If you'd left all your make up at home and needed to buy essentials...

[ATruthUniversallyAcknowledged]

... what would you buy?

I'm on holiday and accidentally left all of my make up at home. This has been okay for most of the week as the weather's been so bad I've been hidden under my hood/umbrella anyway, but I'm going to a wedding on Saturday and need to spruce up a bit.

Any recommendations for absolute essentials? Products that double up so I can use the same one on eyes/lips/cheeks? Cheap but effective ranges?

I'm very pale and will need some kind of foundation/concealer, a blusher and something for my eyes. I don't tend to wear lippy and have a tinted lipbalm that will make me look a bit 'done'.

Thank you!!

Mascara, bobbi brown eyeliner gel, by terry concealer.

Depends on if you want to spend stacks on replacements that you usually buy, or just cheapies.

I'd either get all of my usual brands/shades and just think oh well, they'll last and I'd have had to buy them again eventually, or perhaps just a decent replacement foundation and then hit Boots and buy blusher, mascara and a lip balm for a fiver from the Natural Collection :)

Natural Collection cream blusher and bronzer is fab btw, plus it's all three for a fiver or it was on the weekend.

Also Bourjois is buy one get one half price in Boots ATM if that helps.

I think it needs to be cheapies that 'will do' unfortunately. Plus I'm staying in a small town so I think Boots may be my only option. Natural Collection is okay then?

Natural collection foundation is very dark and orange. Boots 17 go fairly pale and are cheap. Use a lipstick as a blush too. natural collection waterproof mascara is surprisingly good and collection 2000 have a good highlighting concealer and eyeshadows for very few pennies. And if y

Find a make up counter and get a foundation sample- estee lauder/lancome usually willing- that'll last you a week. a rose tinted vaseline, a rimmel bronzer and a mascara of some variety- maybe a magazine freebie?? think theres some benefit stuff in this month's glamour...

Pressed too soon. If you are very pale, the Miss sporty so matte foundation in light is very pale, I usually have to spend loads to get anything as pale, and it nicely covers without shine. Definitely worth a try for £3.50. I was so pleasantly surprised!

Mascara-free with either Glamour or Instyle
Nail polish-free with Marie Claire
Primer with Glamour
Foundation- yy to samples but beware if they get the match slightly wrong though
Bourjois-eyeshadow

I would get garnier bb cream, a lipstain from body shop that can do cheeks as well, a chunky eyeliner that can be used as shadow too, and a mascara

I like your thinking MamaGeek

Also loving the magazine suggestions. There's a newsagents just seconds from where I'm staying

Superdrug MUA stuff is fine for the price - everything was £1 last time I looked! Have a look in Poundland as well, I've had Cover Girl foundation, Rimmel eye shadows and eyeliners etc from there.

Also my MUA bronzer is better than my Urban Decay one.

If you have the time/inclination, have a rake through Poundland/Poundworld/B+M.

The Pound shops have had Sally Hansen lip stuff, creme blush and various mascaras, all named brands. Obviously it's a bit hit and miss but worth a try.

Boots sell Max Factor - their False Lash Effect Mascara is awesome.

Maybelline Dream matte foundation is good stuff, and they do a nice variety of pale colours.

Or..if you can(depending on the time of the wedding) book in for a makeover. Just go in jeans early enough if poss and if you have a foundation /bb cream on get them to do your eyes etc.

OOh ive done this once but wasn't on holiday! I just bought a cheapie all in one foundation, a good mascara, blusher and tinted lipgloss.

I did this once - after finals at uni I went home for a week and forgot my entire makeup bag . I went to the Dior counter for emergency foundation purchase and the lovely lady (Rose, I still remember you!), knowing that I could only really afford to buy the foundation, gave me a bag full of testers and samples of everything from eyeshadow to lipliner. I could have cried with gratitude! Take yourself off to a counter and tell your sob story, you never know they may take pity on you like lovely Rose did .

Is there a Superdrug you can get to? They have loads of good cheap brands. Sleek eyeshadows are good. I think it's GOSH that have some good blushers. I'll have a think if you can get to one...

Natural Collections eye shadows are good - get one called Heather. I'd also get a Bourjois eyeliner, mascara and lipstick if on 3 for 2 and a Boots No7 tinted moistruiser

Haha. I need a Rose! Not sure if there's a Superdrug in this town, but. I'm sure I could find one though. Thank you ladies. If you see someone in Boots /Superdrug tomorrow begging the make up ladies for freebies you'll know it's me.

Now, I just need to work out where I can get a cheap coat from. Just realised I only have my North Face raincoat with me.

Clearly atrocious packing!

If its a decent sized boots they may have someone who can do your makeup for you on the day - Clinique or no 7 counter. Just make encouraging noises while they are tring to flog u the products

If you like Benetint type stuff, there is a dirt cheap Superdrug one. Think it's 2True and people on here have rated it. Sleek eyeshadow.

Eyeliner - no. 7 is good (there's a £5 voucher at the moment if you spend X. If you sob they may give you one anyway).

Mascara - Max Factor. Maybelline?

I've heard people on here rate the Maybelline dream mousse foundation thingy, if they do a good colour for you.

If you go the magazine route, I'd avoid the Red mascara. I've found it really flaky. Glamour magazine has a little BadLash and is only £2. Make sure you don't accidentally get one of the copies with a primer on the front instead.

Powder, blusher, mascara, liner, lip balm I think.

Hi, if there is a beauticians or store that do make up in the town, you could just book and get your makeup done on the morning of the wedding especially if you have your makeup stash at home, I wouldn't bother buying more...just a suggestion!