What items do you splurge on? What do you save on?

[_trimm_trabb]

I save on:
-Mascara (I currently love CG Lash Blast); I've tried a million high-end brands (Dior, Napoleon, Benefit, etc) and none of them have been worth it.
-Face wash (St. Ives Apricot Scrubs and Phisoderm gel cleanser)
-Body wash and lotion (I buy a bunch of stuff at BBW when everything is on sale, like the day after christmas, and that lasts me all year).
-Nail stuff (I bite my nails horribly so I really only paint my toenails, and cheapie polish is fine for that).
-Foundation! I was a strict high-end-only foundation gal for years until I found Maybelline's Instant Age Rewind cream foundation. It is better than any foundation (high or low end) that I have ever tried.
-Blot powder - I love my $4.99 compact of cornsilk!
-Eye liners - while I do own a lot of MAC liners, I also love L'oreal's liquid liner and NYX's pencil liners, so when I'm short on cash, I choose to purchase those.
-Lip gloss - I mix my own! While I own something like 15 lipglasses, I haven't bought any in a long time. I buy clear gloss and micas and mix my own in little 5gm jars.

-Haircolour - I've been dying my own hair for years, and now I'm a cosmetology student, so I'm pretty good at it!

I splurge on:
-All other cosmetics - though I love NYX and Milani and buy them occasionally, I'm primarily loyal to MAC, NARS, Lorac, and MUFE for all cosmetics other than the ones listed above.
-Facial skincare (besides cleansers) - I love Shiseido's Extra-smooth Sun Protection Cream SPF36, Lush's Imperialis moisturizer, and Shiseido eye cream.
-Hair products. I love TiGi, CHI, and Kenra styling products, and Biolage, Ion, and Coloresse shampoos & conditioners.
-Hair stylist - I really think it is worth it to get a great haircut. I don't mind paying a decent amount for a great stylist.

 

[Deena]

I pretty much splurge on everything too, esp. foundation, mascara and skincare. I save on: shampoo & conditioner, hand & nail stuff(like hand cream and nail polish),and facial cleanser(I use Dove soap bar for sensitive skin, which works great for me).

 

[mollythedolly]

My hair is really resilient (spelling?) so I can use any $3/bottle shampoo/conditioner (herbal essence all the way baby!) and really not do anything else to it... I like being cheap when it comes to haircare.

Body washes, I save. It's quite simple; usually the $3 body wash is actually better for your skin than the $10 body wash.

I save on mascara. I really like Maybelline Full N Soft!

I kinda splurge on foundation I guess... I use Bare Minerals but when I do, the tub lasts forever.

Masque? I save. Queen Helene has saved my life and she will save yours, too.

Nailpolish, it depends. I have 5 or 6 OPI colors and a OPI basecoat and Seche Vite topcoat. I try out trendy colors with NYC and if I like them, I get OPI.

I save on bronzer. Bronzer from Physicians Formula is PERFECT.

Lipgloss? I usually get it from Victorias Secret with those 2 for 10 deals. Same goes for Bath and Body Works. VS, I get the white container minty one and at BBW I get the dark green container minty one. They both go on clear.

I spend $15-$20 on body lotion. I buy only Body Shop Brazil Nut body butter. I've found literally nothing else that works for my skin. This stuff is so perfect.

Then staples, ie deoderant, floss, toothpaste etc, I save. I use degree, crest, and aquafresh.

Then there are random things that I splurge on. Fekkai Glossing Creme is the only shine anything that has ever hade a difference. I use it about 3 times weekly so the tube lasts like 2 years, which technically means it's not much of a splurge.

Oh, and hair treatments, I go to a $40/cut stylist. I ADORE her. I've never, ever had a hair problem with her. She totally understands my lifestyle and gives me a cut I can style in 5 minutes if I have to, and she teaches me how to. And she also shows me how to style it when I have more time. Mosts stylists would call that extra few muntes a "lesson" and tack on an extra $60! She always gets a really big tip, though. I go to her about, eh, every 6-8 weeks?

 

[eastsidesunset]

I splurge on everything except for soap (Dove and Cetaphil all the way). I'm allergic to almost everything in lower end products, so I've found that in order to not be covered in hives 24/7 I have to spend more. You try to find a lower end facial cream that is beeswax and fragarence free with a mineral based spf.

 

[KellyBean]

Save:
-St. Ives and Olay skin stuff
-Herbal Essence hair stuff
-NYC nail polish
-Brucci topcoat
-L'oreal Carbon Black Voluminous or Lash Blast
-Lip plump- soap and glory all the way!
-Essence of Beauty brushes

Splurge:
-Perfumes
-Foundation
-Blush
-Eyeshadows
-MAC brushes

 

[Kalico]

I save on facial cleansers, lotions, lip balms, hair care, mascara, foundation (EDM is VERY cheap and better than anything I've spent lots of money on!).

I spend more on face lotion, MU brushes, eyeshadows, lipsticks/glosses, blushes, perfumes, nail polish, liners.

 

[KikiB]

Well...I would say that technically, I splurge on everything. All my haircare is Frederic Fekkai. All my body care comes from Bath and Body Works (but I work there so it is kinda expected). My makeup is MAC, Urban Decay, Lancome, or other Sephora brands. My skincare is Patricia Wexler (yay for discounts). Nails, I stick to OPI and Essie. I'd say that if I save on anything, it's mascara and lip gloss. I go Avon for my mascara usually, and my lipglosses are from my store or from VS a lot of the time. Plus the Avon outlet catalogue has some good stuff from time to time, their Mark line is amazing. I have a ton of palettes that I've not used a whole heckuva lot because well, I keep buying MAC. Also sunscreen is another one, because I don't need something powerful, I just need a basic SPF 15 or 20 sunscreen. Fragrance, I go either way. I love a lot of designer ones but my store has ones that I like just as much so it's about 50/50 when it comes to that.

Heck, I would say that I don't really go into drugstores-the local Fred Meyer has everything I need from one for cheaper than any drugstore in the area.

 

[geeko]

I save on:
1. Mascara (drugstore brands work as well as counter brands, so i see no pt
in forking about a small fortune for a counter brand mascara)
2. Perfumes (I'm not a perfume person...the only perfume i have is a eau de
toilette Chanel no 5 which was a gift from my mum. I will NEVER buy
perfume on my own)
3. Nail polish. Am not a nail polish person. won't splurge on nail polish.
4. foundation (I only have 1 foundation from mac and 1 tinted moisturiser
from mac.) I don't believe in having multiple bottles of foundation because
they look almost all the same to me anyway. lol. When it comes to
foundation, I believe in finishin the product before buying a new one.

I splurge on:
1. Eyeshadows (mostly from MAC)
2. Blushers (mostly from MAC)
3. Lipstuff (mostly from MAC)
4. Eyeliners (mostly from MAC)

 

[mreichert]

-Facial Care: moisturizers, eye creams, etc.
-Foundation and Powders
-Eye Shadows
-Blushes

 

[Brittni]

I save on teeth whitening. I get the professional stuff from the dentist for only $15.00/tube now that I've had my teeth impressions made. So, that's always really nice (even though I don't need much...just touch ups) I wouldn't mind buying some for people and having them use basic teeth whitening trays because the results are really good..and some people really need it...ew haha...But besides that after reading this thread I really don't save on much! I guess mineral makeup because samples last forever? Oh, and I save on makeup brushes. I use Sonia Kashuk's! I need to save on gas

I splurge on everything! except face care and hair - which I need to start doing! ie: good salon shampoo, and some expensive face creams...there is just too many to choose from. I use one by Nuetrogena (I got two free online in a promotion, Neutrogena AntiOxidant Age Reverse Day Lotion) in the day as my moisturizer and one at night that smells AMAAZZZINGG by Olay (Age Defying Intensive Nourishing Night Cream) though. Never too young (I'm 19!) to start preventing aging right... ;P

Make-up...clothes...fashion jewelry...etc...

 

[Sanayhs]

From the drug store I buy mascara, lip balm, body wash, nail polish, lip gloss... I use Garnier fresh facial care because my face likes it. I have a bunch of Physician's Formula products, but those aren't terribly cheap, especially considering they are from the drug store. I go through plenty of their translucent mineral wear veiling powder. I get most of my pencil eyeliners as well as some of my lipliners and lipsticks from the drug store, too. I save on hair colour by doing my own, be it all over colours, foils, etcetera. I get my lightening and colouring products from a local store called the Hair Dressers' Market.

I splurge on my hair with Redken products (as my hair is a fussy thing). My favourite formula of their shampoo/conditioner is the All Soft. I buy MAC concealer, blush, eyeshadows, paints, paint pots, pigments, brushes, shadesticks and fluidlines. I also buy some MAC lipstick, pencil eyeliners and lipliners. I turn to smashbox for foundation primer. I definitely splurge on foundation (MAC studio stick). I also favour expensive hair cuts, but when I'm short on cash I'll save by doing my own trim.

 

[peruvianprinces]

well i usually splurge on whatever i have read good reviews on. doesn't matter if its a blush or a foundation.
but what i don't do is go into a makeup counter like ysl dior or chanel and just ask for lets say a pink lipstick....
unless its a special shade of pink or has awesome staying power
hope it made sense

 

[newagetomatoz]

For me, I buy what I like whether it is high or low end. Though generally, I do go low end on mascara (have yet to be wowed by a high end brand), soap, shampoo, conditioner, and nailpolish because for the most part, I think they are mostly the same and the difference between the ends is minimal.

When it comes to makeup I do mix high and low end because there are some pretty stellar colors and brands on the low end side of things (Milani, NYX, HIP) as well as the high end (MAC, Urban Decay, Shu). Same for skin care, hair care, body. If I like it, I buy it so long as I feel the price is justifiable.

Though I have to say that I do splurge on brushes because there really is a quality difference in them.

 

[elektra513]

I'm very picky. When I find something I like, I typically stick with it. If I use something that is high-end, it's because all the low-end versions have failed me and I am bitter.

I also find that I am a mid-range consumer. I typically don't do cheap, and I definitely don't do ridiculously expensive. Middle of the road works best for me.

Splurge:
Hair products: Joico, Paul Mitchell, Chi. I don't do drugstore shampoo or conditioner

Foundation/Concealer/Powders: Prescpriptives, MAC, looking into other high-end brands...
Eyeshadow: All MAC so far, but looking into other brands. I don't do drugstore e/s...period.
Eyeliner: MAC. I have been disgusted and disappointed by d/s eyeliner time and time again. I will gladly pay $15-16 for eyeliner now.
Blush: MAC and Nars so far. Highly pigmented and high quality works for me.
Face Wash: Clinique. It's my HG cleanser as of Feb '08

Save:
Mascara: Loreal. Can't justify buying $24 mascara just to throw it out in 3 months
Lipgloss: Mixture b/t Rimmel, MAC, and Loreal. I collect the Loreal Colour Juice.
Lipliner: Mix b/t MAC and Rimmel. Rimmel wins normally.
Moisturizer: Dove or something. As long as it's mild, it's good.
Body wash/soap: Dove
Other household stuff...Gotta be cheap here to afford all the expensive makeup

 

[Kuuipo]

What I save on? Clothing. I only buy clothing at Ross. I also only own a pocketbook, basic black. I have like 4 or 5 work uniforms, a few pairs of sneaks, slippahs (flip flops) and one real pair of shoes.
Splurge? That would be makeup. I wear it to work, I don't have a nightlife-I work at night. It's all high end shadows-Dior, every duo that NARS has, only Nars blushes, and very high end lipsticks. I cut and colour my hair at home (because I am liscenced,lol), so I save there...

 

[macchristyy]

im all about MAC! except i do find HIP cream liners to be better than MACs fluidline (when used as a liner). when it comes to face cleansing stuff ill use drugstore brands because they work just fine. but i am starting to use MACs skincare line and FALLING IN LOVE WITH THEM

and TIGI BED HEAD PRODUCTS! gotta love bed head

so makeup.. i splurge
brushes.. splurge
hair.. i splurge
skincare.. starting to splurge

so pretty much you can say.. im BROKE!

 

[panda0410]

blah! pigments - its slowly killing me!! I also splurge on lippies - I have so many....

I save on hair stuff - I dont use a lot of it and I would rather have a pretty clip than designer shampoos!

 

[fashionette]

I splurge on everything, haha. But esp. on makeup (mac & clinique are my faves) and on hair and lush products. I looooove lush.

 

[.:jinx:.]

i save on mascaras, and my foundation is just like 7$ maybelline . i majorly splurge on eyeshadows! im all about bright colours and quality for my eyes. i never used brushes until a week ago when i bought 2 MAC ones so im not sure if that counts as splurge or save. i used to save, now i splurge

 

[xiahe]

SAVE:
* lip balms, glosses. for glosses I generally use VS Beauty Rush [they usually have sales/deals on those, tho] or C.O. Bigelow Mentha Lip Shines - both brands are pretty inexpensive. for balm/chapstick I just those Carmex Click Sticks! $0.88 and they're the best things EVERRR imo.
* eyeliner. Revlon Colorstay pencil - the only eyeliner I'll splurge on is MAC Fluidline).
* blush. Jane has some nice blushes along with NYX.
* powder. I don't use powder very often - usually just to set concealer or lightly dust my face after applying a TM or something. I like Physicians Formula Mineral powder.
* mascara! I LOOOOVE Almay's One Coat Nourishing Triple Effect!!! The only department store mascara I have tried (and also LOVED but not the $23 price tag!) is Lancome's Definicils.
* shampoo/conditioner. herbal essences/tresseme does it for me!
* bath products. I use stuff from bath & body works at times but imo that stuff isn't overly expensive and they always have sales & deals on all of their stuff!
* nail polish! i love L'Oreal & Sally Hansen & Revlon!
* eye makeup remover

SPLURGE:
* skincare. I use Clinique's Acne Solutions line (the foaming cleanser & toner).
* tinted moisturizer. I use Clinique's Moisture Sheer Tint SPF 15 =)
* eyeshadows. I have noticed a huuuge difference between drugstore shadows (except for NYX! those shadows are awesome) & department-store ones. I'm a MAC-addict.
* concealer. I splurge on undereye concealer but for blemishes I just use Almay's Clear Complexion concealer because I haven't found a GOOD high-end concealer that contains salicylic acid.