How do luxury cosmetics compare to high street ones?

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I usually buy MAC, but am thinking of treating myself to some of the Chanel Christmas collection. Is there a noticable difference in quality, or does it just "feel" good because it's expensive?

Well, MAC's fairly high end anyway. I don't think the difference between those too is that noticable. Chanel's not my favourite High End brand anyway. Have always felt a bit disappointed with anything I've bought from Chanel. Dior, Guerlain, Armani are my favourite. But there are good and bad expensive products and good and bad cheap products. Few brands excel across the range. The difference is mostly in the packaging, and I always think Chanel packaging is a bit rubbish.

I think the colours can be better / more on trend with prestige products but agree it is mostly the packaging. I quite like the Chanel packaging but tend to buy Bourjois instead as the products are quite similar (for eyeshadows at least)

I really really like Chanel eyeshadows - their blushers are a bit meh tho. I prefer their foundation to the MAC ones as the colours are a better match for me and I like the slightly scented smell of them, although I am a hardened Estee Lauder Double Wear fan so I don't buy Chanel foundation any more.

Also love the Chanel eye pencils that come with a sharpener and a little smudger thingy on the end. As Quinn says, there are good and bad products in every price range.

In general I am not a huge fan of MAC - noisy, busy shop stuffed with trendy young things, makes me feel old and haggard. I much prefer a nice sedate Dior or Chanel counter these days. Dior and Estee Lauder stuff is always lovely quality. My main gripe with Chanel is that they never do bonus time and their assistants can be mean with samples etc.

Yes, Estee Lauder is consistantly good. I'm sucker for expensive packaging, and that, I think, is down to personal taste. Chanel just doesn't do it for me. Dior and Guerlain totally do. But I have Revlon lip products, a Barry M mascara and Rimmel eye pencils that I favour over a lot of high end alternatives.

I love how they pack up your purchases on Chanel tho - with a little Chanel bag and the monogrammed tissue sprayed with perfume. Last time I bought foundation, the lady on Estee Lauder just threw it into a John Lewis mini carrier bag .

Chanel is OK but I actually prefer the brands stocked in Space NK - specially By Terry, and Laura Mercier. And Becca which is great but not stocked in many places. They are the real upmarket brands for me. Oh and Armani.

Some Bobbi Brown which, like Chanel, is in every department store does some good things, eg cream eye shadow.

Really don't like Lauder for makeup - all a bit unsubtle ( though Daywear is good).
think Mac is over-rated. Does nothing for me. but a lot of people like it .

On Mac totally agree with emsyj Ok for young folk!
Wouldn't personally go to Boots for makeup.

Becca - that's a brand I've been meaning to try.

I like Christian Dior (esp foundation and lip gloss) and Clarins (blusher and lipstick) as I find the colours suit me, they last really well all day/night, and a little goes a long long way so products last me a long time (I don't wear make up every day, maybe once or twice a week)

And the assistants have always been helpful and happy to bung in some decent freebies (important to me!) found Chanel counter unwelcoming and snooty I'm afraid so didn't stop long.

Mac is used by a lot of makeup artists I know, and they love it, but most of them have a range of products in their kit bag, some ranges do some things better than others so they pick n choose the best bits iyswim.

What I love about Chanel is the sophisticated muted color range that looks so chic on (favorite product - pale gold/ platinum eye pencil).
MAC is a bit tranny chic ime - somehow the rainbow of colors there encorages people to slap on too much.

Chanel products I like: Hydra Beauty serum ( amazing under makeup), Lift Lumiere foundation, eye pencils, Coco Rouge lipstick range, Rouge Allure Velvet range, eye shadows, perfumes

Meh Chanels: sunscreen (Eucerin and La Roche Posay are better), waterproof eye pencils, Coco Rouge Shine lip products

I've used both Bourjois and Chanel blushers. Chanels have better pale shades, texture equal. Both less good than Nars.

How the hell do you manage to buy anything in MAC? A friend and I have been in a couple of times and we couldn't work out who were assistants and who were shoppers! There weren't any prices on anything and nobody offered to help us, so we left empty-handed. A really horrible shopping experience (as opposed to the Clarins etc counters in dept stores where I usually find the assistants very helpful).

My Dh used to work in the beauty industry and he says that a lot of the high end products are almost exactly the same as the cheaper ones made by the same groups, but in more expensive packaging and with different fragrances. From recollection, bourgois and Chanel are v similar.

I think Space NK is the place to go for any make-up. I always have good experiences in their shops and come out with lots of samples. I recently went to the one in Upper Street in Islington (London) and the make-up artist spent over an hour with me explaining everything, trying products, etc. He was really helpful and took a lot of time to understand what my style was like. I left with a fabulous cream blusher for which I've had so many compliments.

Even within Harvey Nichols, the ladies are lovely and they always offer you some samples if you've bought something.

On the other hand, I had been to the MAC shop in Covent Garden that same day, and they couldn't be arsed to even talk to me. I asked about blushers and I think that as soon as they heard my accent, they assumed I was another tourist and just pointed me to the board where the blushers were. No help at all.

Bourjois is really excellent quality for the price IMO - I just personally have a 'thing' about makeup and so rarely buy 'drugstore' brands. It's pure snobbery though, Bourjois eyeshadows are very very nice and a lovely range of shades. I just don't want the packaging sullying my make up bag . Tis really stupid.

When I am grown-up I am going to shop in Space NK - have only ever bought online from there but we do have a store in my nearest town now, it's just a bit too scary for me at the moment... Not least because everything seems to cost at least £50! Is that true Solde? All the brands they stock are mega ultra high-end high-price aren't they?

I have always been a big fan of Chanel and only ever used their products but their latest vitalumiere hydra foundation was rubbish for me. I tried Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation instead and it's really fantastic stuff for a dewy, flawless finish. I would recommend trying Bourjois before Chanel (I don't know if the rumours about Bourjois being Chanel's high street range are true or not).

Do we all shop at the same Chanel counter? The one near where we lived was always staffed by snooty unpleasant women. With a paranoia about anyone actually trying any of the samples.

I think the Chanel staff vary enormously - some are absolutely lovely and will chat for ages, gift wrap everything (even stuff that's for yourself) and give you little skincare and perfume samples without prompting - others are horrible and barely make eye contact (some even continue their conversation with their colleague, serving you 'sideways' IYSWIM, treating you like a nuisance). I've had great Chanel service at Kendalls in Manchester (albeit quite a while ago now) and I find that Dior seem to be the most consistent at having helpful, friendly, non-pushy assistants - I've never had bad service at Dior.

Guerlain do lovely make up. I have had the most gorgeous foundation from them in the past.

Guerlain foundations are beautiful. Dior lipsticks are beautiful. Nars blushers are the best. I only ever buy high street mascara's now though.

I have recently bought two Sleek palettes from Superdug (after seeing them recommended on here) and they are as good as Mac, Estée Lauder, Clinique and Clarins.
However, I have also bought a Max Factor mascara that lots rave about but I can't wait til I've used it up as it's rubbish.
I think you have to try lots and as the make up artists do, mix and match things that you like.
I don't think high end high price cosmetics should mean they are the best.

I've always found mac assistants very scary. I've recently switched to bare minerals & am very happy with the range & apart from one snooty assistant in Selfridges they are all very pleasant.