Sometimes your beauty routine doesn’t need fancy brow kits or £50 tans, especially if you’re like me and prefer to keep as much of your budget for clothes!
I’m not saying to scrimp on the beauty essentials that make you feel your best either, I still splash out on my favourite foundation and keep a supply of my go-to Chanel perfume, but I have found that many budget beauty brands are getting it just right. I thought I would round up 10 of the beauty steals I use on a day-to-day basis.
Nailed It
I have a confession to make; I was once an acrylic nail addict, constantly planning when I could get my next set of nails on. After back-to-back appointments of getting new sets on, my nails were absolutely wrecked. I’ve managed to resist an acrylic extension since last summer, but sometimes I miss how nice my fake nails look. It was actually my sister who used Primark’s £1 fake nails (1) before and recommended I try them out – and I am so impressed! They have loads of different colours, patterns and shapes (they even have the popular ‘stiletto’ shape). When writing this, I have had my current set on for a full week and they’re still looking good. I don’t use the glue that comes with the nails, instead choosing a little red glue from Bodycare. I’m in no way saying this is completely healthy for your nails, but they end up in much better condition than if I’d had a set of proper acrylics on.
1) Plain Fake Nails, £1 at Primark
Flawless Tanning
You might have read my review of another of the amazing Sunkissed products here, but it is the Sunkissed Self-Tan Mousse, £2.99 (2) that I have a proper obsession with. I don’t feel properly ‘me’ without a tan so I pretty much wear fake tan every single day. I’ve tried loads of expensive tans, but nothing beats Sunkissed. It smells lovely, like holiday, and goes on perfectly. I tend to use the medium shade on a day-to-day basis, but if you were looking for a really deep tan, the dark shade still looks natural. The amount of people I have got hooked on this tan, I should be on some sort of commission! You can get this mousse in places like Bodycare, Primark or at www.sunkissedbronzing.co.uk (where it is admittedly slightly more expensive).
I feel like the tanning Gods were finally listening to me when I saw this Sunkissed Double Sided Front and Back Application Mitt (3), £2.99. Fellow tanning lovers will share my pain of the fake tan seeping through the material side of a normal mitt and tanning the side of your hand (so annoying). I love the Sunkissed mitts normally so this is just the dream, goodbye accidental hand tanning, hello amazing application. I got this one in Bodycare, but again they are now selling lots of Sunkissed in Primark.
2) Sunkissed Self-Tan Mousse and 3) Double Sided Application Mitt, Primark
Make-Up Wipe Free Zone
I spend half my life living out an overnight bag (I live in East Kilbride, my boyfriend lives in Falkirk = a whole lot of driving the M80 and quickly throwing essentials into an oversized bag). When I go away anywhere, I am a complete outfit over-packer so I like to cut back where I can with things like toiletries. This Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water 125ml, £1.99 (4) is the perfect toilet bag size and it really effectively takes every last bit of make-up off. I have the bigger version for home and it lasts for 200 uses which is great value.
4) Micellar Cleansing Water, Boots
Summer Ready Skin
Applying fake tan after almost every shower means I work hard to remove the previous layer. I have tried loads of exfoliators for this, but sometimes the best is just moisturizing shower gel with an exfoliating glove. These Primark Exfoliating Gloves, £1 (5) come in packs of 4 (two white, two bright pink) and are such a great price, I always have one in my toilet bag for going away – especially great for getting your skin holiday ready.
Also great for travelling are these BIC Soleil Colour Collection Disposable Razors (6). They have Vitamin E and don’t drop out your skin like some other disposable razors. They always seem to be on offer too; I got the 8 pack for £2.98 (which is why they were included in this post, but they are back up to £5.99 on their website. Keep an eye out as they are down in price at least once a month from when I buy them). Plus, nice summery colours so there’s also that – your holiday toiletries bag will be thrilled.
5) Exfoliating Gloves, Primark and 6) BIC Soleil Disposable Razors, Superdrug
Eyebrow Game
It’s still all about the eyebrow, although now it’s about defining – not drawing in overly dark eyebrows or shaving half your eyebrow off to get Instagram worthy brows (still don’t know how this is a thing!) The Rimmel Professional Eyebrow Pencil, £2.99 (7) is one thing I always have in my make up bag – it’s a good all-round tool to have with you. Use it to lightly fill in brows, add a little as eyeliner when you’re out and about without your full make up bag – even use as a lip liner for your brown lipsticks if you can’t get to a proper lip liner. The little brush feature on the lid is good for a quick tidy up of your brows too. I use the Dark Brown and it is a perfect colour if you’re looking for a strong look.
(Centre) 7) Rimmel Eyebrow Pencil, Superdrug
Kiss and Make Up
I first hastily grabbed a MUA lipstick one Saturday lunch break from my student job in Zara. I couldn’t survive the rest of the shift knowing I had forgotten any form of lipstick and £1 seemed a good bargain with weeks still to go until my next SAAS payment! I instantly was impressed by the quality and ever since have continued buying the Make Up Academy Lipstick in Bare (8). I love these summer shades too, the lighter (colour: ‘Barely There’ 9) is maybe a little too light but is good for a lip contour when used in the middle with a brown shade and the cute lilac pink (colour: ‘Tulip’ 10) is a nice pop of colour.
8, 9 & 10) Make Up Academy Lipsticks, Superdrug
Do you have any budget beauty buys that you would recommend? I would love to hear them in the comments of Tweet me @rachellawler_.