well. Even though the kit is meant to be applied in three steps, you can also pick and choose which products you use depending on how much time you have and other factors.
Overall, I'm very happy with my purchases, and it was definitely worth the extra cash—at least until raccoon eyes go back in style.
What products are worth do you spend more money on? Do you notice an increase in quality?
What have you bought lately? Let us know and we'll add your post to our main page.Image Source
Comments (55)
make up wise, I think the following items are considered "investment"
- foundation
- makeup brushes
the following items I can go either cheap or expensive:
- eye shadows
- blush
- eyeliner
- lip gloss
I tend to splurge on frequently use colors and cheap for colors that I only use once a while or if i want to experiment new look)
I buy mascara at drug store since I have to toss them away after a few months.
I do notice a difference between quality. The hair of brushes tend to fall out if you buy bad quality. The pigment of the eyeshadow doesn't stay on for long for cheap brand. For foundation, I do prefer more expensive one. But the quality between very expensive and expensive doesn't worth the extra $ though.
You are right on. I think make up is definitely something you need to splurge on for quality. Those eye liners are so adorable!
As for me - I think a big thing where you notice increase in quality is on foundations. Most drugstore foundations are about 10-20 bucks anyway. Why not go ahead and pay 30 and get a decent product? The cheapos you can get away with are mascara, sometimes blush, and brozer. Never buy foundation or lip products cheap.
@mich28@xanga - I think that is definitely true for eyeshadow brushes. I can'tt hink of one drugstore brand that actually blends well.
Covergirl lash blast. It's definitely worth spending money on.
The only thing I buy makeup wise is mascara. I get the Lash Stilletos from Maybelline (not sure how to spell it! I haven't used it in a while). I think it's definitely worth the 7 or 8 dollars. It really extends and curls the eyelashes a lot.
The other day i upgraded to some actual good eyeshadow, and powder foundations. Plus picked up a brush. its better to spend some money and get a good makeup set. thats what ive learned.
@mich28@xanga - that's a good point. if i'm going to experiment on something crazy, i'll probably go for a cheaper product :)
Forever make eyeliner is better than Urban Decay the staying power last longer
Most recently, a $30 kabuki brush by Too Faced. I'm hoping it'll make my super-expensive powder foundation last longer than my CVS brush. :/
Try Maybelline's foundation powder. It's fantastic, blends well, mattes out my skin nicely (I get shiny easily) and gives a healthy glow. And... it's typically around $9
ohhh i like the complexion kit :D
I must be the odd one for never using makeup. heh...
@Sun_Starflower@xanga - Nope. I only use makeup for weddings and job interviews.
Sooo I wouldn't be spending $17 on eyeliner haha. I'd just borrow my sister's or something.
I am a Clinique girl. Their face wash products are the ONLY PRODUCTS that clear up my face and I never get zits, EVER. But if I stop using it, POOF!
I use their foundation and moisturizer because its great and has SPF 25 in it. I will never use any other type of makeup again. I noticed a difference in my skin almost immediately after trying it.
@Athlyx@xanga - Yay! I borrow my mom's. I have Bare Minerals but never use it. I guess the most I use if I want to be really dressy is a quick dab of lip gloss.
I use Everyday Minerals foundations, despite shitty customer service. It's not really splurging because I can get I think 12 full sized items (ranging from $8 to $15 - including brushes) for about $50. I don't really splurge on anything. I wait for sales for mascara but I rarely have to buy it now since it takes so long to use up and I rarely use it anymore, and I have more than enough eye shadows and blushes that I got super cheap, even though they're still good quality (some I got from EM, some I got from WalMart, but those shadows are pretty nice).
I must say though, brushes can make any quality of foundation look awesome. High end brushes are a must have, but mine were a good quality bargain.
I tend to buy expensive makeup only for a specific purpose. For example, non-irritating "natural" makeup, or anti-aging makeup, and others that I can't think of at the moment. I do think that expensive makeup is expensive for a reason, but of course that doesn't exactly apply to every single product out there. Hmm... I think when it comes to mascara it doesn't really matter whether you're using a drugstore brand or not, but when you're stuck with the wrong drugstore foundation, it's really a nightmare. Foundation is tricky.
I really, really like The Body Shop's liquid eyeliner ($14) and shimmer cube eyeshadow ($22). Both last forever, so even if they're a little more, I think it's still a good value. Cheap liquid eyeliner flakes off quickly. One wild weekend, Monday morning on the way home, I still had the Body Shop liner I put on Friday night! The shimmer cubes have 4 colors, blend like a dream and don't just settle in your eye creases. I won't even get into their amazing award winning brushes. They also usually have some good online sales. Can you tell I'm obsessed?
Mascara and foundation are worth spending on, as is a GREAT bronzer. I also buy my everyday eye shadows (a quartet of gold and bronzes) at MAC because I think they're better. My "party" makeup and looks I only use maybe once or twice a month I do not spend on. I think a lot of it has to do with skin quality/condition, too. I don't have a lot to cover, nor is my skin very dry or oily, so most makeup works fine for me.
:) you have a great blog. i really found this interesting.
Great choices! For future Sephora sprees, here's a couple tips: Always buy concealer, foundation, powder, eyeliner, and lipgloss from prestige brands. The make-up provides better coverage and lasts much longer than drugstore brands and even though it's expensive you'll end up saving money in the long run because you'll hardly ever have to reapply. Go to walgreens for eyeshadow, mascara, and lipstick though. Most cheap mascaras (in waterproof) don't flake much and work just as well as more expensive brands. Lipstick is highly pigmented so cheap brands work, and as long as you have a good eyeshadow base a $2 wet n' wild shadow will work just as well as a $16 Urban Decay shadow. And as far as eyeshadow brushes go, who needs them? Your fingertips are the best shadow and concealer brushes there are, you just have to experiment to find the right application angles.
Honey, if you would drop the shallowness, and invest in getting out of debt and your future, like owning property, or a good education or retirement, you'd be a lot better off in the long run!
a little paint box for a party, a night on the town or whoring it up for some man is fine, but save your money!
I do not wear makeup so this post does not apply to me.
I think I look good natural. And apparently, most of you do not.
I think rather than spending a bunch on foundation I'd rather invest in good skin care products, and be natural and not need foundation. Obviously everyone's skin is different, etc, but still.
I do splurge somewhat on mascara though, since it's the only kind of makeup I wear on a regular basis.
Sephora is one of my favorite stores. i just want to go crazy in there.
i love the eyeliner that you bought!but to answer your question, i am now buying all of my makeup except for my foundation at Sephora, but varying brands. i love Too Faced, Urban Decay, and Benefit the most.i DEFINITELY see a difference in quality.i use L'Oreal mineral powder foundation, which i buy at walmart. it seriously works the best for me, so why not. (: