Make up,cheap or expensive brands,any difference in quality?

Freiheit

One can get 3 tubes of Make Up Academy Lip Gloss in Superdrug for 2 Euro, or pay 15 for an established brand in Boots. Is there any difference? . Lip Gloss is just a single example but my question applies across the board.:)

Twee.

I think it depends. I'd never really spend money on nail polish as it all seems to chip and sure I'm changing the colours so often.
I spend on foundation because I find it hard to get very pale shades from cheaper brands. I'd splurge on Dior mascara too because it looks like I'm wearing false eye lashes. So €30 for one easy to apply tube, or 6 pairs of lashes over a few months with tedious glue at around €8 a go?
I find that more expensive lip gloss (Like Nars for example) isn't sticky and is long lasting. I don't find these qualities in many cheaper brands. Saying that one of my faves at the moment is by No 7.
I used to only buy Rimmel powder as I used so much of it and didn't think it was cost effective to spend a lot of money on it. Then I tried Mac Mineralise powder! It has great coverage and staying power, so I can wear less foundation and don't need to top up as often. So, I'd call that more economic, in terms of time and money.
I always buy the Chanel or Dior eyebrow pencil and it can last me up to a year, so the approx €20 it costs doesn't seem so bad.
I buy Rimmel and Mac lipstick. I just always make sure my lips are moisturised and use a good liner, both brands stay on well.
Picked up blush, loose kohl and lippie from the Topshop range last week and so far to good.

Asphyxia

For me if it varies, I buy makeup based on quality not buy brand name I love trying out new products by different brands so I tend to buy cheap and expensive products to find the one right for me. I find MAC mascaras a complete waste in money the product is horrible but I found one of the Essance brand ones to be really great so it really depends.

At the moment my most expensive product would be my foundation I am using 'Face Atelier Ultra Foundation' it's 32 pounds. It gives me amazing coverage more than anything else I have tried and I have never needed to use concealer with it.

The previous foundation I had, I used to have to put concealer on it and then blend with a translucent powder for full coverage and I found I had to apply it again during in the day, so for the sake of 30 quid I get everything I need in one bottle and it saves me money in the long run.

RhubarbCrumble

Pocketfizz wrote: »

For me if it varies, I buy makeup based on quality not buy brand name

I agree with you on that one Pocketfizz. About 6 months ago I bought Clinique foundation which I think was about €30, but I found it absolutely useless, wouldn't stay on for love nor money. Then a few weeks afterwards I was in the local chemist and picked up a botle of Essence foundation. It was €3, so I said I hadn't much to lose if it turned out to be useless. Well, it's the best foundation I've ever had. Goes on easily, lasts pretty well and just looks good. I've been using it for about 6 months now and there's no way I'd change.
So €3 versus €30. It really goes to show that price doesn't always guarantee quality.

phasers

Sometimes you really are just paying for the packaging imo.

Giselle

I find MAC to be the most overrated brand ever, with competition from Benefit. They both have a buzz about them they don't deserve.

Mac shadows are no better than Gosh ones, and none of the Benefit products I've tried have lived up to the hype. I used High beam once, I've ignored the Bad Gal mascara I was given after two uses, and the foundation I've tried was useless. Greasy and shiny. I hated the MAC mascara I spent a fortune on.

Must look into Essence .

pikachucheeks

Giselle wrote: »

I find MAC to be the most overrated brand ever, with competition from Benefit. They both have a buzz about them they don't deserve.

I think the complete opposite :pac:

Those two are my favourite brands, as both have so many products I love that really are worth their weight in gold.

Mac powder has the best staying powder, their eyeshadows have great pigment and are extremely long lasting, as well as having hundreds of colours to choose from. Their lipsticks are amazing too, so hydrating!

As for Benefit, that's an obsession of mine that's been going on for almost ten years now.
High Beam, Moon Beam, Benetint, Perfect 10 ... So many great and easy to use products that have been copied countless times but never beaten.

Also, I do love the packaging. It's very 50's kitsch and totally differently presented to other cosmetics.

For certain things, I buy cheaper products. Ie. Nail polish, like Twee said. It chips so easily and colour trends are updated so often that it's not worth it, for me personally, to spend more than a fiver on each one.

Same with lipglosses / lipsticks for every day wear.

I splash out on things like eye shadow, mascara, foundation and powder because I find that the products that work best for me and give me the results I want are from brands on the higher end of the scale.

I think make up is an entirely subjective area. What works for one person might not work for another. So, test out whatever appeals to you and see if you're happy with it.

Pythia

I think, overall, expensive brands would have a higher level of quality but that absolutely doesn't mean that certain cheap brands don't have great products or that expensive brands don't have bad ones. Just that, on average, you are more likely to get a good product having paid a bit more.

Generally in my make up bag it's Mac but I have Rimmel, Estee Lauder, Boots No7 and Loreal too because those items are better than Mac's. I find Benefit a bit gimmicky, they don't do proper lines of anything, just lots of once off products.

For nail varnish I mainly buy OPI or Essie as I find they are more chip resistant and go on better. The range of colours and colour payoff is better too.

Remember also that someone with great application skills and cheaper make up can make it look better than someone who isn't great at putting on make up but has lots of expensive stuff.

E.T.

I think it depends on your skin type/allergies too. I know I can't use Maybelline eye products cos they make my eyes really itchy - bought a gorgeous eyeshadow from them recently to give it a try again and I was rubbing my eyes by the end of the day. It's a pity because their mascaras are supposed to be amazing. The best I've found is Armani mascara, nice and black and doesn't look clumpy. If I found a cheaper brand that did the same and didn't irritate my eyes, I'd switch though!

I like bare minerals foundation which I'd consider mid-range pricing, I've tried expensive foundations (Armani etc - €40+) and didn't see a huge difference from other brands. With foundation the colour is the most important factor for me.

Nail varnish - the worst brand I've ever used is Chanel, I really can't understand the hype. I've bought 3 Chanel nail varnishes over the years and found them really thin, and also chip too easily. I like Rimmel, but I got a few Nails Inc ones free with Glamour recently, and I would pay the €14ish that they cost because I found them so easy to apply, and they last really well.

I've tried lots of different priced blushers, but Nars are my favourite. Way too expensive here, but they're only about $24 in the states, which is very reasonable considering the quality, and they usually last for ages, even using them every day.

D e e

I agree on the comment about Benefit being overrated. IMO their cute packaging is the best thing about the brand (and something that made me want every single product at one point) the products themselves are very average.
I'm a huge MAC fan - their brushes, blush, eyeshadow, lipsticks are great. The skinfinishes give me a nice healthy glow too. I'm not a fan of their mascaras, I prefer Diorshow by Dior. Foundation wise I like MAC (though it dries out my skin a lot) estee Lauder doublewear and Chanel - all "brand" names but the foundation is so much better than rimmel/loreal/etc. I like a medium-full coverage foundation that can last all day and they do the job. I also use NARS which doesn't seem to be as popular here as it is in the states. Their loose powder is a godsend and it lasts forever. Their lipglosses are really long lasting and don't feel sticky like cheaper brands and their blushes are really high pigmented.

I think, yes there is a difference. But you shouldn't assume just because something is a certain brand that it's going to be amazing. As I said I'm a fan of almost every MAC product but their mascaras are terrible and my Max Factor mascara is twice as good. You just need to shop around and sample things and find what's the best for you. With brands like mac, Dior, etc I rarely have to "top up" my make up during the day but when I wear cheaper brands I have to reapply very often.

Artistic_Love

Sorry to repeat other posters here, but I think it really depends on the product in question, and the person's skin, sensitivity etc.

The one brand that I CANNOT use is Rimmel. The quality is just terrible in my opinion, and that seems to run across all products except nail polish. Mascaras just flake away, eye shadows have no pigmentation unless caked on and the liners rub right off...

I tend to splash out more for skin care products, creams etc. Lush

dashboard_hula

+1 for Lush products. I have the usual combination of dry skin on my knees/elbows/legs and cheeks and oily on the T-zone and I've never found any other body lotions and moisturisers to suit my skin better than Lush. Fair enough they're pretty expensive but they last forever and they're pretty serious about packaging, organic materials and ethical sourcing.

After a long search, I finally found that Maybelline foundation suits my skin tone a lot better than cheaper and more expensive brands. It's just a matter of experimenting, even though it can feel like you're firing money away on a baby wipe.

Sometimes expensive can be good though - I borrowed Chanel mascara from my boyf's sister in law once when I couldn't find mine and my lashes nearly doubled in length, and they were lovely and velvety all night, really nice stuff. Keep meaning to get some when I'm around a BT, but I'm always broke once I get that far.

I find that Rimmel, while cheap and easy to pick up in Boots and Tescos is always slightly disappointing. You need 3 coats of nail polish, the eyeshadow goes colourless once its on your lids and the lipgloss is like glue.

Speaking of makeup horrors, does anyone remember Constance Carroll??

Unregistered39

Hi Twee and Dashboard Hula,

Can you tell me the name of the Dior/Chanel mascara you have used? I'm assuming they have a few.

Thanks!

dashboard_hula

I only vaguely remember what it looked like 'cos it was months ago, but I think it was Inimitable - it definitely didn't have the gold or silver band on the tube that some other Chanel mascaras have. Hope that helps

Freiheit

A visit to the Benefit counter in BT a week ago was financially traumatic, been suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder since..should have known better!...Put this question to the Make Up artist and she was deliberately and unsurprisingly vague:)

squeakyduck

I use borjouis foundation and mascara and I think they are brill. I did use Maybelline, rimmel, max factor and Estee lauder before but I just didn't like the texture or the feeling on my skin and alot of these are more expensive and look fancier than borjouis.

I use Clarins instant smooth perfecting touch under my foundation and I find it keeps it on longer I got it as a present and I'm delighted with it! I use 10 hour sleep effect in 71 and I find it is the closest match to my skin colour. I use volume glamour ultra care mascara and I have got complements on my eye lashes. I also use borjouis eyeliner and maybelline liquid eyeliner (as its the easiest to appy for me!)

I used to use a lot of miss sporty (cheapy cheap!) products around my eyes but I found I used to get frequent eye infections I now use mac/urban decay for eye shadow over fear of these infections returning.

shinikins

I'd use a mix of both, but i have to admit i have a weakness for Dior lipgloss!! I wasstuck recently for foundation and bought the Aldi stuff, very pleasantly surprised! Its very nice on, wears well and gives good coverage, i wouldn't wear it on a night out but for daily wear i'd highly recommend it. I would use Benefit/Urban Decay eyeshadows before Rimmel or Maybelline, i find they last longer and are easier to apply. I was given a gift of Bare Essenctuals makeup as a christmas gift and it is fantastic!! I keep telling myself that next time i'm up in Dundrum i'll pop into BT and treat myself to their foundation......

Unregistered39

dashboard_hula wrote: »

I only vaguely remember what it looked like 'cos it was months ago, but I think it was Inimitable - it definitely didn't have the gold or silver band on the tube that some other Chanel mascaras have. Hope that helps

Thanks a mill. I'm sure I'll find it.

Asphyxia

I don't mind spending money on products I know are great but if I find a cheaper version i'll stick with it. I don't believe in spending a lot of money on mascaras I think the cheaper ones are just as good as higher brand ones. MAC have terrible mascaras stay away form them :mad:

QueenOfLeon

I tend to buy expensive enough foundation as I wear it every day and theres a HUGE difference between that and the cheap stuff. Same for powder and blusher...found the more expensive ones to be much better but might downgrade on the blusher next time I buy to save a bit.

Eyeshadows I'd buy mid range, not real cheap stuff but I don't wear one colour/type constantly so don't splash out too much, have some Maybelline at the moment but going to try out some Boots No. 7 with all the vouchers they keep giving me! Same for mascara and eyeliner, don't think I'd go as expensive as Mac/Benefit (although I am considering a Benefit eye make up kit) as I find that Rimmel etc can look quite nice. Considering L'Oreal collagen though...

I'd buy nail polish quite cheaply as I don't wear it too often, same for lip gloss.

PlayGirl

I'd only really spend allot on foundation.. I use either MAC studio fix, or estee lauder double wear.
this is both because they stay on, and because they dont just do light & dark foundations, but also yellow toned, pink toned, neutral toned - which is great !
however i have just bought the new Rimmell 25hour foundation, and it seems really good ! (think its on introductory offer for €6-7?)

Other than that i have rimmer pressed powder and bronzer, loreal millionize mascara, and a isa dora eyeshadow quad.

oh and MAC myth lipstick, cause i love it !

Tayla

There's definitely replicas for most of the expensive make up products.

I use the aldi version of the YSL touche eclat.
I use mascara from the really cheap brand 'essence' which IMO is as good as YSL faux cils.

I never thought eyeliner suited me until I got a bronzey one, I use a Revlon one I got an ebay, around 10 of the pencils for €5.

I only wear eye shadow every so often but I tend to get the Urban decay pallettes.

The only things I can't find replicas for are my mac eyebrow pencil, Illamasqua lip gloss and my foundation which I can only buy from America.

For skincare products I tend to splurge a bit, I use guerlain and clarins.

silverspoon

I tend to spend on foundation because I find it hard to get a match for my skin, since I'm quite pale. My go-to is Double Wear but lately I've been finding it very thick, so I'm liking it less.
I have no interest in splurging on lipstick or lipglosses - neither last, so it's not worth spending for big brand names. I always lose them anyway!
Face powder is not really something I've spent money on; don't need it really. I will shop around for blush, and my two favourites happen to be Benefit ones, Coralista and Sugarbomb, which is highly irritating since they're so expensive! I've got tons and tons of blusher but I find that I tend to get a better finish from more expensive ones.
I've used expensive mascaras and now just stick with L'Oreal; I'd go cheaper but I have useless eyelashes and I find L'Oreal gives me the look I want. Also like Bourjois Volume Glamour. Have tried Diorshow and remember liking it, but my all-time favourite mascara is Estee Lauder's MagnaScopic, but I just can't justify the cost.
I think eyeliners from Boots etc are getting better and better and though I remain a devotee of MACs Fluidline, I would never go beyond Boots for either a liquid or kohl liner.
Eyeshadows - will use anything with decent pigmentation. I like IsaDora, L'Oreal, and GOSH for their nude quad. I'm a total sucker for Urban Decay palettes though, own three books of shadows and I'm afraid of using any of them up now :rolleyes:.
Today I was in Superdrug and got some MUA stuff, and I have to say, for E1.05, the stuff is AMAZING. Just got a glitter liner, a face powder and a darker face powder to use as a bronzer and everything is so much better than E1.05 would suggest!!! Definitely worth having a look around. The lipsticks look a bit 'Constance Carroll' but everything else looks alright!

lukesmom

I wear MAC studio fix foundation in NC27. Used to love the studio stick foundation but can no longer locate it. When I'm stuck for cash I use Boujois 10 hours sleep effect foundation in apricote - its brilliant. I use max factor mascara and rimmel eyeliner. For blush I use mostly No.7. And for eyeshadows it's a mixture of MAC and No.7. I have a few products by 17 the boots brand they are cheap as chips and some are not bad especially their trio eyeshadows. I have one with grey, white & black and have had it ages and it wears well.