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Original poster

Decent but inexpensive makeup

26 replies

Bubblychocolate · 09/12/2015 21:21

I need some guidance!!

I'm in serious need of updating the contents of my make up bag. I usually just buy whatever I find is the cheapest in the chemist, but you can always tell that it's not the best quality. I've decided I need to start buying a few decent items.

I always hear people talking about MAC makeup, but I nearly fainted when I looked at the prices! I guess I'm a bit of a cheapskate!

So, can anyone point me in the direction of some brands that are not as expensive as MAC, but where I would still be getting a half decent product! There are so many to choose from but I haven't a clue which ones are any good.

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Hello, this thread is a little old and the links are out of date. Take a look at this handy page for a round-up of Mumsnetters' favourite beauty dupes.

OP posts:
nilbyname · 09/12/2015 21:27

I to to splurge on the following-

Eye shadow- Mac or urban decay
Lip glosses- Lancôme juicy tube, all others dry my lips
Concealer- touché eclat

But cheap but halfway decent-
Mascara- bourgeois
Foundation- bourgeois

Blushes/bronzers/highlighters - benefit

I have organic bamboo brushes that I wash often for good application and watch beauty you tube videos.

SpendSpendSpend · 09/12/2015 21:33

Make up is something that i dont scrimp on cost wise.

I ve never tried MAC as i dont have a stockist anywhere near me. But i do like Estee Lauder and Clinique products.

I used to use Loreal make up but as a one off i bought Estee Lauder foundation and wow what a difference!! Ok it was nearly 3 times the price but you could tell it was much better.

I now wont buy make up from Superdrug etc. It takes me much less time to apply the make up as i dont have to keep correcting it like i did with the cheaper brand.

lorelei9 · 09/12/2015 21:33

I find Rimmel and Body Shop v good. Best mate used to work for large cosmetics companies so I've had much of the pricey stuff at hefty discounts. Only pricey thing I've found that can't be matched in a cheaper brand is Bare minerals foundation but I'm hugely fussy about that one item.

thecrimsonpetal · 09/12/2015 21:36

What makeup do you usually wear?

I have a mix of expensive and cheaper items in my makeup bag, some of the cheaper stuff is as good as the expensive things! I often use Boots Botanics BB Cream- this gives better coverage than the overpriced Bare Minerals foundation I have. I also bought a cheap eyeshadow palette in boots recently, different nude eyeshadow colours, I think it was by Collection, and that has been really good. Boots No7 also do some nice things, not really cheap but not that expensive either. I always use the No7 Stay Perfect mascara, it's about £13 but I always buy it with the £3 off vouchers. It's a tubing mascara and stays put all day long, not a single smudge, which is a miracle for me. I have some Boots Natural Collection lipglosses, just for every day, and they are really quite nice. Barry M nail polishes are brilliant, as good as the Leighton Denny or OPI ones I have.

The MUA palettes in superdrug look fantastic too, very good value for money.

BrandNewAndImproved · 09/12/2015 21:38

Rimmel is surprisingly good.

I liked a mixture of benefit, El, ect and now I find I keep buying Rimmel. (not foundation)

They're eyeshadow is great, they have a really good eyebrow powder set which is better then benefits, blusher is nice and mascara.

I've switched to benefit for special occasions and beautiful mat no 7 foundation for everyday so I don't bankrupt myself.

Original poster
Bubblychocolate · 09/12/2015 21:48

Usually rimmel, collection 2000 (or whatever it's called these days!), couple of things from Avon. I even have an eyeliner from Aldi!

Thank you for the replies. Gives me some ideas with regards to brands.

OP posts:
MeadowHay · 09/12/2015 21:49

I agree with pps who mentioned Barry M (particularly for nails), the Body Shop, No 7. at Boots (particularly for concealer, and nails). All usually pretty decent quality for reasonable prices. I would also recommend Sleek, and Soap & Glory.

For higher priced stuff, Clinique, Urban Decay and Estée Lauder are all very good quality but I really only buy stuff from these types of brands once in a blue moon if it's something I will use a lot or that will last me ages. My last foundation was from Clinique and was great, and I especially love Urban Decay's eye primer. I'm getting a UD eyeshadow pallet off my nan for Christmas! :')

Rivercam · 09/12/2015 21:51

I like the Avon makeup range.

rageagainsttheBIL · 09/12/2015 21:58

Bourgeois is on 3 for 2 plus free eyeshadow in Superdrug at the moment

BeaBoo · 09/12/2015 21:59

Superdrug have a new-ish range called Makeup Revolution which is just amazing. I bought a massive matte neutral eyeshadow palette for £8 and the quality is outstanding for the price. I've also got a contour kit

BeaBoo · 09/12/2015 22:01

Argh I dropped my phone and it posted early! Also have a powder contour kit from the same range which is great. It includes bronzers/highlighters. I've heard good things about the rest of the range too (lipsticks are £1 and apparently good quality) so it's definitely worth checking out.

I would also recommend the Boots Natural Collection mascara which is £1.99. I've always bought really expensive high end mascaras and would never go back now. It's brilliant - check out the reviews online Smile

Original poster
Bubblychocolate · 09/12/2015 22:33

Thank you all so much! I'm going to have an hour of online shopping before bed!

OP posts:
slug · 09/12/2015 22:35

Makeup Revolution from Superdrug is surprisingly good for the price. Their highlighter pallets is a fairly good dupe for the Hourglass one and they have fantastic eyeshadow palettes.

SecretLocation · 09/12/2015 22:44

MUA from super drug is really good, particularly the eyeshadows as they are high pigment so mimic the effect of more expensive brands like urban decay.

I have found some great finds from the pound shop as well, they often stock end of line products from high street brands.

WhoisLucasHood · 09/12/2015 22:46

I rate Maybelline, really good make up for a decent price.

Didiusfalco · 09/12/2015 22:50

MUA lipsticks are great - think theyre £1. Barrie M make up brushes. Rimmel eyeliner as good as any more expensive I have tried, also Revlon 2000 calorie mascara is excellent and stays put (on me anyway). Also currently loving Bourgeois aqua-blush - really natural and easy to apply. The thing i havent found a cheap dupe for is urban decay eye shadow, its the one pricier thing i buy again and again.

MagratGarlikAgain · 09/12/2015 23:02

Decent brushes make a huge difference, even when the make-up is not high-end (though will make cheap make-up look better, rather than making it look expensive iyswim). MAC brushes are worth investing in.

For actual make-up I like No. 7 from Boots, which is a good compromise for everyday use. I find though a good base is important, but you can scrimp on eye-shadow and lipstick much more if the base is good.

Levantine · 10/12/2015 06:11

Boots have really good 'free' gifts with a £15 spend on most of their makeup ranges. The soap and glory one has a full size mascara, blusher and lip gloss stick which are all lovely. I really rate s&,g, lovely colours for lipsticks and good foundations for the price imo

BrandNewAndImproved · 10/12/2015 06:31

I think brushes are overrated and I have nice Mac ones. There's no difference between my mac brushes and my body shop brushes but what always works best for me is my fingers.

RoobyTuesday · 10/12/2015 18:35

I think a lot of high end cosmetics are totally over priced and really no different to the cheaper brands. I've tried several expensive mascaras - Estée Lauder, Christian Dior and benefit and they are no better than a Rimmel one. My favourite shade of lipstick is Chanel so I always buy it as I can't find the shade elsewhere, however the quality is a bit crap to be honest. It doesn't last more than half an hour and is very drying (yet it costs £25!).
I'd go for L'oreal for foundation as they are very good quality and don't have the pink or orange undertones that look so artificial. I really wouldn't bother splashing out too much on expensive brands. Maybelline, Revlon and Loreal seem to do very good quality eye shadow, mascara and lipsticks in my opinion.

victoryinthekitchen · 11/12/2015 11:07

I spent hours, no must have been days, worth of time in House of Fraser buying Clinique, Christian Dior and Estee Lauder products during my 30's. Now I have dc and different priorities and swear by Boots no7 and Superdrug MUA.

hollinhurst84 · 11/12/2015 12:28

Makeup revolution for highlighter
Elf (online) for HD powder
Seventeen HD falsifye for mascara
Makeup geek for eyeshadows and blush (online from beauty bay) - I rarely use any others now, they are so pigmented

JeremyCorbynsVest · 11/12/2015 16:23

I got this Collection contour palette from Boots the other day and I am really really impressed with it. It is every bit as good as the Charlotte Tilbury kit IMO, and it was under £4.

JeremyCorbynsVest · 11/12/2015 16:24

Oh, and I meant to say as I have got older and crepier I find it's the brushes that make the difference, rather than the make-up! So if I invest in decent brushes, I can economise on some of the products :-)

Destinysdaughter · 11/12/2015 18:49

Think No7 is a good well priced brand. Also have the MUA nudes palette which is great. Bourgois does good foundation and I love their cream Blushers. Sometimes it's just a question of trial and error and seeing what works for you.