Save money, or buy aaallll the makeup? That is a question I ask myself probably way too often.
When you follow as many beauty blogs and watch as many YouTube videos as I do, it’s hard to not have a giant makeup wishlist! In fact, I have a giant memo on my phone right now of things that I want.
It’s a problem.
A lot of the time, the things I want are on the pricier end, and it’s hard to know whether it’s worth the money or not.
I dug through my collection to look at some of my more high end items to see which ones are worth their high price tag, and I definitely found a few!
1. Clarisonic Mia ($99)
I will always splurge on my skin, because when your skin is well taken care of, your makeup always looks better, and you also feel better with less makeup on!
My all-time favorite skin care purchase of all time has to be my Clarisonic Mia ($99).
Ya, it’s hard to fork out the money, but I’ve had mine for years and years, and it’s still going strong! After I wash my face using my Clarisonic, it feels sooo clean and soft. Nothing else makes my skin feel as good as this does. Totally worth the money.
All foundations are different, but some just work so much better than others. The drugstore does have a couple of awesome foundations that I love, but for the most part, higher end foundations just seem to work better.
2. Chanel Vitalumière Aqua Ultra-Light Skin Perfecting Sunscreen Makeup Broad Spectrum SPF 15 ($48)
When I got married a few years ago, I wanted to find the perfect foundation for my wedding day, and I found Chanel Vitalumière Aqua ($48).
It’s the most gorgeous foundation I have ever owned. When you blend it into the skin, it actually just looks like you’ve got beautiful skin. It doesn’t look like makeup; it’s crazy.
I don’t have this one in my collection at home too often just because of the price tag, but when I do, I fall in love with it all over again.
3. NARS Sheer Glow Foundation ($45)
My second favorite splurge-worthy foundation is NARS Sheer Glow ($45).
Don’t let the name fool you, though. It’s not sheer, and it’s not that glowy. It’s a medium-to-full coverage formula with more of a satin than a glowing finish, but it’s amazing.
When I’m having some issues with my skin (hello, pregnancy acne), or I just want an extra flawless face that day, I go for the Sheer Glow.
4. Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Complete Coverage Concealer ($28)
A couple of months ago, I found my holy grail, all-time favorite concealer, and thank goodness it happened when it did because I was so sick of trying concealer after concealer looking for something, anything, to hide the darkness under my eyes.
My makeup prayers were answered when I gave Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Complete Coverage Concealer ($28) a try.
Let me explain… It has a super thin texture, but it also has the most amazing coverage, and once you blend it into the skin, you don’t even know that it’s there! It’s pretty trippy.
When you set it with a powder, there is absolutely no creasing or moving around. I use a lighter shade under my eyes, and also a shade that matches my skin tone to cover any spots, and it works amazingly for both.
I don’t think I’ll ever stop buying it!
5. Urban Decay All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray ($30)
There are so many makeup setting sprays out there. I can’t even count how many. But the only one that has ever made a difference in the longevity of my makeup is the Urban Decay All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray ($30).
Not only does it make your makeup last all day, but it immediately makes a difference in the way your makeup looks. When you spray it on, it sets down any powdery residue sitting on top of your skin and just makes everything look a lot more natural.
I never do a bride’s makeup without setting her face with this because I can leave and feel confident that nothing is going to smudge or move around, and she’ll look perfect throughout the night.
What are your favorite products that hurt your wallet a little bit, but you still can’t help but buy them over and over again?
Lancôme Definicils Precious Cells mascara. I can’t live without it. I’ve tried and I always go back to it. but man, it’s pricy!!
I love Marc Jacobs’s Re(marc)able Full Coverage Foundation. I’ve been meaning to stop by Sephora for a new foundation. The NARS foundation is on my list.
Foundation is also a product I splurge on because high-end ones just look better on me! I think the YSL Touche Eclat Le Teint foundation is worth every penny, although I’m still using the 2015 formula. Givenchy Le Rouge lipstick is also worth the expense if you ask me!
– Clinique Take the Day Off makeup remover oil; it’s like $18 a bottle! I love it for removing my mascara/eye makeup and matte lippies. Even the little mini-size is $9. Eeek.
– I also splurge on the IT CC+ Your Skin But Better cream, that’s pretty much exclusively my base of choice. $38 a tube. -.-
– I looove the Clinique Cheek Pop blushes and have five of the colors so far. They are something like $21 a piece.
– BECCA Luminous Blush in Blushed Copper. At the time I bought it, it was limited edition and $38. It was a HUGE splurge for me as I was finishing up my last semester of grad school. I think now that its a permanent part of the line, it’s slightly cheaper but still over $30.
– Most favorite splurge of all are my NARS Audacious lipsticks! I have four so far. I want to get more, but at $32 a pop I can’t bring myself to press “Place Order” no matter how many times I add one or two or four to my cart. ^_^
I have a whole Pinterest board dedicated to my wish list, and recently had to split it in Beauty and Skincare, because it was getting too overwhelming…
Oh yeah, that UD spray is the best setting spray for sure, totally worth it! I already have a Clarisonic but I’m thinking about getting the Clinique sonic cleansing brush…
I’m with you on the UD setting spray all the way. Nothing else comes close! I’m also a complete Anastasia Beverly Hills devotee when it comes to brows. Not cheap for a little pot or a teeny pencil – but I repurchase every time!
Beekeyper – Latest – Places to stay on Nosy Be, Madagascar
I always splurge on my skin and usually any base and powder product!
Too bad we can’t just buy aaallll the makeup instead. 🙁
AAAAAALLLLL the makeup!! And skincare!! And AAAALLLL things beauty!! OK – I’m calm now. HA! Seriously, though, there are some things that I’ve found to be worth the splurge, too. TOTALLY agree with you about Urban Decay’s Naked Skin concealer. I always thought that to truly conceal, that concealer had to be a thick cream – till I tried this. The finish it leaves is flawless, and completely undetectable. 28 bucks? Pffft! Worth every penny and then some! MAC Pro Longwear Waterproof Eyebrow Set – neat, tamed brows in a tube – actually less expensive than some other brands at 17.00. Bare Minerals 5 in 1 Cream Eyeshadows – a perfect base or stand alone shadow that lasts all day & has some SPF for lids – a bargain at 19.00. Epionce Medical Barrier Cream, which I use every single night and lots of days too – keeps moisture in & bad stuff out, which for me means clearer skin without breakouts. I own a Clarisonic but very seldom use it.I’ve had it for about 8 or 9 years, I’m 52 now, and if I started to use the thing religiously again I’m pretty sure my face would fall off or something. Urban Decay Revolution lipsticks in Liar, Sheer Liar(yup, they’re different),Rush and Strip. Although now they’re Vice lipsticks and there are 100 freaking shades! I finally saw them yesterday in person and purposely did not take any of mine with me so I couldn’t start comparing. If they’re different, I may lose my mind. No, really.
Forgot – the Epionce cream comes in two sizes – I always buy the larger one at 46.00.
Anastasia Brow Gel .. I know $22 for a brow gel is .. ridiculous! But it’s the Best!
Monica
Amen to the Clarisonic and the Vitalumiere Aqua! The foundation is worth every penny! My skin glows and in the good way, not the oily way. Sometimes I just sit there and stare after I put it on due to the difference with it and without it. For me, the other splurge worthy items are Guerlain meteorites and Chanel Les Beiges #50 bronzer. Kevin Aucoin Celestial Skin Liquid Lighting is worth it, too, but I only wear it on special occasions. It’s your perfect highlighter but just that subtle good skin kind of look, not that sparkly, shimmer look.