The Weekend Feature #3: Budget Beauty

At this time of year we're all pinching the pennies and whilst the bathroom scales might be showing one or two annoying extra pounds, our wallets are feeling frustratingly light. With that in mind, it seems fitting that the theme of this week's The Weekend Feature is Budget Beauty, with a look at some of my favourite tried & trusted drugstore makeup finds, all under £10.

 

Rimmel London Wake Me Up Concealer
Just over a fiver at £5.49, this affordable concealer is one of the best I've found for use under the eyes, outperforming many of the higher end versions I've tried. The pigmented formula offers an opaque, full coverage making it easy to conceal dark under eye circles, whilst the yellow tone counteracts purple shadows. What's more, the brightening properties help to fake the appearance of eight hours' sleep. It also contains vitamins and peptides to help keep the delicate eye area moisturised. A little goes a long way so it really is great value.

Revlon Nearly Naked Pressed Powder
At £7.99, Revlon Nearly Naked Pressed Powder leaves sufficient change from a tenner to treat yourself to a coffee or magazine. The packaging looks and feels cheap but look past that and the product inside is worthy of your pennies.
It's a finely milled powder which feels far more expensive than the wallet friendly price tag would suggest. I love that doesn't leave skin looking cakey (ditch the free powder puff and apply with a fluffy powder brush instead) or overly powdered. It's worth noting that this adds a hint of colour to the face and the shade range, which comprises five options, runs a little dark. The shade "020 Light" works on my MAC NC15-20 skin so long as I buff it in. Revlon Nearly Naked Pressed Powder doesn't claim to be an oil control powder but is a fantastic, everyday setting powder. The fact that I've "hit pan" on it is testament to how well-loved this is.

Max Factor Miracle Touch Creamy Blusher
I put off investing in this blogger favourite for some time as I wasn't convinced that the small pot of blush would be worth the money. At £6.99, it's affordable but is far from the cheapest item at the drugstore and the unassuming plastic packaging looks and feels cheap. However, I'm so pleased that I finally tried it and can't believe that I waited so long as it's one of the best cream blushers I've come across. As with most cream blushers, it's easily applied with fingers, negating the need for brushes and helps to add a natural looking, youthful and dewy flush to cheeks. I've also been impressed at how long wearing it is, particularly considering the cream formula. My go-to is the shade "Soft Pink" which is universally flattering.

Maybelline Color Tattoo 24hr Cream Gel Eyeshadow
At £4.99, Maybelline's Color Tattoo eyeshadows are one of the best value drugstore buys in my opinion. They're hugely popular and deservedly so. Easy to use, the colours are pigmented and blend effortlessly. They live up to the long-wearing claims, staying in place with no creasing throughout the day. My favourite shade is "On and On Bronze", known as "Bad to the Bronze" in the US. It's a wearable metallic that works well day or night, worn alone or as a base under powder shadows. I can't recommend these highly enough.

L'Oreal Infallible Eyeshadow
Another great eyeshadow option from the drugstore, L'Oreal Infallible Eyeshadows cost £6.99 each. These highly pigmented shadows have a unique texture, akin to a pressed pigment. They're impressively long-wearing, high quality and are reminiscent of more expensive eyeshadows.

Rimmel London Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Eyeliner
Coming in under £5 at just £3.99, Rimmel's eyeliners are often said to be dupes for NARS' Longwear Eyeliners. Personally, I'm not convinced that the quality is quite comparable to NARS but it is above and beyond most drugstore options. Available in seven shades, my favourite is "Nude" which is the perfect fleshtone for use on the waterline to help brighten the eyes. Furthermore, such shades are notoriously difficult to find especially when on a budget. The liners are sufficiently creamy that they glide on without dragging at the delicate eye area, are pigmented and relatively long-wearing.

Maybelline Volume Express The Falsies Flared Mascara
Maybelline arguably reign supreme when it comes to drugstore mascaras and my personal favourite is The Falsies Flared. With a traditional bristle wand that's curved into a spoon shape, it helps to build volume without clumping and gives the fluttery, feminine lashes that I crave. Despite not opting for the waterproof formula, I've found it to be impressively long-wearing and doesn't flake or smudge throughout the day. What's more, it holds a curl like no other. At just £7.99, it's affordable enough that you might actually stick to the 3 month replacement rule too!

Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butter
Revlon Lip Butters are one of my all time favourite lip formulas, regardless of budget so the fact that these hydrating lip tints are just £7.99 each makes them all the more impressive. Admittedly, some of the lighter shades can be a little hit and miss but overall, I love them and have repurchased time and time again. There's an extensive colour range to choose from, with my favourites being "Berry Smoothie" and "Peach Parfait". I love that Lip Butters are sufficiently sheer that they can be applied without a mirror but can be built up for a more intense look. Highly recommended.

Rimmel London Apocalips
Another fantastic buy from Rimmel, the Apocalips launch in 2013 was highly anticipated and didn't disappoint. Known as Show Off Glosses in the US, these highly pigmented liquid lipsticks provide an opaque slick of colour and lacquer-like shine with a subtle scent in just one sweep of the sponge tipped applicator. There's a wide range of colours to choose from and at just £6.49 each, they're affordable enough to justify picking up a couple of shades.

Barry M Gelly Polish
Barry M Nail Polishes have long been a favourite thanks to their affordable price tag and on-trend colours but the introduction of the new Gelly Polishes really made me sit up and take notice of the brand once again. At just £3.99, Barry M Gelly Polishes are a fantastic buy and one of the best drugstore formulas I've come across. There's a wide range of shades available but my personal favourite is the effortlessly chic "Lychee", a wearable nude that goes with everything. I love the high shine, gel like finish but the reason that I really love these polishes is the long-wearing formula, which has been known to last on my nails for up to a week without chipping.