Make Up- designer vs drug store

Make up is one thing I hate spending money on. I really like NARS and a few other higher end products but also use mostly drug store brands. What drug store brand make up products have you found to be the best, and are there any "higher end" products you won't live without?

Make Up- designer vs drug store

I don't like any drug store brands for makeup. I use drug store brands for facial soaps, lotions and makeup removers though. I use cetaphil soap, oil of olay lotions and almay eye makeup removers.

For actual makeup, I love MAC and Clinique. I don't use any drug store brands for makeup. I don't let the cost bother me. My blush is from MAC but it will literally last me 2+ years. It probably costs around $20. Yeah I could probaby get something at a drugstore for $8, but does it make sense to sacrifice quality to save $12 over 2 years?

Make Up- designer vs drug store

I like both drugstore and higher end cosmetics...just depends on the product. For foundation or powder, I prefer the higher quality brand, and I like having a professional match the color...something that can't really be done in a drugstore. But for mascara, I have tried every brand out there and nothing compares to my Loreal...which is actually Lancome...so for me, some drugstore items are better.

Re: Make Up- designer vs drug store

There is a difference. I ran out of powder and quickly went to the drug store and picked out a more expensive one - totally sucked. This also happened with concealer.


ETA: lip gloss i will give a chance sometimes. I do like aveda best, but am usually not too disappointed with drug store glosses.

Message edited 9/2/2012 4:01:16 PM.

Re: Make Up- designer vs drug store

I am picky about my foundation, powder, and blush.........those I buy Clinique. Everything else I buy from Target.

Re: Make Up- designer vs drug store

I get all of my make up from the drug store.

Make Up- designer vs drug store

I actually like the drug store makeup better. Granted all i use is concealer and bronzer on a daily basis.

Re: Make Up- designer vs drug store

Foundation and powder I don't skimp on. I haven't found anything better than MAC foundation.


IMO drugstore mascara is just as good, if not better than a lot of designer make up. I love maybelline. I also use l'oreal eyeliner.

Make Up- designer vs drug store

The only stuff I buy drugstore is mascara. I buy my lancome powder and eyeliner at the outlets...

Re: Make Up- designer vs drug store

everything i own make up wise is MAC..except for mascara

i swear, i have tried EVERY designer mascara possible, and nothing beats loreal and maybeline

i just bought a new MAC mascara to give it a shot, and i hate it-it's horrible

Make Up- designer vs drug store

speaking of makeup from the drugstore...I just purchased mabeline mega plus mascara. its amazing. My husband thought I was wearing fake lashes

Re: Make Up- designer vs drug store

Same as the others. Mascara I get at the drug store. I love Maybelline Define-a-Lash and Rimmel.

Blush I have both. I use Nars Orgasm and Physicians Formula.

Bronzer I use Nars Laguana

Concealer, Smashbox

Foundation, Nars sheer matte

Lip gloss i get anywhere. I do love the Victoria's Secret lip gloss though.

Re: Make Up- designer vs drug store

I think that spending more money on high end products for foundation and concealer, then buying drug store brand for everything else is a good plan.

Re: Make Up- designer vs drug store

i have tried every brand of designer name mascara known to man. i think they're all crap lol i buy revlon. i also use cover girl for foundation and blush. i actually break out horribly from all MAC products. eyeliner, eyebrow pencil and bronzer i go with designer, same for lip gloss.

Re: Make Up- designer vs drug store

I use drug store under eye cover, drug store lipstick, drug store liner and drug store mascara (Hello, Great Lash!).

I will never use drug store foundation.. it isnt because I am too good for drug store, I have tried it, but it just never looks right on my skin. I also use higher end blush and after I do a base coat of my Great Lash, I use higher end mascara to separate and define. I love Smashbox photo finish and will not live without it.

And honestly? I'm a sucker for packaging, so I can admit that there are things I buy simply because I like the way the package looks so I do have some expensive lipstick and hand creams, etc..

Re: Make Up- designer vs drug store

drug store - almay, maybelline, physician's formula - hypoallergenic and noncomedogenic

Re: Make Up- designer vs drug store

I buy more high end just because you can try it out, but there are decent drugstore products.

Maybellne has recently come out with some decent stuff. I like the Color Tattoos & gel eyeliner.

NYX products (from Ulta or online) are drugstore priced but good quality.

I always buy drugstore lip liner (Revlon, L'oreal)

I usually buy drugstore mascara, b/c I change to too often to buy high end all the time, but I like a few high end mascaras (Tarte, Benefit) better than my favorite drugstore ones.

Eye primer is the one thing I have to get from Sephora. There aren't many drugstore ones.

I used to buy more drugstore, but I spend almost as much money trying to get something that is decent.

Message edited 9/3/2012 11:24:26 PM.

Re: Make Up- designer vs drug store

I don't buy exclusively high-end or exclusively drugstore-- I have favorites from all different price points:

Blush-- I wear Nars Orgasm almost every day. It's my favorite blush of all time. However, I've had luck with drugstore brands too.

Bronzer-- I've tried a couple high-end ones that were too shimmery or too drab, but now I stick with the drugstore Physician's Formula mosaic one. For me, it was the most natural looking and gave a nice finish.

Concealer-- I only wear concealer under my eyes. Right now I think I'm using Smashbox, but I never found one that was my real holy grail. High end is definitely superior in this category for consistency, coverage, and range of shades.

I don't wear foundation and powder at all so I can't comment on that.

Eye shadow-- Another one where I find high end brands superior. Better pigmentation and staying power. I like MAC, Urban Decay and Too Faced.

Eye liner-- I've tried both high-end and drugstore, and honestly I'm satisfied enough with drugstore brands to not bother spending the extra money on designer.

Mascara-- Only drugstore. I have never, ever tried a high-end mascara that I felt was worth the price.

Lipstick and lip gloss-- I have tons of these, from the cheapest to the most expensive brands. I don't have a favorite brand because I tend to fall in love with individual shades, not a whole line.

Re: Make Up- designer vs drug store

I'm not a huge make-up person at all.

I only wear eyeliner, mascara and lipstick on an average day (I don't really like having all that other stuff rubbed into my skin).

I may throw on some eyeshadow if I'm going to a wedding or something.

So I tend to shop at CVS or Target.

Mostly Maybelline and L'Oreal.

Make Up- designer vs drug store

I use mostly high-end make-up simply because the quality is better and I find that I can justify the price because it lasts longer and wears better.

Foundation and concealer - I buy high-end. Better pigmentation and color match. I can never find anything in the drugstore that looks right.

Blush - usually use NARS. I find that it lasts me a long time so I don't mind spending the money on it. DH usually buys me blush either for my birthday or the holidays.

Powder - I use high-end.

Mascara - this is one thing I won't spend money on since I find the drugstore mascaras to work better. I use a Loreal mascara that is like $8 at Target. Mascara is also replaced often, so I won't spend $20 on a tube.

Lipstick and lipgloss - it's hit or miss. Most of my lipstick is high-end and lasts a long time. With lip gloss, it's a combo. If I see something at a drugstore that I think would look good, I try it out. I do, however, have mainstay lipglosses from places like Sephora.

Re: Make Up- designer vs drug store

I use Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer. I use mostly Sephora brand for eye shadow, blush and eyeliner. I use Maybelline for mascara.

Re: Make Up- designer vs drug store

My foundation and blush is from Channel. Eyeshadow I mix and lip gloss I happen to like some of the drug store brands.

Re: Make Up- designer vs drug store

Foundation and concealer are higher end mostly. Other stuff I mix. Drug store mascara and eyeliner work as good as the high end.

Is it true that some of this stuff is manufactured in the same factories?

Re: Make Up- designer vs drug store

I have no issue trying drug store brands - if there's something I like better, why not save the money?

I refuse expensive mascara - I am 100% Mabeline & LOreal .......

but honestly, that's really the only thing I prefer drug store brand

Make Up- designer vs drug store

Foundation, blush, concealer, eye shadow and primer- High End.
Everything else is from the drug store. I have spent hundreds of dollars on expensive mascara and have been using The Falsies for the past 2 years and it's absolutely amazing.

Eyeliner, don't laugh but I still buy Wet n Wild pencils. They are awesome.