I have realised that I have a few great things I use and do that it has taken me ages to work out what works best. Just wondering if anyone else has a few of these to share? Here are mine, I'll pre-fix this with the fact that everyone's skin/hair etc is different, but these are a few basic things that really work for me and are simple and cheap.
- FACE: Sebamed soap. I was taken in by the cleanse/tone/moisturiser thing until about 1999, and then I realised that they are just making you buy 3 products not one - clever business. I had some spots at the time and had previously had lovely clear skin so started a striped back regime to balance my skin and not overload it. I now religiously use simply this Sebamed balancing soap (I have combination skin/oily T-Zone), just wash it off with water and I don't moisturise at night as I find it makes my skin flare up. In the morning I wash with the soap and warm flannel and use Garnier Nutrinionalist moisturiser for combination skin (I used Chanel Hydramax for ages when I was feeling flush and this is actually better I think). In the day I add bare Minerals brightening primer to smooth everything, as a base, and then Neutrogena oil control make up - it has been discontinued in the UK so I get it when I go to America in any pharmacy or get my friend who lives there to send it - it is really quite cheap. That's my routine and my skin is really at it's best when I do this. It's fairly simple and cheap. I also swear by Benetint - it is the most lovely natural looking blush and damn stuff stays on all day. Good on lips too.
- HAIR: I use GHD straighteners (best thing I ever brought, they have lasted over 10 years and still going strong!) to curl my hair, or at least put waves into it or else it is poker straight. I add a little spray dry shampoo to the roots to add volume and make it easier to style (particularly good if you are doing an up-do or more messy look) as my hair has a tendency to be to silky to really style easily. Add some Ellnett hairspray (quite good tip is to add it to your fingers and scrunch them into your roots for more volume) and I can usually make it do what I want (which is of course glamorous tumbling locks or ponytail with 60's volume or centre parted waves for a more understated but polished look!)