What pricey beauty products are not worth it?

[Teadrinker11]

I don't mind paying for expensive products as long as you get what you pay for. From your experience what expensive products aren't worth how expensive they are, and why? I usually like Loccitane stuff but I got the verbena deodorant and it's useless, I'll be sticking to my usual Boots buys for deodorant.

@turnaroundtime apologies, you're right. I misread the article, they sold bourgois to Coty. Apparently they don't license their cosmetics.

But I can't see how they'd be at the cutting edge for cosmetics, Estée Lauder and L'Oréal are so much stronger in this market.

Probably everything I use and own. But I love high end cosmetics. Always have: worth it for me

@crazyjinglist

I'm not sure I agree with this, I do find with lipsticks and most eyeshadows you get far better pigment and the actual application process is far nicer

I think you could line up a whole row of women, with their make-up applied by the same person in the same way, but using expensive stuff on some of them and cheaper stuff on others and you wouldn't have a hope in hell of accurately guessing which was which. I'm not sure what you mean by the application process being nicer, but I'm pretty sure that on its own wouldn't be worth the price tag (to me at least!)

Also, with skin care beauty stuff it's well documented that cheap stuff like Aldi Lacura Caviar moisturiser and Nivea etc are just as good as the super high end stuff.

Sure it's nice to treat yourself to posh products in pretty packaging occasionally, but when there's so little actual difference in the effects it's not something I'd do regularly.

I completely disagree with you, I don't think personally that you are into make up because if you were you'd know there is a difference, and you'd understand what I mean by application process. Lipsticks, some cheaper lipsticks drag on the lips, or go patchy or you cannot reapply without the lipstick going crusty. Eyeshadow, some don't blend out, don't show up, leave huge flakes all over your face, have no pigment so need layers and layers. Blusher, some cheap ones are all glitter and no actual cour, are hard as rock so can't be used easily, are orange toned. Middle to top end brands are usually better, do the job they say and if they don't actually work are discontinued. Obviously some are crap but the majority are good.

Oh God yes @turnaroundtime! 8 hour cream, the magazines used to rave about it. Got some, thought it was terrible! Smells quite nice but just sort of sat on top of my lips. Dreadful stuff.

I also hated Too Faced foundation, tried Born this way and the peach one. They sort of broke apart on my face, we’re yellow and has zero staying power. I find Benefit foundation rubbish as well, always goes so orange, apart from their Playstix, which of course they discontinued 😠

Charlotte Tilbury flawless foundation or something like that made me look like a corpse.
8 hour cream - never understood its appeal either.
What is underrated is Dermalogica. No fancy packaging or tv adverts, decent sized products that last for ages and they work.
Sudocrem is also underrated. It covers a multitude of issues and one pots lasts years.

Facelifts - they fucking hurt - you are puffy for the next 8 months - then have 3 years of looking amazing then you realise you need another one. And did I mention it fucking hurts ! Oh and it's chugging expensive too.

@BusterGonad definitely
I'm not saying that all cheap stuff is crap and all expensive stuff is good
Elf bite size eyeshadows are amazing, and I don't like Chanel ones
I know if I buy an ABH eyeshadow palette or a Pat mcgrath one it will be consistently good
I like lipstick Queen lipsticks and stila
Foundation my favourite is cheap but discontinued

I want eyeshadows to be pigmented, blend out well and also into each other, not be too firm and the colour to be true

@jackfrosttoes

Olaplex was rubbish except the oil which I was moaning about as rubbish when using per instructions and my hairdresser advised to slap on overnight and that does something. But there are lots of overnight conditioning hair oils out there.

Agreed, I find my hair is greasy after washing with Olaplex shampoo and conditioner and can never get on with Olaplex no.3 that is a holy grail for a lot of people

Crème de la Mer. If you like the texture you might as well buy Nivea. There's no difference.

After barely doing any skincare and make-up most of my life, I went a bit nuts in the last couple of years - done both budget and high end stuff. I've consistently found cheaper SPF nicer than more expensive stuff. Whereas 'why wash down all ££ down the sink' - my favourite cleansers are more high end, although also didn't care for many other expensive cleansers too.

On social media everyone will have different opinion on what's worth and not worth it, sometimes I do wish people had ability to discuss what product is right for which person's preferences. My skin will be the same and fine if I don't put moisturiser on it for days, someone's else skin will go beef jerky - our opinions may differ on La Mer worthiness. There are definitely people who really enjoy La Mer and would resent implication that it's because they are too vain and stupid to appreciate budget stuff.

That said my biggest surprise disappointment was probably Lisa Eldridge lipsticks. It sounded as though her lipsticks were universally raved about, right and left, for being the nicest matte. Velvet Myth (dark berry colour) left a patchy look rapidly that I don't have with any of my other darker lipsticks that fade gracefully. Every time I have it on I get self conscious and want to go to bathroom to rub out that patchy cracked look and apply generous dose of lip balm. I don't have it this bad with M.A.C retro matte!

Lol at comment above about cat bum lips when using liquid lipsticks - my exact experience.

I was expecting to see some difference after Olaplex (No.3+5+6) and not sure I did see any ( fine+brittle hair but not bleached here).

Overpriced product I expected to hate but actually enjoy: Estee Lauder ANR.

[quote Takenoprisoner]@BusterGonad

What brands would you recommend for lipsticks and eyeshadows? Tia.[/quote]
Well, for me I like Shiseido eyeshadow quads, you usually get 2 mattes and 2 slightly shimmery ones. The pigment is good in a sheer to build able way. I also love love love Chanel quads, I have to be honest I've not purchased any Chanel quads in about 5 years (since they've had a revamp) but I've always found the colours and shimmers so nice. Obviously some quads are better than others. Most of my Chanel quads are at my mums as I'm living abroad and couldn't take everything. At the moment I have 226 Tisse Rivoli which are peachy, taupe plumy browns. All 4 are iridescent. Slight shimmer but a grown up shimmer. My favourite Shiseidos are Hanatsubaki Street NightLife 06 2 mattes one putty pink and one plummy pink, 2 satin/micro shimmer one mauve pinky purple and one dark aubergine. I also love Kotto Street Vintage 05 also 2 mattes pale beige and Hazel nut brown 2 shimmers/satin in rich brown and plummy brown. The final one is all soft shimmer. Platinum Street Metals 02, I wasn't sure about this one but I love it. Its nice dor evenings out. White, silver muted silver/taupe and a rich brown. I also rate Lunasol but I think its only available in Asia! My favourite lipstick ever was Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet in 39. I really rate Cliniques rouge pop lipsticks too. Very comfortable for everyday wear. Mac can be hit and miss, the mattes are so dry but the amplified and satin are nice, I also love the By Terry Ombre Black Star eyeshadow pens, they are beautiful but do go soft if you live in a hot country!

Just to add, I'm very traditional in my make up, I don't do cut creases, or wear fake lashes, I don't contour, I wear my eyeshadow by using dark shades in my crease, highlight my brow bone and inner corners and using the medium shades on my eyelid, so maybe a late 90s way? So my recommendations are for make up that achieves this.

MAC woodwinked is an eyeshadow I buy over and over (I've been through 4!!) because the colour is lovely and the finish

Esteé Lauder Double Wear foundation.
Too heavy and thick, it also made parts of my face look dirty. I tried blending with a damp sponge which made application easier but it just felt horrid and dry on me. {I have quite oily skin too!}

I have tried some CT products..I love the eyeshadow pot I have, but the lipstick was not that impressive. Overpriced for what it is.

Also I've recently purchased 3 Lancome lipsticks in the black Friday sale, L'absolu Rouge matte which is nice but not as good as I was expecting in formulation but I'd still repurchase as the smell is beautiful as is the colour (Berry Noir) and 2 L'absolu Rouge Ruby Cream, these are quite thick but look lovely and feel good. I've only tried them at home though. I do purchase drug store too. Bourjois lipsticks are always nice, Pupa do great eyeshadows, very soft with soft shimmer to them, Canmake is a Japanese brand and 99% of their products are great especially the eyeshadows and cream blushers, and a Korean brand called Skinfood do the most lovely bmushers/lip tint in little tins!

Charlotte Tilbury mascara was the worst I even had. Just panda 🐼 eyes constantly.

@MaybeHeIsMyCat

MAC woodwinked is an eyeshadow I buy over and over (I've been through 4!!) because the colour is lovely and the finish

I have 2 Mac X 9 palettes, Burgundy and Amber, I do like them but some shades are hit and miss but it wouldn't stop me buying the Rose x 9 if I came across it on my travels.

@ItsSunnyOutside

Esteé Lauder Double Wear foundation. Too heavy and thick, it also made parts of my face look dirty. I tried blending with a damp sponge which made application easier but it just felt horrid and dry on me. {I have quite oily skin too!}

I have tried some CT products..I love the eyeshadow pot I have, but the lipstick was not that impressive. Overpriced for what it is.

You could try Lancome teint idole, more of a soft satin finish and you don't need to be super quick in application. I have it and it's okay even for my dry skin.

Clarins bain au plants shower and bath gel- the blue one- was a gift so I persisted with it. Awful smell- like lathering up in Paxo.

I follow Robert Welch on YouTube and he gives things like expensive v cheap or tik tok hype trials. It's fascinating and he's not always plumping for the expensive product . He loathes Gucci bronzer.

I agree that Creme de la Mer is unremarkable. I had a mini pot and it was meh. However, Elemis skincare is totally worth it and the best I've ever used.

I also agree about Jo Malone perfume- cologne is very weak and I don't know how they justify the cost.

I like ct lipsticks for the colours but Mac go on nicer.
Love the ct hollywood flawless filter. The eyeshadows are meh. Love the bronzer/contour. Its spendy but the pan is huge(and refillable)
Used cheap moisturisers for years but started to use Elemis pro collagen and its amazing. It has definately softened my fine lines.
By far the best product I use is the Superdrug naturally radiant glycolic toner. It makes my skin glowy. Far better than the Pixi one.

I do like advanced night repair and Elemis pro collagen too, I've spent far too much on several brands over the last year and I do come back to them.

I did try some Clinique face creams as friend got a big discount on them....yuk....all very greasey....did nothing....not super expensive but a waste of money.

I like Chanel lipstick, but I knew about Bourjois years ago. Always liked their stuff, and I’ve kept all my old Bourjois as it’s no longer available here (ROI). Got some good deals when the chemists were flogging it off.

I liked YSL products, years ago. But I found the Fake Lash to be great on first application, but the tube dried out so quickly. It’s a Saturday night mascara, so I only got a few wears (and I went out a lot back then!). Waste of money...

I’ve always loved l’Occitane. But recently? Meh! I like Rituals now.

I do wish the old Body Shop would come back...