Spend vs splurge beauty items

[Cerseirys]

What skin-care and makeup items do you think are worth spending a lot of money on? And what do you think are not?

For me, it’s important to have a good moisturiser and serum etc so I tend to spend money on that. At the moment I use a serum and moisturiser from Paula’s Choice, as well as a Vitamin C booster treatment. I like her products as they don’t have irritating ingredients and the packaging is also good. I don’t like jar packaging. Makeup-wise I think the more expensive ranges like Bobbi Brown and MAC have better shades of foundation, concealer and powder so I would always buy one from there over a cheaper brand.

What I don’t think is worth spending loads on is mascara as plenty of brands you can get at Superdrug or Boots, like L’Oreal or Maybelline, have excellent ones. I also used to use a very expensive Skinceuticals cleanser which suited my skin fine. But when it ran out I started using DP’s Simple cleanser because I can’t afford the expensive one anymore and guess what? It hasn’t made a jot of difference! My skin isn’t any better to how it was when I used Skinceuticals, but it certainly isn’t any worse.

Thanks for that, Nabootique. My steals are aussie shampoo, tresemme red pot of conditioner, nivea Q10 night cream, max factor mascara and W7 eyeshadows. Ooh, and the no7 facial sunscreen. My splurges are sadly numerous, but include nesti dante soaps, l'occitane almond shower oil and she butter, eve lom cleanser, shu uemura powder, tom ford perfume, jo malone bath oil and bobbi brown eye cream and concealers.

Best place to buy blinc is strawberrynet.com . I got it for £13, it has gone up to 15 but still a bargain

I've got loads of mascara so, I love Lancôme and Lash Extension Kit xx

I splurge on foundation - Dior Star £32
Eyeshadow - MAC / Urban Decay

I use pretty much budget everything else nowadays , from Rimmel Mascara/ bronzer/ eyeliner/ concealer.

I've just splurged on really decent make up brushes. Worth it in terms of the way they apply the make up but OMG I have suddenly realised why everyone spends so much more on make up than I do despite the fact that I wear a lot on a daily basis. Putting on foundation with a make up brush uses twice the amount as applying it with fingers or a sponge. The same with concealer. Even my eyeshadows are running down more due to being applied with a brush rather than the little foam applicator that comes with them. Previously I only used a brush for powder, blusher/highlighter and to blend my eyeshadow once I'd applied it.

My two favourite mascaras are Chanel le volume and maybelline great lash, so one expensive and one for a fiver!

I like mua eyeshadows - dirt cheap but with lots of pigment. Also Rimmel nail varnishes over expensive ones.

I would rate expensive skin care over cheap though. My Lancome moisturiser is gorgeous.

Atticus... for foundation, apply with fingers then use brush to 'smooth over' to give the look without wasting product

What a good tip, pdxs! Makes sense when you think about it! I shall definitely be trying that one. My brush seems particularly thirsty for my latest Max Factor foundation.

Has anyone tried the Beauty Blender makeup sponge? Is it worth the money?

I have one. I use it only for the Sensual Skin Enhancer, and I really like it for that. I use dabbing motions and with a normal make up sponge I find it doesn't really blend, just sort of sits there. So I think it's worth it for that, or concealer under the eye or on any redness generally, but not sure about overall foundation application. There are some dupes that might be just as good. I got one in a subscription box (a dupe), but I've not tried it out yet.

At the moment I use Liz Earle skin repair, but in the summer wear a cheaper SPF moisturiser from Amie.

I am using a Neals Yard mascara. I like Blinc too though. Bourjois eye pencil, Clinique lip pencil. Because I work from home I don't use much in the way of cosmetics.

Shower gel can be anything, but currently I have Molton Brown because my husband gave me some for our wedding anniversary. For shampoo and conditioner I use Liz Earle or Arran Aromatics.

I use Rimmel nail varnish, cheap, nice colours and not bad staying power.

Have you seen Mother Pukka's video online of the 'unwrapping' of completely unbranded makeup. She is hilarious. In fact beyond hilarious and obviously a hi-end kinda mumma if you look at her other vlogs, and she loves her pressies - well worth a google

Splurge on -
Lancome juicy tubes - there are loads of imitators but none is quite right
Butter London nail polish, as a treat
Orla Kiely, L'occitane and Dr Hauschka posho bath stuff
Benefit Dandelion blusher - just the best and lasts ages

Cheapo -
Superdrug MUA pro base
Superdrug spot gel and hot cloth cleanser
Barry M nail polish - fab
Simple moisturiser
Vaseline - for eye area and wrinkles, it works as well as anything else. I never slpurge on expensive wrinkle cream - the more expensive, the more weird stuff is in it and my sensitive skin doesn't like it. Vaseline all the way.

I love the scents of Aveda and Liz Earle shampoo, but tried them and they were terrible on my hair. Now use Aussie or Organix.

I spend most on primer and foundation - having seen so many girls with foundation tide marks (eek!) I think it is so important that you get the perfect shade for your skin. I use Revlon primer and foundation (Not that expensive but not cheap either).
Maybelliene NY mascara is brilliant and cheap and eye pencils I don't spend much on, just keep them sharpened and in the fridge and they will last longer.

Question: I find foundation on my nose goes cakey - does anyone else have this problem? I make sure I use moisturiser and primer before putting foundation on but it still looks blotchy? Anyone got any ideas/tips on how to prevent this? thanks.

Skin products from Lush which is t over expensive and I think investing in a gel nail kit is absoloutley worth it! Done right your gel nail polish can last 2 weeks - I would rather spend 100 than 20 each time to get someone else to do it!

kiwi what moisturiser and primer are you using, and what is your skin type?

Ooh yes those Lush bath bomb things. Outrageous splurge-arama (but I break them up a bit and don't use a whole one for each bath). I rarely go into the city shopping and when I do a stop at Lush is part of the experience, also because DD loves it if I bring her something back.

Found this makeup sponge online, which looks to be a cheaper dupe of the Beauty Blender. Think I might buy it. I've only recently discovered the baking technique when applying concealer and it is a total game changer!

Urban Decay eye primer potion is absolutely amazing, I have used it for years now and wouldn't be without it, my eyelids tend to get quite greasy through the day and wearing eye makeup used to be pointless as it would end up as a messy smear within a couple of hours, but applying this as a base coat totally prevents this and keeps my eye makeup looking fresh and fabulous all day and night, it's a miracle in a tube! And what's more it makes eye shadow colour more intense and prevents creasing so you can use cheapie eyeshadows and they look and wear like expensive brands, wonderful stuff!

The real techniques beauty blender is really good.

I also bake my concealer and the bottom half of my cheeks!

im too old for cheap foundation. I cant get away with it anymore. I think boots no7 is as good as more expensive brands though. Ive recently converted to their lift and luminate from one twice the price and actually prefer it.

Mascara, doesnt necessarily have to be expensive. 2000 calorie is really good.

Lipstick can be cheap, bronzer can be cheap

What's baking!