The beauty aisle of any store can be overwhelming. With so many products available, you’re stuck choosing what to purchase and deciding if you need them. A lot of these products are put in appealing packaging, promising the best results, but sometimes they’re unnecessary and a waste of your money.

Here’s a list of the beauty products you should splurge on, and others you can buy for less.

Skincare 

Put on your best face every day! A skincare routine is the key to healthy skin that will glow, so invest in your skincare and save when appropriate.

Cleanser: save

Experts agree that the price of a cleanser doesn’t affect its quality. You rinse the cleanser away, so it shouldn’t sit on your face for long anyway. Basic drugstore cleansers do the job of getting rid of excess dirt and oil. If you have oily skin, look for ingredients like retinol or salicylic acid. If you have dry or sensitive skin, choose a cleanser with glycerin or ceramides.

Moisturizer: splurge

On the other hand, moisturizer, unlike cleanser, sits on your skin and soaks into your face all day. Cheaper moisturizers may not have beneficial ingredients that meet your needs. A good moisturizer has an SPF of 30 or higher from an insoluble source like zinc, a humectant like hyaluronic acid, and an occlusive like shea butter that creates a preventative moisture loss barrier. Avoid fragrances, silicones, mineral oils, polyunsaturated fats, and soluble sunscreen filters like oxybenzone.

Toner: splurge

While toner is not completely necessary for everyone’s skincare routine, it can be extremely helpful for many who fight daily acne breakouts. Cheaper toners aren’t necessarily harmful, but they won’t be as effective. Quality toners will cost a bit more, but ingredients like glycolic acid, witch hazel, and aloe are worth it to soothe, brighten, and even your skin tone.

Face mask: save 

Face masks are a huge trend right now, but you can probably skip them in your routine. If you exfoliate, cleanse, and moisturize your face, there’s no need for face masks. They may feel nice, but you’re better off saving your money and using a cool, wet towel on your face to feel refreshed. You can use masks sparingly when you experience a painful breakout or sunburn and desire some relief.

Makeup remover: save 

Removing makeup is an absolute necessity in your skincare routine. But store-bought makeup remover or makeup remover wipes are unnecessary. They harm the environment and your skin, despite the promises on the packaging. Read this blog to understand why you should opt for a reusable makeup remover pad that requires water or a bit of your cleanser. You can also use a toner as a backup makeup remover!

Haircare 

One of the most confusing parts of a beauty aisle is the haircare section. There are so many products and tools, so understanding your hair needs and type is paramount to choosing the necessary products.

Shampoo and Conditioner: save 

When it comes to shampoos, an expensive “salon quality” brand isn’t necessary, since it cleanses and gets rinsed. Further, shampooing doesn’t need to be frequent and, if you have thicker, curly hair you can shampoo as little as once a week. After shampooing, most people follow up with a conditioner, which you should choose wisely. But even then, a drugstore conditioner can still do the trick. Look for paraben and sulfate-free shampoos and conditioners that work well on your hair type.

Hair maintenance products: splurge 

If you dye your hair or style it often, it’s best to splurge on products with quality, natural ingredients. Maintenance products like curl creams, hair gels, and leave-in conditioners add longevity to your hair color, bring out its shine, and can soften it. However, using products with harsh chemicals can be a step backward in maintaining your hair. Look on the back label—if you can’t read the ingredients, don’t use it.

Hairbrush: save

Brushing your hair isn’t always necessary, especially if you have thick, curly hair and brush your hair less frequently. But you will need a hairbrush or comb to get knots out. Many brushes have packaging that claims it has special oils or better bristles, but you shouldn’t need that if you take care of your hair. A less expensive hairbrush is perfect for detangling.

Heated hair tools: splurge 

Not all heated hair tools are equal. The more expensive they are, the more likely they are to have higher heat settings, more power, and last longer. Plus, using heat tools can damage your hair, so the type of material is an important consideration. More expensive tools tend to have ceramic or tourmaline, which emits negative ions that dry hair faster and leave it much smoother than cheaper materials that will take longer and might fry your hair.

Makeup 

Spend on makeup that will make you look and feel beautiful without the not-so-beautiful prices and confusion.

Foundation and concealer: splurge

Finding the best match for your foundation and concealer in terms of color, ingredients, and coverage level is key to creating a quality makeup look. Since this is the base of your makeup, a good foundation and concealer will set everything else in place and make a little go a long way at bringing out pigment in eyeshadows, blushes, and highlighters. The formula of a more expensive foundation will typically last longer, look more natural, and will be kinder to your skin. Drugstore foundations and concealers can be cakey, short-lasting, and cause breakouts.

Eyeliner and Eyeshadow: splurge 

Any makeup that touches your eyelids and waterline is worth the splurge, not only for quality but for safety, too. Good eyeliners and eyeshadows have better formulas meant to stay in place longer without smudging, reducing the risk of a messy look during work or an important date. More expensive eyeshadows tend to have better pigmentation, too, so you can use less and get more. Look for eyeliners that glide on, and avoid cheap pencil liners that are not only difficult to use but can be dangerous if the tip breaks off while applying.

Blush and Highlighter: save

Regardless of brand, blushes and highlighters tend to have very similar formulas, so the drugstore blush is good to use. Cheaper blushes and highlighters have less pigmentation, which sounds counterintuitive, but it can save you from applying too much pink to your cheeks. Just a dab of blush and highlighter gives you the rosy, illuminated look you want.

Lipstick and Lip gloss: splurge and save 

Lip products can be tricky to tell whether to splurge or save on. If you want an all-day lipstick, it can be worth the splurge for a formula that won’t crack, fade, and clump. If you like lip gloss, any brand should be fine to use. Lip glosses have about the same short-lasting effect regardless of brand.