Do you mix your brands when you're buying make-up?

[Millie1]

I've spent a fortune and made a right mess of things! Started off with a MAC makeover and ended up with foundation, powder, bronzer plus eyeshadows. Wasn't sure about the foundation but went ahead anyway. Within a couple of hours, had decided it was the wrong foundation as it had gone patchy and bubbly on my skin (which is/was pretty dry) so went off to Space NK and bought a Laura Mercier moisturising foundation with the intention of returning the MAC item.

The LM foundation is a completely different tone to the MAC version - and probably the better tone for my skin. So, here I am with my lovely LM foundation and my MAC powder & bronzer scared to open any of them incase they don't blend in together. The powder seems to be MAC's palest and the bronzer is a darker version of the same thing.

What do you reckon ... do I mix my brands & open them or return the MAC things and go back to Space NK for a LM powder/bronzer which may tone better?

Can a wise mumsnetter please put me out of my misery - mix 'n match or not.

I would mix and match - not everyones complexion suits the one brand. I use Revlon foundation but also have Body Shop stuff as well, then use MAC eye shadow and liner and have various lippies according to what colour I want. I also tend to buy stuff in Boots (when I have points to sped which means no MAC purchases as they dont sell it)

Definitely mix and match-I do it all the time.
Kanebo foundation and Boots blusher....

Yes to mixing and matching. You can get away with buying cheaper versions of some things but others, I find anyway, you need to spend more to get a decent product. I spend more on foundation and mascara and perhaps less on blusher and lipsticks. I buy make up by Estee Lauder, Lancome, Tesco and Rimmel and they all work together fine.

Message withdrawn

the foundation is the most crucial part and it sounds like the LM one suits you better so stick with that. You can certainly use a light dusting of the MAC powder and a touch of bronzer - the colour pigments in make-up are really light so you can layer different products easily.- it's a heavy hand that will cause a problem, so go lightly.

I mix and match all the time with make up.

yes

i use a mix of expensive (chanel, chantecaille) and cheap (e.g. rimmel)

Mix 'n match it is then! Last night was the first chance I had to have a good look at things and the MAC concealer will definitely have to go back cos it is really off-tone with the LM foundation. Think the other bits and bobs ought to be okay. Thinking about it my make-up bag (for all it contains!) is a mix of brands, I think it was just buying all the MAC products that got me thinking!

What a great idea for a thread - everyone likes a make up tip! We can all list our brands and see whats most popular!
I'll start with my brands

Primer - Some Kind a Gorgeous - Benefit (currently sold out in UK and America!)
Base - YSL
Foundation - Dior
Concealer - Boi-ing - Benefit
Powder - Dior
Eye Radiance - Dior Skinflash (Like Touce Eclat, but better!)
Eyeshadow - MAC
Bronzer - Dior
Face Radiance - Hollywood Glo - Benefit
Highlighter - High Beam - Benefit
Eyeliner - Barry M
Mascara - Chanel

So - anyone got any tips?

Of course I mix my brands! My make up bag's as follows:

Astral moisturiser
Chanel vitalumiere foundation
YSL mascara, it's a very good one, faux cils or something it's called, I've only just started using it and I think it's fab
No 7 moisture drench lipstick in nude
YSL Touche Eclat
eyelash curlers