Budget beauty buys
Is cheap always good?
Monday, 26th December 2011
Two of the most common New Year resolutions, particularly among students, are putting more effort into your appearance, and saving money. These are two lifestyles that traditionally do not go hand in hand; the first conjures up images of expensive skincare products and make-up brands, while the latter screams ‘economy range’. Yet it is possible to combine the two. Here is a look at the best dirt-cheap beauty products on the market.
- Superdrug Essential range body lotion: 69p for 300ml Best. moisturiser. ever. Skin has never been so soft, and it smells pretty good too, in an I-know-what-that-smell-is-but-can’t-quite-put-my-finger-on-it kind of way. Brilliant for when the combination of chilly weather and central heating are playing havoc with your skin, and at that price you can slather it on as regularly as like. Hell, you could bathe in it.
- Johnson’s Baby Skincare Wipes £2.44. Perfect for removing make-up or simply freshening up, and because they are designed for baby skin, they’re not full of harsh chemicals that usually do more damage than good. Even better, they’re often available in the pound shop on Coney Street. If that’s still too much of a splurge, Superdrug Essential range baby wipes do the trick just as well.
- Superdrug little coloured tins- Cheaper than Vaseline, less greasy, and it makes your lips softer. The red one is also slightly shimmery, meaning that it doubles up as a decent lip gloss too, saving money on expensive make up brands (I’m making no claims about what the green or blue ones do for the appearance of your lips).
- Maybelline Volume Express Mascara £7.19. Perhaps not the cheapest item on this list, but just as good as some of the extortionately more expensive brands available (and the only waterproof mascara I’ve found that actually does what it says on the tube-it even survived a Christmas Day viewing of The Snowman).
- Forget expensive French manicures, and stick to the basics. It takes a bit more maintenance than a fully polished French manicure, but only a couple of minutes a day, and it’s worth it for the money you’re saving. Start with a strengthener, such as this one, £5 from Avon. Although this may seem like a semi-expensive outlay, strengthening the nails means that they last much longer before breaking, so less work in the long run (and it’s a must-have for anyone working in retail or similar). If you’re a fan of the natural look, simply use a nail whitener pencil on the tips, and coat in a clear top coat. If you’re used to a little more colour, apply the colour as usual, then use a clear top coat to make it last longer and eliminate the need for recoats, saving money in the long run.
- Next perfumes. Stepping outside of the theme of appearance, perfume is another area where it is possible to save yourself a small fortune. Instead of going for the big brands or ‘celebrity’ specials next time your favourite scent runs out, give shop own brands a go. My favourite is ‘Just Pink’ by Next, where prices start a £6, but other high street stores such as Marks and Spencer also do their own fragrance ranges. Check back next week for our guide to choosing your perfect signature scent.
