Let's face it, having a bad makeup habit can get really expensive really fast. Even if you're just an occasional makeup user, it's almost dramatic at how quickly the bill can rack up. I own quite a collection of expensive products, but I've slowly come to realize that even the ones I consider to be worth the price tag does not necessarily translate into worth the investment. A product has to be more than 'really really good' and goes beyond the simple rationale of 'worth the price' for me to justify me telling others that it's worth investing in. I've grouped up several products that I've repeatedly recommended to my friends when they've asked for my opinion on things that are worth investing in.
The first one will come as no surprise. I have lost count of the times I've recommended the MAC 217(£19) to people. Yes, there are a lot of dupes and alternatives out there - I've even written about them before. But while those brushes are good, I find that they just don't perform nor hold its shape as well as the original. £19 is a steep price to pay for one eyeshadow brush, but I've had mine for near 4 years now and it's still going strong. Plus, this is really the only brush you need for eyeshadow application.
While we're on the topic of eyes, the NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base(£19.50) is the one primer you need if you have extremely oily eyelids. Creasing, fading, transfer, all those pesky problems that you have with eyeshadow can and will be eliminated by this primer. The transparent nature of the formula means that it can be used across all skin tones. I have a handful of eyeshadow primers, but I'm always reaching for this one by NARS when I know that it's going to be a hot/sweaty/humid/long/(enter your own adjective here) day.
I've harped on and on about the NARS Tinted Moisturizer(£29) since getting it last summer and I know this is going to be one of those love affairs that will go down in my makeup history. This has the coverage of a light-coverage foundation and just enough moisturising functions for me to skip my normal moisturiser during the warmer months. Armed with SPF30 and a travel friendly packaging, this base is all you need year-round and can also be your travelling companion. I am not kidding when I say that I've practically ditched all my other bases in favour for this one.
Being a concealer fiend, the Make Up For Ever Full Cover Concealer(£21) basically terminated my search for the perfect concealer. The full coverage claims to this concealer is real - I've used it for spot concealing, but it can also be used as an under eye concealer. The price tag for this might seem steep, but when considering the tiny amount used each time to achieve the desired results, I would say that this is probably more price efficient than a lot of cheaper concealers. Also, waterproof claims? I've tested it in swimming pools, scuba diving, and against the thrashes of waves - while I haven't tested it against a good cry session, I think it's safe to claim that it will hold up over a good cry or just those hot, humid summer days.
Last but not least, while fragrances are more finetuned to personal preferences but the Chloe EDT(£62/50ml) is one that you should keep on your radar if you're looking for a new fragrance. I have a whole review on this fragrance, but in short, it's one that can be paired with your evening gown, or just enough to add some sophistication to t-shirt and denim shorts during the day. The lasting power is also insane - my skin holds fragrance insanely well, so I can't be used as a standard. But my friend said that this perfume lasted up to 12 hours on her and it was still faint after she took a shower.
While normal people don't throw their money at beauty products the way I do, it's hard to argue that makeup can be a slippery slope in terms of expenses. Not all good quality things are expensive, but there are truly ones that are worth investing in as once you have these products, you can pretty much qualm all the other products in said category. What are some of the products you think are worth investing in?
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