We Tested The Difference Between High End And Drugstore Makeup
We’ve all read about the difference between high end and drugstore makeup. Some people feel that high end is worth the money, and some say drugstore is just as good. Well, we’re here to figure out the TRUTH. Personally, we’re sick and tired of the comparisons, and hearing that a product is “pretty good… for drugstore.” What does that even mean anyways? Therefore, we put it to the test by recreating the same look twice, one with a full face of high end, and the other with a full face of drugstore. I guess we will see the true difference between high end and drugstore using these non-dupe, randomly selected products.
Look #1 – High End
To create this look, we had a makeup artist come in and use all their high end products on one of our editors, who literally has no idea about makeup.
Products Used:
1. MAC Studio Fluid Fix Foundation
This long lasting foundation wears for up to 24 hours, and dries matte. The coverage is medium and buildable, and Leah felt that it wore nice and light on her skin!
2. MAC Bright Forecast Highlighter
This product although is labeled as a highlighter, it actually acts as a great concealer as well! Our makeup artist went HAM on the under eyes using this MAC prep and prime forecast highlighter!
3. MAC Patrick Starrr Setting Powder
This finely milled powder is made to prolong your liquid makeup, and when Patrick Starrr released it – everyone freaked out. It’s currently sold out at MAC and retails for a hefty price!
4. Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush
A super blendable, highly pigmented blush that offers a 12 hour wear time and retails for a hefty AF price is the Tarte Amazonian clay. Our makeup artist used this on Leah’s cheeks to make them nice and rosy!
5. Sephora Collection Bronzer
If you’re wondering the difference between high end and drugstore makeup, this matte bronzer is considered high end and is actually pretty cheap! This formula is light weight, super buildable, and you never have to worry about getting that “dirty” bronzed look!
6. Jeffree Star Skin Frost Peach Goddess
If you want a blinding highlight, the Jeffree Star Peach Goddess will do that for you. The formula is extremely creamy, and applies in just one stroke!
6. MAC Refillable Eyeshadows
Using four of these highly pigmented shadows, the eye look Leah received was partially matte and partially shimmer. One of these shadows retails for 6 bucks at MAC, so you can only imaging how expensive it’d be to put a whole palette together.
7. MAC Liquidlast Eyeliner
This hardy eyeliner dries down to a nice matte finish. In addition, it lasts forever, and can withstand water and other inconvenient conditions!
8. Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara
This intense volumizing mascara gives the eyelashes lots of depth, for dramatic looking eyes!
9. MAC Eye Brow Pencil
This ultra precise eyebrow pencil has great pigmentation, giving the eyebrows the perfect sculpted look, while still looking natural! The wax base helps to keep the brows from getting unruly, for those bad brow days.
Look #2 – Drugstore
Products Used:
1. Maybelline Fit Me Foundation
A light to medium coverage foundation that dries totally matte! The Maybelline Fit Me is ironically very similar to the MAC foundation we used, and retails for less then half the price!
2. Maybelline Superstay Better Skin Concealer
The creamy formula of the Maybelline Superstay Concealer melts right into the skin so that it doesn’t crease! Our makeup artist used this concealer for the under eye, and it worked great!
2. Coty Airspun Loose Powder
This loose powder is extremely simple, and perfect for setting your foundation. The long lasting formula will keep your foundation in place all day long, without getting cakey!
3. e.l.f. Matte Blush
If you’re wondering about the difference between high end and drugstore makeup, this is a perfect example. The e.l.f. matte blush is extremely inexpensive, and makes for the perfect bronzed sunkissed look!
4. Rimmel London Natural Bronzer
The Rimmel natural bronzer is waterproof, and contains SPF 15 to protect your face from the dangerous rays of the sun! The application process was smooth, and it wore well on the skin!
5. e.l.f Baked Highlighter
This baked highlighter applies super light on the skin, giving a very natural highlight. If you’re someone who loves a super pigmeted and in your face highlight, then this is not the highlighter for you.
6. Beauty Creations Boudoir Shadow
This palette is literally under 10 dollars and is extremely pigmented! The colors are perfect for a day or night look, and contain a mix of matte and shimmer.
7. Milani Infinite Liquid Eyeliner, Everlast
According to our makeup artist, this formula is almost the exact same as the MAC eyeliner she used – and is much cheaper!
9. LO’real Voluminous Lash Paradise
When talking about the difference between high end and drugstore makeup, this voluptuous mascara happens to be the exact dupe for the “Too Faced Better Than Sex” mascara, and we used it by total accident! They literally work the exact same, except this one is way cheaper.
10. LO’real Brow Stylist Definer Pencil
This mechanical pencil works wonders at defining those brows! The super small tip allows for you to get detailed, while the spoolie brush helps you blend it out!
Conclusion
After seeing the differences between high end and drugstore makeup, our team decided that we could tell the difference. However, the contrast wasn’t great enough for us to go out and buy that expensive AF high end stuff. If you’re stuck on what to buy when it comes to makeup, the truth of the matter is that there are some great drugstore products, and some amazing high end ones. The key is to do your research, and see which products are worth buying!
After seeing the final looks, did you see a difference between high end and drugstore makeup? Let us know in the comment section below!
*This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.
