Cosmetics: Department store or drugstore

southernbubby ↓

Sat, May 27 2006, 7:53 pm

While shopping with the ladies in LA, one of them spent $22 on a small tube of face cream at Nordstroms. Remember, part of that goes for sales commission and part goes for high overhead. That was their cheap cream! I read a book once that said that drugstore stuff can be just as effective and the make up can make you just as beautiful.
You see, I am not just frugal, I am downright cheap, so I am not a good judge of these things. Some of my friends said that the department store stuff is truly better and worth the money. Are they right?

cindy324

Sat, May 27 2006, 8:12 pm

Some things ARE better. BUT it is a known fact that Lancome , the pricy dep't store brand, also makes L'oreal the drug store brand! And they are the same quality!

Also I happen to like a lot of the drugstore brands like Almay, Revlon, Maybelline( every make up artist swears by their Great Lash mascara)

as far as facecreams go, Oil of Olay is an excellent product comparable in quality to pricy dep't store creams

chocolate moose ↓

Sat, May 27 2006, 8:21 pm

I actualy bought something at sephora a while back, then got a second, similar one at a cheapie place.

I wanted their advise amd bought from them but wouldn't have otherwise.

ektsm

Sat, May 27 2006, 8:28 pm

I really like expensive makeup. I find they make better colors and they give great advice on application. I can always spot cheap covergirl.

Secbeb ↓

Sat, May 27 2006, 8:29 pm

My friend's aunt - Paula Begoun, actually wrote a couple of books rating different brands of make-up and comparing department stores vs drugstores. One book is called Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me and another is Blue Eye Shadow Should Absolutely be Illegal. I rarely wear makeup so I don't know too much on the subject, but maybe if you check out one of those books you could find out what you want to know.

Flowerchild

Sat, May 27 2006, 8:35 pm

actually make-up and creams from the drugstore hurt my face and eyes. I get irritated skin. I baught clinique my fav. and prescriptives mascara and no problems whatsover. I use clinique make-up and creams, and it does not hurt my face. also I think that brand make-up can be baught on sale and online, rather than in department stores. good brand make-up tends to be smoother, and the texture is much better and more variety

shopaholic

Sat, May 27 2006, 9:28 pm

Both are good. I have great Clinique & MAC cocealer & eyeshadows & then great Cover Girl long lasting lipstick, Maybelline mascara & eyeliner. I also have Body Shop stuff that is in between.

↑ southernbubby ↓

Sun, May 28 2006, 5:20 am

Secheb, that was the book that I read. Paula Begoin also has a website and her own line of cosmetics. I had a feeling that she is Jewish. Your friend is Jewish, correct?

Ruchel

Sun, May 28 2006, 7:40 am

I will buy something from a good brand anywhere, but I don't buy make up without a brand. Imho the best ones are Chanel & Benefit.

chen

Sun, May 28 2006, 9:55 am

southernbubby wrote:

You see, I am not just frugal, I am downright cheap, so I am not a good judge of these things. Some of my friends said that the department store stuff is truly better and worth the money. Are they right?

southernbubby, I was right behind you in line when they handed out the frugality gene. I am still steaming that I can no longer get lipstick for 99 cents.

my dermatologist told me that the dept. store brands are not a whit better than drugstore brands (he was a consultant to Clinique, and revealed that one of their skin freshener products was nothing more than water, alcohol, acetone, coloring and fragrance), and that what you pay for is packaging, advertising, more expensive but not better ingredients--for example, expensive apricot-kernel oil is no more effective than corn oil--and prestige. So I buy the cheapest stuff I can find.

avigayil ↓

Sun, May 28 2006, 10:18 am

I have a few make-up books and they recommend certain cheap brands for whatever you are looking for as well as the 'prestige market'.

Revlon is actually a great line and I find works great, same with the Wet N' Wild pencils. I only buy department store stuff if there is a great sale.

↑ Secbeb

Mon, May 29 2006, 6:04 pm

[/quote]Secheb, that was the book that I read. Paula Begoin also has a website and her own line of cosmetics. I had a feeling that she is Jewish. Your friend is Jewish, correct?

Quote:

Yes.

faigie ↓

Thu, Jun 15 2006, 10:02 pm

ok ladies, as a professional im gonna give you the inside scoop
there are only a few large manufacturers in the country.
channel and bobbie brown are made by the same people
mac is made by another.........
your makeup artist might carry those lines from the wholesaler, without the hige markup. moreover she can give you your best colors and teach you how to use the stuff you buy!

yoyosma ↓

Thu, Jun 15 2006, 10:16 pm

I use both.
For items you throw out often, like mascara, I would say buy drug store brand. You dont need expensive mascara, and Maybelline GreatLash is one of the best out there.
For things that you really love or that are hypoallergenic or what not, I would say spend the extra money. Some of the more expensive brands just have better colors, and the makeup lasts longer or feels better.
I have all types of makeup in my makeup bag, drugstore, department store, specialty store, etc.
I love makeup Smile

, one brand is not enough for me!

imaamy

Thu, Jun 15 2006, 10:18 pm

when I'm at the dept store I try the pricey stuff, and I never buy it! Southernbubby I'm with you, I'm cheap! However, I do like the feel and look of the designer foundations. They cover better and feel softer. Sometimes they feel greasy after a few hours. I use mainly L'Oreal with coupons. If you wait for the sale/clearance (Target for example) you can get things for a couple dollars with a coupon.

JRKmommy

Fri, Jun 16 2006, 8:03 am

Chen - I'm pretty sure I only paid $1 - Canadian - for my lipstick. I buy lipstick and lip pencils at the dollar store, and if you choose the colors well, it looks great. It's basically colored wax at any price.

I love Paula Begoun's books, and I've seen her on TV a few times. My favorite tip of hers was to use baking soda instead of a fancy exfoliant. I use a 1/2 teaspoon a baking soda with a bit of Spectro Jel, and my face is bright but not dry or irritated. Incidentally, Spectro Jel is awesome - recommended by my doctor, and very gentle on the skin.