I don’t know about you, but I’ve always felt like I had two choices when it came to buying makeup: I could go low-end (i.e., drugstore) or I could go high-end (i.e., department stores/Sephora). Drugstore makeup is super affordable and easy to come by, but higher-end products are usually better quality and better for my skin – not to mention the invariably sexy packaging.

Unfortunately, I’ve more or less resigned myself to buying drugstore makeup lately, with the occasional Sephora splurge here and there…and then I started thinking about beauty supple stores.

Of course, I’ve always been aware of beauty supply stores, and I’ve ducked in once or twice, but I had pretty much written them off as being primarily hair care.

(Why did I think this? I have no idea.) But Sally, in particular, kept popping up on the blogs I read, from Nouveau Cheap’s guest post on an intriguing mint shampoo to RFC’s comparison of the Palladio Dual Wet&Dry Foundation to MAC StudioFix – in which she concluded that they were very close, but

she liked the Palladio better!

So I ducked into my nearest Sally’s, and whoa!

So much cheaper than a trip to Sephora, and everything I bought is awesome! Here’s what I hauled:

I decided to take the plunge and get a club card because there are tons of discounts exclusive to club members listed on the website; plus, they gave me a $5 coupon good on any purchase during the month of October, so it’ s like my member

ship was free!

As for the awesomeness of my purchases, I’m thinking of doing a series of individual reviews, because seriously, they’re all great. The Palladio powder foundation, in particular, is so much better than the Neutrogena Mineral Sheers I’ve been using – and it was about $5 cheaper!

In conclusion, if you haven’t ventured into a beauty supply store

in years, I recommend you take the plunge.

They have cosmetics, skincare and hair products far better than what you’ll find at most drugs tores, but at a fraction of the price you can expect

to pay at the mall.

Love you, Sally!

XOXO.