Beauty Essentials: Save vs Splurge
Decide whether you want to save or splurge with our round-up of gorgeous beauty buys.
The Berry Lip
Splurge
Creamy and moisturising, Clarins’ Aubergine Lipstick slides on easily and leaves a subtle but chic berry sheen on lips.
Clarins True Aubergine Lipstick, £18.50, www.clarins.co.uk
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Make a statement with Max Factor’s gorgeous Mulberry lippie: perfect for scoring extra style points in important meetings and dinner dates.
Max Factor Colour Elixir Lipstick in Mulberry, £7.99, Available in Boots and Superdrug stores
The Gold Shadow
Splurge
A pearly gold shadow so subtle and chic you’ll wear it every day. Add it to your work make-up bag immediately.
Burberry Sheer Eye Shadow Gold Pearl No.26, £22.50, www.harrods.com
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Pure molten metal magic: tap into this season’s golden trend with L’Oreal’s shimmering shadow. We love.
L’Oreal Colour Appeal Mono Eye Shadow Pure Gold, £6.12, for stockists call 0800 0304 032
The Blender Brush
Splurge
The key to working this season’s contouring shadow trends? A decent blending brush. We love Dr Hauschka’s.
Dr Hauschka Eyeshadow Blender Brush, £21, www.drhauschka.co.uk
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Save a few pennies and opt for Autograph’s excellent shadow brush. It’s perfect for creating soft, smoky eyes.
Autograph Eyeshadow Brush, £6, www.marksandspencer.com
The Complete Tanner
Splurge
At this time of year, a little colour goes a long way. Give yourself a makeover with LDN: SKIN’s complete trial set.
LDN: SKINS Discovery Trial Set, £22.50, www.ldnskins.com
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New to tanning? Give it a try with St Moritz’s brilliant budget line. You’ll love it.
St Moritz Lotion Trial & Travel Set, £6.99, available at Tesco, Misguided, Morrisons, Wilkinson and Bodycare stores nationwide
The Felt Tip Liner
Splurge
A strong feline flick is the perfect way to instant eye make-up success. Smashbox’s Paint Pen Eye Liner is literally our favourite thing ever. Perfect eyes in seconds.
Smashbox Paint Pen Eye Liner, £17.50, available at Boots and www.smashbox.co.uk
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Get experimental with Barry M’s easy-peasy Wink Marker Pen. At 41pence under a fiver, it’s a snip.
Barry M Wink Marker Pen, £4.59, www.barrym.com
The Cover-All Foundation
Splurge
For age-defying, flawless skin, get a little help from Darphin’s brilliant corrective foundation. It gives a natural, slightly dewy finish.
Darphin Melaperfect Anti-Dark Spots Correcting Foundation, £25, www.darphin.co.uk
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For a full but light-weight coverage this season, plump for Maybelline’s affordable The Eraser Foundation. With Collagen and Goji Berries, you’ll look instantly flawless.
Maybelline Instant Anti-Age The Eraser Foundation, £9.99, available nationwide
The Curl Enhancer
Splurge
Add some volume to your locks and let your natural curls shine with a little help from Aveda’s brilliant Curl Enhancing Hair Spray.
Aveda Be Curly™ Curl Enhancing Hair Spray, £17.50, available from March 2013 at Aveda salons and spas and www.aveda.co.uk
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Beachy waves aren’t just for summer: look great all year with too-cool-to-care tousled bedhead waves by spritzing towel-tried locks with TRESemme’s Tousled Wave Spray.
TRESemme Tousled Wave Spray, £5.50, available nationwide
The Nail Colour
Splurge
Hot pink nails are back this season – and Chanel’s hottest spring shade is this shimmering pearly-pink shade. We want. And you will too.
Nail Varnish in Fracas, Chanel, £18, for stockists call 0207 493 3836
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A cheery pop of neon pink will cheer even the gloomiest of days. This Rimmel colour really is long-lasting, too.
Rimmel London Neon Collection I Love Lasting Finish Nail Polish, £2.99, available nationwide
The Sugar Pink Lip
Splurge
This season, sugary-pink lip colours are back in favour – and no wonder with sheer pretty pinks on offer like this. Wear with warm bronzed cheeks and mascaraed lashes.
Shiseido Vision Lipstick, £23, House of Fraser
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Paul & Joe’s soft pink lip colour is perfect for working this season’s romantic beauty trends.
Paul & Joe Anniversary Lipstick in Venus, £12, www.beautybay.com
The Cream Blush
Splurge
For a long-lasting pink glow on cheeks, invest in a good cream blush. YSL’s No9 is oh-so-pretty – invest now and you’ll wear it every day.
Yves Saint Laurent No9 Cream Blush, £29, www.yslbeauty.co.uk
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Be bold and brave with a smudge of Topshop’s Prime Time blush. It goes on sheer so layer up for extra colour.
Topshop Blush In Prime Time, £6, www.topshop.com
The Vitamin E Cream
Splurge
We can’t say enough good things about Jo Malone’s Vitamin E line. Treat your skin every day with the Daily Moisturising Crème – you’ll feel the results within days.
Jo Malone Vitamin E Daily Moisturising Crème, £50, www.jomalone.com
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For a Vitamin E boost on a pocket-money budget, put Dr Organic’s lotion to the test. It is organic and fragrance free, and suitable for use on face and body.
Dr Organic Vitamin E Skin Lotion, £6.29, www.hollandandbarrett.com
The Luminous Skin Finish
Splurge
Be radiant all day with a sweep of these magic pearls from Guerlain. The tones combine to correct uneven tones, even complexion and add radiance. Plus, they’ve got a sweet violet scent. Yummy.
Guerlain Météorites Pearls, £34.50, for stockists call 01932 233 887
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There’s no two ways about it, we couldn’t live without this product. (OK, we probably could, but please don’t make us try). From flat, lifeless skin to radiant, glowing skin in an instant. Try it, you’ll be converted.
MAC Mineralize Skinfinish, £20.50, www.maccosmetics.co.uk
The Blotting Papers
Splurge
For a super-stylish way of staying shine-free, invest in Bobbi’s super-chic Blotting Papers compact. The faux-leather case is refillable, and the papers banish excess perspiration and excess oil in seconds. Refill packs are £8.50
Bobbi Brown Blotting Papers, £17, www.bobbibrown.co.uk
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We’re so in love with Paul & Joe’s adorable printed packs of blotting papers. Keep a pack in your pocket for shine emergencies.
Paul & Joe Blue Horizon Blotting Paper, £3.50, www.beautybay.com
The Rosy Blusher
Splurge
Will we ever tire of Benefit’s Dandelion? It’s been our signature cheek colour for years and we can’t see ourselves moving on from the oh-so-subtle pink pick-me-up.
Benefit Dandelion, £23.50, www.benefitcosmetics.co.uk
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If you’re on a budget, pick up one of MeMeMe’s cute box blushers. A pop of this coral hue will act as an instant mood enhancer. We guarantee it.
MeMeMe Blush Me Coral, £8.50, www.mememecosmetics.co.uk
The Matte Finish
Splurge
We’re hooked on Urban Decay’s De-Slick powder. Before leaving for another day’s hard labour (or your vital Starbucks encounter), sweep this powder over your t-zone and you’re good to go.
Urban Decay De-Slick Mattifying Powder, £20, available at House of Fraser and Debenhams instore and www.debenhams.co.uk
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Don’t break the bank to keep shine at bay. Finish your look with a sweep of e.l.f.’s matte powder and get change from a fiver. We’re sold.
e.l.f. Translucent Matte Powder, £3.50, www.eyeslipsface.co.uk
The Lip Balm
Splurge
This little pot of lip balm packs a lot of punch. The contained zinc oxide acts as a natural sunscreen to keep that pout protected all summer, while the menthol keeps your lips cool and kissable.
Kiss Mix 7ml, £14, www.evelom.com
With the lipstick-curved top, this luxurious lip balm slides on like a dream. As well as containing SPF15 to keep your lips safe from harmful rays, it also acts as a primer, meaning it’s the perfect product to prepare your lips for a slick of hot pink lippie.
Lord & Berry Active Spa Lip Balm with SPF15, £10 at www.asos.com
The Compact
Splurge
In the summer months it’s a good idea to ditch rich foundations in place of a powder. Tote this stylish and sleek Chanel compact around with you for an instant touch-up on the go. The GLAMOUR.COM girls never leave home without theirs.
Chanel Matte Lumiere, £34, for stockists call 0207 493 3836
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Don’t be fooled by the glamorous gold exterior, this product has style and substance. The powder foundation provides a smooth and even finish that’ll last you all day, come rain or shine.
Max Factor Facefinity Compact, £10.99 at www.boots.com
The Perfume
Splurge
For an English summer, the perfect scent has to be Jo Malone’s Red Roses cologne. We can’t think of enough words to describe how giddy we are about this fragrance: it’s romantic, floral and feminine. We love it.
Jo Malone Red Roses Cologne, £68, www.jomalone.com
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If you want to smell like a rose but you’re on a bit of a budget, you can (as always) rely on The Body Shop. Their Moroccan Rose fragrance is subtle and sweet – perfect for a sunny summer afternoon.
Moroccan Rose EDT, £15.00 at The Body Shop
The Face Cream
Splurge
This moisturiser claims to reduce the appearance of wrinkle depth and increase hydration and moisture levels. But the reason we love it is for its light-as-air texture and instant results. It’s a real-life dream cream.
Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream, £76.60 for 50ml at www.timetospa.co.uk
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The No7 face creams deserve the hype that surrounds them. Use this cream every morning before stepping out into the UV rays, safe in the knowledge that your skin is perfectly protected.
No7 Restore & Renew Day Cream with SPF15, £21 at www.boots.com
The Tinted Moisturiser
Splurge
After one use of this super-light formula, you’ll be hooked. Containing sea-derived key ingredients like seaweed (for protecting and hydrating) the science behind this product is substantial, but what you’ll love about this product is the way it glides on and is instantly absorbed to give a sheer coverage and a flawless finish.
Crème de la Mer, The SPF 18 Fluid Tint, £52.00, www.cremedelamer.co.uk
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Finding a tinted moisturiser that won’t leave oily skin with a day-long shine can be tricky. But the clever folks at Laura Mercier have come up with this fabulous oil-free version, which moisturises skin and leaves a healthy glow, that’s never shiny. What a lifesaver.
Laura Mercier Oil Free Tinted Moisturiser, £33 at Space NK, Selfridges, Harrods, Liberty, House of Fraser and Bentalls
The Hot Red
Splurge
Leave your eyes make-up free for an easy-breezy look this summer, and just add a slick of flaming hot lipstick to finish your face. Dolce & Gabbana’s Venere shade is a hot coral red – sure to set pulses racing wherever you go.
Dolce & Gabbana Classic Cream Lipstick in Venere, £22 at www.harrods.com
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MAC's famous Lady Danger is one of the world's greatest red lippies. Try it: we defy you not to fall instantly in love.
MAC Lipstick in Lady Danger, £14 at www.maccosmetics.co.uk
