For most women wearing makeup is a part of life . The costs for various brands range from the low cost ($1.00 and up) to the high cost (over $30.00). Some cosmetics can cost over $100.00. That's a lot of money to spend on something that you put on your face for a few hours then wash off. So, what's the deal? Are the more expensive cosmetics better than the lower cost ones?
I have worn makeup for a long, long time. I have used low cost cosmetics as well as the higher cost ones. This is only my opinion, you have to make your own mind up, but I will share with you my thoughts.
Some of the higher end brands are very good, while others don't perform any better than the cheapest brands. Most of what I use is in the middle.
Here is a list of the items that as of today, I use and will repurchase because I like them:
(You will find multiple products in some categories. These are products I have used, like, and provides a choice in the event that I can't find a certain product.)
⦁ Tarte 360 Crease-proof eyelid primer - $20.00 at Sephora
(Just about the only eyelid primer that actually prevents creasing and "globbing" of eyeshadow on my eyelids. It also helps smooth creppy skin on eyelids. Lasts a long time because you only use a tiny amount to cover eyelids.)
⦁ Foundation Primer:
Maybeline Master Face primer (green formula) - $7.94 at Walmart.com
(The green formula neutralizes the red blotches on my pale older skin.)
Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer - $39 at Sephora or $36 at Ulta
(This is the best, but it is also the most expensive. Maybelline Master Face works good and is considerably less expensive.)
⦁ Foundation:
Revlon CC age-defying cream foundation - $12.88 at Walmart.com (Good) or
Covergirl and Olay Simply Ageless 3 in 1 liquid foundation - $12 at Walmart
(The best I have found so far. Creamy, smooth when applied with the beauty blender sponge and lasts a long time over the primer.)
⦁ Maybeline Lash Sensational - $6.94 at Walmart.com
⦁ Eyeshadow:
NYX matte trio eye shadows (not sure you can still get this) - $5.00 on-sale at Ulta
(Love these colors and they go on really smooth.)
Maybeline The Nudes palate eye shadows - $9.98 at Walmart.com
(12 colors: sands, bronzes, taupes; About half mattes and half shimmer. I don't do shimmer, it makes my eyes look older. So, if these were all mattes, I would love it. However, I do love the mattes that it does have.)
⦁ Wet'n Wild Brown Kohl eyeliner pencil - $.99 at Walgreens and Walmart stores
(I finally learned how to apply this and I love it. I am not a liquid eyeliner person. I tried several liquids and none of them looked natural on me. This pencil is super cheap and if you use it properly, looks natural and stays on a long time. HINT: lay the pencil on its side to draw the line and stay close to the edge of the lashes. Also, don't pull your eye,just drag the pencil across.)
⦁ Eyebrows:
Wet'n Wild dark brown eyebrow pencil with spoolie - $1.99 at Walmart
(Another great product that won't break the bank, but you have to learn how to use it properly. I brush my eyebrows down and use the pencil to fill in the gaps. Then I take the spoolie end and brush them back upwards until the pencil is blended in, but still there. Sometimes, I have to do it twice to get it right.)
Revlon Brow Fantasy by Colorstay - $7.00 at Walmart or $9.00 at Ulta
This is a two step process, the eyebrow pencil for shaping the brow and a colored eyebrow gel for filling in and sealing. The price varies considerably, but it worth the minimal cost.
⦁ Maybeline Fit Me face powder (when needed) - $5.74 at Walmart.com
(I only use this when I am going to be in an unairconditioned building. Heat is not my friend. I sleep in a cool room, I use the air conditioner year-round in the car, unless it is below 50 degrees outside and I don't always wear a sweater or jacket in the winter...maybe if there's snow on the ground or it is really, really cold. This is a fairly new product and so far, I love it.)
⦁ Brushes:
Elf makeup brushes - $1.00 to 6.00 each at Walmart.com
(Blending brush - $3; Powder brush - $2; Eye Shadow brush - $3; Eye Crease brush - $1
I have more expensive brushes, but I honestly can't see how they are better. E.l.f. makes a good brush. Sometimes when they new, you may have a stray hair come lose from the brush on your face, but once you have used them a few times, that stops. I have had the same thing happen with more expensive brushes, so that is not a problem.)
Mary Kay makeup brushes - 5 pc set sells for $55 currently at MaryKay.com
(Older brushes, great quality, pricey, probably won't replace these.)
Beauty Blending Sponge - $4.99 at Ulta stores
(Love this product. This is the one thing that most of the vloggers I follow use and I know why - It works great. Mine has a large round flat end and smaller, pointed end. The large end is great for blending makeup over my face, the pointed end is great for blending concealer in the creases around my eyes. Did I say, I love this product? Well, I love this product!)
Ecotools Eye Enhancing Duo Bamboo brushes, 2 pc with 4 brush heads - $5.99 at Walmart
(Nice brushes, becoming my favorites.)
⦁ Various Lipsticks and lip liners:
Wet n Wild - $3.95 at Walmart.com
Revlon Ultra HD - $7.99 at Ulta
L'oreal Colour Riche Lipcolour - $7.99 at Ulta
Clinique Long Last Soft Matte Lipstick - $17.00 at Ulta
Revlon Ultra HD Matte Lip Color - $7.99 at Walmart and $8.99 at Ulta (This is a long lasting color)
There are a lot of great cosmetics at every price point, but I like to replace mine often and at the prices I pay, I can afford to replace as often as I like.
Well, wasn't that fun? I just went over everything I put on my face to make me presentable. I don't like a lot of makeup, so I use it lightly.
As I have aged, I find that my skin is not as even in tone as it was when I was younger. The green face primer is great because it neutralizes redness and blurs fine lines. I use the Tarte eye primer because it is the best I have found and if I don't use an eyelid primer, I find that my eye shadow will crease. Using Tarte 360 helps a lot with this.
I will admit that I failed to properly care for my skin when I was a young mother. A lot of nights I was lucky if I got my faced washed, with regular soap and water. However, the older I get, the more I realize how bad that was for my skin. I have improved my skin a lot in the last few years, just by keeping it clean and moisturized.
Makeup is only color. The expense can not be justified, if a lower cost brand looks just as good. Some shadows flake badly or have a lot of powder residue, I don't like that. I love most E.l.f. products, but their powder shadows and blushes are just too flaky. I actually don't use a lot of blush.
I also don't use bronzers. I tried several of them and with my pale complexion and the red areas, bronzers just don't seem to work well for me. They look really good on a lot of people, just not that good on me. Sometimes less is more - ☺
I have experimented with various types of makeup, brands, and heaviness levels. I just feel better with a good skincare regimen and light overall makeup. Eyeliner, mascara, and brow liner are three things I need. If I don't use eyeliner and mascara, my blue eyes just disappear into my face. If I don't fill in the spaces on my older brows, they look choppy. So eyeliner, eyebrow liner, and mascara are must haves for my face.
"Be your own kind of beautiful!" - Anonymous
NOTE: The statements made in this post are just my opinions. I am not an expert, I just know what works for me. If you try any of these products and they don't work, I apologize, but I am not making recommendations. Use the information I provided how you choose, try things out for yourself, and decide what works best for you.
If this helps anyone over fifty with makeup issues, I am glad I shared this. ☺
What cosmetics do you use and why? If you have an recommendations, suggestions, or thoughts about makeup or skincare, please share those in the comments or email me.
XOXO
I have worn makeup for a long, long time. I have used low cost cosmetics as well as the higher cost ones. This is only my opinion, you have to make your own mind up, but I will share with you my thoughts.
Some of the higher end brands are very good, while others don't perform any better than the cheapest brands. Most of what I use is in the middle.
Here is a list of the items that as of today, I use and will repurchase because I like them:
(You will find multiple products in some categories. These are products I have used, like, and provides a choice in the event that I can't find a certain product.)
⦁ Tarte 360 Crease-proof eyelid primer - $20.00 at Sephora
(Just about the only eyelid primer that actually prevents creasing and "globbing" of eyeshadow on my eyelids. It also helps smooth creppy skin on eyelids. Lasts a long time because you only use a tiny amount to cover eyelids.)
⦁ Foundation Primer:
Maybeline Master Face primer (green formula) - $7.94 at Walmart.com
(The green formula neutralizes the red blotches on my pale older skin.)
Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer - $39 at Sephora or $36 at Ulta
(This is the best, but it is also the most expensive. Maybelline Master Face works good and is considerably less expensive.)
⦁ Foundation:
Revlon CC age-defying cream foundation - $12.88 at Walmart.com (Good) or
Covergirl and Olay Simply Ageless 3 in 1 liquid foundation - $12 at Walmart
(The best I have found so far. Creamy, smooth when applied with the beauty blender sponge and lasts a long time over the primer.)
⦁ Maybeline Lash Sensational - $6.94 at Walmart.com
⦁ Eyeshadow:
NYX matte trio eye shadows (not sure you can still get this) - $5.00 on-sale at Ulta
(Love these colors and they go on really smooth.)
Maybeline The Nudes palate eye shadows - $9.98 at Walmart.com
(12 colors: sands, bronzes, taupes; About half mattes and half shimmer. I don't do shimmer, it makes my eyes look older. So, if these were all mattes, I would love it. However, I do love the mattes that it does have.)
⦁ Wet'n Wild Brown Kohl eyeliner pencil - $.99 at Walgreens and Walmart stores
(I finally learned how to apply this and I love it. I am not a liquid eyeliner person. I tried several liquids and none of them looked natural on me. This pencil is super cheap and if you use it properly, looks natural and stays on a long time. HINT: lay the pencil on its side to draw the line and stay close to the edge of the lashes. Also, don't pull your eye,just drag the pencil across.)
⦁ Eyebrows:
Wet'n Wild dark brown eyebrow pencil with spoolie - $1.99 at Walmart
(Another great product that won't break the bank, but you have to learn how to use it properly. I brush my eyebrows down and use the pencil to fill in the gaps. Then I take the spoolie end and brush them back upwards until the pencil is blended in, but still there. Sometimes, I have to do it twice to get it right.)
Revlon Brow Fantasy by Colorstay - $7.00 at Walmart or $9.00 at Ulta
This is a two step process, the eyebrow pencil for shaping the brow and a colored eyebrow gel for filling in and sealing. The price varies considerably, but it worth the minimal cost.
⦁ Maybeline Fit Me face powder (when needed) - $5.74 at Walmart.com
(I only use this when I am going to be in an unairconditioned building. Heat is not my friend. I sleep in a cool room, I use the air conditioner year-round in the car, unless it is below 50 degrees outside and I don't always wear a sweater or jacket in the winter...maybe if there's snow on the ground or it is really, really cold. This is a fairly new product and so far, I love it.)
⦁ Brushes:
Elf makeup brushes - $1.00 to 6.00 each at Walmart.com
(Blending brush - $3; Powder brush - $2; Eye Shadow brush - $3; Eye Crease brush - $1
I have more expensive brushes, but I honestly can't see how they are better. E.l.f. makes a good brush. Sometimes when they new, you may have a stray hair come lose from the brush on your face, but once you have used them a few times, that stops. I have had the same thing happen with more expensive brushes, so that is not a problem.)
Mary Kay makeup brushes - 5 pc set sells for $55 currently at MaryKay.com
(Older brushes, great quality, pricey, probably won't replace these.)
Beauty Blending Sponge - $4.99 at Ulta stores
(Love this product. This is the one thing that most of the vloggers I follow use and I know why - It works great. Mine has a large round flat end and smaller, pointed end. The large end is great for blending makeup over my face, the pointed end is great for blending concealer in the creases around my eyes. Did I say, I love this product? Well, I love this product!)
Ecotools Eye Enhancing Duo Bamboo brushes, 2 pc with 4 brush heads - $5.99 at Walmart
(Nice brushes, becoming my favorites.)
⦁ Various Lipsticks and lip liners:
Wet n Wild - $3.95 at Walmart.com
Revlon Ultra HD - $7.99 at Ulta
L'oreal Colour Riche Lipcolour - $7.99 at Ulta
Clinique Long Last Soft Matte Lipstick - $17.00 at Ulta
Revlon Ultra HD Matte Lip Color - $7.99 at Walmart and $8.99 at Ulta (This is a long lasting color)
There are a lot of great cosmetics at every price point, but I like to replace mine often and at the prices I pay, I can afford to replace as often as I like.
Well, wasn't that fun? I just went over everything I put on my face to make me presentable. I don't like a lot of makeup, so I use it lightly.
As I have aged, I find that my skin is not as even in tone as it was when I was younger. The green face primer is great because it neutralizes redness and blurs fine lines. I use the Tarte eye primer because it is the best I have found and if I don't use an eyelid primer, I find that my eye shadow will crease. Using Tarte 360 helps a lot with this.
I will admit that I failed to properly care for my skin when I was a young mother. A lot of nights I was lucky if I got my faced washed, with regular soap and water. However, the older I get, the more I realize how bad that was for my skin. I have improved my skin a lot in the last few years, just by keeping it clean and moisturized.
Makeup is only color. The expense can not be justified, if a lower cost brand looks just as good. Some shadows flake badly or have a lot of powder residue, I don't like that. I love most E.l.f. products, but their powder shadows and blushes are just too flaky. I actually don't use a lot of blush.
I also don't use bronzers. I tried several of them and with my pale complexion and the red areas, bronzers just don't seem to work well for me. They look really good on a lot of people, just not that good on me. Sometimes less is more - ☺
I have experimented with various types of makeup, brands, and heaviness levels. I just feel better with a good skincare regimen and light overall makeup. Eyeliner, mascara, and brow liner are three things I need. If I don't use eyeliner and mascara, my blue eyes just disappear into my face. If I don't fill in the spaces on my older brows, they look choppy. So eyeliner, eyebrow liner, and mascara are must haves for my face.
"Be your own kind of beautiful!" - Anonymous
NOTE: The statements made in this post are just my opinions. I am not an expert, I just know what works for me. If you try any of these products and they don't work, I apologize, but I am not making recommendations. Use the information I provided how you choose, try things out for yourself, and decide what works best for you.
If this helps anyone over fifty with makeup issues, I am glad I shared this. ☺
What cosmetics do you use and why? If you have an recommendations, suggestions, or thoughts about makeup or skincare, please share those in the comments or email me.
XOXO
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