A couple of weeks ago, I published Part I of a two-part series called “The Insider’s Guide to Beauty Products. Are You Spending too Much or Too Little?” It included suggestions and tips on where to save and where to spend on skin care products. Part II of this series answers the most frequently asked questions I’ve received about makeup products during my years in the beauty industry.
There’s a vast world of makeup brands, products, and prices to choose from, and it can be overwhelming to stand before the cosmetic wall of your local Walgreen’s or in the center of the beauty department of Nordstrom, trying to decide whether or not you should spend $28 or $10 on a mascara. What’s the difference?
I can help you with that.
Assuming you’re on a good-quality skin care routine, makeup can even out your skin tone, make the eyes look bigger and brighter, put some youthful blush in your cheeks, and sexy up those pouty lips. Makeup can make good skin glow.
But like anything else, makeup products vary widely in quality and price. So here are a few insider tips into where to save and where to splurge.
1. Brushes. We have to start here because the quality of your brushes makes a huge difference in the quality of your makeup application. A good brush makes an inexpensive product look smoother, whereas a cheap brush can make a Chanel blusher streaky. Drugstore brushes are like painting your house with a whisk broom. They pick up and lay down color unevenly, they make blending difficult, and they often start shedding quickly. Buy good ones. You don’t need a lot. A fat, fluffy, all-over brush for powder or bronzer, a blusher brush, and a couple of eyeshadow brushes should do it. But go to Nordstrom or Sephora and get the best you can afford. Your makeup will look better, they feel yummy on your skin, and they’ll last you for years.
2. Foundation. Get out of the drugstores. Most drugstore foundations have a lot of pink in them (weird, since most skin tones are yellow-based), which can look chalky. And since most drugstores don’t have testers, you can burn through a whack of money trying to pin down the right color. Cheaper foundations also tend to be heavier, with uneven consistency, making them harder to blend. Foundation is supposed to look like great skin. Higher quality foundations are sheerer, easier to blend, can be perfectly color-matched by a skilled makeup artist, and often contain marvelous things like light reflectors that give the skin a luminous (think “younger”) look.
3. Blusher. This is a product where you can go in whatever direction you want. If your brush is good, the drugstore brands are fine. Department store prices are largely about the upscale compact the product comes in. If you’re a fan of shimmer, try to avoid the super cheap ones that look like they’ve been infused with glitter. Shimmer and glitter are not interchangeable, especially if you’re over 50. Shimmer is subtle and pretty. Glitter is for six-year-old fairy princesses and prepubescent figure skaters from Disney on Ice.
4. Eyeshadow. This depends upon your ability to blend. Drugstore eyeshadow tends to be heavier and more pigmented than department store versions, which can look harsh or overly done if not extremely well blended. But drugstore brands can be a reasonably safe bet if you use a high-quality brush, stick with neutral colors, and be cautious about the sparkles (see Blusher, above). If you’re hopping on the colored eyeshadow trend this year, seriously consider moving up. Cheaper blue eyeshadows can be brighter and more truck stop waitress than the heathered hues of Estee Lauder. Leave the $4 Crayola colors to the tweeners.
5. Mascara. This is a tough one, because the only thing more subjective than fragrance is mascara. Every woman has her favorite, and God help any makeup artist who tries to take it away from her. The good news is that there’s no reason to spend extra money on this one. The current “battle of the wands,” with each brand claiming that their wand is somehow magic because it’s curved, or fatter, or longer, is just stupid. Some of the most prominent beauty industry powerhouses I know have used Maybelline for decades and will never switch. My personal favorite? L’Oreal Voluminous for day, and Rimmel Outrageous Retro Glam whenever I want lashes out to there. Both available at Walmart.
6. Lipstick. Like blushers, drugstore and upscale department store lipsticks have very little difference in the product itself. The consistency and the color options are similar. The primary difference is in the containers. Department store brands often come in gorgeous, expensive-looking gold or silver tubes that “click” when you close them, making you feel glamorous whenever you pull them out of your purse. They’re like fabulous Prada sunglasses vs. knock-offs from the Eyeglass Barn at the outlet mall. Drugstore brands are usually in plastic tubes that just say “Git ‘er done.” But either way, they look the same on your lips. Your call on this one.
7. Pressed Powder/Bronzer. Like foundations, it’s very difficult to find cheaper versions of these products that look like real skin. The cheap ones are heavier, harder to blend, and often come in un-skintone-friendly shades (especially bronzers, which all seem to be made at the Oompa-Loompa factory). They tend to quickly migrate into fine lines, making them more visible. Better brands come in real-women colors. They’re also more finely milled, don’t settle into lines, and contain light reflectors that give the skin a gorgeous, soft matte finish that their drugstore counterparts can’t match.
8. Eye/Lip Pencil. Suffice it to say that there are only a few places, worldwide, that manufacture makeup pencils. The part of the product that you apply is simply encased and labeled uniquely for every brand. (Do you see where this is going?) Pick these up anywhere.
Questions? Leave them below, and I’ll answer them if I can!
I love these tips, Vikki! My daughter and I spend much time in Ulta on both the pricey side and the cheap side, trying to decide what works. That’s why I love it there. You can try almost all the things! Foundation (which I hate!) and mascara are big ones for me. I usually go with a good BB or CC cream because I like a more natural look but as for mascara? My lashes seem to be shrinking and it’s pissing me off. I have tried every mascara available to woman and I still end up with L’Oreal Voluminous or Maybelline Full and Soft. I haven’t tried the Rimmel but I love the suggestion. Thank you!
You’re welcome, Sandy! Yes, lashes do get thinner and shorter as we age. Have you tried lash growth products? There’s a gazillion of them on the market (non-prescription), and I’ve tried them all, but LiLash is the rock star. Hubs calls it “that eyelash fertilizer stuff.” No side effects. It’s $140 retail, but I get it on eBay (sealed, new, free shipping, 100% positive feedback sellers only) for around $30. Apply once a day at base of top lashes only, and in a few weeks, va va voom, baby! :)
Took your advice and got a great moisturizer. Going to try Lilash cause I am losing hair on my body and growing hair where I dont want it. WTF
Thanks for your tips girlfriend!!
Of course, Maureen! Love seeing you here on Laugh Lines. (And you’ll LOVE LiLash!)
Great advice Vikki! It’s a big help to me. I haven’t worn makeup in years and just recently started again and have been at a loss! This is awesome!
Thanks, Rena! Glad I could help bring you back to the fold. Makeup is supposed to be fun, and not break the bank in the process. Spend where you need to, and save where you can! :)
I love this! I am so picky about makeup and when I say picky, I mean that if I splurge on makeup it better be amazing. I’ve been disappointed so many times that I usually just stick with the cheap stuff! My favorite “tool” of late is coconut oil. I use it to take off eye makeup and for moisturizer. It’s also great if you screw up on eyeliner or accidentally cake on too much concealer. Now I’m off to check out part one!
Thanks, Gretchen! I’m a lover of oils on the face, but I’m super dry-skinned. I’ve got clients who freak at the mere suggestion. Now with the advent of “dry oils,” they know not what they’re missing! :)
I agree with all of this Vikki. I use Chanel foundation, Bobbi Brown blush and CVS pharmacy, Loreal mascara and eye liner!
Nancy, you NAILED IT. My makeup is all over the map in terms of price and brand, but it’s been decades in the making! :)
Very true. That pink look! :-D
Lorraine, I see it all the time, and it’s all I can do not to offer her what’s in my cosmetic bag on the spot! :)
Once again you have done a service for all women. I happened to be at a very famous/popular cosmetic counter where I asked if they could do some demos on how to use some products particularly eye shadows. The clinician did the whole spiel and I was very surprised she told me almost to the letter some of the things you have mentioned Vikki. Especially the mascara and foundations tips you mentioned. This was several years ago and I have followed her advice. I hope everyone that reads this message Vikki and passes it along to all their female friends.
Thanks, Barb! It’s amazing what salespeople will tell women to make a sale. I just tell them, “Find a salesperson you trust and find out what’s in her bathroom.” :)
I was strictly a make-up by drug store girl until I joined Birchbox a few years ago. It’s been a huge help in discovering what works, what doesn’t and what to splurge on. Things I wish I had known earlier in life! :)
Tracy, I’m with you! Oh the mistakes I made and money I didn’t need to spend in my youth (“anti-aging” cream at 22??) Sigh. Now I’m brutal when it comes to spending the big bucks. Show me WHY and I’ll show you my credit card. Until then, I’ll be at Target. :)
Thanks, Vikki! I am a makeup addict, especially eye makeup. I think I have every product that Bare Minerals sells, but have also found that both Sephora’s and Ulta’s own brands compete, at a much lower price. I absolutely hate liquid foundations, no matter the brand, and no matter how much I have spent on them, so have settled on going with the mineral type powders that don’t settle into my wrinkles. I totally agree with you on brushes, as well. (Yes, I know that only a few are necessary, but of course I have every single style, and multiples of eye shadow/liner/blending brushes.
Beverly, you’re right, there are a lot of great, finely milled powders that look gorgeous on skin of all ages! Bare Minerals isn’t “the best.” It’s just the most widely advertised. And don’t you just love good brushes? They’re so soft and luscious, total pampering! :)
What mineral makeup do you think is The Best?
Carol, personally I love Smashbox. It actually has anti-agers and moisturizers in it, which gives it a less dry look than, say, BM. It’s also more finely milled, so it doesn’t settle in the lines so much. One caveat: the colors are darker than they appear, so order one color lighter than you think you’d wear.
Thanks! I love the powdered mineral make-up, because they erase my large pores. I’ll give SmashBox a try!
Amen on the brushes. Also KEEP THEM CLEAN. It’s a pain in the ass to do it, but it makes such a huge difference in their longevity, your cleanliness, your makeup application, and how long your makeup lasts. <3
Sarah, oh my, yes! I see women pull the nastiest, product-filled, oily brushes out of their cosmetic bags, and I just think “No, no, no!” :)
I am having such a hard time finding a decent mascara. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve bought one at Target and it’s dry. So I went to Macy’s and spent $26.00 on one from Estee Lauder (I try to support the company because they support Israel) and it was great but I can’t justify that kind of money for mascara! Help! Great post, Vikki. As always……xoxo
Cathy, I’m a die-hard L’Oreal Voluminous lover! I’ve tried them ALL, but no matter how expensive they get, I always end up with this one in my drawer. It adds length and thickness, but is easy to remove (i.e. doesn’t pull out or break your lashes). The trifecta of a great mascara! :)
Vikki.
I have a question I have always used drugstore brand foundation and have never been satisfied with them. I have spent a fortune trying to find the right color for me I am 46 and through menopause and would love to find a good foundation for me. Which dept. store counter would you recommend?
Barbara, my absolute favorite is Kevin Aucoin. It goes on like silk, and dries to a soft matte that actually stays pretty all day long (a tough one for liquid foundations). But honestly, they’re all good. The most important factor, other than the color, is working with your skin type (dry, combination, oily, lined, “tired,” etc.) Find a saleswoman at any department store cosmetic counter whose look you like, and ask her for help! :)
Lesson learned. I usually don’t even wear foundation because it makes my skin look worse, not better. Now I know it’s the cheap stuff I’m buying in the first place.
So true, Jennifer! Cheap foundation just never looks like “skin.” Fortunately, there are dozens of beautiful formulations that do! :)
Makeup is the one thing I splurge on myself…
Good call, Michelle! You can’t go wrong with a splurge! :)
Hi Vikki, What fun. How long has it been since I have talked about make up? I feel like a teen again with my girl friends figuring out what “look” we could pull off.
I have been using the same stuff for years, literally, the same compact of blush, eye shadow…your post inspired me to refresh my makeup drawer.
I’ve been invited to a Mary Kay party. What do you think of those products? Have you tried any of them?
Thanks, Patricia! I’m probably going to get slammed for this, so remember, this is just my opinion. MK makeup products are okay, but not the best for the money. I’ve tried a lot of them (friends in the business), and I find the colors difficult to blend and a little harsh. Their brochures make them look really pretty, but the actual products just don’t look that good. Obviously, they’ve been around forever, so you might love them! I’m going to stop now.
Just want to say thank-you. I have been using Bare Minerals, it seems like forever. I am ready to try something new… Smashbox it is! Okay just where do I get it? Also is there a soap or cleaner you recommend for brushes?
Thanks, Bobbie! I don’t know where you live and what department stores are close by, but if all else fails, you can order it online (which is what I do, since I’m an hour away from any department stores or Sephoras). It’s Smashbox Halo powder, and make sure you order one size lighter than you think you’ll need. It tends to run a little darker than shown online or in a brochure. You’ll love it! :)
Oops, forgot the question about the brushes. I just use my shampoo for color-treated hair. I figure if it’s okay for bleached hair on my head, it will work for my makeup brushes. Remember to NEVER immerse your brushes in water. Once water gets in the “drum” (the base of the hairs that attaches them to the handle), you damage your brush and loosen the hairs. I dunk the hair part only in warm, soapy water, holding the handle straight up, swish a little, then remove the brush from the water, wipe the hairs back and forth on a clean dry washcloth until no color comes off. Press the hairs dry gently, then lay flat until completely dry. They’ll last you for years!
I so needed this. There are cosmetics I buy at department stores (MAC) and some I get at the drugstore, but I’m never really sure which I should actually splurge on and which I could get away with the drugstore brand. I do have good brushes, so I’m good there. The mascara 411 is priceless because I’m always stumped when it comes to figuring out which to get. I’ve heard that even the professionals use Maybelline in the pink tube. I’m going to try your suggestions. Question: How often should I replace my mascara?
Hi Linda! Every three months, as a general rule. But also if they seem dried out (remember not to “pump” the wand to get more product. It sucks air into the tube and speeds dry out), or if it starts to smell funny. Mascara should never have a fragrance. :)
Great tips! I have learned as a former makeup artist that a lot of it boils down to what folks can afford. There are some great drugstore brands out there if they can’t afford high-end makeup. A lot of it depends on application too. Thanks much for the pointers!
Carolann, I totally agree! Cheaper products, applied well, can look pretty good. But expensive products, applied badly, will always look wrong. It’s all about the blending! :)
Personally, I prefer Tinted moisturizer over foundation since it is light and covers well (my personal fave is Smashbox). I’m not a fan of drugstore mascara, and I’ve tried them all. That said, I try not to go overboard. I love Clinique (and it’s only $12 so that isn’t too painful). Also, I hate eye pencil!! For the brows I suggest a brush and powder application. You have more control over the application and ability to “edit.” I recommend liquid eye liner (or something like a smudge pot that Stila sells and apply with a small liner brush). It goes on easier, smoother, and looks amazing. I <3 makeup, too, Vikki! :)
Denise, it is fun, isn’t it? :)
Always!! I try to save so I can go to Sephora and splurge! My favorite splurge even though I don’t wear makeup that often anymore.
Hi Vikki – I just wanted to let you know I so enjoyed your makeup series. Very informative, along with funny of course. I so know what you are talking about since you were in the biz for years, plus I know for a fact, what a beautiful face you have. I’ve seen it people! I remember two years ago you gave me tips for how to care of my face at the mini reunion and I took it to heart. Thank you and great job with your book and this career for you. Way to go!
Kim, I love that you’re on my blog! Thanks for the great shout-out. (And you’re pretty gorgeous yourself there, woman!) :)
My name apparently came out wrong in “Name”, not Leli, but Lelli. Duh!
I’ve never put on foundation for everyday use but I’m thinking now is a good age to start! I’ll be sure to buy a good one! What would be a good one for very dry skin?
I’m happy that the rest of the stuff can be drug store quality! I love L’Oreal’s Voluminous!!
Hi Roshni, I’m currently hooked on Kevyn Aucoin, and my skin is super dry. Having said that, my advice is to go to your favorite department store (or Sephora), find a salesperson you can relate to (your age, if possible) whose makeup you like, and ask her for help. It doesn’t matter what brand she reps. At that level, they’re all fabulous. What’s most important isn’t the label, it’s the product inside the jar. What will it do for YOUR skin, and how will it do that? Have fun! :)
This is awesome. I often go into the makeup aisle with intentions to buy something new but I end up leaving empty handed. It is so intimidating. Thank you for giving a bit of a guide.