Is there any difference between cheap and expensive cosmetics? What do you spend more money on? What basic brands are better than anything else?

[LaviniaLee]

Are more expensive cosmetics (e.g. shampoo, conditioner, moisturiser, makeup) worth the extra money, do you think?

I often wonder how much of it is about branding, and whether there is not much difference between cheap and expensive stuff. Maybe it's made in the same factories with the same ingredients? Is E45 moisturising cream as good as anything else?

I tend to buy standard brands and I like them. However,I do pay for expensive mascara (because it's the only one I can find that doesn't smudge and washes off easily), and primer.

I have bought a few high-end leave-in conditioners from the hairdresser (thinking it will address all my frizz problems ), but I'm not sure if they make much difference.

If you think expensive brands are better for some things, what are they?

If you think a cheap standard brand is the best thing around, what is it?

Superdrug Vitamin E range is fabulous!!

I do, and I'm really religious with it, which I feel really limits my options to the more purse friendly brands (nothing wrong with that).

Skincare - the ordinary.

Body - superdrug body creams in the big tubs, and I also use their aqueous cream. Washing wise, I love soaps. Probably have an unhealthy obsession with them and I have way too many bars.

Hair - I'm a curly, so I use innersense products. I do always struggle for a quality shampoo/conditioner, but my hair loves the aldi volume option in the blue bottle. Has protein in it.

Make up - I don't wear much, but generally use elf.

Haircare - can’t beat Tresemme shampoo and conditioner and I have used everything there is for hair! My teenage daughter has learnt that young.

Skincare - needs to be prescription strength retinol (tretinoin) and azelaic acid from Skin + Me or their new brand And Begin. Vitamin C from Skinceuticals or The Ordinary powdered version into my moisturiser. Love balm cleansers and SPF 50 every morning.

Cosmetics - I covet Hourglass (sparkle eyeshadows amazing and have a new lipgloss which tingles nicely on my lips) and Chantecaille. Urban Decay for a bit of funk!

Drunk Elephant I am over to be honest. No fragrances or pleasure in using any of their products and even the founder has said that the 7/8 ingredients it was built on not including was marketing rubbish. They are relaying on teenage kids picking it up now which is irresponsible given how strong some of the skincare is with AHA acids etc.

Love Sol de Janeiro body creams and By Terry rose lipgloss is insanely expensive but the only thing that stops my lips drying out.

Diptique for lovely candles but only get one at Xmas as again v expensive.

Go through phases with Chanel. It’s beautifully packaged but not sure how science it is really. It’s a treat to use tho.

Spend more money on

Foundation
Mascara

The best moisturer for my skin is £60. But I can't afford that so use similar substitute ehivh is £2.

Its a case of shopping around and using samples. My friend is very much into make up and she would know what the best make up is ... high end or high street. She is really into watching SM reviews and trying it from beauty counter.

I no longer wear daily make up due to a skin condition.

Gosh I can go on! Molton Brown handwash and shower gel is lovely and I know they spend a lot of money on their fragrances and I can always tell. Again an occasional luxury. Body lotion I am less fussed by and slap it on but I do like that estee lauder one with the little beads that pop open in it. Chanel perfume is classic and you can’t beat Chanel Allure. Never spend much money on mascara or eye liner as can’t tell the difference. A high street mascara is fine. Challenge to someone to convince me otherwise! Foundation still haven’t found my go to brand. Have used number 7 for years. Dabbled in chantecaille but am off to find the recent foundation thread here for inspiration.

Ha lol. Cross post. The two things I struggle to justify spending money on are mascara and foundation. Have used loads of mascaras over the years and honestly cannot tell the difference between Chanel, VB, number 7 and Maybelline etc. But wiling to be convinced otherwise. Ditto foundation.

I find high street Mascara is more irritating but high end is less so, but in terms of longer lashes or eyelash affect your going for.. High street is good or in some cases better. Maybe its my sensitive skin.

There is a big difference in foundation especially if your coloured person. The high street does not have the pigmentation range. If you want more flawless look then high end is better. Mac is the best for me.

I do beauty advent calendars every year so I get to try a lot of products and I can't believe the difference in quality. Stuff I love includes Liz Earle cleanser and exfoliater, Benefit make up (mascara, blushers and eyebrow products, concealer), Clinique tinted moisturiser and moisture surge. Stuff I started buying in my 20s that still works great years later.

Like others I like Aveda and Living Proof but not convinced hair products make much difference unless you're a blonde and get it coloured or have curly hair. Bumble and bumble and opalex do naff all for me. Make up I've been disappointed by but have spent a fortune on - Charlotte Tilbury. Drunk elephant, Tatcha and living proof I've tried samples and don't rate. I do like origins but depends what it is.

Cheaper brands like the ordinary I just don't like. Soap and glory. Everything is so drying. Make up I just wouldn't buy cheaply anymore. L'Oreal lipsticks can be fine. But generally I wear Mac. I used to love Topshop lipsticks. They were just as good.

Love Mac lipsticks too. Liz Earle cloth cleanser is good. Am preferring cleansing balms now tho am getting older. Benefit I do like their hoola bronzing powder and their primer. Mascara is ok. Always get excited but never keeps me loyal.

Living Proof is good but Tresemme is just as good and miles cheaper. It’s both Unilever. I prefer K18 mask to Olaplex. Is more up to date tech and Olaplex is a big hype as far as I can see.

Charlotte Tilbury, Tatcha and Drunk Elephant I also don’t get. How can they have been so successful? Origins have some nice products like masks etc.

Honestly I've tried so hard with Charlotte Tilbury. I didn't get what everyone loved so I tried a lot of products. I must've spent almost 350 and it just doesn't work. It's all so red toned. I don't know how that can be flattering on anyone. The eyes to mesmerise in champagne is fine. As is the cream blusher. The mascara, air brush filter, luxury pallette and eye shadow sticks are totally overpriced for what they are.

Agree. Never been tempted. It’s a great marketing train. Try Hourglass. Their scattered light sparkle eyeshadows are superb. Reflect and Ray are my go tos for a good eye day ! Got their new lipgloss in Haze which is also lovely. Packaging just so nice. And have their concealer sticks too with their applicator brush.

I'll try it, thanks for the heads up. Same with sunday riley (confused it earlier with living proof). It costs a fortune and I see no difference from using it.

You’re welcome! I have insomnia. Sunday Riley I have tried. Their serums smell weird and makes no difference. Their glycolic acid is ok. But now I use prescription tretinoin and azelaic acid from skin + me and their new brand and begin for older skin.

To be honest I don't even know what skincare I really need. I only really like the Liz earle cleanser and I vary moisturiser. The Elemis marine cream seems fine but expensive and fairly heavy so I tend to use Clinique more often.

Makeup is a very individual thing. I've tried a lot of the fancy, expensive things that people rave about and had terrible experiences with them (I'm looking at you, Tarte Shape Tape 😑), and found some amazing cheap products on the high street that I will buy until I die (Maybelline Instant Anti-Age Eraser concealer!)

Skincare is a bit different. The higher-end things do feel different, but I find I can get away with investing in some high-end products, and then buying other things cheaper to get an overall good outcome. Korean skincare products are on another level and are usually cheaper.

What I tend to do is buy one (or two...) of the expensive beauty advent calendars each year then work my way through those to get an idea of what works for me and doesn't work for me. For example, I discovered my hair HATES Olaplex, and expensive balm cleansers don't do anything more than the £10 e.l.f. one does. But no other exfoliating toner comes close to the Paula's Choice one, and La Roche-Posay moisturisers perform miracles for my skin.

I agree it's highly product specific, I can absolutely love a product from a brand but dislike or even have a reaction to their other things. Unfortunately it's a lot of trial and error...

@jamrolypolyandcustard I think I got the Missha Ampoule direct from Missha EU but I'll have a look through my emails.

I was watching a Nadine Baggott Instagram video over Christmas with her mate Jo Jones, and they were talking about products (obvs) and NB mentioned that JJ's "girls" were now using actives. Out of curiousity I looked JJ up and her daughters are young teens. Unless we're talking a bit of salicylic in a spot treatment (and I got the distinct impression we weren't) that's an appalling message to be giving out, but sadly, I think it's not uncommon, especially as you say with ranges like DE.