Is there any way to reduce spending getting ready for an event?

[Roseinatub]

I am invited to a wedding that is coming up. So far I am spending some money getting ready for this. I bought some dresses but have to return one.

I had to get my hair done which I was probably going to do anyways.

The only bit of makeup up that I wear daily is a tinted moisturer but I think I will have to make more of an effort for the event. To make myself look better and look more presentable.

I bought a new tinted moisturer last weekend and it's awful on me.

Within the next few more days I decided that I will like have to buy a light foundation, concealer, blush, highlighter, mascara, eyeshadow, maybe a tinted lip balm perhaps because I don't usually wear lip stick. Would I need a setting spray.

Then I may not wear any of this again until the next event and goodness knows when that will be. The stuff could be out of date but then. Except for the perfume. I will wear that.

I also need a new perfume but I don't have a perfume.

All of this is all adding up. This is before I even buy a drink at the wedding.

Is there any way of reducing the spend on all of this.

Also home bargains sometimes have cheap branded make up. There are also perfume subscriptions you can sign up for then cancel

Goodness even when I wore what I thought was a lot of make up I never wore blush, lip tint, concealer, powder and setting spray.

I couldn't imagine not having perfume. I wear perfume everyday, even if I'm not leaving the house.

I agree with everyone else- if you don't usually wear make-up don't buy it specially.

If you need make-up, then just mascara and powder

If you want make up then yes Primark is a good option but there are also some very good budget options at boots such as 17. Check the 3-2 gifts at Boots too which will make it cheaper still. Might help with Christmas gifting. I am 54 and don’t touch powder now as it dries my skin.

The other thing I’d do is buy some travel pots from the likes of Primark for £1 and head into boots or Superdrug and get myself a samples of a new tinted moisturiser off the stands. That said I highly recommend the Garnier Vitamin C Glow which is a tinted SPF. You can also buy an all in one lip and cheek product which might help and then a mascara.

The only other thing that might help and I don’t know budget but may be something like the marks and Spencer advent calendar. Lots of products which will include perfume, mascara etc. I think this years comes with a benefit all in one tint.

Bit late posting but my tips would be to go on a cosmetics website and type in the search box “mini” and then afterwards “travel” or “travel size” and “tester” or “sample” and you can pick up some amazing tiny samples of mainstream brands.

There should be enough to try it out once and use again on the day.

Airports and airlines sometimes have samples in business class or at the counters.

You can usually acquire some mini samples at the cosmetics counter of major department stores too, but pick a friendly server and go at a time when it’s not busy. It helps if you buy one major item first (maybe do some early Christmas shopping and buy your sister or mum some scent or face powder) and then say something like, “I am overhauling my make up routine and am interested in buying some items from Bobbi Brown and Trinny London ranges but want to try them out first. You don’t happen to have any samples do you? Or anything you would recommend?”

And have a look at some Instagram influencers who focus on make-up who make recommendations for budget friendly dupes. Have a Google, using the word “dupe”.

Amanda Lamb has some good recommendations.

And sometimes The Guardian has some good dupe pointers if you look at their beauty editor’s recommendations.

Other posters on here will be able to give you better recommendations but the E.L.F range on Amazon is meant to be quite good for certain items.

Hope you enjoy the wedding!

Do you have to buy a new dress? Do you have any existing dresses that you like? And shoes too.

Perfume not necessary. The whole room will stink of a hundred perfumes anyway, no need to add to that particular cocktail.

I promise you that most of the men in attendance won’t have bought any new clothes. And they certainly won’t have bought any make up. So why should you have to?

As long as you are clean, appropriately dressed and smiling, I promise no one else will care about any of this stuff. Make it a challenge to use only things you already have. It is ok to wear the same things to multiple places.

Invest in classic pieces that you can wear time and time again for many years. No need to buy a new dress to go to a wedding in. No need to wear extra makeup or have your hair done. Definitely no need to buy new perfume! Go as yourself.

I wouldn't wear make up if it's literally single use.

Powder does last. I've got some blusher that's from my wedding in 2009!!! Even liquids would last if you get those sealed bottles with a pump.

Why buy bronzer if your face goes red.

I wouldn't bother with perfume if you are broke.

If your primary skin concern is redness the maybe a tinted CC cream would be good for you. I have a garnier one that I often wear instead of foundation it was less than £5 from B & M, then look for a cheek & Lip tint, two jobs again under £5. If you want add a cheap mascara and job done.

Noted Aromas do dupes if all top perfumes and their small bottles are also around £5.

I know this is style and beauty, but you really don't need to wear make up, especially as you don't usually wear it. Definitely not to "look more presentable". Save money there.

If you want ideas. The e.l.f. Range are good (available online and in superdrug - so you might get a special offer)

They have a halo glow skin tint that works as your base. It has an SPF, so you might actually use it more than just the wedding..

They also have a halo glow beauty wand highlighter that works as a blusher and an eye shadow.

Their brown tubing mascara is also good (and more subtle and everyday wearing than the black) (the boots no7 is also good)

Add a lip tint lip balm and you have a very basic kit.

Superdrug Def worth going to, as they have lots of other budget options. And Aldi.

Or just drink lots of water to make sure you're properly hydrated, wash and moisturize your face properly and style it out barefaced. And find a nice smelling shower gel or soap. TK maxx always have a lovely range of cheap french soaps.

Agreed. And I’ve always worn clothing that I already own to go to weddings. I don’t think I’ve ever bought anything new for them, so yes there is a way to reduce spending - don’t buy anything!

If you will only be wearing makeup to hide redness then see if you can get a sample or small jar of Dr Jart cicapair (sometimes its on boots £10 Tuesday). I mix a blob with moisturiser and put that on instead of foundation and then blend in an undiluted bit if I have a very red patch to cover. Set with translucent powder (L'Oreal). Dr Jart is really useful for redness - looks bright green in the jar but blends into skin tone on the face. Miracle stuff.

Honestly, makeup in general is such a trial and error process. If you don't usually wear it and don't have your go to brands/products/colours you're gonna end up spending on stuff you don't like most of. Borrowing a few things from friends or family would be a great start to experiment with and then if you like anything you could always purchase your own. I wear a lot of eye makeup but just concealer and powder on my face. I bought a setting spray and lipstick when it was my own wedding, but that was the only thing I changed up. Go as you. I promise you'll enjoy it more!

I agree with the others. It seems a bit mad to be spending money on make up that you don’t really want to wear. However, purely looking at the cost saving request you made, get yourself onto Vinted. I buy pretty much everything on there now including some lovely makeup bundles (Many of which I’m guessing will have come from a beauty box subscription or similar). Just filter to make sure it’s new and boxed otherwise you’re good to go.

@Roseinatub Boots is fine. Look at Seventeen for pocket money prices.
It's fine. 17 - Boots

I'd just use concealer (you might not need it), tinted moisturiser or BB/CC cream, tinted lipsalve (e.g. Burt's Bees - the one in a dark case not yellow), blusher, eye liner.

Mascara goes off very quickly - although I look better with it I don't bother so it ends up unused and smelly)

I don’t spend any money for a wedding. I don’t go to many so I’ve worn the same outfit for my last couple and just swapped out the jacket for the third. Makeup is whatever I have and my hair is my hair. Not sure why you need to buy all that stuff.

Go to Space NK and ask them to try stuff on you. They'll give you a sample (usually a decent size) so you can be really sure before you buy.

What about BB cream instead of foundation? I use BB cream and some powder daily, but it’s not a heavy look, as I also don’t wear much make up. Does provide a nice light coverage.

Go to Boots. Get foundation, blush, lipstick/balm, mascara and an eyeliner. If you get a compact with blush, it may have highlighter included. There will be some nice makeup sets with Christmas coming up so you can get some goodies bundled together for less. If you don’t wear eyeshadow then don’t buy it - you will get more use out of an eyeliner.

This is such an odd thread.

I don’t understand why you feel the need to buy a whole new set of makeup, for someone else’s wedding? Genuinely, who are you trying to impress? Are you seeing it as a dating opportunity or a networking event? Cause for the most part, it’s unclear why you need to change your appearance as a guest at a wedding. I’m not seeing what the benefit is. Especially as you yourself seem quite negative about this, as if you don’t want to do it and see it as a waste of money?

The bride/groom know you as someone who doesn’t wear makeup and accept you as you are, so it’s a bit strange trying to look like someone else at their wedding. Especially when it seems funds are tight for you.

Buy makeup if you’re enthusiastic about using it; but if you see it as a chore then don’t bother using it. You admit you won’t use it again and it might end up out of date, so logically doesn’t make sense undertaking the expense.

I agree with this. It sounds like you were getting your hair done anyway, but get an outfit you can get a lot of wear from and don't bother with the make up. Make up isn't making more of an effort, it's just a style choice.

wearing perfume to an event is antisocial. There may be people there with allergies and you will ruin their day. Just skip it and save the money.

you can buy drugstore brand makeup if you don’t use it often.

I hope im not being presumptuous but it sounds like you’re aging and have a bit of redness with your skin. I’m in the same boat. Foundations quite often don’t look great on older skin. The only thing worth spending good money on is skincare. Got yourself a really nice moisturiser and once your skin is super hydrated put some concealer in targeted areas and blend it in with your skin.

if you want anything else go for primark. Their mascara is like £2 and is excellent. There’s eye and blush palettes that are similarly cheap and great. You don’t need to pay a lot for a bit of colour.