Great hunt: Downshifting on beauty products

catalunya

As mentioned by a few people above, MUA (Make Up Academy) is fantastic and has some great value and quality products - their eyeshadow palettes are fab, well pigmented and have some of the best staying power I have encountered. Their brushes are great too - I was looking for a contouring brush and nearly paid £18 for one until I found theirs for £4!!

If you like Mac's fixing mist then the MUA ProBase Fixing Spray is a great alternative and so reasonable - think its £4/5.

I also use Wilko lip balm - fantastic and better than nivea lip balm (for my lips).

I have always used Max Factor False Lash Effect mascara - circa £10 but half the price of Dior /Lancome etc.

I look forward to following this thread for some other beauty downshifts

newthrift

Thank you for some of the tips on here, couple of products I am going to give a whirl.
I use E45 to moisturise & baby wash on a shower scrunchie (partly due to having eczema) but also they last ages, cheaper and do as good a job in my opinion. Occasionally I can use soap & glory body stuff, which I got a big box from the boots sales

Other downgrades skin wise, Soap & Glory hot cloth cleanser and any of there facial stuff is fab!! I swopped down from Proactive & Clinque plus they are often on 3for2 so I just stock up on the items I need then.
Not super downshifting but it is from where I was I suppose.

Any bare minerals make-up wearers? I have read that the 'Elf' primer is the same as the 'Prime time', and obviously much cheaper. As mine prime time has almost run out I will be giving it a whirl so shall report back my finding.

tumptyteapot

I use almond oil as a cleanser. My skin has never been better. Rub it in, wash it off with a wet hot cloth. I use a little as a moisturiser or sometimes some coconut oil instead which is dirt cheap!

My skin got really sensitive as I got older and I ended up with rosacea but it rarely shows up now and my skin no longer hurts!

ruby_eskimo

I've found that the GOSH waterproof eyeliners are great dupes for the Urban Decay 24/7 ones. Also NYX eyeshadows are great and have a lot of shades that are exactly the same as MAC. If I think of anything else I'll let you know.

Physicsfiend

I've been following the downshifting for a few years now - since I retired! but I recently was given some lovely Clarins makeup - I remember now why I used to spend money on this - it is fabulous and so much better than the cheaper stuff - sorry! not what you wanted to hear! I'll just have to use it less and stick with the posh stuff for special times!

liz545

Beauty counters often give out sample sizes of skincare, but you'll rarely get tester sizes of makeup. However, you can easily find the sample sizes on eBay - they're usually ex gift with purchase products. I use Clinique Black Honey lipstick, which is £17.50 for the full size (1.9g). The sample size is 1.2g but sells for around a fiver on eBay - so less than 1/3rd the price for a product that's not much smaller than the full size (and when did you last use up a lipstick, anyway?)

amber_cloud

Does anyone have any suggestions for budget hair products for dry, curly hair? I spend a fortune on Frizz-Ease and Kerastase products. I recently tried to downshift from Kerastase Elixir Ultime (about £35 for a bottle, which is insane) to a similar Tresemme product for a tenner but it was awful. I need something that works!

I'm not sure if this counts as 'budget' but Herbal Essences do a great intensive conditioner called bee strong if anyone's after a weekly deep condition.

System

amber_cloud wrote: »

Does anyone have any suggestions for budget hair products for dry, curly hair? I spend a fortune on Frizz-Ease and Kerastase products. I recently tried to downshift from Kerastase Elixir Ultime (about £35 for a bottle, which is insane) to a similar Tresemme product for a tenner but it was awful. I need something that works!

I'm not sure if this counts as 'budget' but Herbal Essences do a great intensive conditioner called bee strong if anyone's after a weekly deep condition.

If it is just to rub in the ends of your hair to stop it going frizzy and dry, I can recommend this:



A pot of it costs about £3 and lasts a long time as you only need to use a small amount at a time.

ruby_eskimo

Physicsfiend wrote: »

I've been following the downshifting for a few years now - since I retired! but I recently was given some lovely Clarins makeup - I remember now why I used to spend money on this - it is fabulous and so much better than the cheaper stuff - sorry! not what you wanted to hear! I'll just have to use it less and stick with the posh stuff for special times!

I do totally agree with this sentiment. I have wasted money on cheap products that definitely don't deliver. I prefer to do a bit of research and find something that works and stick with it.

Although saying that, I love the maybelline colour tatoos and some of them are comparable to the mac paint pots.

bbright

avogadro wrote: »

If it is just to rub in the ends of your hair to stop it going frizzy and dry, I can recommend this:

A pot of it costs about £3 and lasts a long time as you only need to use a small amount at a time.

I use coconut oil as a substitute for almost everything. I use it as a moisturiser, a conditioner, etc. If you buy one huge tub of the stuff it can last so long.