Disappointments and unexpected gems

[PaulHollywoodsSexGut]

I know this has been done to death but I’ve just bought some Charlotte Tilbury foundation/concealer and it’s got the same shit finish and feel on my skin as the Essence stuff I bought for £4 from Wilko except that lasted longer I suppose.

Recent M&S T-shirts I’ve bought would be put to better use seiving jam; Primark’s are infinitely superior IMO - shame on you M&S

Finally, have chucked out my recently bought Clinique lippy in a mood. It’s 90p equivalent from Primark has a much nicer feel, staying power and doesn’t have a matte, undead finish to it.

I thought that as I’m finally at a stage now where I can afford too range clothes and make up I’d splash out.

Struggling to see/feel the benefit.

I use hoola that I gotta a part of a set. I agree that a massive brush with a minimal amount gives a nice finish.

I was very impressed with Collection’s primer. I find it far better to tint my own eyelashes and then just curl them than wear mascara.

I went to the Clinique counter when they were doing a free sample of foundation. I was colour matched, she went through my preferences (Matt over shiny etc). Took it home. Still looked orange and shiny. £25 for a small pot! I went back to using Body’s Shops BB Cream. Half the price and a much more natural finish.

I love Nyx's micro brow pencil, it's super well priced, a very natural colour (I use ash brown) and lasts all day.

I quite liked Benefit's They're Real, but not enough to replace it when I used it up. I've also found Mac's lipsticks pretty dry.

Can anyone recommend a decent cream/liquid blush? I've been using a Nars palette (the Sarah Moon recurring dare one) and it's lovely, but the finish is a bit matte. A friend swears by Glossier's cloud paint, but I can't easily get it where I am.

Chanel Sublimage foundation. About a million pounds worth of misery and disappointment.

Agree evilharpy I was coming in to say that gold Primark mascara too!

The Benefit "light" Hoola is good.
Bobbi Brown and Nars eye shadows are real gems - great pigment, really good staying power.
My best find recently is "It" cosmetics. The CC cream is amazing. Boots are stocking the range now. I also got the "most beautiful you" bronzer, highlighter, blush trio and love it.
Agree with PP on Charlotte Tilbury - overpriced and over rated. The lipsticks have no staying power, and the packaging feels cheap and plasticky.

@evilharpy and @Spongeface same!! That stuff is amazing! Goes on and does the job really fast. Always get asked if my lashes are real!

Love Clinique anti-blemish foundation (colour fresh alabaster) it's the only foundation I've ever found that is both oil free and doesn't make me look orange as I'm so pale. It's £25 a time but I couldn't change now as my acne is all but gone.

Also Clinique anti blemish soap bar. It's £18 which I was a bit but the bar is massive and is still big 3 months on so I'm pretty sure it'll last best part of a year.

My skin has gone from angry cystic acne to the very occasional spot. Can't actually believe it. I still have marks from scarring by they're easy to cover and are fading with time.

I have really short stumpy eyelashes, the only thing that makes them look vaguely normal is Clinique eyelash primer, followed by their Naturally Glossy mascara. Been buying them for 15+ years now. Everything else I’ve tried had looked clumpy and smudged insanely

I also have hooded eyes (I’m just a delight!)

causeimunderyourspell I love that Clinique soap too. It lasts me ages. I have rosacea and lots of things make me flare up but not this.

Things I love:
The ordinary coverage foundation
The Ordinary Argan oil
ELDW foundation
Bourgeois chocolate bronzer
Bondi sands fake tan body oil (amazing)

Things not worth the price tag:
Chanel lipstick (lasts 5 mins)
Charlotte Tilbury lipstick (same)
Benefit hoola (absolute rip off)
Urban decay eyeshadow

Maybelline lash sensational - I use the waterproof one. It's brilliant - no smudging at all.

Disappointments: clinique mascaras (smudgy and hurt my eyes even though they are supposed to be great for sensitive eyes), eldw, bourjois foundation (greasy, no coverage, rubbed off), nars sheer glow (flashback!!), nars orgasm blush (too sparkly and muddy looking on me), huda liquid lipstick, tubing mascara (tubes everywhere yuck)

Unexpected gems: basically all of Superdrug’s Vitamin E range.

Maybe it’s because I’m actually washing and cleansing my face properly now (and stopped smoking) but I have the skin of a baby’s bum and I truly have shaved off a few years to my appearance.

Have ditched Boots No 7 Protect and Perfect and replaced with the Vit E Superdrug equivalent..

I very, very rarely buy a dud at superdrug. I use the glycolic range, the avocado and honey shampoo/conditioner, the MUA make up and bought the best ever waterproof mascara from them. Which they promptly discontinued.

Aldi body lotion in the white bottle is excellent, its better to apply a cheaper lotion twice a day than an expensive one twice a week. The key is to look for glycerin as the main ingredient.

@vivino order glossier online.

I love their milky jelly cleanser. Was bereft after avene discontinued their non foaming gel cleanser years back and this is just as nice. Skin is happier already.

Also love the generation g semi-sheer matte lipstick. Like your lips but with a bit of colour. Wear mine every day.

And the perfume is gorgeous. I had a same and am using my Chanel stash up so j can put it on my Christmas list!!

Other steal I found recently was the sleek cheek drop highlighter. I use just a tiny amount and it's lovely.

Boots own brand beauty blenders are easily as good as the branded ones.

Wilko make up brushes are fantastic value. As is their brush cleanser.

Vivino after much trial and error my favourite cream blush by far is the one by Boots Natural Collection! Cheap as chips and lasts ages, you only need a tiny amount.

If you’re after a pink lipstick, Barry M ‘Genie’ is really good, it adapts to your skin tone. It’s green (!) when you apply it and then goes a nice pink. Tried a friend’s at a wedding and it looked really different on diffferent people. Less than £10 as well.

@Vivino, I love this cream blush.

www.superdrug.com/Make-Up/Face/Blusher/MUA-Blush-Perfection-Escapade/p/727647

Thanks so much for all the blush recommendations! Unfortunately I'm in Aus at the moment, but they're definitely on the list for when I get over to the UK. And I'm definitely tempted by the Glossier perfume - I've been looking for an everyday one.

Good products for me:
Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue
Bare Minerals original foundation
Stila cream blush
Glossier cloud paint blush
Nars orgasm blusher
Collection mascara
Collection liquid eyeliner
Kilo eyeshadow pencil
Benefit boing concealer
Clinique airbrush concealer

I dread to think of the amount of money I have wasted on make up over the years especially foundations. When I was younger I probably didn’t need it and now it looks too heavy

After 40 years of experimantation with skincare and makeup (and £££ spent!) my faves are:

Emma Hardie cleansing balm
The Elemis marine cream skincare range. It just works. Amazing.
Nip 'n' Fab glycolic pads, both day & night range.
Nars Orgasm liquid blusher - you need the tiniest bit so it lasts for ever!
Nars soft matte concealer
Nars velvet shadow stick
Dior Diorskin foundation.
Dior Pure Color Envy Matte Sculpting Lipstick Neon azalea
Estee Lauder magic smoky shadow stick in Slow Burn
Hourglass ambient lighting palette
Wilko Essence mascara (the one id dusky pink tube)
Urban Decasy naked eyeshadow palette

Some of the many wastes of money:
Clinique skincare
Creme de la Mer (just not worth the extra money although their facials are the best I've ever epxerienced!
Charlotte Tilbury magic foundation - just horrid on my skin
Hourglass eyeshadow palette
All Chanel nail varnishes.
Every Chanel mascara I've tried
Tom Ford lipsticks - all bleed in corners of my mouth
Lancome foundations various.

Dont get me started on clothes...

My disappointments were the heated brush (took ages) and the babyliss big hair (also took ages). I can do a quick blow dry in 3 min and put a wave or gentle curl in my hair with my 2 in wide tongs in under 5 min.