I love cosmetics. I especially love
drooling over high end makeup. Some may think it's insane to spend
more on a single makeup product than I would on an article of
clothing... and maybe they're right. If it's in your budget or if
you are luckily enough to have a gift card in your wallet waiting to
be spent, these are my recommendations for good quality makeup. I
truly believe there are some things that cannot be duplicated at the
drugstore. High end beauty products are so luxurious with so much
thought put into beautiful packaging to make you feel like a
glamorous vintage film star(or maybe that's just me?). From
my own experience, I don't think any of my friends or family have
been disappointed with a great quality makeup product. If you
splurge on nothing else, I really recommend getting yourself a good
foundation because there is such a dramatic difference in the way
they look on the skin and react with the skin.
Foundation
I used drugstore
foundations consistently until approximately a year and a half ago,
when I purchased my first Estee Lauder foundation. Base products are
not my thing and I don't
generally find them that exciting but trying a pricey foundation
changed my mind completely. Not only do good quality foundations look
more “skin-like” but also last longer on the face and tend to
stay looking “fresh” for longer. Another perk of high end
foundation is that you have a chance to test the color range
yourself. I find that some drugstores don't even provide testers for
foundations and you are left guessing your color from the look of the
bottle. Purchasing a good foundation means that there is a nifty
sales assistant to color match you to the perfect shade, without
leaving you guessing under harsh fluorescent lighting. I recommend
investing in something that you will actually wear. If you are the
type of person who reserves foundations for a night out, maybe invest
in a good tinted moisturzier or BB cream for everyday use. If you
like to wear a full coverage on a daily basis, invest in a good high
coverage foundation. Buy what works for you, don't get distracted by
the latest and greatest releases at the front of the shelves.
My Top
Picks: Nars, Dior, Estee Lauder, Clinique, Lancome, Benefit.
Eye
Primers
I
think a good eye primer is essential to anybody's kit. An eye primer
will extend the wear-time of your eye makeup, make colors look more
vibrant on the lid and lock eyeshadow in place all day (no smudges!).
A good primer can also make cheaper eye shadows look more beautiful
on the lid. Another bonus: an eye primer will last you a very long
time. You literally need to use the tiniest amount of product to
cover both lids. I use a primer daily and I could probably get at
least 2 years out of a tube. This is a great investment for those
with oily eyes lids that find their eye makeup seems to melt off by
the end of the day. It's definitely one of those products where you
don't know what you are missing until you try it. I would recommend
getting a primer in a squeezey tube rather than a lipgloss (doe foot
applicator) style tube so you can get every last drop of primer out.
My
Top Picks: Urban Decay Primer Potion (the original, but the other
kinds are good too), Too Faced Shadow Insurance and NARS Pro Prime
Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base (good for oily lids but hate the
packaging).
Eye
Shadow Palettes
Believe
it or not, this is the extent of my eye shadow palette collection.
With these three palettes, I feel like I have the basics for looks
that I like to do on a regular basis. A neutral eye palette is a
valuable investment and is useful for creating a wide range of looks
for day time or night time. High end eye shadows are incomparable to
their drugstore counterparts. I love my palettes for their buttery
soft consistency, blendability and gorgeous finish on the lid. If you
are a normal person (unlike me), a neutral palette will probably be
enough eye shadow to last you a life time. I would recommend buying a
palette that suits you. If you wear smokey looks often, maybe
consider a palette of greys/taupes/browns. If you prefer to
experiment with colors, buy a palette with a range of different
colors. A gorgeous palette is a great gift for anybody who wears
makeup and provides the lucky recipient with endless possibilities of
color combinations.
My
Top Picks: Urban Decay (Especially Naked 1, 2, 3 and basics), Dior,
Clinique, Smashbox and Stila.
Blush
Please
excuse the blush porn pictured above. I really really cannot say
enough about a good quality blush. If you are displeased with some
blushes from the drugstore, it's probably because they are made with
talc which makes them look streaky and causes them to fade quickly
(and potentially
cause breakouts/skin irritations).
A good blush can last year a couple years and brighten up the face to
make you look more lively. There are so many different shades and
formulas on the market and I'm positive there is one out there for
everybody. I have a blush problem and have enough to last until I'm
90, but I'm totally ok with that. I think a lot of people are afraid
of blush but I promise that it's not scary and makes all the
difference. Good quality blushes mean that they are more pigmented
(so you use less product with each application), longer lasting and
they blend into the skin better to look more believable.
My
Top Picks: NARS, Stila, Lancome and Smashbox.
Perfume
I
love wearing perfume and generally smelling nice (don't we all?).
Perfumes are such a personal preference and the key is to find the
scent that you enjoy the most (since you will be smelling it more
than anyone else). I love the look of a gorgeous perfume bottle
placed a on vanity. A good quality perfume means that better ingredients
where used to extract delicate scents from various flora and fauna.
The perfume will last longer on the skin and will smell slightly
different on each person due to your own personal body chemistry. I
have my own signature scent, but there are so many more that I have
sniffed and loved. Cheaper perfumes just don't smell right to me and
I find they have an intense sickly smell. A great gift for a special
someone that they can enjoy for years to come.
My Signature Scent:
Versace Pour Femme.
Lipstick
I
think lipstick is a beautiful thing. High end lipsticks have such gorgeous shades and feel so comfortable on the lips. Generally I
find them more moisturizing, longer lasting and easier to maintain
with fewer touch-ups. Taking a fancy lipstick out of my purse also
makes me feel super classy (and I'm not ashamed to admit
that). There is a reason people
like a good quality lipstick (and probably why MAC is so
popular). Pick a color that
makes you feel pretty, whether that be red, hot pink or a sultry
nude. Treat yourself to one and I promise you won't be disappointed.
My
Top Picks: Dior, Estee Lauder, Lancome, NARS, Clarins.
I
love high end makeup and will continue to purchase these staples for
their outstanding quality that compares to no other. What are your
favorite products to splurge on?
Thanks for reading.
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