For the second post in my Splurge vs. Save series, my take on where to spend your hard earned cash and where you can cut back, I decided to cover Cosmetics. For those of you who missed it, the first post in this series was on Skin Care Products and I felt that following it with cosmetics would be perfect. We’ve all heard the big debates about the differences between drugstore and department store make up, but do you really need to hit up Sephora for every purchase? Here are a list of the few things that I think are worth spending some cash on, and the other items that I think it’s best to save on.

Splurge : Foundation Primer. I swear, once you have used a foundation primer you will never go back. The difference that it makes in the ease of application, length of wear, and just the overall appearance of the rest of your cosmetics is amazing. Right now, I’m going budget with Rimmel Fix & Perfect Foundation Primer. It works well enough, but doesn’t stand a chance when compared to higher end foundation primers. My all time favorite is Smashbox Photo Finish. I also love Benefit Cosmetics That Gal, which is a brightening primer. If you’re on a budget, pick up the Smashbox Photo Finish To Go. Since you only need a small amount, this travel size will last you quite a while.

Splurge : Concealer. With all the time we spend taking care of our skin to avoid blemishes and dark circles, it’s worth it to invest in a quality product for when they do happen. The best all purpose concealer that I’ve used is Benefit Cosmetics Boi-ing, which will cover any blemish and last all day long. If you’re looking to cover dark circles, try Benefit Cosmetics Erase Paste. It’s a brightening concealer that you will not be able to live without. I know that I can’t.

Splurge : Eye Shadow Primer. This goes along the same lines as foundation primers. They help with the ease of application of eye products, give you better color pay off, and help keep everything in place. I notice a huge difference in my eye look when I don’t use an eye shadow primer. The colors are less vibrant, don’t go on as smoothly, and don’t last as long. I have also noticed that my eye liner doesn’t go on as smoothly and doesn’t wear as long either. This stuff is great insurance for any and every eye look you can create. And a lot cheaper than insurance rates. My pick is Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion. It comes in a nude shade as well as their new champagne shade, Sin. Smashbox, creator of my favorite foundation primer, has also just released the Photo Finish Lid Primer.

Splurge : Lip Gloss. I’m a complete lip gloss addict and have everything from super cheap N.Y.C. Liquid Lip Shine to NARS. While the cheap stuff is great for when you want to try something new, no gloss feels as great on your lips as the high end stuff. Once you find your perfect shade for everyday wear, it’s definitely worth investing some cash in a higher end version. The two that I could not do without are NARS Lip Gloss in Orgasm, which is hands down the best lip gloss that I have ever used, and Lancome Juicy Tubes in Rose Fishnets.

Save : Loose and Pressed Powder. I’ve tried both low end and high end versions of both before and can honestly not tell the difference. My favorite versions of both from the drugstore are by Cover Girl. For loose powder, I prefer their TRUblend Loose Powder. For pressed, I like Clean Pressed Powder.

Save : Bronzer. To me, this is such a seasonal item that I just have a hard time spending a lot on it. While I’ve heard nothing but great things about higher end bronzers, such as Benefit Cosmetics Dallas Bronzer, I love the budget friendly Rimmel Natural Bronzer.

Save : Blush. As with loose and pressed powder, I’ve tried both high and low end types of blush and cannot tell a difference. I stick with budget friendly Cover Girl Cheekers Blush. The line has tons of shades, and many actually match higher end shades perfectly. The shade that I love is identical to Benefit Cosmetics Thrrrob blush, but at a fraction of the price. My one weakness is NARS The Multiple in Orgasm because it’s great for summer days when you want to look great but keep make up to a minimum. It’s expensive up front, but a tube will last you forever.

Save : Eye Shadow. When paired with an eye shadow primer, drugstore shades of eye shadow pack an extra punch that makes them just as good as the higher end versions. My favorite drugstore option is Rimmel Colour Rush Trio Eyeshadow which comes in a wide variety of shades and gives you all the shades you need in one package. The Trio Eyeshadow in Orion is a great neutral set for everyday looks. I also love N.Y.C. Sparkle Eye Dust which, when paired with an eye shadow primer, actually wears better than M.A.C. pigments.

Save : Mascara. No matter what you pay for a tube of mascara, you are going to have to throw it out in 3 months anyways. So save yourself some cash and check out some of the great drugstore options out there. In my opinion, Cover Girl Lash Blast Mascara is the absolute best mascara out there. Drugstore and high end. I prefer it to the two high end mascaras that everyone seems to love – Benefit Cosmetics BADgal Lash Mascara and Dior Diorshow Mascara. Try the new Cover Girl Lash Blast Luxe Mascara for tinted shades. Other great drugstore options are Maybelline Lash Stiletto Mascara and Maybelline The Colossal Mascara.

Save : Eyeliner. This goes along the same lines as mascara. No matter what brand you buy, the shelf life is the same. If you use an eye shadow primer it’s going to help even the cheapest eyeliner go on smoothly and last through the day. My all time favorite drugstore eyeliner is Cover Girl Outlast SmoothWear Eye Liner. I’m an eyeliner addict and have tried so many drugstore kinds, but none have held up as well as this one.

What are the cosmetic items that you splurge on? Where do you save?

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