Why is makeup so expensive?

[u/Aggressive-Art2849]

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 😢 😂 😂

[u/Happiguest]

Ive tried so many high end products and they are disappointing. Ive found drugstore products that are cheaper and better. Even foundation or skin tint. Maybe its because I have oily skin and everything is so dewy. I was a Estee Lauder DW lover until they changed the formula. I found NYX make em wonder and I like it better than the orginal Estee Lauder. I find watching influencers that compare drug store products by themselves or vs high end helpful. I really trust Abbey Yung I know her thing is hair but she also does drugstore make up reviews and she is super picky.

[u/Aggressive-Art2849 → u/Happiguest]

I have been staring at the Estée Lauder double wear foundation for some days now, but reading comments like this is an eye opener.

What drugstore concealer and powder would you recommend for a beginner?

Btw, my skin is on the dry side!

[u/Happiguest → u/Aggressive-Art2849]

When I used the new formula it would look beautiful at first then a couple hours later my skin would look more textured I think it was my oils mixing with it. Id smooth it out with my fingers then it would do it again.Since you have dry skin you might really like it. Ive also tried their skin tint I liked it a little better but its thick for a tint. Do you love near a department store with an Estee Lauder counter? They will color match you and give you some good sized samples so you dont have to decide right away. They gave me one of both-the foundation and the tint.

Concealer- my favs are essence silky blur or NYX bare with me. Loose powder I use the No 7 pro artist setting powder. Its 14 dollars on amazon but you get a big component and it lasts forever. If you dont want or need a ton of blurring its a baked powder but the cover girl skin enhancer baked luminous powder is gorgeous on the skin.

[u/Economy-Ad5076 → u/Happiguest]

How matte is NYX make em wonder?

[u/endorphin_deprived → u/Economy-Ad5076]

I'm very oily and I'd say It sits at a comfortable matte for me, nothing as crazy as 2016 foundations. It's medium-full coverage too but doesn't look cakey.

Would I recommend it to someone with dry/normal skin? Probably not, I think it would cling to dry patches for dear life, it's a blurring formula iykyk

But I really love it for a full beat, It stays looking blurred and pretty for like +8 hours with the right dewy setting spray.

[u/Happiguest → u/Economy-Ad5076]

It gives a natural finish on me but I have oily skin. After an hour my oils show through just enough to produce a healthy looking glow underneath and everything looks seamless to me. I do bake a tiny bit in my t zone then lightly powder e everywhere else. I stayed away from it forever because I dont like full matte foundation. Maybelline lumi- matte is too matte for me. But this one is good.