As some of you might know, I like to buy, own, and test makeup (I know I sound like a 14-year-old teenage girl, but I am not). I usually do not wear that much on a daily basis (although my daily makeup routine changed a bit from the last time I told you about it). But when I do wear more, I like to play around with different things. For the past 10 years, I used to only buy drugstore products, and most of the time the ones on the cheaper — but still good — side. I always thought why should I buy the expensive things if they are all the same anyways. But in some areas of the makeup world I was very wrong. The first items I changed were my brushes. I used to use drugstore brushes — not the cheapest ones but still from the drugstore. They were/are good and they definitely do what they need to. When I found out about the Real Techniques brushes, I immediately wanted to try them out. Not only, because I only read and saw good reviews on them but also because they were a little more expansive but still very affordable. Well, what can I say. They kicked my drugstore brushes’ booty. I learnt very quickly that using a good brush changes your entire makeup. (If you want to read more about the Real Technique brushes, go to my blog post The Makeup Tool(s) that Changed My Life )
About a year ago, I decided to test more expensive products. The first product I changed was my concealer. I did not really went from drugstore to high-end, but from drugstore-cheap to drugstore-more-expensive. I started to use the Maybelline Fit Me concealer. It is not that expensive, but I actually experienced a huge difference. In my opinion, it has great coverage and it lasts very good. Although I like it a lot, I still want to test a more high-end one such as the MAC Pro Longwear Concealer or the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer. Other great concealers, which are not drugstore-cheap but drugstore-more-expensive and which I really like are the Instant Age Rewind Concealer and the Better Than Skin Concealer by Maybelline and the Match Perfection Concealer by Rimmel London. I love to use the Instant Age Rewind one and the Match Perfection one for concealing dark circles under my eyes.
The next item I changed was my powder. Again, it is a drugstore-more-expensive product. It is the Stay Matte Pressed Powder by Rimmel. I love this powder. I stays on really well throughout the day. By the way, can anyone tell me why Rimmel does not sell anything in Germany anymore?
I will move on to even more expensive products which I absolutely fell in love with. The first one is a blush. I decided to get a really good one and which would be the perfect color for me. After doing research and going to the stores and asking makeup artists for help I decided on buying the NARS Blush in the color Orgasm. It is a pinkish, peachy tone which suits my skin perfectly. It gives it a wonderful healthy glow. Additionally to the blush, I also decided to get a good bronzer and highlighter. Therefore, I decided to get the Hoola Matte Bronzer by Benefit and the MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Highlighter in the color Soft and Gentle. What I absolutely love about all three of those products is that you do not need a lot of product on your face to make a difference.
I also decided to get two good lipsticks, which are the perfect colors for me. I decided to get the NARS Lipstick in the color Catfight and the MAC Lipstick in the color Capture. I cannot tell you what a huge difference I experienced with those lipsticks. Both of them stay on all day, after applying them once in the morning. They survive drinking and eating. I actually was very surprised.
Overall and for me, I believe that in some areas a more expensive product is the better choice, because it stays on a lot longer and better and you do not have to use that much product in general. From now on, I will purchase more expensive makeup products. They are more pricey, of course. But what I experienced is, that you do not need that much product than of a cheaper one. For example, the lipsticks from MAC and NARS are very durable and you only have to apply the once in the morning, whereas other lipsticks have to be applied a couple of times during the day. Another thing I experienced is that the pigmentation and color is so much better.
Although, I really love the pricer products, I will not only by them. I still think, they are way too expensive. And I still believe that drugstore make-up is very good. What I have changed and will continue to change is that I won’t buy the cheap drugstore make-up any more. I will continue to mix more expensive drugstore make-up with some high-end products here and there. I just want to add that this is my opinion and my experiences. I am not saying that cheaper products are bad and you should stop using them. I only wanted to tell you more about my experiences and opinions. At the end, you should do whatever is right for you and buy whatever is right for you.
By the way, my absolute favorite mascara brand is not high-end or drugstore-cheap. My favorite brand is Maybelline. In my opinion, they have the best mascaras on the planet. My favorites are The Falsies and The Falsies Big Eyes.
