sew and sew

This is for ya'll who have tryed products like from Sephora or Benefit. Do you think it's worth the money? I ask this because it seems like make-up is kinda like clothing, in the sense that you pay for the label. And all that cute packaging and graphics, because people want their make-up to not only look attractive on them, but actually want the products to look cute themselves. That is by no means a new concept, but it seems like it's been taken to a higher level and has almost become a status symbol. But in general is the quality pretty good as opposed to drugstore brands like Neutrogena, Max Factor, etc ?

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“It was only a sunny smile and little it cost in the giving but like morning light it scattered the night and made the day worth living.” - F. Scott Fitzgerald

CurlsWannaHaveFun

It depends on the product and the line.

For eyeshadows for example, the higher end/trendy lines have a lot more variety of color, textures than drug store lines. Some of them also last longer/less creasing in my hands as well. I think this goes for foundation as well---esp for my skin (l'm african american) I found it impossible to find a drugstore foundation that matched my skin and didn't make me look ashy.

Lipsticks are probably about the same quality, but again variety of color is more the plus of upscale lines (I like MAC). Plus you often can use a tester and truly see a color as opposed to those plastic drugstore color samples which can be way off.

Mascara you have to change so often I think the cheap is fine---have never tried the high end ones.

Novel products (stains, convertible all over colors) usu pop up first in trendy lines and then trickle down and get knocked off so if you're into cutting edge stuff, trendy lines are good. The packaging is adorable (Stila is one of my favorites) but if the product isn't good, the packaging will not tip me to buy it.

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4a with 3c patches/LOIS daughter O/S spongy fine, natural since 1999

Perfection is not attainable. But if we chase perfection, we can catch excellence.
- Vince Lombardi

blanclila

I've shopped a couple of times at Sephora, and found for makeup
(at least lipsticks and blushes) I preferred Sephora's
own brand, which is much cheaper than the other brands sold
there. They have an amazing variety of colors.
My concealer and lipgloss I tend to just buy at the drugstore.

Rednaturalcurls

Definitely depends on the product. I use Prescriptives foundation because I can not find a drugstore version that is light enough for me (I am super pale, very fair skin). I also use their eyeshadow, blush and lipstick only because I really like the color, not because I think it is any better than the drugstore kind. I used drugstore versions for years but found I like the Prescriptives color array more. Mascara, lipliner, concealer, moisturizer, and eyeliner all come from the drugstore. Can't justify spending $18 or more on a liner when a $3 one works just as well.

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Hair Type: mix of 3's, growing out an angled bob, color-treated red.
Current products: GVP conditioning balm for co-wash and leave in, Curl Junkie Curls in a Bottle, Pattern Pusha and Garnier Anti-humidity hairspray
Location:Sunny Florida
Hair idol: Kimberly Schlapman from Little Big Town

Hairproductjunkie

I totally agree (and Rednaturalcurls, I have the same problem--I am so pale/fair that Prescriptives is the only foundation that works for me!). I use Prescriptives eyeshadow, blush, and lipstick because I get to try out the colors before I buy them. Whenever I buy those at the drugstore, I tend to find something that I think will look great, but when I get home, it looks horrible on me. But when I just need some eyeliner (black) or mascara (black), I just head to Wal-Mart, because I figure that I can't screw up the color black!

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