My best buy so far this year would have to be some fab mascara after a disastrous streaky smudgy Mabelline purchase

hang on <rummages in bag>

L'Oreal Collagene Extra Volume Waterproof

gives amazing volume without clumping and I have sobbed wearing it and it doesn't budge, best mascara I've bought in years

Stila lip glaze stick in grapefruit, which I got in SpaceNK for ... £5! It's amazing. I think I'm in love.

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser

Superdrug spf15 illuminating moisturiser great to mix with regular foundation for the summer
Aqua di parma Iris perfume so summery
Avon clinical x3 serum a miracle for tired skin
St tropez everyday airbrush light

Dove summer glow (the dark one). Was £2.11 and makes me look fabulous whilst fat and pregnant.

Caudalie Instant Foaming Cleanser Fleur de Vigne. Excellent for everyday cleansing. And it lasted me more than 6 months.

Guerlain bronzer. Instant health!

i think thats 2 recomendations for the boots serum now.

tempted by the hair brush, but i have one i love at the moment.

still havent decided what to get

Boot face serum - the new one. My skin really does look loads better, and I am a real cynic.

I also bought a gorgeous bright green mac eyeshadow that looks fab

"does Tomato Demeter or whatever it's called smell like tomatoes?"

It's lovely! It smells like a greenhouse full of tomato plants.

Oh, and my Alexandre de Paris hairbrush.

Until you try one of their hairbrushes, you will never understand how anyone could become so evangelistic about a hairbrush.

YSL perfect touch foundation - it goes on with a brush, and looks and feels so amazingly natural, and makes your complexion look great.

M&S Autograph eyeliner - so easy, and makes all the difference when you are doing a rush job with makeup.

Mac lip primer - say hello to gorgeous smooth plump lips! Really!

Bio oil - for my tummy stretchmarks

Not a "buy" but I went to the Harpers Bazaar offices in New York earlier this year - have a friend who works there - and left with two carrier bags full of stuff, including a faaabulous eye cream which has ironed out my crinkly peepers a treat. It's by MD Skincare - not sure if you can get it here, but I would definitely buy it. Also got some "brightening cream" by By Terry - not sure how good it is, but it smells wonderful!

oh the mac eyeluiner that stays on

Nomorecake - if you can't stretch to the SKll airbrush foundation, Maybelline Liquid Minerals Foundation and concealer is great too! Also Kevyn Aucoin blusher is fab (but not sure you can get it from stores in the UK - prob able to get it on the internet).

Anyone wondering what various products are like, and want a REAL opinion as opposed to the rubbish beauty journos tell us, take a look on makeupalley.com - it's great!

Cool! I'm off to get some castor oil now!

Avon Magix Face Perfector, its fantastic! I use mineral powder foundation and it gives you a flawless complexion (and I have a face really scarred by acne!).

ive done a quick search, and found this oil cleansing method thread. going to have a read later.

bloody hell, where is it? Can someone post a link please?

oh, will now go check out the oil cleansing thread. Ultrabland is just essential oils.

slight hijack - does Tomato Demeter or whatever it's called smell like tomatoes? just i used to lurrrve les belles de nina ricci perfume, that smelled a bit like tomatoes and was discontinued

lol Crabs. Thought it was a bit of a funny endorsement

Best find this year was 'Gorgeous' moisturiser from Lush. Just as pure and good as what I usually use which is the far more pricey Dermalogica Active Moist. Will be getting Gorg when that runs out.

And with Ultrabland as a cleanser - better than Eve Lom!

( i mean another brand)

Bobbi brown tinted moisturiser balm thing

brush to apply( ebay)

NARS bronzer - will never buy another

L'Oreal Minerals Concealer is the best product I've bought recently. Completely covers blemishes and acne scars and stays put even in tropical heat. Love it!

Second vote for Super City Block - love the stuff.

Bit practical though - for a more friv thing why not get a deluxe face mask from a high-end range? Or that Issima Midnight Secret thingy for gorgeous skin.

whats the oil cleansing thread called?
i cant see it!!
and sounds interesting!

REN Morrocan Rose shower gel.
REN Frankinsence Night Cream- wonderful. £30-ish
Clinique Super City Block spf 40

saw the Clinique lady last week and she thought I was 10 years younger than I really am - told her it was down to using Super City sunblock daily for past 15 yrs.

agree with cornsilk about elemis and they have some deals on at the moment here summer9 is the code for 15% off

The bestest of best face cream is elemis pro-collagen marine cream.

I second the oil cleansing routine. My favourite things this year have been REN Rose Otto bath oil (an oldie but a goodie) and Tomato Demeter perfume. If you have £50 to spend, how about some Chantecaille foundation (SpaceNK stock it)? It's fabulous.

Nomorecake - have you been on the oil cleaning thread? The oil cleansing method works better than any cleanser or cream, imo. My skin has never been better than it is now - have been doing this for about 2 months. Dirt cheap too! There's a huge thread about in on here, in case you haven't already seen it.

i could probably do with a good cream. my skin hasnt been that great lately.

I bought Olay Regenerist Daily 3 Point cream as I was feeling very down about my (usually good) skin and feeling that I suddenly looked older than I am. I would highly recommend it.

I started using it about two weeks ago (also bought night cream as Boots had very good special offer on) and I will now venture out without foundation. I have seen an improvement in texture and my skin is definitely more even in colour.

This was a panic buy, so I am very pleasantly surprised that the stuff has actually worked for me! RRP is just under £30.

Clarins

Clarina Firming Botanical Lift Serum - £40 approx - wonderful stuff. A smallish tube has lasted several months, and I'll definitely be back for more

bump

wow, airbrush, i'd love to try one of those.
i'd love to have that flawless skin look.

i think i'll put that on my list for when i return to work.

Do you use foundation OP? If so, and you can stretch to about another £10 - 20, consider SK11 Foundation - it's an airbrush device type of thing, but v expensive! Very cute gadget though, and makes putting foundation on quite fun (and fast). Skin looks quite flawless with it on. Quite addictive though, and if you don't have the £30 (or £40) to spend on buying refills (2 in a box), it could end up being a bit of a money vacum!

Boots serum and my heated eyelash curlers (which are the best invention - bar anaesthetic - ever).

i would say upto £50. depending how long i could use it for and how good it is.

I have sort of saved up having been more sensible with weekly supermarket shopping.

so i am treating myself, i dont really need anything, but i do want to get good value for money and actual use out of it.

i suppose i'm also wondering if there are some great wonder products that people have just discovered and love.

How much do you have to spend?
Depends on which area you would like to most improve on - or is this going to be a frivolous buy - something you don't really need as such, but would just be nice to have?

hi all,
i realised i haven't bought any beauty products or make up for myself, so far this year.

so what shall i treat myself to?