Stealing a thread title from years ago: Cheapo products that work really well?

[crystalgall]

Saw this thread from 2012 and thought an updated one would be good (haven't seen something similar since then). Especially for facial products.

For me
Cetaphil cleanser. One of those it should be bad for you but actually as someone with acne prone skin it's great.

What else?

Sleek's rose gold blusher is an almost exact dupe of Nars Orgasm - and it's a LOT cheaper. Makeup Revolution eyeshadows also generally have really good pigmentation and they're very cheap.

I've also always found that Simple skincare is the best for my very sensitive skin.

There must be more out there?

I have curly hair and use any cheap conditioner with no silicones and no sls (after washing, before styling) as a leave in, then Tesco basic styling gel - it's 25p and gives me the best curls! Also means I can use as much as I need and don't have to worry that I'm going to run out.

I use any soap on my face - the stuff I use after I am particular about but the washing I find anything is fine.

Sleek antique bronze is a lovely neutral blusher - I love it when I'm having stronger lips.

Nivea soft moisturiser. Make a great hand, body cream and emergency face cream. Waitrose Essentials shower gels and hand washes, available in so many lovely scents. So cheap.

Yes to Nivea soft. I forgot about that one. Used to use it for years.

Astral hand and body cream Cheaper than chips. - fab

I use this as a moisturiser

I have horrific contact dermatitis on my hands (on a bad day, I can't even wash them). As soon as I'm out of the shower or have washed my hands I have to moisturise. One occasion post shower, I pumped too much out, so just smothered it on my face. It was amazing, face felt moisturised all day!

Ps. It's £8.99 for 500ml and lasts forever (nearly).

Second vote for Astral. I use as a make up/eye make up remover.

Aldi hand soap
Ponds cold cream for make up removal only thing that removes my layers of double wear.
Natural collection cream bronzer and blusher sticks.

Superdrug have some great products - really! Their Collection illuminating touch under eye brightner is £4.99 so more than half the price and even better than touche eclat, which I used to use. I also like their Swiss Apple moisturiser and their own brand serums - day and night - are good too.

Lily Lolo mineral make up instead of bare minerals (though to be honest I don't know if they are cheaper!).

Boots no 7 stay perfect lipsticks really good value if you get a voucher which are often handed out at the till for no 7 products and last better than any other lipstick I have tried with good range of colours.

I always use original source shower gels which are often £1!

Also buy men's shaving foam - cheaper than the equivalent for women!

Aldi night cream - it's really thick and creamy, and the jar looks like the red L'Oreal one, but it's much better!

Superdrug Vitamin E hot cloth cleanser is brilliant and cheap especially when there's an offer on, which there often is. Superdrug's own brand face masks are also really nice, the yoghurt one is really moisturising and smells lovely.

MUA eye shadow palletes are surprisingly good to say just how cheap they are

Collection eyeshadow palettes - really good.
Lidl Cien Almond Oil shower cream, Cien SOS cream and Cien Q10 cream (75p, £1 and £1.65 respectively)

Primark Make up sponges are great

Another vote for Sleek Rose Gold
blusher

Wilkos own brand nail polish - the gel ones are brilliant

I have literally just today bought the Superdrug vit E cleanser. Hoping it's good!

dontpoke I also have bad dermatitis on hands, Aveeno cream once a day keeps it at bay - worth a try if you haven't!

Cetaphil moisturising lotion

Ooh this is my kind of thread!

I have really sensitive skin so use olive oil and castor oil to remove makeup.

Tesco sensitive eye makeup remover pads - £1

Just got L'Oréal triple effect sensitive moisturiser- really impressed! Only £6!

I co wash thick dry hair with tresemme naturals as its silicone free.

Use plain white soap and now Lidl and Tesco cheap hand soap (honey and moisturising ) - I actually used to be a real hand soap snob and buy eg dr bronners or neals yard but now since on a budget... well, wouldn't go back!

Bourjois healthy mix serum as constantly touted by Lisa Eldridge, mixed in cushion case with bb cream and Korean essence.

Maybelline powder is hands down better than my Laura mercier one, their brush concealer is better for me than touché eclat.

Korean cushion foundation from eBay

Maybelline imported eyebrow pencil, will stock up soon in states (just looked it up, define-a-brow.

Sally Hansen complete manicure with seche vite

Barry m gelly nails with seche vite.

Basically any cheap polish with Orly rubberised base and seche vite top coat

Superdrug version of flexitol - not AS good but pretty good

I do love lots of expensive things, but I love looking up videos and makeup alley for bargains!

Superdrug B.Revealed Glycolic Cleanser comes with a muslin cloth £7.99 often half-price but currently on buy one get one free offer - I use it 3 times week and it doesn't irritate my dry and sometimes sensitive skin

Shiseido Instant Whip foaming face wash/cleanser £5 -£6 from far east eBay sellers removes even heavy makeup and suits all skin types

Vaseline or any other petroleum jelly is a bathroom staple chez goddess. It's used as a barrier ream and is great for chapped lips and dry/cracked hands. A little goes a long way and if applied after every bath/shower it will keep soles of feet soft.

I use fullers earth and lavender soap on my once chronically acne prone skin. I haven't had a break out since starting using it 3 years ago. Also use Aldi's night cream for 3.99 which is lovely.

ooh, ohh, can I join with with this???

OK here goes :

Simple Micellar Water as first cleanse - tried others (cheaper/more expensive) but this comes up trumps every time. Superdrug had the big 400ml size for £2.95'ish last week, so I bought two

Aldi/Lidl/Primark make up remover pads. Just as good as Boots - no point in paying more.

Aldi shower creams & Aldi/Lidl body lotion

Just discovered Superdrug Naturally Radiant Hot Cloth Cleanser I may have mentioned this on a couple of other threads. It's fab, and have already repurchased as it is on BOGOF

Ikea plain white face flannels - they are called HAREN - 4 for £1.10 - for hot cloth cleansing. Cheap as chips and wash up well.

Boots Seventeen Stay Time concealer £4.49 - lasts well and excellent value for money. Have repurchased many times.

Mavala nail polishes - better than OPI or Nails Inc and comparable only to Jessica polishes IMO.

I'm sure I could think of more.........

Astral blue pot for neck and when skin is really dry, have used it for decades.

Anything by Collection or MUA is it? The Superdrug one. Agree re: the highlighter, loads better and doesn't stink like a dirty dishcloth after 2 days like the YSL one.

Current holy grail foundation is Maybelline Dream Satin liquid. I am using a Chanel beiges one which is nice enough, but put a layer of the maybelline on top and it's amazing.

Best mascara recently is also Maybelline. The double ended one. Was £4 from Asda.

The Superdrug Vit E hot cloth cleanser, and the Boots botanics cleansing balm are both repeat purchases for me.

Olay anti-ageing/anti wrinkle toner is the best acid toner around and knocks socks off Nip and Fab. Smells less chemically too.

Nivea eye makeup remover is really good - as good as the Lancome or La Prairie ones and under £4 a bottle.

Mu London face creams are really good too - cold pressed oils, organic, small batches, and cheap for how long they last. The last pot I bought was £13 and lasted about 8 months using it every day, because you only need a tiny bit.

This stuff gets my dark eyeliner and waterproof mascara off in a jiffy, and also the oil in it leaves my dry skin soft and not taut like so many other cleansers do. It's always on offer somewhere.

And you can do the Orangina "shake the bottle wake the taste" routine with it too

www.boots.com/en/Garnier-Soothing-2in1-Make-Up-Remover-200ml_1160742/

Superdrug Naturally Radiant Glycolic Overnight Peel

Always have a tube of this stuff on the go.