The Face Off: Is Luxury Make-Up Really Better Than The High Street?

It was finding MAC Cosmetics’ Pro Longwear Concealer, £27, that catapulted me into a full-blown premium beauty addiction. Its ability to cover my acne scars, which I was very self-conscious about, was second to none. And I became convinced that expensive equalled better.

Of course, the high street has come a long way since then. L’Oréal Paris True Match Liquid Foundation offers 48 shades and promises to cater to 99.5% of skin tones, all for £10.99. While viral internet hit Makeup Revolution Conceal & Define Concealer, £4.99, delivers the lightweight yet full coverage and creamy finish I demand of my concealer, at a fraction of the price I usually pay.

So, in the name of beauty journalism, I decided to find out whether I could kick my luxury habit. I used a selection of products at different price points to create my signature make-up look – a subtle, sultry, smoky brown eye, a wash of blush and a classic ’90s lip. One face cost £368, the other came in at £66. Here’s what I learned in the process...

Invest in the basics

Foundation is the, well, foundation of any look and both contenders were impressive.L’Oréal Paris True Match Liquid Foundation, £10.99, was a great shade match and super-comfortable to wear, while Huda Beauty Easy Blur Foundation, £32, had real staying power, lightweight but full coverage and an airbrush finish. But with price in mind, I’d certainly reach for True Match Liquid Foundation again day-to-day, and call on Huda for full glam occasions.

Charlotte Tilbury’s Airbrush Flawless Finish, £38, is easily the best pressed powder I’ve ever used. Not only does it set make-up in place, it adds a blurry veil to mask imper- fections for a seriously faux-filtered finish.

By comparison, whileMaybelline Fit Me Matte & Poreless Pressed Powder, £7.99, did a good job at mattifying and providing natural-looking coverage, it falls short of lending a lift to the complexion.

Quality counts for colour

The thing about a good eyeshadow palette is it can (in theory) last you a lifetime. Makeup By Mario Master Mattes Eyeshadow Palette: The Original, £49, is a case in point, not only because of the high-quality pigment of the shadows but the timelessness of the warm neutral shades. Yes, it’s £49, but I use it daily. Wet n Wild Color Icon 5 Pan Palette Gold Whip, £5.29, may offer similar stunning warm tones in a range of finishes, including matte, satin and metallic, but it loses points on pure pigment, easy blending and longevity.

I’m very (very) serious about lip liner and you won’t catch me leaving the house without it. When Fenty Beauty launched its new-gen Trace’d Out Pencil Lip Liner, £19, earlier this year it redefined how a liner should feel, look and last. Uber- creamy and rich in pigment, it glides over the contours of your lips and sets comfort- ably like a liquid for a velvet-matte finish. No drag or feathering in sight. By comparison, the NYX Professional Makeup Slim Lip Liner Pencil, £4, is a brilliant buttery affordable alternative but doesn’t promise the same true colour pay-off and long wear.

Make-up you can scrimp on

That said, I was pleasantly surprised to find some real stars on the high street that delivered a high-end effect. Take Makeup Revolution Conceal & Define Concealer, £4.99. It practically broke the internet when it launched in 2018 because it can erase dark circles and imperfections with a featherweight, full-coverage, demi-matte finish that doesn’t crease or budge. Plus, it comes in an inclusive 50 shades.

For contouring, E.L.F. Cosmetics’ Putty Bronzer offers an equally impressive way to shade and chisel for a mere £7. The cream putty-to-powder formula offers a blendable silky-smooth sun-kissed glow that lasts. Bronzer aside, I discovered that eyeliner and mascara are where you can save the pennies. Rimmel London Soft Kohl Kajal Eye Liner Pencil, £2.99, is a foolproof staple that creates a smouldering look that doesn’t fade. Meanwhile, Lottie London Serving Lash Mascara, £7.95, quickly quelled my luxe mascara habit thanks to its impressive volumising false lash effect.

The £368 Face:

Invest in the products that are key to your signature look and cut costs by swapping in savvy cheaper buys. Will I trade in my expensive beauty products? Probably not. But after trying the affordable alternatives, I’ll admit that brilliant cosmetics come in at all different price points.

Shop: The £368 Face

Sameeha Shaikh is Grazia's beauty writer, working across all categories to bring you insights on the latest trends, industry news and the products you need to know about, viral or not (most probably viral).