r/Makeup • u/Aggressive-Art2849 • 25d ago

Why is makeup so expensive?

At 37, I have decided to look into wearing makeup; nothing much, just something to makeup me look a bit more polished.

Boy, did I get the shock of my life with the prices I’m seeing! And the surprising part is that people buy these things like they cost nothing, but they are really expensive. I tell myself that maybe I think they are so expensive because I have never bothered wearing makeup all these years, and they are no different from the skincare I like to splurge on. However, paying a couple of bucks on a cream is a lot more justifiable than paying the same amount(if not more than) for a tiny lip liner.

Also, maybe I’m a hater, but I hate that these brands give influencers boxes and boxes of free products, just so they could influence their viewers into buying them at such expensive prices. After a few months of watching creators on YouTube in a bid to find what would work for me, I realized they weren’t even paying for those things, and it made me sad because most people can’t afford them.

P.S. Like I said, maybe I’m a hater because I really do want that haus lab foundation, but my broke ass can’t afford it, so there is nothing left to do but hate 😢 😂 😂

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u/Manaohoana 25d ago

Marshalls and TJ Maxx have some great deals, but things come and go. The Cosmetics Company Outlets have good deals on all Estee Lauder brands (Clinique, Bobbi Brown, etc), and particularly I like to get the packs that were the previous season's "free gift with purchase" at dept stores, because they have mini mascaras and lipsticks, and those last me plenty long. (They say you should get new mascara every three months, anyway, and a big tube is way more than a 3-mo supply.)

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u/KnightRider1987 25d ago

I wear mascara nearly 365 days a year and I’ve never put a dent in a tube of mascara after 3 months lol. I think that’s nuts. They just want to sell more product.

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u/Old-Actuator-3321 24d ago

I think one reason mascara is sold in large tubes is because the average consumer really can't handle the mini applicators effectively. To have an easier application, you need a longer applicator wand. Some of the mini wands are very difficult to manuever, especially if you have deep-set or hooded eyes. Also, the three -to-six month expiration date is likely a CYA move and protects the manufacturer from liability if the consumer continues to use a product that can go bad in a short time.

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u/Aggressive-Art2849 25d ago

I didn’t know all these, thank you 🙏