Beauty on a budget

Moisture Mist Lipsheen in Spice. Photo / Babiche Martens

If you're the sort of woman who caresses your mascara wand and wants to put your anti-ageing cream on the mantelpiece, the idea of beauty on a budget might be enough to make you break out.

But if you need to make serious savings, beauty buys are one area where you can cut back. Whether you'll want to is a whole other psychological argument.

But buying your supplies alongside the groceries is hardly hardship - or unusual - and it doesn't mean a solely soap and water regime (though for less than a cup of coffee Dove does a sensitive skin beauty bar!).

Downshifting to budget brands costing under $25 for makeup means you can easily knock half to two-thirds off prices per item. Good skincare basics can also be found under $25, but for heavy duty creams and serums you'll generally have to exceed that amount by up to $20 more. That takes you well into respected ranges with some serious ingredients (and some seriously silly ingredient names).

A simple care routine and use of sunblock does most of the work in keeping your skin a picture of good health. While luxury brand extras can make extra impact, does quadruple the price actually make you look or feel four times better if your credit card is weighed down?

We found some perfectly serviceable cheaper lines - not all of which need decanting into nicer bottles.

Read labels carefully and try testers as the textures of shadows and creams can vary widely and colour ranges are limited. Do check the functionality of dispensers. And get used to going without those enticing gifts with purchase; the budget equivalent is the mailout discount coupon.

If you're not quite ready to get supermarket savvy, then explore the fertile middle ground inhabited by the likes of industry giants L'Oreal and Revlon. There's also a host of interesting boutique or homegrown organic and natural skincare brands tucked away in pharmacies, health, variety and department stores.

Best bargains

Eyes: Maybelline is the queen of mascaras. There are other good ones about, but you won't go wrong with a Maybelline formula and they all cost under $25, with America's top-selling Great Lash just $17.99. The company does a good range of liners and shadows, but there's competition here, especially for younger consumers, with fun colour options from the likes of Farmers' own brand Chichi, newcomer Bys and trusty English line Rimmel. Australis' multi-colour palettes are amazing value and a great way to experiment.

I'm also impressed with Za. The range isn't large, but includes useful items like a brow brush and coloured mascaras, though these have an unusually fine comb.

Foundations: Covergirl's choices are particularly good, including Advanced Radiance, offering good, moisturising coverage for mature skins. If you opt for the lighter Trublend range, then the shade of foundation you select will have a matching concealer and blush. It comes in a glass jar with a pump dispenser, like a more expensive product. Australis is one of few in this category to make a primer. If you've got the compact, then Moisture Mist's category leading Beauty Cake makeup refill at $27 is only just over our limit.

Mineral makeup is most affordable from Australia's Natio. Almay has introduced a new natural line in recyclable cardboard packaging. Maybelline's mineral range is good, but getting up to our second-tier of pricing where it competes with market leader L'Oreal, with bases over $30.

Lips: Maybelline is my clear favourite for lipsticks in both shade selection and texture, plus they're nicely presented. Boutique line Bloom also has some pretty cosmetics, including gloss.There's plenty of gloss to choose from for under $20, from Australis, Covergirl and Moisture Mist, which comes in a generous tube.

Skincare: Za is a true bargain worth checking out for younger skin, and, like Natio, it caters for a range of complexions. Garnier and St Ives do good facial scrubs. Innoxa is a standout for all ages, comparable to some pricier ranges. Skin Vitals have inexpensive masks. The Olive and Tebe lines from the Simunovich olive estate near Auckland are well priced in the natural skincare sector. Aveeno is also using botanicals - and soy - in its latest Positively Radiant range, which includes a very pleasant non-greasy SPF30 moisturiser.

Tried and true and top-selling ranges from Nivea, Olay and Neutrogena all cover the basics, show good sun savvy and are well and truly into the more costly anti-ageing market, where L'Oreal also has the generations covered. These big multi-national companies invest in research and product development in ways not dissimilar to the often-related, luxury brands.

Bodycare: Organic Surge has a nice range of shower gels and body lotions with lovely fruity, fresh fragrances, plus it's all priced at $19. St Ives body polishes ($10.90) remain a Viva favourite and Garnier does bargain self-tan.