Beauty Secrets:

Here is an article I wrote for my beauty society which was written for their online blog:

When filling your make-up bag it is essential to have key pieces and many beauty fanatics have several products they believe are trusted or 'swear by' and continue to buy. With so many competing brands and the choice of products continually growing it is difficult to know what products really work and what products are worth splurging on. It seems questions are continually raised as to which products you can get away with saving on, can you really get a cheap foundation that offers full coverage from boots? Is a lipstick really worth its £20 price tag? This article will guide you through the products we believe you can get away with saving on and those we believe are worth the investment.

For me, foundation is a key product and I would recommend buying a high end foundation as taking care of your skin is highly important. Foundation is an extremely essential product as it provides the base for the rest of your make-up, and when applying a product to your skin everyday you want something you know isn't bad for your skin and one that covers any imperfections. While you can get a decent foundation at Boots or Superdrug the chances of you finding the perfect shade for your skin colour can be hit or miss. High end foundations often last longer then cheaper foundations and provide a more even and less thick coverage, providing you with a perfect base.

However, many of us cannot afford to use a high end foundation on a daily basis, for this reason I would recommend a mid-priced foundation for day to day wear such as Maybelline (Maybelline Dream Satin Liquid £7.99) or L'Oreal (L'Oreal Infallible Foundation £12.29) and for nights out a more high end foundation such as Mac studio fix fluid £20.50 which also provides an SPF of 15 or oil free Nars Sheer Matte foundation priced at £29.50 which despite its price tag the 30 ml bottle lasts ages and promises a soft-matte-finish with sheer, buildable coverage that controls shine throughout the day and it comes in 20 shades.

For me, a good foundation is worth the money as not only do they last a long time but they provide a completely different type of coverage with many high end foundations offering a vast colour range to choose from and a free match up session to find a colour and type that suits your skin perfectly nothing beats the discerning eye of a makeup expert when it comes to finding the right shade and formulation for your skin tone. Clinique is great for offering foundations for all skin types and will happily match you up for free.

Bronzer and powder are further products many make up artists believe are worth the investment, due to the fact they are made with a much better quality pigment meaning you can layer many products without looking 'caked'. For me, my staple bronzer is Hula by benefit priced at £24.50 which is definitely worth the investment as it offers a great all over bronzed look with a matt finish to keep your skin looking flawless. Another highly recommended bronzer is Mac's infamous 'bronzing powder' priced at £19.00 a lightly frosted, tinted powder that gives skin sheer, natural colour effects and highlights. Similarly, I find many high end powders offer a more even look and

 are worth the price tag, my favourite being Clinique's stay-matte sheer

 pressed powder priced at £21.00.

Despite some products being worth breaking the pay cheque, some high street products work just as well with a much more purse friendly price tag. A product many of us splurge on is mascara, but what many do not realise is that it is not worth the price tag as many high street brands such as

Maybelline, L'Oreal and Maxfactor offer great mascaras with all different wands to suit the style you want, whether you need volume or length there is plenty of choice at a low cost. While one can't deny that pricier eyeshadows tend to stay put for longer and are more likely to contain better-quality ingredients it's hard to ignore cheaper eyeshadows my top pick being from MUA (£1 each from Superdrug). With a wide range of shades to choose from, these colours offer a great deal of pigment for the price and have super staying power, too!

Similarly, many lip-glosses and lipsticks can be bought at your local make-up store and offer

Lip glosses rarely last the test of time so there is no real reason to invest in a high end branded lipgloss. L'Oreal (Glam Shine 6 Hours Lip Gloss) and Bourjous (Bourjois Effet 3D Lipgloss £7.69) both offer a great range of affordable lipsticks and with the colour spectrum continually growing there is little need to invest in an expensive lipgloss. As for lipsticks, the formulations in Chanel, M.A.C., Dior and Giorgio Armani can't be beaten, but you can find a great long-wearing lipstick in your local drugstore.

Nail varnish is a further product which you can easily get away with for buying for as little a £2.99. despite makes such as Chanel offering a few staple shades perhaps worth the investment, high street brands such as Barry M (available in Superdrug and Boots) offer as extremely vast range of nail polishes, from glitter to matt looks, all priced at a purse friendly £2.99. however is using a budget brand I would recommend a top coat to enhance the nail colour and to ensure a long lasting look.