After thinking about this post for a long time and going through my makeup stash, deciding what products are worth handing your cash over for and ones that you can hold back on and no one would even notice, here is what made it's way onto my list. To splurge or to save ladies?

When to Splurge:

SKINCARE: This is probably the most obvious one, since using more expensive products on my skin, I've seen a real difference in how it feels, looks and accepts my makeup. Now I'm not talking go and hand over your cash at the most expensive counters, there is a difference, brands that sit in the middle of the price bracket and still leave you some money left over. Liz Earle, Ren, Clarins and Elizabeth Arden are some brands I find really help with my skin and offer amazing products across the board for everyone.

FOUNDATION: Although there are some pretty incredible foundations/bases in the shelves of Boots and Super drug that rival some high end picks (you all know how much I love Bourjois for bases), in terms of longevity, formula and getting the job done then high end foundations are your best option. If you ace the base and get it right then you can pretty much get away with everything else drugstore and still look fab! My favourites have gotta be

Bobbi Brown Moisture Rich, Giorgio Armarni Luminous Silk, Estee Lauder Double Wear Light snd Laura Mercier Illuminating Tinted Moisturiser.

CONCEALERS: I do love a good layer of the Maybelline Instant Rewind, but when it comes to coverage, lasting power and brightening skills, my high end picks blow it away! The Benefit Erase Paste and Estēe Lauder BB Brush on Glow are particular favourites of mine and almost always make an appearance in my makeup routine, they make me actually look like I've slept for 8+ hours!

LIP LINERS: When it comes to lining your lips, I think having a really good, pigmented and sharp liner is essential and I find that the high end ones are best for this. If you don't have £12+ to spend on a crayon pencil in a stick, then Kiko do great liners. Some of my favourites? MAC, Charlotte Tilbury and Chanel.

When to Save: 

BRUSHES: My first ever makeup brushers were MAC and thought they were would be the only ones I would ever use, until I stumbled across Real Techniques (Thank you Sam and Nic Chapman). These are honestly the best brushes I have tried, they are such high quality for such good value. The range of brushes is amazing, from eye shadow, to buffing, to powder and retractable brushes. Stop spending your money on MAC and head over to Feel Unique and grab some Real Techniques!

LIPSTICKS: What ever lipstick product you're using whether it's a butter, gloss, stain, balm, the drugstore have it all sorted for you. There are so many products for your lips out there which are just as good, if not better than many high end products. Put your cash back in your pockets, have a rummage through the Boots shelves and you can pick up 2/3 for the price of one!

Rimmel, Bourjois, Maybelline and Kiko really do it for me when it comes to lips.

MASCARA: I was really stuck on where to place this category, I use my beloved Charlotte Tilbury and YSL Babydoll mascara on a daily basis, switching between the two, but I would say there are definitely drugstore alternatives which lengthen, dramatise and curl my lashes just as well. Maybelline The Falsies is a golden oldie and one I have been using for a while now whilst Max Factor, Soap & Glory and LOreal also do some kick ass mascaras.

What products do you save on and which do you splurge on?