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

HanSpan

I've been using Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturising Gel for years. I've got a greasy T zone and anything else made my glasses slip down within an hour!
I have tried various others but they either made me itchy or the smell made me gag or they gave me an oil slick. But DDM Gel costs around £20 a pot.

About a month ago Aldi had an offer on their pumps of day cream so I decided to try one - cant really go wrong for £1.

Its FAB! I actually like it better than the clinique - the colour is white (more appealing than the pus colour of the DDM) and the smell is much nicer too. So I've been back and stocked up at the normal price of £1.60 (ooh the extravagence)

Clinique DDM gel £20ish for 125ml
Lacura £1.60 for 50ml (so £4 for 125ml)
Result!!!

potnoodleprincess

Does anyone know of a good priced alternative to Estee Lauder double wear foundation ?

Thanks

Isklar

potnoodleprincess wrote: »

Does anyone know of a good priced alternative to Estee Lauder double wear foundation ?

Thanks

Maybe worth a look at Revlon Colourstay foundations. They don't have as good a colour selection as the double wear but I used to wear both and actually prefer the Revlon. It's about £10 at Boots. Sometimes they have it on 3 for 2. They do it in two formulas, one for dry/normal skin and one for combination/oily skin.
It dries fast, like the double wear, so you do have to blend it on quickly.

Unity

Isklar wrote: »

Maybe worth a look at Revlon Colourstay foundations. They don't have as good a colour selection as the double wear but I used to wear both and actually prefer the Revlon. It's about £10 at Boots. Sometimes they have it on 3 for 2. They do it in two formulas, one for dry/normal skin and one for combination/oily skin.
It dries fast, like the double wear, so you do have to blend it on quickly.

I also used to wear Revlon Colourstay and was happy with it for some years until I found http://www.elementalbeauty.co.uk/ and http://www.lilylolo.co.uk/ Since then I've been completely converted to mineral make-up and wouldn't go back to conventional 'slap':D. It works out so much cheaper and the make-up stays put. I worried at first about covering blemishes, but the concealers are excellent too.

I use the Lanacane anti-chafing gel as a primer (same ingredients as Smashbox) another great idea from this thread .

pollypenny

M&S Hand and Body Lotion in Coconut and Vanilla is absolutely fabulous as a body moisturiser! £1 a bottle - so ladle it on and rub in. Smells good too.

HanSpan

Unity wrote: »

I also used to wear Revlon Colourstay and was happy with it for some years until I found http://www.elementalbeauty.co.uk/ and http://www.lilylolo.co.uk/ Since then I've been completely converted to mineral make-up and wouldn't go back to conventional 'slap':D. It works out so much cheaper and the make-up stays put. I worried at first about covering blemishes, but the concealers are excellent too.

I use the Lanacane anti-chafing gel as a primer (same ingredients as Smashbox) another great idea from this thread .

I'd never used the Smashbox stuff but couldn't resist trying the Lanacane anti chafing based on the recomendations here but I'm really not sure what difference it makes. Without having seen the Smashbox stuff I've not seen the instructions so I took a small pea sized blob and smoothed over my face avoiding my eyes then let it dry before swooshing on mineral makeup (no wet slap for me either these days!) but I really didn't notice anything apart from an interesting slightly slippy feeling to my skin before the powder went on.
Am I doing it right? What is it supposed to do? I understand its basically supposed to smooth the skin so makeup looks more even but I don't really get it - maybe I just need new glasses

Unity

HanSpan wrote: »

I'd never used the Smashbox stuff but couldn't resist trying the Lanacane anti chafing based on the recomendations here but I'm really not sure what difference it makes. Without having seen the Smashbox stuff I've not seen the instructions so I took a small pea sized blob and smoothed over my face avoiding my eyes then let it dry before swooshing on mineral makeup (no wet slap for me either these days!) but I really didn't notice anything apart from an interesting slightly slippy feeling to my skin before the powder went on.
Am I doing it right? What is it supposed to do? I understand its basically supposed to smooth the skin so makeup looks more even but I don't really get it - maybe I just need new glasses

You seem to be doing exactly the same as I do . I find the mineral make-up seems to go on a bit more evenly - but an additional benefit for me is that it seems to help to control the shine I get mid way through the day.

glowgirl_2

I would like to recommend the Wet N Wild range that is now in Tesco, its been out for ages in the US and is considered one of the top budget brands, when I say budget I super budget:D So far I have tried the foundation (£1.97) and I would compare it too EL Doublewear light, its just fab and my dd has tried the black eyeliner, a huge size for 97p;)and she loves it, stays put, no itchy eyes, I plan on trying other products from the range (its not a huge) and I have read the nail varnish is exceptional:)

jenniewb

I really rate Maybelline for fondation- they have two that really do stay on all day and are easy to blend and evenly apply. The Minerals one and the Satin wear are both fantastic! They also have quite a big range- they seem to be the only brand bar bobbi brown (whose foundation is something scary like £30 plus (never bought it myself as it was just way too much!)) I apply the Maybelline stuff with my fingers when my moisturisers dry (I have very very dry skin and still need mosituriser to stop it peeling!) then after 30 minutes, blot any excess with a dry tissue. Saves me a brush.

I think Maybelline do excellent mascaras (though that pink one is terrible!) but do have to say they clog far quicker then the pricier brands do. This is a general thing I have found with the cheaper brands being as good as the designer brands, but then not lasting as long in the longer term. A designer mascara tends to out live a cheaper brand 3 or 4 times over.

I have just tried a moisturiser by Lush. Previously when I found that I had some sort of sensitivity to mineral oils (like Vaseline, Lanolin, petroelum jelly...etc) which caused me horrible angry white head spots. So I found one brand, Nuxe. I got a pot from ebay- bliss! But now its so expensive everywhere- including now ebay, so I switched brands.
Lush are excellent - the Celstial facial cream is not mega cheap, its around £10 a 50gram pot. They also have far higher priced creams, I wasn't sure if they'd be good for my skin but they really are- the cream has not cuased me spots or any irritation. Its been a week and I'd normally have issues by day 2 of a problem cream. I will be buying Lush again next time and fully recommend it to anyone else looking for a cheaper but non petroleum/chemically based facial cream.

HanSpan

Unity wrote: »

You seem to be doing exactly the same as I do . I find the mineral make-up seems to go on a bit more evenly - but an additional benefit for me is that it seems to help to control the shine I get mid way through the day.

I think I'll try again then - I only really tried it on 'going out' occasions as I hadn't realised it might help with the shine. In fact if I can put my hands on it I might try it for work today!
Thanks