Is makeup getting too expensive?

I don’t know about you, but I’ve noticed the price of makeup seems to be going up. A lot. And pretty damn fast. Brands that used to be regarded as ‘medium range’, such as MAC have now started charging £15 for a standard lipstick, and during some research for high end mascaras, I nearly fell off my chair when I realised it was hard to find anything that fit into the £20 and under category that didn’t come from the high street. YSL, Dior, Lancome – these all come in at nearly £25 each.

Even high street brands are putting their prices up – would you pay nearly £11 for a mascara in Boots? I’m a self-confessed high end product junkie, but I’m trying to be more savvy with where I spend my money. Yes, I might spend £25 on a pot of foundation, but I know it lasts me for months and the shade is perfect. When it comes to certain products, I’m hesitant to pay over the odds – is there really much of a difference between a £3 nail polish and an £11 one? I honestly don’t think so (although don’t get me wrong, I still indulge from time to time).

There are some great brands that offer fantastic quality products at good value prices - Sleek, GOSH, Bourjois, Collection to name but a few, but it worries me that the general trend is a yearly increase on some of my favourite brands. I’m going to be doing some testing to compare budget vs high end products and see how they perform. Is high end really better quality?

I’d love to know your thoughts on which bargains you think I should test out, and what you’re always happy to splurge on. There are some real gems out there that need discovering!