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Make-up for less

Be beautiful on a budget

What make-up you buy and what does it do?
How to save money on make-up
Our best buys

We all like to look our best and if that means a helping hand from some great beauty products then so be it! The only problem is... they can cost us a fortune! Well it's Moneymagpie to the rescue. We've got loads of tips for saving money on make-up and other beauty products, so take a look and start saving now!

Help is at hand

Are you baffled by beauty products, confused by cosmetics and in a muddle over make-up? Don't worry - we've got a list of what's out there and what it does so you can shop armed with all the information you need.

Foundation

There are several different types of foundation but the three basic types are liquid, cream and powder. Most foundations are either pink-based, orange-based or yellow-based - if you're not sure which one suits you best go for yellow-based first because it suits most skin tones and combats redness.

Liquid foundations are either oil-based (good if your skin is dry) or water-based (good if your skin is oily) and are usually pretty easy to apply with medium coverage.

Cream foundations are available as sticks or compacts. They give great coverage with a seamless finish plus they're really convenient to apply and keep in your bag.

Powder foundations are a quick way to get a bit of coverage, so if you don't have many blemishes this could be the best option for you. There are also foundations available that are cream-to-powder which dry quickly and are great if you're looking for quick, light make-up.

TOP TIP If you're struggling to find a foundation that matches your skin tone buy two shades - one slightly lighter than your natural skin colour and one slightly darker - then blend them together to find the perfect match.

Concealer

Highlighting concealer is great for covering dark circles under the eyes. To cover blemishes and redness use a concealer. Get one that is one or two shades lighter than your natural skin tone and apply with your fingertips so that you can gradually cover any blemishes or dark circles without looking caked.

TOP TIP Use a translucent powder to set your make-up - it helps to prevent smudging and makes your make-up last much longer.

Blusher

Accentuate bone structure and brighten up any complexion with blusher. Don't be too heavy- handed, you should build up the colour. If you're fair-skinned soft pinks and peaches are a safe bet and those with warmer skin tones can get away with darker shades but take advantage of tester pots and experiment with colours before you buy.

TOP TIP Use powder blusher on the apples of your cheeks (the plump bits that appear when you smile) for a natural look or try cream blusher on the cheekbones for a more dramatic effect.

Lipsticks

Lipsticks can be matte, satin, or glossy. Use a lip liner to make your lips seem fuller but make sure that it closely matches your lipstick colour - you can usually buy liner and lipstick from the same product line in the same shade.

TOP TIP Avoid orange or brown lipsticks because they can make teeth seem yellow.

For the eyes

Use mascara to emphasise your eyes, it will make the lashes look fuller, darker and longer. Eyeliner helps to define your eyes and make them seem larger. Liquid eyeliner can be tricky to apply but it's great for a really dramatic evening look, or use a pencil for something easier to use and more subtle. You can buy eyeshadow in various forms and pretty much any colour in the rainbow - creams or powder.

TOP TIP When you apply mascara always start at the base of the eyelashes then wiggle the wand to cover as many lashes as possible. If you want two coats always leave the first coat to dry completely to avoid clumps.

Mineral make-up

A fairly new addition to the beauty scene - it's based on hypoallergenic loose powder without all the chemicals and preservatives of traditional make-up so it's great for women with sensitive skin. Mineral make-up will last longer than normal make-up because it doesn't crease or smear easily.

TOP TIP Get a Kabuki brush to apply mineral make-up. The soft bristles are perfect for this kind of make-up.

How to save money on make-up

^{Cosmetic research online}

Get your hands on some free cosmetics just for giving your opinion. Do some cosmetic research online. You try, review and most importantly keep, new hand creams, moisturisers and all sorts of other goodies.

^{Get online for bargains}

StrawberryNet is a great website for discounted make-up. It sells really well-known top brands at really competitive prices. StrawberryNet offer free shipping anywhere in the world for all their skincare, make-up and body line products, free gift wrapping for every purchase PLUS a further 5% extra discount when you order three or more products. The only drawback is that the website is based in Hong Kong. This means that if you buy products that come to more than £18 you'll have to pay tax on them when they arrive in the UK. The only way to get around this is to buy up to £18 in one order and if you still have more to buy, do a completely separate order. This way, you won't have to pay any tax, but you can get more than £18 worth of stuff.

If one item you want to buy is more than £18 but you really want it you can still get it. The tax is a small percentage of the price of the whole order plus 17.5% VAT. Strawberrynet say that they refund 90% of all customs duty claims made to them - the ones they don't are over 6 months old or have no receipt. This means if you do have to pay duty, you can get it back - just be persistent.

We compared the price of this Biotherm Sense Aquaradiance SPF15 foundation at both the Biotherm website and StrawberryNet. At Biotherm it would set you back £19 but go to StrawberryNet for the same product and only spend £13. Add the free shipping into the mix and you've saved yourself a packet!

^{Go to Amazon and eBay}

Amazon is especially good for cheap make-up tools and bags. Get this heated eyelash curler for £14.97 - with free UK delivery - or this seven-piece professional brush set for only £9.99. While you're there get a make-up guide book like The Green Beauty Bible (now half price at £9.99) to help you on your way.

Also take a look at Price Cut Review, a handy website that lists all of the current Amazon products that are selling at half price or less. It's all sorted into categories for you, and it's well worth a browse to see if there is any make-up on offer. Check out the current deals now.

There's a much bigger selection on eBay. They've made life much easier by giving you lots of options to refine your search - you can search by product type, then brand, price range and even colour of finish so it shouldn't be too difficult to find what you're looking for.

Why not put a bid in for this 120 colour eye shadow palette or this Estee Lauder equaliser foundation (in pebble) . Click here to see what else is on offer.

^{Money-saving swaps}

Lash separator - SWAP FOR - old mascara wand! Keep the wand of any mascara you've finished and wash it thoroughly then use it to separate clumpy eyelashes.

Eye cream - SWAP FOR - cucumber! Good old cucumber is great for puffy eyes - just lay a slice over each eye for about 15 minutes for perfect wide-awake eyes.

Eye-brightening drops - SWAP FOR - white eyeliner! Line along the bottom rim for an instant brightening affect.

Tinted lip gloss - SWAP FOR - Vaseline! Just mix your lipstick with some Vaseline for a glossy effect without the price tag.

Lip plumper - SWAP FOR - gold eyeshadow! It may sound strange but dabbing some gold eyeshadow in the centre of your lower lip will add fullness.

Face mask - SWAP FOR - food! Yes some simple kitchen ingredients can be used to make masks for all skin types. To combat oily skin add some lemon juice and milk to some oatmeal then mix into a paste. Leave on for about 15 minutes then rinse with water. Avocado is great for dry skin but always test a small patch of skin before you apply to the skin in case of a reaction.

Body scrub - SWAP FOR - oil and salt! Mix together some oil and salt then simply rub into your skin for a fabulously cheap exfoliator.

^{Freebies and bargains at the touch of a button}

Always keep an eye out for any freebies or special offers with our regularly updated Freebies and Bag a Bargain articles.

Our best buys

Body Shop: The Body Shop make-up range has come on leaps and bounds in recent times. Generally speaking they can be relied on for reasonable prices and lots of their products are recommended by magazines like this Glow Enhancer which brightens and conditions the skin and was recommended by OK magazine. Don't forget there's free delivery when you spend over £20.

Next: Keep all your make-up neat and tidy with some cute cosmetics bag sets from just £10. Our favourite is this set of three pink and baby blue floral bags.

StrawberryNet: Get top brands like Dermalogica, Clarins, Clinique and Guerlain at fantastic prices. At the moment you can get Clinique's All About Eyes concealer at StrawberryNet for £11.50 - compared to £15 on the Clinique website.

Buy Cosmetics: Another great online store where you can make real savings on beauty products. Check out the three for two, buy one get one free and clearance sections and nab some ultra cheap makeup.

LoveLula.com: This is a fabulous website if you're looking for sumptuous organic beauty products. When you spend over £5 here you get three free beauty or skincare samples (of your choice) thrown in so you can try out some of the great products before you buy. All the products they stock are as natural as possible. You won't find parabens (a make-up additive that some people are allergic to) or artificial colourings, plus most of their items are vegan. Shipping is free in the UK for orders over £40 so get all your friends involved!