Okay, here’s how it works: as I tap into beauty research, I try everything in the world from super-expensive face creams to the cheapest brow gels, jotting down any great beauty finds I come across. Until I have five of them listed: and then I make a video. That’s the general gist.
I should be doing the videos more often than I do, but I’m running out of time and then something else new and shiny comes out of the beauty labs and you all know how that story ends. With a backlog of incredible products that could get away with being far more expensive than they are – high-performance, elegant formulation and luxury-feeling makeup gems – but they’re not. They are much cheaper than their luxury counterparts and very often on sale.
In this video we have a lipstick that’s way cheaper than the one I bought from Gucci, a great new shampoo that’s good for those prone to dandruff, and three other great beauty products. It’s a great mixed bag with good prices! Let’s go:
Revlon “Pink in the Afternoon” lipstick.£7.99 on Amazon here*.
After experimenting with Gucci lipsticks (here if you missed it on Instagram) I made it my mission to find the prettiest pink lipsticks on the high street. To be honest, I haven’t had a huge amount of success so far, mainly because when you try to find lipstick testers on the high street, they’re all missing, or covered in melted lipstick, or rolled down the stand. But this pink from Revlon, Pink in the Afternoon, is a really good start. It’s slightly more muted than Gucci’s Kimberley Rose (here*), but somehow infinitely more wearable. Less in your face. Not so scary.
It wears comfortably with a glossy finish at first that fades to an almost powdery pink. I love it. And £7.99? Much more delicious than the Gucci version, even though I did get a free (uselessly small) canvas bag from Gucci…
Sali Hughes Placid 5 Acid Daily Exfoliantcurrently £9.80 at LookFantastic here*
I’ve always been partial to an acid exfoliator – AHA for shine, BHA to keep my pores clear and blemishes at bay. Sali’s 5 Acid Daily Exfoliant covers both bases – shine and clarity – but the best part about it is its supreme gentleness. You can actually use it daily and I have – every morning as a lazy swipe after my lazy micellar cleanse.
If you’ve been toying with the idea of introducing an exfoliant into your skincare routine, but have been confused about how to use it, when to use it, and whether it’ll play nicely alongside your retinoid addiction, this is a great place to be. to get started.
L’Oreal Revitalift Clinical SPF50currently £10 instead of £19.99 at Sainsburys here*
This is a knockout product from L’Oreal. a high protection face sunscreen with a truly light, refined feel. It disappears instantly and you can’t feel it when it’s on the skin, bright under makeup and easy to use. What’s not to love? Great for oily skin, dry skin will want a solid moisturizer underneath as this is light on the inflation front. Currently less than half price at Sainsburys.
Mitchum Cedarwood Stick Deodorantcurrently £4.04 here*
Mitchum recently launched a Gel Cream Deodorant and although I love the texture, smell and effectiveness, it felt slightly messy to apply. I prefer their cream stick and they make it with the same Cedarwood scent, which is just lovely. Slightly green, slightly woody and a far cry from some of the soapy smells that deodorants often have. The cream stick claims 24 hour protection – I never need that much and would shower anyway, but it definitely works its magic during a normal day. Although if I participate in a Peloton cycling spot then it is tested to its limits and there is definitely some… dampness.
Head & Shoulders Bare Shampoocurrently £6.66 at Boots here*
This looks like a very new lean for Head & Shoulders. a shampoo that feels more premium than anything they’ve made before and with a stripped-down ingredient list. It still contains the signature H&S anti-dandruff agent, so I think it’s as effective as you’d hope, but it feels so soft on the scalp and my hair wasn’t at all dry or stripped after rinsing. It is free of sulfate surfactants, silicones and dyes and even the foam feels soft and luxurious. In a blind test I would have made it an expensive buy, so it’s an absolute steal, especially at the current price.
This is your fate: now watch the video and hear me tell everything from the beginning…
