One of the things I really did not understand as an early makeup user was that there was a difference in “drugstore” and “high-end” makeup. Growing up, I played with the makeup my mom or sister had and copied what they did. I didn’t get why department stores in the mall would have icky tubes of lipstick out for people to touch (it seemed so dirty), and I most certainly did not understand why you would buy a lipstick from Macy’s for $20 dollars when you could get the same one for a few dollars at Wal-Mart.

I know it may seem silly to explain that, yes, there is a difference, but since I had no idea or didn’t know why it would matter until college, there maybe someone else out there thinking the same thing – especially since these two words are thrown around constantly in the beauty community and if you are just starting out, then this is a little guide to clue you in!

Drugstore

When talking about “drugstore” makeup, beauty influencers are typically referring to two things: price and availability. This is the makeup that is easily available at most big-box retail chains, such as Target or Wal-Mart, as well as actual drugstores like CVS and Walgreens etc. You can also potentially find drugstore brands at discount or dollar stores as well. These are the big, common name brands like Maybelline or L’Oréal. Honestly, growing up I had no idea there were brands OUTSIDE of these big drugstore companies. I thought what you saw in the makeup aisle of the grocery store was literally all the existed – and man am I so happy I was wrong.

As mentioned, besides availability, drugstore makeup is almost always considered affordable*. You can very easily grab a few new things on a typical shopping trip to Target without majorly breaking the bank (unless you are like me and have zero chill). Products can range anywhere from a dollar for eye pencils to $15 bucks for a foundation, but very rarely will you find a single product for over $20 dollars at the drugstore.

*I’ve noticed some debate in the beauty community that drugstore makeup brands are increasing their prices due to the new increase of product variety in order to compete with high-end brands. Also, many stores offer retail exclusive brands such as Pixi to Target and Flower Beauty to Wal-Mart, which, while still affordable, can be a little pricier when compared to other brands.*

High-End

High-end makeup, therefore, contrasts drugstore in both price and availability. These are the pricey pieces of makeup that you often have to go out of your way to get your hands on. While you won’t find these brands at your local Wal-Mart, you’ll instead find them at chains that specifically sell only beauty products like Sephora and Ulta (Ulta carries both drugstore and high-end), as well as department stores and TV shopping networks like QVC. This is the stuff that you may feel the need to justify buying for yourself ($40 dollars for a foundation?!), which explains the testers! This is very much why these stores put out sample products, because if you are going to be spending the cost of a tank of gas on a concealer, you better know for sure that it is going to be your color.

Luxury Makeup???

Bonus door number 3 – luxury makeup! Maybe people would lump this into high-end, but I think that luxury is its own category. This is the makeup with a HEFTY might-not-pay-the-rent-on-time, type of price tags. I’m talking like… $50 dollars for a blush and $100-$200 dollars for an eyeshadow palette. These are companies that often have pretty recognizable, designer names like Marc Jacobs or Dior, and are sold strictly at higher end stores like Sephora, Nordstrom and other department stores.

Gray Area???

There are many brands that have the availability (or quality) of a high-end brand, but with a drugstore price. Meaning – affordable products that can be hard to get your hands on. Very often they are exclusive to their own websites or just a few select retailers. One great example of this is the brand Colourpop! If you’re familiar with the youtube and instagram worlds of beauty, you’ll know how beloved Colourpop is as a company and how raved about their products are, but that is separate post for a different time! Other examples include BH Cosmetics, TAM Beauty, Morphe etc.

So… What To Buy?

There are a few things to consider when deciding to stay at the drugstore or branch out into the world of high-end. One of those things is obviously your budget. You definitely do not, no matter what anyone tells you, need to go into debt to look the way you want to look. The drugstore has so many great options and so many great brands that there is no excuse to go broke when you do not want to or need to. However! If you have the money to spend, and there is a product that you’ve been lusting over, GO FOR IT!

Something else to consider is the quality of the product. Makeup is something that is going on your face, your lips, your eyes etc., and you want to make sure you are investing in products that won’t irritate or harm you in any way. Could this justify spending more money to get something better? Possibly! If you have really sensitive eyes and there is a high-end brand that makes eyeshadows that won’t make your eyes red, that might be worth the investment. But, don’t be fooled into thinking just because something is more expensive that it is better – you may very well just be paying for the name attached.

Be careful – don’t fall into the hype. So many brands know the power of the influencer: if you can get a beloved youtuber or instagramer to mention your product, that is one of the best ways to advertise to your consumer base. A future post I am so hoping to do is what to look for in a beauty review, because there are definitely some buzz words that can indicate if a product is worth it’s praise or not – but like I said, that’s another post.

If you are a drugstore makeup wearer looking to try and get into high-end makeup but don’t know where to start, I recommend spending your money on your must have essentials. What I mean by this is this – if you think that mascara is the ONE thing that can make or break your entire look, and you cannot leave the house without it, then try splurging on a higher priced mascara and see if you like the difference. For me, my essential is eyeshadow: I love big, bold eyeshadow looks and the first high-end makeup product I ever bought for myself was an eyeshadow palette. I personally think it was worth every penny, and helped me experiment with my look more and try new things. In that same breath – I have also splurged on very disappointing products that performed no better than drugstore items. Its all about trial and error, and personal preference.

(Make sure to save your receipts! If you splurge on an item, you have every right to return it if it disappoints you, and chains like Ulta or Sephora will take back used products within reason: like – don’t use half a bottle of foundation then decide you don’t like it, that’s being ridiculous)

So, to wrap up, which is better? Hard to say! Both high-end and drugstore have their advantages, and if you’re a makeup lover like me, you might just love both equally! There are treasures hidden away at the drugstore, at the department store, and at the indie websites! Its about using (and buying) what works for you personally, and I’m not here to tell you what to spend your money on, just to give some guidance as to what might be worth trying ya know?

Anyway, this is my first real blog post, and I hope I didn’t ramble on too much and my points came across okay! I am looking forward to making a lot more posts, whether anyone is reading or not, just have to try! Since its Monday when I am posting this – have a great rest of your week! Thanks for reading!

-Lacie ❤︎❤︎❤︎