Get the look: How to save on make-up and skincare
looks at ways to save on make-up and skincare. Plus, she tries out June’s latest launches.
I am often asked which brand is the best for makeup or skincare and there is no one answer. Every brand has its strengths and even the most fabulous designer beauty may have a cheaper ‘dupe,’ or comparable formula. Dupes are most common in brands that belong to stables of household names, such as L’Oréal, Estée Lauder Companies or LVMH Parfums. Lancôme, for example, does fabulous lengthening mascaras but as these require frequent replacement for hygiene reasons, you may be interested in L’Oréal mascaras with similar ingredients. Lancôme’s popular Définicils Mascara, €31, for example, has close siblings in L’Oreal Paris Telescopic Mascara, €16.99.
Makeup Revolution’s Conceal and Define, €6.99 at bradleyspharmacy.ie, is perhaps 2018’s most popular dupe so far. The formula is close to Tarte Cosmetics ShapeTape Contour Concealer, €26 + US shipping, at tartecosmetics,com currently the bestselling camouflage in America.
Similarly, paying more for skincare does not always guarantee better results. Like a plain cotton tee with a designer label, very average formulas with chic names are expensive for prestige reasons.
Again, ingredients analysis can really help cut costs. Checking Vichy for similar actives to those in your desired moisturiser. The Ordinary may also have a plain-packaged version of the antioxidant you seek.
Skinceuticals CE Ferulic Serum, €150, for example, is an excellent reparative treatment but checkThe Ordinary Resveratrol 3% + Ferulic Acid 3% Serum, €6.25, and Ascorbyl Glucoside (Vitamin C) Solution 12%, €10, both at BeautyBay.com.
Expensive SPF creams may provide extra makeup or anti-ageing ingredients but will not give superior protection, as all products promising broad-spectrum SPF must meet the same EU standards.
You can certainly get top-notch suncare for under €20. Bioderma’s new Photoderm M SPF 50+, €16.50, is designed for all skin types, including sensitive. A mild tint neutralises the high UV protection while comforting antioxidants repair existent damage.
Investing in expensive brushes is, in my experience, always a smart move. I have Armani Beauty brushes that still look and work well after five years and pharmacy buys that shed everywhere in a matter of months. MAC’s brushes are priced on the lower end of the premium scale (starting at €10 for a Duo Brow Brush/Lash Comb) but are still excellent.
Lash curlers are also worth a spend as there seems to be such a quality gap between budget and premium brands in this category. Shu Uemura’s, which got that priceless Devil Wears Prada shout-out, is no longer the nonpareil, though it is a great one for small or deep-set eyes. MAC’s Full Lash Curler, €22, is very similar. Kevyn Aucoin and Shiseido both do great options for large-eyed girls.
’Tis the season for everyday self-tan and if you’ve faked it since your teens there is probably a harsh scrub or loofah in your past. I can certainly recall treating stained fabric more gently than my tan mistakes. Scratchy exfoliants can cause micro-tears in skin’s outermost layers that result in prolonged dehydration.
When these outer layers are healthy, skin looks bright, smooth and plump. But if these outer layers are damaged, skin may look dull and feel rough or dry. A depleted skin barrier also makes it difficult to repair the signs of UV damage and post-acne red marks as skin can no longer retain the substances (e.g. natural ceramides and hyaluronic acid) it needs to repair itself. Gentler chemical exfoliants fade tan and can actually improve skin’s moisture content. Cocoa Brown Fresh Start Self Tan Eraser, €9.95 is a irritant-free, urea-based lotion that removes stains in minutes, leaving skin smooth and fair again.
Experimenting with the latest shades is fun. Chanel’s Cruise Collection eye quad ‘Éclat Énigmatique, €53, for example, is an unlikely combination of ivory-gold, copper, cement and brick red. Contouring with red, as Chanel’s Lucia Pica suggests, is surprisingly pretty, especially with coppery lids. The brand’s gel-cream shadow formula, which is not seasonal, is gentle on eyes and blends without tugging. More concerning are brands that seem to think millennials care more about oil-control and a product’s longevity than looking good without disturbing skin. Given that youthful skin is most likely to rebound from the negative effects of these products this may well be the case, but season after season of these ultra long-wearing or ultra-mattifying launches takes its toll.
Peeling lips and sensitised skin need more skincare and gentler makeup to restore them to selfie-ready. Shine can be unsightly but sebum is a natural protectant that can be gently neutralised by a light perfecting powder. Moreover even a gently lustrous lipstick can make lips look fuller while supporting skin’s natural collagen developments. Limerick-based Cailyn Ireland’s Pure Luxe Lipstick, €19.50 at cailynireland.ie, wears well but also contains high concentrations of nourishing plant oil.
If you really crave a new-formula foundation, most counters are good about providing a small sample of your shade-match to test reactions.
Skin is your most visible organ and uniquely available for at-home check-ups. Keeping a diary of how it changes and develops will make you less likely to repeat bad habits and buys. Try a new active ingredient (e.g. retinol, Vitamin C) alone at first to gauge whether it sensitises or irritates skin.
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