Beauty on a budget


As many women will know, beauty products can cost a fortune so part 2 of my 'save money on everything' series is all about how to look beautiful without breaking the bank:

1) Free samples - Most department store beauty stands will give out mini versions of their products to customers so grab as many as you can, the best one's I have found are from Kiehl's store in Covent Garden and Shishedo who gave me enough eye cream samples that I don't have to buy another eye cream for a year!

If they don't give samples, buy a small lip gloss style pot from Muji and squeeze a small sample in to the container, if you are going to spend a lot of money on a face cream, you need to know if it's the right one for your skin type.

2) Multi-tasking products - Buy products and make up that do three jobs in one, some clever make up can be a lipstick, blusher and eye shadow in one, even new beauty products can do this, Elizabeth Arden has recently launched a cleanser, exfoliater and primer combined, so expect more from your beauty products.

3) Supermarket brands - Contrary to popular belief, cheap brands can be just as effective as the more expensive one's, Boot's have their own brand expert range and Barbara Daly make up range for Tesco has featured in many beauty magazines.

And don't forget your local independent chemist, they often reduce prices on make up and often carry lesser known brands that most people don't know about.

4) Pampering girls - What girl doesn't like a little pampering, but treatments like facials can cost a bomb especially if you live in a city like London, so investigate nearby beauty schools which offer discounts.

5) Too much make up - Rather than chucking out your lipstick when it's reached the bottom of the tube, invest in a mini lipstick palette with compartments, where you can blend colours to make your own shade of lipstick.

Whilst there are expensive cases on the market, check out the Japanese hardware stores at Oriental City in Colindale, north London, which cost less and also carry Korean and Japanese beauty products which are worth investigating.

5) DIY Facials - Check out your local library for a book about beauty which often include steps on how to give yourself a facial, all you need is a couple of items, lock yourself away in the bathroom and re-create a spa environment at home.

Don't worry about full size products, Boots and Superdrug now do miniature version for globe trotting babes so you don't need to fork out, the key is add a few things to what you already have or alternatively, raid the kitchen cupboard!