First Person: I Spend $534 a Year on Makeup

Women often spend a lot of time and money trying to enhance their appearance. I fit somewhere in between a moderate amount of money spent, and sometimes excessive spending. There are plenty of things I can do on my own in order to enhance my appearance and save money, but there are some products I just can't live without. Without spending a little more on a few makeup items, I would definitely be having skin issues. These are the products I spend more for, and what it costs me a year.

Foundation

I have had rough skin since high school. I have tried many different brands and products, but nothing seemed to work. Two years ago I was shopping at a store and decided to check out their make up brand. Surprisingly, the foundation was perfect for my skin, but the price tag was a little hefty. I am now spending $28 on one bottle of foundation instead of the $8 or $9 I was paying before. I buy this product once a month, bringing my yearly expense to $336.

Mascara

It is an unfortunate thing, but I have both short and thin eyelashes. I need to have a mascara that will give the illusion of my lashes being longer while also adding some thickness. I was able to find a brand I liked and that worked for me at the local big box store. It retails for just under $9, and I replace it every other month. My yearly expense for mascara is $54, which seems reasonable to me.

Eyeliner

I am picky when it comes to how my eyes are lined with pencils. I don't like thick lines, but I also don't care for something too thin. After trying dozens of different brands from various companies, I finally found one pencil at a department store that I really liked. I am now spending $12 per pencil, but they last at least a month. I am spending roughly $144 a year on eyeliner pencils.

These three things are essentials in my daily beauty care routine. Without the correct foundation, I would be suffering from multiple skin issues which could end up costing me even more than the product. My yearly total for these three items is $534. While that may seem like a lot, it is less than some of my friends spend. I would rather spend a little more and get better quality rather than risking a breakout or an allergic reaction.

*Note: This was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Do you have a personal finance story that you'd like to share? Sign up with the Yahoo! Contributor Network to start publishing your own finance articles.

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