Meltdown Makeup

I'm referring to the much-discussed financial meltdown, a good excuse for going into bargain mode (if you needed an excuse, I never do.) On the one hand, beauty products are somewhere we can usually still afford a few treats when economising- Chanel nail varnish is always going to be cheap compared to everything else Chanel. On the other hand, it's easy to spend jillions on a make-up spree, once you've added it all up, so thrift can sometimes be of help. Anyway, whether you are a poverty-stricken ex-Lehmann's jobseeker or a happily unmarried mother of six film-star, here are my top five supercheap beauty bargains, fun at all times of the financial cycle:

1. Maybelline Pure Makeup Foundation: so light, I thought this was a tinted moisturiser for years, it doesn't give much cover but that's a far better look than excess cover, so who cares. Easy to use, works fine, available everywhere, great when you want some facial security-blanket, but are too lazy to pay attention to applying proper good stuff.
2. Vaseline Lip Therapy: lip gloss, lip salve, sexiest worn right up to and over the edge of your lips, can also be used on cheeks and eyes for highlights, apparently. And there is a new Rosy Lips version out in the UK now which I am hyperventiliating about already (going there soon).
3. Soap from the local Asian supermarket, which comes in prettier more elegant packets than any other all-purpose soap (I keep this by the kitchen sink), and has Japanese writing on top. Get over there and have a look around!
4. Target Eye Makeup Remover: easily as good as the Clinique one I used before Jackie brought this to our attention.
5. Maybelline Great Lash Mascara: in royal blue. Good for confusing your boyfriend, either on its own, especially if your eyes have any blue in them already, or with blue eyeshadow.

The whole lot added up will cost you about seventeen dollars, which is pretty amazing for five things that really do what they say on the tin. Does anyone have more treasured beauty bargain recommendations?

Comments

[Jacq]

My recommendation is to not actually buy any new products until you've used up all your current products! When I was made redundant a few years ago we were totally broke, so I decided to get through the back-log of half-used shampoos and conditioners, body lotions, moisturisers, etc etc. Anything that was past its best-by date was thrown away, but I still didn't need to buy much for about two years...

[Julie]

Right now I'm only replacing things that need replacing-- mascara, foundation, etc. I'm going through every bit of my "stash" before I buy anything new-- so no Lush until I've used the rest (which will take forever..), no new shampoo until I use the backlog of TiGi products I bought a while back. It's definitely saving me a lot of money.

My favorite "cheap item that does what it promises" is Trader Joe's oatmeal soap-- actually, lots of TJ's beauty products. Inexpensive, good ingredients, comparable to organic products on the market, very affordable. I particularly like the oatmeal soap, as mentioned, and the shave cream.

[Helena Handbasket]

If you have an Asian market near you with a personal-care section, it is a treasure-trove of cheap and esoteric beauty products. My favorite finds so far are Bio-Link papaya soap and Ponds' oil-control face powder in a fetching blue tint that masks redness. Indian markets are similarly stocked with multani powder (clay for face masks) and seriously black kohl eyeliner. None of these products is more than AU$5.

[Franziska]

I've started making my own body scrub now that my favourite one has gone up almost £3. Sugar, olive oil, almond flour, salt, coffee grounds are all excellent ingredients for a cheap body scrub.

[Alice Bachini-Smith]

I really love these ideas. What a creative bunch you people are! Most inspiring: Must. Find. More. Bargains....

[The Skincare Lady]

Someone mentioned using almond oil as a makeup remover--have you tried that, and how does it work? It seems like a good idea, but then, I have really sensitive skin around my eye area, so would that irritate my eyes I wonder?

[Helena Handbasket]

Skincare Lady, it would be perfect for very sensitive eyes. Almond oil is extremely gentle (unless you have a nut allergy, duh).

Alice, almost forgot my favorite money-saver: www.skinactives.com. Make your own prestige skincare products for (relative) pennies! I have concocted a fantastic night cream with the active ingredients of Creme de la Mer, Bergman, ReVive, and Prevage for a fraction of the price of any of them. It also satisfies my inner alchemist to mix them up.

[Hillary]

I also favor switching from major to minor luxuries in recessionary times; a new pair of shoes instead of a new car; or a new eyeshadow instead of new shoes. That said, I agree with Alice that luxury lies in the quality of the experience not the pricetag, and there are amazing products at this price point. I am very excited to try the blue maybelline mascara now!

[Alice Bachini-Smith]

Thank you Hillary.

It is important to know which of the gazillions of super-cheapo things are actually any good before buying. Or you will likely waste the same money that should have gone to Sephora, on piles of stuff which is only good for the landfill.

Only buy extremely cheap things on good authority, dear readers, unless you feel very lucky that day.

[Robin]

I, too, still adore Maybelline Great Lash. This is a great product that proves itself time and time again. Love it!

[lauraw]

You don't find that Great Lash rubs off? It always gives me dark circles under my eyes, even when I only do the top lashes.

So far I'm enjoying the jojoba oil advice, but I'm also looking to other cheapie food-based beauty facials.

Going to try yogurt as a mask, see how it goes. There's a book out now about foods used as beauty products; going to Barnes & Noble this weekend to see if I can find it.