How to be supergroomed on budget?

gailey_2

New year new me want to be more yummy mummy than frumpy mummy and get my old glam self back had baby nearly 4months ago plus toddler to run about in.

Used to be makeup addict but lost touch with whats good?
could do with whole new makeup look as trusty benefit mascara run out need new foundation and lip gloss.

Cant afford hairdressers got bored with mousey blonde highlights and dyed in with clairol red brown looks nice.

so whats the best and cheap

mascara?maybelline
lipgloss?
foundation?
eyeshadow?
concealer?

whats best skincare products?
facemask/ like those sauna ones that heat up on face.
moisturiser? rarly use one shame on me im 30 this year!
tend to just use wetwipes/facial wipes.

whats best shops to go to? boots, superdrug, savers or supermarket for products.

best shampoo and conditioner for coloured hair?

best home hair colour?

wheres cheap to get haircut? we have supercuts.

magazines always seem to reccomend the really expensive products?
Think i read some items you have to pay more others yoy can skimp on.

freyasmum

mascara?maybelline. Agree, I won some of the define-a-lash early last year and it was good.
lipgloss? I actually like the jemma kidd one - the one that came free with the bodyform sanitary towels. There might still be some of them around.
foundation? I like No7 intelligent colour, though I must admit I've been using fake tan much more recently.
eyeshadow? Don't really use it, but I found a little 'beauty uk' compact from superdrug and it was only £3.49 for about 10 colours. Currently on 342 at the moment too
concealer?

whats best skincare products? Haven't tried many cheap skincare ranges, but simple is quite good.
facemask/ like those sauna ones that heat up on face. Boots Natural collection strawberry, it's a brightening mask.
moisturiser? rarly use one shame on me im 30 this year! Try simple
tend to just use wetwipes/facial wipes. Start using skincare!! Your skin will thank you for it when you get older

whats best shops to go to? boots, superdrug, savers or supermarket for products. If buying in boots, buy online (through topcashback) and have it delivered instore

wheres cheap to get haircut? we have supercuts. Cut and blowdry is £20 here, I don't think that's too bad?

ERICS_MUM

I've tried all sorts of expensive beauty products from QVC shopping channel but I'm not convinced they are any better so I've changed my routins.

Regards moisturiser, which I think is important from your 30's, I would suggest a good brand in the cheaper price range such some of Boots' own makes. Go for one with an SPF 15 or 20 to protect your skin against sun damage. Use it on your neck and decollete as well. I've tried to get the attached link in price order but hasn't worked:

http://www.boots.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?namespaceOfTemplate=null&userType=null&Nr=AND%28DIM_PREMIUM_BRAND_FLAG%3aN%2cDIM_PARENT_PRODUCT_ID%3aIS_PARENT%29&Ntk=DIM_PARENT_CATEGORY_IDS&langId=-1&showBreadcrumb=null&namespaceOfContent=null&cm_re=image-_-120809_090909-_-C9084_image4&landId=-1&catalogId=11051&liveHelp=null&Nty=1&userState=null&rfqLinkDisplayed=null&cm_sp=moisturisers-_-120809_090909-_-C9084_image4&No=0&Ntt=43381&storeId=10052&Ntx=mode%2bmatchall&N=0&categoryId=43381&st=category

I buy most of my make up from Marks and Spencer - they have a range which costs £2.50 to £3.50 and it's fine. Foundation, blusher, eye shadows and liners, mascara, nail polish etc.

http://www.marksandspencer.com/Essential-Colours-Make-Up-Beauty-Skincare-Womens/b/192728031

They have a reasonable range of skincare too:
http://www.marksandspencer.com/Facial-Moisturisers-Skincare-Beauty-Skincare-Womens/b/192763031


I also look in Sainsburys as they very often have special offers on brands such as L'Oreal and Olay cleansers and moisturisers. They are good brands.

I think one of the easiest ways to look well groomed is a good haircut and well manicured hands.

Hope this helps.

Linda

Souk08

I go to a trainee to get my hair cut (it's a tenner) and only use Savers for moisturiser etc.

theladsmum

Try Aldi for great moisturiser - I think they are £1.99, you can get day and night cream. Boots/Superdrug/Tesco also do some cheap moisturisers with SPFs.

I have used Aldi's concelear pen and it is fab - think it was around £4, and you can dot it on just where you need it rather than wearing full foundation.

As someone has mentioned, lip glosses were being given away with bodyform sanitary towels - got one on a pack just before Christmas in Morrisons. Look out for things like this - magazines often have good quality makeup as free gift, cheaper to buy the mag than whatever is attached to it.

For hair, are you near a college that teaches hairdressing - or local salons sometimes advertise for models. These are cheap ways of keeping groomed.

Once you start, you really feel better in yourself, and look better, so get to enjoy the process rather than feeling it's a chore.

glowgirl_2

Got to be my best discovery of 2009, Wet n Wild make up from Tesco each item is £1.99, not a huge range available but all the basics plus a bit extra.

Nice n Easy hair colour for use at home.

Aldi or Lidl skincare, or give the OCM a try, theres a huge thread on here somewhere.

If you like fake tan, this brand is hard to beat http://www.siennasol.co.uk/ for quality and price.

Haircare is harder, I am a Loreal fan and try to stock up when its on offer but I did try the CO method (Conditioner Only) which did work well for a while, again theres a thread on here about this but its not for me long term.

A great thing I did last year for the first time which made a huge difference to how I look, although I didn't expect it too was tint my eyebrows, I used an eyelure kit from Superdrug in Dark brown for about £7, I am still using the same kit and do it about every 3/4 weeks, I've been doing it for about 5 or six months, I leave mine on for at least twice as long as they say in the instructions - hth:)

Bronnie

You say you rarely use moisturiser, which presumably means your face is without sun protection. My best advice is to get an SP cream on your face today and every day, summer and winter! Most moisturisers contain SP ingredients, check the label!

minnie123

I am 30 this year too only a few months left of my twenties!!! I'm a mum aswell and have been feeling the same. Have made a few good discoveries over the past year that I can share with you -

Mascara - Rimmel The Max Volume Mascara is amazing - £6+ in boots but I get mine from ebay £3.50

Facemask - Quaker oats whooshed up in a food processor and then mixed with water and a bit of honey - seriously this is a great face mask. Google it and you will see the great results people have. I have only been doing this for a few weeks but I am loving it.

Skincare - I have started using Aldi I think it's sinara anti wrinkle creams - I have got the day and the night one and they are great. About £2.49 each I think.

Home hair colour - I love casting creme gloss always get good results with this stuff.

Also I would recommend becoming a member of MakeUpAlley (it's free) a website where people give reviews of makeup, haircare etc etc. If I am after something new I always look on there for what has the best reviews and then I always buy it off ebay at half the retail price. It saves you buying stuff that is rubbish.

Also don't forget you get cashback for ebay purchases through Quidco.

horsechestnut

Hairdressing - Use your local college for a cut and blow. They also offer beauty treatments e.g. waxing, eyelash tint, facials etc.
If you want your hair coloured then you need to go 48 hours ahead for a skin test, every time. This can be a nuisance, but if you live or work close to the college then it can actually be cheaper than buying your own home colour.

glowgirl_2

Forgot to say if your feeling brave and preferably have long/longish hair you could try cutting it yourself, google it loads of people do it, including me with great success:)

TheLightFantastic

Hi

A few ideas:

Fantastic body scrub - Olive oil or grapeseed oil mixed with sugar - a few drops of lemon juice - grapeseed oil can be found for less than £2 a bottle at Sainsburys in the cooking oil section:j

Its a bit oily (:rotfl::rotfl:) but your skin will love you. Do 1x a week and you will feel like a diva!