Budget beauty: Pharmacy beauty products that will give top brands a run for their money
THERE’S nothing wrong with indulging in high end beauty products, but did you know that pharmacy products could be just as good? Emily Umstad shares her top five beauty purchases that might make you rethink high end beauty splurges.
There are top brands and products that make-up artists and beauty lovers swear by, and they are probably right – though let’s face it, not all of us can afford them.
But depressing as the thought of the student shoestring budget may be, the good news is that you don’t necessarily have to settle for less. Beauty products of the pharmacy variety can be just as good, if not better.
1. The L’Oreal Paris Super Liner Gel Eyeliner $24.95
Mac Fluidline ($32) has a cult following amongst makeup artists and makeup lovers alike with its creamy consistency and long wear, but the Loreal Paris Super Liner Gel Eyelinerisa steal at $24.95. I’ll venture to say that this super gel eyeliner could possibly be even better – it’s blacker, extremely creamy and waterproof, plus it comes with a free eyeliner brush to boot.
2. Face of Australia Face Base $11.95
Apparently one Napoleon Perdis Auto Pilot Primer is sold every four minutes, but if you don’t want to splurge $59 on it, I suggest the Face of Australia Face Base which will not only save you around $47 but ensure your makeup is radiant and stays on all day long.
3. Rimmel Scandal’Eyes Waterproof Eyeliner $9.95
Urban Decay 24/7 Eyeliner pencils are smooth, creamy and don’t budge but they also come at $30 apiece. Rimmel’s Scandal’eyes Waterproof eyeliner pencils are as good as its gets at $9.95 each. They do a great job, don’t tug on the eyelid when you apply, have a great colour range (though not as broad as Urban Decay’s) and will stay on.
4. L’Oreal Paris Lumi Magique Light Infusing Foundation $33.95
Giorgio Armani’s Luminous Silk Foundationis a celebrity favourite and rightly so – it’s dewy, natural and almost undetectable on the skin. But it also costs $92! L’Oreal has really delivered with its Lumi Magique Foundation, which provides a very similar finish for just $33.95. It’s a very reasonable price to pay to look like an A-list celebrity on the red carpet.
5. Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge $15.99
The Beauty Blender isn’t your average make-up sponge, used wet it puffs up tripling in size and applies foundation like a dream. But when it was time to replace mine, I was curious to find out if there was something in the market that was more affordable. I’m happy to report that I came across the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge and I haven’t looked back since. For $15.99, it does a very similar job at a fraction of the price.