Shall we share budget options that we've found to be as good as their expensive counterparts?

[SleepFreeZone]

I shall start by suggesting Nanoblur as an eyeshadow primer. I used to use Urban Decay and it was so expensive for a tiny tube and in the old bottles you could never get all the product out. So when j ran out I decided to try and find something different. I had lots of odd bits of stuff in my various make up bags and tried a few primers etc. I had some Nanoblur that I had bought for a special occasion and tried a tiny amount on my eyelids and OMG it works brilliantly. It will take me ages to work my way through the tube so it terms of economy it will be excellent long term and it works better than any of the other eyelid primers I've tried.

[LisaMumsnet]

I love Original Source Mint Bodywash made from 7 billions squashed mint leaves - it also works as a shampoo that gives lots of body and makes your scalp tingle. You can often pick it up for just a £1! I'm also a fan of Pears soap - it just has such a posh medicinal smell. As for lipsticks, I have always been impressed by Avon - much, much nicer than Chanel.

[StepAwayFromTheEcclesCakes]

I swear by baby oil for taking off mascara, grapeseed oil for taking off even 24 hour make up, followed by a face wash. touch of grapeseed oil on hair ends (tiny touch) is as good if not better than moroccan oil. teeny touch of original brylcream works wonders on reducing frizz, but really a teensy little touch rubbed through hands and smoothed through hair or it goes lank and greasy. coconut oil over your factor 30 as a tan enhancer.

[QueenOfTheGinPalace]

Another vote for Miss Sporty mascaras. Currently using the one in the fat black tube and it's the best mascara I've ever used. Their foundations are also surprisingly good, especially the long lasting one. Superdrug often have MS stuff on three for a fiver, I always stock up when they do. Even though it's as cheap as chips anyway.

Talking of cheap, the Waitrose Pure range mentioned by a pp is currently half price - the face polish is absolutely brilliant.

Me and DD love our nail polishes, especially chromatic ones. Our HG is the fabled Clarins Unicorn Pee but given it can go for hundreds on eBay we're not likely to ever own it! So we have fun hunting down dupes. So far the best we've found is Hard Candy Beetle.

Revlon Just Bitten Balms are a dead ringer form Clinique Chubby Sticks but the colour pay off is better and they're just nicer to use imo. They're also about a tenner cheaper. Plus they're always on offer in Boots or Superdrug.

[nickdrakeslovechild]

QueenOfTheGinPalace have you seen Max factors fantasy fire? its a great dupe for UP! I got it a while ago and really pleased with it.

[Feefeefs]

NYX stuff is fab, all of it! Very reasonable

[Stevie77]

Boots Natural Collection mascara! It's £2, there are different types (curling, volumising, waterproof/non) and it's as good, if not better, than anything else I've tried.

[Kennington]

No7 gold tube mascara - tubing mascara better than the Clinique and Estée lauder ones
No7 stay perfect eyeliners - again better than the high end ones
Reckon colour stay concealer - better than Clarins etc etc
Natural collection clear mascara for brows - better than all the pricey ones
Bourjois bronzer - better than all the guerlain ones

[QueenOfTheGinPalace]

Nick the old version was a brilliant UP dupe, I bought two bottles when it came out about 5 years ago. I still have about two goes worth left and I treasure it! The new version has only the red and blue tones in it, still lovely, but missing the purple and green of old. Not that I'm a nail polish nerd or anything

[IsItGinTimeYet]

MUA eye shadow palettes are fab.

I have to say the Lidl perfume is vaguely like mademoiselle but not a patch on the real thing. I wear Chanel and it lasts all day, the Lidl one would need re-applied frequently.

[nickdrakeslovechild]

haha Queen I am a fellow polish addict / nerd! I did'nt realise it had changed, thinking about it yes it must be from about 5 years ago. Might dig it out today!

If you can get your hands on Make up revolution, The one Blush stick in RUSH is a dupe of the Nars Multiple in orgasm. they also do it in Matte rather than the shimmer which I prefer.

[Finbar]

Another vote here for NYX stuff. Star mentions to
Their eyeliners (especially the retractable one) cheaper and better than Bobbi Brown

Matt velvet lip colours. They glide on and stay all day in a good way ( not that clinging to the edge of your lips way!)

[Finbar]

Oh forgot to add their eye shadows are the best I've tried in a very long while and only £3.50

[Acorn44]

Afraid I'm another one who thinks the Lidl perfume is nothing like the Chanel one

More positively, I've swapped from Clinique's Chubby Sticks (the ones for lips) to Avon's copy as they are as good, if not better (though fewer shades). Strangely, they are in the Avon book but I cant find them on their site? Amazon has them: www.amazon.co.uk/Avon-Ultra-Colour-Crayon-Notice/dp/B00Q4GQXDM?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

Ditto Rimmel Lasting Finish lipsticks - I prefer them to MAC's as they last as long, but aren't as dry.

Avon's Gel Shine Nail Varnish is also excellent - as good as other brands that are twice as expensive (currently reduced to £3 from £7): www.avon.uk.com/product/301-318-428-3204/make-up/nails/nail-colour/avon-gel-shine-nail-enamel

[missmeg3leg]

Aldi's lacura concealer pen for under eye shadows....brilliant!...as good as if not better than touche eclat but £2.99!! always stock up when it appears in local aldi as it quickly sells out!!....

[RepentAtLeisure]

It will have been mentioned already, but Collection Lasting Perfection concealer (about £4). I've stopped buying NARS Creamy Concealer (£22.50), because after doing one eye with each I could not tell the difference. The NARS is slightly thicker, but you can build up the Collection one, and at £4 you can be as liberal as you like with it!

[gaggiagirl]

L'Oréal do a touche eclat dupe, thinks it's called lumi magic it's in a rose gold pen it is excellent.
W7 do tonnes of benefit dupes but avoid the eyeshadows they are pretty rubbish.
Barry M for eyeshadows, better than make up geek imo.
Body shop beautifying oil is excellent on the face, it's made with plant/nut oils as opposed to mineral oil.
Primark oval make up brushes, eyeliners, lip liners brow products, beauty blenders, lipsticks and perfume are all excellent.

[marmiteloversunite]

If I have an old Clarins 230 nail varnish how much should I put it on eBay for Queenie?

[YvaineStormhold]

I had a go with Lanacane gel as primer last night. It was brilliant. Am currently on holiday in a very hot country and it was the first time all week that my makeup didn't slide off my face and onto the floor.

[Clarabelle40]

I had read good things about Bourjois foundations, so as I am running low on my Lancome Teint Miracle I popped in to Superdrug and they are doing 3 for 2 on Bourjois with a free gift. I bought the Healthy Mix foundation, 123 Perfect CC cream and City Radiance and got a Contouring Illusion bronzer and highlighter free, all for £20! I'm so inpressed with all the products

[Clarabelle40]

*Impressed!

[n0ne]

I've just invested in a skin cream with urea as per pp (they didn't have a cracked heel cream but the urea was the key ingredient if I understood correctly?) Fingers crossed it helps my chicken skin upper arms!!!

[ladygracie]

I love MissSporty mascara - I use the one in the purple tube and it is indestructible.
Primark nail varnish always looks great & has gorgeous colours but I think it smells funny. And is v thin. Two coats are a must.

[SarahJinx]

Aldi Mascara is fantastic! I bulk buy it when its in because its bloody amazing. Also, I've used Clinique gel facial wash forever, the Aldi lacura version I picked up once when my order was late is better, that was the last order of that.

[SlowSwimmingMom]

My recommendation is a bit off the wall.

Poundland does Firstvue pregnancy test strips - you get two for £1.

They are fantastic and detected all 3 of my pregnancies.
I was spending a fortune on branded ones when TTC and gave these a go. Just as accurate as the top brand.

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

Sarah - aldi mascara is indeed amazing! I have 6 so I run out.

Which face wash is that? Green and white tube?