The Beginner’s Guide to Budget Beauty

Unless you spend the vast majority of your life glued to YouTube tutorials, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the ups and downs of makeup trends. Maybe you finally learned to contour, only to find out that strobing is the next big thing, or you’ve been using the same eyeshadow palette for 4 years and have no idea what to replace it with. The good news? Our favourite beauty buys for spring won’t break the budget; there are wallet-friendly options that rival the big names right here in centre. We’ve included the RRP prices, but keep an eye out for regular sales!

 

S.O.S (Save our skin!)

Did you know that 2 in 3 Australians will be diagnosed with skin cancer by age 70? That’s a seriously scary statistic, so we’re encouraging you to fake it through the warmer months. Bondi Sands Self Tanning Foam (RRP $19.95 from Big W) gives you a natural-looking sun-kissed glow, without traumatising your skin cells. Complement your hydrated skin with Nivea Soft Rose Lip Balm (RRP $3.95 from Big W) for healthy, moisturised lips.

 

All that shimmers

You don’t need to wait for a special occasion to get a little bit glam. Shimmers and highlights will help you to create a beautifully effortless natural look, but they can also be built to create something a little bit more intense. If you’re new to eyeshadow application, stick to golds and lighter browns for a subtle glow. We love the Maybelline New York Total Temptation Shadow and Highlight Palette (RRP $29.00 from Woolworths) because it’s got great neutral options, as well as a darker side if you feel like creating a sultry smoky eye. No desire for eyeshadow? Dust those cheeks with e.l.f. Baked Highlighter in Apricot Gold (RRP $12 at Big W). Whether you like a little or a lot, this cheap and cheerful cult favourite will leave you literally glowing.

 

About Face

Perhaps the most important part of nailing your spring beauty look is making sure that your base looks great. Sometimes less is more, and this definitely applies to foundation. To avoid a cakey, overdone look, tackle any problem areas with a good concealer or colour corrector. Cover any blemishes, dark spots or pimples with Revlon PhotoReady™ Color Correcting Pen (RRP $24.95 from Big W) before applying a light layer of L’Oreal Paris Infallible Foundation (RRP $31.95 from Big W). This foundation features a beautiful matte finish, so doesn’t require a setting powder. If you’d like a bit of extra coverage, though, make sure you apply with a nice, clean fluffy brush, like the Revlon Powder Brush (RRP $16.95 from Big W).

 

Finishing Touches

They say the eyes have it, so if you really want to make your peepers pop, we recommend lining the inner eye with a white eyeliner like Barry M Kohl Pencil (RRP $7.95 from Big W) and coating the lashes with L’Oreal Paris Paradise Mascara (RRP $24.95 from Big W). This duo will leave your eyes looking bigger and brighter, and comes up beautifully in photos. All that’s left to finish your look is to apply lashings of lip colour and a slick of nail polish. Maybelline New York SuperStay Matte Ink (RRP $19.95 from Big W) will leave your lips looking fresh for up to 24 hours – truly impressive stuff! In terms of salon quality, chip-resistant nail polish, we can’t go past Essie Nail Polish (RRP $16.95 from Bunbury Forum Pharmacy).



Prices listed are recommended retail only and are believed to be correct at time of publication. The shopping centre takes no responsibility for pricing discrepancies or stock availability.