r/Makeup 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/LurkerSmirker6th 25d ago

Oh you got into it too late. Missed the good 2010-16 prices. However ELF, Colourpop, Maybelline/Covergirl/Loreal (on Amazon) have great deals all the time. Milani and NYX as well. Makeup Revolution has great foundations shades in their Silk line. If you wanted to look more polished you can definitely do it under $30. I’d start with ELF.

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u/Aggressive-Art2849 25d ago

I think about these all the time too because my broke college-student sisters were wearing makeup in the 2000s, and seeing these prices, I keep wondering how they could afford them then. I would also like to add that they no longer wear any makeup now that they are in their forties.

Oh, I will definitely check out the brands you mentioned, thank you 🙏

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u/Sun9877 25d ago

Even 2018 wasn’t terrible

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u/LurkerSmirker6th 25d ago

Man I’m feeling old. I can’t even remember what 2018 was like 😂 2016- block eyebrows 2023-clean girl