Saving money on cosmetics

[pamaris]

I have pale features and DARK circles so I wear a full face every day. I also have dry-ish, somewhat sensitive skin and have found that I can't go with bargain basement brands on some items. So I thought I would start this thread to exchange ideas about what we can do to save money on cosmetics... this extends to toiletries too. So, what items in what items have you found to be high quality in the cheaper brands.

Currently my brands are not the cheapest, but not the most expensive– Rimmel, L'oreal, Boujuois and No 7.

For lip gloss, I am OK with Rimmel vinyl lip. Still not cheap enough for me, but not too bad.

For cosmetics I have been using Lush items (which I know many could be made from scratch but I'm not there yet!) I have found Lush items on ebay for good prices.

(I know that sometimes you can find good buys in markets... but it is not a regular occurrence for me to happen upon a market).

I'll think about this as I walk DD to school.

[unixgirluk]

I was an avid fan of Estee Lauder skin care and make up for years. My skin loved it but my bank balance didn't. Have switched to iseree skin care from Lidl (99p-1.99 for their range). Their sensitive skin day cream is fab!!!! Apparently same 'recipe' as the skin perfecting cream produced by estee lauder! Also use products from Avon.

[MrsTine]

I have actually found that buying cheap is false economy... I bought quite a pricey foundation recently (had some problem skin and was going to a friends wedding!) and I use so little compared to cheaper brands that it's going to last ages! And it's cover is better than other brand I've used... I would say that Pigsbacks Boots vouchers would be my first port of call on this one ;) But then I have a fair few of mine still :rotfl:

[pamaris]

What is the foundation you bought? I am always struggling to find a decent coverage foundation that doesn't feel like spackling and clog my pores!

For eyeshadow, I tend to buy somewhat expensive eyeshadow every few years (forget that "throw it away after 6 months" stuff!) Urban decay eyeshadow is £12 each and Hard candy is £10 each (!!!!) but they are so pigmented that they last for years. It does work out cheaper to pay £12 every 2 years than £3 every 4 months, but the challenge is finding £25 I want to part with for 2 eyeshadows!

Another thing I have done to save cash is to swap the items that I either receive free with purchase, as a gift or tried once and didn't like. At this site: http://www.makeupalley.com/ you can list all the extras you have and search others' lists and make deals to swap items; all it costs is postage. Most people are from the US but not all. You can also read reviews of just about any product to minimize the chance of wasting money on something that won't work.

[redballoon]

I use tescos brand of "make up" for thier foundation and it is very similar to the No.7 stuff. I also use Boots 17 foundation and that is equally as good.
Tesco face powder is good too.

I have a whole stash of lipsticks, eyeshadows etcc that i've accumulated from my spending sprees in the past :eek: which i am using up slowly.

I will buy boots 17 make up once its all gone :p

[belfastgirl23]

No 7 mascara is good. I like their intelligent colour foundation too - I don't like anything that feels too heavy on my skin and this is nice and light yet still works!

Even better with the £5 off vouchers at the minute :)

[Bargain Rzl]

pamaris, I too am very pale with dark circles under my eyes. I also have skin which manages to be both very dry AND spot-prone :rolleyes:

The main problem I have is foundation, as I find that yellow-toned pale skin is very well catered for by cosmetic products, but pink-toned pale skin is not. I have just started using Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse (in Ivory) and love the texture, though it is still IMHO just a little bit too yellowy. It costs £6.99 from Boots, which is worth it currently as you get the £5 No.7/Ruby & Millie voucher for spending over £5, but Savers have it for less.

I have noticed that L'Oreal do a good range of foundations including one for pink-toned fair skin. I think that may be what I go for next.

I use cheapish concealer (Rimmel) for spots. As for the dark circles, I am on the verge of investing in YSL Touche Eclat, which retails at over £20 :eek: but can be found much much cheaper on sites like www.cheapsmells.com (http://www.cheapsmells.com).

I buy mid-range moisturiser - I like Olay Beauty Fluid which is normally £9.99 but I buy it when it's on special. Current bottle cost me £4.49 last weekend on a Boots special offer.

I tend to buy expensive lipsticks (usually Revlon, No.7 or Estee Lauder when on special offer), but cheap powder (Boots 17 is good) and nail polish. One tip with nail polish is to invest in an good quality base/top coat, but use cheapie stuff for the main colour - it makes any 99p rubbish look expensive ;)

I use Tresemme shampoo, conditioner and straightening spray, all of which are regularly on BOGOF at one or other of the supermarkets or major chemists which makes them work out pretty inexpensive.

For other pampering products I am a big fan of pound shops, markets and local discount beauty shops - I'm not really able to investigate actual cosmetics from these sources as I live in an area where the population is mainly black and ethnic minority, so all the cheap cosmetic ranges are aimed at every skin colour except mine!

[pamaris]

For my dark circles so far the best I have found is Maybelline instant rewind concealer. I don't know if they sell it in the UK tho; it was cheap in the USA.

Thought of another cheapie tip. It is called the aspirin mask:

Basically you just smash up about 5 of grandma's aspirin into a powder, mix with water, honey, aloe vera or the carrier or your choice to make a paste. Leave on for 15-20 minutes, rinse off and voila– your pores are smaller, oily areas are drier, and flaky patches have been exfoliated. It works because the ingredient in aspirin is salicylic acid, which is the ingredient in "beta hydroxy" exfoliating skin products. My skin is dry-ish, somewhat sensitive but spot prone and this works well for me.

Don't use coated aspirin though, just the cheap white stuff!

http://ezinearticles.com/?DIY-Skin-Savers:-The-Aspirin-Mask&id=171592

[Pink-winged]

Hi pamaris,

This is a great thread for the Health and Beauty Moneysaving board so I'll move it over there.

Pink

[pamaris]

Ah there are so many boards in this forum I didn't even notice it! Thanks and sorry for mis-posting.

[dianadors]

I once did some work at a factory that manufactured and filled lipsicks/eyeshadows etc. They made a huge vat of lippy, filled various tubes from very cheapy brands up to Estee Lauder, added a bit more colour and started the process again. It was all the same lipstick. I saw this with my own eyes. The only thing that changed was the packaging

[chika]

The aspirin mask is excellent. I mix mine with natural yogurt, makes your skin look fab.

Borjois is chanel make up in cheaper packaging.

Also don't forget the simple things. Cocoa butter,e45 and baby oil, lotion are excellent moisturiers and cost next to nothing. Roll on deodrants are cheaper than the spray varieties.

I don't scrimp on makeup - I prefer MAC products, the foundation lasts all day, saving money on reapplying And the eyeshadows have loads of pigment in them.

[chika]

Oh and if you can't do without certain things try and get them when on bogof. I love dove deodrant, olay anti wrinkle, radox and original source. All are bogof at tesco so i bought a trolley load. It wont go off and I am saving money in the long term.

[teedy23]

like the sound of that asprin mask, I bought rather expensive stuff for ingrowing hairs after getting waxed and a nurse friend laughed her head off at the ingrediants. had it all in the kitchen cupboard, think that contained asprin too