topic Re: High end no better than drugstore? in Beauty

High end no better than drugstore?

Texasmouse — Wed, 15 Feb 2023 01:05:31 GMT

Saw this by Bethenny Frankel and thought it was interesting.

Removed link

Re: High end no better than drugstore?

Foxxee — Tue, 14 Feb 2023 19:27:43 GMT

I was on to the marketing schemes years ago. Unique colors, packaging, promoting, names like Chanel, Christian Dior, etc, sell the brands. All of it is status selling.

I used to be a Chanel fan. I know what that sells for.

I don't want to make either side feel bad, use what you want, but usually drugstore brands are those that are frequently knocked. I think some are actually very good as does Ms. Frankel.

Re: High end no better than drugstore?

Trinity11 — Tue, 14 Feb 2023 19:50:12 GMT

I have tried both. When I was in college, I used Almay, Revlon, Max Factor and was very happy with the results. As I got into my late 20's I used Erno Laszlo, Estée Lauder, Clinique, Lancôme, Prescriptives and in my 30's Bobbi Brown.

I must have tried most high end brands over the years. My verdict? There is absolutely no comparison between high end products and drug store quality. None!😊💕🌺💐

Re: High end no better than drugstore?

lkat — Tue, 14 Feb 2023 20:14:47 GMT

I think drugstore products have come a long way since I was young, but I still prefer higher end products for almost all categories.

One place where I think drugstore competes very well is mascara, there are a lot of really good drugstore mascaras.

I think a lot depends on how much you're really into makeup too. I love makeup and it's the only place in my life where I feel creative as I'm very much a left brained person. I have a lot of products and have tried a ton of brands and always enjoy trying new products/brands.

My mom, on the other hand, wore hardly any makeup and I don't think she ever bought something that wasn't found at the drugstore. That worked great for her.

We're lucky there's good stuff at all price points and we're all free to decide where to spend our money.

Re: High end no better than drugstore?

JudyL — Tue, 14 Feb 2023 20:16:46 GMT

@Texasmouse - I'd remove the link before your post gets poofed.

Re: High end no better than drugstore?

FiddleDeeDee — Tue, 14 Feb 2023 20:27:02 GMT

For me, it comes down to how my skin feels and the shades available for my skin color. Put simply, drug store products fail miserable in skin color in foundation, tint, powder and concealer for the super pale and I have yet to find a product that hydrates my face to the level it needs in a drugstore. Blush, eyeshadow, mascara, brows, etc, no issue (favorite lip liner is by NYX). I'll say it again, don't care if it's a penny or a hundred bucks, it NEEDS to fit my needs. If it doesn't, it's worthless.

Re: High end no better than drugstore?

RollTide2008 — Tue, 14 Feb 2023 20:43:26 GMT

I have a variety of products from Wet n Wild to Chanel in my collection. I like high end products, but I also think there's a lot in the drug store price range that fits my needs just fine. If I need a high end look for an event or something longer lasting than usual, I reach for high end. For my every day needs, budget friendly products are usually fine. I've used that $3 foundation Frankel talks about. It's a great foundation, I'd put it and much of that line up against more expensive products any day.

If I had skin issues or a hard to match complexion or if I was regularly on HD tv or if I needed my makeup to last 12 hours without touching up, maybe I'd be fussier about it. None of those things is the case.

I'm not even fussy about skin care. Dove soap and a basic moisturizer are my essentials. A good diet, regular exercise, and drinking enough water do more for my skin than fancy products. Fight me on this, but I'm not changing my mind.

Re: High end no better than drugstore?

jubilant — Fri, 17 Feb 2023 14:45:05 GMT

I can only ask myself how much difference is there really? Other people don't look at us in a magnified mirror. They don't know if #1 looks better than #2. I recently left my higher end foundations behind and am finding I can be just as happy with drugstore products.

Maybe this just comes with age and maybe not...but for me...I like to have money to spend on other things. Honestly, I'm wishing I would have learned this earlier in my life. If I were a millionaire would I feel the same way? I don't know the answer to that....so I can only answer for myself where I'm at now.

Re: High end no better than drugstore?

bmorechick — Tue, 14 Feb 2023 23:50:49 GMT

Oh yeah I believe that...people are obsessed with thinking that if they can afford those prices, somehow they look better and more polished than those who use the lower priced items...I never wore much make up simply because I don't have to. Good skin to me doesnt need foundation, primers, powders to make it look like what it isn't. I have never worn foundation. Only a moisturizer and blush. I broke out as a teenager, but just used a small dot of a concealer to cover that pimple up.

I really like the ELF cleansers. Don't need anything else but my retin a at night. I like Butter London mascara but only on 50% off sale. I can't see paying $20 for a tube of mascara. ELF blush is good quality and drugstore eye pencil works for me. I have tried the pricy stuff and there's no difference. And that's all that goes on my face. Oh and lipstick of course...usually drugstore or ELF - they ALL come off after about an hour.

Re: High end no better than drugstore?

Dusty1 — Wed, 15 Feb 2023 01:47:04 GMT

There are bad products, or products that just don't work for ME, in drugstore & in high end.

I am picky about the texture of my eye shadow & blush. That doesn't mean that I can't find inexpensive products but they tend to be a bit more coarse in texture & "shimmer" tends to less refined. Not always but typically.

I hate expensive products that don't perform well & I have to wonder who signed off on them & thought that they were worth releasing.

Lines like Almay, Neutrogena, Physician's Formula I won't even look at any more. They have never worked for me.

Revlon & L'Oreal seem to recycle the same products into different packaging to get attention, instead of upgrading the products to justify the prices.

Every other thing breaks me out in high end or drugstore foundation/powder/skin care. There is no real difference in that.

I agree that mascara is the one area that drugstore does as well as high end brands. But, again, it is so hit & miss at either price point.

Re: High end no better than drugstore?

Shanus — Wed, 15 Feb 2023 13:55:29 GMT

@monicakm wrote:
I'm just glad there are price points and products for everyone. It's been years since I've used drugstore makeup products. I've used them 90% of my makeup wearing career. There was a difference. Apparently, that's changed. Someday I'll discover the difference. Right now, I'm happy with what I'm using. Also, there is a big convenience factor. Walmart's online makeup layout, descriptions, etc can't compare to Sephora's and highend brand websites. Shipping is free on Sephora even if I just buy a pencil sharpener.

@monicakm We agree. There are a few drugstore products that are fine for me.

When a client comes in for $100 or more an hour, they expect luxury products not what they can purchase themselves. I assume that's part of the thrill of the pampering and learning new techniques and looks. The same goes with bridal makeup.

Re: High end no better than drugstore?

Shanus — Wed, 15 Feb 2023 14:02:58 GMT

I find high end makeup easier to get a good match for foundations and concealers....testers and/or open samples plus MUA and counter people to help and make suggestions.

Some yeshadow palettes can be better in luxury brands because of fall out in some drugstore palettes. No way to test lipsticks in drugstores and many have been returned because I cannot tell color or texture.

Lotions, lip balms, lip pencils are almost the same in both.

Re: High end no better than drugstore?

paixmcdao — Wed, 15 Feb 2023 14:21:32 GMT

@Shanus wrote:
@monicakm wrote:
I'm just glad there are price points and products for everyone. It's been years since I've used drugstore makeup products. I've used them 90% of my makeup wearing career. There was a difference. Apparently, that's changed. Someday I'll discover the difference. Right now, I'm happy with what I'm using. Also, there is a big convenience factor. Walmart's online makeup layout, descriptions, etc can't compare to Sephora's and highend brand websites. Shipping is free on Sephora even if I just buy a pencil sharpener.
@monicakm We agree. There are a few drugstore products that are fine for me.

When a client comes in for $100 or more an hour, they expect luxury products not what they can purchase themselves. I assume that's part of the thrill of the pampering and learning new techniques and looks. The same goes with bridal makeup.

Why are they not able to purchase the "luxury" products that you use?

Re: High end no better than drugstore?

tototwo — Fri, 17 Feb 2023 13:11:03 GMT

Years ago I read an article somewhere that there are actually only about 5 factories that make skin care and makeup. One day a moisturizer will be poured into bottles that say "Olay" --- another day that same moisturizer will be poured into bottles that say "Chanel." Whether that applies today, I don't know.

The point was it's all the same, just different bottles. We are buying the packaging, not the content. For me, I used high end in the past, but today prefer drugstore pricing. My complexion is happy, healthy, and wrinkle-free at 74. It's all just personal preference.