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

funtime.franki_2

I'm slowly trying to economise at the thought of being separated from my dear parents purse strings and make-up and toiletteries have been the first thing that's been hit and so far I can make a few suggestions/substitutions.

#ST. MORITZ SELF-TANNING MOUSSE £2.99 or 2 for £5 at TJ HUGHS
(Excellent sub for ST. TROPEZ @ £30 a pop)

#TRESEMME HAIR CARE RANGE approx £5 or 2 for £5 at ASDA atm

#PALMERS COCOA BUTTER & THE JAR FORMULA FOR FEET

# BOURJOIS HEALTHY MIX CONCEALER approx £6
(Great for under eyes and blemishes alike, lasts a long time on oily skin)

# BOOTS ANTI-BLEMISH MOISTURISER SPF15 - may have been discontinued very recently, however was/is approx £2.99

#OLAY COMPLETE CARE DAILY UV FLUID SPF15 (Norm/Oily) - not sure of exact price but sure it's on offer at Mr T atm for around £3.50

#MAYBELLINE DEFINE-A-LASH VOLUME MASCARA Extreme Black - the only reason I'd choose my favourite YSL over this now is the shiny gold packaging.

#SLEEK EYESHADOW PALETTES - Would make a fab xmas pressie for young teens or teens-at-heart alike £5

#MAX FACTOR KOHL - good combo of very soft kohl, but still firm enough so doesn't run everywhere.

#SLEEK INK POTS - Don't fork out for the Bobbi Brown/MAC/Clinique/Lauder/Lancome/World and his wife's equivalent when they dry out so quickly - for around £3 it's not so much drama

#ELF STUDIO HD POWDER £6-ish - feel so stupid for paying out for MUFE version.

#BOURJOIS CHOCOLATE BRONZER - nice matte-ish bronzer, cardboard casing can live in handbag without worry about breakage

#TESCO VITAMIN E FACIAL WASH [77p last time I purchased it]

The list could go on but it's gone on for far too long!!!

funtime.franki_2

Forget some really important things to mention.

# BARRY M PINK GOES GREEN LIPSTICK - works like a deep rosey stain (like Benetint) - won't come off on glasses - but in a stick format so no worries about leakage in handbag.

# MUA (SUPERDRUG) EYESHADOWS (Only the shimmery ones, Matte ones are pretty poor) £1

# RIMMEL EYEBROW PENCILS - Only £3, the Dark Brown shade isn't too warm to look fake (tricksy business in eyebrow land)

# UNE Lip Toned Lipsticks - natural "my lips but better shades", 100% of ingredients from natural origin, paraben free without costing over £10... hello Aveda

# COLLECTION 2000 GLAM CRYSTALS - Infinately better than the Urban Decay equivalent and under £3. BARGAIN!

# REVLON MATTE LIPSTICK - Vintage Matte look without high-end price tag. Notable colours include Nude Attitude, Pink Pout, Pink About It, Strawberry Suede and Really Red

# MEMEME SHIMMY SHIMMERS COMPACT - £6.99 Don't buy the Bobbi Brown Shimmer Bricks... buy this instead

# COLLECTION 2000 HOT LOOKS NAIL POLISH

# COLLECTION 2000 LOVE YOUR LIPS BALM GLOSS spf20

# RIMMEL 1000 KISSES LIP LINER - fab texture, doesn't dry out, flattering and NICE colours which I personally find to be missing from the Rimmel lipstick line.

# BOURJOIS ROUGE HI-TECH LIP STAIN - Just fab, a lot easier to work with that watery stains.

# LOREAL COLOUR APPEAL EYESHADOW - Great pigmented shimmery shades £5 on offer at boots now.

# GEORGE AT ASDA NAIL POLISH - £1.50 I think. They have also brought out a new matte line of polishes (very fashion forward, if that's your thing).

jenniewb

funtime.franki wrote: »

#SLEEK INK POTS - Don't fork out for the Bobbi Brown/MAC/Clinique/Lauder/Lancome/World and his wife's equivalent when they dry out so quickly - for around £3 it's not so much drama

Have to disagree, 1 because my pot of gel liner is still going after nearly 12 months worn many days a week every week, still loads left and kept in a flat so dry I have questioned an odd type of mould with the landlady (its just too dry!) and 2 because I have tried the sleek ink pots and did not like them at all- too chalky, thick and was hard to get it to go on evenly.

But if it works for you, stick with it.

funtime.franki_2

I think maybe when I was working on clients having it open several times a day, or for a while through doing elaborate eyeliner looks would have meant mine dried out quicker.

I think the Sleek is excellent - perhaps you'd had one previously opened/not properly sealed and that's why it dried out? I will agree that the lighter colours are poor in comparison to the black. I personally also rate the Elf Studio line gel liner.

jenniewb

funtime.franki wrote: »

I think maybe when I was working on clients having it open several times a day, or for a while through doing elaborate eyeliner looks would have meant mine dried out quicker.

I think the Sleek is excellent - perhaps you'd had one previously opened/not properly sealed and that's why it dried out? I will agree that the lighter colours are poor in comparison to the black. I personally also rate the Elf Studio line gel liner.

Could be why- I went for the brighter (and paler) colours as I have the Bobbi Brown gel liner and didn't need anymore, just lasts and lasts! Was annoyed at the sleek ink liner I had but mixed with water I can use it to paint (I do drawings and etc) so all is not lost

pollypenny

Please could anyone recommend a really waterproof mascara, that's cheaper than Lancome.

I have long eyelashes, but piggy little eyes, so anything other than top class gives me panda eyes. I'm retired now, so have to be careful with the cash.

shandyclover

I too have piggy eyes, and wear mascara just so my eyes don't disappear altogether!

I'm very suspect of mascara as I'm allergic to most and have had a horrible reaction to a few very expensive ones. Because of this I'd never tried waterproof ones as I thought they would be even more suspect. I bought this one last summer http://www.boots.com/en/Natural-Collection-Water-Guard-Mascara_24322/. It was cheap so I reasoned if it didn't work or I was allergic it was no real loss. To my delight it caused me no reactions at all and it didn't budge as I put it through it's paces, wearing it all day swimming, hiking and negotiating my way through hot bazaars in Turkey!

alias123

Im no make-up guru, and you guys all know how I like my Nars/Mac make-up because nothing seems to compare(except for Barry M). However I have recently discovered the new MUA (make-up-academy) make-up sold in superdrug. Every item is £1 and I am really impressed. Their eyeshadows are super pigmented, have great staying power and are really smooth to apply. Girls, check it out before they increase the price due to popular demand.

Elmostreet

can anyone recommend a good cheap matte (lighter shade) bronzer? thanks x
btw what a great thread this is!

funtime.franki_2

Bourjois Chocolate Bronzer - (Lightest shade)!!!!!

Natural Collection Suntint Bronzing Powder - there is a shade with more pink in which would suit fairer skins.

I really like Une Natural Beauty Healthy Glow Mineral Powder in HO5 as a bronzer - but it's not what I'd call cheap, nor is it particularly good value for money so I have no idea why I'm typing this !