If you’re a makeup fanatic like me, you might think that someone dropping racks on a new car, blowing their cash on big nights out, or constantly adding to their wardrobe is obscene, but will have no qualms with spending £60 on a lipstick in a shade of nude you already own (and don’t even get me started on how much I’d be willing to fork over for a blinding highlight).
Whilst it’s literally our jobs to be makeup obsessed (that’s how I’m trying to justify my spending, anyway), I thought it would be fun to ask other people about the most expensive makeup item they’ve ever bought. So that I can at least feel a bit better (possibly worse) about my own spending habits.
1. Laura, 31, Digital Fashion & Beauty Writer
"$125 (not including tax) on a Pat McGrath eyeshadow palette (I know, I know). I was on holiday in New York and on my last day Pat McGrath launched her range in Sephora. I felt quite sick handing my credit card over but it's such a unique palette I have no 'ragrets'. Plus 'holiday money' doesn't really count...does it?"
Buy now Pat McGrath Labs Mothership II Eyeshadow Palette, Sephora.com, $125 (£90)
2. Emer, Actress
"Chantecaille tinted moisturiser, it's £75, an insanity, but I can't stop."
Buy now Chantecaille Just Skin Tinted Moisturiser, Lookfantastic.com, £64
3. Emily, 21, Content Editor
"Spent £45 on a MAC brush 130SH, worth it, had it for five years. Ironically it has terrible reviews online."
Buy now MAC 130 Short Handle Duo Fibre Brush, Johnlewis.com, £34.50
4. Imogen, 23, Billing Administrator
"I dropped money on a Kylie lip kit and it was the worst £60 (including shipping) of my life. I lost the lipstick (which worked really well and I really liked it) like 2 months later and now am just stuck with the lipliner which I do not get on with AT ALL. I’m so mad I got lured in by a name. Also it was Posie K and it did not look as pink as the pictures. extremely underwhelmed, Kylie."
Buy now Kylie Cosmetics Posie K Lip Kit, KylieCosmetics.com, $29 (£21)
5. Gemma, 21, YouTuber
"Spent £65 getting the ABH lip palette shipped from EU Sephora and have used it about twice, it’s good for a kit but I don’t like creamy lipsticks, sooooo."
Buy now Anastasia Beverly Hills Lip Palette, Beautybay.com, £48
6. Lauren, 22, Broadcast Media Student
"Estée Lauder Re-Nutriv Ultra Radiance foundation for £75 and I smashed it 30 seconds after opening it. I’m still in mourning."
Buy now Estée Lauder Re-Nutriv Ultra Radiance Foundation, Houseoffraser.co.uk, £76
7. Zahra, 19, Student
"The most expensive makeup product I ever bought was the Too Faced sweet peach eyeshadow palette. It's like $49 and was an impulsive decision. The peaches had me hooked. My mom would have a heart attack if she knew the price. Worth it though."
Buy now Too Faced Sweet Peach Eyeshadow Palette, Cultbeauty.co.uk, £39
8. Liberty, 29, Social Media Manager
"I bought Soleil Tan de Chanel for £36 which was A SMALL FORTUNE when I was 17, my Mum was SO mad at me for 'wasting my money'. I wore it every day for 2 years (when it finally ran out) but didn't know how to apply it so looked like I had poo on my face. It was solely out of teenage spite because my mum was so pressed about the amount of money I spent on it and said I'd never use it. By the time I FINALLY hit pan I knew how bad it looked on me - I just did not care."
Buy now Chanel Soleil Tan De Chanel, Feelunique.com, £40
9. Phoebe, 20, Student
"I once spent nearly €100 at the airport in Paris just on Chanel lipsticks because I needed to 'get rid of my euros'. 100% worth it. I wear one of them almost daily so I think that justifies it? (It will never be justified in my mum's eyes)."
Buy now Chanel Rouge Coco Shine Hydrating Sheer Lipstick, Debenhams.com, £28
10. Molly, 25, Theatre Producer
"Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze & Glow for £49. No f-ing regrets, would do it all over again."
Buy now Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze & Glow, Feelunique.com, £49
11. Lucy, 21, Sales Assistant
"I recently bought the Too Faced Just Peachy matte palette for €50 which I’m yet to use, other than that it would be the Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance palette for £43 which I am using TO DEATH."
Buy now Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance Eyeshadow Palette, Cultbeauty.co.uk, £43
And what have we learnt today? We need to stop shipping things over from American Sephora, lots of products smell bad, pricey makeup (sometimes) isn’t worth the coin, and everyone still worries what their mums think of their purchases, even as adults.
