Makeup can be expensive, especially if you are starting from scratch and have to get all new products. This leads to the question, are high-end products really worth splurging on or can drugstore products perform just as well? We think that both luxury and affordable products can have a place in your routine (if it’s within your budget), and knowing where to save on products can help you build a makeup collection that fits your needs while staying in your budget.

What’s the Difference between High-end and Drugstore Makeup?
High-end makeup is usually associated with good packaging, higher prices, and quality ingredients. The products may have more complex formulas, more shades, and innovative textures, such as serum-like foundations. Drugstore makeup is more affordable, accessible, and many formulas today rival luxury brands, proving that price that price doesn’t always equal quality. Next, we will show you where some drugstore products may be better than high-end ones and also what luxury products are worth the splurge. 

Where Drugstore Makeup Wins

Mascara
Drugstore mascaras deliver just as much volume, length, and curl but at a fraction of the cost of luxury brands. Since mascara has to be changed more frequently than other products, it makes sense to choose a budget-friendly option. 

• L’Oréal Paris Makeup Original Telescopic Mascara

• Essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara

Brow Products
Eyebrow pencils, pomades, and gels perform just as well as the expensive ones, as most use similar formulas. 

• e.l.f. Brow Lift Gel - Clear

• NYX Professional Makeup Lift N Snatch! Brow Tint Pen

Lip Products
Lip liners, glosses, balms, and oils have great pigment and smooth formulas.  

Lip Liners

• Milani Understatement Lip Liner

• Maybelline Lifter Liner Lip Liner Pencil with Hyaluronic Acid, Out of Line

Glosses

• Milani Keep It Full Lip Plumper

• Maybelline Lifter Gloss Plumping Lip Gloss with Hyaluronic Acid

Lip Balm

• Aquaphor

• Covergirl Clean Fresh Tinted Lip Balm

Oils

• e.l.f. Glow Reviver Lip Oil

• NYX Professional Makeup Fat Oil Lip Drip Lip Gloss

Eyeliner
Pencil, liquid, and gel eyeliners can be just as long-lasting and pigmented as luxury brands, and many people’s favorite eyeliners come from affordable brands. 

Pencil

• NYX Professional Makeup Vivid Rich Mechanical Eye Pencil

• e.l.f. No Budge Retractable Waterproof Eyeliner

Liquid

• Maybelline Hyper Easy Liquid Pen Eyeliner

• NYX Professional Makeup Epic Ink Liner - Black

Gel

• Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Waterproof Eyeliner

• Essence Stay & Play Gel Waterproof Eyeliner

Setting Spray
There are many drugstore setting sprays that are comparable to high-end ones since they also perform very well. 

• L’Oréal Paris Infallible 3-Second Setting Mist

• NYX Professional Makeup Long Lasting Makeup Setting Spray - Matte Finish

Where High-end Makeup May Be Worth It
Complexion base products are often worth the splurge because they sit directly on most of your face for a long time and need to match your shade, undertones, and skin type. High-end products usually have better shade ranges, a more skin-like look, and formulas for specific skin concerns such as oil control and dry skin. 

Foundation and Skin Tints

• Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place 24-Hour Longwear Foundation

• Danessa Myricks Beauty Yummy Skin Soothing Serum Skin Tint Foundation with Peptides + Ceramides

Concealer
If you wear concealer a lot, it may be worth it to invest in a high-end product due to the increased quality, which can make a noticeable difference. They can often also provide more coverage, hydration, and last longer, especially if you are putting it under your eyes. 

• Hourglass Vanish™ Airbrush Concealer

• Too Faced Born This Way Super Coverage Multi-Use Concealer with Hyaluronic Acid

Powders
High-end powders usually have finer textures, which cause them to look smoother and more seamless on the skin and help them last longer. 

• Huda Beauty Easy Bake Blurring Loose Baking & Setting Powder

• Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Refillable Blurring & Setting Powder

Blush and Bronzer
Cream blushes and bronzers from luxury brands are more blendable and have more natural finishes, which makes it worth the splurge for their texture and longevity. 

• PATRICK TA Major Headlines Double-Take Crème & Powder Blush Duo

• Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Sun Stalk’r Instant Warmth Bronzer

Eyeshadow Palettes
High-end palettes have much better pigmentation, blendability, and often have less fallout. If you like doing eye looks or are trying to get into it, investing in a quality palette can be worth it. 

• MAKEUP BY MARIO Master Mattes® Eyeshadow Palette: The Original

• Anastasia Beverly Hills Soft Glam Eyeshadow Palette

Takeaway
High-end makeup products aren’t always better and drugstore products aren’t always going to work for you. The best makeup routine is the one that fits your skin type and stays within your budget. By knowing which products are worth spending more on and where you can save, you can build a makeup collection that works for you.