Are Drugstore Brands Reasonably Priced?

August 23, 2007

The other day, I went to Walgreens and was surprised by the cost of some of the cosmetics. Wet 'n' Wild was still dirt cheap, of course, but a few items were more expensive than I'd expected. For instance, this L'Oreal Volume Shocking mascara is $12.99—that's more expensive than mascara from MAC, and just 50 cents less than Bourjois mascara. The more I browsed, the more I kept thinking, "Hmm, for another dollar or two, I could go to a department store and try out that concealer/gloss/blush before buying it."

Of course, there are still some great drugstore bargains, but it seems like prices are jumping higher. In general, do you think drugstore brands are reasonably priced these days?

48 Comments

cloroxcowgirl 4 years 21 weeks

I buy mascara, lip balm and occasionally an eye shadow or two at the drugstore. Everything else, esp. foundation I buy high end. But I agree that they've gotten more expensive, I think we're paying for convinience as much as anything when we go to a drugstore. Unfortunately, we can't all live down the street from a Sephora or Ulta.

puddlesworth 5 years 11 weeks

it depends. but that particular mascara, volume shocking, is junk.

phree2b 5 years 19 weeks

Walgrens & Eckerd drugs are Alway's high. And yes, I buy all of the name brand items and food products at Walmart the last 3 years.It is the only way I have survived since my Divorce. You would not believe the savings for the same cart of items purchased elsewhere.

MamaD 5 years 33 weeks

They're overpriced and I know this is gonna shock some of you but if you set foot in a Walmart you'd find the exact same stuff for a fraction of the drugstore price! When you shop name brands there's nothing wrong with Walmart!!!!

abigpinkpanther 5 years 38 weeks

I agree that they are Overpriced. I don't understand why. I think 8.99 is a lot for drug store mascara. That is a three dollar difference than Mac's mascara. The brands I stick to are Maybelline great lash, Covergirl exact lash and Mac's mascara X , my favorite.

Justinsbelle 5 years 38 weeks

I agree. Its getting kinda pricey. And it makes sense to spend a extra dollar or 2 and go to a department store and give it a try and that way if you don't like it, you can take it back.

untitled 5 years 38 weeks

Definetly. The only thing that's priced right is wet and wild which is why the director of the all school production always told us to get wet and wild for our stage make-up.

kiwitwist 5 years 38 weeks

way too much of my makeup is drugstore and it is outrageously priced. I am thinking of becoming a Sephora junkie

onesong 5 years 38 weeks

I find that drgustore brands are getting more expensive, but for things like eyeshadow, which I only wear ocassionally and only for a night out, are much better priced at 5-7 bucks a pop rather than 15-25 at sephora. Almay mascara is great for everyday, but it's increased in price recently. My rule of thumb is, once something gets into the double-digits at the drugstore I will try the dept store counterpart at least once to see if there is a quality difference. If there isn't, then I'll go with whatever is cheaper (usually drugstore). If it is, then I'll happily lay out the extra money for the better quality brand.

dmartinxoxo 5 years 38 weeks

I really like this mascara. At Walmart they sell you the Waterproof and Original in one pack for the same price as one at Walgreens.

Talldiva45 5 years 38 weeks

I think a lot of them are really overpriced for drug store material but i also think that it depends on teh brand as far as what u get for the price.

Karla Sugar 5 years 38 weeks

Some are worth it and some aren't. I wouldn't wear Almay or Cover Girl, but I swear to you, Maybelline Define-a-Lash is as good as Chanel's Inimitable. I trust Neutrogena (mostly) and Maybelline (at least on mascara). But I have a soft spot for Lancome lip glosses. I don't think Styli-Style, Wet & Wild, Jane, Rimmel, or Isadora are worth my time.

portionsforfoxes 5 years 38 weeks

i suppose its really hit and miss

kimbit 5 years 38 weeks

I just went shopping this afternoon for a cheap moisturizer with sunscreen and the drug store prices were almost as high as Clinique moisturizer. I was pretty surprised. Unless they are on sale, or you get a bonus, I don't think that they are worth it. Skin care products and mascara are the most expensive.

Kellylicious 5 years 38 weeks

I stopped into my hometown CVS and noticed that my Bumble & bumble shampoo and conditioner are each $5 more there than at my salon!!!!

purrtykitty 5 years 38 weeks

the drugstore prices are part of the reason i stick to buying cosmetics from MAC and Sephora. the prices aren't that much more, but the quality is far superior.

leeluvfashion 5 years 38 weeks

They keep making prices higher; It's unfair, you can't even try them and yet you shell out $13 for mascara and it's a drugstore! I couldn't believe it when I saw a maybelline lip gloss for $10. I'm not cheap at all however drugstore makeup should cost less; I might as well go to Sephora.

sugarbecky 5 years 38 weeks

spygirl, that sounds like it was that particluar Walmart; none of the ones around here do that... yet!

goodbyekitty 5 years 38 weeks

I've been noticing this too. Especially with those Loreal HIP pigments. They are like $12 for a tiny jar and they compleatly suck! You could just spend $6 more for a MAC pigment which works alot better and you get at least 4 times as much product!

Lintilla 5 years 38 weeks

I've noticed that there are a lot of pricier cosmetics at the drugstore these days, but they do seem to be for higher quality items, or at least those that they wish will be perceived as higher quality or luxury items (although the problem is that you can't test them, so it's hard to find something that works for you without wasting a lot of money). But the basics (things like Great Lash mascara, etc.) are still there, and are still relatively cheap. It's only the fanciest, newest products that seem to have jumped so much. I do find myself buying more of my makeup from Sephora these days, though. I use the drugstore most for my old standbys, cheapie items to try out (a lot of them turn out to be great, and I've had a lot of success with Rimmel), or more expensive things only when they are on sale.

spygirl658 5 years 38 weeks

I stopped by a Wal-Mart a few weeks ago to cure a makeup emergency (I forgot my pressed powder at home!), and ALL of the makeup was under lock-and-key. I had to flag an employee down so I could get my powder. I haven't been to a Wal-Mart in forever and I couldn't believe this! Maybe it was because this particular store wasn't exactly in the best part of Dallas - or do all Wal-Marts lock up their makeup now?

msdyanelk 5 years 38 weeks

The particular mascara shown is pricey but it was recommended by a friend who swore by it. Often times I ended up with tarantula eyes. Not impressed!

RCLdesigngirl 5 years 38 weeks

Well you can't actually buy drugstore brands AT the drugstore. You have to go to Wal Mart. Everything in Walgreens is more expensive than at Wal Mart (or Target, or KMart, etc. Insert name of capitalist world power here.).

norak 5 years 38 weeks

The whole point of going to the drug store is to get affordable makeup! What happened?! They might as well sell drug store brands in sephora:) Its ad dollars we are paying for in the end. The scary thing, on top of the crazy prices, is that there's a lot of drug store brands that are made in China!! Am I the only one that is noticing this trend? I threw out anything in my makeup bag that was made in China after hearing so much news about contaminated lead and food and toothpaste that people have died from:( SCARY! I can't trust anything from China that goes into or on top of my skin. Ew!

arrhythmia 5 years 38 weeks

i really love that mascara you've posted... it's the only one i use!

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48 Comments

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