Kristen Chocek
Staff Writer
Makeup comes in a variety of colors, brand names and price ranges. Most college students find it difficult to spend the big bucks on beauty products.
For women at the University of La Verne, the key is splurging on long-lasting cosmetics while scrimping on trendy seasonal products.
“I think that it is worthwhile to spend money on products that go on your face, like foundation and face powder,” said Valerie Shather, a senior psychology major.
Junior sociology major Natalie Camacho agreed.
“There are some things worth paying money for such as concealer, compact, foundation and MAC eye shadows because they actually stay on,” Camacho said.
MAC eye shadows and foundation were the essential beauty products that ULV women agreed were worth spending money on.
“I love MAC eye shadows because it’s the only product that will last all night long when I am out dancing,” senior broadcasting and television major Leah Rubertino said.
However if MAC eye shadows are outside your budget, opt for L’Oreal Wear Infinite Wearing Eye shadow singles ($4). They are almost one-third the price and last all day.
However these singles come with a plastic applicator, which is useless.
It’s best to invest in high quality eye shadow brushes, which allow the shadow to distribute more evenly.
“A lot of people want to spend money on expensive makeup products,” Orange County makeup artist Marnie Clarke said. “What they don’t realize is that the application is just as, if not more, important.”
“I would drop money on a nice makeup brush over an expensive eye shadow any day,” Clarke added.
Today, nice brushes and accessories can be bought inexpensively.
Maybelline now carries a line of brushes that are less than $6.
As for mascara, drugstore products seem to be the answer.
“I have a lot of friends who buy name brand mascara, who claim it’s all good, but I just use Maybelline, and people always ask me what I use,” Camacho said.
Many women may be familiar with Maybelline’s “Great Lash” washable mascara in its pink and green tube.
This effective product is only $5 and can be found in the makeup bags of many ULV women.
It works just as well as Lancome’s L’Extreme mascara ($22) because both brush wands are shaped similarly.
“Mascara is a good product to budget on,” Shather said. “I don’t notice a difference between cheap and expensive mascara. I would splurge on a good powder that would work for your skin.”
Along with Maybelline, L’Oreal products also made it to the top of ULV students’ lists for great drugstore makeup products.
For those students who cannot afford pricey makeup, L’Oreal True Match Super-Blendable makeup ($10) and concealer ($8) are great options.
With so many shades to choose from, it will not be hard to find your perfect shade.
L’Oreal also has an $8 lip-gloss that works just as good — if not better — than Lancome’s Juicy Tubes ($16).
Many women would agree that MAC lipsticks are worth spending some extra dough on.
And many may not know that MAC has a unique recycling program.
If you bring in six empty MAC containers, you can trade them for a free new lipstick. This is pretty much the only money-saving concept you will find with this brand.
As for blush, junior psychology major Nicole Caceres recommends Physicians Formula Powder Palette Multi-colored blush.
“I love it, you can buy it any drugstore and its only six bucks,” Caceres said.
If you’re not willing to compromise your name-brand products, but you’re still on a budget, then www.brandnamebeauty.com may be your answer.
This online retailer carries a variety of name-brands such as Chanel, Bobbi Brown, Clinique, MAC and Lancome.
Because these products are overstocked, they are priced 50 percent off the retail price.
“No matter what makeup you use, always remember to you use products that match your skin tone,” said Phanny Lun, a senior international business and Japanese major and a hairstylist.
“What many girls don’t realize is that it’s all about the attitude,” he added. “Makeup can either make you or break you.”
Kristen Chocek can be reached at kchocek@aol.com.
Journalism operations manager at the University of La Verne. Production manager and business manager of the Campus Times.