Did you know make up formulas are the same from brand to brand? I have a friend who worked for a high end cosmetic firm in New York. I did not believe him when he told me the companies sell the same formulas to different brand names. For example, he showed me how a $8 tube of Max Factor in Walgreens Drug Store is the same exact lipstick as Lancome-- at $20. Once I learned this, I gave up on Elizabeth Arden and began coming the drug stores for similar products.
Yes, most companies are owned by a parent company. L'oreal own Lancome therefore they have the same technology, ingredients and packaging. Lancome and L'oreal mascaras are almost identical. Estee Lauder owns so many companies now (I used to work for them) the only difference is the brand, packaging, marketing and price. Skincare can be different though as prestige brands usually have higher content of active ingredients.
