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

Melissa_x

jenniewb wrote: »

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.

I agree Im currently using the Mineral Powder but have used some other Maybelline foundations and theyve all been brill! x

Ruthie5

I just brought the latest book from the 'beauty bible' team...'Beauty Steals'...in this one they test cheaper brands on panels of 10 women and publish the results...It is great! I love those books, and seem to buy far fewer 'mistakes' as a result.

It was £5.50 or thereabouts on amazon, and with free p&p.

I got some cheap vitamin e oil (£2.50?) from Superdrug, which did quite well in the tests, and have been doing some facial massage when I put it on at night. I'm sure my skin looks better as a result.

suki1964

Been using Vit E oild for about a year now and my skin is looking fantastic

In fact I was in Debenhams the other day at the BE counter and another customer commented on how good my skin was

minerva_windsong

This stuff is brilliant! Currently on a £1 for a 300ml bottle of shampoo/conditioner, but normally £1.26 a bottle. I used it for the first time on Wednesday night and my hair is really soft and shiny. Highly recommended.

lynseydee

minerva_windsong wrote: »

This stuff is brilliant! Currently on a £1 for a 300ml bottle of shampoo/conditioner, but normally £1.26 a bottle. I used it for the first time on Wednesday night and my hair is really soft and shiny. Highly recommended.

Have they changed the packaging to this shampoo as I bought some of this shampoo in the old style bottle. If it is the same shampoo I can't wait to start using mine :j

sirtwist

Barefoot Botanicals are 20% off the entire range, with free shipping over £50 at choiceorganic.co.uk - they've also got great prices on tons of other ranges.

In particular I like the barefoot moisturisers, they're excellent, cheaper than the major department brands (clinique etc), organic (good for environment and no poisons can make their way into the product) and very very good for my skin.

princessnadi

has anyone got an inexpensive foundation primer and eyeshadow primer (urban decay potion is brilliant but too expensive for me unless i have no other choice)

i've just put a post on earlier without realising this was on

thanks

loveangel88

revlon vital radiance eye primer - about £1/2 depending on store - ive seen it in TJ hughes and pound shop, brilliant product, lasts for ages and makes eyeshadow last even longer love it!

loveangel88

love this thread, just been reading through

My fave makeup items are:

Bourjois 1001 cills mascara (white tube,black writing) i know this is a bit expesiv e but it gives me falsh lash effect and lasts ages! after like 10yrs of using mascara its my miracle find

Barry M Nail paints - best ever! and only 2.95

I use collection 2000 foundations, best for coverage and last longer

at the moment im using a blusher powder from Primark opia range £1 had it 2months and its still going strong, its never ending! lol gorge coverage and it has pale pink and pale peach shades, so ideal for the baby faced look if your pale skinned

Lipgloss - gotta be vasline rosy tint all the way! Love it, again lasts me ages

Shampoo - ive switched to tresseme 24hr body, expensive but my local wilkinsons store had them on offer, the massive bottles for 1.97 each so i stocked up! I have thin hair due to years of dying and this has really made a difference in a month!

helend

I was chuffed to find this thread, and have written a list of things I'd like to try.

I bought the Tesco BNatural hot cloth cleanser because I love Liz Earle and thought it was definitely worth a go, unfortunately almost immediately my skin had turned bright red and was BURNING and didn't cool down for about an hour after! I do not have particularly sensitive skin (only reacts to very heavily perfumed items) and I have never had a reaction anything like this, so I would suggest if you are going to give this a go do a test patch first - I still think it's worth a try because it so much cheaper than Liz Earle.

As for things I like:
Aldi's Siana anti-wrinkle moisturiser
Cuticura cucumber facial scrub less than £1 in Home Bargain
Tea tree oil (for spots and blackheads) less than £1 in Home Bargain
Lipcote