I did myself a little side-by-side test on the weekend (in case it went horribly wrong!)
I decided to apply one side of my face with high-end luxury makeup, costing $951 in total.
On the other side, I applied chemist brands, and the full price was $268. But let's be honest, we never pay full price, and always purchase when 40 to 60 per cent off. Meaning? It really cost $134.
So, one side was 14 per cent the price of the other.
Watch: Bridal Makeup Artist Natalie Wright teaches us her techniques for a smokey eye with a twist... there's no black eyeshadow in sight. Post continues below.
Can you tell which side is which?
On the left side [my right in photos], I'm wearing a face full of cheap makeup, and on the right, I'm wearing high-end makeup.
Could you tell the difference?
Cheap makeup vs affordable makeup.
The products and prices listed are as follows:
Primer.
Rare Beauty Always an Optimist Illuminating Primer, $45 vs Max Factor Miracle Glow Pro Illuminated, $4.95.
Illuminator.
Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter, $65 vs Nude By Nature Soft Focus Illuminator, $21.
Foundation.
NARS Radiant Long Wear Foundation, $73 vs Maybelline Dream Urban Cover, $25.95.
Concealer.
Too Faced Born This Way Concealer, $45 vs ELF Camo Concealer, $10.
Powder.
Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder, $66 vs Flower Light Illusion Perfecting Powder $9.99.
Bronzer.
Fenty Cheeks Out Cream Bronzer Butta Biscuit, $52 vs ELF Putty Bronzer Tan Lines, $14.
Blush.
NARS Orgasm Blush, $45 vs Milani Baked Blush in Dolce Pink, $19.99.
Liquid highlighter.
Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Light Wand Spotlight, $56 vs O.Two.O Rose Gold Good Highlight Starburst [bought for $1.99 at time of purchase on eBay.]
Brows.
Benefit 24 The Brow Setter, $45 vs L'Oréal Plump and Set Brow Artist, $20.99.
Setting powder.
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder Dim Light, $75 vs DB Luminous Setting Powder Candlelight, $14.
Eyeliner.
Charlotte Tilbury Supernudes Liner Duo Enhance Side, $43 vs Mecca Max Zoom Eyeliner Brown Eye Girl, $17.
Lip liner.
Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat Pillow Talk, $32 vs NYX Retractable Lip Liner Nude, $9.95.
Lipstick.
Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Lipstick, $49 vs Flower Beauty Spiced Petal Lipstick, $9.99.
Eyeshadow.
Anastasia Beverly Hills Norvina Palette, $76 vs Revolution Reloaded Vitality, $10.
Setting Spray.
Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray, $49 vs Milani Make It Last Setting Spray, $23.99.
Highlighter.
MAC Bling Me To Life Mineralise Skin Finish, $59 vs Essence Glow My Mind Backed Highlighter Palette in Middle Shade, $14.95.
Total: $951 vs $267.72.
Plus:
Mascara.
L'Oréal Lash Paradise Mascara (top), $24.95 and Maybelline Sky High Mascara (bottom), $24.95.
Brows.
Anastasia Beverly Hills Defined Soft Brown, $47.
Eye pimer.
MAC Cosmetics Paint Pot Soft Ochre, $39.
How long do cheap vs affordable makeup products last?
In terms of wear, I did a 10 hour test to see the difference between the two sides.
The picture on the top left was taken at 10am, the picture on the right at 2pm.
The picture on the bottom left was taken at 6pm, and the bottom right at 8pm.
It looks like my left side [pictured right in the photos] seems to have worn off more, but I'm not sure if I had rested my hands on it at any stage during the day.
This content was used with permission from the You Beauty Facebook Group. Find more great roadtests and articles from our You Beauty Collective here.
Image: Supplied/Teresa McNamara.
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