Don’t get me wrong — there’s nothing I love more than hitting up Target or Walmart and buying a shopping cart’s worth of seriously good makeup and skin care products without utterly depleting my bank account. But at the same time, I truly smile every morning when I slather on my $98 heavenly scented AmorePacific face cream that leaves my skin looking like a glowing dew drop, which leaves me in a weird guilty limbo pulled between cheap and high-end. And based on a recent viral thread on Reddit’s Makeup Addiction, I realized I’m not alone in my plight, because the same makeup wizards who swear by drugstore dupes recently opened up about the “luxury” beauty products that they swear are actually worth the splurge.
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The thread started when one curious user, after regretfully spending money on a high-end mascara that came up short, asked the beauty community for the last item they splurged on and why. One zillion comments later, and the thread is currently loaded with mini reviews and stories about each user’s go-to expensive products that they promise beat anything they’ve ever bought at the drugstore. And because the recommendations were so good, we rounded up the seven top products, including a cult-favorite serum from Drunk Elephant and a Tom Ford bronzer brush along with each user’s review. See the products ahead and get ready to set aside some extra cash for these bad boys guilt-free.
Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer
“I just ordered the Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer, because it’s the only primer that I feel has drastically improved the way my foundation looks on my face. [It makes my skin] as close to smooth as [it’s] ever been. So I bought it. Fuck it.” — Wolf_Craft
Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer (Sephora, $54)
Tarte Tartelette in Bloom clay palette
“I love [this palette] so much, and wish I would’ve bought it months ago. [It’s] so pigmented and blendable, and the case is perfect.” — HermionesBook
Tarte Tartelette in Bloom clay palette (Tarte, $46)
Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night Serum
“My last splurge was [on] Drunk Elephant’s TLC Framboos Glycolic Serum. I ran out of it and was putting off repurchasing it because of the price, but my skin is definitely reflecting the fact that I haven’t been using it. [It] literally changed my skin, so I can’t say enough good things about it!” — Dnttouchmypizzabely
Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night Serum (Drunk Elephant, $90)
Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance palette
“I hate that [Anastasia Beverly Hill’s] Modern Renaissance [is] a cult-favorite, [but] after a year of debating, I finally bought it. I was worried that it would be an overhyped palette, but I absolutely love it. The shadows blend like a dream.” — Ohemgeeme
Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance palette (Anastasia Beverly Hills, $42)
Tom Ford bronzer brush
“I caved and bought the Tom Ford Bronzer Brush, and I don’t regret it at all. It’s hands down the best brush I own.” — Valpal890
Tom Ford bronzer brush (Tom Ford, $115)
Smashbox Spotlight palette
“I [just] got the Smashbox [and] Casey Holmes [collaboration] highlighter palette in Pearl, because I needed a new highlighter … I love the 'glow from within' look it gives me.” — Tired_duck
Smashbox Spotlight palette (Smashbox, $35)
Nars Narsissist loaded eye shadow palette
“There wasn’t any reason for buying [the Nars Loaded Palette] other than that I wanted to, [but] I don’t regret it. The colors all work well for me, and it’s the perfect size for traveling.” — Rainbow_city
Nars Narsissist loaded eye shadow palette (Nars, $59)
Originally posted on StyleCaster.