Cheap makeup/skincare

Just a random thought of mine, not targeting any brand(s) in particular. There is nothing wrong with buying affordable or cheaper brands of makeup/skincare. Many times one walks in the shopping malls or see online tons of cosmetics and skincare screaming out loud, having advertisements, collaborations with influencers/bloggers, promotions etc.. yes it is so competitive nowadays, how many of you actually paused to think about what goes in there that they can sell the product so cheap? Its wonderful if one can easily find makeup/skincare affordable in their own country, perhaps due to competition in their market. But how about items that DO NOT seems to work well yet we still see influencers etc hard selling them? Too many times we try products on our hands, but what about our face directly? Sure it is hard to tell as most testers contains bacteria etc.

Encounter 1 -
I personally don't have sensitive skin, I myself have tried this particular brand's sunscreen on my hand and yea, it seems great~ Till one day I need this sunscreen and applied on my face...Within 5 mins, I had to wash it off, cos it was making my face red and really itchy. I was really worried and immediately went to find the most gentle cleanser at home to rinse my skin. It took a while for the redness to subside, thank goodness nothing bad happened. But yea, off into the bin it goes.

Encounter 2 -
I have this really pigmented lip color which promises staying power~ How cool is that! Till I realize that even with a good strong oil make up remover, it STAINS my lips -.- When I first tried it on the back of my hand, it seems alright to remove. However on MY lips, ouch, it is a different story :( So yea, another item off into the bin.

Encounter 3 -
Saw this really pretty tinted lip gloss that everyone is raving about, tried on the back of my hand (again), and yea, ok I bought it~ Happily wanted to use it and I realize that it kinda smells unpleasant. Gosh, bummer, its brand new! But sigh, off into the bin it goes.

Encounter 4 -
Make up/Skin care on clearance/warehouse sale! DON'T buy in bulk, they are usually going to expired or expired. Yea we all know it can keep 3 years bla bla bla, but then how about storage? Improper storage CAN shorten its life span. Look at how the goods are displayed, under the sun (NO), under the display lights (NO), 'sweating' content (NO), old/worn packaging (NO) etc. Some things CAN buy but most of it, sadly no. There is a reason why the company have to get rid of them, it may look new and all~ but there IS a reason.

Encounter 5 -
Feeling doubts of any unknown or unbranded makeup/skincare? Trust your own instinct, those warning hesitations are there for a reason. Do a simple research or simply check for reviews from reliable influencers. There is no urgent to rush and buy anything we are unsure of. Not like it will be gone forever it you don't buy it now. Good things don't need much advertisements, and are passed on by trusted users. Those are indeed worth investing on.

Encounter 6 -
Products that doesn't smell right just after a while? Trust your nose, dump it. It could be many reasons or perhaps you didn't close it well enough etc. Don't be a hogger and continue using that product, let it go.

Encounter 7 -
Noticed how some influencers hard selling items but don't use it themselves in real life? That is just so sad, right? It tells a lot about the products too! It is also important if the influencer is experienced enough to give a proper and honest review. Givens lots of products in their way, they SHOULD be able to tell how good the products really are. It is also sad if any products given to them, and every review is good/wonderful. Nobody will believe you and you will lost your credit.

Encounter 8 -
Cheap skincare, hmmm do they really work? Unless you are telling me they are made with people with passion for skincare, then hmmm so much money poured to create a formula, production, packaging, branding and marketing etc. Hmmm its hard for me to buy it or least expect the amazing results they claim to provide.

Quality vs quantity. Whats the point of buying something cos its cheap and ends up in the bin, right? Of cos there are some affordable brands that work wonders, don't get me wrong. But what about those unbranded ones or unknown ones etc? Is buying something cheap but the color payoff is really bad, or product stains or coarse texture or cause irritation etc worth it? Our face/skin is precious, take good care of it. Always practice hygiene to prevent inflammation, angered skin, risk infection, enlarged pores etc. The way to reverse those mentioned earlier cost way more. Why risk it? Love yourself more <3 If I need to apply something daily basis, why not spend a little more or get from a reliable source right?