Makeup: Cheap vs. Steep

Some makeup products work the same whether you pay $40 or $4. Others follow the saying "you get what you pay for."

Want to know where to save and where to cave? (notice my rhymes in this one--aced 6th grade poetry). Then keep reading.

Mascara: I have tried $40 mascaras and I've tried $4 mascaras and let me tell you--there isn't a difference. I mean, different mascaras are better at different things and certain eye shapes lend themselves to certain brushes, but a more expensive mascara isn't necessarily going to be all around better than a cheaper one. You have to decide what's important to you (volume, length, ingredients, large brush, tiny brush for small eyes, etc). My absolute favorite inexpensive mascara is CoverGirl Lash Blast. I also want to try the 24 Hour version.

Foundation: If you use a primer and a finishing powder, almost any foundation is going to last you all day. Layering liquid/cream with powder foundations is the key to getting a budge-proof look.

Lip Gloss: Seen one, seen them all. They're all shiny, and not many have staying power. The important thing about lip gloss is the texture. Personally, I like the smoother ones and am not a huge fan of the stickier variety. I like this one. Great price, great ingredients.

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Concealer: Cheaper concealers tend to clump up and be visible on the skin. When you use concealer under your eyes or to disguise blemishes you want it to blend extremely well because otherwise, it will simply compound your problem and make it more obvious. Higher end concealers are both opaque and easy to blend. Every drug store option I've tried has not looked natural.

Eyeliner: Going the higher end route is especially important for pencil eyeliners. If you choose the cheaper option, you're going to be tugging at your skin and it's not going to glide smoothly over your eyelid or along your waterline--not good when it comes to preventing wrinkles. These cheap sticks are not your friend. Remember this. And you know those ones that actually do go on easily? Well they come off just as easily, so in my opinion, not worth it to go the drugstore route on this one. My favorite eyeliners are gel liners in a stick form for the water line and gel liner in a pot for lid lining.

Lipstick: This one is mostly about the ingredients. Have you read the lists on typical drugstore brands? Gross. They even have that chemical smell to them. You know how your lipstick tends to wear off aftera while? Well, you're eating it, and if you're at all concerned about the ingredients/chemicals in the food you eat, then you should definitely be putting the same thought into lip stick! 

And are you ready for some exciting news? I've single-handedly found THE BEST lipstick: natural ingredients and 12 hour wear. Not possible, you say? False! Say hello to Tarte Glamazon 12 Hour Lipstick. Obsessed is an understatement. I have it in Foxy and I can't get enough of it. It literally stayed on all day and it made my lips MORE moisturized after wearing it rather than making them dry. The formulation includes Amazonian clay for the long wear, rather than additional chemicals. It is formulated without: parabens, sulfates, synthetic fragrances, petrochemicals, phthalates, GMOs and Triclosan, according to sephora.com. See it here. 

Hope you enjoyed my little Cheap vs. Steap list! This is simply what I've found through trial and error. If you have a different opinion, let me know in the comments! 

Look out for a lip correction post tomorrow!

xo