Cosmetics reviews are everywhere these days, and it can be hard to tell the real reviews from the ones that the companies pay for. Have you ever noticed that in a lot of magazines there will be a huge ad for a particular brand of lipstick a few pages after the editors recommend it? You've got to wonder if it's really worth the money to buy, or if the magazine felt the pressure of the advertising dollars the brand spends each month. Considering that the majority of magazines make their money from advertising (as opposed to subscription costs, which most people think is the case), it's totally feasible. So, what's a consumer to do?

In my opinion, the best cosmetics reviews come from friends who have tried the products. If you know of a make up artist, you can ask him or her as well. The thing is, if you go to a salon and ask about brand names, chances are the stylist will try to sell you on a brand that the salon carries. After all, most of them make a commission on the products that they sell. The same can be true of make up artists, especially if they work for a cosmetics line. A good thing to do is to check out new stories...sometimes on slow news days a reporter will try out different brands of mascara, from drug store to specialty store brands, then give an objective review of her findings.

In many cases, despite what some magazines say, the drug store brand that costs $4 is just as good as the expensive designer line. In some cases the cheap stuff might even be better! It's just important to know that sometimes when it comes to cosmetics reviews, what you see is not always what you get. I suggest you act as your own consumer reporter and try out different brands until you find one that suits you best. After all, your friend's favorite eyeshadow color might not look so good on your natural skin color.