At one point, I dropped $200 on MAC products to see if I liked what they had to offer. The only things I would ever buy again would be the blush and potentially the paint pot eye colors. Almost all of it -- foundation, concealer, mascara, powder, et al -- didn't perform any better than stuff I could've gotten at Wal-Mart. I'd go back for the blush only, because it seems like their color and shimmer is unique. Everything else, I'm not wasting my money.

Ditto here. Especially foundation. The only high end product I ever loved was Christmas gift of Dior mascara. It was truly amazing and easy to work with.
And Khiels anything...but I do okay with my budget products.

I don't like MAC foundation, but I love the lipsticks, eyeshadows and blush. And the brushes.

I'm a little the same. I tried MAC and I love their brushes, but they do tend to shed a bit. I used their powder/foundation in a compact and I disliked it. It seemed to sit on top of my face rather than blending in well.

My favorite is Lancome. Everything they make that I've purchased has worked well for me. Even though they are not less expensive, I love their products.

Azeeza

The only things I like from MAC are their StudioFix foundation/powder & their Fluidline eyeliners -- but I don't even like the eyeliners that much more than the HIP ones, so I can't justify spending that much more $$$ on them, unless I need an exotic color. I'm an art-store brush girl all the way. The only other high-end product that you'll pry out of my cold, dead hands is my UDPP.

I had some MAC admittedly not enough to really say I dropped enough to give it fair go- 150 maybe? eyeshadow fluidliner and some thing else...

and I am just as happy with the Loreal HIP stuff. I can get it 2:1 at Rite Aid and I haven't had any problems. I am on to much of a budget to spend that kind of money and I don't feel nearly as bad getting all glammed up for a work out just to see if it runs. I hate putting on that expensive shit and going to work out for 2 hours to trial run it- now I can blow full face and sweat my ass off and be totlaly happy that I didn't waste money, I tried it out, and I look hot for a work out. its a win win in my book! =)

I actually like the MAC Studio Fix foundation for photoshoots and stage performances, the liquid foundation for daytime outdoor performances, and the blot powder for both. I use Loreal HIP eyeshadows and liners.

Part of the issue for me with foundation is I hate not being able to try a color before I buy it. I'm half-Korean and many drugstore brands don't seem to know what to do with my skintone. Whenever I try picking out a drugstore brand foundation by looking through the bottle and at their printed "color sample", it inevitably does not match my actual skin when I get it home.

Same for me. I actually developed quite the cosmetics allergy and have been on the hunt for alternatives. The mineral shadows I have perform FAR better than ANY MAC or UD cosmetics I've had. And I had bunches. Also, I found a natural shadow primer that outperforms my UDPP. By a LOT.

I also love the art supply brushes. Many more styles to choose from, and cheaper and better made.

I love the professionals- Ben Nye-and their personal cream kits (only around 15.00) has your foundation, rouge, highlight, shadow (that is contour shadow--not eye shadow), Face powder, shonge applicator,stipple sponge, Eye pencil and flat brush--
they also have some fantastic body paints-- great for the stage and I have found affordable
you must send for their catalogue and then a list of local vendors----
They're the only ones that I found not to break out my face----there fore I have been wearing their cream foundations and blush for years now- even as my everyday foundation---

I'm seeing a lot of people on this thread mentioning L'Oreal HiP eyeshadows...are you guys using the creme version or the powder version? I've never tried them, but I want to (seeing as how everyone else seems to like them), and I want to know which one has better staying power during a performance. Enlighten me! :-)

I had to have new eyeliner for a performance last weekend, since the one I had seemed to have disappeared into the ether...and the only place I could get to on such short notice was the local Dollar General...I found a completely no name, long wearing pencil that I figured would be better than nothing...I'm a complete klutz with liquid, so I didn't even bother to look for one of those...and wonder of wonders, that cheap little $1. eye pencil stayed on all day long and did not make my eyes burn! I've never found another pencil that worked as well. Go figure...*shrugs*

cheaper shampoo and cheaper face wash seem to suit my skin better than the expensive astringent ones. I try everything home brand at least once and work up if it doesn't suit lol. I can't afford to start at the top of the range and work down!!

I've never had the money to fork out for MAC except one time I bought a foundation & it made me break out. I hear everyone talking about it like it's the Holy Grail, but I pretty much just use drug store stuff and have found some good stuff there...with an occasional splurge on an eye shadow from Sephora.

I use a lot of MAC and am quite happy with it; I love their pigments especially and use them almost exclusively for my eyes. Fluidline is one of my 'can't live without it' items, but admittedly I haven't tried the HIP version. I do go drugstore with my lipglosses, lipsticks, mascaras and eyelashes.

I discovered that MAC eyeshadow does blend (if you use a MAC blending brush and stay with it a few mins). I prefer the pigments, they blend the best. Their lip glass over their lipstick will stay longer (its designed that way so you buy two). Once they touch your lips, they blend automatically with the heat of your body. Beware though, the lip glass is thick. I wouldn't do anything with your lips for a couple of mins until it blends.

Mary Kay Cosmetics has good products too. www.marykay.com Their foundations are awesome. Especially since I don't have to fork over $30 for a sheer liquid foundation. Most of them are $14. I got their Lip Primer (which helps keep the lip stick on), their Eye Primer (which does the same for eyeshadow), and their lose powder. Those are things that I only use for performances so they don't have to be replaced as often as the eyeliner or mascara, which I use everyday.

The eyeshadows are great. I usually just buy them and put them in a compact (or a plastic bag) because they only come in the tin, there is no top to it. I organize the compacts by color or the look. You can fit 6 eyeshadows in one compact, or 3 eyeshadows and blush.

I also like buying my lipsticks at drug stores cause if you break or lose it, doesn't cost an arm and leg and it's easy to replace.