As much as I’d love to be rocking YSL products all day everyday, I must face the facts: This girl has got a budget. And If you don’t…. YOU GO GIRL! For those of you who are not familiar with Yves Saint Laurent products, let’s just say be happy because ignorance is bliss! But if you are curious, It is a high-end makeup brand that is so luxurious that even the packaging is gold!
When it comes down to it, I think that woman want to purchase products that are quality. They want to their makeup to look flawless and beautiful, but they are not sure when to splurge or when to save.
Here is my product guide on what you should spend that extra cash on and when you should save your pennies!
Foundation:
You skin is your biggest organ. I really like to choose quality when choosing my foundation. It is the base of your makeup and when your skin is flawless, you feel unstoppable. It is difficult to find drugstore foundations that compete with high-end foundations because not only do they look better on the skin but they also have better ingredients, so they are better for the skin.
Verdict: SLURGE!
Concealer:
I have found some great concealers at both the drugstore and at department stores. The answer lies in the needs of the individual. If you have dark circles and need a lot of coverage, I highly recommend choosing something like Mac Cosmetics Pro Longwear Concealer ($20) because it is the best concealer I have ever tried. But if you have minimal problems with your under eye area than I suggest choosing a more affordable option such as NYX Cosmetics HD Concealer ($4.99).
Verdict: SPLURGE! (*But only if you have dark circles!)
Blush:
If you like having multiple colors of blush, brands like Nars, Mac, and Becca can get pretty expensive. If you want only one blush to use on the daily then it might be worth purchasing a high-end blush. But if you would prefer to have a different pop of color for every season of the year, NYX has a wide range of blushes for only $5.
Verdict: SAVE!
Bronzer:
This one can be a tricky answer. If you are not careful, some drugstore bronzers can be quite muddy. I feel confident that when I purchase a more expensive bronzer that it will be worth the money; however, if you are new to the bronzer world and simply want to warm up the face and add a little color to the skin, than I would suggest something like NYC bronzer in Sunny, which is only $3. But if you are ready to up your highlighting and contour game, than I would definitely pick up the Anastasia Contour Kit, which has several different shades for sculpting the face.
Verdict: SAVE on Bronzer and SPLURGE on Contour Shade
Highlighter:
This one is easy. Drugstore highlighters can be glittery, chalky, chunky, and just plain UNFLATTERING! Highlighters are supposed to illuminate the face and bring a beautiful glow to the skin. Having a creamy and pigmented color that is shimmery and not glittery is essential in a highlighter.
Verdict: SPLURGE!
Lipgloss:
If you are anything like me, than you like to have lip glosses that are in similar shades as your lipsticks. I use my glosses to add a little shine to the lips and make them appear fuller. But I am sure you can guess that it would really add up quickly to have a lipgloss for every single lipstick shade you owned. I like to save on my lip glosses since I like to have so many different colors!
Verdict: SAVE!
Lipstick:
I am just going to start out by saying that I have a love affair with Mac Cosmetics lipsticks. HOWEVER, You do not NEED to spend $15 on lipstick. I would say it is nice to have at least a few high-quality lipsticks because the formulation is long lasting on the lips and the color pigmentation is often better. Lipstick is also a great way to experiment and be adventurous. When you want to update your look without breaking the bank, pick up a new lipstick!
Verdict: SAVE!
Mascara:
I will be the first to admit that my answer is controversial. The drugstore has a WIDE variety of mascara options for all lash types and needs. My biggest problem with mascaras at the drugstore is that they ALWAYS flake on me. I hate having little black specks on my face by the end of the day. I prefer to spend a little extra on my mascara because If I choose not to wear falsies I want my lashes to look good!
Verdict: SPLURGE!
Eye Liner:
Gel liner is my BFF. I rarely go without it. Even though I have tried some high-end gel liner options, I still like my Maybelline Blackest Black gel liner the best!
Verdict: SAVE!
Eye Shadow:
When looking to purchase an eye shadow there are three things you should want it to be: blendable, pigmented, and smooth. I rarely find that drugstores contain shadows that contain all three requirements. When you spend a little extra on eye shadow it will not only look better but it will also stay a lot longer on the eye area.
Verdict: SPULRGE!
False Eye Lashes:
Most women only wear falsies on occasion. One use can bring a lot of wear and tear to your false lashes because you may have cried, rubbed your eye, or even sweat them off on the dance floor! Most of the time I save my money and pick up Ardell Lashes because I never know what the night might bring!
Verdict: SAVE!
When it comes down to building a solid makeup bag, you want to have some quality products that have effective ingredients and excellent formulations. But there are also some great drugstore options out there for us girls on a budget!
I hope you found this splurge vs, save guide helpful! And please let me know if you want more posts like this!
Happy Shopping!