Have you ever wondered whether investing in high-end beauty is worth it? I’ll admit that I have – so I’ve decided to put Team Escentual through their paces with a range of blind beauty tests to find out once and for all.
In a battle between affordable and luxury, our first blind beauty test features everything from dry shampoo to micellar water. But, will our first contestant be able to tell which one is more expensive based on texture, scent and consistency alone? We’ll find out in this month’s Luxury vs Affordable…
Who’s in the VS hot seat?
First up, we have our Photographer, Rosa; she gets to zoom in on the tiniest details and luxurious textures of many beauty products that come through our doors. But, she’ll admit that she’s only recently become interested in beauty since starting at Escentual, so she’s not feeling overly confident. Let’s see how she performs…
Round 1: Shampoo Mousse
Dry Shampoo 1:
This mystery dry shampoo has been developed specifically to maintain blonde hair; the refreshing, subtle floral scented foam has a creamy texture that refreshes hair and adds volume by absorbing excess oil. The integrated 3D bond creation technology helps to stabilise the hair’s structure by creating new bonds and smoothing frizz.
Rosa’s Thoughts…
During the blind trial, Rosa felt you’d get more for your money with the bigger size and watery cloud-like texture that covered lots of surface area. She felt the texture was slightly sticky and powdery, but it held her curls well with a tight finish.
Dry Shampoo 2:
Our second pick is suitable for all hair types looking to revive limp and greasy locks. The cruelty-free formula has a light and airy texture with a non-sticky invisible finish that adds natural volume and bounce.
Rosa’s Thoughts…
The first thing Rosa noticed about the second mystery dry shampoo was that it had a creamier texture with a refreshing citrus scent that felt salon-worthy. She picked this as the high-end dry shampoo due to its thicker, more luxurious texture, which was enjoyable to run through her locks and had a softer finish.
Rosa’s Prediction: Rosa thought mystery product No. 2 is the luxury dry shampoo.
Which Is Which?
Dry Shampoo 1: Affordable – Schwarzkopf Professional BlondMe Blond Wonders Dry Shampoo Foam
Dry Shampoo 2: Luxury – Sachajuan Dry Shampoo Mousse
Round 2: Lip Balm
Lip Balm 1:
The first lip balm has an innovative combination of eight hours of pigmented colour and skin-caring ingredients. The formula deeply hydrates your pout for a comfortable feel and subtle shine, infused with hyaluronic and mango butter.
Rosa’s Thoughts…
Straight off the bat, Rosa noticed that the metallic applicator felt more luxurious. She describes the texture as fluid with a long-lasting dry down. It felt hydrating and comfortable on her lips, achieving a soft and healthy finish. She loved the colour and decided this was the high-end pick.
Lip Balm 2:
Next up, we have the perfect balance between balm and lipstick made from 96% natural ingredients. The formula contains softening coconut butter, defensive beeswax and a replenishing oil blend for comfortable and hydrated lips that are protected from elements and pollutants.
Rosa’s Thoughts…
Rosa found the second lip balm slightly creamier with a shiner finish; the lip balm felt a bit harder to use but still had a soft, comfortable feeling. But felt the plastic applicator let this one down.
Rosa’s Prediction: Rosa thought mystery product No. 1 is the luxury lip balm.
Which Is Which?
Lip Balm 1: Luxury – Benefit California Kissin’ Colorbalm Moisturising Lip Balm – Shade Cherry
Lip Balm 2: Affordable – Vichy Naturalblend Lip Balm – Shade Red
Round 3: Micellar Water
Micellar Water 1:
Our first micellar water is a Beauty Bible 2021 award winner; the refreshing no-rinse cleanser is suitable for all skin types. The ophthalmologically-tested formula contains refreshing botanical extracts that gently cleanse and soothe your skin, including cucumber and thyme. The 3-in-1 design helps remove stubborn makeup from the face, eyes and lips while reducing blemishes with its antibacterial properties.
Rosa’s Thoughts…
Based on looks alone, Rosa felt the smaller size, weighted bottle, and lockable pump design leaned toward the luxury side. She loved the fruity and sweet watermelon scent and felt it easily removed her makeup without the need to tug.
Micellar Water 2:
The second micellar water has a hypoallergenic formula that’s suitable for all skin types and even contact lens wearers. The soothing water removes makeup from the face, eyes and lips without any tugging. Infused with organic cornflower, the micellar water has calming and decongesting properties that leave skin soft to touch.
Rosa’s Thoughts…
Rosa felt the second push cap design was great for a mess-free application. She thought it did a good job at removing her makeup with lots visible on the pad after a few swipes. The scent had a more medical scent for her, but the deciding factor was the pump design and scent, which she thought had a more pharmaceutical feel.
Rosa’s Prediction: Rosa thought mystery product No. 1 is the luxury micellar water.
Which Is Which?
Micellar Water 1: Luxury – L’Occitane Cleansing Infusion 3 in 1 Micellar Water
Micellar Water 2: Affordable – Klorane Micellar Water 3-in-1 Make-Up Remover with Cornflower
The Results:
Rosa quite clearly has an eye for luxurious scents and textures. She guessed three out of three correctly. First, on the leaderboard and with a strong score, will any of the other Team Escentual members be able to match her?
