Is it worth paying more for certain make up and toiletries?

sam_h786

I spend a bit more on my skincare products as I have oily skin in the T-Zone area I have tried the pricey Clarins HydraQuench and Boots No7 moisturisers they made no difference to my face....so now I use Clarins Hydra-Matte Lotion for Combination Skin and Pore Minimising Serum for Oily/Combination Skin, which works well for my face

I spend more on my Cosmetics aswell, I use:

- Chanel Pro Lumiere Professional Finish Make Up Foundation - this works well with the Clarins products I use and find my T-Zone is not that oily, it gives me nice finish aswell
- Ruby and Millie I-Writer in Black - buy this whenever they have the £5 voucher promotion in Boots, I find this liquid eyeliner pen very easy to use than the wand type of eyeliners you can get. The Application is very precise especially if you don't have a steady hand and its a very good eyeliner if you are a beginner at it
- Clarins Lip Balm - The rose scent is gorgeous and it moistures my lips very well.
- YSL False Lash Effect Mascara - It gives me nice long lashes with lots of drama!

I do feel kind of bad spending a bit more on my make up and skin care, the stuff works well for me and treat myself to it anyway....If you do fancy treating yourself to some nice make up and toiletries, most expensive lines tend to do samples of their products which you can try before you buy the products....I know Chanel, Clarins, Clinique/Estee Lauder sometimes give free samples of their foundation and some of their skincare....I also check out the reviews for the products to help me whenever I want to splash out and I agree with the OP if you can afford it then buy it

xxo

brighthair

there's a few things I always use

Dermalogica Pre Cleanse, Ultra calming cleanser and gentle cream exfoliant - amazing on my skin
not too fussy with moisturisers although I use an SPF in summer
Rimmel eyebrow pencil in Hazel - used it for 13 years now!

that's about it, but I do like MAC and Urban Decay eye shadows

Starrystarrynight

If a product works for you and makes your skin look great, then it has to be worth it.
I only really use moisturiser and eyeliner. Luckily, the moisturiser (Nivea Aqua Sensation) only costs about a fiver. I buy a fairly expensive (well, for me!) gel type eyeliner as I find them easier to apply and they last longer.

iceicebaby

I use a bit of a mix and match of products over the years and through trial and error, these are my faves, some cheap and some more pricey.

Benefit face primer and foundation - only used for nights out / special ocassions
Avon SPF15 tinted moisturiser - for everyday wear. Recently discovered this has been discontinued
Avon Translucent powder
New Kid Bronzer
New kid eye pencil
Boots 17 eye shadow
Revlon mousse eye shadow
maybelline waterproof mascara
Boots 17 liquid eyeliner
Rimmel lip glosses

I use Soap and Glory "scrub your nose in it" facial scrub and simple facial wash.
facial moisturiser is just plain old Nivea, works the best for me out of all the expensive ones I have tried.

Soap and glory body butter occasionally, otherwise whatever body lotion I have been bought for Xmas/Birthdays etc.

You have to use what you like and what suits you regardless of the brand.

Starrystarrynight

I guess it could also be a false economy to switch from a regular brand, spend money trying out various other brands and ending up going back to your original.

Material_Girl_2

I pay more for some I like Lancome, MAC, Nars etc. My skincare is mainly N7 at the moment as I really rate it. For my hair I use a TIGI or Herbal Essence shampoo, which are both very good. I have some very cheap staples as well such as superdrug Vitamin E exoliatior and eye moisturiser. So as you can see I mix and match my beauty products and if I love something I'm more than happy to splash out.

Youdontseeme

Over the past year I have tried to down scale brands but have wasted so much money buying stuff that isn’t suitable for my skin.


Skin type: Irish skin even though I’m welsh, pale rosy cheeks, green eyes. Very allergic and sensitive, prone to the odd zit, and seems to go from incredibly oily to dry to the point of flakiness over night and back again just as quick!


Me: QVC addict would rather not eat than not use products I love.

I think I have finally cracked it (for now) but thinking about I haven’t really brought my spending down by much.

Cleanser: I was using Decleor face wash (12.50) in the morning and Liz Earl C&P at night (£24.50 for 200ml)

Now I use Soap and Glory Clean Mary Cleanser (£6) in the mornings and also use their Hot Cloth Cleanser at night (£9ish it think) it was recommended by someone on here and I am loving it


I do prefer to use a "soapy" wash in the mornings but bought it by mistake when I meant to buy the hot cloth stuff, and my skin seems to work well with it.

Moisturiser: I was using Decelor Hydrafloral (£35) and Neroli oil (£39) then the neroli balm essential at night. (£35)

Now I use Ultrasun face30 which I use instead of a moisturiser (£30 for 2x50ml) in the morning, not that much cheaper but I one pump seems to do the trick and after 8 weeks I am still on bottle one. I love this stuff it’s a great base for makeup and my nose hasn’t burnt once in this warm weather which is very unusual!

I still use the Balm Essential at night.

This is seeming to work for me after going through a stage of being very spotty (never got them as a teenager I was horrified!) and my skin being very topsey turvey it seems to have settled down on the above regime, in fact I have been told twice over the last couple of weeks that I am glowing and a lady walked up to me in Boots and told me I had lovely skin!

Foundation: I love Bare Essentials it lasts for ages I have tried other mineral powders but they don’t seem to be as good or suit my skin.
I always have Laura Gellors balance and brighten in my handbag and its great if I wake up late as I can put it on, on the move, so to speak don’t need a mirror and give an almost flawless finish and is great for keeping any shine at bay.

Blusher: Now I have found it, I always use Laura Gellor do shift about in the shades a bit, but find they are always a perfect match to my skin, I have rather rosey cheeks and blusher was a nightmare nothing ever looked "right" But the Laura Gellor ones just look great (even if I do say so myself lol)

Eyeshadow: I am not brand loyal at all and tend to go for colours I like and anything that doesn't make my eyes puffy / sting / water.
I used to love Stila they were rather pricey but lasted for ages but it is so difficult to get hold of these days and the quality isn’t the same as it used to be. Currently I am using Clinique they were a pressie but I think I will repurchase as they seem to last well and I am also currently using the Clinique eyeshadow base (also in the gift) which I am not convinced about, I have never used one before and to be honest I am not sure if it works I can’t see the difference when I forget to use it. May try another brand at some point.

Mascara: I am still on the quest to find my perfect one I have tried soooooo many and they all have faults. Currently using one from M&S which was around £8 I will not be repurchasing its waterproof a total b&gger to get off yet seems to smudge as soon as I leave the house!

So if anyone knows of a waterproof volumnizing lengthening thickening very black one please let me know!

Lippy and glosses whatever, I am not fussy as I tend to put it once in the morning and forget about it not fussed if it wears off or not, so cheap and cheerful most of the time. I do however constantly apply lip balm which means the most even expensive ones come off within an hour.
One thing I have started doing to try and be a bit more MS is I write the date of purchases on stuff so I know how long it lasts and then I can work out if its value for money or not

Long post – sorry!