5 High-End Beauty Products And Their Drugstore Dupes Part II

Up until recently, I tried to stick with high-end products for my face makeup products and drugstore products for my eyes. However, after some research and testing, I have actually found some drugstore products that perform even better than their high-end counterparts.

In makeup, there can be a bit of a stigma surrounding drugstore makeup. Some say that it is all bad quality -- that it will clog your pores or give you infections.

This is untrue. Drugstore makeup is still reviewed before it is put onto shelves, and cheaper companies still try to make the best product imaginable.

Others argue that high-end Beauty Products are a scam and a waste of money, They argue that many high-end brands produce their makeup in the same factories as those used by drugstore brands, and thus their products are of the same quality. This is also untrue. While some factories do produce products for multiple brands, high-end brands can use higher quality ingredients in their products because of the higher price they charge.

While I have definitely had some beauty fails with drugstore products, with the right information I have been able to find the holy grail of drugstore dupes for the times when you just don't feel like shelling out $30 for a concealer.

Here are my favorite high-end makeup products and their drugstore dupes, along with a judgment on when to splurge and when to save. Here is part two of the list:

1. Highlighter

Splurge: BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Highlighter ($38). This highlighter provides a nice "glow from within" look that can finish off your makeup and leave you looking polished. It is incredibly long-lasting and looks amazing on any skin tone.

Save: ColourPop Super Shock Highlighter ($8). This highlighter gives you a strong glow, but it is a little bit hard to apply. It has a sticky consistency which makes it hard to use with a brush. However, the color is brilliant and it is highly pigmented, which is perfect for those looking for a more blinding glow.

Verdict: Splurge! BECCA is well known for having the best highlighters because they all look so natural on the skin. Or, if you don't want to splurge, you can save by using an illuminating foundation, as some contain glitter in them to make it so you don't need to use a highlighter.

2. Mascara

Splurge: Benefit Cosmetics Roller Lash Curling & Lifting Mascara ($24). This is a holy grail mascara. It lifts lashes and makes eyes look wide-open. it provides huge length for lashes and makes eyes look large and awake. Bonus: it never clumps.

Save: L'Oréal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara ($7). This is a good mascara, but it does get clumpy. It does a nice job of lengthening, but it is heavy and can weigh down lashes.

If you like lashes that are both curled and long, this is not the mascara for you.

Verdict: Splurge. The Roller Lash mascara is hands-down the best mascara I have ever used, and I recommend it to everyone. It gives you a look that rivals fake eyelashes, but still looks natural.

3. Eyeshadow

Splurge: Urban Decay Naked Palette ($54). This palette is beautiful and looks amazing on any skin tone. The colors are highly pigmented and long-lasting. You can create many different looks with this palette, from neutral, to smoky, to dark. Though it is versatile, most of the shades are matte.

Save: COVERGIRL truNAKED Eyeshadow "Nudes" ($9). The colors in this palette are so rich and pigmented. While there are less shades, there are more glittery colors in this palette than the Urban Decay one, which makes it perfect for a night out or a celebration of any kind.

Verdict: Save! The COVERGIRL palette looks great and lasts all day, so it makes sense to save here, especially because it gives you more options with the glittery shades.

4. Lipstick

Splurge: BITE Beauty Amuse Bouche Lipstick ($26). This lipstick is hydrating and pigmented. It leaves lips moisturized and lightly glossy and matte at the same time. It is made with orange peel wax, which makes the lipstick water resistant and incredibly hydrating.

Save: Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick ($4). This lipstick is super creamy and hydrating. It is slightly less pigmented than the BITE version, but with a few swipes it gives the same effect. Also, it smells much better that the BITE version, which can be a huge plus for lipstick.

Verdict: Save. The two lipsticks are so similar that it makes sense to save in this case.

5. Setting Spray

Splurge: Urban Decay All Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray ($32). This setting spray locks your makeup into place. The bottle itself fans the spray evenly, so you don't end up with splotchy wet spots on your face. It really does make your makeup last all day, and it drys quickly and evenly without messing up your makeup underneath it.

Save: NYX Professional Makeup Matte Finish Makeup Setting Spray ($6). This spray works, but it does not last all day like the Urban Decay version. It also releases the spray in a bit of a splotchy way, which wastes the product. It also take a while to dry, and can leave your face feeling a little bit sticky.

Verdict: Splurge! If you are going to take the time to apply makeup, you may as well make it last! Using a high-quality setting spray will save you from having to redo your makeup throughout the day.