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

estherg69

Palmer's Cocoa Butter is the best product EVER, leaves the skin like silk.

I have always been a fan of Maybelline make up, the products are really good and the price is very reasonable. Some people at work go to New York every month and asked me whether I wanted any cheap make up. I said I use Maybelline and guess what - this is not cheap in the USA at all, it is a premium brand and costs more than in the UK! Never would have thought. It goes to show that what we pay for is not quality but just what they want us to believe.

treliac

You started a great thread here harry - it's given me some terrific ideas. Thanks for all your hard work in keeping us updated with all these tried, tested, and well priced products.

BTW, I have thought about trying the Smashbox primer but will now look at the Lanacane gel. Would this be something to use under mineral make up, but over moisturiser? What do you think?

harryharp

treliac wrote: »

You started a great thread here harry - it's given me some terrific ideas. Thanks for all your hard work in keeping us updated with all these tried, tested, and well priced products.

BTW, I have thought about trying the Smashbox primer but will now look at the Lanacane gel. Would this be something to use under mineral make up, but over moisturiser? What do you think?

You're welcome- I've really learned a lot too, to the benefit of my face and body, not to mention my pocket!!

I'm not really up on mineral foundation (yet!) as I haven't tried it, but I know many on here swear by it. So I can't answer as to whether a foundation primer would be beneficial under it or not. I personally use it on top of moisturiser, leave for a few minutes and then apply foundation.

beautyscientist

estherg69 wrote: »

Palmer's Cocoa Butter is the best product EVER, leaves the skin like silk.

I have always been a fan of Maybelline make up, the products are really good and the price is very reasonable. Some people at work go to New York every month and asked me whether I wanted any cheap make up. I said I use Maybelline and guess what - this is not cheap in the USA at all, it is a premium brand and costs more than in the UK! Never would have thought. It goes to show that what we pay for is not quality but just what they want us to believe.

The price of cosmetics often has very little to do with the cost of the raw materials. Sometimes this is justifiable. Benefit for instance only distributes through outlets where they can talk to their customers which obviously gives them costs that they wouldn't incur if they were sold on supermarket shelves.

Other costs are less justifiable. L'Oreal spend a phenomenal amount on advertising. You may well be worth it but boy do you pay for it. A huge proportion of what you shell out for their products goes towards flogging you the next one.

Celebrity endorsements are another cost that adds hugely to the price of cosmetics. Big stars can net millions for putting their names behind brands - and of course the customer is the one who pays ultimately.

All worth bearing in mind if you are shopping on a budget. Or even if you just want value for money.....

suki1964

harryharp wrote: »

First post updated again. Just thought I'd take this oportunity of reporting back on a couple of products others have recommended which I've tried. Firstly Avon Botanicals Vital Day Cream (spf20) which was recommended by Suki. Have been using it for a couple of weeks now and I love it!:j It has a really nice light texture and is very gentle. I still have a couple of pots of the Aldi cream, but as it has a much lower spf I will keep them for the winter.

So I'm using the Avon cream for the day, the Aldi Siana night cream at night, the OCM every other day, and my skin looks loads better now than it did when I was younger! And it has to be said I was using MUCH more expensive products in those days too :rolleyes: .

I was about to ask you about the Avon - my skin is still loving it I use that daily after using either the tescos cleanse and polish, liz earle or OCM and night time Im trying out A Natuural Vit E oil. My skin is fantastic - pores are barely noticeable just a few large ones on the very end of my nose (need to massage that more), skin tone is evening out lovely , and the oil slick is a thing of the past

In a way Im hating this thread - beauty halls hold nothing of interest for me now - tuppence ha'penny is all I spend now :rotfl::T:rotfl::T

jojo2004

harryharp wrote: »

Regarding all these 'cult classic' products such as Touche Eclat etc. I think what's happening is we believe all the claims made by the manufacturers because we desperately WANT to believe them. Then when we get them home we're either really disappointed that they don't do what they say they're going to do and are appalled that we wasted so much money, OR, which is probably more common, we think to ourselves- 'the product MUST be good, since it was so expensive and so many people rave about it', and we actually convince ourselves that the product is as good as its claims. Then we actually JOIN IN with all the people saying how marvellous it is, thereby perpetuating the 'cult' following of all these products and persuading more people to buy them.

I think it's all psychology, and there are probably a few people at the top of these companies laughing at us poor women and getting very rich at our expense.

God, I'm cynical, aren't I?!...

Yes you are and quite rightly so - but can I make a stand for Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream - yes it's a little pricy, but if you get it in duty free, it lasts forever and does EVERYTHING. I first used it when skiing as i had awful sunburn and chapped lips - two days later and I could smile without feeling as if my skin was going to tear! Also it seemed to prevent any long term damage. It's amazing on chapped lips and spots and dry patches on hands etc. My only expensive beauty buy - and I wouldn't be without it.
Otherwise, love the thread - am going to be going even cheaper from now on!
xx

harryharp

beautyscientist wrote: »

Celebrity endorsements are another cost that adds hugely to the price of cosmetics. Big stars can net millions for putting their names behind brands - and of course the customer is the one who pays ultimately.

When I see the likes of Andie MacDowell or Penelope Cruz endorsing reasonably low-cost brands like L'Oreal, I always think yeah, right, who are they kidding. I don't believe for one minute that these people for whom money is no object would actually put anything like L'Oreal anywhere near their face, hair or body. :rolleyes:

Beenie

This isn't a post about a great value cosmetic that I've found, just a discovery I thought I'd pass on.

This morning, my mascara was dry and ready to be chucked out. As an experiment, I put a few drops of sensitive eye-makeup remover in the tube and pushed the brush back in and twisted it about. The result is that I'll have enough mascara - I think - to last until next week when I can get to the shops.

(the mascara is Clinique High Definition non-waterproof)

Any

Beenie wrote: »

This isn't a post about a great value cosmetic that I've found, just a discovery I thought I'd pass on.

This morning, my mascara was dry and ready to be chucked out. As an experiment, I put a few drops of sensitive eye-makeup remover in the tube and pushed the brush back in and twisted it about. The result is that I'll have enough mascara - I think - to last until next week when I can get to the shops.

HI everyone,
I do this just with water Beenie (I don't use waterproof mascara though). And once it's realy dry I use the brash for brushing my eyebrows.

Any

jojo2004 wrote: »

Yes you are and quite rightly so - but can I make a stand for Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream - yes it's a little pricy, but if you get it in duty free, it lasts forever and does EVERYTHING. I first used it when skiing as i had awful sunburn and chapped lips - two days later and I could smile without feeling as if my skin was going to tear! Also it seemed to prevent any long term damage. It's amazing on chapped lips and spots and dry patches on hands etc. My only expensive beauty buy - and I wouldn't be without it.
Otherwise, love the thread - am going to be going even cheaper from now on!
xx

My friend also swears by Elizabeth Arden Eigh hours collection. But I think my skin is as good as hers, only I use Vaseline for my lips and original blue nivea for my hands. And for my face if I am skying, it's perfectly holding the freeze away.
But of course I also have expensive buy - I love Sebastian shampoo & Conditioner for my hair (£11 a bottle)!!! Everyone has different preferences:D