When it comes to makeup and cosmetics, sometimes it’s worth spending a few quid. Other times it’s not necessary to break the bank. Joanna from MyPinkRambles has tagged me to do a post on my spend or save makeup items.

Some makeup and skincare items really are worth spending the money on. Here is my list of products that I believe can be saved on and other products where the phrase “buy cheap buy twice” applies-

1. Foundation– SPEND! Generally foundation is worth spending some money on. When you buy expensive foundation at a makeup counter you get colour matched and you get to try the product on. Granted you can buy some perfectly decent foundations for under £10, but you are sort of buying them blind. Cheap foundation tends to have a smaller shade range and they contain less pigment.

   

2. Mascara-SAVE! You can get really good low end mascaras.  I turn to Bourjois for mascara and haven’t been disappointed yet, they don’t budge.

   

3. Eyeshadow-SPEND! I really like my Freedom eyeshadows but in general cheap eyeshadow has less pigment, creases more, doesn’t last as well…One expensive palette can last years (decades?), making it a good investment in my book.

   

4. Nail Varnish-SAVE! Don’t waste your money on nail varnish. I had some Tom Ford nail varnishes and they didn’t dry properly and chipped after a few hours. I often turn to Models Own for polish. I’ve had good experiences with Collection 2 Step Solar Gel Polish recently.

   

5. Skincare-SPEND! I’m fortunate enough to have recently gotten my greasy mitts on a selection of skincare samples from SpaceNK. The texture of high end skincare sets it apart, the way it absorbs without trace, the subtly pleasing fragrance.

   

   My favourite skincare comes from Ren, it’s natural, it feels lovely and it’s effective. I don’t know of any cheap skincare that I have enjoyed using in the same way in all honesty.

6. Primer- SAVE! It could just be me I suppose, but I don’t find that primer makes a whole load of difference to the look and lasting ability of my foundation. They feel dead nice though. I’ve tried fancy ones, like Smashbox and Bobbi Brown and I’m just as happy with a much cheaper product.

   

   I’m loving Airbrush Away Pore Minimising Primer by No7 at the mo, it has the most delightful texture. While it’s not the most bargain basement primer at £16.50 it is cheaper than Smashbox and Benefit (which come in at around £25). And No7 always have vouchers and deals, don’t they?

7. Blushes-SPEND!With blusher I think you get more for your money in terms of texture, pigment and colour choice. More often than not, when I’m checking out cheapo blushers, I don’t find any shades I can get on with. Check out Mac or Nars and there is just so much more choice.
8. Eyeliner- SAVE!

   

   I assumed my difficulty with applying liquid eyeliner came down to my thrifty choice of product. Turns out, No, I’m just as cackhanded when the eyeliner costs £23. When I finally felt compelled to splash some cash on a pencil eyeliner I was enfuriated to discover it was actually significantly inferior to my beloved Kiko Intense Colour Long Lasting Eyeliner Pencil. The expensive eyeliner in question- Mr Write Now by The Balm is like a crayon and hurt my poor eye skin.

In general the more expensive the makeup the more choice you’re going to get. When you’re perusing, say, Rimmel, there might be a choice of 4 shades. This means you probably end up choosing something not quite right. Nars or Mac or any other high end brand, on the other hand, will have 16 shades and a lady to help you decide.

Saying that, I love finding a beauty bargain with all my heart. I think you can totally mix and match when it comes to makeup.

What’s your favourite makeup bargain? Let me know in comments x