SAVE or SPLURGE??

I've always wondered whether it was worth my money to buy cosmetics at department or drug stores. I don't think we need to go broke just to look beautiful so I've consulted with a few of my makeup-savvy friends and they've told me which products they think we should buy cheap and which ones we should give a little more and splurge. We all know we're worth it.

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makeup brushes
Our vote SAVE
You'll probably see almost all professional makeup artists with a bag full of expensive brushes and they might argue that it's the only way to go. It's something about the synthetic hairs versus animal hairs that gives you the best quality. But I can tell you from personal experience that you don't need top of the line makeup brushes. My friends agree that as long as you regular clean them (once a month if you wear makeup every day; I don't, so I only clean mine once every two months), you'll have them for a long time.
My favorites Essentials Tools Studio Brush Set 11 piece, $10; Sonia Kashuk Deluxe Travel Brush Set 8 piece, $20.

primer
Our vote SAVE
If you're wondering about primers, they fill in any lines making your foundation as smooth as a baby's bottom. They also do wonders with setting your makeup. And in this hot weather, we all need something to help out makeup stay put all day long. There are high-end brands that claim they work magic but they cheaper brands have the same ingredients and do the same exact thing. We recommend hunting for a less expensive primer or even purchasing a foundation with silicone in it. THAT is the key ingredient, among a few others.
My favorite L'Oreal Paris Studio Secrets Professional Magic Perfecting Base, $8 to $13.

foundation
Our vote SAVE/SPLURGE
In my opinion, this is really only a splurge when you are buying foundation for the first time. Makeup consultants at the department store can match your color and suggest products for your particular skin type. With that being said, those of us who have been wearing makeup for years, we already know our foundation colors so it is easier to buy from the drugstore. My friends and I agree that this product could be a Save or Splurge decision.
My cheap favorites Covergirl Trublend Foundation, $7 to $10; Revlon Colorstay Foundation, $10 to $12
My pricey favorite Make Up Forever HD Invisible Coverage, $39 to $42.

concealer
Our vote SPLURGE
Concealer purchases are similar to foundation purchases where as they are best to buy at the department store. It is the one product that can cover discoloration and make you look more awake at the same time. We recommend splurging on this item due to a few reasons: You can get the color matched perfectly, you can find the right texture of concealer (creamy vs powder) for your skin type, and you can even get a few tips on where and how to apply it.
My favorites Clinique Even Better Concealer, $20 to $30; Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage Concealer, $30.

blush
Our vote SPLURGE
I'm a powder blush kind of girl and I'm happy because it has a pretty long shelf life. Score! You probably spend every day with your blush and my friends recommend paying a little more for a highly pigmented powder that can blend like nobody's business. You can easily tell the difference between high pigments and a dull product especially when applying them.
My favorites Nars blush, $29; MAC powder blush, $16 to $20.

eye shadow
Our vote SAVE
A couple of years ago drugstore eye shadows were a joke. I only bought shadows from MAC or at least anything else from Sephora. But now, brands like L'Oreal and Maybelline have really upped their game. And I know I recently purchased the Urban Decay Naked palette but there are still comparable eye shadows at Wal-Mart or Target. My friends and I suggest purchasing at your nearest drugstore. And if you're wanting to experiment with different colors, this is definitely the way to go!
My favorites L'Oreal HiP Studio Secrets Professional Metallic Eye Shadow Powder Duo, $9; Covergirl Eye Enhancers 4-kit Eye Shadow, $5; Hard Candy Kaleyedescope Eye Shadow, $6.

mascara
Our vote SAVE
You've probably heard this rule: Replace mascara every six to eight weeks for eye safety reasons. Shh, don't tell anyone, but I don't always follow this rule. I haven't had any bad experiences for keeping it longer but I did have a friend in high school that had a huge infection. Maybe it's the human part of me but a lot of us don't change until something happens to us. If we did actually follow this mascara rule, it would be quite pricey if we bought brands like Lancome or Benefit. My makeup experts recommend a drugstore buy, 100%, and like eye shadow they have more higher quality mascaras in the last few years.
My favorites Maybelline Mega Plush Volume Express Mascara, $6; Rimmel Glam Eyes Mascara, $8.


If you are looking to save on any of these items, it is best to look online for coupons or stock up when any sales are going on in the stores.