Downshifting makeup and beauty products - any tips?

PlymouthMaid

I am going to try the Lidl moisturiser soon I think as I have read good things several times about it. I don't tend to use expensive stuff anyway (things like Nivea and Garnier when it is on offer) but it will still be a saving. I tried Clinique once and honestly do not know what the fuss is about.

Foundation I use Max Factor and tend to pick it up on Ebay for around 6 quid rather that 10+. I do like nice shampoo like Aussie and John Frieda so always wait until there are offers on.

I have just spent a fair bit in the Body shop sale getting body butters which are normally out of my budget but with e voucher they came to about £3 a tub which is an absolute bargain. I have enough for about 2 years I think (or maybe some will be prezzies).

SarahB1989_2

L'Oreal and Lancome are supposedly the same company, so I downgraded from Lancome's Teint Ultra foundation to LOreal's True Match. They're not identical but I don't notice that TM is any worse than TU.

ELF do really cheap brushes (£1.50 each) that I've had over a year and am really impressed with.

For skincare, I've switched to Aldi's Lacura range - their £3.99 serum has won awards and is as good as any other I've tried.

And if you try out samples from brand counters and give them your details you often get offers posted to you - I got a free lipstick from Clinique towards the end of last year having tried their foundation in Debenhams.

Finally, if you really want to buy luxury stuff at non-luxury prices, there are often bottles of foundation on eBay that people have used once, not liked, and re-sold, so you get a nearly new bottle at discount. Same with skincare stuff - I sold a Clarins facewash that was about 75% full for a couple of quid, there are plenty of other people doing the same.

ERICS_MUM

Another vote for Aldi's Lacura skin care products, and Marks & Spencer's cheaper ranges.

Also I confess to liking some Avon make up and skincare. Every month they have special offers on eye pencils, lipsticks etc.

I always use a brush to apply my lipstick which means I don't waste it and I can get to the very last dregs !

Personally I don't spend a lot on shampoo and conditioner, luckily my hair doesn't mind the cheaper stuff. Ditto with shower gels. Some people are more sensitive to these products though.

Something_Witty

VoucherCodes.co.uk often has 25%-40% off Bodyshop - Bodyshop foundation comes in little pump dispensers meaning none of it gets wasted - lasts me over 6 months easily and I wear it everyday!

I used to use middle-range skincare but now use Skin Therapy range from Wilko - facewash, toner and moisturiser all about 90p each, lasts for ages and doesn't irritate my skin. Wilko also often have good offers on Tresemme, but 1 get 1 free etc.

BMG

I don't wear makeup but I swapped for Estee Lauder creams to Simple. It is a lot cheaper and always on offer in one shop or another

thedogsmum

brokemedic wrote: »

Coconut oil as a moisturiser???

Have some solid coconut oil hidden away somewhere so will have to hunt that out..

Google what you can use this for, you'll be surprised. I always buy organic, untreated, oil, and have used it for years for hair, face and body. I add drops of essential oil, too.
With the organic one, you can also use it for cooking - gives a nice coconut smell (what else!!!!???) to stir frying, etc.,
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Biona-Organic-Raw-Virgin-Coconut/dp/B005GUU680/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1389551503&sr=8-1&keywords=organic+coconut+oil

daisystar

Wow brilliant advice, thank you all soooo much!! Tons to think about

Wentthedaywell? wrote: »

Lidl and Aldi to decent moisturisers, that don't have petroleum in, and they are less than £2. I've got quite sensitive skin and they don't irritate, which even expensive brands can. You can get a huge bottle of nice bubble bath for a quid too - horrible packaging, but you can always decant into a nicer bottle!

Not cheap as such, but a downshift; M&S Formula range are reputedly made by Clarins. Don't know if that's so, but it feels a lot more expensive than it is and the perfume is identical to Clarins Eau Dynamisante (?)

Brilliant, thank you, I have plenty of body cream for the time being as I stocked up after Christmas but will DEFINITELY look at Aldi and Lidl when I come to replace

brokemedic wrote: »

Not sure if this helps but if I want a cheap treat, I go on to eBay and get designer products at a very reduced price.

I make my own facial and body scrubs, much cheaper and I adjust it to my own preference.

Good luck

I'm impressed with you making your own!! I may well try that - as long as I can keep the toddler from eating it I am a frequent EBay user but I've always been a bit hesitant with this type of thing because of the risk of fakes, but think I might have to learn to live a little...........

SarahB1989 wrote: »

L'Oreal and Lancome are supposedly the same company, so I downgraded from Lancome's Teint Ultra foundation to LOreal's True Match. They're not identical but I don't notice that TM is any worse than TU.

ELF do really cheap brushes (£1.50 each) that I've had over a year and am really impressed with.

For skincare, I've switched to Aldi's Lacura range - their £3.99 serum has won awards and is as good as any other I've tried.

And if you try out samples from brand counters and give them your details you often get offers posted to you - I got a free lipstick from Clinique towards the end of last year having tried their foundation in Debenhams.

Finally, if you really want to buy luxury stuff at non-luxury prices, there are often bottles of foundation on eBay that people have used once, not liked, and re-sold, so you get a nearly new bottle at discount. Same with skincare stuff - I sold a Clarins facewash that was about 75% full for a couple of quid, there are plenty of other people doing the same.

Fab advice thank you SarahB, I will defo be looking at the lancome/L'Oreal comparison and will look out for the brushes - that's interesting as I bought a couple of Mac brushes a while back and don't rate them at all.

daisystar

Aria`s_Tail wrote: »

Some of Aldi Lacura range is very good, I love the moisturisers and they are non greasy (not too keen on the smell but a lot cheaper than Clinique that I used to spend around £40 a jar on). Superdrug own cleansing range as well. I love Rimmel mascara, liquid eyeliner, khol pencils and eyebrow pencils. Haven't yet found eyeshadow and eyeshadow primer as good as Urban Decay yet though.

Brilliant - this is exactly the type of recommendation I'm looking for, and from a fellow down-shifter too!!

sweetme wrote: »

Bourjous make up range is made by Chanel. A lot more purse friendly than Chanel.

I also love E.L.F. Make up products, they have some fantastic MAC take offs. Their Facebook page posts a lot of offers/discounts.

Ooh interesting!! Chanel was one of my go-to brands ever since I used them for my wedding make-up, so I will definitely look at this

skint_chick wrote: »

I've been making my own body scrub by mixing sugar with my shower gel, and using coconut oil as a moisturiser, which is having great results on my previously scaly skin! I like the MUA range from Superdrug for eyeshadows they're £1 each and the nail polish is cheap too.

The biggest change I made was not to buy so much, I don't buy a replacement until the previous product is used up and I have decluttered hugely so I have 3 eyeshadows, 2 nail polishes, and 2 lip glosses then only one of everything else. I'm the same with toiletries, I found Tresemme shampoo was working the best for me and just got 900ml from Tesco for £2.40 so won't be needing any more until 2015! If you need a treat then go to department store counters and ask for samples or ask for birthday/Christmas treats.

I have my cheap shower gel and hand wash in lovely clear pump bottles from Asda that were £3 each and it makes pound shop stuff look more exclusive - if you need labels then there's plenty of templates/free downloads online.

I'm with you on not buying so much - I've already made this change, particularly with make up and its working well. I'm at the stage where I need to replace though - I have no foundation, mascara, or blusher at the moment. These would all have been luxury brands pre-LBM hence why I need the advice!!!

daisystar

PlymouthMaid wrote: »

I have just spent a fair bit in the Body shop sale getting body butters which are normally out of my budget but with e voucher they came to about £3 a tub which is an absolute bargain. I have enough for about 2 years I think (or maybe some will be prezzies).

That is a bargain! I will remember this at future sales times.

ERICS_MUM wrote: »

Another vote for Aldi's Lacura skin care products, and Marks & Spencer's cheaper ranges.

Also I confess to liking some Avon make up and skincare. Every month they have special offers on eye pencils, lipsticks etc.

I always use a brush to apply my lipstick which means I don't waste it and I can get to the very last dregs !

Personally I don't spend a lot on shampoo and conditioner, luckily my hair doesn't mind the cheaper stuff. Ditto with shower gels. Some people are more sensitive to these products though.

Yep - I have wild hair that needs certain shampoos - not necessarily really pricey ones though, I'm currently happy with Herbal Essences. Avon is interesting, I may venture to one of their brochures to have a peek!

Something_Witty wrote: »

VoucherCodes.co.uk often has 25%-40% off Bodyshop - Bodyshop foundation comes in little pump dispensers meaning none of it gets wasted - lasts me over 6 months easily and I wear it everyday!

I used to use middle-range skincare but now use Skin Therapy range from Wilko - facewash, toner and moisturiser all about 90p each, lasts for ages and doesn't irritate my skin. Wilko also often have good offers on Tresemme, but 1 get 1 free etc.

I've never had any bodyshop foundation but I bet its not too expensive with a decent voucher code, thanks for the tip!! Unfortunately no Wilkos near us but if I'm ever near one............

daisystar

flea72 wrote: »

Poundland usually have what i would class as top of cheap brands, so maybelline, max factor, etc.

But ive found collection 2000 and naturals range at Boots, to be quite nice quality and very competitively priced, ie about £2 an item. Or even look at Avon, they have the look/packaging of high end makeUp, but at a fraction of the cost

If you like long lasting, decent quality nailvarnish, then you cant beat Barry M. Comparative to OPI, in quality but third of the price

Poundland??!!! How did I not know this??!! I normally scoot through straight to what I need as I've always got the toddler with me, so I've never realised they do makeup. This is brilliant news!!! :j


Thanks again to everybody for the tips so far. All others greatly appreciated!! I should point out that as part of the challenge in my sig I have taken quite big measures to cut my spends in order to bust the debt. So I have already started to use less - makeup, body stuff, everything really. And while I would have previously asked for the lovely luxury items for xmas/birthdays, I am now using the B**ts vouchers and points etc for my day to day toiletries spends rather than treating myself, so I am really looking to make my money go further. And I think I'm going to be able to now, thanks to you guys!!