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

Unity

fraz_babe wrote: »

Hi all hope this is the right thread to post. I was looking for some cheap alternatives if possible.

Im looking for a eye primer (to keep my eyeshadow on). A foundation primer. A pencil eyeliner (waterline) and a concealer for under my eyes and my spots. And maybe a mousterisier (sorry cant spell it)

I spent 111 pounds 3 weeks ago on MAC products. And i think it was a waste of money !

Also just a quick cheap item for eyeshadow. I have never tried it but heard so many good reviews - highly pigminted etc its called coastal scents 88 palette its an american website that delivers to UK look for great britain (UK) if you want to order. And its 22 dollars, and then postage. Not sure how much postage is sorry. But theres 88 colours and when i have some money i will be ordering it ! http://www.coastalscents.com

There's no need to order the palette from the US, if you go to message #108 in this thread Angel81 gives details of where to obtain it over here. I bought one of these at the start of the summer and it is just as good as she said, the individual eye shadows are the size of a half penny piece and highly pigmented so a little goes a long way. I also bought the Dermacolor concealer palette on her recommendation and it's excellent! It's made by the people who produce make-up for dermatology units, for covering scars and birthmarks etc.

Gayle Hayman does a primer that I used to use before I moved over to mineral make-up and it's always cheap on the Direct Cosmetics site. Check them also for F2 eye-liner pencils, these are fine for the water-line (I wear contacts and have never had any problems with them) failing that Barry M is a good cheap alternative. If you have spots then a good oil free moisturiser is the Neutrogena one.

I've recommended Direct Cosmetics on this thread a few times and given the link, so I don't want to add it again, in case others think I have shares in the company :eek:.

Hope this helps.

pinkichiban

EagerLearner wrote: »

Hi Geri, I liked the idea of the Aqueous cream, however as I understand it, it has SLS in it? Apparently SLS Sodium Lauryl Sulphate is used to strip engines? I want to understand more about it, but see so many things saying 'SLS free' now...

Aqueous cream ingredients:
About this product. The name of this product is aqueous cream BP. The ingredients that make up the cream are cetostearyl alcohol, sodium lauryl sulphate, white soft paraffin, liquid paraffin, purified water and the preservative phenoxyethanol. Aqueous cream BP is available in a plastic container of 500g and 100g.
About this product. The name of this product is aqueous cream BP. The ingredients that make up the cream are cetostearyl alcohol, sodium lauryl sulphate, white soft paraffin, liquid paraffin, purified water and the preservative phenoxyethanol. Aqueous cream BP is available in a plastic container of 500g and 100g.About this product. The name of this product is aqueous cream BP. The ingredients that make up the cream are cetostearyl alcohol, sodium lauryl sulphate, white soft paraffin, liquid paraffin, purified water and the preservative phenoxyethanol. Aqueous cream BP is available in a plastic container of 500g and 100g.

Apparently:
Sodium Lauryl Sulphate started its career as an industrial degreasant and garage floor cleaner.

Sodium Lauryl Sulphate is such a caustic cleanser that it actually corrodes the hair follicle and impairs the ability to grow hair.

Sodium Lauryl Sulphate is routinely used in clinical studies deliberately to irritate the skin so that the effects of other substances can be tested.

(...)has a low molecular weight and so is easily absorbed by the body. It builds up in the heart, liver and brain and can cause major problems in these areas.


So I thought that the Aqueous cream may be cheap, but should I risk it...?!

If I am correct SLS is derived from coconut. So those with severe nut allergies should avoid SLS. My daughter is allergic to all nut products including topical and it is a minefield working out what is safe as just having a try could be lifethreatening.

harryharp

supersol wrote: »

`I use rosewater as a toner. Not only is this very good, but it was just on offer at Tesco at 2 for 1, only 99p. It is on the shelf for world food, so it must be good enough to eat.

I have looked for this in both branches of our Tesco- one of them is a big Tesco Extra- and I have not managed to find it. I looked in the ethnic foods section as you and another poster have said- and I can't find it . I'm wondering if it's only in some branches?

Has anyone else seen it?

chocolatepennyfarthing

Anyone know of a good eye gel, have very puffy eyes in morning, just ran out of clarins eye contour gel and looking for something less expensive.

Unity

sugarspunsister wrote: »

Am I the only one who's been testing Lanacane Anti Chafing Gel as an alternative to Smashbox Photo Finish Primer?



I've been using it for about 6 weeks, and I'm pretty impressed so far.

Lanacane's ingredients are:

Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Zea Mays (Corn) Starch.

compared to Smashbox which contains:

Cyclomethicone, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Isopropylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Butylparaben, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Safflower Seed Oil, Propylene Glycol, Water, Grape Seed Extract, Kolanut Seed Extract, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract

They basically both contain a whole bunch of silicones to 'fill' and smooth over pores, fine lines etc and leave a smoother base for foundation. That's simplifying it a bit, the Smashbox primer contains lots of other bits and bobs too... but the main active ingredient(s) are the silicones.

I checked out Lanacane's ingredients here:

http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/index.php

And they all seem to be regularly used in various skincare/cosmetics anyway - so in that respect I feel comfortable putting it on my face :rotfl:

The only difference I've noticed is that my skin feels more moisturised by using Smashbox, something that I can remedy by being more vigilant about moisturising before I put on the anti-chafing gel. I would also say that the anti-chafing gel leaves me with more of a matte finish (which may be the whole moisturisation issue).

At £5.99 for a 30g tube of Lanacane (compared to £23 for 30ml of Smashbox) there's a huge saving to be had.

You can also get a free sample from their website. Although, mine took ages to arrive, by which time I'd gotten impatient and bought a full tube anyway

Sorry for the essay, but I know Smashbox Primer is a popular product and couldn't resist sharing this potential bargain alternative.

Don't laugh at me for putting anti-chafing gel on my face... I'm doing it in the name of moneysaving! (and beauty!)

Thanks again for posting about this :T:T:T. I bought some yesterday and used it for the first time today.

As most will know I am now a Born Again Mineral Make-up user and this stuff is brilliant under mineral make-up. I use Elemental Beauty's healing foundation and in itself it gives a beautiful finish - but on top of the Lanacane it is even better! I find it goes on with a definite airbrushed finish and I don't seem to need as much foundation - so it's saving me money twice :rotfl:.

Well worth the £4.99.

CRUMBS!!! I've only just realised on reading the contents that it contains the same as Smashbox, but without the parabens - which no one wants anyway! Even better than I thought!

harryharp

Unity wrote: »

I find it goes on with a definite airbrushed finish and I don't seem to need as much foundation - so it's saving me money twice :rotfl:.

And I don't know about you, but I've found a little goes a long way with this stuff- so the £4.99 tube should last a long time.

harryharp

Unity wrote: »

There's no need to order the palette from the US, if you go to message #108 in this thread Angel81 gives details of where to obtain it over here. I bought one of these at the start of the summer and it is just as good as she said, the individual eye shadows are the size of a half penny piece and highly pigmented so a little goes a long way.

There are a lot of these eyeshadow palettes on Ebay: http://health-beauty.shop.ebay.co.uk/items/Make-Up-Cosmetics__88_W0QQ_nkwZ88QQQ5ftrksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em282QQBrand3d75b67ZQ21QQ_dmptZUKQ5fHealthQ5fBeautyQ5fMakeQ5fUpQ5fCosmeticsQ5fLipstickQ5fPPQQ_flnZ1QQ_sacatZ31786QQ_ssovZ1

Mostly come from abroad I think, but still probably cheaper.

Unity

harryharp wrote: »

There are a lot of these eyeshadow palettes on Ebay: http://health-beauty.shop.ebay.co.uk/items/Make-Up-Cosmetics__88_W0QQ_nkwZ88QQQ5ftrksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em282QQBrand3d75b67ZQ21QQ_dmptZUKQ5fHealthQ5fBeautyQ5fMakeQ5fUpQ5fCosmeticsQ5fLipstickQ5fPPQQ_flnZ1QQ_sacatZ31786QQ_ssovZ1

Mostly come from abroad I think, but still probably cheaper.

Hi Harryharp, I had a look at these on eBay via your link and they are very popular - with bids (when I looked) of £27 plus postage, so I guess it's six of one and half a dozen of the other which ends up being cheaper .

They are certainly good value though with both matte and frosted colours. I can't see me being stuck ever again for just that 'right' shade of eye shadow to go with an item of clothing. :T

Euphemia_2

For anyone into bath and body products, the Naked range at Boots is very reasonable (most products between £2 - £5 except for things like hair deep conditioning mask and the big pots of body butter, which are more expensive) and good for your skin; they contain no parabens or petrochemicals. Also no Propylene Glycol or sulfates, which have been linked to cancer and skin irritation (and nearly all major brands contain them.) Naked lasts quite a long time as well because you don't need so much of the product. I would advise however that you avoid the "Rice in the Buff" exfoliating body wash. They also contain few perfuming ingredients, and after using it I was told I smelled like disinfectant! :embarasse

chocolatepennyfarthing wrote: »

Anyone know of a good eye gel, have very puffy eyes in morning, just ran out of clarins eye contour gel and looking for something less expensive.

If it's just the puffiness, Boots Essentials Cucumber Eye Gel always works for me and costs £1.99

jessicamb

Palmolive Milk and Honey range (milk bath, shower & handwash) is gorgeous - the first time I smelt it I thought it was Molton Brown or something. Seems to be half price at the minute in a few places too