What high-street makeup items are as good as, or better, than their high-end counterparts?

[ChocAuVin]

Hello, wonderful Musnetters.

I’m looking to update my makeup bag – I have the desire to simply slash and burn and start from scratch…

…but before I just go to the Dior counter and ask the nice lady to fleece me out of a couple of hundred quid, I wondered if anyone here has any recs for decent items at a decent price that work as well?

Thank you

For me:-

Rimmel Match Perfection is a great conceal which adapts to your skin tone.
Maybelline Dream Matte Blush or boots collection they do a few shades, cloud was one.
Rimmel nude eyeliner is good
l’oreal double extend tubing mascara or L’Oréal lash paradise.

A garnier bb tinted moisturiser I bought and wore out, I was told by a sales makeup artist it looked very good on me.

Primark apparently do good makeup, not tried for a while but seems nice.

i still do have high end versions of all the above but apart from eg lipstick but as everything’s gone up lately including the cheaper versions then why not try them? Then you can decide which ones you prefer or not.

I do think certain things like EL double wear light foundation (now discounted) I’d buy again only because it’s so good.

Also, yes Dior products are lovely. I’ve used a few in recent years. It’s ok to get a couple of products you really like there and then rest maybe cheaper. That’s what I do now, mix and match.

Oh this is exactly what I was after! Thank you so much @Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain — I am too scared to try Primark makeup but I’m not sure why.

I’m definitely looking for a decent tubing mascara so I’ll get that one for a test run

It's trial and error really, everyone gets on with different products. It also depends what you're counting as high street and high-end. I get most of my makeup from places like Space NK and Cult Beauty which I guess is somewhere in between? I like Erborian BB cream, Hourglass concealer (pricey but genuinely worth it), Laura Mercier setting powder, NARs bronzer and the Milk stick blusher and contour. I don't think going to one brand and asking them to set you up will necessarily work, I like to mix and match as different brands do different products well.

If by high street you mean 'drugstore' I use very few of those products now. M&S can be surprisingly good, I discovered Eyeko Black Magic eyeliner in their advent calendar and it's fabulous. Not makeup, but their Formula Sleep Cream is excellent for night cream. Benefit They're Real Magnet mascara is good too, but does flake a bit.

I joined Beautypie for £60 and love nearly everything from there, most of it is very low cost but great quality. Bit hit and miss with their foundations is the only thing as I couldn't get one to match so still on stupidly expensive stuff for that one product.

Elf and Nyx are really cheap and good. I love the Eborian stuff. I love the Boots face cream in the green pot ?Botanics range??.

Eyeko mascara is available from M&S I think they have tubing mascara.

No 7 Matte foundation. Also many of the lipsticks.
Maybellline Tattoo eyeliner
Mac often has good discounts.

No7 matte foundation, lipsticks and eyebrow tinted gel. I stock up on everything when they have their 3 for 2 offers on.

Rimmel waterproof mascara.

I like Morphe colour pallets for eyeshadows, can get some absolute bargains if you keep an eye on sales/offers.

Following! X

Heimish mascara is tubing - fully tubing so it all comes off in plastic-y spidery bits rather than the half tubing half not that I have found some supposedly tubing mascaras are! I get it from Stylevana for about £6 or £7 as it's Korean I think but it takes a while to arrive and I've just seen than Superdrug do it too: https://www.superdrug.com/make-up/eye-makeup/eye-pencils/heimish-dailism-smudge-stop-mascara-curling/p/mp-00045469?gclsrc=aw.ds&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwpNuyBhCuARIsANJqL9NiQMVAIevThNMHsANmjhSCIwblxAliJIlSj1RzRBkjv4Hz_Y8ah9MaAo1vEALw_wcB

Rimmel Lasting Finish foundation. Essence soft and precise lip pencils. Essence Caring Shine lipstick / tint. Barry M nail varnishes.

NYX dewy setting spray.
Revolution setting sprays and concealer are good and cheap. £7 or £8.

Barry M for nail stuff.

I splash out on foundation and brow stuff but usually go budget for everything else.

Elf poreless liquid primer is very good for £10, also rate their eyebrow gel.

No7 hydraluminious foundation is excellent and their serum concealer is also good.

Nars bronzer, both cream and powder is most definitely worth the money. Laura Mercier translucent powder and the Huda pink toned loose powder is also worth it. Charlotte tilbury can be hit and miss I find but I really like their blushers and setting powder.

Kiko cosmetics also do excellent mascaras and quite often have offers on.

Elf waterproof khol eyeliner is better than Chanel

Can someone please explain what tubing mascara is? I have looked at it but I don't understand if I want it or not. 😄

Max factor masterpiece max mascara better than lancome, bobbi brown and chanel.

Tubing mascara is genius. Forms tubes around your eyelashes. It's waterproof but comes off with warm water alone - you can then see the tubes when they have come off.

Essence mascara is better than any of the high end ones I have used - I wear contact lenses and am a smudger but this doesn’t move. The one I like is called something like “bye bye panda eye”

I’m not an eyeshadow person but always do a single nude-y colour and like the Maybelline cream ones

I like the Nyx setting spray and Barry M gelly nail polishes

Not makeup but I switched to Inkey List for a lot of my skincare when counters were closed in the pandemic and never switched back!

Where I do spend and am happy to - foundation (Lisa Eldridge), blush (not that ££ but Glossier cloud paints), bronzer and eyebrow stuff (both Refy) and lipstick - I only wear red lipstick and generally favour Lisa Eldridge again, MAC, or Dior.

ELF O face lipstick is really good. I find it better then lip balms for stopping my lips drying out and it lasts for ages.
Also if you find some concealers too 'cakey' Id recommend Primarks My Perfect Colour concealer. It seems to blend better for me then more expensive brands.

Revolution makeup is great, as is elf and nyx.

Maybelline lip inks are amazing.

W7 do a lovely glowy primer... from B&M

Gosh makeup (danish brand) is beautiful, very high quality.

ELF products are almost all dupes of high end stuff, and just as good if not better.
Their little eyeshadow cream pots are dupes of Mac Paint pots and after trying them, I won't be buying Mac again.

Revolution is also excellent. The Pro CC pressed powder is the best I've ever used (including Chanel and Givenchy) it's about a tenner and has a satisfyingly clicky expensive sounding compact 😂

Essence mascaras as above - though they're not so good for volume, just length.

Agree re Hydraluminous and Erborian BB for more mid range things.

I’ve checked back on this thread tonight and it’s like the makeup fairies have visited me!

Thank you all. Loads of excellent recs here and has pointed me to things I’d never have found alone!