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

mineallmine

I tried MUA lipsticks and wasn't impressed. Totally personal view. I use and swear by Barry M. The pigments are decent and long lasting. Took a while to find my perfect colour with them but I'm pleased. with them. Not too moisturing that they slide off and not too drying that they look yuck!

Also recommend the GOSH lipstain pen which I use as a lipliner.

MoonJelly

fattybumble85 wrote: »

Another vote for the holika bb cream, it is AMAZING! I wear it instead of my regular foundation and my skin looks so much better. The gorgeous cream peachy blush in the lid is fab too, blends really well and is a great colour for me. I haven't tried to mainstream BB creams as I heard the Asian ones were miles better. Now I have the holika Im not interested in trying others.

I love BB creams. I use Etudehouse Precious Mineral Brigh Fit in #24 Honey Beige. This is a shade for medium olive skins and it gives all the additional benefits of a BB cream but more suitable for darker skins. It was £9 from Ebay so it didn't hurt my wallet too much.

LouLou

LouLou wrote: »

Apologies if I'm on the wrong thread (I realise it's been inactive for a few months).

From reading lots of blogs, I've caved in and bought myself an MUA Professional Undressed eyeshadow palette (apparently a knock-off of Urban Decay's Naked). The evidence: http://gottaloveatrier.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/mua-undressed-palette.html Currently £3 at the Superdrug site (free shipping right now).

Their eyeshadows and lipsticks have gathered a lot of praise for being highly-pigmented, long-wearing, and of course, good value.

Also, their "regular" range is £1..extends to single eyeshadows, liquid eyeliner, lipliner, lipsticks, blusher, pressed powder, lipgloss, eye dust, mascara.

The only real thumbs down I've read about were the MUA mascara and lipglosses, though your mileage may vary.

Here's some more MUA dupes (gathered from blogs):

MUA Shade 11 : MAC Hotscotch Lipstick
MUA 16 Nectar : MAC Ever Hip Lipstick
MUA Shade 6 : Clarins Petal Pink Lipstick
MUA Shade 10 : MAC's Frost Lipstick in O (similar)
MUA (Single) Eyeshadow Shade 12 : MAC Club Eyeshadow
MUA (Single) Eyeshadow Shade 9 : Accessorize Icon Eyeshadow 2 Ultra Violet

Edit: Another dupe:
MUA Love Hearts Lip Great Lips : Sleek Pout Paint Tinted Lip Conditioner Bare Minimum

*Thinks to self: wonder if it's anything like Eyeko's Fat Balm? Sorely missed by me..WHY did they stop making it?!*

Apparently Superdrug's MeMeMe does some good Benefit dupes but haven't found out which ones (yet).

Nail constellation (their version of nail caviar) looks amazing too! I put an order in last night and can't wait to play with it all!!

Here's yet more MUA versus MAC dupes (this time talking about the MUA Immaculate Eyeshadow Collection:


From here: http://makeupandbeauty.com/mua-24-shade-immaculate-collection-palette/

Edit: Another link, this time comparing MUA's Immaculate Collection palette shades to Urban Decay (half-way down the page): http://gottaloveatrier.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/mua-immaculate-collection-palette_14.html

jsshncx

A fairly cheap and good fake tan is St. Moriz £2.99! In wilkos/bodycare/savers

and a good cheap make up brand - Revolution make up! Such good quality and so cheap! Sold only at Superdrug or get it online!:)

x

Beenie

Worth mentioning again, but Bourjois foundations are really nice and made in the same factory as Chanel (and rumour has it that Bourjois is actually an offshoot of Chanel anyway).

Their lipsticks are neutral and smell lovely. I have three or four of them and they are about 1/3 of the 'big names brand' prices.

angela110660

Just bought another Lush Jason and the argan Oil shampoo bar as it lasts ages, lathers really well, smells good and my hair looks the best for ages. I would suggest if anyone buys one - keep it in a soap dish so that it can dry out between uses. Amazingly good - my daughter bought me my first bar so grateful thanks to her!

skint_chick

I've recently swapped several of my cosmetics for cheaper versions -

Touche Eclat changed to Hema's undereye concealer - they have stores in London and Stansted airport and you can order online, it covers my dark circles and stays put without creasing, it was £5.50 instead of £22

Clinique mascara switched to Essence waterproof 'Get big lashes' that stays put, doesn't smudge and has a brush with lots of bristles so it goes on to every lash and separates them well without clumps, cost £4 instead of £17

Eyeliner has always been Revlon Colourstay liquid eyeliner, it stays put through everything - I remove it with an oil cleanser

Crazy rumours mint chocolate lip balm instead of burts bees - it just lasts longer and tastes amazing

The only product I have left to find a cheaper version of is Mac blot powder - it lasts so well and keeps shine at bay. But it's £17.50, although it does last 3/4 months. Any suggestions? I've tried Rimmel powder and didn't like it, the shine came though

Dazedandconfused

Lily lolo instead of bare minerals

3_kids_2_jobs_1_dog

skint_chick wrote: »

Touche Eclat changed to Hema's undereye concealer - they have stores in London and Stansted airport and you can order online, it covers my dark circles and stays put without creasing, it was £5.50 instead of £22

Thanks for this tip, I will definitely be trying it. FYI Hema also have a store in Birmingham's New Street Station.

321 xxx

BaldacchinoR

For those interested, don't buy those very expensive eye creams you see advertised on TV shopping channels, like myperfecteyes.co.uk for £29.95 + £4.95 P & P. Buy Preparation H Clear gel, from any chemist/pharmacy, which is really for haemorrhoids! It shrinks your skin in the same way, and thus temporarily eliminates crows feet and bags and it used to cost around £4 for a 25g tube. The active ingredient is witch hazel, a plant I think. Can last around 8 hours per application. There are other haemorrhoid creams but I don't know one which is a clear gel like P.H.