Great hunt: Downshifting on beauty products

commandomum

Instead of buying expensive soap dispenser pumps, i firstly decant all the shower gels and bath washes that you get given at christmas that you are never going to use, then when i have used them up, i will buy either cheap shampoo or the shower/bath type washes (from supermarkets value range) which come in huge bottles and then keep topping up my dispenser. People don't know what colour it is until it is dispensed as it is a coloured glass bottle. Nobody has complained so far.

leanne13_2

I second the radiance range from Superdrug-the hot cloth cleanser has completely cleared by stubborn black heads with just once a week use. Their pantene imitation range is also great. Plus, one of the few truly cruelty-free ranges on the high street (all of Superdrug own brand BUAV approved). Avoid their own brand £10 mascara though-rip off

jerez

I love beauty products but have champagne taste on a beer budget so have worked out where to splurge and where to spend: (what works for me anyway)
Cheap shampoo followed by a good conditioner works well.
Soap and water followed by a good moisturiser - Dove soap is great
Bio-Oil works for everything and a very little goes a very long way.
Buy olive oil soap when on holiday - much cheaper, lasts for ages and isn't drying on the skin. 4 bars lasts me almost to next year's holiday.
Don't add fabric softener to your towel wash - your towels will take the place of a body exfoliater.
Aldi face products all work really well. The dry skin body lotion is very thick and a bit hard to spread but moisturises really well.
As for cosmetics, I've found I can save by buying cheaper eyeshadows and lipsticks and spend more on foundation and mascara. There is a product called Lipstick Lock which makes even the cheapest lipstick last all day. Even through a meal. I think it's made by Rimmel. Use lipstick for blusher.
Collection 2000 nail varnish gives surprisingly good coverage, sometimes only one coat needed even with dark colours.

nilequeen

Great thread.
I buy cheap toner, cream cleanser, shower gel, no more than £2.00,
but keep my eyes peeled for a goodish brand like garnier instead of a completely unknown one.
However what stays longer on my face, I will spend more money on, but will always look for a good deal in, ie makeup,
Christian Dior,Bare minerals for base and some lip gloss, maverick is a lovely rose coloured gloss that is very flattering on all skin colours.
Eyeshadow is usually Mac for staying power and lipstick is usually any colour I like even some Avon.
Moisturisers and eyecreams I will spend more on because their ingrediants are better quality and they spend more on research for their products and it feels nicer on skin,so it is premium skincare for me.

esmy

My recommendations:
Jess brand nail polish from Poundland - good coverage in 2 coats but brilliant staying power (I use a topcoat).
Ordinary olive oil as a deep hair conditioner (leave as long as possible and shampoo off) coconut oil as a hair serum (a tiny amount)
I also like the Superdrug hot cloth cleanser and Aldi concealer.

ruby_eskimo

Just thought of a couple more "downshifted" products that I use:

- The Body shop Cleansing Oil: a good (if better) dupe for the Mac Cleanse off Oil

- Rimmel eye make up remover: does the same job of the clarins and mac ones

- Superfacialist masks and the superdrug own brand face masks: just the same as the more expensive Origins ones.

shed35

I have been downshifting my beauty products for the last year or so and this is what I have done so far. Change:-

Decleor face balm at night to Waitrose Baby Butter Cream
Same texture and results for a fractional of the price

Make my own body scrub using coconut oil, salt and sugar

Kiehl ultra facial oil free gel cream - body shop vitamin e aqua sorbet boost
There is £10 difference in price

Burt Bee Camomile Facial Cleanser - Good Things Cream Cleanser
Good Things facial products are not just for teenagers.

L'Occitane Almond Oil - Avon Original Bath Oil.
This has been newest find. I cannot rave enough about Avon Original Bath Oil!!!

Now I have given away all beauty secrets, I expect all these product to sold out once I need to buy them again!

lucystardust87

How do you use coconut oil as moisturiser if it comes in a solid tub, does it warm up in your hands?

My downshifts:

L'occitane shea foot cream - Avon intensive callus cream. Used to think L'occitane was the best but the Avon stuff is great and usually £1.75-£3.50 depending on offers.

Lidl Cien body cream instead of Nivea Soft - picked this up for £1.80 this week and it feels similar to Nivea. Actually all the Lidl body products are great, especially the shower gel and exfoliating face wash.

pavlovs_dog

in the first instance, use up anything you already own before buying new. There is a monthly thread on the health forum of people who are trying to bust their stash by shopping from their stores

One tip that has made a difference with my OH who uses too much product in one sitting is to decant his shower gels into empty soap and glory shower gel bottles (the ones with dispensers). This cuts down on waste, meaning more life out of a bottle of shower gel.

I bought him a razor blade sharpener for christmas last year. In reality it doesn't so much sharpen the blades as remove the crud which dulls the blade. He has got extra life from each set of blades thanks to this device. This has made his preferred choice of blades, Gilette, more affordable, as they last longer.

nilequeen

lucystardust87 wrote: »

How do you use coconut oil as moisturiser if it comes in a solid tub, does it warm up in your hands?

My downshifts:

L'occitane shea foot cream - Avon intensive callus cream. Used to think L'occitane was the best but the Avon stuff is great and usually £1.75-£3.50 depending on offers.

Lidl Cien body cream instead of Nivea Soft - picked this up for £1.80 this week and it feels similar to Nivea. Actually all the Lidl body products are great, especially the shower gel and exfoliating face wash.

Yes it does warm up rubbed between the palms, or warm it up in the microwave for a minute or two for a deep penetrating scalp massage.