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Favorite makeup line?

birchbark

By birchbark,
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birchbark

birchbark

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I'm a minimalist, but I like to use good quality. But because I don't use much makeup (and I'm not a shopper), I haven't experimented around. Looking at the options is overwhelming. I don't mind spending more if the quality is exceptional, but not if it's just marginally better. I went on a rare trip to Ulta the other week and splurged on a couple Butter London products. They are . . . okay. I will use them up because of the price but I don't know if I would repurchase. 

 

I like to be able to trust a brand. What are your favorites?

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Just Kate

Just Kate

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I've worn Bare Minerals for several years and really liked it. However, during a recent stop in Ulta, I was told by a sweet sales person that Bare Minerals was her least favorite and that there were many other brands she would recommend (PUR cosmetics was one she mentioned). I would really like to go back on a day I have time to talk to someone and maybe see if there are better options out there (the sales person also told me that there are better, less expensive options!). I'll be following this thread for suggestions.

Edited by Just Kate
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Arcadia

Arcadia

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My BIL's wife likes Clarins and Clinique. My SIL can use any brands. My preferred brand is Estée Lauder for moisturizer, toner and cleanser but Christian Dior or YSL for compact foundation. I don't use makeup usually so I either wait for Christmas sales at Macy's, Bloomingdales, Nordstrom or buy more when I shop at the duty free shops in airports when traveling.

 

I haven't found a brand I like for lipstick or eyeliner. I usually ask for samples as my skin is worse than hypoallergenic and my eyes tear easily.

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J-rap

J-rap

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I'm a fan of Origins.  I'm a makeup minimalist too, but what I use from Origins always appears to be high quality and consistent.  Plus, they often give mini-makeovers on the spot to help you determine skin shade, etc.

 

I don't do much shopping around for makeup.  Once I find something I like, I just stick with it.

 

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whitestavern

whitestavern

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I use some Clinique. I like their mascara and must always have some black honey lipstick on hand. I splurge on Tarte because it works great. Bonus is that it's pretty natural; doesn't have a lot of crap ingredients. I don't wear makeup very often, so I don't mind splurging. Their cream stick blush is great. So is their primer. Their eye shadow is also nice. Laura Mercier makes a nice liquid foundation. Juice Beauty does too.

 

I bought dd a 6 mo subscription to Birchbox ($10/month) which was great for sampling different brands for a very small investment. Most of what came in was good quality, high end brands.

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PinkyandtheBrains.

PinkyandtheBrains.

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BB cream foundation by Tarte- doesn't feel like make up to me.

 

Gel cheek stain by Pixi- looks like a natural flush and can be worn alone just to look healthy. There are 3 color choices.

 

I like eyeliner I can put in in a thin line and not look made up. Currently I have powdered liner by bare minerals and use water and their liner brush.

 

Mascara, any. I have in clear and dark brown.

 

Eyelash curler- this does more than liner or mascara would to make eyes look bright and open,

 

 

NYX HD powder

 

*NYX color correction palette is cheap and excellent for covering up acne, age doors, dark circles.

 

** Dermablend concealer for heavy under eye circles.

 

 

I don't wear make up often. I have random stuff from free gifts and such I can use such as eye shadows if I want. Everything except the PIXI products I can buy at Ulta. PIXI is at Target.

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desertstrawberry5

desertstrawberry5

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I'm surprised to see so much Clinique love. I really don't like it. (Side note: I had a school friend named Clinique, which I didn't think anything of at the time and now seems very weird.)

 

I have recently fallen in love with Sephora. I have some amazing Drunk Elephant products, but I am really enjoying Sephora's own brand, too. I'm still trying things, but all of their skin care has been so luscious so far. 

 

I love ELF, and Sally. I am committed to Sally's retractable, long lasting eye liner. Ooh and I just picked up a glitter gloss pencil and shimmer powder that make me feel so up-to-the-moment, but in soft neutrals that are subtle and pleasant. 

 

I use Maybelline mascara, but it's consistently rated at top of every list. 

 

I was going to start using Bare Minerals, but now I think I'll see what Sephora and Ulta first. 

Edited by desertstrawberry5
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magnificent_baby

magnificent_baby

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For the most part, I mix and match. 

 

I really like Estee Lauder's cleansers and cremes for my finicky and sensitive skin. They give very generous samples with purchase, if you go to a department store. I am a huge Ulta fan, but unfortunately they don't carry the entire line yet, nor give out big samples. I also like Double Wear foundation for my really oily skin, but I do experiment with others all the time. 

 

My favorite mascara and pressed powder is from Lorac. 

 

NYX is also nice brand to try something new (lipliners, lipsticks, eyeliners, etc). It's inexpensive, so I don't feel bad trying something outside my comfort zone. 

 

I love Ulta because I can return anything I don't like. They have never given me any trouble with returns. Their rewards points add up quickly and they occasionally have coupons (I got a rare 20% off total purchase the other day!)

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Greta

Greta

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My favorite drugstore brand is Maybelline. They have great mascaras. I've purchased far more expensive ones and didn't like them any better. I like their lipsticks a lot, and I just recently started using their BB cream and it's great too.

 

My go-to department store brand is Clinique mostly because I'm familiar with them - I haven't done as much shopping and comparing at that price point. I absolutely love the black honey almost lipstick. That's my everyday lip color because it feels like a balm rather than a lipstick (doesn't last long though, needs frequent reapplication, but that doesn't bother me).

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Sarah CB

Sarah CB

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Always check for "gift with purchase" as well. I know Lancome, Clinique, and Estee Lauder regularly have offers where if you spend a certain amount (usually around $35) you get a free gift with purchase. For Lancome, it's usually a make-up bag, moisturizer, eye shadow, little mascara, lipstick, etc. The moisturizer is generous. Sometimes, they'll do a facial cleanser. I love Lancome's facial cleanser, I use it every day, and I have never, ever paid for it. It's really good value. I wait to make my purchases until there's a gift with purchase offer running.

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desertstrawberry5

desertstrawberry5

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I was inspired by this thread to check Marshalls for some beauty products. I got Yes to Carrots serum and souffle moisturizer (souffle is wonderful, serum is...kind of gross, honestly), and a beautiful matte and shimmer translucent powder duo from Bare Minerals for $16! It's just what I wanted. I'm so happy with it.

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Runningmom80

Runningmom80

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Make-up I like tarte, NARS, Laura mercier and cheap mascara. (So I can repurchase every couple of months when it dries out.) ETA: I forgot lipsense! My sister sells it and it really stays on all day.

 

Skincare is a whole other story and my current obsession. I use Drunk elephant vitamin c serum and sunscreen, Neogen pads, mad hippie exfoliating serum, the ordinary glycolic toner, retanol serum and Marula oil.

 

My favorite vloggers on YouTube are Stephanie Nicole and Gothamista. (Gothamista does skincare only)

Edited by Runningmom80
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I talk to the trees

I talk to the trees

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Well I guess not too many people stick to one brand! I like the Birchbox subscription idea and signed up. Also bought some Black honey lipstick today and love it.

I'm a one-brand gal: Aveda. I am very, very fair, and they carry products that are light enough for me and don't turn me orange by the end of the day. They also have pretty nice gift with purchase offers through the year and a rewards program.

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desertstrawberry5

desertstrawberry5

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Sephora gives lots of samples. Three with every order, plus rewards and gifts. They are great with in store samples. I took home a little of everything i wanted to try. They have a subscription box for $10 a month. It's good I'd you're picky, like me. I don't want to pay for things i may not like.

Edited by desertstrawberry5
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Guest

Guest

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Not all lines are equally good for all products.

 

For higher coverage organic foundation, Kjaer Weis is worth every penny and I'd say it performs better than many comparably priced department store foundations. The refillable package is also a big plus:

https://www.thedetoxmarket.com/products/kjaer-weis-cream-foundation?variant=6378872004

 

Kjaer Weis also has my favorite cream blush in Blossoming:

https://www.thedetoxmarket.com/products/kjaer-weis-cream-blush?variant=971371840

 

I absolutely adore Aromaleigh eye shadows and have used them since 2004:

https://www.aromaleighcosmetics.com

 

Favorite eye shadow palettes for on the go are anything by Lorac, and this is a great neutral starter palette:

https://www.amazon.com/LORAC-PRO-Palette-Eye-Shadow/dp/B00IUUBXYO/ref=lp_7345847011_1_18_s_it?s=luxury-beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1503335548&sr=1-18

 

Lipsticks I'm actually a huge NYX fan, even though they're ridiculously inexpensive:

http://www.nyxcosmetics.com/soft-matte-lip-cream/NYX_007.html

 

Mascara? My new favorite budget one is L'Oréal Lash Paradise, the non waterproof formula:

http://www.ulta.com/voluminous-lash-paradise-waterproof-mascara?productId=xlsImpprod16151009&sku=2510051&cmpid=PS_Non!google!Product_Listing_Ads&cagpspn=pla&CATCI=aud-294373712062:pla-121633464990&CAAGID=35321891920&CAWELAID=330000200001170911&catargetid=330000200000806052&cadevice=m&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIj5vnj-ro1QIVmIuzCh1ZswuPEAQYASABEgIR6vD_BwE

 

 

And full face of makeup or light, primers are super helpful. Pick one your skin likes - I use smashbox and benefit.

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birchbark

birchbark

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I guess the problem with shopping across brands for me is that it multiplies the sense of confusion and overwhelm by like 500. :)  And experimenting in high end brands gets expensive real fast. I've already been burned by Tarte (clumpy mascara), Pixi (dreadful colors), BareMinerals (dry looking and doesn't last), and now Butter (clumpy mascara again). Maybe people don't mind clumpy mascara? Am I being too picky?

 

Anyway, that's why I liked the idea of Birchbox.

 

Thanks for all the recommendations. It gives a place to start.

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Miss Peregrine

Miss Peregrine

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I guess the problem with shopping across brands for me is that it multiplies the sense of confusion and overwhelm by like 500. :) And experimenting in high end brands gets expensive real fast. I've already been burned by Tarte (clumpy mascara), Pixi (dreadful colors), BareMinerals (dry looking and doesn't last), and now Butter (clumpy mascara again). Maybe people don't mind clumpy mascara? Am I being too picky?

 

Anyway, that's why I liked the idea of Birchbox.

 

Thanks for all the recommendations. It gives a place to start.

If you buy at Ulta you can return anything that doesn't work. Sephora might be the same. Edited by Miss Peregrine
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Guest

Guest

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If you buy at Ulta you can return anything that doesn't work. Sephora might be the same.

Yes, ulta and return policy! I absolutely return stuff that doesn't work for me. I felt guilty at first but no more.

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