I was pleasantly surprised that not many people judged me too much in the first round of this analysis. This is probably because I don’t really spend that much on skincare.
This series is meant to analyze how much I spend on consumer products that are supposed to make me look good.
1. Foundation
$40/bottle (2x/year) = $80
I use MAC Face and Body Foundation. I love it. It’s sheer, lightweight, and blends really well. I’m super pale so most other foundations give me streaks like the rainbow, so this was a great find.
I use it very sparingly, it seems, so I don’t usually buy 2 bottles a year – maybe a bottle every 8 months – but I’ll round up just in case.
2. Powder
$6/compact (1x/year) =$6
I usually use Cover Girl Professional Loose Powder for this purpose, and use it to matify my foundation in the mornings. I still haven’t run out.
3. Bronzer/Blush
$34/compact (1x/year) = $34
I use Mineralize SkinFinish by MAC. Once again, I’m pasty so it’s a must. I have had my current bronzer for about a year and a half and I only now have to replace it, so I’ll just round up.
4. Eyes
I have a lot of fun with my eye makeup. I really only wear mascara and a little eyeliner when I go to work, but on weekends if I’m going out, I’ll play with color (particularly in the eyeliner department) and use shadow. I went on a MAC binge last year so I have a LOT of colors in my makeup bag right now, but what I use on a regular basis does not reflect that.
I don’t use any of these more than once a year, but because I am not putting anything near my eyes that is old and full of bacteria, I replace after a certain period of time. Usually the bottle is still half full.
A) Maybelline Colossal Volume Mascara – $8/bottle (2x/year) = $16
Not the best, not the worst. It’ll do for now.
B) Prestige Eyeliner – $5/pencil (1x/year) = $5
I’ll gladly use my pencils until they are stubs.
C) MAC Mineralize Eye Shadow – $24/compact (2x/year) = $48
I certainly don’t use that much eyeshadow in a year, but I definitely buy that and more.
5. Lips
$17.50/tub (1x/year) = $17.50
I use MAC Lipstick. Why? Because other than the maybe one tube that I buy during the year, I get it for free when I turn in six MAC containers. Plus, I love it.
I also use a gloss and a lip balm but both of those things I have had for forever and don’t even remember when I bought them.
6. Tools and Cleaner
A) MAC Brushes – $40/brush (1x/year) = $40
I have a full set but I’d be lying if I told you I didn’t lose them from time to time.
B) MAC Brush Cleanser – $15.50/bottle (1x/year) = $15.50
It’s important to keep those brushes clean. So as not to give oneself an eye infection.
I don’t know if you noticed the pattern, but I’m a pretty big MAC fan. It’s definitely not as expensive as some think it is, since it goes farther than lots of makeup.
Total: $262
I’m actually surprised this total came up less than my skin care regime, but it’s likely due to the fact that Philosophy is expensive and I use more of it than my makeup.
Ladies – do you wear makeup? What’s your favorite brand?
MY favorite brands are Neutrogena and Estee Lauder. I love makeup and spend way too much!
I’ve never used Estee Lauder. I should try it.
I don’t see anything wron with what you are using. I used MAC bronzers, brushes, blushes, e/s and lipglosses/lipsticks. I am a MAC addict. 🙂 You don’t spend that much on your makeup. Especially because you use it for a long time.
I am too – MAC are marketing geniuses.
My total exposure to that brand is the TLC song Unpretty. 🙂 “You can buy all the makeup the MAC can make”
WOW! I never realized who cheap I am when it comes to makeup.
Yearly, this is what I buy:
1 tube mascara ($8 CDN).
1 eyeliner ($4 CDN)
That’s it. I don’t have foundation. I don’t have any eye shadow stuff, I borrow my sister’s if I’m going out.
I’m wish I was more into makeup but I hate putting it on in the morning and washing it off! I guess I’m too lazy (we’ll call it easygoing).
Hahaha! I’m just fairly vain. My skin is sensitive so I have to wash my face every night/morning anyway.
Honestly, betwen this post and the one about your other face stuff, it’s just mind blowing to me how much time and effort women put into their appearance. ANd it’s not bad, I like when my wife takes time and looks beautiful (which is EVERY DAY! 🙂 ) Seems almost shameful that I just roll out of bed and go to work. Sometimes I even forget to brush my teeth! Haha
hahaha my boyfriend is a carpenter and I’m always having to remind him that looking professional for work is important, even in work boots. He rarely even combs his hair.
It has been so long since I’ve worn make up, I don’t eve know what I have anymore. Likely, whatever I have should be thrown out at this point. Honestly, no matter what I’ve tried, make up feels heavy and just awful on my face. Some, it felt this way w/in the hour, other took an hour or two, but the end result is always the same. Awful-feeling face and extra acne.
I may not wear make up, but I do use lip balm. Usually Burts Bees, or alba, or another natural brand. So I do spend 2-4$/tube which will last 1-2 months.
I should do a post like this but I’m afraid to add it up lol
I was too. But then I added it up and it wasn’t even close to how much I thought I spent. My hair, on the other hand..
Well, I just bought $300 worth of makeup to wear for my wedding, so that’s going to be my makeup for the next 2 years. LOL. For foundation, my favorites are Korres (since discontinued) and Diorskin Nude. I like Urban Decay’s Naked eyeshadow palette and one of their mascaras. My eyeliner is from Makeup Forever. Most of my makeup brushes are from Sonia Kashuk.
I do spend WAY more on skincare, but that’s kind of a necessary expense to keep my complexion happy.
I use Origins; works the best for my skin.
TB and I should totally write posts like this.
$2.85 – Crest toothpaste. That big smile is expensive.
$3.65 AXE body wash. Not just the generic one. I get that “manly-man” smell from sticking with the “Snake Peel” blend.
Blush? Only when I ask a woman “when’s the baby due?” Only to find out that….yeah.
I wear makeup on rare occations. I don’t wake up early enough to put it on.
Goodness, this makes me realize how little I spend. Maybe I should put in more effort?
I use a lot of MAC products as well. A while back, many companies didn’t cater to dark skin colors. MAC did, and I’ve always been grateful for that. Besides MAC, I use Bare Escentuals. Recently, I picked up a Stila lip pen from Sephora. It set me back $22. Eek! But it was totally worth it. 🙂
I’ve been thinking of trying out some MAC products, all my make-up is usually Covergirl from the drug store because it’s cheap, but I am definitely thinking of investing in some nice lipsticks and I find drugstore brands always fade away or dry out my lips.
I pretty much swear by MAC as well. I use the MAC make-up remover wipes because I do wear eye shadow every day (usually just several tones of brown, maybe my eye color if I’m going out).
I don’t wear lipstick though – I swear by Hurraw! Balm (chapstick) and buy them ten at a time to reduce the cost of shipping per item.
I don’t wear foundation. I’m starting to consider it since my face is many different shades and it would be nice to even out my skin tone, but that seems like too much effort lol.
Damn, I thought I went through a lot to keep myself looking good. Now I don’t feel so bad about the amount I spend 😆
I need to go on a course about this kind of thing :). And I have already bought a book. I use make up you see but in a very minimalistic way.
I like Neutrogena for wash, lotion, and tinted moisturizer. I have Bare Escentuals (aka Bare Minerals) powder which I use extremely sparingly with my small dappling brush only on the spots that need extra coverage, some-drugstore-brand-I-can’t-remember-right-now mascara…it’s a purple tube!, and that’s all I wear on an even semi-regular basis. I’m lucky to have a mom that loves expensive makeup and such, and she’s bought me some Estee Lauder blush, eyeshadows, eyeliners, etc. She also buys me OPI nail polish. I should probably write a post about why my mom is so awesome, right? 🙂
-whispers- maybe she’s born with it.
-sings- MAYBE IT’S MAYBELLINE!
It does add up, even with conservative purchases. I did a post about this a couple years ago and J Money (Budget’s are Sexy) did the dude version. Dude’s have it lucky LOL
I really could use a course on how to properly pick, choose and apply make up. I never had that natural knack for it that so many have.
I love MAC! I don’t usually wear make up. Maybe once a week? I tend to wear powder, some blush, basic eye makeup,and mascara if i remember.
I probably spend less than $100 a year on make up.
I tend to stick to clinique products for my skincare and mac bronzer (that and red lipstick are my go to pieces)
I’m a new convert to Sephora products – a store just opened in the mall close to where I live. I use their Erase Paste to hide the blue shadows and lines under my eyes – turning 40 means looking older, but I can still look good! It is $25 for a tiny little jar, but based on how much I use it will last me 6-9 months, so I can live with it. 🙂