How to save money on your make up - what you really need in your cosmetics bag



If you're anything like I used to be, you have a make up bag that is full of products, 25% of which you use, the other 75% reaching the expiry date barely being touched. Lipsticks too dark or bright, mascaras that failed on their promises to create longer and fuller lashes, foundations that are too thick, too runny or don't blend with your skin tone...

How many products do you actually NEED in your make up bag?

I have 13 in total...including brushes! From left to right as pictured:

1. Napoleon Perdis primer (it really does make your foundation/powder last longer reducing the need to reapply)
2. Body Shop pressed powder. I am not into foundation or BB creams (they cause me breakouts)
3. Clinique redness solutions targeted corrector. This is the best concealer I have found for my skin type.
4. 2 eye make up brushes - one to apply shadow, the other is thin and angled to blend eye liner.
5. Witchery eye shadow palette. In my best neutrals (2 shades of grey or 2 shades of taupe for inner and outer eye)
6. Maybelline unstoppable eyeliner in onyx
7. Maxfactor kohl pencil in white (for inner corner of eyes)
8. Clarins mascara in intense brown (brown mascara actually looks better on more people than black)
9. Body Shop lip and cheek stain (one of my absolute essentials because of its versatility and staying power)
10. Burt's Beeswax lip balm with vitamin E and peppermint - the only lip balm I have found that prevents and cures chapped lips properly
11. Mac lipstick in my exact natural lip colour for everyday (you should always have one of these even if you are not into lipstick as it enhances your lip and face colouring naturally)
12. Revlon lipstick in snow peach. This is my bright (but suits my cooler colouring) lipstick which I wear when I present or feeling a bit bolder!

13 things. That covers all of my day and night needs.

If you are a big make up wearer, the only things I would add to this list are foundation and eyebrow definer. And if you like bright lipsticks, a lip liner to stop the colour from bleeding into your skin. You really do not need to spend 100's or 1000's of dollars on make up that just sits in your drawer.

Don't get sucked into the trends you see in the magazines...orange lipstick does not suit every skin colouring, nor does bronzer, nor coloured mascara, nor candy coloured eye shadows...

Set aside a good few hours to shop for make up (yes it takes this long to get it right) and ONLY buy what suits your natural colouring and personality. If you can, take someone with you whose opinion you trust and only listen to the sales assistant if you really believe what they are telling you is right.

Foundations should blend invisibly into your jaw line, eye shadows should be in your best neutral colours, mascara wands should be easy to use and shouldn't clump (long and thin for fine lashes, rounder for thicker lashes) - it should all feel comfortable and light to wear.

My top 8 shopping tips shared...

Hi. Today I want to share my top shopping tips with you. If you struggle with going shopping, following these rules should help you make wiser purchases from now on.

1. Go through your entire wardrobe and identify any gaps that you have. Also make a note if you have purchased too many of one type of garment to avoid you buying more!

2. Do some research beforehand. Look at your wardrobe to see where most of your well fitting and favourite clothes come from. A lot of stores stock consistent fits/cuts so if a store works for you, make sure you go there first. Also look online at stores to see if there are any styles you like and go to these - this will reduce the time you spend looking around and of feeling overwhelmed.

3. Go armed with a few style words that reflect what you want your new clothes to say about you e.g. relaxed, refined, sophisticated, approachable, etc. Run everything you pick up by all of these words and if they don't match, don't buy.

4. You can only buy what is currently in stock. If you can't find exactly what you are looking for, don't despair or buy the next best thing. Fashion changes frequently, stores get new stock in all the time. Be patient and it will surface sooner rather than later.

5. Know which colours suit you (and any that you are missing) before you go and stick to them. If a garment doesn't make you glow in the store, it's never going to make you look or feel good.

6. If you're undecided about a piece, WALK AWAY. If you're still thinking about it half an hour later go back and try it again or buy it. If it doesn't cross your mind again or you manage to find something better in the meantime, it's clearly not right.

7. When you are deciding whether to buy something, imagine a little voice in your head (in my case it's my mother's!) asking you the following questions:
Do you really need it?
Do you really LOVE it?
Does it make you look and feel good?
Can you afford it?
If no is the answer to one or more, leave the piece on the shelf and move on.

8. If you hate shopping or find it overwhelming, take someone along with you to help. It needs to be someone whose opinion you trust and/or has a style that is similar to what you want to achieve. (Note their body shape and proportions as well though as clothes that suit one body shape don't always compliment another.) Sharing the experience will also make it more fun.