Controversy: Drugstore vs. Department Store?

Let's get right to it. All of us have thought it more than once. "Do I have to spend 20+ bucks to get quality cosmetics?" This is a thought that I find rolling around in my brain frequently.
Currently, my vanity is cluttered with a smattering of products from Sephora to CVS. I've dropped over $200 for two or three "high-end" products, while at times I can get a whole shopping basket for $45.
I'm often confused by company's claims of "highly pigmented," "no-smudge," or "HD coverage."  While I've found some more spendy products that I consider invaluable, I've also found some drugstore products that really hold their own.
So far, I believe that the most important piece of advice I can give you, is to not get stuck in one way of thinking. If you are of the mindset that you wont spend more than $10 a pop, you will surely miss out on some life-changing products. Some will not only make your life simpler, but will also enhance and compliment your less expensive favorites. I would also warn the consumer who avoids Walgreens like the plague. You may be overspending on products that you could find for a fraction of the price, and the same quality. I remember a beautiful shade of dark burgundy lipstick by Wet & Wild that I wore down to a nub. I received an endless number of compliments on it, and only dropped one hundred pennies.
I guess what I'm trying to say, is open your mind! Explore! Yes, often magazines have good advice, but often they don't! Use your own sleuthing skills and experiment with new products, colors, and brands. You will discover new favorites, and have fun in the process. Beauty and skincare should never be monotonous. It should be exciting, thought-inspiring, and an adventure!
So the next time you're in need of a new foundation, or you loved that lilac shade of eyeshadow you saw on the girl in line at Starbucks, go to that store you've always avoided. Maybe you'll find the shade you can't live without, and it happens to be $20. Or maybe, you'll find an inexpensive foundation that blends and goes on just as smoothly as that one you've been dropping fifty-five bucks on at that fancy-shmancy department store.

♥Emily