Cosmetics have improved so much that it is perfectly possible to buy lots of high-quality treats for less than €10. My problem while compiling this list was selecting only 10.
Lacura Face Treatment Oil
€5.99 Once again Aldi shows us that it’s possible to bring a great beauty product to the shelves at a rock-bottom price.
Sleek eye make-up quads
€6.99 Here’s a brand that punches far above its weight in terms of high pigmentation. New eyeshadow quads with built-in eyeliner deserve to be in every make-up bag.
Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water (€4.20)
A quick cheat for when you don’t have the energy to cleanse properly. This beats any make-up wipe. The 400ml bottle contains enough for 200 uses, and there’s no need to rinse.
Vaseline Spray & Go Body Moisturiser (€4.99)
Applying body moisturiser must be one of the most boring beauty chores. Spray-on moisturisers are the answer.
Catrice 12h Matte Mousse Make-up (€5.49)
This creamy matte formulation will suit anyone with combination-to-oily skin. The mousse acts as a kind of pore filler. Coverage is light yet lasting.
Rimmel Apocalips Lip Lacquer (€7.99-€8.50)
Forget more expensive brands: the intense, rich colour and a high-shine finish make this lipstick-gloss hybrid one of the best.
Batiste Dry Shampoo (€3.85)
No “under a tenner” list is complete without a hefty blast of Batiste. Everyone and their granny have brought out a dry shampoo product, but Batiste is the best by a mile.
L’Oréal Paris Infallible 24h Foundation (€9.37 at MacCabe’s Pharmacy)
Quite simply one of the best mid-range foundations around.
Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure Nail Polish (€8.99)
An enormous shade range, a generously sized bottle and a wide brush that coats an entire nail in just one swipe.
St Moriz Instant Self-Tanning Mousse (€4.99)
I first reviewed this years ago, fully expecting to have a tan disaster, but it goes on smoothly and the colour is very natural. The price has doubled in the meantime, but it’s still a steal and is available in Penneys and other outlets.
- amcdermott@irishtimes.com
- Twitter @aismcdermott
