Splurging or going cheap.... well it depends on what you mean by splurging. It's all relative and depends on your disposable income the $-to-product-size-and-usage-ratio and where you live.......
First off, I buy what works for me. If I can find a cheaper alternative, I go for it. If something is pricey, it better perform well and lasts a while.
Things I splurge on:
* Facial cleanser. It's got to be fragrance-free and work for my
very oily sensitive skin. (My current product - Super Sensitive Baby Shampoo and Bodywash by California Baby; $10-12 for 8.5 oz)
* Bodywash. It's got to be frangrance-free and work on my
dry body skin. (My current product - same as the facial cleanser above. It works for my oily face as well as my dry body skin. It's neither too moisturizing for my face, nor too stripping for my body.)
* Oil Facial Moisturizer. I buy several organic vegetable/nut oils and essential oils, at an online retailer or the healthfood store. I mix them in a particular ratio and put the mix in a amber glass bottle with dropper top. It's initially a higher expense than "regular" d/s moisturizers, but ends up being cheaper at cost-per-ounce/use. It's one of the best things I've ever used on my oily sensitive facial skin!
* Body Lotion/Creams. For the winter, I buy organic almond oil, fractionated coconut oil, cocoa butter and shea butter, at an online retailer. I mix some of these products into a cream or lotion. Much more expensive than d/s stuff, but not necessarily more expensive than some high-end skincare lines. For the summer, I use Denham's Cocoa Butter Lotion or Denham's Shea Butter Lotion. (I buy those online, for about $5-7 each + shipping.)
* Foundation. For liquid foundation, I've been buying Stila's Oil-free foundation, at $32. (It works well for me in the winter.) For MMU powder foundation, I've been buying Alima's Satin Matte foundation, at $19 + shipping. (That brand works well for me the rest of the year, when my skin is at it's oiliest.) D/s brands just don't have my shade or the texture I like/need. (I'm a MMM/light CCC with warm peachy undertones, thanks to my bi-racial "brown" mom. My skin is very oily and sensitive.)
* Concealer. I like MUFE Full Coverage at $30 or Lorac at $15. Works well for undereye, without being too greasy on my oily skin and they also don't creep into the fine lines.
* Lash products. I'm currently in
with Shiseido's lash curler, Shiseido's Lash Primer and Tarte's Lights Camera Lashes mascara. The curler is the best for my big eyes and long lashes. The primer makes them even longer and thicker looking and helps the mascara to stick better. The mascara is making my lashes look amazing (even without the curler or primer...) and it doesn't smear (despite not being water-proof,) clump or flake on me. - I also get my lashes professionally tinted, every 6 weeks. (I have dark brown lashes with blondish tips. The tint colors the tips and also makes some of the finer hairs more obvious.)
* Brow Products. I'm currently in
with Laura Mercier's Brow Duo Powders and Laura Mercier's (clear!) Brow Gel. I own the powder in Ash - for darker makeup days/nights and in Deep Blonde - for a more subtle/nude yet polished brow. (I have dark brown brows, but Deep Blonde still works for me. I wonder what sort of blonde would wear this?! It's definitely more for brunettes or darker.) I apply the powders with a Laura Mercier's Angled Brow Brush (bought half price on Ebay.) After applying the brow gel, I brush through my brows one more time, with a Sonia Kashuk Mascara Spoolie (from Target for $3.)
* Perfumes. I prefer higher-end perfumes over cheapy ones, although I do draw the line at $100. They last longer and you use less. The scents are also often more sophisticated/refined. - I do however, also own a few lovely (cheaper) fragrance oils that I bought whilst on vaccation/travel to the Middle East, Africa, South America and the Caribbean. (I suppose if you don't count the $ I spend on the actual trip, these scents were cheaper - compared to scents bought in the US or Europe.)
* Hair Salon Service and Hair Products. I have curly (thanks to my bi-racial mom,) dry (thanks again Mom,) and color-treated (to cover some gray) hair. Cheaper "salons" like Super Cuts just don't know how to handle my hair. At my favorite local salon, I may pay more for a color service and cut, but my stylist knows how to work WITH MY HAIR TEXTURE. (My hair is curly and below-shoulder-lenght and coloring at home is a major PITA.) Same goes for d/s hair care products. I'm on the no/low poo routine and need products that are silicone- and mineral oil-free. I buy my hair products online or splurge on some Bumble & Bumble Creme De Coco Condish at my salon.
* Spa Services. I get my body hair removed by a professional waxing service, at my local Hair Salon - which also houses a Spa. That's $200 + tip - every 6 weeks from November to April - every 4 weeks the rest of the year. (I have my underarms waxed - every 2 weeks regardless of time of year at $20 + tip, each time.) The same aesthetician also shapes my brows with tweezers (my sensitive face can't handle wax,) every 4-6 weeks..... Lastly, a facialist (?) tints my lashes, every 6 weeks. - All of this ends up being expensive, but it's worth it - at least for me. Shaving and home waxing kits are too much of a hassle, for me.
Things that are "inbetween" splurging and cheap:
* Makeup Tools. Some of my brushes are relatively cheap, at under $10 each. Others may have cost me $20-30 each, but they are high quality and have lasted me for many years. While initially more expensive, the "cost-to-usage-ratio made them worth it. It all depends on what sort of performance I need them to accomplish. Same goes for my Shiseido Lash Curler. (See above under Lash Products.)
(BTW: I'm still trying to convice myself to shelling out $42 for MAC's 187.)
Things I buy on the cheap:
* Handlotion. I get whatever is on sale, moisturizing enough, doesn't have a stong odor/scent and comes in small tubes, for toting around in my smallish purse.
* Nail services and polish. I get a serious pedicure, about every 6 weeks, during sandal season. (I bring my own polish and implements to the salon.) I don't pay more than $20 + tip. Inbetween I change the polish myself. The rest of the year, I don't bother.... I can't stand nail polish on my finger. I buy my polish mostly at Sally's BSS - on sale at some sort of BOGO deal.
* Lip Products. Although I love lippies (and probabably own over 60!) I rarely buy high-end lip products. Most of my lippies and glosses are no more than $10. (I go hog-wild if there is a BOGO deal.) I have a few Nars, and Clinique lippies/glosses, but that's only because the color is unique and I fell in
with it. - For lip balm, I am craaaaaazy about Labello. I can only find in Vancouver, BC.... but I go there every year, so it's easy for me to stock up on anyway.
Eye Shadows. I'm often too lazy to apply e/s... so I don't often "waste" money on them. I have only a few high-end Stila and Nars e/s and only because the SA/MA at Sephora used them on me and they looked great. I just bought a ton of cheapy ($1) samples of Alima's MMU loose e/s (along with my full-sized refills of their powder foundation) and I'm in
. Still, I only use them occassionally..... and those generous samples will last me a while.
* Blushes. I used to use a peachy/nude and a rosy plum blush as well as a bronzer from Paula's Choice. I bought them online at $9 each during a free-shipping deal, over a year ago. Although I used them pretty much daily, they are still 3/4 full. Then I discovered Alima's MMU Powder Blushes and fell in
. (I bought $1 samples, first.) Now, I own 4 of their blushes and one of their bronzers in full-size. They are initially pricey at $14(plus free shipping,) but will are so concentrated that they will last at least a year or more.
* Gel Eyeliner. Unlike my laziness with applying e/s, I do line my eyes regularly.
I own 3 gel eyeliners by Paula's Choice. They were $9 each, plus shipping (maybe $10.) I find that they perform the same as MAC Fluidline..... I tightline using a Laura Mercier's flathead push liner brush, which I bought on Ebay for half price - and I sometimes also line the upper lashline (on the lid) with my Paula's Choice Precision Liner Brush ($10 + maybe some shipping.)
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There may be other things I could mention, but I'm having a "senior moment" (at 39) and can't think of them, right now. This post is long enough, anyway.
