Are department-store beauty products really that much different or better than those bought in a drugstore?
—Lynn, via the Ask Style inbox

I'm gonna let you in on a big secret. Department-store makeup brands want to keep this little fact hush-hush, but the truth is, many drugstore cosmetics are made by the exact same companies that make high-end department store products.

Case in point: one company, L'Oréal Inc., oversees drugstore favorites like L'Oréal Paris and Maybelline, but also owns more expensive brands Lancôme, Shu Uemura and Giorgio Armani Beauty. Similarly, Proctor & Gamble owns both high-end hair line Frédéric Fekkai as well as supermarket staples like Herbal Essences and Pantene. What does all this mean?

The drugstore lines benefit from any scientific discoveries, formula breakthroughs and brilliant product inventions. I'm not saying Lancôme's $22 Color Design Sensational Effects lip color is the exact same as L'Oréal Paris' $10 Colour Riche Star Secrets lip color, but the formulas and shades are pretty darn similar.

"Much of what you pay for in department-store products is advertising and packaging," says Lisa Hans, a makeup artist for the Cloutier Agency. So as much as we love those double Cs emblazoned on the black boxes of Chanel makeup, it's really not worth it for some packaging you ultimately throw away.

There are, however, some perks to the department-store beauty counter experience, such as the professional assistance and the luxury of trying on products before you purchase. But don't forget, this is all factored into the steeper price. "If you don't mind taking a chance, you can save some serious change in the drugstore," Hans advises. That said, there are a couple department-store items that are worth the dent in your purse, such as Clé De Peau foundation and Bobbi Brown brushes. Trust me, your face will thank you.

But for the bulk of your items—especially trendy colors, lip gloss and mascara—get your tush over to the drugstore and shamelessly shop away!

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