Some makeup products fall into the "you get what you pay for" category, while others are more "why spend more when you don't have to?" ... let's have a peek at the makeup products you can skimp on, and which ones you ought to splurge on.

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1. Skimp: Eye Shadow

I've spent my fair share of dollars on MAC eyeshadow, and while it's glorious, it's really not much better than Wet N Wild. I'm serious! Both brands offer brilliant, long-lasting, on-trend shades, so why not give Wet N Wild a try?

2. Splurge: Lip Plumper

I've tried every lip plumper known to man, and nothing beats the somewhat spendy Duwop Lip Venom line. Save for it; it's worth every penny.

3. Skimp: Liquid Liner

This is a fine place to save a buck or two, especially if you don't mind re-applying your liquid liner at mid-day. Cheaper brands, like Almay and ELF offer the same blues, browns, blacks, and violets as the pricier brands, thought usually not the more trendy shades.

4. Splurge: Moisturizer

I've tried to economize with my moisturizer, but this is another place where it doesn't pay to save - bad pun intended - especially if you have sensitive skin.

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5. Skimp: Nail Polish

Essie is cheap, easy to find, and there are a million colors. If you finish with a topcoat, it last forever without chipping. So why spend more here?

6. Splurge: BB Cream

If you've found an inexpensive BB cream that won't give me a rash just by holding the bottle, please let me know! Til then, I have to recommend sticking to the expensive (but worth it) brands.

7. Skimp: Lipstick

Truly, I have about a thousand lippies, and I love my cheap ones as much as my ridiculously-expensive ones. The exception: reds. For some reason, the cheap ones never last as long as the "good" ones.

Where do you skimp, and where do you splurge? Do tell!

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Feedback Junction

Where Thoughts and Opinions Converge

Stephanie
2015-09-11T02:05:29.087Z
I splurge on foundations! I've found that my skin doesn't do well with drugstore foundations. They can look nice the first couple of times but after that, they just don't work well. I also splurge on eye shadows because whenever I try cheap eye shadows, I feel like there is barely any pigment to them.
Joviënne
2015-09-08T19:31:05.193Z
So professional and a very helpful article! 😊
Emmanuelle
2015-09-09T04:47:03.355Z
@Simone! It's like 20$ in my country
Simone
2015-09-09T04:33:37.546Z
Unfortunately Essie isn't cheap in my country. It costs around $15 for just one bottle. Enough said then...-_-
Taylor
2015-09-08T21:33:54.310Z
I don't agree with the eyeshadow part. After using make up forever and Tom Ford eyeshadows, it's hard to go back to mac (they aren't the best) or drugstore eyeshadows. I usually save on eyeliner and mascara. I splurge on skincare and base products mostly. The nicer the base looks, the better the whole makeup look I feel
Alyx
2015-09-08T19:23:49.310Z
This is very subjective. For me, I skimp on moisturizer. Mine is a 9$ one from the body shop or sometimes plain sweet almond oil (10$ for a big bottle). I have extremely sensitive skin. I think eyeshadows, lipsticks and eyeliners should be splurged on. Eyeshadows, once you get really into makeup, going from makeup forever to wet n wild will make you want to cry. I spend less than a minute on blending with mufe, whereas wet n wild will take more work, more packing on, more time. Lipsticks I'm allergic to a lot of drugstore lipsticks so I stick to 4 brands, all at sephora. But they are not over 25$ each. Liner I stick to kat von d or tarte. I don't have to reapply, which really is a pain, and it lasts all say without flaking, isn't going to smudge, and is easy to take off at the end of the day. Nail polish for me is iffy. I love formula x, it lasts easily two weeks without a top coat and in deals (like their mini twenty two pack for 44$) are so worth it. I did my nails at the beginning of August, like the 3 or 4, and it's only got a couple chips on the end of my nails. I just have to touch up the bottom where growth has happened, which creating a subtle gradient is very easy here, and it's like I just got them done. I can't do that with essie polish that lasts a day and then chips.
Jackie
2015-09-09T15:26:06.602Z
I splurge on a good make up primer, foundation, eye shadow, matte bronzer, and long staying lipstick like stila. I wear a lot of reds. I hate when my lipstick fades before work. I love stila long lasting in beso I will use it on my wedding day.
Tina
2017-01-11T06:13:26.160Z
I splurge on primers, concealer, eyebrow pencils, highlighters & bronzers.
Wendy
2015-09-08T19:18:06.595Z
I personally spurge on moisturizer and foundation. For me a good base is worth the money. I tend to save on eyeshadow, lip products and eye products like mascara or eyeliner. I don't need a lip plumper I have naturally plumpish lips not dramatically full like kylie j. This is how I spend my money. To each their own.
nikki
2015-09-08T22:07:07.847Z
I love the NYX tinted moisturizer. It's awesome!