High End Makeup Vs. Drugstore Makeup: What Are You Really Paying For?
Amongst my circle friends and colleagues, I'm typically the person that knows everything that there is to know about makeup launches and releases for luxury brands.
Because of my years of working professionally in the cosmetic industry, people expect me to a snob when it comes to makeup. Little do those people know, a lot of my favorite products come right from the cosmetic section of your local Target and Walgreens, and in my opinion some have out performed their department store counterparts by far.
As someone who has a background in marketing, I've often wondered if the extra coins that I scrapped up to splurge on high end cosmetics was honestly even worth it. I'm not to saying that high-end makeup is a complete scam but their inflated prices are for minor differences that you may not get from a drugstore brand.
Say for instance the luxury brand Lancome, which is owned by L'Oreal. Lancome's Rouge in Love Shade Pink Bon Bon lip color, is equivalent to L'Oreal's Colour Rich Shade Pink Flamingo, however, you will pay three times as much for Lancome than L'Oreal.
The prices of your high end splurges, usually depend on:
Packaging
Most of use makeup wearers out there are total suckers for pretty packaging and even more so for convenient and innovative packaging. Drug store packaging tends to be simple with no frills, while high end department store packaging can be drop dead gorgeous and to die for.
Pigmentation
Makeup application is something that is aesthetically pleasing, so there is no secret that we want our colors to be nice and bright instead of washed out and dreary. Eyeshadows especially need to be pigmented enough whereas the color does not show up chalky, especially on darker skin tones. Though drugstore eyeshadow has come a LONG way, they usually still take a little more work and building up of product to get that “uumph" that you would get from a high-end one (depending).
Applicators (if provided)
Whether its drugstore or high-end, I personally opt not to use the applicators that come with the products unless I'm trying to travel light but I do notice a big difference between the quality of an applicator from a drugstore product and a high-end one.
For instance my favorite drugstore loose powder comes with the pouf that I have never used while some of my favorite high-end loose powders tend to come with more practical small brush applicators that I may use on occasions. Whether you decide to use them or not, somewhere down the line it is a portion of the price that we pay for the product that it comes with.
Fragrance (or even lack of)
Whether we want to believe it or not, every thing that goes into a product, drugstore or high-end, were paying for it someway, somehow; that includes that vanilla scent of that lipstick that you love so much or even that luxury brand that takes out all fragrances completely. You'll often find that fragrances in higher end cosmetics smell better as they should for the extra amount of cash that we spend on them.
The Brand Name
Perception is reality. If that doesn't apply anywhere else, it definitely applies in the world of cosmetics. The way we perceive a brand determines if we will actually spend the extra money on a product. That is how high-end brands thrive.
What woman doesn't want to rock that bold $26 lipstick that she gagged over when she saw it in a magazine? Or a product that has her favorite actress or singer face plastered on the advertisements for it? We all do it every once in a while. A big part of why we are willing to spend more on certain brands is the fact that in our minds, whether consciously or subconsciously, we feel we are perceived as being “luxurious by association".
The Experience
Chances are shopping for makeup in the drugstore is much different from shopping for high-end makeup in a department store. High-end brands provide a shopping experience with the million and one testers you get to play with, consultants to interact with or even get a make over from and everything else that you don't get out of a trip to your local drugstore. While some of us could live without it, many of us really enjoy it and feel the extra coins are really worth it.
I'll be the first one to tell you, “don't cheat yourself, treat yourself" and splurging on high-end makeup is no different. Knowing when and when not to spend extra “unnecessary" money on makeup is all about trying new things, whether its from the drugstore or the department store, and getting a feel of what is and is not important to you when it come to your makeup. Use the article as a guide the next time your wonder if your splurging justifiable.
Though there are definitely some benefits that we get out of going for the gold with luxury cosmetics, we also are paying for "unnecessary" things that we honestly can live without.
Are you a drugstore make-up junkie or do you prefer to buy your make up from high-end brands?
Want more stories like this? Sign up for our newsletter here to receive our latest articles and news straight to your inbox.
- The Differences Between Drugstore Makeup And High-End Makeup ... ›
- Drugstore vs Designer Makeup: When to Save and When to Splurge ... ›
- The Difference Between High End and Drugstore Makeup ›
- The Difference Between A $6 And $70 Mascara | HuffPost Life ›
- Drugstore vs. Department Store Makeup: Whose Product Is Better ... ›
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for daily love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
If you’re like many other people who are prioritizing wellness these days, then attending a wellness retreat might be something to consider. Wellness retreats are a cool way to get the relaxation you’ve been missing in a space with like-minded people who share a common goal. I descended upon my first wellness retreat, the Mind, Body, + Sol Retreat, a couple of weeks ago at the Zoëtry Agua Punta Cana Resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.
Zoëtry Agua is part of the Inclusive Collection for the World of Hyatt. It is nestled on a secluded part of Uvero Alto beach, which has crystal blue waters. The resort itself is picturesque, with its thatched roofs and lazy rivers that make you feel like you’re in a cute little village.
Mindy, Body, + Sol Retreat was hosted by Koya Webb, holistic health and wellness coach and yoga instructor, and it also featured other wellness practitioners who combined provided the ultimate gift of relaxation and getting back to oneself.
The first night was a Welcome Dinner that featured a five-course meal and an opportunity to meet our companions for the next three days. The food was impeccable and the only downside was that I wasn’t able to finish it all. The next day, however, was the official start of the classes, and I was ready to dive in.
Aura and Chakra Reading
Aura and chakra reading
Photo courtesy
My first class was an aura and chakra reading led by Laura McCann and James Levinson, an Asheville, NC couple. I’ve had chakra readings before, but never like this. There was a computer, a camera, and a scanner, which I placed my hand on for the reading. After two minutes, I received a 15-page report explaining my aura and chakra reading.
It breaks down what the colors of your aura are and what your chakras say. My main colors were green and yellow, which were defined by a variety of things. The top of my aura was green, meaning I have a social mental state and I’m a natural healer. My aura on my left side was yellow meaning my energy flowing is optimistic and light and so on.
After James discussed the findings with me, I then met with Laura, who gave me aromatherapy oils from their ADORAtherapy line that represented each chakra. She further explained the results of my chakra reading and shared how each oil can assist. Chakras are the energy centers in our body, and there is a total of seven: root, sacral, solar plexus, heart, throat, third eye, and crown. All of my chakras were high except for my heart chakra, which I have since been working on. I may follow up about that in another article.
Sound Bath
Sound bath class
Photo courtesy
Next was the sound bath class. It was located in the spa, which was indoor/ outdoor and the perfect setting for this kind of experience. Andrew Francis and Carrie Bailey of Zenden Meditation were the co-pilots in transporting attendees into a place of tranquility. I laid down, closed my eyes, and allowed the sounds around me to bring me into a relaxing state. From the singing bowls to the wind chimes, I was in heaven. I even fell asleep and got some of the best rest I’ve had in a while. It was a beautiful experience. However, remember when I noted it was an indoor/ outdoor venue? I forgot to put on bug spray and woke up pretty itchy. But it didn’t stop me from enjoying the moment.
Tea Party
Art of Tea Ritual Tea Party
Photo courtesy
The last event of the day was the Art of Tea Ritual located in the resort’s tea garden. It was everything you could want in a tea party. Delectable treats such as cookies, cakes, and white chocolate-covered strawberries, which are my fave. And, of course, tea. While I got to sip tea, I also got to make my own tea blend. There were many different teas to choose from, like hibiscus to your regular black tea. I decided to mix rose and mint and I called it RoseMint. I didn’t get to try my tea blend until I got home, and I’ll be honest, it’s probably the best tea I ever had. The tea herbs taste so fresh, and I love how fragrant it smells.
Breathwork
Breathwork Class
Photo Courtesy
The next morning was all about breathwork. If you exercise regularly, then you probably know the importance of breathing. But there’s more to it besides remembering to breathe during your workout. Margaret Townsend is a breathwork facilitator who helps people achieve wellness by consciously changing their breathing patterns. In her class, I learned to change my breathing pattern for energy as well as for relaxation. While I know that breathing is a relaxation tool, I was blown away to learn that it can also energize you. Because it was a different breathing pattern, I was also able to stay present and keep a steady pace.
Yoga
Koya Webb's yoga class
Photo courtesy
The final class of the retreat was evening yoga with Koya Webb, who, as I mentioned earlier, was the host. Her class was held beside the beautiful Uvero Alto beach, which made for a stunning backdrop and the perfect way to end the retreat. It was important for me to get back into my body after not doing yoga for a few weeks, so I was really focused on nailing the moves. However, Koya kept the energy light and fun, evening cracking a few jokes throughout, which made it easy for me to relax and enjoy the moment. She ended the class with a dance break and hugs from our classmates.
The Mind, Body, + Sol Retreat reminded me how important it is to take time to love on myself. Each class was an opportunity to be present and get reacquainted with oneself in the most loving way. Being surrounded by individuals who encouraged my journey was what I needed, and I am so honored to have had this experience.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for daily love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Feature image by courtesy