With the rise of more and more premium beauty products along with adverts from your favourite brands following your around the internet, it can be very tempting to spend more money on the contents of your makeup bag than ever before!
But thankfully not all products require such a spend... hence this post. Below you will find products I feel are worth the investment as well as products you can head to the drugstore for and be just as pleased with.
Splurge: Foundation
For years and years, I would pick up a new £9.99 drugstore foundation to try out probably monthly. These regular purchases were not because I didn't like the foundations I bought but because they didn't seem that special and so I sort out something new in the hope it would impress me more. But then something clicked and I decided to buy my first ever high-end foundation and that was when I realised the main difference between drugstore and high-end foundations - formulation and much larger shade ranges. Of course, it's not as easy as picking up any high priced foundation, so I recommend looking at reviews online, making sure it will work with your skin type and most importantly trying a sample before you commit to anything. Although I still babble in the odd drugstore foundation my true favourites are from Charlotte Tilbury with both the Magic Foundation and Light Wonder along with Lancome Teint Idole Ultra Wear Foundation.
Save: Concealer
You would think if I'm suggesting to splurge on foundation I'd recommend the same for concealer. But no. I actually think the highstreet/drugstore do a really good job especially with high coverage concealers for under the eyes and on blemishes. Of course, quite a lot of budget brands offer limited shade ranges, however, more and more are coming out with larger shades ranges such as L'Oreal, Sleek and NYX. If you are looking for a good coverage concealer for under the eyes then I'd highly recommend NYX HD Photogenic Concealer which is a good dupe for Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer. Or you could try the much-loved Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer. The only thing budget brands fall down on are brightening concealers I find, so I like to opt for the more expensive brightening wand-style concealers with YSL Touche Eclat (which have a much wider shade range now) and Charlotte Tilbury The Retoucher. However, if you have pale skin and want a budget brightening concealer then Maybelline has recently added a new 'brightener' shade to their Eraser Eye Concealer which is a good low-spend option
Splurge: Setting/Loose Powder
Lastly, for base makeup, I would say face powder is worth splurging on. Why? Because most expensive powders are much more finely milled/pressed so they apply like a veil over the skin, setting makeup without making it look too matte or cakey. They also generally have a way of making the skin look airbrushed or at least diffused. I also think spending £30 on a good volume of powder which will last years is definitely worth it. My go-to loose powder that I've been using for years is Clarins Mineral Loose Powder which contains a huge 30g of product that I know will last me a very long time. A new favourite, however, is Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Micro Powder which is just beyond lightweight and is so stunning on the skin, I'm so glad I treated myself to it.
Toss up: Mascara
Mascara is a strange one as I truly believe it's all about figuring out what formula works well for your own lashes and even what brush does the best job for you. For me that is a drier volumising formula applied with a bristle style brush, however, this is only something I've realised over time and through trial and error, which would have been pretty costly if I was only trying premium mascaras. So I would say it's best to find your favourite formula and style of mascara through drugstore purchases first and then when you know what works for your lashes you can spend more and hopefully won't be disappointed. However I still prefer to use budget mascaras for day-to-day wear with my favourites being L'Oreal Mega Volume Miss Manga Mascara, Kiko Extra Sculpt Volume Mascara and Soap & Glory Thick & Fast HD Mascara. Then with more high-end mascaras such as Too Faced Better Than Mascara and YSL False Lash Effect Mascara in the evening/when I'm going on and want voluminous lashes.
Splurge: Eyeshadow palettes
When it comes to buying eyeshadow palettes it all depends on how often you wear eyeshadow and how pro you feel at applying it. If you often skip eyeshadow completely and don't often mix up eye looks then budget palettes from Sleek, NYX and Makeup Revolution should more than cater to your needs. However, if you love eyeshadow then there is nothing like treating yourself to a more expensive palette from the likes of Too Faced and Urban Decay etc. Not only will the packaging be much more substantial and special but the overall quality of each eyeshadow will be better quality, from how it blends to the colour payoff. My favourite most used palettes are the Too Faced Chocolate Eyeshadow Palette, Urban Decay Naked Ultimate Basics Palette and the fairly new Urban Decay Naked Heat Palette which I will be sharing a full review of very soon!
Save: Single Eyeshadows
Although I'm a huge fan of eyeshadow palettes my single eyeshadow collection has grown dramatically in the past year as I've wanted specific shades that I can't find in the palettes I already own. And it struck me recently that they are all from budget brands and cost no more than £6 each! Because I simply don't see a point in spending £10 on a single eyeshadow when you have gorgeous cream eyeshadows with Maybelline Color Tattoo 24hr Eyeshadows, which are such good dupes for MAC Paint Pots and endless shade choices with amazing pigmented with Makeup Geek eyeshadows (see swatches of my MG collection here). Another amazing budget brand for single eyeshadows is Kiko here which I really need to try more from.
Save: Eyeliner
Unless you have a serious love for liquid eyeliner but have hooded eyes, in which case I'd recommend Kat Von D Tattoo Liner, then I'd suggest saving on eyeliner both liquid and kohl all the way. This is because so many lower-priced brands have nailed eyeliner in recent years. Liquid eyeliner is the most hit and miss across budget brands I will admit but if you know the brands to trust then you won't be disappointed. L'Oreal do an amazing range of liquid eyeliners, the Super Liner I especially love for its precise brush and S&G also do liquid liner well in terms of pigmentation and application. As for kohl eyeliner both Lottie London here (Sunburst is a perfect shade!) & NYX here have an amazing range of creamy eyeliner pencils that come in an amazing range of shades and finishes which I frankly think are comparable to Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-on Pencils. But if you are looking for a precise jet black kohl eyeliner then I couldn't recommend Bourjois Stylo Eyeliner Pencil more highly.
Save: Blusher
Blusher is definitely a makeup product I feel I can always save on as many budget brands do blusher exceptionally well and although luxury blushers can look more flawless on the skin at times, a light hand with the right brush and a budget blusher can have the same effects. I personally find budget powder blushers to be the best from brands such as Sleek, Kiko and Milani. My favourites being Sleek Blush in Rose Gold and Milani Powder Blush in Blossom Time Rose.
Toss up: Lipstick
When it comes to lipstick I think it's a total toss-up as there is a place for both budget and high-end in everyone's handbag. The high street is now awash with every shade and finish you can imagine and in sometimes luxurious looking packaging. But if you want something extra special or that lasts longer on the lips then premium lipsticks are the way to go. My own favourite budget lipstick brands would include S&G here for wearable nude shades, NYX here for comfortable liquid lipsticks, along with many from Rimmel and Revlon. However if I want something special I will go for Charlotte Tilbury K.I.S.S.I.N.G Lipstick for the perfect universal shades and luxury packaging, Illamasqua here or Urban Decay here for their creamy formulas and MAC here for the infinite shade options.
Of course, these are all just suggestions on where you could save with beauty products or splurging could be of benefit.
Let me know if you would like a skincare version of this post!
Fee xo.
