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

Beenie

Poundland has some Outdoor Girl eyeshadow quads in stock. Really nice quality shadows. I got the black/white version which has a lovely silver grey shadow in it, and the black shadow I use as an eyeliner (with water) and it's as good as many of the more expensive department store brands.

xshootingstarsx

Got some really nice Maybelline nail polishes the other day in Poundland. Got a clear one with glitter in and a light pink one. Well worth a £1.

kadison

Quite a list here, hope you don't mind, I've tried a LOT of stuff!

Moisturiser - Olay UV fluid £5.10 for 100ml or £9.40 for 200ml
I have tried all sorts of expensive moisturisers (including the Olay ones) but this is always my favourite, the basic beauty fluid is fantastic also but doesn't have UVA/B protection

Cleanser - Primark 4-in-1 cleansing wipes Twin pack 2 x 25 £1
I tried these the other day, they're REALLY good! They don't dry my skin out or irritate my eyes, got all my mascara off with no residue left, so no panda eyes. I also tried their tea tree ones which are fab but obviously you can't use them on your eyes.

Cleanser - Olay Regenerist cleansing cloths (currently £2 off so £5.65 or use the regularly given boots till vouchers)

The ones in a black tub. Really good, lovely smell, great to use if you prefer washing your make-up off. Gets every scrap off.

Spots - Dr Nick Lowe spot gel £9.18 (Again the boots till vouchers are often valid so £4.18)

Most spots are completely gone in two days, works within hours, better than clearasil, absolute lifesaver!

Hand cream - Nelson's Calendula Cream - £6.35 (currently on 3 for 2)

I used to work in a pet shop where they had live animals, I washed my hands so much the skin was peeling, red and painful, this was the only cream that soothed and eventually cured my poor hands!

Body moisturisers - Johnson's Baby Oil - £2.85 for 500ml

Put it on straight after a bath/shower, massage in, pat dry, the ultimate for lazy people (i.e. me)

Body Scrubs - Soap & Glory Flake Away and The Breakfast Scrub (300ml pots £6.64 and £9.45 respectively, currently on 3 for 2)

Use flake away on legs only unless you like a VERY rough scrub, use Breakfast Scrub everywhere else. Flake away smells nice, the breakfast one smells divine, both are easy to wash off.

Shower/Bath - Soap & Glory Calm One, Calm All Bubble Bath - £5.11 for 500ml

I use this in the shower, it's more moisturising than their other body washes and better than any bath/shower wash I've tried. I also love their iFoam shower wash but can't find it anywhere at the moment...

Foundation - Max Factor Miracle Touch £12.99

Good if you need better coverage than a liquid will give but don't want the dryness of a powder, won't slide off even when you get really hot, makes your skin look incredible!

Foundation - L'Oreal True Match Powder £8.19

My usual foundation, I don't have time to mess about normally and this is quick and very good, stays put and feels a lot nicer/looks a lot nicer than other powders.

Lipgloss - No 7 Lip Lacquer and High Shine Gloss £10 and £9 respectively

Worth the money, stay away from liplicious though as they're total rubbish!

Mascara - Lancome Doll Eyes - £20.50

A thousand percent worth the money, actually lives up to the hype unlike most mascaras, great for sensitive eyes as well.

Mascara - Boots 17 Mascaras

Great as long as you layer them up

Will have more to post tomorrow but Boots website has just crashed and it takes forever to find prices elsewhere!

Unity

I just bought some of the Aldi Lacura body oil/lotion and it's great! It's very rich, but surprisingly well absorbed. It certainly seems to be preserving my tan!

Laura007

I brought Aldi Mineral foundation.... both the powder and liquid. Both priced at 2.99 fantastic stuff!!! It was a special buy last thursday but some stores may still have some in stock!!
Definitely worth a look!

shandyclover

I'd read about Waitrose's Baby Butter, or something like that. I'd never got to Waitrose myself to try it out. I've found Wilko's sold something similiar, Baby Bum Butter. I bought it to try out for DD as she's got very dry chapped hands from doing her paper round in cold weather, and reacts to paraffinum liquidum. It's hard to find moisturisers without it but Wilko's Baby Bum Butter seems to be paraffin free. I'm not a expert but all the ingredients seem very natural - someone with more know how might be able to comment. Anyways it's great stuff for only 1.85
Ingredients ...olea europa fruit oil, hydrogenated olive oil, cera alba, vanilla planifolia fruit extract, anthemis noblis flower oil.

RedGoose

I've only got through the first 10 (of 42! Wow!) pages of this thread, but thought I'd add my favourites:

Olay radiance moisturiser
Giving myself an almond oil (purchased super-cheap from a corner shop) facial as follows: http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/jan/18/spa-facial-treatment
Superdrug 2True lip and cheek tint
Morrisons make-up eye crayon (a chunky propelling number)
Superdrug Vitamin E hot cloth cleanser- doesn't smell as nice as Liz Earle, but for 4 quid I can live with that- I'm only going to wash it off!
Waitrose essentials hand wash and shower wash in "cinnamon cakes"- I love the smell!

Hope this helps.

harryharp

RedGoose wrote: »

I've only got through the first 10 (of 42! Wow!) pages of this thread, but thought I'd add my favourites:

Olay radiance moisturiser
Giving myself an almond oil (purchased super-cheap from a corner shop) facial as follows: http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/jan/18/spa-facial-treatment
Superdrug 2True lip and cheek tint
Morrisons make-up eye crayon (a chunky propelling number)
Superdrug Vitamin E hot cloth cleanser- doesn't smell as nice as Liz Earle, but for 4 quid I can live with that- I'm only going to wash it off!
Waitrose essentials hand wash and shower wash in "cinnamon cakes"- I love the smell!

Hope this helps.

Sounds good! Funny though, that aloe vera gel is in the ingredients for that facial, but it doesn't say what you're supposed to do with it.

faithless

RedGoose wrote: »

Giving myself an almond oil (purchased super-cheap from a corner shop) facial as follows: http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/jan/18/spa-facial-treatment

That sounds good, and cheap, on ebay you can get a litre of almond oil delivered for about £8.50. I think I'll give it a go on my few days off over Christmas.

rachbc

shandyclover wrote: »

I'd read about Waitrose's Baby Butter, or something like that. I'd never got to Waitrose myself to try it out. I've found Wilko's sold something similiar, Baby Bum Butter. I bought it to try out for DD as she's got very dry chapped hands from doing her paper round in cold weather, and reacts to paraffinum liquidum. It's hard to find moisturisers without it but Wilko's Baby Bum Butter seems to be paraffin free. I'm not a expert but all the ingredients seem very natural - someone with more know how might be able to comment. Anyways it's great stuff for only 1.85
Ingredients ...olea europa fruit oil, hydrogenated olive oil, cera alba, vanilla planifolia fruit extract, anthemis noblis flower oil.

thanks for this - both dd and I are sensitive to parrafin and most creams without pricey - this will be a good option