Women spend a whopping $15,000 on beauty products over the course of their lives. While you can save money by opting for drugstore dupes, sometimes that name brand is worth it. Some expensive brands aren't worth their weight in gold, but you shouldn't feel guilty for purchasing these beauty brands.
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00:00On average, each woman spends a whopping $15,000 on beauty products in a lifetime.
00:06But while you can save a little cash by hunting down drugstore dupes,
00:10sometimes you just want to treat yourself. While some luxury lines are
00:13just banking on their names, these makeup brands are worth every pretty penny.
00:19Can I at least get a bag?"
00:20Sure."
00:22Less than an ounce of setting powder from Charlotte Tilbury will set you back $45.
00:27Add the brand's Filmstar Bronze & Glow Contour Palette, and you're out an additional $68.
00:32There's no getting around the cost of this luxury line,
00:34but the pros say it just might be worth it. GlamSquad's Kelly J. Bartlett told Byrdie,
00:39"'It's the perfect combination of ultra-luxe glamour mixed with high-performance products.
00:44The packaging is so chic, and the formulations are spot-on. Charlotte just gets glamour.'"
00:49"'Charlotte, darling, flawless is a field.'"
00:52A total fan of the Airbrush Flawless Finish Setting Powder as well as the Contour Palette,
00:57the makeup artist said that the Feline Flick Eyeliner is also a score for your arsenal, explaining,
01:02"'It starts off creamy so you have plenty of time to achieve
01:05perfection and then dries down for the ideal long-wearing finish.'"
01:10When it comes to foundation, you definitely get what you pay for.
01:13Makeup artist Rick DiCecca explained to Business Insider,
01:16"'High-quality foundations make your skin look smoother,
01:19cover dark spots better, and diminish wrinkles and fine lines.
01:22While also incorporating the skincare benefits you desire,
01:25they also tend to have more shades and finishes to choose from.'"
01:28"'I love a product that can multitask. Like me.'"
01:34While there are certainly more affordable options than Giorgio Armani's Luminous Silk Foundation,
01:39which retails at an eye-popping $64 per ounce, it remains a cult favorite among the pros.
01:45Giorgio Armani Foundation also has been consistently named the best of the best by
01:50InStyle for years. If you thought $64 was a lot to spend on foundation,
01:56we'd like to introduce you to one that clocks in at, oh, roughly four times that price.
02:01For $250, Clé de Peau Beaute The Foundation is, as of 2020,
02:06the most expensive you can find on the market, according to the brand.
02:10This lightweight foundation contains Radiance Boosting Exclusive Illuminating Complex EX,
02:15which moisturizes, rejuvenates, re-texturizes,
02:18and visibly repairs environmental skin damage for smoothing, radiant coverage. Sounds good, right?
02:25But could it really be worth the three-figure price tag? Makeup artist Jeffree Star says it is.
02:30After wearing the foundation for over eight hours, from first application through an evening event,
02:35Star claimed that he didn't have to touch up his makeup at all throughout the night.
02:39Okay, so I know most of you out there watching, you don't want to hear this,
02:43but the $250 foundation, it actually works.
02:48InStyle's editorial team also dubbed Clé de Peau Beaute's slightly more affordable
02:52$125 Radiant Foundation as, quote, worth the splurge.
02:58Glam Squad's Kelly G. Bartlett is a MAC addict, calling the line a, quote,
03:02true artist's brand. She told Byrdie,
03:04With MAC, the shade range and innovation and technology behind the products can't be beat.
03:09She just looks gorgeous on everyone.
03:12The brand offers up an enormous lineup of quality products. Among Bartlett's favorites
03:17is the Pro Longwear Paint Pot, which she explains,
03:19is the ultimate eyeshadow primer and cream eyeshadow in one.
03:23It makes eyeshadow more true to color and non-creasing.
03:26MAC also offers a foundation for a much lower cost than many comparable luxury brands. According
03:31to Bartlett, the Studio Face & Body Foundation is her go-to for every possible type of skin and
03:36skin tone. MAC also kills it in the lipstick department, according to the artist, as well
03:42as its legions of devoted fans.
03:44What I've learned about love is that it starts with yourself.
03:49You've probably seen just about every celebrity post about it on Instagram at some point. But
03:54when it comes to La Mer, the splurgy purchase may actually be a good investment. Makeup artist
03:59Patrick Ta told Byrdie,
04:01"[The brand is total luxury, from the moisturizers to the lightweight makeup to the lip balms.]
04:06Can you see? Airy, playful, satin on my skin."
04:15But of course, that high-end product is gonna cost you. A half-ounce of Renewal Oil, for example,
04:20retails for $135. Nevertheless, Ta says he swears by the stuff, explaining to the outlet,
04:26"...it really moisturizes the skin for makeup and adds a radiant glow."
04:30While he recommends the $345 two-ounce jar of moisturizing Cool Gel Cream,
04:36you can snag a 16.5-ounce container of the line's OG moisturizer for a whopping $2,475.
04:44But the story behind the product is even more shocking than the price. According to The Cut,
04:48La Mer creates its formulas by using a fermented liquid called
04:53And while it's transforming, technicians play it a song of sorts,
04:56a digitized version of the sound of fermentation bubbles.
05:00What? You don't play music for your lotion?
05:04Compared to other luxury brands, Urban Decay probably feels much more affordable. But despite
05:09the lower price point, they're every bit as glamorous. The brand is beloved by fans,
05:13celebrities, and professional makeup artists alike.
05:16Oh, I look good!"
05:20A lover of the eyeliner pencils, makeup artist Jenny Patinkin told Self,
05:24"...they can be smudged and smoked on the lid instead of powder shadow. A slightly darker
05:28shade can create definition in the crease, a dark tight line under the upper lash can make the eyes
05:33pop, and a soft taupe under the lower lash line can create the illusion that the eye has more height.
05:38Plus, for me as a 50-year-old woman with lived-in lids, I find that a smudged liner is the most
05:44forgiving, flattering thing I can apply on my eyes."
05:47It also doesn't hurt that Urban Decay is just a pretty cool company in general. On social media,
05:52the brand has proudly posted unretouched photos encouraging everyone to love their skin
05:57and celebrate their unique look.
06:00You won't have to skip foundation in these sweaty summer months thanks to Face Atelier.
06:05The luxury line is changing the game when it comes to long-lasting makeup.
06:09Their Ultra foundation is silicone-based and claims it will stand up to heat, moisture,
06:13and sweat. Although one ounce will cost you $55, renowned makeup artists swear by the label.
06:19One celebrity makeup artist told HuffPost,
06:21"...I love Face Atelier for lighter skin. I use their Ultra Pro foundations.
06:25They were one of the first ones I used in my kit and have stuck around."
06:29As great as the brand's foundation is, it's not the only product you'll want to snap up.
06:33A makeup artist told Philadelphia magazine that she loves their vegan Ultra bronzer
06:38because the cruelty-free colors work on real people in real life.
06:42"'This is my sunny California girl look. I would wear this look all the time. Westside.'"
06:49According to celebrity makeup artist Daniel Martin,
06:52Honest Beauty is a label you definitely want to know. He told Byrdie,
06:56"...Honest Beauty is a top makeup brand with completely safe, clean products that really
07:01work. The $13 lip crayons are the perfect formula and shades for a more natural look
07:06without looking like you have lipstick on."
07:08He's also a fan of Jessica Alba's Falling For You makeup palette,
07:11mainly because of its moisturizing cream blush. The guru also swears by the Truly
07:16Lush mascara and primer, adding,
07:18"...This incredible mascara separates and lengthens on its own,
07:21and used after the primer, it adds more volume to each individual lash."
07:27What if we told you you could wear the same foundation as Beyoncé,
07:30and it wouldn't cost you a fortune? When All Even sent the star's makeup artist,
07:35Sir John, their ColorShield Airbrush foundation, he claimed that after two hours of dancing in
07:40the heat at Coachella, the queen's makeup stayed perfectly in place. Sir John explained to InStyle,
07:45"...There was a certain point where she blotted with a white towel,
07:48and nothing was there. I was like, okay, I'm onto something here."
07:51"...This is a really beautiful base. This is gonna allow your skin to breathe. It's gonna
07:54be anchored to your complexion all day. And the cool thing about it is that you can put
07:58makeup on top of it."
07:59For $48, you get a 3.4-ounce can with a built-in nozzle that provides a perfect application.
08:05The guru suggested,
08:06"...Put your hair in a towel, spray it, and do your eyebrows after,
08:10because you might get a tint in your brows."
08:12Although Dior has been an iconic global fashion house for decades,
08:16you're missing out if you haven't tried their beauty line. Makeup artist Daniel Martin explained
08:20to Byrdie,
08:21"...Dior has real pro artists' tools for flawless red carpet makeup and airbrushed finishes."
08:26Of course, with the Dior name, the product does come at a higher cost.
08:30Martin says the Fix It 2-in-1 Prime and Conceal, which retails for $36,
08:34effectively eliminates dark spots on medium to darker skin tones. He also
08:38recommended Dior's $52 Forever Foundation as his, quote, "...red carpet go-to."
08:44"...Dior actually reveals your ultimate beauty. This foundation won't let you down."
08:48And it appears that the pros love more than just Dior foundation.
08:51Celebrity makeup artist Toby Henney told Elle that one of her most used beauty products
08:56happens to be Dior eyeliner, which helps her achieve a, quote, "...sharp, graphic eye."
09:02You probably know Chanel for their fashion, but maybe not so much for their makeup. The brand
09:06revealed its best-selling beauty products of 2018 to Harper's Bazaar, and there are plenty
09:11of goodies to try. Take the luxury plunge by snapping up fan-favorite Rogue Allure Luminous
09:17Intense Lip Color for a cool $38. Celebrity makeup artist Brett Friedman told Health,
09:22"...I love this one for its classic satin finish. It has a touch of luminousness
09:26that gives gorgeous depth. I've used this shade on Britney Snow, and she looked oh-so-retro."
09:32"'Beauty Blooms' were least expected, and it never flaunts itself."
09:37The Soleil Tan de Chanel Bronzing Makeup Base is also a popular choice,
09:41and it's not hard to see why. Celebrity makeup artist Robert Sesnic told Health,
09:46"...its universal shade can warm up the fairest complexions and deepen the deepest skin tones."
09:51If you're looking for high-quality makeup that does double or triple duty,
09:56Surratt Beauty is the brand for you. It was even founded by a pro makeup artist, Troy Surratt.
10:02Some of the key things that I wanted to bring to this line were just
10:05a sort of playfulness. I think that it is a really fun way to express yourself."
10:12Celebrity makeup artist David Martin loves the line's multi-use products,
10:16telling Byrdie of the eyeshadows in particular,
10:18"...they create a ton of dimension on the eyes and even on the skin."
10:21At $50 a pop, Martin says he's also a fan of the Surreal Skin Concealer, adding,
10:27"...this dark circle-banishing concealer gives great buildable coverage,
10:30and the shade range is excellent."
10:32Celebrity makeup artist Fiona Stiles is also very into the line,
10:36especially the Surreal Skin Foundation Wand. She told Glamour,
10:39"...the finish is gently matte, almost matine, and it really diminishes the look of my pores.
10:44Without looking heavy, it evens out the skin,
10:46and the wand brush beautifully buffs the product to near invisibility."
10:51Benefit Cosmetics boasts a huge line of products to satisfy a good beauty binge,
10:56and it appears that they're all pretty spectacular. Good Housekeeping Institute
10:59tested a slew of fan favorites, and from brow powder to primer, Benefit came out on top.
11:05Senior beauty editor for the outlet Caroline Brien loves the roller lash curling and lifting
11:09mascara, revealing,
11:11"...the brush is molded with tiny hooks, so coverage looks very even and there's amazing
11:16curl. Plus, it's also curved just right to give a pretty lift along the lash line."
11:20"...there's only one thing you can get into shape without breaking a sweat,
11:23and that's your eyebrows."
11:24Benefit's Brow Zings, Tame, and Shape Kits were also a huge hit among testers. The product earned
11:30a score of 91 out of 100, which is pretty amazing, especially at its $32 price point.
11:36"...this snatches your brows in three easy steps, or whatever."
11:41In 2019, Forbes reported that Rihanna had become the world's richest female musician,
11:46but it wasn't just because of her killer tracks.
11:49"...here we are with the creator of Fenty Beauty, Rihanna."
11:52Thanks in part to her successful makeup line, Fenty Beauty, she has amassed a fortune of over
11:57$600 million. Having launched the brand back in September 2017,
12:02she reportedly earned $100 million in sales in less than a month.
12:06With Fenty Beauty's initial release of a jaw-dropping 40 shades of foundation,
12:10which has since expanded to 50, Rihanna deftly tapped into an underserved and
12:15highly lucrative market. Research analyst Stephanie Wissink told Forbes,
12:20"...it challenged the standard convention that you only needed a very defined set of
12:24shades to satisfy a market."
12:26Not only did Fenty Beauty achieve meaningful sales,
12:28but it potentially changed the industry permanently.
12:31"...women of all ages, all size, all skin tones,
12:34all religions, all cultures. I wanted women to feel included."
12:39It's no surprise, then, that Time magazine named Fenty Beauty one of the 25 best inventions of
12:442017. But does the line live up to the hype? According to consistent and overwhelmingly
12:50good reviews on Sephora, the answer seems to be a resounding yes.