I am not going to pretend I have tried and tested every budget beauty item in Boots, but I have painted my face with many many different lower priced make-up items in an attempt to discover cheap products that are actually amazing. And may even rival your Chanel.
Plus I know it’s Christmas and it’s a time for giving so these finds are something for you to….give to yourself. Especially as there are so many buy one get one free type offers on at the moment.
Autograph Lasting All In One Nail Colour £6.00
This was an accident purchase, I was actually in the M&S Beauty hall looking for shampoo but fell in love with the Velour shade of this nail polish – a gorgeous grey/blue. The ease of application, finish and longevity is immense. Seriously – a pedicure lasts for weeks and weeks. Since then I have purchased Mink (a beige/nude) and limited edition Gold (more of a bronze/gold in real life) which is perfect for the festive season.
Bourjois Radiance Reveal Concealer £7.99
If you don’t know about this already then I feel that you might just bin your current luxe favourite once you’ve tried it on your dark shadows. Excellent at eradicating purple/blue tones and generally making you look more “awake” without being heavy, creasing or emphasising fine lines. It contains hyaluronic acid and apparently provides hydration and a smoothing effect for 24 hours. Admittedly I’ve not slept in it personally but I can vouch for the fact it is a truly fabulous concealer. I use the shade ivory which is a pale hue with creamy/yellow undertones.
L’Oreal Paradise Extatic & Age Perfect Mascara £11.99 each
I’ve cheated and included two mascaras, they are both excellent but give completely different effects – so it really depends on what you’re after. Paradise Extatic gives a false-esque glossy thick look that is ideal for evenings or anytime you want to make your eyes pop. The Age Perfect Lash Magnifier provides a soft “fringe” of luscious lashes that works for a more natural daytime flutter . Both compete with much pricier competitors in terms of the dense bristle wands (my favourite for separation and definition) and the fact they don’t smudge or flake.
Maybelline Gigi Hadid Gel Eyeliner Pencil £6.99
This was a best budget beauty buys list. I picked it up because it was so pigmented and smooth to apply. Seemingly it is only available in black but it’s exactly that – a true dense black. It goes on like butter and once it’s set (leave it a good minute or two after application) it doesn’t budge.
I’m a liquid eyeliner girl at heart but this is dead easy to apply and is a doddle to sweep on your upper or lower lash line when you are in a hurry. I also find it’s a good option for touch ups over my liquid liner if it fades a bit during the day.
Revlon ColorStay Lipliner £6.50
This is not a new product. In fact I have a feeling it may have been around for years. Nevertheless it’s my favourite lipliner. And is even better when it comes to being comfortable to apply and fading evenly (rather than leaving an uneven line around your lips) than the much hyped Charlotte Tilbury lipliner (also excellent, I just personally prefer the Revlon one). It’s soft and non drying enough to be used as a base colour/all over stain if you fancy.
I have it in the shade blush which is a “your lips but better” nude pink. it’s currently on sale for £3.95.
You should probably buy a few and stock up. I have.
Do let me know your beauty bargain buy of the year in the comments box below and we’ll endeavour to create a definitive list that we can share in the new year at some point.
You know, when we’ve got no money left after the big Christmas blow out but just really want a new lipstick.
