The big cosmetics thread

[bigsarahj]

Morning all,

I am planning to have a MASSIVE overhaul of my enormous collection of cosmetics, toiletries, lotions and potions in order to streamline my bathroom.

I am a horribly compulsive shopper of bottles and jars. A big branch of Boots is like an arcade to me, and the Selfridges cosmetics hall is my Tiffanys.

But it has got to stop. And so, I am looking to narrow it all down to a 'capsule' collection of great products. Also, there are some that I am looking to replace:

Clinique- I have been using their skincare for years and am beginning to feel that there must be life beyond Clarifying Lotion. Any suggestions?

Volumising hair products- I have counted up, and have no fewer than 17 different bottles. Some are fine, some are good, some are rubbish. Any good recommendations to stop this madness?

Dry skin/stretch marks- Similar story: 7 lotions, 3 creams and a fortune spent on Bio Oil, all to no avail. Any tips to share? Especially for the stretch marks- there MUST be a way! (Captain Kirk style exclamation...)

I am also on the hunt for the perfect mascara (volume), red lipstick, and moisturising foundation. What do you rate?

Thanks all!

hiya - re stretch marks if you are fed up of paying for bio oil i find that firming body lotions do the same. i am using nivea q10 - bit greasy but does the job and loreal nutrilift which i think is v good.

meanwhile have you tried the mamamio range? let me know if its any good if you have pls

i have excess volume hair so cant help you there!

re skin care you sound like an oil cleansing method candidate but i'm sure someone else will be along to help withthat

re mascara have you tried diorshow? that was my fave spendy spendy but maybelline volum express (yellow tube) is quite good and a bit drier so doesnt gunk quite so much

I have just bought a Chanel mascara and it is the best I have ever bought, much better than my usual BadGirl Lash from benefit

I agree with the above post. Chanel is without a doubt the best mascara I have bought. If you can't stretch to that I'd say Smashbox is a close second.

Foundation - Diorskin Nude. It's amazing. Looks like your skin, only much better skin, and more importantly, you can't feel it on, and it last all day.

Dont think anything really gets rid of stretch marks. Have heard of something that is supposed to be good though. Begins with Ph..., there was a thread on here recently about it?

Skincare - what type of skin have you got?

Hi all, fab tips so far, thanks.

Celery and Tefal, have also heard good things abotu Chanel mascara but have never tried it so may be time to take the plunge. Dior foundation also a first for me- have always been a Mac skin girl- so I'll try that too.

Skincare-wise, I have mostly dry to combination skin.

Stretchmarks-wise I searched for that new one and found a thread about Phytaoil, is that it? Anyone tried it?

Indeed it is Phytaoil. I too have tried countless things for the stretchmarks and recently bought this. It's maybe too soon to tell if it really works, but I have high hopes. It is at least nice to use and the credentials look good. I got mine in a local health food shop, but I think they do it in Tescos?

Under eye concealer - the Georgio Armani one is fabulous. I was always a Touche Eclat or Dior Skinflash girl but was converted to this and the colour is fabulous. It is pricey (about £30) BUT it lasts about 9 months! So works out cheaper than the ones above.

I just went through my cosmetics 3 weeks ago and gave away most of it.

After a lot of trial and error:

Aveeno body moisturiser - I've tried dozens of high-end ones and this does the best job - I really won't buy anything apart from this now

Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish - a cleanser that washes off with a muslin - gets rid of make-up.

A Kerstase product (I use Bain Oleo Relax)- I have fine but wavy hair that goes frizzy in humidity - find a Kerastase product that suits and don't bother with anything else - I've tried dozens of serums/mousses - nothing comes close to the above

Foundation - I use Chanel Vitalumiere but I recommend you get samples of loads of different ones - the Dior ones are getting rave reviews

Shampoo and Conditioner - I use the Ojon range - expensive but my hair doesn't get 'used' to it like others - lovely natural product - I buy it from QVC in huge sizes and it works out at £10 a month for me (you use much less product than cheaper shampoos)

Facial oil for under moisturiser - get the Decleor aromessences from QVC and send it back if it doesn't agree with your skin - you just need 3 drops under moisturiser and it boosts your skin wonderfully

In general I buy loads from QVC and send it back if it doesn't agree with my skin (30 days full refund policy)

It's not all good news for me as Chanel have brought out some lovely make-up (eyeshadow, eyeliner and nail varnish) in a shade that really suits me this season and the day after I cleaned out a whole load of old make-up I spent £70 on new stuff

And I'm still on the hunt for a good BATH FOAM (not oil) that's heavily perfumed with natural ingredients - haven't found one yet and I still have loads upstairs half used that I haven't chucked out yet

Oooh, I'm a cosmetics whore too. Love 'em, love 'em all! Don't have many staples, and don't often spend £££ on things but these are the things that I would and do buy again:

Foundation: Don't wear it, instead I get Clinique Almost Make Up, like a tinted moisturiser, lasts for ages!

Mascara: Again, Clinque, lash power or something like that. I buy this not because it is super volumising but because it comes off just with warm water and doesn't give me panda eyes. Again, lasts for ages, I tend to do a clinique spree once or twice a year and buy both these. Have also tried a sample of a Chanel one which I very nearly bought, and would if it was non smudgy like the clinique one.

Concealer: I love Bare Escentuals Well Rested powder, it's great as I have dark eye lids so just brush this all over

Hair: Have recently discovered Aveda and they have a clay based product which sounds like it should be really heavy but isn't, it's really nice. V ££££ so today I have bought a L'oreal shampoo in a pink bottle that has been recommended on here. People also recommend Redken, Keratese and Green People shampoos.

Moisturiser: I must admit I am a complete moisturiser slut, I don;t think I have ever bought the same one (I too have combo skin). But two things I would buy again are Neal's Yard Orange Flower Facial Oil, put it on at night and wake up radiant, and Boots Protect and Perfect. Have been using a trial version of this too and would consider buying it if I had the money.

No tips for the stretch marks I'm afraid, but will be watching the rest of the thread with interest.

I am a loyal Clinique fan for some stuff- moisturiser either Suoer defence of Youth Surge. Use their foundation- Repair Wear which is great- has pretty full coerage but looks natural.

I love their Body Butter but have only had samples.

Keep going back to Lancome Hypnose mascara.

I cleanse with L'oreal cleanser and eye make up remover- cheap but works.

Moisturiser - this is really good. I've tried so many, and this stuff is fabulous. Lots of make-up artists rave about it ( I watch too many youtube videos ) and they're right.

Oooooh, you are all marvellous with your suggestions and have bolstered my confidence to really get down to clearing out. Mind you, I suspect I will end up in Lauriefairycake's boat and end up spending masses. All in the name of eventual economising, though!

Right, on the basis of the chat so far, I'm thinking it's Chanel for face, dior or lancome for mascara, and have also heard good things about Redken but have never tried it, so that's a must too.

Excellent QVC tip from Lauriefairycake! Will give that a go- though I might miss the thrill of the beauty hall...

Will also try the Phytaoil, too, as a bit of research suggests good things. Anyone know a good stockist?

Celery, will most definitely give that moisturiser a go too.

Update: I have chucked away 2.5 carrier bags of half empty products (!), and it was not without difficulty. It's like a smoker throwing away the last packet of Marlboro Lights, honestly.

So, this week, I have been out and bought the Chanel foundation, which I absolutely love. Gorgeous coverage, but light and lovely sheen. Also have the Dior mascara, and so far pleased, though not bowled over. It's a little gloopy, but then it might just be 'new mascara syndrome'.

Am still undecided skincare-wise, and have now decided that I definitely need a really good eye cream (wrinkles! Bags!) Any tips?

Am very keen to try the Phytaoil as well, but am not sure where to get it. It seems the samples may have run out, so I might just have to get some. Anyone able to recommend a stockist, or give a it of a review if you already have it?

Thanks, ladies!

I have a decleor eye cream - excellence de l'age.It is like putty but takes away all lines. Cheapest price was cheap smells after much research.£54 on QVC.

Hmmm, might be stretching my price range, but I wouldn't rule it out. Anyone got any other tips?

Foundation Can't beat Estee Lauder stay in place, applied with a foundation brush.

Concealer Estee lauder stay in place again

All of the girls in a beauty salon I frequent do not use any other foundation.

Skincare Dermlogica. Make sure you get a professional to map it especially for you. Then buy it from Beautyflash.com as it's much cheaper.

Hair volume Tigi stuff. Can't remember the name of wine but it's in a purple bottle and it was half price at TK Maxx. I put it on the roots of my hair and then blow dry it with a round Tigi brush.

Moiturising - body I just go for the old Bio oil and then Palmers body butter after that.

And I never leave the house without wearing SPF 50 under my make-up.

Phew!

wine ??? think I'm dreaming of wine'o' clock again.

"Can't think of the name of it"

Virgin, what a Freudian that was!
Great tips. I know the Tigi you mean, it's in a curvy bottle? Great stuff, I think I will stick with it.

Dermalogica-wise, where do I go for the 'map', just a salon?

Mascara - Barbara Daly Full On, six quid at Tesco. I won't buy another mascara again. Her eyeshadows are very good too.

I've just bought a nice mineral powder at Boots, which I like on my sensitive skin. It's called Une.

I've heard lots of good things about Neal's Yard stuff so may have to check that out.

Yep that's the Tigi bottle. If my hair is too clean and soft I spray some dry shampoo (Batiste, Superdrug £2.15, it's a saviour when you don't have time to wash your hair) on the roots which just makes the hair more manageable and makes it a little bit stiffer to work with. I put some big velcro rollers in and then just tease it a bit and give it a bit of hairspray.

I went to a beauty salon. They suggested the products that suit my skin and I bought the mini starter kit first. I didn't like their moisturiser but the Special Cleansing gel is great. I used to be a product whore. Clinique never worked for me. Oh, the Dermalogica microdermabrasion makes your skin look fab too. I did a 6 week course and it smoothed my skin out. Fab.

15 minutes until wine o clock .

And after trying all of the expensive moiturisers in the world - Oil of Olay normal moisturiser works best for me.

Just to big up my recent purchases, I treated myself to a MAC counter appt recently and came away with Studio Tech foundation (apply with brush) and a concealer that works miracles on my under-eye bags. Also a cream blush that makes me look ten years younger, but you didn't ask about that I can't believe the difference they make to my everyday look - although I don't wear the foundation every day, a touch of concealer and blusher for daywear makes me look alive, not like the knackered mum of a 2yo that I am.

Cleanser/Moisturiser: I'm using Olay Regenerist at the moment (the whole range) and its worked wonders on my skin (am 37).

Body, I'm using Bio-Oil and it really has been good for my chest and skin.

Make-up, I use Benefit Concealer, Bare Minerals for foundation, lipgloss and eye-shadows, Clinique for mascara.

Shower Gel - usually Palmolive of some kind.

Shampoo/conditioner - Aussie Miracle.

Beauty Flash balm is my absolute must have.

I like Max Factor foundation - it's called Perfect Skin or Second Skin or something like that, in the palest shade they do.

Body Shop cheek tint - like Benetint but cheaper.

Mac eyeshadow in Shale.

Lancome eyeliner in grey.

mascara - I like Clinique ones.

Olay regenerist is excellent - or Neals Yard.