Fashion

Aisling on Beauty: Build your arsenal on a budget

The key is to forget about brand loyalty and take advantage of offers

Elf blushes
Elf blushes
Aisling McDermott
Tue Sept 15 2015 - 06:00

If you are on a tight budget, all you really need are good-quality, basic products that work. Rethink your approach to buying cosmetics; as long as a lipstick delivers vibrant colour and lasts, or a cleanser contains skin-friendly ingredients, then it doesn’t matter whether it’s from Chanel or Dealz.

Savings can be made on most beauty products, so look out for these ways to save. If the packaging on a product is changing, the “old” packaging is often marked down to clear the shelves. New products are often available at introductory prices to entice you to fall in love with them, saving you up to 50 per cent. Other no-brainers are three-for-two and buy-one-get-one- free offerings.

The key here is to forget about brand loyalty and take advantage of offers. I’ve picked all the products on this list not just because they are well-priced; they’re here because they work.

Use a creamy cleanser to remove make-up and grime. Johnson's Daily Essentials Nourishing Cleansing Lotion (€1.30) is a good choice as it removes make-up without drying skin. Follow with Ponds Nourishing Anti Wrinkle Day Cream (€3.49), which contains elastane for extra hydration plus vitamin E.

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Two of my favourite budget foundations are Rimmel Match Perfection SPF20 (€9.99) and L'Oréal Infallible Pro Matte (€11.99), while my concealer choice is Collection Lasting Perfection Ultimate Wear Concealer (€5.79). Good-quality lip colour is available from the Essence and Catrice brands for as little as €2.49.

If you haven't heard of Elf Cosmetics, you are missing out: the quality is excellent and the prices are amazingly low (available on iHerb.com). Pick up single blushers (below) for €2.69 and mascara for the same price.

Sleek is a brilliant choice for highly pigmented and long-lasting cosmetics. A Sleek MakeUp i-Quad Eyeshadow & Eyeliner palette in a variety of colourways costs €7.99. My brow product of choice is L'Oréal Superliner Brow Artist (€7.49), a double-ended three-in-one pencil with a coloured pencil on one end, a clear setting wax on the other and a brush in the lid.

Liquid liner fans will be more than happy with the Vogue-approved Dealz Make Up Gallery Pro Liquid Eyeliner (€1.49).To finish your look, NYC nail polishes (€1.99) are hard-wearing and available in dozens of shades.

  • amcdermott@irishtimes.com
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