The decades-old debate- drugstore or luxury? We all know what is more cost-effective for the everyday makeup wearer, but what is the difference in quality- or is there one? To give you my answer right off the bat, it truly depends on the product for me. I wish I could say it depends on just the brand, but even amazing brands have their “hit or miss” products. This goes for all drugstore brands and all luxury brands. I’ve had the opportunity to try Chanel skincare and while the products smell amazing and the packaging is to die for, the actual skincare benefits are comparable to plenty of drugstore products. Not to mention- fragrance is an irritant for my skin, so it is probably best for me to go without the beautiful Chanel products. With that being said, I have had trouble finding any comparables to Chanel perfumes. There’s nothing quite like them. Taking a look at Cerave, a reliable drugstore brand, I don’t enjoy their sunscreen. However, I love their moisturizer. Now, take Rare Beauty, one of the most popular brands at Sephora, which is a more affordable luxury brand. I love just about every product I have tried from them, especially the famous liquid blushes. However, if you are tight on a budget, the liquid blushes from SheGlam or e.l.f are wonderful. Even if they are not considered “dupes”, they are lovely products. My proven method of finding great new makeup products includes a step routine.

1. Do your research - Check TikTok, and listen to honest reviews. Look online, and see the star rating.

2. Buy in-store (ideally) - Seeing products in person allows you to color match more precisely and get a feel of the product’s texture.

3. Be ready to make some returns - If the store allows, there is nothing wrong with returning products you tried and don’t enjoy! At the end of the day, it’s all subjective. What works for someone else might not work for you, and that’s okay. That goes for more than just makeup and skincare.