Spend or save

I am not a slave to makeup. I can very happily leave the house without committing to the mirror for half an hour in order to plaster multiple layers of foundation on my face. Nonetheless, I love spending time getting ready, on those occasions that I deem worthy of my makeup.

Working in Boots for the best part of three years played a huge role in moulding behaviour when it comes to beauty consumerism. Whilst I had the pleasure of a staff discount, I was saving money for my travels and therefore I had to learn how to shop ‘savvy’. I figured out where I could save money, and where I could justify spending it.

I know for a fact that everybody’s Spend or Save lists will be different. Even so, I thought I would share with you mine and some of the tips and tricks I have learned along the way when it comes to needing obsessing over a product that may in fact break the bank…

Makeup

The products in my makeup bag come from both high end beauty boutiques/high street shops. I tend to have items that I am happy to save on, and others that I am committed to a spend. For example, when it comes to blusher/bronzer, I think shops such as Boots/Superdrug/even Asda have such a fast range of options available these days that it’s difficult to go wrong. My eyeliner, for a very long time, is an area I save.  When it comes to base products – foundation, concealer, powder – I tend to justify a spend. I have very combination skin and I am very fussy with my coverage; I tend to prefer the advice that you get from a high end beauty counter, they know their product, and can match your skin perfectly. I am also a fool for the ‘quality’ of a product (you’d think a marketing student would know better…).

SPEND: BareMinerals, Nars, Laura Mercier.

SAVE: No. 7, Bourgeois, The Body Shop.

Skincare

When it comes to skincare… I’ve tried it. I suffered with horrible acne through my teenage years and even early twenties until very recently. I’ve been through countless bottles of ‘cheap rubbish’ and the same amount of ‘over-priced rubbish’ but I have found the products that my skin loves, and the stuff that my skin responds well to.  I have learned you never need to spend on make-up remover. I find that Garnier offers a lovely low cost skincare range, that you can’t really go wrong with for your everyday stuff. The idea is, it is essential that you follow a skincare routine for your skin, whether it costs you £180 to gather these products, or a tenth of that, be sure of one thing: don’t go without. Anything, is better than nothing.

 SPEND: Lancome, Elemental Herbology, Clarins

SAVE: Garnier, No. 7, La Roche Posay

Haircare

I have to admit, I have been through phases where I spent ridiculous amounts of money on a single bottle of shampoo. Times have changed. I am a student. Cutbacks are required and this tends to be one of the areas where I save. Most of the budget brands have pretty good product ranges available, and often in the shops like Boots, you will find some kind of promotion to aid your choice.

SPEND: John Frieda, Bumble and Bumble, Concoction

SAVE: TRESemme, L’Oreal, Herbal Essences

Fragrance

Every girl should have a ‘signature scent’. I like to consider mine to be ‘Chanel Coco Mademoiselle’ which is obviously a spend. I would prefer to save on all the product ranges listed above, and still wear my Chanel perfume, than compromise on this front. Nonetheless, there are a huge variety of budget fragrances that are great to keep in the handbag for days at work, or the odd trip out.

Nails

For years I had my nails done religiously every second/third week. “Acrylics, white tip”. Was my standard request, occasionally I would have a colour. Since leaving home though, this has been an area that I save. Instead I choose to buy nail varnish and do this myself. Pretty much every beauty range has nail varnishes available these days so it’s a matter of the colour you’re after at the price you are happy to pay. If you want your nails to last longer, then I would recommend spending on the base/top coat you use.

SPEND: Jessica Nails, OPI, Chanel

SAVE: No. 7, Barry M, Bourgeois

What about you? Which areas do you spend and save?