High End Makeup - help please?

[sherbetstraws]

My friend says buying good quality makeup definitely pays off. She buys YSL and Dior etc. It's very pricey so I don't want to jump in and buy just anything. What do you all recommend?

I like Clinique's eye makeup as I can fall asleep in it without it irritating my eyes! Sad but true.

I like their black High Impact mascara, eyeshadows & under eye concealer.

I also wear the Superprimer, the Superfine eyebrow liner in soft blonde, & my favourite lipstick is Party Pop.

I like Benefit blushers but I've tried to find cheaper alternatives.

Oh yes & I wear Clinique's stay matte oil free pressed powder on my tzone.

For me I find colour range is better e.g. in high end foundations and lipsticks than with drug store makeup. I also prefer high end foundation too.

I will say that e.g. Clinique twist up eyeliners - don't bother - they break in a minute. Also, Bobbi Brown twist up stick foundation - I personally find this too drying.

For me, Charlotte Tilbury - I've got some items but used to work near their main shop and very overrated.

I like Bobbi Brown, NARS, MAC, Estee Lauder (mostly only foundation), Urban Decay I'm not that sold on much apart from eyeshadow palettes, Chanel is great too.

OP - what I would really do - and have done - is go to each of the higher end counters/shops and try some of their makeup, one woman's holy grail item/brand is not another woman's. I used to love Dior, now really gone off it - their quad eyeshadows are nice though. MAC for me - not for mascara, foundation etc but lipsticks, lip liners etc great.

I find that MAC lipsticks don't last well on me. My favourite makeup range for longevity is Kat Von D

Estee Lauder double wear is amazing but they also do an exact dupe in primark for £5!!! The primark version is now my day time make up but even Estee lauder lasts a long time, I usually use about 3 drops each time I use it, small bottle but it lasts!

Although Charlotte Tilbury makeup gets mixed reviews I can honestly say her mascara is one of the best I've ever used.

If you’re of a more mature age (let’s say 40+) then Bobbi Brown is brilliant.

I watch enough beauty YouTube to know that a high price tag and fancy name is not a guarantee for quality.
As everything there is a sense in that you get what you pay for but the high end brands are just as likely to have duds as anything else, I personally found double wear cakey and urban decay shadows whilst good are no better than some of my cheaper eyeshadows.

Best bet is to go to some counters and ask for some samples.

Mind you that’s for the actual make up side of things. For concealer/foundation I agree with poster(s) above - you are better of making sure you’re happy with their formula as one size does not fit all.

I like M&S Autograph and Rosie for Autograph, for foundation/concealer/highlighter. Not very pricey but for me it’s a good formula. Not too thick, easy to blend in. I don’t like full coverage so it works well for me.

I watch enough beauty YouTube to know that a high price tag and fancy name is not a guarantee for quality.

Well, that's as may be ... But cosmetics are (in general) a luxury product. I like the smell, the packaging and the feel of Tom Ford products. I don't give a fig that twenty other brands might produce a similar colour of whatever it is.

Last week I was sitting at a table in a bar with four or five fantastically clever, witty, professionally successful middle aged friends. One had bought a new Chanel powder compact and remarked on the loveliness of the scent when she opened it. We spent a good five minutes oohing and aahing and comparing and contrasting with the contents of our own cosmetics bags ... The significance of make up goes well beyond the purely functional. People aren't stupid, we're perfectly happy to pay the ridiculous price because we enjoy buying the products and and enjoy using them.

I've never heard of makeupalley - thank you!
Looking at UD colours now SNG thanks.

Oh I'm sorry!! I missed the whole of page 2, I'm new to this site. SORRY xx and thank you for all help, I am taking note of it :)

No worries, my favourite colour is criminal in the UD lipstick. It’s my go to everyday colour.

I like
Clarins and Clinique make up. I loved Buttershine lipsticks and they do last and go on nicely.

Bobbi Brown cream stick eyeshadows. I have an Urban Decay mascara currently which is ok.

I do buy Avon too and No 7 too.

I buy make up occasionally so a good make is a real treat.

I’m scared to try Tom Ford from the cautionary tale above! Luckily I only ever have a handful of lipsticks at once, so at least I wouldn’t be tempted to buy a whole shitload of them. Well, I’m sure I’d be tempted but I would most definitely valiantly resist!

Just going to have a quick browse...

I really don't rate Chanel nail polish. I love the packaging and the colours but it just doesn't last half as long as other cheaper brands.
I've found my Chanel eyebrow pencil doesn't last long either. My Eyelure one lasts much longer.
I DO rate Chanel foundations and blushers. And Laura Mercier tinted moisturiser.
It's been 20 years of pleasurable trial and error!!!

My favourites:
Guerlain and bourjois for foundation ( own 10+ across many brands atm)
Dior and Revlon for lip products ( hate eyeshadows from both)
Clarins and Givenchy for powders and blushes ( Dior was the worst)
MaxFactor, YSL and Lancôme for mascara
Guerlain and MAC for eyeshadows ( wasn’t impressed with either UD naked pallets, have all 3 and hardly use them, also didn’t like Bobby Brown and Dior as mentioned above)

I haven’t tried much from Chanel, YSL, Armani or TF.

I’m quite lucky to work in the fashion industry and being able to get massive discount from few cosmetic brands. My MU collection is probably worth 10k if I had to pay full price. Bit sick, I know...
Some of my most used product cost few quid, so go figure

Gosh... I am oddly pleased by all the (much younger) posters saying that they look first at the brands I look at first, because I am genuinely old. If I can't find what I want at Superdrug, then it's UD or MAC (though I cringe as I go in, when I think how my visit is trashing their style brags. But, once you get past their makeover offers (refuse if you are over 40!) they have exceptional colour ranges and some great formulations. Skincare is mostly Korean, or Beauty Pie.

The significance of make up goes well beyond the purely functional. People aren't stupid, we're perfectly happy to pay the ridiculous price because we enjoy buying the products and and enjoy using them.

Oh I'm not disputing this. I own my fair share of makeup I've bought more becasue it feels nice than it's functionality.
I just think it's worth mentioning that whilst I love my mark Jacobs bronzer (it really does feel luxury and gorgeous) I tend to use my much cheaper bourjous one becasue it's sits better on my skin.

Tom Ford lipstick is amazing...great colours, stays well - especially the matte ones - and not at all drying. They have mini ones as well so you can try the brand at a lower price. Also love the mascara and eye shadows.

I found Chanel lipsticks very drying but love the foundation and concealer.

Used to like YSL but they discontinued the mascara I liked and I ended up preferring Tom Ford anyway.

Hate all luxury nail polish, chips easily and often have weird brush shapes. Also the brushes tend to be too short so you end up wasting quite a bit which isn't on when paying £££

XingMing I'm older too, and I do love Erborian foundation.

Loving all of this! Will be great going round the shops now looking at everything and comparing my notes

YSL do 7 day tester pots of their foundations. If they're unsure on your exact colour they'll give you 2 to try. Saves you £40 if you find you don't like it!

I wear loads of top end make up, Chanel foundation just bought and Bobbi brown, ysl mascara etc do love it but bought the most amazing lippy from primark recently 90p bought 4 more as spares it smells amazing & is moisturising and just lovely. Mix and match but get testers of foundation etc before you buy