Complete Guide to Makeup Essentials

Often, a cheaper substitute will do just as good a job, or you can invest in a good-quality multi-purpose product. Here’s all you need to know to assemble your own makeup kit, and make it last.

Budget Beauty

You don’t have to spend a small fortune on makeup. The brands sold in drug- stores or discount stores will give you ample variety to choose from as to skin type and personal preference and will be much cheaper than similar products sold at a department-store cosmetics counter. Clip coupons for brands you really like (October and May are good beauty coupon months) and watch for newspaper ads about sales.

Double Duty Does It

An Eye Pencil Pays Its Way

A good-quality, soft light-brown eyeliner pencil costing about $15 ($7-$30 range) can be used for outlining lips, defining brows, shaping round the eye socket and putting a soft line under the lower lid. Eye shadow and lip, brow and eye pencils could total $60.

Brush Basics

By changing your makeup brush, your brown eye shadow can be used as an eyebrow filler or soft eyeliner.

Cost-Cutting Colour

A blusher can act as eyeshadow and be used for cheeks and lips. Or you can pay about $16 for a high-quality lipstick that can also be a blusher and brow highlighter (total cost for separate products is at least $40).

Dual-Use Bases

Buy a good-quality foundation or moisturizer that also acts as a sun block.

Budget Compacts

Look out for a combination foundation and powder compact for the price of a powder alone.

Good-Value Substitutes

You can make further savings by buying some products from non-cosmetic counters.

Low-cost powder Baby powder costs less than translucent powder; apply finely with a large makeup brush.

How to Avoid Wasting Makeup

Don’t waste money by throwing away expensive cosmetics before you’ve used them up. Use every ounce of the product to make your budget stretch.

Lipstick First Aid

To repair a broken lipstick, use a lighter or long fireplace match to slightly melt the bottom of the broken piece and the top of the remaining lipstick. Press the melted pieces together gently and seal the edges with a clean match or a toothpick. Place the lipstick in the refrigerator until it is completely cool.

Revive Old Pencils

Dried-up eye and lip pencils can be softened overnight by putting them point down in a jar containing 2 cm of baby oil.

Nail Polish Tricks

When nail polish is past its prime, dip the wand end into a jar of very hot water for five minutes.

Cure for Crumbly Powder

Cakes of powder blush or eyeshadow that start to crumble can be ground into loose powder and decanted into small jars.

Top Tips for Longer-Lasting Makeup

A little know-how helps you to save money and time by avoiding having to constantly reapply makeup.

Everlasting Eyeshadow

Before putting on eyeshadow, apply a light coat of cream foundation, blending with your little finger. The powdery shadow will bind to the foundation and stay in place longer than if applied directly.

Longer Life Lipstick

Your lipstick will last longer if you pat face powder over your lips, apply the lipstick, blot and powder again and reapply a final layer of lipstick.

Nail Polish Tricks

Make your nail polish last longer by keeping it in the fridge. Bring it back to room temperature before applying to nails.

Moisturizer Magic

Add a bit of moisturizer to your foundation just before applying and it will last longer.