Drugstore Cosmetics vs. Department Store Cosmetics

I am a firm believer in buying drugstore cosmetics.  They are less expensive then most department store brands and they give you just about the same coverage, just as long as you know how to properly take care of them and know when to dispose of them at the proper time.

I bought a bottle of MAC Select SPF 15 foundation a few years ago for about 3xs the amount that I would purchase Max Factor's Panstick Ultra Creamy foundation for and as much as I want to admit that I was a fan of the MAC foundation, I really wasn't.  But that's just my opinion and I know that a lot people swear by the more expensive brands and yes, there are some things from a department store brand that might be a little better, such as pigments in eye shadows.  However, I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm starting to notice that a lot more drugstore brands are coming out with some vibrant colored eye shadows that are almost as shocking as the spendy ones like Eye Enhancers 3 or 4-Kit Shadows by Cover Girl.  They are bright and fun to use on a night out or a brave day at work.  And so far my personal favorite are the Dazzling Metallics/119 palette.

I do suggest that if you are going to attempt to buy drugstore cosmetics to purchase them from a store that is pretty lenient on their return policy, such as Target or Walmart and make sure you keep your receipt.  Most store don't allow you to try makeup on in the store and if you get a color that's 2 shades too dark, then you will want to return it and get a shade that best suits you.  Like I am in between an ivory and natural ivory, it all really depends on the time of the year.  (Pet peeve: Please don't use 1/2 the bottle and take it back, that's just rude.)

Source

However, a very smart makeup artist taught me that you can have the cheapest makeup in the world, but as long as you have the right brushes to apply them with, then it shouldn't matter.  I find that to be partially true.  I still use a sponge to apply my foundation, but the rest I use brushes for.  I usually throw out the applicators that come with the cosmetics as soon as I get it out of the packaging, because if I don't, they just clog up where I store my makeup and take up too much room, especially when they fall out of the container they came in.  I even use a brush for my pressed powder.  You can find some amazing brush kits at Sephora if you want to spend a little more or Target's personal brand of cosmetic brushes by Sonia Kashuk, which is what I use on a daily basis.

Quick tip: For cleaning your brushes, try using a a dollop of baby shampoo to clean them with.  It works just as well as the expensive brand of brush cleaner and it doesn't cost nearly as much.

Do you start to notice that your mascara starts to dry out or get clumpy leaving your lashed looking like spider legs?  Well, that's a sign to throw it out.  Most artists will tell you that about 6 months is the VERY longest you should keep mascara.  One thing about mascara is that easily gets bacteria build up in the tube, due to the germs on your lashes and what you pump into it out of the air.  I once bought a tube of Estee Lauder Doube Wear Zero-Smudge Lengthening mascara that I had to throw up in just a few months, because it dried out so fast, but my Maybelline Great Lash mascara seems to last for quite sometime and continues to do it's job without clumps.

Time to compare:  Drugstore Prices vs. Department Store Prices (this is my usual makeup routine)
Drugstore - Face
Max Factor Pan-Stik Ultra Creamy in Nude Ivory - $8.49
Cover Girl Clean Pressed Powder in Classic Ivory - $6.99
Physicians Formula Mineral Blush in Pink Glow - $10.69

Drugstore - Eyes/Brows
Cover Girl Eye Enhancers in French Vanilla - $3.19
L'Oreal Hip Studio Selects Professtional Duo in Energized - $6.99
Almay Liquid Liner in Black - $5.04
Maybelline Great Lash Volume mascara in Black - $3.99
Cover Girl Brown and Eyemaker Eyebrown pencil in Midnight Brown - $3.59

Total = $48.97 + tax

Department Store - Face
MAC Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15 foundation in NC15 (ivory) - $26.00
Two Faced Amazing Face SPF 15 Powder in Vanilla Creme - $32.00
Lorac Blush in Desire - $19.00

Department Store - Eyes/Brows
Stila Smokey Eye Talking Palette - $40.00 ($72.00 value)
Benefit Magic Ink Liquid Liner - $20.00
Givenchy Eyebrown Show Powdery Pencil in Brown - $20.00
Lancome Hypnose Custom Volume Mascara in Black - $24.50

Total = $181.50 + tax

That's a difference of $132.53 between drugstore brand cosmetics and the more expensive department store cosmetics.

I plan on doing a makeup tutorial soon.  So keep an eye out.

Until next time, lovelies!
Miss Hell