Because I'm worth it?

I am an avid blog reader, and I see a lot of comments about whether a particular treatment or product is "worth" the money it costs. This isn't new to the global economic downturn - I've been an active member on a couple of beauty message boards since 2004, and this kind of question/comment has often been made when high end cosmetics/treatments are mentioned.

Chanel charges £20+ for a lipstick and £19 for a solo eyeshadow. There's no question that they sell a lot of cosmetics at this price, and can get away with charging that much for them. If they dropped the price, would they sell more lipsticks, while still making a profit on the direct cost of producing that lipstick? Yes, but they might well make less profit overall, because the reduced margin on each product means that they would have to sell many, many more units to meet their fixed overhead costs (advertising, staff, fixed asset costs etc.) (PS Sorry for the boring accountancy talk. It's what I do for the day job.)

I like luxury cosmetics. My love affair began at 16 when my Mum took me to the local Dior counter for my birthday to buy a red lipstick (Etna) and an eyeshadow quint. I started buying them for myself more when I gave up smoking in my early twenties; the money I did not spend on cigarettes got put into a jar and at the end of the month I blew it on pretties, and so my fripperies fund was born.

I benchmark luxury brands I buy against Chanel. I am someone who likes Chanel, and considers it "worth" the money to me - I like the smell and the packaging, and I'll admit it, I like the fussing and the experience at a counter of being able to chat to someone who is (generally speaking) as into makeup as I am. I don't compare them to the price of MAC, because that's comparing apples and pears - if I think that the price of a MAC lipstick is the maximum reasonable cost of a lipstick, I'm never going to think a £20 lipstick is warranted. That's okay, because we all have different value sets, and I am aware that I'm in a lucky position to be able to have a fripperies allowance. Of course, if the experience, the product and the packaging are all worse than MAC, and they are still charging £20, those are some big negative points against the product.

The question inside my head when I'm reviewing a £20 lipstick/gloss is "Should I have just bought a Hydrabase instead?" (Dolce & Gabbana = yes, Rouge Bunny Rouge = no.)

I hope this helps to understand generally where I am coming from when I review products. I do also buy and love some less expensive products - Louise Galvin Natural Locks hair stuff is fab, and the Hei Poa I reviewed recently is pretty reasonable too. On the flip side, there are ranges where I think the cost is just prohibitive for me personally - the Serge Lutens cosmetics line is too rich for my blood at £47 for a lipstick, and I would not buy the Chantecaille special palettes at £90ish (La Baleine, Protected Paradise.) I also baulk at going over £100 for a skincare product, and those are becoming much more prevalent since Creme De La Mer tested the waters of that particular market.

Oh, and about those Hydrabases? - Escapade is a fantastic warm rose. I also love Rouge Noir, the vampy black/red. Don't even get me started on the nail polishes.....