Your bargain cheap skincare & cosmetic products that ARE better than expensive posh products

[Chicinwellies]

and with that I dont mean something on promotion at the moment, I mean something cheap/high st that really for you is worth its weight in gold.

For me it is Sainsburys own Honey Shampoo & Conditioner, I wouldnt be without it. Beats Kerastase hands down.

[cedge]

The best thing i have used for my skin is homemade vitamin c serum/toner. Its cheap, clears your skin and over time makes it firmer.
My days of buying expensive, hyped up products are over.

[Gertiegoolash]

Mines Nivea lotion, the one in the navy blue bottle. I use it as a cleanser, rinse it all off with a hot cloth. Brilliant stuff, gets rid of eye make-up too and its cheap as chips.

[VivaLeBeaver]

I like the Soap and Glory fab pore hot cloth cleanser. I think its as good as Liz Earle stuff.

I've just bought some Lush shower gel. Its called Its Raining Men. I normally use Molton Brown but someone said this was nice and it is lovely and half the price of Molton Brown. I think I might swap between the 2 brands as I like a change sometimes.

[sue52]

I cleanse with aqueous cream and a face cloth. It costs next to nothing and a tub lasts for ages.

[aftereight]

Eucerin 5% urea facial moisturiser, A's recommended by someone on here .
Have given up my fancy expensive stuff for it.

[QuinnFabray]

Product junkie here, trying to be a reformed one. Apart from the packaging, and the cheap smell, my Collection 2000 and Natural Collection lipsticks and blushers are my favourite. Sleek and MUA from Superdrug too. Rimmel liquid eyeliner, Bourjois mascara. . . all just as good, if not better than high end brands.

Won't be swayed from my Clinique skin care though. . .

[madmomma]

palmers cocoa butter. Better than high end brands IMO.

the best exfoliator & skin moisturiser money can buy is a blob of cheap, water based cleanser (like tesco own or similar), mixed with bicarb of soda to make a stiffish paste. Rub into clean, damp skin, leave for 20 secs then rinse well. you need to moisturise well afterwards and I wouldn't do it more than once, maybe twice a week. It makes skin glow. Better than origins (which I also love).

all the eucerin products

I don't think you can beat herbal essences shampoos

[ForYourDreamsAreChina]

Astral cream. Been using it as night cream since the beginning of the summer and it beats all the expensive smelly stuff.

Apparently, Atrixo hand cream is the same as Creme de la Mer. (I read that somewhere, but haven't tried either)

[vinegarpuss]

Dr Nick Lowe day cream from Boots - great for oily skin

[madmomma]

cedge - how do you make the vit C serum?

[redandyellowandpinkandgreen]

I have used for years Superdrug vitamin C body scrub and prefer it to anything else I have tried. They didn't have any last time I looked, hope it's still about.

I use any old cheap, oil free moisturiser as I find them best under make-up in the day.

Avon shampoos and conditioners are good and very cheap.

MeMeMe range also at Superdrug are basically Benefit copies and I have tried the blusher, shimmer powder brick thing and highlighter and find them really good. I know it isn't the most important thing either but the packaging is cute.

[NatureAbhorsAHoover]

I keep trying swish and shiny new moisturisers for day with SPF

And keep going back to Olay 7 signs SPF 15.

[cedge]

You buy some l ascorbic acid (vitamin c powder). A place called active extracts sells it for £4.50 ish i think.
Buy some distilled or dionised water ( about £1.50 for a big tub that lasts over a year).
If you want to make a toner, just mix the vitamin c powder with water at a 10% ratio (2 1/2 teaspoons water, 1/4 teaspoon vitamin c powder).
Because vitamin c is unstable, it should be made fresh every time you use the toner (hence the small amounts).
Alternatively, you could make a serum which prolongs its 'shelf life' somewhat.
If you google 'makeupalley homemade vitamin c', a lot of good reviews come up.
Just make sure you dont crush vitamin c tablets as some people do. A lot of the time this isnt l ascorbic acid but ascorbic acid which does not work in the same way.

[cedge]

madmomma - the makeupalley review site also details how to make the serum. A site called skincaretalk has a lot of recipes too.

[KatyS36]

E45 lotion as a body moisturiser.

Katy

[lacornsillk]

burts bees miracle salve is better than 8 hour cream on skin and is better than ojon oil on hair

[Graciescotland]

soap and glory facescrub

[kitya]

GOSH makeup from Superdrug is as good as Mac.

[tigerbear]

Collection 2000 cream stick concealer is the best EVER! I've tried every concealer going including expensive Laura Mercier and C2000 is by far the best.

Maybelline Liquid Minerals Foundation gives an airbrushed finish.

E45 cream on face - my skin has never been better

Image cream eyeshadow crayon in bronze is the best bargain -79p from Wilkinsons - creamy and blends easily and lasts for ages

yy to bicarbonate of soda - I've used it just mixed with water on my face and it feels exactly like those microdermabrasion scrubs you can buy.

Have also started using bicarb of soda as a natural deodorant - mix a tiny amount with water and dab on underarms. Sounds odd but it really works - no odour!!

[madmomma]

thanks very much cedge x

[HazleNutt]

Monoi cocnut oil: www.monoi.com/oil.html

I use ti as moisturizer, hair mask, bath/massage oil and it also lasts forever.

[gapants]

E45 as a night moisturiser here in winter
Lansinoh as 8 hour cream on cuiticles and lips, nothing beats it and a tube lasts forever!
Oil cleansing method once a week-skin is radiant with it
Soap and Glory face serum
Any cheap hair conditioner- think Tesco Value or similar- as shaving cream fro underarms and legs.

[Pinot]

A drop (literally one drop) of argan oil as a face/neck moisturiser at night.
Ditto on hair (better than moroccanoil)
Carmex lipbalm - there simply is no better
Soap & Glory original pink shower gel - also use it as a handwash, leaves skin moisturised.

[vanillagorilla]

Bio oil on face overnight, couple of drops, wake up and skin is so smooth and looks amazing.

Body shop/Palmers cocoa butter - fab moisturiser.

I find any cheapo mascara works a lot better if you curl your eyelashes first too.
St. Ives facial scrub, although I swear it had doubled in price over the last few years...

[madmomma]

yy to lansinoh as lipbalm/intensive moisturiser; it's fabulous stuff.