DFW Women....

lazy&indebt

.....and men, I don't want to appear to be sexist!
I just wondered about doing beauty 'DFW' style, for example, are there any cheap products you've used that are better than their more expensive equivalents? Or are there items of make up that you just cannot use the cheap version of? Share your tips to make us all better looking! (hmm, may need more than tips...:D)
For instance - for an all over body moisturizer I use baby lotion, it's cheap and smells beautiful! But I really can't scrimp on Mascara! And the best exfoliator I have ever used is by 'cyclax' and it cost less than £1!

MoneyMagnet

I'm pretty fussy about the products I use - I'll only use things with natural ingredients, no (or few) harmful chemicals, and I won't touch anything that's been animal tested, so most cheap mainstream products are out for me, but I have found it's possible to budget even in this area, and spend a lot less than I used to.

I like Barry M's mascara & other stuff (although don't use much make up), and for moisturising stuff (hands, body & face), I buy pure plant butters from http://www.aromantic.co.uk/frameset.asp?http%3A//www.aromantic.co.uk/eshop/products.asp%3Fcategory%3D1 which I find to be a lot more effective (and more economical, especially when bought in bulk) than pre-prepared products. Shampoo's my priciest purchase - I like the ones from Faith in Nature, which are about £4.50 a bottle, which isn't too bad for this kind of 'natural' product, although still more that I like paying at the moment!

bobbadog

Hiya!

I use Tresemme shampoo, always buy it BOGOF and the bottles are huge
I get the conditioner every now and then too, and use it as shaving cream
I have Superdrug (99p) Hand and Nail cream on my desk at work, use Dove at home for my dry bits and have a Lush Bath Bomb as a treat most weekends (with my OH)

I always ALWAYS buy Razorblades refils on eBay for my Gillette Venus thing. Very cheap and get 16 for about 8 quid, last agggges

Make up is a problem with me, I wear a lot of eye make up (think gothic panda!) - my normal eyeshadow is £12 a pot (Urban Decay) Other than that, Maybelline mousse when it's on offer for a base, Barry M liquid eyeshadow (rimmel is great too, but the brush not so easy for me to use) and other bits from Collection 2000 I loose a lot of eyeliner pencils but everyone buys me 'em for Birthdays etc! Can't beat a rimmel 2.99 kohl!

My ma works designing Nail Varnish colours (!) so never need to buy that! I get hundreds of the things!

pounds_and_pensive

I was weeding out my nail polish box yesterday, and found a Collection 2000 number in a weird turquoise green colour that I bought on holiday five years ago. Unlike some of the more recent (and more expensive) bottles of nail polish I've acquired, it's still as good as new. It's just a shame that it makes me look like a heart failure victim

skirt

oooh a thread for me. I use my daughters eczema cream (on prescription) as a body moisturiser, and the best foundation ever is the cheap rimmel recover one. Its just fab x

lazy&indebt

pounds_and_pensive wrote:

I was weeding out my nail polish box yesterday, and found a Collection 2000 number in a weird turquoise green colour that I bought on holiday five years ago. Unlike some of the more recent (and more expensive) bottles of nail polish I've acquired, it's still as good as new. It's just a shame that it makes me look like a heart failure victim

I wanted to do that ROTFL: thing but it won't let me

lazy&indebt

I use Loreal Mascara and generally like anything that loreal do (including hair and facial stuff!) but try only to buy it when on offer! Things like eyeliner and eyeshadow I get cheap versions of though. Shampoo and conditioner is whatever is on offer - I'm lucky I don't have to straighten my hair so don't buy styling products!

bobbadog

lazy&indebt wrote:

I use Loreal Mascara and generally like anything that loreal do (including hair and facial stuff!) but try only to buy it when on offer! Things like eyeliner and eyeshadow I get cheap versions of though. Shampoo and conditioner is whatever is on offer - I'm lucky I don't have to straighten my hair so don't buy styling products!

I straighten my hair every day, but products (serum etc) make it too greasy. Strangely, it's not falling out yet and looks fine - dread to think what my barnet will be like in a couple of years though

Oooh, I use Babywipes everyday to take it all off with! That's my moisturiser, as you will (if it's good enough for babies bums, it's good enough for my face!) - Johnson & Johnson sensitive, when they're on BOGOF anyway

**purpleprincess**

Instead of buying facial cleansing wipes I bought some muslin squares from Boots, cut them into the same size as the wipes and I use them with the 79p Tesco vitamin E cleanser!! And once I've used the wipes, they go into a little box and get washed!! Saved me LOADSA dosh!!!

lazy&indebt

I get a really oily T Zone a lot of the time and can't use lotion cleansers and have to use facial wash but I also have sensitive skin on and around my chin so have only found one facial wash that clears up the oil but doesn't aggrivate my sensitivity and that's Loreals Purezone stuff!

climbgirl

Haemmorhoid cream works wonders on bags under the eyes and tired looking eyes. Much cheaper than eye creams!

I also use https://www.directcosmetics.com - has loads of big brand names and is far cheaper than the shops. It can be a bit hit-and-miss in terms of your favourites always being on there, but I stock up when I see the products I use.