Makeup – the face saver, the hangover saviour, the ‘I’ve had four hours sleep’ hero, we all have a little bag containing our face and for many of us our makeup bags are worth more than our wardrobe. Helen Ramage, a volunteer writer, brings us this amazing article on some cheap makeup must-haves!
Anastasia Beverley Hills’ Brow Pomade doesn’t come cheap and neither does Estée Lauder Double Wear Foundation but still we lap them up, eager to have cheekbones like Kim K and a pout like her sister Kylie, however we’re always on the hunt for dupes!
With us being students, I’ve decided to make this article student-friendly – everything is under a fiver! As a previous self-confessed make up snob who swore by Tarte Shape Tape I was dubious when I first started seeing the high street brands being likened to the giants of the high end cosmetic world, but I was wrong. So, people, step away from Harvey Nichols because I’m going to tell you about five amazing products which can be found on the high street and can all be bought with the trusty five-pound note.
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PS… AMPLIF-EYED Mascara – Primark – £2.00.
Firstly, the packaging of this mascara is gorgeous. It’s rose gold metallic tube with a bevelled top makes for easy grip and easy application. The mascara apparently has a ‘specifically designed brush’ which ‘lifts and defines lashes’ and I can assure you this mascara does just that. The wand is slightly curved allowing for lift and volume in your lashes and the applicator manages to disperse just the right amount of product. I have tried Roller Lash, Lancôme’s Hypnôse Drama and the MAC False Lashes Mascara and this mascara easily sits among them. It offers definition and lift a plenty, is smudge proof (I watched Marley and Me wearing this mascara and came out looking as good as I came in) and gives you plenty of change.
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PS… ANGEL POWDER Highlighter – Primark – £3.00
At first, I thought highlighter was a fad, but now it’s a staple in my collection so I was intrigued to try Primark’s answer to Fenty Beauty’s Killawatt. First impressions, the packaging is silver and glittery and therefore it’s a winner if you want something which is going to look pretty on your dresser. The pan is a decent size, think the size of MAC’s mineralize pans. So far, so good. The colour itself is champagne esque, offering a shimmery finish with glittery rose gold pigments. Application is best with a fan brush to distribute the product evenly, but the colour is buildable, allowing you intensify the glow as you please. If you want to stand out from crowd under the Revs lights, then build up Angel Powder and transform into an angel.
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PS… MY PERFECT COLOUR, PERFECT FINISH FOUNDATION – Primark – £2.50
I first read an article about the glass bottled version of this foundation being a dupe of Estée Lauder Double Wear so wanted to get my hands on that but unfortunately, we didn’t have that here in Loughborough, so I opted for the Perfect Finish Tube Foundation. The foundation has medium coverage which offers a semi-matte finish and a hydrating formula that is enriched with Vitamin E, so perfect for dry skin. I have oily combination skin so was intrigued about the staying power this would offer but I was pleasantly surprised to find the foundation stayed all day with only one powder touch-up. The product is more of a full coverage foundation that did well to hide blemishes and spots amassed from the student lifestyle we all lead. I would recommend using this foundation in conjunction with a setting spray but for a daily wear foundation this does the job twice over, and there are over 10 shades to choose from. I used to spend £26 every two months on foundation and now I spend £5 – winner winner.
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Collection LASTING PERFECTION ULTIMATE WEAR CONCEALER – Superdrug – £4.19
This concealer is revolutionary. It’s Collection’s best seller and they have recently expanded the shade range to include a darker shade and an extra fair shade meaning it’s becoming more and more inclusive. It claims to have 16-hour wear and I can confirm even on a face as oily as a cod fish aka my face it held up for a good 12 hours. The wand applicator offers a precise and buildable coverage, is super blendable and is perfect for hiding spots and eye bags. I actually used this to cover a tattoo once and it did the job and meant my grandad still loved me! Admittedly, the tube is small so if you use a lot you’ll get through the product quickly but at a quarter of the price of the high-end concealers. Currently at Superdrug this concealer is reduced to £3.99 so if every penny matters then get yourself down to Superdrug asap and make sure to stock up!
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Makeup Revolution Redemption Palette Iconic 3 – Superdrug – £4.00
Think the Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette then take that price and divide it by 9 and that’s what the Iconic 3 is. It’s literally the same and I mean the same. The colours are richly pigmented even when applied without eye primer. The shadows are creamy, blendable, and the colour sticks all day, even the shimmer shades, perfect for when you’re trying to achieve that halo or spotlight eye. The shimmery shades definitely fulfil their title and the matte shades are a great base to go wild on. There’s twelve shades in total which means you’re paying just 33p per dreamy shade and trust me each of those shades is worth it! There’s little fall out with the shadows meaning you can do your eyeshadow last and keep your foundation perfect. This palette means business and for £4 you would be silly to not buy it.
Helen Ramage
Volunteer Writer
