Splurge or Save? The Smartest Beauty Buys
Day Cream
Save.
Dermatologists agree that the single most important skin-care product for day is sunscreen. And plenty of inexpensive moisturizers provide good sun protection and hydration. But even beyond opting for products on the lower end of the price spectrum, there are ways to save. The first step to saving on face cream? Simply use less. If your method is to begin with a big dollop and then smear it between your hands, that's where most of the cream will stay. Instead, dab a dot on your forehead, cheeks, and nose, then spread it and rub it in. Recommended product: Eucerin Everyday Protection Face Lotion SPF 30 ($8 at drugstores) is oil- and fragrance-free and good for all skin types.
The Exception
Skin that is already damaged or has a specific problem, like rosacea, eczema, or hyperpigmentation. "If your goal is simply to avoid having dry skin, many less expensive moisturizers can accomplish this," says dermatologist Kenneth R. Beer. "Skin that has sun damage or special needs will require certain products and ingredients," like antioxidants and retinoids.
Night Cream
Splurge.
"If you have a limited budget, your splurging should be done on your treatment cream," says New York City dermatologist Bradford Katchen. What do you get for your money? More sophisticated research and development, and active ingredients that are of higher quality and concentration.
The Exception
Don’t shell out for anti-aging creams with alpha hydroxy acids, which help increase skin-cell turnover, as their main active ingredient. "Concentrations of AHAs in drugstore brands often don't differ a lot from department-store brands," says New York City dermatologist Doris Day. So finding an effective formulation doesn't require a lot of cash.
Eye Shadow
Splurge.
Makeup artists agree that department-store-brand shadows are vastly superior to their drugstore counterparts. "The color is richer, they adhere to the lids better, and they go on smoother," says Tina Turnbow, a makeup artist for beauty.com. Drugstore brands tend to crumble (since they are not as finely milled), and you rarely get as deep a color on your skin as in the package. "Certain pigments, such as deep blues and purples, are very expensive," says Tom Winarick, executive vice president of Prestige Cosmetics, which makes mass-market products. "Companies that charge more can use more of them."
The Exception
If you want to try a new, trendy color but aren't sure it's for you, experiment with a cheaper brand. If you hate it, you've spent only a few dollars. If you love it, buy the quality version.
Foundation
Splurge.
It's important to find the right shade and formula for your skin, but you can rack up quite a bill by trial and error with inexpensive brands. Instead, have a makeup consultant match the perfect foundation to your skin and allow you to test it at the counter before you buy. Your age and skin type may determine whether you need a creamy, sheer formula or one that offers more coverage. It's tough to tell which is which without trying them on. But do figure out what works: "If your skin doesn't look good," notes San Francisco makeup artist Hillary Clark, "nothing else will."
The Exception
If you tend to use foundation sparingly (just around the nose and chin to reduce redness) and you know the undertones in your skin, you might consider a drugstore purchase.
Blush
Splurge.
The pigments in blush are very similar to those in eye shadow―the less expensive the product, the more likely it is that the pigments have been diluted with talc and other powder ingredients or are not milled as smoothly. "Inexpensive blushes might leave streaks, and they rarely give you a silky feel," says San Francisco makeup artist Hillary Clark. If you want to add color and dimension to your face, it's worth the money to buy a blush that stays on. And you shouldn't have to swipe your cheek 18 times to get the color you want.
The Exception
"Inexpensive cream blushes tend to have more lasting color than powders in the same price range," says Turnbow. Because you dab them on the apples of the cheeks (rather than brushing them across the entire cheekbones), you can get a rich shade.
Lipstick and Lip Gloss
Both.
You're going to buy more than one, so here's how to divide the spoils: Spend on a great lipstick shade that you wear every day. "Lipsticks from department stores are creamier. They can contain extracts or vitamins that are oil-soluble, which you are less likely to find in a budget brand," says Alison Griffin, chairperson for the New York Society of Cosmetic Chemists. Save on lip gloss that you're using for shine, since the depth of color is not crucial.
The Exception
If you want a bright red lipstick to wear just for the holidays, then head to the drugstore. If you're looking for a rich color from your gloss, you may want to invest in a more expensive one.
Mascara
Save.
"There is very little difference in mascara formulas from luxury to drugstore brands," says Tom Winarick. "It is really the brush that maximizes the performance of the product." It's no surprise that the drugstore brands Maybelline, Max Factor, and L'Oréal have long been the leaders in sales of mascara. "The richness of drugstore brands is the same as expensive ones," says Turnbow. With any mascara, pumping air into the tube before you apply it allows bacteria to grow, so you should buy a new tube every three to four months―all the more reason to spend less. Recommended product: Max Factor Lash Perfection Mascara ($8.50, amazon.com) coats each lash using flexible plastic bristles.
The Exception
If you want a color outside the normal brown-black range―for example, a midnight blue―you may want to look for a pricier brand with a wider variety of shades.
Face Powder
Splurge.
If you're using powder as an all-purpose foundation/concealer/
makeup setter, it's worth buying one that stays on and makes your skin look flawless. Multipurpose formulas, which typically look like compacts, cost a bit more. A well-made powder with higher-quality pigments will last longer because you don't need to apply so much of it. "I'd invest here, because it's difficult to match your shade at a drugstore," says Tekeyla Perdue, senior artistic director of aesthetics at Mitchell's Salons & Day Spas in Cincinnati.
The Exception
If all you need is a colorless translucent powder to set your makeup without changing your look, you don't need to spend a ton, says Clark. Drugstores carry a host of options, from loose powders to compacts.
Eye and Lip Pencils
Both.
Generally, the more expensive the pencil is, the softer the wax and the smoother the application. So invest in a softer-wax pencil for drawing around the sensitive eye area. "Cheaper eyeliners can pull the delicate skin around the eyes or break off and crumble," says Tekeyla Perdue, senior artistic director of aesthetics at Mitchell's Salons & Day Spas in Cincinnati. You can spend less on lip liner, which doesn't require such careful application. "With lip liners, you can go low-cost and still achieve the look you desire."
The Exception
If you change your eye pencil with every outfit and your collection is as varied as a pack of coloring pencils, then all those $15 sticks can add up. For a cheap but gentle liner, makeup artist Tina Turnbow suggests gel formulas or liners that come in plastic pencils, as wooden ones tend to be drier.
Shampoo
Save.
Shampoos are designed to cleanse the hair, and any fancy ingredients will probably go down the drain with the suds. If you have normal, non-chemically treated hair, most drugstore shampoos will do the trick. If you love the feel or the scent of an expensive shampoo but worry about the cost, rotate in a less expensive brand every other day or once a week, depending on how often you wash your hair.
The Exception
If you have spent a small fortune coloring or highlighting your hair, you might want to go with the product that your hairstylist recommends to best preserve your color.
Hair Conditioner
Splurge.
Conditioner is the main way to protect and repair hair. Yes, you rinse conditioner out, but "these products are emulsions, which means they contain an oil or a wax that doesn't mix with water. Whatever healthy ingredients are in them adhere to the hair and don't wash away," says Alison Griffin. High-end conditioners sold in salons tend to have more advanced delivery systems for ingredients, meaning they penetrate the hair shafts rather than simply coating them. Spend money on one great product that makes the most difference in your daily style, says Los Angeles stylist Charles Dujic. You can conserve hair conditioner by slowly adding it to your hair's ends, rather than your entire head, then rinsing excess away, says Maité Lopez, a stylist at the James Joseph salon, in Boston.
The Exception
Women with fine or oily hair don't need a heavy conditioner weighing it down. They might skip conditioning altogether in favor of a light, leave-on spray.
Originally posted on http://www.realsimple.com