She Strengthens

Beauty on a Budget: Can $3 Products Hold Their Own Against High-End Brands?

When it comes to beauty products, it’s easy to get caught up in the idea that expensive means better. But what if I told you that you can achieve a similar look using products that cost a fraction of the price? In my quest to cut costs without compromising on quality, I put $3 beauty finds from CVS to the test against their high-end counterparts.

The $3 Haul

I started by gathering a range of affordable products, including baby oil for cleansing, NIVEA face cream for moisturizing, and a variety of makeup products from e.l.f., Wet ‘n’ Wild, and NYC. My goal was to see if I could achieve a similar look using these budget-friendly products as I would with my expensive beauty staples.

Creating a Look with $3 Products

To get started, I cleansed my skin with baby oil and applied NIVEA face cream. Next, I used e.l.f. Golden Bronzer as a base, followed by Vaseline Tinted Moisturizer on my cheeks for a natural-looking blush. I finished off my eyes with NYC Liquid Eyeliner and e.l.f. Mascara, and added a pop of color to my lips with Wet ‘n’ Wild Silk Finish Lipstick.

The Verdict: What Worked and What Didn’t

So, how did the $3 products hold up? The bronzer felt just as good on my skin as my expensive bronzer, although it did have a bit more shimmer than I expected. The Vaseline Tinted Moisturizer was a game-changer, adding a healthy glow to my cheeks and eyelids while moisturizing my skin. The e.l.f. Mascara was also a surprise hit, with its smaller brush actually helping to separate my lashes more effectively.

The Expensive Haul

But how did the $3 products compare to their high-end counterparts? I cleansed my skin with CVS Make up wipes and Neutrogena Grapefruit Cream Cleanser, followed by my Bliss Triple Oxygen Energizing Cream and L’Oréal Revitalizing Eyecream. I then applied a range of high-end makeup products, including Body Shop Honey Bronze Bronzer, Clinique Cheek Pop Blush, Clinique ‘Chubby Stick’ Lip Crayon, Stilla Eyeliner, and Neutrogena Healthy Volume Mascara.

The Comparison

So, what were the results? In terms of eye makeup, I found no difference between the cheap and expensive products – both came off easily and extended my lashes equally. As for bronzer, the inexpensive option didn’t serve as a full-face powder like my Body Shop bronzer, but it would have worked well on top of a foundation. When it came to cleansing, the baby oil took off my makeup just as well as the CVS makeup wipes. And as for skin creams, the NIVEA product held up surprisingly well against my expensive eye cream.

The Takeaway

The biggest surprise of all? The Vaseline Tinted Moisturizer, which made almost every one of the inexpensive products better. It added a healthy glow to my cheeks, created a pricey-looking lip gloss, and even helped to moisturize my skin. So, what can you take away from this experiment? Sometimes, it’s worth splurging on high-end products – but often, you can achieve a similar look using affordable alternatives. By being mindful of where you cut costs and where you splurge, you can create a beauty routine that works for you without breaking the bank.