Makeup: when to save and when to splurge

Back away from the $35 lipstick.



Melanie Richtman

With an overwhelming array of makeup options available, it can be tricky to know where to spend your money. Should you splurge or save? The fashionista is here to break it down for you.

Foundation: Splurge

For those of you with perfect skin and average skin tone, you can get away with buying cheap foundation with very few issues. However, if you have sensitive skin, blemished skin, very fair skin or very dark skin, you’re going to be much better off spending money on a quality product.

Drugstore foundations just don’t have as many color or formula options as their luxurious counterparts. For example, Covergirl’s “TruBlend” liquid foundation has only 21 shades, whereas MAC’s “Studio Fix” has 40. If you want your foundation to match your skin, you should splurge.


Blush: Save

There is really no reason to spend a lot of money on blush unless you’re truly convinced that Nars “Orgasm” is perfect for your face. (We all know you’re just buying it for the name.)




Bronzer: Splurge




Powder: Save

If you use powder to set your makeup, you don’t need to spend a lot of money on it. Most powders are translucent anyway, so matching the color to your skin is not a concern.



Eye shadow: Splurge

Not only do expensive eye shadows generally have better colors, but they’re more blend-able and have increased staying power.

If you want to wear that trendy aqua blue eye shadow once, go ahead and buy something inexpensive. If you want eye shadow you can wear every day or blend into a perfect smoky eye, you should spend a little more.

Consider it an investment: Eye shadow is going to last you a very long time. Buy an Urban Decay “Naked” palette. It’s totally worth the $50.


Eyeliner: Save




Mascara: Splurge (or save)


Benefit’s “They’re Real!” mascara is life-changing. The full-size tube is pretty pricey at $23, but you can buy a smaller one for $10 (the better option in the long run, because mascara is supposed to be thrown away every few months).


Lipstick: Save

If you have one lipstick color that you love and want to wear every day, feel free to buy an expensive one like Chanel or MAC.

In general, though, lipstick is a place to save — especially if you like to experiment with colors. Unless it’s really cheap, it’s not going to dry out your lips. You might think buying expensive lipstick will ensure that it lasts longer on your lips, but any lipstick can have staying power if you know the right tricks.
