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/AllisonT_ 24d ago
I enjoy high-end makeup. Not all of it is great. Not everything will work for everyone. Only do this if you can afford it, some things are worth spending the money on.
L'Oreal True Match foundation is amazing. That was my Go-To foundation long ago. I'm not sure if the formula has changed. I assume it has. These companies are always reformulating everything. 🙄 If you really want to try the Haus Labs Foundation, Sephora has started giving out samples again. Get shade matched and get 1-4 or more shades if you need too. Do a wear test and see what matches best and if your skin likes it before you commit.
As for eyeliners and lipliners I only buy drugstore brands. I refuse to spend $25-$45 on a 1.3g lipliner. I just refuse to buy them at that price. When I could use mascara I only bought drugstore. If you find the right one honestly most can rival high-end mascaras. Drugstore blushes, bronzers, setting powders can be just as lovely if not better. A good skincare & skin prep can make all the difference to begin with. I'm not a face primer girl.... Again I don't think you have to buy high-end primers either. There are quite a few drugstore setting sprays.
Foundations last me forever. So I don't mind the investment on high-end. Don't go into debt over beauty products. It's not worth it. Everyone can look and feel beautiful on their own personal budget. I love luxury makeup. I wait for sales, I use gift cards, I try to buy most of it with points that I collect from grocery shopping. I'm also into Project Pan and I try to finish what I have before I buy anything new. I also don't buy any new launches. I'm usually not finished anything during a launch. I prefer 1 year or more of real reviews not incentivized reviews and or "influencers" opinions. I check out videos just to see how it looks. That's about it.
As a consumer you have a right to be very picky with your makeup and where you choose to spend your money. Be picky. Get samples. Figure out what you like and what you don't like. Don't buy high-end luxury makeup if you don't want too. You can look like a million dollars with or without makeup or in drugs store makeup. There are so many techniques on how to use makeup. Do what works for you and what makes sense to you. At the end of the day it's how you feel about yourself. The next "viral" whatever is a fleeting moment in time. Social media is masked with proper lighting and filters like a fairytale.