1. Hair products. Sometimes it is true with hair products that a little more money gets you a little higher quality of product. Let's take Paul Mitchell for example. Paul Mitchell products are not the most expensive products, but they are higher in price than say, Suave or Herbal Essences. I prefer Paul Mitchell because the quality is amazing.
Keep in mind that with hair products, as with many beauty products, 'quality' can really only be determined by your trial and your satisfaction with the product. Defining quality depends on individual hair needs and hair type. A product that works well on you may not work well on me because we may have different needs, hair types, etc. For instance, I would never use shampoo for regular hair because my hair is very dry, and I dye it regularly. However, you may say that you never dye your hair and that you love Herbal Essences' shampoo for normal hair. Our hair is different, and that means our hair requires different treatment and care.
Since I have thick, brittle, dyed blonde hair, I need products that nurture extra dry hair. Paul Mitchell, Sunsilk Thermashine, Aussie (3-minute Miracle), Infusium 23 (detangler), and Matrix are examples of high quality products in a low to moderate price range for extra dry hair. Paul Mitchell and Matrix also make quality products for other hair types.
2. Makeup. This is a tricky one because sometimes it does pay off to pay more for quality, but how do you know when you are paying more for quality and not just paying more for packaging and reputation? Trial and error! When you try on makeup or sample products, ask yourself these questions. Does the product feel amazing when I apply it? Does it look nice with my skin tone? Does it cause irritation? Is it easily removed with cleanser? How long does the product wear without smudging or fading? The quality of makeup depends on what you are looking for in each product. I search for great colors, long-lasting wear, convenient design and easy application.
CoverGirl, Loreal, Revlon, Maybelline, Jane, and Mary Kate and Ashley cosmetics can be found at most drugstores, Wal*Mart and Target stores nationwide. These brands are all fairly inexpensive and great quality. American Beauty, Flirt! and bareMinerals are great quality, but in a slightly higher price range. I usually do not spend more than a moderate amount on makeup because I can find high quality makeup for a lower price. Department store lines, which are usually good quality as well, typically cost the most. Are these products worth every dollar that you pay? Have you tried less expensive makeup? If so, what are the differences? Are there any noticeable differences? What are the similarities? What do you like about each product that you try?
The Mary Kate and Ashley product line really surprised me because it seems aimed at teens. I am in my mid twenties and found that the products work great at my age also. The Mary Kate and Ashley line includes great colors, long-lasting wear, convenient designs AND easy application. I especially love Mary Kate and Ashley Double Cover 2-in-1 Concealer because it includes a liquid and a solid concealer. This product is great for me because I want to cover blemishes and under-eye circles, and the product does both very nicely. I would recommend Mary Kate and Ashley to women in their teens and twenties.
American Beauty is aimed at a more mature audience and is an example of high quality makeup. American Beauty is a little more expensive, but not break-the-bank pricey, and is available at Kohl's. American Beauty makeup colors are conservative, beautiful and classy. American Beauty also has a line of foundation that aims to help diminish the appearance of fine lines. The foundation has a slight shimmering, not glittery, effect to help reduce the appearance of fine lines. I would recommend American Beauty for most ages.
bareMinerals (Bare Escentuals) is another great example of high quality. bareMinerals is more expensive than drugstore brands, but seems well worth the money. bareMinerals provides great coverage, a range of colors and easy application. I would recommend this line of makeup for all ages.
I prefer not to spend a lot of money on makeup because I love trying all sorts of products. Makeup application is an art form, and I am an artist! With makeup, an important part is to compare ingredients. Many products include similar ingredients across the board of makeup brands. If products include similar ingredients, why pay for the product from the more expensive line? Remember that trial and error is very important with makeup, for your skin and for your satisfaction.
***Be careful when trying on makeup at stores. Are there disposable applicators, alcohol, cleansers and an attendant who can help you select and clean products? It is possible to spread nasty germs at the makeup counter (ESPECIALLY during flu season) so I recommend trying colors and other products on the back of your hand, not your face and washing your hands immediately. However, to find the perfect shade of foundation, it is recommended to apply the foundation to your jawline in order to perfectly match your skin tone. Trying display makeup on your face is at your own risk. I recommend washing your face immediately after finding your perfect shade.
Some stores even offer an exchange program for makeup. Check with your local stores about exchange/return policies on makeup. If you can exchange slightly used makeup, simply guess at your shade, purchase it, try and exchange if necessary. This way you can avoid playing with 'contaminated' makeup.
3. Clothes. Paying a little more for clothes does sometimes mean you are paying more for quality. Better stitching and better materials usually cost more than items with fair (or not-so-good) materials. Now, of course there are exceptions, such as Abercrombie, which is pretty pricey but not always worth the money. There is such a thing as high quality but over-the-top prices as well. If you can truly afford Armani, then go for Armani. But if you prefer to stick to a lower price range, you can find amazing pieces at Macy's, specialty boutiques and online. Paying more does not ensure that you will receive higher quality items, especially online when you don't have the option to feel or look up close at the piece before you purchase it. Make certain that you can easily return or exchange the item if needed.
Purchasing a nicer suit usually means spending a little more money since the materials and stitching are probably of higher quality than a less expensive suit. Keep an eye out for details, stitching, fit, fabric, etc. to determine if the suit you are trying on is worth the money. Also keep in mind the following questions. How are you supposed to wash it? Is that convenient for you? How does the fabric feel against your skin? How does the suit (or other piece of clothing) fit when you stand, sit and walk? Can you wear a button-down under the jacket? Does the jacket (or shirt) button up all the way or does it pull in areas?
4. Jewelry. This one depends on you. Do you have to have authentic diamonds or would you feel comfortable wearing costume jewelry? How often will you wear each piece? If you purchase real diamonds and precious metals, do you have a safe place to store them and clean them? Will you wear them enough to make the purchase worth your money? Of course, real diamonds will last longer than costume jewels. If you plan to wear a piece only a few times, then it would probably be better to purchase a moderately priced piece of 'costume' jewelry, not an expensive piece with real diamonds. Department stores usually have a large variety of jewelry from which to choose. They are usually moderately priced and of moderate quality, which would be a great buy if you do not plan on wearing the pieces on a daily basis.
5. Shoes. Shoes of higher quality are almost always a little more expensive. However, as with the above products, it is possible to buy something that is over-priced and of low quality. In order to ensure good quality, try the shoes on in the store. Look at the stitching and materials used. Will these shoes be weather resistant? Are they simply worth the money in looks and style? How often will you wear these shoes? Are they comfortable or at least comfortable enough for what you need them? Can you afford them? Could you buy a whole outfit instead? If so, which would you prefer to have? Do you absolutely love this particular pair of shoes? How many outifts will coordinate with these shoes? Why do you want these shoes at this time? These are things you need to ask yourself while deciding whether the purchase would truly be worth the money.
6. Professional Hair Care. You pay for experience here! Higher quality salons will most likely charge more per cut/style/color/etc. However, you may also pay for atmosphere, status and reputation in addition to quality stylists. However, not all stylists at expensive places are worthy of the price they charge. Your best bet is to try several stylists at different locations and then decide which stylist/ salon you prefer to visit regularly. Don't forget, good etiquette means leaving a tip at most salons (which hikes up the price).
7. Purses. Is it worth your money to pay $300 for one purse? Well, if you plan to wear it regularly, then yes, it may be worth your money. Coach is a perfect example of priciness and very high quality. The purses are expensive but worth the money for style, status and quality. Obviously, you should not break the bank for one purse, but if you can afford Coach or Louis Vuitton, then purchasing one or two purses/bags may be a good investment for you if you plan to wear them often. There are good quality purses that cost much less also, such as Tommy Hilfiger, Nine West, Liz Claiborne and Guess. It really depends on how often you plan to wear the purse, where you would wear the purse and with what outfits you would wear the purse. I love my Coach purses because they look classy even after I wear them regularly to all sorts of functions! I would highly recommend Coach, Louis Vuitton and Guess for regular wear. Check out specialty boutiques, department stores and online for elegant clutches that would be worn less often.
The keys to the quality vs. cost analyis is trial and error and deciding how you feel about the products and/or services. There are no set standards. What matters is what your desires and needs are for a particular product or service. What do expect from each? How much are you willing to pay? How often would you use it? Is it really worth what you would pay? How long will it last? Do you love it? Will you still love it in two weeks?
Shopping can be fun, but be careful not to become convinced that spending more money always means higher quality. Additonally, just because a product or service is higher quality does not mean that you need the more expensive, or higher quality, product or service. Look at your needs and desires. Keep it all in perspective!
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