CHEAP FRILLS

The gloom cast by the much hyped recession appears to be slowly dissipating and financial commentators the world over are encouraging an increase in recreational spending in a bid to boost the global economy.

Do your bit by buying cheap and cheerful beauty bargains....guaranteed to get you looking gorgeous and still leave plenty of loose change for stashing away in your piggy bank for a rainy day (or the next economic crisis). Any excuse for a mutually beneficial good deed I say!

Klorane Gentle Dry Shampoo with Oat Extract is a bathroom cabinet essential. So good in fact, you should buy three and store one in your desk and handbag as well. The perfect product for those days when you press the snooze button one too many times and can't squeeze a wash and blow dry into your morning routine.

Simply pin up the top layer of hair and (gently) squeeze the bottle to disperse the talc like powder along the hairline where it will soak up any grease and add oomph and volume to the most lack-lustre of locks. Also great for adding a bit of grit and texture when your hair has that slippery, shiny, freshly washed feel and just won't do as it's told. Bad hair!

Klorane Dry Shampoo is also available in an aerosol spray formulation which works a treat as well. Its only downfall is that if you are like me and tend to get a tad trigger happy with anything in a spray formulation, it won't last as long as the powder.

Loreal Infallible Concealer is (brace yourselves) quite possibly the best concealer for covering up blemishes I have ever come across. It gets top marks for it natural colour options, excellent coverage, non-comedogenic ingredients and durability and it's handy stick formulation makes precision concealing a breeze.


For those of you in your teens or early twenties who have sensitive or oily skin which is prone to a pimple or few, Neutrogena Oil Free Moisturiser for Sensitive Skin is a must have. Recommended by dermatologists and beauty professionals alike, Neutrogena is the plain white t-shirt equivalent of the skin care world...simple, effective and fail safe. This moisturizer has a lovely, sheer texture and an oil free non-comedogenic formula (i.e won't clog pores or cause oil slicks) which gently moisturizes skin without irritating.

The Body Shop Eye Definer Pencil is a softly pigmented, medium intensity eyeliner which comes in range of gorgeous colours. The perfect consistency for creating smokey Bardot-esque eyes, it will smudge beautifully but never smear. My makeup bag essential is the pencil in Rich Brown - perfect for a naturally smouldering gaze.

The next time you are cruising the aisles of your local supermarket, pick up Olay Total Effects Touch of Foundation for a budget product that delivers like a pro. This multi-tasking tinted moisturiser provides sheer, seamless, glowing coverage while still delivering the skin care benefits the original Total Effects moisturizer is world famous for.

Any beauty buff worth their weight in lipstick is bound to have a tube of St Ives Medicated Apricot Scrub stowed away in their bathroom cabinet. An excellent basic scrub for people with acne or blackhead prone skin, it contains salicylic acid to decongest pores, kill bacteria and speed up the healing process. It can also be used as a body scrub on those parts prone to the odd spot or two or as an exfoliator for ingrown hairs.

YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE

One of my longest running beauty love affairs is with Clarins Radiance Plus Self Tanning Cream Gel. Technically a facial gradual tanner, it is also a fantastic moisturizer for normal to oily skins.

Its non comedogenic formula means it won't block pores, irritate skin or cause pimples(unlike many facial tanners where you wake up with an unwanted breakout along with your prescribed glow). It creates an even, radiant tan and perks up the most lacklustre of complexions. I have been know to go practically barefaced on lazy days while using this...just add concealer where needed and lashings of mascara for natural Nicole Richie chic.

While it boasts a reasonably hefty price tag, one bottle of this has lasted me over a year of thrice weekly applications- that's what I call value for money and infinitely cheaper than a mid winter trip to Fiji to top up your tan.

OUT DAMN SPOT

Pesky pimples tend to have an immaculate sense of timing- they always emerge when you want to see them least (not that they are ever welcome, TAKE NOTE PIMPLES!). The following sneaky tricks will help make them less likely to appear and much easier to banish.

First double cleanse your face with a gel or foaming cleanser...these are pretty much the only kind that will effectively remove makeup and oil and all those other meddlesome things that cause pores to get blocked.

Then thrice weekly, exfoliate with either a chemical exfoliant ( chemical being lotions and potions containing AHAS, beta hydroxy acids, fruit enzymes etc which are applied like a cream or toner or masque) or with a granular exfoliater (ie the ones with satisfying scrubby bits that leave your skin as pink and glowing as a baby's behind). This will remove debris such as dead skin cells (again, nasty pore blockers)and give your skin a permanent glow.
Try:Daily Microfoliant and Gentle Cream Exfoliant by Dermalogica and Clarifying Lotion by Clinique in 2 or 3 or St Ives Medicated Exfoliating Scrub.

If, despite your best preventative efforts, a little blighter happens to make it through, use of these magic potions at the first sign of swelling or redness to knock it on the head. Dermalogica Special Clearing Booster contains 5% Sacylic Acid and is a super strength acne fighter..no pimple is immune. Skin Doctors Zit Zapper is another champion in the War against Blemishes, it works a treat at drying up oil spills and will eradicate blemishes in a matter of hours (now if only we could do something about terrorist cells....). If you have an area that is particularly pimple prone, apply Dermalogica Overnight Medicated Clearing Gel nightly (or when your period approaches if they are hormonal)for guaranteed clear skin.

N.B No doubt you smarty pants readers have noticed I've favoured mainly Dermalogica products in this post...unfortunately that is not because I'm being bribed(not for lack of trying - Dermalogica if you're reading this, I'll take payment in products pleeeeease!)but simply because I think they are the absolute authority when it comes to clear, glowing skin. Consistently fabulous every single time. Run, don't walk ladies!

FAMILY FEUD

For all you lovers of the original Cetaphil cleanser, this new addition to the family will rock your world. Formulated for oilier skins and designed to remove makeup and all manner of grease and grime, this is Cetaphil's more attractive and well endowed little sister. I was a fan of the gentle cleansing provided by the Cetaphil first born but got frustrated at its inability to remove makeup and work up a satisfying lather.

Cetaphil Oily Skin Cleanser has a clinical, medical waiting room-esque fragrance which convinces you it's cleansing effectively and a lovely, light, foamy formulation which removes EVERYTHING surplus to requirement and refreshes skin. I used this as a replacement for a Clinique cleanser during a cash strapped week and haven't looked back.

Great for those oily or acne ridden lovelies who find general acne targeting skincare too drying. If you are a sensitive flower however, I would recommend sticking to the original Cetaphil cleanser as you may find this one a tad harsh for your delicate skin.