Beauty prods that save time and money

Avoid cluttering up your place with an extensive list of cosmetics. Here we have a few time-saving products that may also help you save a bit of cash. Photo / Thinkstock

Clever clogs ideas are always of interest, especially if they save time and money.

1. Almay Wake-Up Eyeshadow and Primer in Invigorate $26.50
Lid primers add staying power to your shadow, but using them adds another step to your beauty routine. Clever then of Almay to stick the primer in the same palette so you don't need to buy an extra item and fiddle about with more packaging. It smoothes and illuminates the eye area before you apply the creamy powder. The creamy powder shadows come in a flattering shade selection. (From Farmers and selected pharmacies)

2. Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Brow Color $45
It is hard to beat brow powders for finding a perfect match and filling out the gaps, but pencils are popular because they are quicker to apply, if more obvious. An alternative to both is this impressive liquid colourant which applies with a fine brush tip. It doesn't smudge or overload and the colour lasts well. In light and medium shades. (In store or online.)

3. Revlon ColorStay Creme Gel Eyeliner $27.50
Gel eyeliner has won a firm following for delivering smudge-free colour which is easier to apply than liquid and stays put better than pencils. The downside is it needs to be applied with a brush which is often sold separately or even if sold with the pottle can go astray. Revlon solves this by building the brush into the bottle. Admittedly you do need to screw it into place to provide a longer handle, but at least it is always at hand. The liner comes in black, brown and charcoal. (Selected department stores and pharmacies)

4. Nivea Exfoliating Wipes $11.04
Wipes are a great beauty stand-by, especially while travelling. Nivea has now made them twice as appealing with this Pure Effect variety featuring a double-sided cloth that cleanses and gently exfoliates, an especially useful step for oilier skin. Magnolia bark extract adds anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. (Supermarkets, variety stores and selected pharmacies, ph 0800 008 081.)

BEAUTY BRIEFS

Fashion fix
They collaborate regularly on looks for New York Fashion Week, now Thakoon Panichgul and Francois Nars have teamed up to bring out some fashion-forward nail colours. The six vibrant shades, inspired by Indian spice markets, are called the Thakoon for Nars Nail Collection. We particularly like the sky blue called Koliary. Each high-shine polish costs $42, exclusively from Mecca Cosmetica stores or online.

Beauty boutique
Glamorpuss beauty boutique is on the move from one side of Newmarket to the other. Owner Marianne Welch says she is excited to be shifting to the Osborne St-Teed St precinct from her shoebox-sized shop in Nuffield St. She first opened on Broadway 10 years ago, importing cult beauty brands of the sort she savoured herself, among them Mario Badescu, Blinc, DuWop and Tweezerman. The new Glamorpuss opens today, adding ranges including Pai Organic Skin Care and Greenland Bath and Body Care to its selection. The new season's collection from Becca cosmetics will also be in store at 15 Osborne St or see here.

Southside salon
Pukekohe has a smart new hair salon called Common Thread, run by a long-time former senior staffer from Stephen Marr, Newmarket. Tracy Roberts says the area is fast-developing and as a first-home buyer in Tuakau she is happy to be investing locally and leaving the commute behind. The salon, which opened this week, features an up-cycled interior and recyclable product packaging in line with its owner's commitment to a progressive sustainable approach. This includes an ammonia-free colouring option.

Common Thread is at 5c Glasgow Rd, ph (09) 215 6901.

Singing for supper
Two singers signed on to supplement their already considerable incomes are Katy Perry for ghd hair tools and Pink for Covergirl cosmetics. Pink, chosen for her individual look, will front for the budget brand from now on, whereas Perry is back for another campaign, shot by fashion photographer Ellen von Unwerth.