6 Beauty Products That You Should Never Skimp On

 

I know that everyone, especially if you're a someone with kids, needs to find ways to save a little money.  I also know that significant others, especially significant others who are male, don't always get our need to have expensive beauty products lining our showers and bathroom drawers.  However, the fact of the matter is that sometimes it makes more sense to spend $30 rather than $7 on a fancy-schmancy (yes, that's a technical term) product, because the product that you are getting is markedly better.  Plus, trying out all of those different $7 products can really add up, so why not buy one that just works better the first time anyway?

Of course, the wisdom here lies in knowing what products you should spend money on, and then why it makes sense (so you can explain it to your frustrated/confused/red-in-the-face significant other).  Here are 6 beauty products that you should never choose to skimp on, and why.

Anti-Aging Night Cream

There is a reason that most of the "expensive" night creams are made by doctors, and it's because when a product costs more money (at least in this department) in means there has been more money invested in research and development of a product that actually works.  In addition, the active ingredients found in the product are usually more highly-concentrated and are likely more sophisticated.  When your night cream has better ingredients, and more of them, there is less room for "filler" which is just a basic lotion, that is what makes up the majority of your drugstore variety face creams.

My favorite?  La Mer Moisturizing Creme.  Totally expensive. Totally worth it.  

(If you want to save money somewhere, save on your day cream - almost any moisturizing cream that includes SPF should do the trick.)

Eye shadow

The pigments that are found in eye shadow, especially deep blues, blacks, and purples, are very expensive.  When an eye shadow costs more it's not just the "brand" that you are paying for - you're paying for more pigment and for the product to be more finely milled.  If you're a skeptic, do your own experiment and buy a drugstore eye shadow and a department store eye shadow - you'll notice that the department store eye shadow goes on more smoothly, sticks to your eyelid with more ease, and has more staying power.  You'll probably be able to use a lot less of it to get the same effect, too.

My favorite?  MAC Cosmetics eye shadow.  $15 a pop, but I've had some of my colors for 3 years. 

Blush

The same rules that apply to eye shadow generally apply to blush - having more pigment and being finely milled are what it's all about.  I've never talked to a single makeup artist who disagrees, they will all tell you that drugstore blush looks streaky and feels rough on the skin.  A blush should blend softly into your foundation without any streaks and without feeling like you're giving yourself an exfoliating treatment.

My favorite?  Diorblush by Dior Beauty.  Another awesome choice for almost half the price? NARS Blush.

Eyeliner

Rule of thumb:  The less expensive the product, the less expensive the wax used to make the eyeliner - making it hard to apply and forcing you to press harder and pull more around the very delicate (read: wrinkles easily) eye area.  To save yourself from aging too quickly, treat this area with extreme care and choose an eyeliner that is more expensive, but that has softer wax and more moisturizing elements.

My favorite?  Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes.  Goes of soft and smooth, but also won't smudge throughout the day.

Foundation

How many times have you taken a perfectly good foundation home from the drugstore only to try it on again the next morning and discover that it doesn't match like you thought it would?  All of this trial and error can get insanely expensive - so I suggest heading to your nearest makeup counter and letting them match you so that you can be sure that whatever you're using is a perfect fit.  If you want to be able to choose from a wider price range, try going to Sephora where you'll be able to try multiple foundations all in shades that match you, so that you can choose one that fits both your skin tone and your wallet.

My favorite?  Make Up For Ever HD Invisible Cover Foundation. 

Conditioner

You're likely not to see results from a super expensive shampoo, but you should always splurge on your conditioner.  The high-end conditioner that your stylist is trying to sell you is actually a smart purchase because, like with your face cream, more money means more research and leads to more-advanced delivery systems. Plus, conditioners contain wax and oil, which don't completely wash out of your hair, and the higher-end conditioners contain higher end ingredients.  All of this leads to stronger, healthier hair.  

My favorite?  Leonor Greyl Nourishing Hair Mask.  The most amazing product on earth. Hands down.

 

 

More great beauty products to try!

 

• The $100 Hair Product That Will Save You Time and Money (For real!)
• Why You Should Always Buy the Most Expensive Hair Dryer
• 5 Beauty Products To Try Now