How I Save on Make-Up

Some of you might remember that my friend Christy and I celebrated my birthday with mini-makeovers at Sephora before dinner and a chick flick with SuSu, my sister-in-law.

I don't know if you've ever been to a department store make-up counter or a beauty product store for a makeover, but it can be a surreal experience.

They lure you like sirens with the pretty colors and bottles of lotions and potions. By the end, you're so grateful for the miracle they have worked on your face, that you gratefully fork over fistfuls of cash in order to tote the magical products home with you in an unsuccessful attempt to recreate said miracle.

Not that it happened to me or anything.

I was handing over my bank card before I realized I was spending more than $70 on eye primer, mascara, highlighter, and a small tin for the highlighter. (The Bubble Bath was a free gift for my birthday)

I felt so awful for spending more than I intended to that I made the "walk of shame" back to Sephora the next Monday morning to return everything but the Laura Mercier eye primer, which I could not bear to part with. It was my birthday after all. My humiliation was compounded by the fact that I had Natalie and Michaela Byrd with me, who were so awestruck that they asked if we could buy every single thing.

I decided, however, that just because I couldn't spend $70 on some eyeshadow and mascara, I could attempt to recreate the look. The cheapest and closest place I could think of was (cue scary music here) Wal-Mart.

Surprisingly enough, using the parts of my brain that have not dissolved from lack of use, I managed to find "replacement items" in very similar shades:

Cover Girl Berries and Cream eye enhancer

Cover Girl Champagne highlighter

Cover Girl Violet Voltage liquid blast eyeliner

Cover Girl lash blast fusion mascara

Paired with my $24 Laura Mercier eye primer in Buff, my eyes are lookin' pretty darn good!

I also purchased an inexpensive ($10 or less) make-up brush set at WM, and it really makes a difference in the way the shadow sets and looks once it's on.

Here's where I keep it real and agree that you truly get what you pay for. Yes, the Stila eye highlighter is much better quality and would probably last longer than my Champagne shade from CG, but sometimes you just can't justify spending $20 for one small shadow. Also, that particular mascara is the absolute worst I have ever used. I will not be buying it again...I guess you win some and you lose some, right?

I think the key is spending the real money on the most important things. For me (a mom with sensitive skin), I spend the most on Cleansing Foam and Facial Soap, Oil Free Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion, a facial sunscreen with SPF 40 that I use every single day, and foundation--all by Clinique because it works with my skin. I don't mind using drug store brands for eye shadows, eye liners, and lip glosses.

I like to wait until Macy's runs their Free Gift promo and then I stock up on the items I use every day. Sephora also carries Clinique, and I plan on making more purchases there to earn points. Places like Ulta frequently advertise sales on Cover Girl, Maybelline, Almay, etc.

I want to make sure I'm clear on the fact that I really like my local Sephora, and I plan to continue shopping there. I just want to urge my fellow readers on budgets to be sure to take your time when shopping (especially on that post-makeover high!). Look at prices before tossing products in your basket, and be willing to spend more on some good basics and hunt for some decent extras that don't cost and arm and a leg.

You don't want to make that walk of shame back into the beauty store, trust me!

{What do you spend more or less on when it comes to make-up?}