Random observation...

Okay, so some of us strictly use high-end, some low-end, and some a variety. I realized something the other day while in CVS: There isn't that HUGE of a difference in price on some DS brands and MAC.

For example, my Revlon l/s was $9.99... MAC is only $4 more... My L'Oreal Floral Affair Blush was $11.69, compared to $17.50 for a MAC potted blush. Not to mention, the L'Oreal COH Quads were $8.99... Granted a MAC quad is $36, but still, that's a savings of $20 compared to if you buy 4 MAC e/s separately. Then, mascara... L'Oreal Voluminous is like $8 in CVS... Compared to MAC Plush Lash for $11! (Okay, I know Chanel Inimitable and Diorshow are WAY more!)

So, this has me thinking... Is it really THAT much more to just get high-end items? Or at least MAC? I see people post on here that they can't afford it, but at the same time, you really can almost. Ya know? Just a little observation I've made over time, and figured I'd voice it.

This is what i said in the L'oreal hip thread. I mean their stuff is like 9.99 and up, for that reason ill just get mac stuff. The only good thing about drugstore stuff is that you can get BOGO and get two for the price of one. I agree its nearly as expensive as MAC and MAC is actually one of the cheapest "high-end" cosmetic.

For me, it is not really the price, it is the availability. I live more than 45 minutes away from anything high end, buying online is not my cup of tea for stuff like that because if it dosent look right...that's money wasted. I am honestly not interested in half of what MAC has to offer. The only thing that I wholeheartedly love is MAC pigments and I prefer samples, not full jars. I am coming all the way out of my hoarding days and I refuse to collect junk I wont look at.

At the same time, yeah Revlon is equally as high, just off by a dollar or two, but it is the Gas prices that affect my want for high end things. Besides, Revlon on a biweekly basis has BOGO sales, so I am still paying 2/$10 majority of the time. I have a gas guzzling minivan, I pay 65 bucks a week for gas. The city that I live in is developing, but I live in the woods, and nowhere near MAC, Bobbi Brown, Chanel, Dior etc. And I can get Dior, Clinique, Estee Lauder, Orgins, Prescriptives for 25% off, but most of their makeup is not suitable for my race.

Well, this is true there is BOGO... That is one perk to DS brands that you don't get from high-end ones. And if you're about 40 mins. from the only mall that carries MAC (I have one about 10 mins. away, but it's just your regular "everyday" high-end brands). I'm just saying in general, if there was no BOGO and everything was within our reach, then...

Then I would live there in some aspects, lol

Yeah I agree Aquilah... I've been thinking about this for awhile, mainly because out of all the DS brands there are, I love HIP the most. My mascara is $10 or $11. Sometimes I do get it BOGO which is awesome... But yeah, MAC is so comparable in price. If you even want to save more money, invest in the 15 pan palette and then the cost if a MAC e/s is only what.. $10.50? It's just more worth it for me in my opinion.

Plus usually when I go to a DS I'm looking for a product that has just come out(for example, like your floral affair blush) so it's going to be pretty expensive.

I bet if there are MUT members..whoever, who want to try MAC but think it's too expensive, they should really look at what they are buying in the DS. I would bet that it is close to price in MAC products.

Me, I'd rather start a collection (like the 15 palette is perfect) of MAC e/s over time... rather than having 30+ DS brand e/s that I wouldn't be completely satisfied with. Some people just love Milani or NYX shadows though, and they buy them for the quality and the price. They are great DS brands at a great price.

Where I live, CVS and other drugstores like Walgreens, etc are alot higher in price compared to Walmart, Kmart, Meijers, or Target. I stay away from drugstores for my cosmetics unless they're doing the BOGO free thing.

Another thing that I have noticed...majority dont pay full price for MAC....

Originally Posted by laurie_lu /img/forum/go_quote.gif Where I live, CVS and other drugstores like Walgreens, etc are alot higher in price compared to Walmart, Kmart, Meijers, or Target. I stay away from drugstores for my cosmetics unless they're doing the BOGO free thing. This is true, but Wal-Mart, K-Mart and Target don't always have the greatest selection, and some drugstores carry more than the "super stores."
Originally Posted by Aprill /img/forum/go_quote.gif Another thing that I have noticed...majority dont pay full price for MAC.... This is also true... I generally do, unless it's a swap or I get it cheap on eBay (generally skin care items there).

I totally agree aquilah.... it is how I justify my mac spending w/ my hubby The quality I get form MAC/Benefit/NARS etc... is amazing and sure its a little but more but it seems to last longer for me than drug store brands...and drug store brands aren't that cheap...I would rather pay a few $'s more for my mac

I love Mac, but I am one of those people that availability is a problem. I get Mac when I can--but lots of time I just run to Wal-Mart and get the first thing I grab.

The closest store for me to buy MAC is an hour away. I can however go to our outlet mall and visit a "Cosmetics Company Store" and find some limited MAC selections really really cheap.

Originally Posted by laurie_lu /img/forum/go_quote.gif The closest store for me to buy MAC is an hour away. I can however go to our outlet mall and visit a "Cosmetics Company Store" and find some limited MAC selections really really cheap. Ah yes! The beloved CCO! Those are great when you find an LE product you've been dying for... Like my friend picking me up Pink Cabana l/s this weekend! W00T!

Yeah I've noticed that too. That's why I don't get anything DS unless it's BOGO.

Hi:

I also noticed this last year how close in price the d/s items were to MAC. Because I have a pro-card, some MAC items are actually equal in amount or cheaper. But you still can't beat a BOGO.

I only buy d/s stuff because i'm cheap & cant justify spending $14 bucks on lipgloss.. And high end stuff is too far away from me. I have an ulta nearby, but they don't carry as much high end stuff as a sephora.

Another thing is that I hate how MAC is set up.... I like to get all my things by myself and don't want help. I know you can be left alone but idk i'm weird about it bein all small and people watchin you test stuff......lol idk but i just prefer being on my own and grabbing my own products to buy. crazy right. But its just my shopping preference.

I buy both. If it really, truly works on me and I feel like 1000 times better and more confident, I will pay any price! The price gap is closing, so hopefully cosmetic companys will up their game and give us better quality for the prices we are paying.

This is OT, but someone brought up CCO... and I want to comment how much I love CCO.

$10 for all of the of e/s (a lot are discontinued or LE, but a lot is what's selling in the MAC store now too... well not the newest collection, but items from the permanent line) So you can't go wrong there.

I've found AMAZING products at my CCO, (a lot I found recently) that I was ready to pay $20-25+ for on ebay. Some great things i bought were:

Poetic license l/g

Glamoursun l/g

Pink Cabana l/s

Bare Venus l/s

Bodysuit l/s

Rio Babe l/s (there are so many great LE l/s at my CCO..)

Waternymph e/s

Casino e/s

Sunday's best e/s

Bagatelle e/s

Goldenaire pigement

Sunsparked pearl bp

A few other bp's I forgot the names of.

The prices are unbeatable. $13.50 for a LE bp? Pigments are like $14.50 too. All l/s and e/s are $10.

The only thing my CCO doesn't get much of that others do (unless they just sell out so fast and I miss them) is MAC brushes. i've heard a lot of CCO's have 187 brushes etc. Mine never has more than 3 MAC brushes at a time, and they are always ones I have.

For people on a budget, but want MAC... look to see if you have a Cosmetic's Company Outlet (CCO)... it is the greatest place ever, and the prices and the great finds are the best part.

I think it is because MAC is relatively less expensive for high end cosmetics. The price more like the mid-range. Even after the gradual price increases, they cost less than the other mid ranges like UD. But I do think they will continue to raise prices until it gets around $16 for a shadow like UD.

d/s stuff has gotten so expensive, that I usually only buy it when it's bogo. Otherwise it's MAC or UD for me! lol.