beauty bottom shelf
As much as I love to spend top dollar on beauty products (and dream for the day when I could include La Mer into my daily routine), I also love a good beauty bargain. Here’s my pick of the bunch:
1. Foundations
I used to be quite the beauty snob and would never have considered buying my foundation from a supermarket until I was on a commercial getting my makeup done by one of the country’s best makeup artists, Nikki Lovrich. She used L’Oreal Paris True Match on all of us, explaining that she liked the range of colours and the texture. Since then I’ve added it to my collection – it’s my everyday foundation – because it’s cheaper than my ‘night’ illuminating foundation and my ‘best’ day mineral foundation. I know it’s ridiculous to have a wardrobe of foundations but I really do like to have different ones to suit my different moods. What I’m trying to say is, don’t discredit the products at the supermarket. They’re great. For some, it might be all they buy and for others it will fill a gap.
2. Cleansers
Don’t use bar soap that you would use on your hands. Skin’s normal surface ph is between 4 – 6.5, most bar soaps are around 9 or 10 and are quite drying for skin and can cause irritation. Choose something formulated for those with sensitive skin, even if you don’t have it. You’ll get a gentle cleanse (however you will need to use a makeup remover for waterproof or long lasting makeup first). I have sensitive eyes and use Garnier Gentle Eye Makeup Remover – it works perfectly.
For dermatologist recommended products that don’t cost the earth DermaSoft, Cetaphil and Alpha Keri come to mind. Neutrogena has a good foaming cleanser and so does Johnson & Johnson – with sensitive varieties too.
On the bottom shelf of New World I spied Dermasoft Sorbolene Cream with 10% Glycerin – a fantastic product for those who have truly dry skin. It has a ph range of 5.5-6 and has no fragrance (the biggest irritant in a product, not preservatives like most people think) and is free from lanolin.
Glycerin is a humectant, it draws water to skin and keeps moisture in. It’s one of the few ingredients to affect the intercellular matrix. The intercellular matrix is the mortar that holds layers of skin cells together, creating a natural barrier. Keeping it moist and intact keeps bacteria out reducing the affect of premature aging. It makes the skin’s surface look smooth and healthy.
3. Shampoo & Conditioners
One of the beauties about buying from ‘the bottom shelf’ is the massive size containers – 900ml or 1 litre, makes for great economy of size. The most important thing to consider when buying shampoo and conditioner is your hair type. Is it dry, curly, coarse, thick, thin, needing moisture, needing volume? By knowing this (ask your hairdresser if you’re in doubt), you can choose the right type of shampoo and conditioner for your hair type. Some of the supermarket brands have been tainted with the silicon brush – but pretty much most brands do have this. It’s what makes our hair shiny and smooth. A little silicon isn’t harmful. For those who actively seek shampoos without Sodium Laurel Sulphate (detergant) there’s a great Kiwi brand I spied at New World called N.O.M and it’s only $9 each. Has anyone tried it?
4. Lip glosses
Lip balms are often of the cheaper variety and Lucas Papaw has become such a handbag staple. It has a multi purpose – great for chapped lips, burns, stings, grazes, nappy rash – you name it. It’s mostly natural with a tiny amount of preservative. Nivea Caregloss and Shine is a fantastic gloss for around $5.
5. Mascara
Where would the world be without Maybelline mascaras? First there was the famous pink and green tube seen in every makeup artist and models handbag, then there came a succession of other popular wands of magic. The latest – the Colossal, has a big thick brush that coats lashes from root to tip. L’Oreal Paris Telescopic is another mascara that performs wonders.
6. Tinted Moisturisers
It started with Johnson & Johnson’s Holiday Skin – the lightly tinted body moisturiser that gives a gradual, natural looking tan. Now you can buy a Dove, L’Oreal Paris and Garnier version. All of them are excellent it just depends on your preference for smell and colour. Make sure you choose the shade suited for your skin – if you’re fair don’t buy the medium or dark type or you’ll look orange.
I spoke about beauty bottom shelf products on Good Morning, if you haven’t seen it, here it is.
What are your beauty bargain saviours?
