Beauty on a Budget

[LuluLovesDisney]

What are your favorite beauty items (makeup, skin care, body, hair care etc.) that you think are worth the price. It doesn't necessarily need to be the cheapest, just what you think is the BEST value.

I just discovered Sorme eyeliner. It is as good as my old MAC eyeliner, nice and creamy, not dry and crumbly- I just wish it came in more colors! Just $5!

 

[finz2left]

My absolute best beauty investment ever was my Shu Uemera eyelash curler. Any other brand cannot compare and this makes my eyelashes STUNNING. I can go without mascara on casual day because it lifts my lashes so beautifully and makes my eyes POP! Try it at a counter or Sephora..you'll be amazed at how different it is from Revlon and other brands.

Everyday Minerals ROCK and are a much better deal than the popular mineral makeup that is overly advertised and marked-up.

I love Rimmel for drugstore makeup.

 

[postage stamp]

It's more than I normally spend on shampoo, but the John Frieda Brilliant Brunette shampoo and conditioner are AMAZING. They make my hair so soft and so shine. They are about $5 a piece, BUT, I've discovered that I don't have to use them every day and my hair still retains most of the shine. I LOVE them.

 

[Sagginit]

i am a huge fan of yes to carrots and the other yes to lines. i have even converted my mum, and if you become a friend on facebook you often can get discount codes, so i order in bulk and with a free shipping code. my favorites are the conditioner, face moisturizers, and lip butter.

also a fan of bare minerals. i know its debatable but i have found the powders last longer than liquid foundations that can get gross after a while.

 

[brunette8706]

Ok, I live and breathe anything beauty/makeup related.

Best lipsticks for the price

Revlon
MAC

Best mascara for the price

Maybelline GREAT LASH

Best skin care--

MUST have BOOTs No. 7 sold at Target - This stuff is better than Channel at a fraction of the cost. Try their anti aging day cream, night cream, moisturizers. Their eyeshadows are the consistancy of department store branchds! I always order on line with free shipping

Nail polish

OPI

Eyeliner
MAC power point

Eye shadow

MAC

Hand moisturizer

YOU MUST TRY Ahava hand cream! This stuff is one of a kind! Highly recommended = sold online or Nordstroms

Facial SCRUB

MuST have Mary Kay #2 facial basis skin care scrub! This transforms the look and texture of your skin

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

Thank you for the recommendations so far- any good makeup removers?

I love OPI nail polish, and it is not that much more expensive than grocery store items.

I've heard the Shu Uemura is the best. I have to check that out!

Surprised at the recs for bare minerals. I haven't tried the real stuff, I wasn't pleased with Avon's mineral makeup though. Are there any discount codes for bare minerals?

 

[KKB]

I use more products in my 40s than ever before in my life!
Make up remover--BABY WIPES (just don't get the ones w/ rash guard!!)
Make up--Bare Essentials--I've tried mass market brands, but they don't cover as well (I use a mousse foundation in winter--not one brand jumps out at me yet)
Primer--Sephora (tho Cover Girl has one now a bit cheaper I might try)
Eyeliner--Cover Girl liquid (except it only lasts about a month; might go back to Estee Lauder; costs more, but lasts much longer--up to 6 months)
Lotion--Body Shop body butter (coconut is my fav)
Mascara--Maybelline XXL (FANTASTIC--long thick lashes ALL day)
Nail polish--Revlon (as good as OPI for less than half price)
Moisturizer--Neutrogena w/ alpha hydroxy (now I am going to try Olay Definity foaming moisturizer on Good Housekeeping's recommendation--and I found it half off on clearance!!)
Night cream--Neutrogena w/ retinol (going to Loreal revitalife w/ retinol on GH's rec)
(***several years ago I had a dermotologist tell me alpha-hydroxy in the morning; retinol at night!)
Most costs of makeup are packaging & advertising. That is why I pay close attention when Good Housekeeping (and other sources--but be careful w/ other magazines--are they really doing STUDIES?) does studies/recommendations.
I do find that cheaper mass market brands for blush/eye shadow don't have strong color, but I have been happy w/ Loreal or Revlon.
I always look at Estee Lauder's Xmas kit--my mom wears their purfume, so if it is a good kit, it always goes on my Xmas want list!

 

[fakereadhed]

I am crazy about Korres skincare and makeup. I got hooked on their shower gel and body cream when I saw them at TJ Maxx. Then I ordered their makeup at their website(they offer 30-40%off w/free shipping from time to time) and love their eyeshadow, liner pencils, blush, and lip products. I have a silver allergy and their eyeshadows don't give me a rash.

Mascara- Loreal Double Extend. It's just like Blinc waterproof but much cheaper.

Foundation- Bare Minerals. More up front but lasts way longer than liquid since you use so little.

Aldi moisturizer. Smells hideous but really works. The smell doesn't last long after I put it on so it's tolerable.

 

[southern_redhead]

I use Covergirl foundation - the cream kind that comes in a little compact. $6 at my Dollar General and I use a $1 off coupon. I have yet to find anything I like better except I used some Dermablend for my wedding and that stuff ROCKS! I also buy an e.l.f. foundation brush at DG and that makes the foundation go on really, really well. Their brushes are $1 each.

For skincare I use Juice Beauty, the green apple/acne line. It makes such a difference in my skin and a little goes a long way. $30 for a travel kit which lasts me 4-6 months (the bottle of serum is small so I may start filling in with a larger bottle of serum between kit orders.)

Conditioner - Aussie 3 minute miracle. I usually have a coupon for a $1 or 2 off or I have a B1G1 coupon (love those!)

Body lotion - I am super sensitive skinned so I use Eucerin. The HUGE bottle with a pump. I wish I could use all the pretty smelling BABW lotions but they break my legs out something awful. Eucerin was such a good find though, I make it through the winter without excema!

Soap - I use the Walmart Brand knockoff for Dove unscented. Oddly enough, I can't use the actual Dove unscented as IT breaks me out. Go figure!

Nail Polish - I like OPI. I also like the ICE brand that Walmart carries. I used to use one called Petits when they were 97 cents each but I haven't seen them in a long time.

 

[Fyrefly]

I love DHC beauty products. Some are a little pricey, some are cheap, most are what you'd expect for what they are. They are catalog/internet only so a lot of people haven't heard of them.

Their salicylic acid acne care line is the best I've ever used. I've had it bad since middle school, and Proactiv, Nutragena, nothing worked. I've probably tried about 50+ products since I hit puberty. (IMHO Proactiv is the biggest waste of money ever, you can't feel the product working at all...cause it does nothing. But it could just be I have stupid skin.) My mom uses one of the mature skin lines and loves it. The stuff is really really good for people with sensitive skin too. They have a lot of makeup as well, but I haven't tried much beyond their salicylic acid, makeup removing oil (best EVER) and eye creams.

The cool thing is you can get bonuses for referring your friends, and repeat customers get set percentages off of future purchase which keeps increasing then caps off at 10% off after you've bought 5 times. Basically after that point you always get 10% off on every order, ever. They've also just started a rewards program where your purchases earn you points which you can redeem for product. And you can always pick 4 free samples with each order, and they send samples with their catalog so you can always try stuff without having to worry about buying a whole bottle of something you end up hating.

 

[edk35]

I love DHC beauty products. Some are a little pricey, some are cheap, most are what you'd expect for what they are. They are catalog/internet only so a lot of people haven't heard of them.

Their salicylic acid acne care line is the best I've ever used. I've had it bad since middle school, and Proactiv, Nutragena, nothing worked. I've probably tried about 50+ products since I hit puberty. (IMHO Proactiv is the biggest waste of money ever, you can't feel the product working at all...cause it does nothing. But it could just be I have stupid skin.) My mom uses one of the mature skin lines and loves it. The stuff is really really good for people with sensitive skin too. They have a lot of makeup as well, but I haven't tried much beyond their salicylic acid, makeup removing oil (best EVER) and eye creams.

The cool thing is you can get bonuses for referring your friends, and repeat customers get set percentages off of future purchase which keeps increasing then caps off at 10% off after you've bought 5 times. Basically after that point you always get 10% off on every order, ever. They've also just started a rewards program where your purchases earn you points which you can redeem for product. And you can always pick 4 free samples with each order, and they send samples with their catalog so you can always try stuff without having to worry about buying a whole bottle of something you end up hating.

Count me in with DHC products. LOVE THEM!!!!! I use the Cleansing Oil daily, the mild soap or olive soap. I love their mild toner and moisturizer and nighttime moisturizer. I love their face wash powder for the shower. I love the samples you get, the discounts you get for ordering every few months. They run free shipping from time to time too. LOVE DHC!!!!

I am also a Bare Minerals girl too. Most of my makeup is from their except Almay eyeliner pencils. I have used Bare Minerals for years and years too. I don't scrimp on my makeup, facial care or salon appts. Those are the things that I do pay good money for. I can be thrifty other ways but not on these.

 

[StephMK]

What are your favorite beauty items (makeup, skin care, body, hair care etc.) that you think are worth the price. It doesn't necessarily need to be the cheapest, just what you think is the BEST value.

I just discovered Sorme eyeliner. It is as good as my old MAC eyeliner, nice and creamy, not dry and crumbly- I just wish it came in more colors! Just $5!

Good thread, thanks! Where do you find Sorme & what colors does it come in? I'm in need of a new eyeliner & sounds like I need to give this a try.

I love OPI nailpolish, it's the only one I've found that stays on really great.

Maybelline Great Lash mascara

Loreal Revitalift moisturizer & eye cream - great texture & smell, very creamy

St. Ives apricot facial scrub & honeysuckle body lotion

Not crazy about bare minerals type stuff, I have some I use sometimes but it's so messy to apply. I'll be watching to see what else to try, I need new eyeshadow & have yet to find a favorite brand. They're getting so expensive, even for drugstore stuff, that I hate to buy when I don't know if I'll like it.

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

Sorme is available at Ulta or at Amazon if you want to get it online.

Thanks for all the great ideas on here!

lol at the "no rash guard" comment!

 

[mom2em1214]

I too have extremely sensitive skins so I have to be very careful with all of my products.

I only use Eucerin lotion (calming in the tube).

For makeup, I use Neutrogena and Almay products.

Aveeno shampoo and conditioners are great as well.

 

[Atotty]

Along the same lines...CVS used to let you buy makeup and if the color wasn't right, you could exchange it for something else which was a great deal when trying to find the right foundation shade. Does anyone know if they, or anyone else, does this? Clinique is getting too expensive for us.

I'm a Clinique person, but have been trying other things to save money. Cover Girl eyeliner and mascara work well for me. I'm using Almay eye makeup remover. I used CVS toner and couldn't tell the diff between it and the CLinique version on my face.

 

[Sagginit]

i bought bare minerals from the tv infomercial. they advertised only one payment. when i called in they kept trying to get me to add on and read from a script. i kept repeating that i would only be paying the one payment plus s&h because i wasnt adding on but she kept trying to say the price was higher. well i get it use it, im happy. i noticed my cc gets charged and i think its the second set they are sending me. my cc gets charged again a week later for twice as much! i flipped and called and they told me the first was for the second half of my first shipment and the second charge was the second set. i told them that was not the deal i agreed to and guess what? they told me they couldnt find the tapes but did issue me a FULL refund for both charges. i sent the second set back unopend and got a refund. they tried to scam me and when i caught them i got the whole thing free. i got my second set on sale from sephora. they dont do it often but it was a holiday special. so i paid a total of $40 for two sets and still am on the first.

i think its only messy if you get overzealous and use too much. at this point sometimes i dont even put more on the brush b/c there seems to be some left inside the bristles some days from the previous day. i have peachfuzz on certain parts of my face and i find you cant notice the blonde hair until i have liquid foundation stuck to it so thats why i switched to this.

 

[hambirg]

Great thread, OP!

I've already seen some of my favorites. Please share the eyeliner that you found. I like the MAC kind too, but I LOVE the Almay intense i-color eyeliner/crayon contour. It's cost more than $5 though.

As for mascara. . .I've tried a ton lately, but the Clinique natural kind is my favorite. I'm blonde and have long thick lashes, so I don't need anything goopy just some color so you can actually see them. Don't try the Almay in the white tube. . .it was horribly clumpy!

For foundation I like Almay Smart Shade. I like it because I'm fair and it's more like a moisturizer with pigment beads in it. I normally would have to buy a new shade with every season, but with this the more you blend it the darker it gets. So it works for me. . .and it covers well with my dry skin. I didn't have much luck with any of the mineral types.

I prefer MAC for eye shadow. I have some of the Almay intense i-color kind I like, but you can't beat MAC for saturation of color.

I like Neutrogena moisturizer. I have sensitive skin and can't use any Olay products. I don't know what it is in them, but they "burn" my skin. I bought something once, at all places, Grocery Outlet, for $1. It was AMAZING!!! It was made by a company in Texas and they are now out of business. It was heavy in retin A though. I'm always on the look out for something like that that is still good with my sensitive skin.

I second the Aussie 3 Minute Miracle. I love that stuff! But my favorite is Giovanni 50/50 conditioner. It's usually in the health food section and costs more. . .about twice what the Aussie cost, so I go with the Aussie unless I can find a good deal on the Giovanni.

Lipstick. . .eh. . .I used to love a shade of Clinique they don't make anymore. I have a friend that wears the Infallible lipstick by Loreal. That stuff is awesome, but I haven't found a shade I like yet. I absolutely LOVE a lip gloss by Tutti Dolce! It's the creme brulee. . .but nobody carries it anymore. I've found it on ebay, but it's expensive. That is my favorite though!

I don't know why it is, but every time I find something I truly love. . .they discontinue it!!!!

 

[maggieusa]

I just bought the skin care line from aldi I think its called lacuria so far so good priced very well.

 

[luvmy3jewels]

I've seen some products listed on this thread that I am definitely going to try!
Can anyone recommend a good foundation that stays on? I used Clinique's "work out wear" foundation for years and now it has been discontinued. I need to find an alternative, so any recommendations would be greatly appreciated!!

 

[SC Minnie]

I go to a salon for my hair color typically every 6 weeks. My stylist is got married last weekend and took 3 weeks off so it was going to be 10 weeks between appts! The grays were shinning way too much. I got a box of root touch up in a color that was close to mine and did my roots the other night. I just saved myself $300/year by extending the time between colorings!!! I am now going to start going every 12 weeks instead of 6 since I can ward these pesky grays off from home.