It's ages since I've bought make-up base, so ago long that I'm not even sure what is on offer now. Several years ago, I struck gold on the clearance shelf at Boots The Chemist - 6 bottles of their "17" brand make-up base, in my shade, at 50p a bottle. I thought they'd last, maybe, a total of two years. Instead, each bottle lasts about 10 months (and I've still got one left!). Also in my stockpile at home are a couple of containers of Max Factor Pan Cake (perfect for hot, humid weather when regular make-up vanishes in your sweat), and a tube of Pan Stick*.
On Tuesday, my goal was to find the cheapest suitable products in colours that suit me. I wandered up and down the make-up aisle in Tesco and checked out the special offers. As a minimum, I needed make-up base, powder, blusher and mascara. Oh, and a make-up sponge, possibly brushes too.
After a couple of minutes, I noticed a small range of make-up that wasn't in the glossy display cases: Tesco's All About Face range. At £1.49 a product or £3 for three products, it was the cheapest too. They only had a couple of shades to choose from and no testers. However, I figured the worst thing that could happen was that I'd waste £3 and be back there the next night buying products from a "known" range. So I purchased a base in Ivory, a powder blusher in Rose, and translucent compressed powder (no shade specified).
They had a black mascara, too, but it isn't waterproof so I opted to buy my regular Maybelline mascara (£4.99) instead. And I bought some own-brand make-up sponges (£1.50) and a Tesco make-up brush set (£4.79).
So how good it is? Well, the make-up base is light and a good match for my skin. I didn't use a massive amount, just dotted it on my cheeks, nose, forehead, and blended with a sponge. The powder covers well and is the same shade as the base. The blusher goes on lightly with a brush, spreads out well and blends in. The make-up holds up well to daily wear and tear. And doesn't look cheap and nasty. I asked a friend for her opinion and she thought the colours were great on me and that it still looked fresh at 3 in the afternoon. She was surprised when I told her how little they'd cost.
So, if you don't have much money and are looking for some decent make-up, do consider Tesco's All About Face range. It's very good value for money and I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.
- Pam (the brushes are very nice, too)
(Edited later to add: Skip the makeup base. It beads on the skin and isn't easily absorbed. When it does dry, it dries blotchy. The product that does all the work to get a good finish is the powder, so just buy that.)
* To use Pan Stick and not feel like you've applied a heavy layer of lard to your face or have it come off, apply as follows:
- Draw a cross on your forehead.
- With the angle pointing towards your nose, draw a ">" on one cheek and a "<" on the other.
- Put a one inch line across your chin.
- Dot once on each side of the tip of your nose.