'It's neither savvy nor cool to take your eyes off cheaper makeup ranges nowadays'
There was a time when teens wore makeup from 17, grew into No7, then, if life was kind, graduated to an adulthood with Clinique. But then Topshop stormed fashion and changed our perception of the high street for ever. It's neither savvy nor cool to take your eyes off cheaper makeup ranges nowadays. If you can afford always to buy luxe, then all power to you (it's your money and your face – enjoy both), but you'll be missing a trick in the aisles of Superdrug, where you'll often find more interesting and fun products.
Besides, there's a certain cachet in knowing when to go bargain. I get my cheap thrills when I want to try a new colour I'm not sure I'll wear that often (orange lipstick, glittery eyeliner) and want to indulge in guilt-free experimenting. Ditto if I feel a trend will be fleeting, or if I need something that doesn't have to be expensive to be brilliant (pencils, mascaras). Sometimes I just chance across something wonderful, such as Sleek's blusher, that prompts me to try the entire range (it's a game-changer). Here are my six favourite budget makeup brands. Some will be known to you, others maybe not. But all produce makeup that is consistently great quality, interesting and refreshingly cheap.
Front Cover Cosmetics (main image), from £18, frontcovercosmetics.com
I'm a big fan of these huge sets of colours. The formulas feel expensive, yet the cost per item is minuscule.
Bourjois, from £4.49, boots.com
Cheap makeup, acting posh and fooling everyone. The eyeshadows and blushers (made secretly by a very swanky luxe brand) are exquisite.
Sleek Make-up, from £2.59, superdrug.com
A fashionable colour range that looks and feels much more expensive. The blushers and contour products are top drawer.
Rimmel London, from £2.99, boots.com
The top fast-fashion range. If the Kate Moss lipsticks and new Apocalips sold at three times the price, no one would bat a falsie.
Topshop Beauty, from £5, johnlewis.com
If you're keen to experiment with a beauty trend, Topshop will have what you need. The formulas are near perfect.
Avon, from £1.50, avonshop.co.uk
I rate Avon very highly: no animal testing and everything is affordable and wearable. The True Colour eyeshadow quads are brilliant value.