Luxury vs. Drugstore: The Products I Actually Think Are Worth the Splurge for Mature Skin

If you're anything like me, you've probably stood in Sephora holding a luxury product in one hand and your phone in the other, wondering if there's a drugstore version that does the exact same thing.

As a beauty creator in my 40s, I test products from both ends of the beauty spectrum all the time. And while there are absolutely some luxury products that earn their price tag, there are also plenty of affordable options that perform just as well.

So if you're trying to decide where to save and where to splurge, here's exactly where I think your money matters most when it comes to mature skin.

Worth the Splurge: Foundation

If I could only splurge on one makeup category, it would probably be foundation.

As our skin changes, we often become more aware of texture, dryness, fine lines, and how products wear throughout the day. A good foundation can make a huge difference in how polished your makeup looks.

One of my all-time favorites is Armani Luminous Silk Foundation. It gives my skin a radiant finish without looking heavy or settling into fine lines. It's one of those products that consistently makes my skin look healthy and glowing.

I also love the Patrick Ta Major Skin Foundation for days when I want a little more coverage without sacrificing luminosity.

Can you find good drugstore foundations? Absolutely. But if foundation is the centerpiece of your makeup routine, this is one area where I think a luxury formula can be worth the investment.

My verdict: Splurge.

Shop My Favorite Splurge Foundations

Save Your Money: Blush

The blush market has become incredibly competitive, and honestly, some of my favorite blushes aren't luxury at all.

The new e.l.f. Soft Glam Blushes are beautiful, blend easily, and give a soft, healthy flush to the skin. Milani continues to create stunning blush formulas, and I've found myself reaching for affordable options just as often as my higher-end favorites.

While I still enjoy luxury blushes, I don't think they're necessary to achieve a beautiful makeup look.

My verdict: Save.

Worth the Splurge: Setting Powder

Powder can make or break makeup on mature skin.

The wrong powder can instantly make your makeup look dry, cakey, or overly textured. The right powder can smooth, blur, and help your makeup last without looking heavy.

This is one of the reasons products like Givenchy Prisme Libre became so popular. They managed to set the skin while still allowing it to look like skin.

I've also had incredible results with Danessa Myricks Evolution Powder and other higher-end formulas that focus on blurring rather than mattifying the life out of your face.

That said, drugstore brands are catching up fast. I'm currently testing the new e.l.f. Set It Bright Correcting & Brightening Powder to see how it compares.

My verdict: If powder is where your makeup usually goes wrong, splurge.

Shop My Favorite Powders for Mature Skin

Save Your Money: Lip Products

This one is easy.

Drugstore lip products are amazing right now.

The Maybelline Lifter Glosses continue to be some of my most-used lip products. Affordable lip liners have improved dramatically, and there are countless drugstore lipsticks and glosses that perform beautifully.

Luxury lip products are fun, but I don't think they're where most people need to spend their money.

My verdict: Save.

Worth the Splurge: Skincare That Supports Your Makeup

I don't believe every skincare product needs to be expensive.

But I do believe healthy skin makes every makeup product perform better.

The products I tend to invest in are the ones that directly affect how my makeup applies and wears throughout the day. Hydrating serums, nourishing moisturizers, and barrier-supporting products can completely change how your foundation sits on the skin.

When my skincare routine is working, my makeup routine becomes easier.

That's why I focus on strategic skincare splurges rather than buying expensive products across the board.

My verdict: Invest strategically.

Shop My Favorite Skincare Splurges

Save Your Money: Eyeshadow

This category has changed so much over the last few years.

Affordable brands are producing beautiful formulas, impressive pigmentation, and incredible special-effect shadows.

One of my recent favorite discoveries has been the Wet n Wild Chameleon Chrome Eyeshadows. The shifts are absolutely stunning, and at under $5, they completely exceeded my expectations.

I've also found amazing formulas from e.l.f., ColourPop, and other affordable brands that perform far above their price point.

My verdict: Save.

My Luxury Beauty Favorites That Are Worth Every Penny

If I had to narrow it down to the luxury beauty products that consistently earn a place in my routine, these would be the ones I continue reaching for again and again.

These aren't products I love because they're expensive. They're products I love because they perform.

They're the products that make me feel confident when I'm filming content, heading to an event, or simply getting ready for the day.

Shop My Mature Skin Luxury Favorites

Some of the products you'll find in this collection include:

• Armani Luminous Silk Foundation

• Patrick Ta Major Skin Foundation

• Danessa Myricks Evolution Powder

• Haus Labs Fire Opal Highlighter

• Merit Solo Sheen Eyeshadow

• Armani Beauty Bronzer

• Rhode Pocket Blush

• Tatcha Water Cream

These are the products that have repeatedly impressed me and earned a permanent spot in my collection.

One of the biggest lessons I've learned as a beauty creator is that expensive doesn't automatically mean better.

Some categories truly benefit from a luxury formula, while others have incredible affordable alternatives that perform just as well.

For me, foundation, powder, and strategic skincare are the categories most worth investing in. Blush, lip products, and eyeshadow are where I save my money without feeling like I'm sacrificing performance.

At the end of the day, the goal isn't to own the most expensive makeup.

The goal is to find products that make you feel confident, beautiful, and excited to sit down at your vanity every morning.

And sometimes, those products cost $60.

Sometimes they cost $5.

The magic is knowing the difference.

How to Pitch Brands as a Small Content Creator (Without Sounding Desperate)

When I first started pitching brands, I genuinely thought the reason I wasn’t hearing back was because I didn’t have enough followers.

So I spent way too much time focusing on numbers instead of learning how to actually position myself professionally.

And honestly?

That’s where I see so many smaller creators getting stuck.

They assume:

• they need 100K followers

• their content isn’t “good enough”

• brands only care about viral creators

• or that they need to sound overly corporate in emails

But after years of working in this industry, both as a creator and behind the scenes, I’ve learned something important:

Most creators aren’t getting ignored because they’re too small.

They’re getting ignored because their pitch doesn’t clearly communicate their value.

The Biggest Mistake Small Creators Make When Pitching Brands

A lot of creators send emails that sound:

• overly apologetic

• too vague

• too long

• or completely focused on themselves instead of the brand

And listen…I get it.

Talking about yourself professionally can feel awkward at first.

Especially when you’re still building confidence in your content.

But brands are not looking for perfection.

They’re looking for creators who:

• understand their audience

• create trustworthy content

• know how to communicate clearly

• and feel aligned with the brand

That matters more than follower count way more often than people realize.

You Do NOT Need a Massive Following to Work With Brands

One of the biggest myths online right now is that you need a huge audience before brands will take you seriously.

You don’t.

Some of the most valuable creators are creators with:

• engaged communities

• niche audiences

• high trust

• and strong storytelling

That’s especially true in beauty, lifestyle, skincare, motherhood, and niche creator spaces.

Brands care about connection.

Not just numbers.

I’ve personally seen smaller creators land opportunities simply because they knew how to present themselves professionally and genuinely.

What Brands Actually Want From Creators

Most brands are looking for creators who can:

• make content feel natural

• create trust with their audience

• educate or influence purchasing decisions

• communicate professionally

• and deliver content consistently

That’s why your pitch matters so much.

Your email is often the first impression a brand gets of you.

And if your pitch sounds rushed, unclear, or unsure of itself…brands can feel that immediately.

Stop Trying to Sound “Perfect”

One of the biggest things I had to learn was that pitching is not about sounding robotic or overly polished.

It’s about sounding:

• confident

• clear

• professional

• and aligned

You don’t need to write a novel.

You don’t need to oversell yourself.

And you definitely do not need to beg brands for opportunities.

You need to clearly communicate:

• who you are

• who your audience is

• what kind of content you create

• and why you would be a good fit

That’s it.

Why I Created “The Pitch That Gets You Replies”

After years of learning through trial and error, I realized that smaller creators are constantly being told:
“Just email brands!”

…but nobody actually teaches creators HOW to pitch professionally.

So I created a workbook that walks creators through:

• how to structure a pitch

• what brands actually pay attention to

• how to stop underselling yourself

• what to include in outreach emails

• and how to position yourself even if you don’t have a massive following

Because smaller creators deserve opportunities too.

And honestly?

Some of the best creators I know are still growing their platforms.

What’s Inside the Workbook

Inside The Pitch That Gets You Replies, I included:

• real pitch examples

• outreach tips

• ways to position your value

• mistakes to avoid

• guidance for smaller creators

• and strategies I’ve personally used throughout my creator journey

This workbook is designed to help creators feel more confident, professional, and prepared when reaching out to brands.

Grab the workbook here:

And if you’re not already on my email list, make sure you join because I’ll be sharing even more creator resources, PR tips, and behind-the-scenes advice for smaller creators.

Final Thoughts

If you’re a smaller creator reading this, I really want you to understand this:

You do not need to wait until you feel “big enough” to start showing up professionally.

You can build relationships with brands now.

You can create opportunities now.

And you absolutely deserve to take your work seriously now.

Because consistency, trust, and community matter more than most people realize.

Small Creators Keep Asking Me for My Pitch Emails…So I Made Something

A few months ago, a creator asked me something that honestly caught me off guard.

She asked if I would ever sell the actual email pitches I use for brand deals.

At first, I laughed a little because I never thought of my emails as a “product.” They were just the emails I spent years refining through trial and error while building relationships with brands as a smaller creator.

But then I realized something:

A lot of creators don’t struggle because they aren’t talented.

They struggle because they don’t know what to say.

They don’t know how to pitch themselves without sounding robotic.
They don’t know how to follow up professionally.
They don’t know how to make brands actually want to respond.

And honestly?
Most of the advice online about pitching brands feels super generic.

So after getting asked over and over again, I decided to finally put together something I wish I had when I first started.

Launching Monday, I’m releasing my brand pitch email collection for creators.

Not just one template.

Actual emails.
Real frameworks.
Real approaches I use depending on the situation.

Inside, I’ll be sharing:
• Pitch email structures that feel natural (not corporate)
• Follow-up email examples
• Ways to pitch yourself even as a small creator
• Subject line ideas
• How to sound confident without overselling yourself
• The exact mindset shift that helped me stop being scared to pitch brands

Because the truth is:
You do not need a huge following to start building brand relationships.

You need strategy.
You need consistency.
And you need to know how to communicate your value.

That’s what this is about.

If you’ve ever stared at a blank screen trying to figure out how to email a brand…this was made for you.

Launches Monday 💌