Cupcake Beauty Edit: Premium vs Drug Store
- Mica Cupcake
- May 27, 2019
- 4 min read
[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_column_text]I’ve always loved make up-the little baby sets you get as a kid, the ‘Girls World’ head and shoulders doll would always have pink cheeks and lips. Every school disco or birthday party I would beg my mum to cover me in glitter, and if I could wear some of her fancy mascara.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”1410″ onclick=”custom_link” img_link_target=”_blank” link=”https://www.worldwideshoppingmall.co.uk/toys/shelves/dolls.asp”%5D%5B/vc_column%5D%5Bvc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”1409″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”1411″ onclick=”custom_link” img_link_target=”_blank” link=”https://www.dailyedge.ie/bratz-better-than-barbies-3456293-Jun2017/”%5D%5B/vc_column%5D%5Bvc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”1416″ onclick=”custom_link” img_link_target=”_blank” link=”https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/567172146819696905/?lp=true”%5D%5B/vc_column%5D%5Bvc_column width=”1/3″][vc_column_text]
Owning Barbie dolls as a child kick-started my love of clothes and makeup. When I started getting Bratz dolls as a pre-teen, I began to realise my desire to work in Fashion. It was these dolls that ultimately led me to the decision to study Fashion at University.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_column_text]Even though I did a degree in Fashion, I never truly forgot my passion for cosmetics and beauty, which leads me to the main section of this article…
The beauty industry itself has really boomed in the last 50 years. Ladies, and now men, are more willing to spend their hard earned cash on premium skincare and cosmetics, instead of clothes and shoes. The focus has shifted to working on the skin underneath before you can look good in the garments over the top.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”1421″ onclick=”custom_link” img_link_target=”_blank” link=”https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/194569646382046856/”%5D%5B/vc_column%5D%5Bvc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”1422″ onclick=”custom_link” img_link_target=”_blank” link=”http://fms509sandhudbeautyandthebrand.blogspot.com/2015/02/chanel-spring-2015-makeup-collection.html”%5D%5B/vc_column%5D%5B/vc_row%5D%5Bvc_row%5D%5Bvc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”1392″ onclick=”custom_link” img_link_target=”_blank” link=”https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3080765/Vintage-make-campaigns-document-evolution-beauty-century-prove-women-today-want-luscious-lips-bright-eyes-did-100-years-ago.html”%5D%5B/vc_column%5D%5Bvc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”1393″ onclick=”custom_link” img_link_target=”_blank” link=”https://clickamericana.com/topics/beauty-fashion/point-to-color-nail-polish-ads-of-the-80s-1981-1985″%5D%5B/vc_column%5D%5Bvc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”1424″ onclick=”custom_link” img_link_target=”_blank” link=”https://magazineshoots.weebly.com/blog/emily-didonato-in-maybelline-pumped-up-colossal-mascara-advert”%5D%5B/vc_column%5D%5B/vc_row%5D%5Bvc_row%5D%5Bvc_column%5D%5Bvc_column_text%5DWith that being said, it’s the Drug Store brands that have really shown the most growth and resilience in the ever-growing, ever-changing Western World. Brands like Maybelline and Max Factor have really stood the test of time, going from strength to strength with their tried and tested products like Dream Matte Mousse or the famous Pan Stik (my mum still swears by it after all these years of wearing makeup).[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”1426″ img_size=”large” onclick=”custom_link” img_link_target=”_blank” link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwAd7888z90″%5D%5B/vc_column%5D%5B/vc_row%5D%5Bvc_row%5D%5Bvc_column%5D%5Bvc_column_text%5DIn a world where a thumbs up or thumbs down from a Youtube Star can literally make or break a brand, Beauty Influencers and Bloggers have more power than ever. Names like Jeffree Star or James Charles are more recognisable to Generation Z kids than Pop Stars like Madonna or even someone who’s had an actual cultural influence on modern society, like DaVinci.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”1435″ onclick=”custom_link” img_link_target=”_blank” link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_6AUJStvss”%5D%5B/vc_column%5D%5Bvc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”1437″ onclick=”custom_link” img_link_target=”_blank” link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sd80ZipTMDE”%5D%5B/vc_column%5D%5B/vc_row%5D%5Bvc_row%5D%5Bvc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]Famous names like Jeffree, Nikkie and Sophie spend most of their time comparing premium and drug store products-and actually- the cheaper items work better more times than you’d think! More and more affordable beauty brands are popping up; both in the US and the UK.
Obviously, as a UK resident, I can only comment on brands we as Brits have access to. For example, Wet’n’Wild Cosmetics was founded in 1979, but only came to the UK in the early noughties once it was bought by another company and moved its HQ to California.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”1443″ onclick=”custom_link” img_link_target=”_blank” link=”https://www.facebook.com/wetnwildbeautyuk/photos/a.241731126530177/241731319863491/?type=1&theater”%5D%5B/vc_column%5D%5B/vc_row%5D%5Bvc_row%5D%5Bvc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”1446″ onclick=”custom_link” img_link_target=”_blank” link=”https://twitter.com/elfcosmeticsuk”%5D%5B/vc_column%5D%5Bvc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]There are a lot of characteristics to beauty brands and their products that attract customers and keep them loyal. For example how long the product lasts (NYX Liquid Lipsticks will change your life) how good the coverage is (Estée Lauder Double wear Foundation), what shade range is available (Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty), or, most importantly, whether they are Vegan and Cruelty Free.
With the environment the way it is right now (watch any David Attenborough documentary), it’s super important to be weary of the products you put on your face, and the way they impact the world around you.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The only issue, for me anyway, is that not every company can 100% promise that their cosmetics are not tested on animals, or are not made from animal byproducts. Which is fair enough I guess, as most companies outsource their items from other countries like China, Japan, Pakistan, etc. So it’s impossible to monitor so far away from the distribution centre.
The way I see it though, is that in the next 10 or so years, companies will have such a demand for Cruelty Free and Vegan products, that they will have no choice BUT to monitor how their products are made. Maybe by bringing them closer to home, which wouldn’t be a bad thing, to be honest.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”1486″ onclick=”custom_link” img_link_target=”_blank” link=”https://aveda.edu/word-of-mouth/aveda-is-cruelty-free/”%5D%5B/vc_column%5D%5B/vc_row%5D%5Bvc_row%5D%5Bvc_column%5D%5Bvc_column_text%5DAnother question I have is- are Vegan and Cruelty Free products actually any good? It may seem a bit harsh, but I still want decent quality products if I’m going to invest my money into a brand, as well as try and be more environmentally conscious. And does it make a difference if the products are Premium, Vegan and Cruelty Free? Or are Drug Store brands now at a good enough standard that we don’t have to invest?
Over the next couple of months, I shall be trialling various brands, both premium and cheaper, Both Vegan/Cruelty Free and not, to see what actually works better!
Because, let’s face it, you’re only going to find out if you try it, right?
I’ll let you know Cupcakers,
More next week!
Meesh xoxo
Please note. None of the images included in this article are mine. All the links to the images are attached to the pictures themselves. Just click each one for its original source.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
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