So it’s no surprise us ladies spend a lot of money on cosmetics and skin care in a year. To be honest some products are worth every penny and others are just all hype…literally.
So I thought it was time for me to shed some light in our makeup bag and where we should choose to spend our hard-earned dollars and where we can afford to set a budget. I have included some cult favourites, absolute gems of the lesser know “Makeup Underground” and a few reasons as to why some brands and products are “oh so over-rated” without mentioning them of course.
Lets talk Primers… Now I have actually searched the world for the holy grail of primers and ended right back where I started as a makeup trainee at the Napoleon Academy in Melbourne 2005.
To this day this is the primer my kit is stocked up with, and my skin absolutely loves! I can vouch for all my clients having the same success, where I get consistent positive feedback on the longevity and light feel of the makeup when applied. At $79.95 for a sizeable 50ml tube, it definitely worth the splurge and remember you only need a 5c cent piece per application so it is literally the gift that keeps on giving!!
Still my No. 1 Primer pick after 13 years of being a Makeup Artist!!
An honourable mention and still on the splurge side is the Hourglass Mineral Veil. So soft and silky and great on mature skins. I noticed if you look closely it has a slight blue undertone which I put down to a soft strobing/light refracting quality in the product, which is why it is so good for mature clientele. $25 for a trail size is enough to get hooked, and enough for me to have in my kit for the select clients who really require this over the Napoleon Auto Pilot.
Hourglass is completely different to every other primer out there. You can’t go past the lux packaging, the soft feel and velvety finish of this one!!!
Our next contender for outstanding skin prep, but this time on a much stricter budget, is Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentrè. I came to discover this amongst all the other primers on the market, as I am an extremely big fan of what I like to call the “Makeup Underground”, and will always source lesser known brands that are usually scattered through the kits of the most renowned artists and industry professionals and usually with good reason.
Where Embryolisse has a much more conservative following on Instagram and other social media platforms, mark my words it has its place in artist hearts and can be found at almost any reputable online pro cosmetics store. Retailing at $35 for a 75ml bottle it is an absolute steal!! Using it as a moisturiser when you are wearing no makeup to priming the skin whilst provide soft supple hydration, is its winning combination.
Embryolisse is changing everything we knew about moisturiser vs primer
Above and beyond skin prep they say a girls best friend and the thing we are most likely to never leave home without is our mascara, and boy do I have a treat for you!!! Of course we have the usual suspects making the cut but my top pick will blow you away, because the price point is so ridiculous you can afford to buy 5 for the price of 1!!!
First things first. When a mascara claims to be “Better Than Sex”, that is huge claim, and I can be pretty gullible, but lucky for Too Faced they have it spot on!! Only thing that can be better than sex is the perfect mascara and the masses can’t be wrong at $33 a pop.
The brush is a lovely full and natural fibre brush which ensures even distribution of the mascara and darkness that will extend right from the roots to tips. The brush sometimes is a lot more important then the actual formula in most cases, so my choice for top high-end mascara could be easily debatable for some readers, but I do stand by it’s all rounder appeal and absolute popularity amongst a great deal of avid makeup junkies!!
Big claims and even bigger results
Moving on to our next contender, and it’s safe to say when a particular mascara has got my attention it is hard to turn my back on it and this is why we will only be talking about two brands today. Just doing my bit to help keep things simple with one of lifes most trivial decisions. You’re welcome.
So of course, without further ado, lets talk about the Essence Cosmetics insane range of mascara’s. Coming in at anywhere between $4.10 – $6.75, this mascara is easily the best budget item you could have in your makeup bag!!! With mascaras needing to be replaced at last every 6 weeks, this will make the stock rotation an absolute no brainer instead of holding onto your mascara for those last few weeks, whilst the dryness of the product that is left until payday, falls all over your face giving you panda eye!!! You will have no excuse with an Essence mascara and your lashes will thank you for it!!
Before you think I have simply recommended it for its budget appeal you would be mistaken. The first time I saw this brand I was slightly disturbed by its loud packaging and presence at my local Priceline store, wondering who might buy these products as their packaging suggested young, prepubescent and cheap. As all good artists do, I took it upon myself to research and in turn read the packaging to determine where the products may have been sourced from. What took me by surprise is that these products are actually made in Europe and this ofcourse raised my eyebrows as all other cosmetics generally from this part of the world always come with a much more inflated price tag. Further research revealed that Essence is one of the biggest and best-selling ranges on the European market and in turn has a great reputation overseas. Not only is the origin of the product synonymous with quality but due to their great sales and marketing abroad they have been able to introduce their product onto the Australian market at the lowest prices possible!!
There are so many different mascaras in this range, so be aware not every type will be suitable for every person, but the great thing is your are not spending between $30-$50 a pop to find out and the ability to stock a wardrobe of lash options is such a sweet one!!
My favourite from this range is the False Lashes mascara pictured below. Great brush, soft but build able formula, thickens and lengthens the lashes without flaking. I also do love the “Get Big Lashes” range and “I Love Extreme” options although I do find my favourite pictured below combines the properties of those two ranges to give you best of both fullness and length.
I can’t believe I can get complimented on my lashes daily when all I spend is $5.75 on this mascara!!!
Next on the Agenda lets talk setting sprays and the myths and legend of this topic.
So many people truly believe the hype when it comes to a setting spray but really all you need is science. Ever been sold a face hydrating spray, whilst being told it would set your makeup? You wouldn’t be the first. In the end it isn’t the girl at the shops fault, sometimes brand specific training and the market lumps all those similar products together and we are all conditioned to believe if its got a spray nozzle and found in a makeup store surely it’s a makeup setting spray. Every makeup bag and kit needs more than a setting spray for all the types of days your skin is going to have, so these are the 3 different types of facial mist/setting sprays that I could recommend with confidence.
Side note: Before we get started on this topic is a honourable mention to cult favourite Urban Decay All Nighter. You’re in my kit because everyone knows you, and you are the most popular kid on the block, But let’s be honest you are a very well packaged and hyped product on the market which has the same properties of some lesser known but also more affordable options.
So now Speaking of affordable, Mehron Barrier spray is more commonly used in the SPFX side of the makeup industry but if your like me, as a pro makeup artist I first initially purchased it for this reason and experimented with it on my beauty makeups with absolutely fantastic results!! I had clients who wore full face applications on 45 degree hot days and a client who had extremely oily skin and I used this to spray on before and after makeup to create a barrier to the oil in the skin, and the clients were overjoyed with the result and overall longevity. I also was so excited to find something that really had my back when it came to my clients!!
The product is really quite reasonably priced at $14.99 for 30ml or $19.99 for 60ml, and you can get refill options which furthermore increase the affordability. There is a downside to this product though due to its initial use and marketed purpose in SPFX. The scent when sprayed is not so crash hot. It doesn’t have floral infusions or a soft refreshing scent which most of your beauty-based setting sprays have, but it really is a small trade-off. I always warned my clients before spraying and most were not bothered, but if that’s the sacrifice you need to make for such a great result, I’d easily grab some lavender/citrus oil and add a few drops to create more pleasantries when spraying if thats what was preferred.
Forget the hype!! Educate yourself on the science of makeup and make better decisions about the products your being “sold” on.
Next on the list is from a little boutique brand mst people arent familiar with but most pro artists love and adore. The Face Atelier Ultra Matte is a setting spray with a difference. I prefer to call this setting spray a real second skin, or even a setting spray that will encase your application within a bubble. It is a silicone base and therefore softly coats the skin to create an invisible and soft flexible fixation of your makeup.
Where most other setting sprays have higher water and alcohol content design to dry the makeup, adding those matte properties which ultimately prove further longevity for the makeup, the Face Atelier Ultra Matte spray very finely over the makeup and initially adding some shine. The product then dries down to a matte finish, whilst still giving the the makeup the flexibility of the silicone coat and the weather and water-resistant qualities of most setting sprays.
Another Makeup underground best kept secret!!
NOW….. lets talk Tatcha and the hype and believe me its real but NO girls this isn’t actually a setting spray but simply put, one of the most beautiful dewy skin mists that there ever could be. Everything about this product is pure decadence. The scent, the feel and the finish so it’s no surprise the price tag is also for those feeling a little fancy free with their funds at $70.00.
I had to try it and now I almost can’t live without it. I love to spoil my skin on special occasions and also spoil my clients where the finish and feel of the clients makeup calls for this. They notice the pure luxury of this product and really appreciate that they have access to such a special product within their makeup service.
Some makeup artist have suggested creating mixtures of less expensive products and utilising loose highlighting particles in lower end hydrating sprays to “get the same thing”, but to be honest everything from the packaging to the fine light mist from the weighty glass bottle, can’t be duplicated and it is a must have!!!
The most amazing thing you will ever mist onto your face or body…decadence in a bottle and the packaging is just to die for!!!
Last, but not least for today’s blog post, is lip products and I am certainly a little biased of course. Customisation in cosmetics has paved the way for so many more options and in turn created some tough competition for other cosmetics companies and the options they currently have on market. We aren’t going to talk about must have colours or brands rather a must have service you need to experience provided to you by The Lip Lab!!!
As you know when purchasing the perfect lipstick there are so many things to consider. The base type and how it works with the condition of your lips, the colour itself and does it have the right undertone for your skin. Are you looking for something that compliments your features naturally or do you have something super special in mind for that party saturday night. In the end it does become super overwhelming and nobody would blame you if you walked out the shop with no lipstick at all!!
At the Lip Lab you can pick your base type, have your colour mixed just the way you like, try it on several times and even add scents and lip plumper to compliment the perfect shade. You are aided in the process by an expert mixologist and not only can they make recommendations, but also give you decision making control over the product you walk away with. So much better than leaving your local chemist or you favourite cosmetics counter with what you think might be perfect for your big occasion, only to realise your new addition didnt look like that when you swatched on your hand in the shops.
The Lip Lab will not only customise the shade, but with the above in mind considers the natural tone of your lip when mixing and can shade any of those oxidisation colour issues some clients may encounter right out of the mix. There is nothing quite like it and to be honest you can never be let down like when Revlon discontinue your favourite colour. All the lipsticks created have a formula, and this is kept on file for you and anyone else that might enjoy your creation, so never fear you will never have to be sent on a wild goose chase for Maybelline shade 476 circa winter 2012, ever again.
From my many years in the industry and trying a lot of lip products I can also vouch for the quality, longevity and feel of each of the bases on offer and am happily switching all of my store-bought product over when replacing my colours, because I am actually having such a great experience as Lip Lab lipstick wearer. No chapped lips, dry white line on the inside of the lip or peeling product complaints that I have had with previous products used.
Naming your creation to truly make it one of a kind is a wonderful touch to a fun experience and The Lip Lab has more in store with customised foundations now added to their service menu.
In wrapping up Part 1. of Splurge vs Save, I am super excited to see how this new concept of customisation in cosmetics, shapes the future of the industry across the board and gives the consumers back that power to be in control of their beauty purchases, much like awesome blog posts like this!!
Keep posted for more Splurge vs Save…. As we continue to discuss how to accessorise you features further and talk brow, eyes and cheek products, and to see if your beloved “must have” palette or “poppin highlighter” makes the list.
Images sourced from:
www.napoleonperdis.com
www.embryolisse.com.au
www.tatcha.com
www.toofaced.com
www.faceatelier.com
www.mehron.com
www.hourglasscosmetics.com
www.essencemakeup.com
@theliplabperth
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