Fight back against over-priced cosmetics! Post your cheap but outstanding discoveries

mto

Another vote here for the Collection 2000 and Miss Sporty ranges available in Boots and Superdrug. Both really cheap - don't think there's anything over £3 - and both have foundations that are pale enough for me, something which a lot of the high end brands don't have.

ETA: I believe the Collection 2000 range is the same as Constance Carroll which you tend to see in local chemists and market stalls ...

harryharp

Just wanted to report that I've tried the lip balm from the Tesco Bnatural range and wasn't very impressed with it. The consistency is very thin and all it seems to do is 'sit' on my lips without actually moisturising (like Vaseline!).
It does give quite a nice shine, so I will probably use it to go on top of lipstick if I want a subtle shine rather than a more extreme gloss that you'd get from a lipgloss.

Still looking for a cheap alternative to the Aveda lipsaver which is fantastic for my very dry lips...will try Carmex next!

V_tricky

Hi,

I normally spend quite a lot (too much!) on premium brands, but about a year ago I was stuck without any foundation when I was invited out. I popped into Tesco to see what they had, and bought some:

"Skin Wisdom, Instant Benefits Visibly Radiant Tinted Moisturiser"
Instant brightening. Gives a natural healthy glow and an even coverage. Contains Creatine to energise skin

This range I think has something to do with Bharti Vyas.

It's only a couple of quid, and I now use it almost every day in place if my Estee Lauder one.

It's not orange at all, and suits my skin perfectly.

They also do a Skin Wisdom version of Clarins Beauty Flash Balm - but this is pants next to the original one.

V_tricky

Oh, and I always used to use Gatineau Floracil eye make up remover, because it works really well, even on waterproof make up and doesn't sting, but I'm now totally converted to Simple's Conditioning Eye Make Up Remover which works just as well, 100% oil free, and gives short shrift to waterproof mascara without rubbing.

It's also on boots buy 2 get one free often

sohurt

harryharp wrote: »

Still looking for a cheap alternative to the Aveda lipsaver which is fantastic for my very dry lips...will try Carmex next!

Blistex in the little metal tube is fab, £1.50 I think it is. I don't like vaseline products I remember reading something that they aren't actually good for you at all..

harryharp

sohurt wrote: »

Blistex in the little metal tube is fab, £1.50 I think it is. I don't like vaseline products I remember reading something that they aren't actually good for you at all..

Yes, you're right about that. I don't like Vaseline or in fact anything with petroleum based ingredients in (liquid paraffin, mineral oil etc.) including aqueous cream. I know a lot of people like them but I think they're bad news for your skin in the long term. It's explained here better than I could on another thread: http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=4964672&postcount=10
Will try Blistex too!

sohurt

Yeah that sounds like what I've heard- that your skin can actually become 'addicted' to Vaseline because the minute you stop using it, your lips are dry again... I see so many people putting it on a million times a day and I always want to rip the little tub out of their hands!! lol

EagerLearner

One of my best friends is addicted to Vaseline - she has eczma and must apply the stuff every hour! Needless to say, it seems not to help. I don't know what would, that is easy to get hold of and not mineral oil based.

Buffy_the_Vampire_Bat

Another vote from me for Boots Essentials cucumber wipes - the unscented version works just fine too - really good at removing makeup and leaves skin lovely and soft. Also use the cucumber facial wash from this range too, really recommend this stuff

I'm a big fan of khol eyeliners - although the most expensive ones I use are the Bourjois ones (and even then I tend to buy them on offer or on eBay ) Recently converted to Collection 2000 pencil eyeliners - can be applied easily and last really well, and usually only about £1.99. Have become a recent fan of the Collection 2000 Dazzle Me loose eyeshadow powders too.

Also love the Rimmel jelly lip glosses - I find a lot of the more expensive lip glosses in squeezy tubes can be very tacky, ugh!

harryharp

It's also worth knowing that a lot of hand creams and body lotions have liquid paraffin as one of their main ingredients (because it's cheap)- I always find that these products seem great at first, but eventually I think you become dependant on them as your skin stops being able to regulate itself. I always read ingredients now and try to avoid stuff which has liquid paraffin in (it's often written as 'paraffinium liquidium' or something like that!)