What can you save on in your cosmetic bag and what can’t?

If beauty economics were taught in school, a separate lesson would definitely be devoted to the correct distribution of the cosmetics budget. The ability to understand which products in your cosmetic bag you can save on and which ones you cannot save on is a whole science that we will introduce to you today.

What you can’t save on

The first step is to allocate funds to products that are truly worth the money.

facial care products

The main products you should not miss in the “facial care” category are cleansers, moisturizers and protectors. Let’s decipher this in cosmetic language: the skin cleansing gel, day cream and sunscreen you use morning and evening.

Cleaning phase – The first and one of the most important, so the accompanying product must be of good quality and suitable for you. The product should remove impurities and sebum without tightening, drying or irritating the skin. Therefore, it should not contain aggressive surfactants found in any detergent. Otherwise, it will wash away the protective lipid layer of the skin along with foreign substances, causing dryness. There are several types of surfactants, and amphoteric ones are considered the mildest and safest of them. By the way, they are also the most expensive. Therefore, they are not included in budget funds.

moisturizing phase It comes right after cleaning. Day cream, like cleanser, is something you use every day, so it should suit your skin and meet its needs. And here there is an important aspect – if you have normal, non-sensitive skin and there are no major problems (pigmentation, acne, rosacea, atopic dermatitis), there is no need for an expensive cream. It is enough to choose a suitable tool that performs its functions.

protection phase – last but not least. Sunscreen is our support and support, so it must be of good quality. Its price will depend on which generation of filters are used, how safe they are for the body and whether they contain aggressive ingredients (for example, alcohol). When it comes to sunscreen, we usually opt for drugstore brands; these are dermatologist tested and hypoallergenic.

Foundation and concealer

A good foundation differs from a bad one in that it does not clog pores, looks natural, creates a second skin effect, does not put pressure on clothes and does not dry the epidermis. It should not contain mineral oils, preservatives, talc and artificial colorants. By the way, these ingredients can also be found in expensive products. Therefore, first of all, focus on the composition – make sure that the product does not contain harmful components, and only then look at the price.

Lip and eyeliner

You need a good lip liner so that you don’t have to renew your makeup at least every half hour. Often what distinguishes a cheap product from an expensive one is its durability and composition. The first contains more cosmetic silicones and waxes (such ingredients can dry the skin of the lips), the second contains natural oils and extracts.

Moreover, since the eyes and lips are close to the mucous membranes, if you have sensitive skin, choose the product carefully and choose those marked “hypoallergenic”.

dry shadows

The shelf life of dry tissues lasts almost forever (or at least a few years), so you can spend money on them. Especially if it’s a wide palette of shadows. Firstly, they will last you a long time (after all, you are unlikely to use every shade every day). Secondly, they will be of high quality and pigmented.

What can you save on?

Now let’s move on to the more enjoyable part of our selection.

Blush and sculptor

Blush, sculptor and highlighter are products we use every day. Their consumption is low and they can be stored for a very long time. A good sculptor and blush can be found for 500-1000 rubles. And more expensive products often have packaging or brand labeling.

Mascara

Mascara should be changed every three months. Therefore, if you constantly buy an expensive product, you may go bankrupt. But that’s not the real problem. Luxury mascara differs from mass market products in terms of formula, packaging and advertising costs. But in general, if you are not allergic to any ingredients, you can easily find high-quality mascara within a thousand rubles. By the way, we have compiled our own rating here.

gel for eyebrows

Eyebrow gel is another product that needs to be renewed every two or three months, so it is not profitable to spend money on it. Moreover, there are many budget options that can compete for the palm in terms of quality with expensive products.

makeup brushes

On one hand, makeup brushes are something to splurge on. After all, the quality of the final result depends on them. But on the other hand, there are now many good budget brushes on the cosmetic market. Therefore the choice is solely yours. If you want to do professional makeup and the quality of the brushes is important to you, choose more professional ones. And if you are still an amateur, you can save money at first.