Spring Racing Beauty on a Budget
There is no doubt about it, it’s lovely to get frocked up and head to the Spring races at this time of year. The air is warm, the horses prancing, and the champers flows all day. Of course you want to put your best foot (and face) forward, and look super glamorous, but everything is starting to add up. The new dress, fascinator, shoes, ground entry, gourmet lunch and champagne, and of course the odd flutter are all starting to put a dent in your budget. Fear not, we’ve taken a look at the best budget beauty buys, to pull together a glamorous look without breaking the budget. These products are sooooo good, your friends will have no idea how little you’ve spent. This should leave you with a little left over for a flutter.
L’Oreal Paris Age Perfect Anti-Ageing Radiant Foundation
The foundation for any look is, no pun intended, your foundation – you want a foundation that will have you looking as good at 5pm as it did at 10am. L’Oreal Paris Age Perfect Anti-Ageing Radiant Foundation has been specifically formulated with the addition of skincare actives, offering powerful anti-aging benefits, which hydrate your skin throughout the day. The lightweight formula glides effortlessly over your skin, offering a medium level coverage that helps to even out spots and blur fine lines, and doesn’t cake or settle into lines, so your foundation looks fresh all day long (it’s so good at evening out spots that I don’t use a concealer, saving a bit more money) . Of course it goes without saying, if you are wearing a fascinator or small hat, remember to apply sunscreen (SPF30 or above) before you apply your foundation – there is nothing worse than sunburn after the races. Foundation available in 6 flattering shades. 30ml RRP $39.95.
TheBalm Meet Matt(e) Shmaker
I never get tired of the wonderful names TheBalm Cosmetics come up with for their beauty products! The Meet Matt(e) Shmaker eyeshadow palette contains a perfectly paired selection of 6 matte and 6 shimmer eyeshadows, to allow you to create a multitude of looks. The eyeshadow powders are highly pigmented, triple milled and velvety smooth, so they apply gently to your eyes, and stay put all day. No matter what colour dress you are wearing, these neutral based shadows will compliment your look.You never know, you might even meet your match at the races! Palette 9.6g RRP $34.95.
Maybelline Master Precise Curvitude Eyeliner
It’s so easy to create a smoky eye, or winged cats eye with the Maybelline Master Precise Curvitude Eyeliner. The clever angled head means you have complete control over where you are drawing your line, as you can hold onto the shaft of the eyeliner pen, and still have a good view of the line you’re drawing onto your eyelid, so you can draw precisely, without mistakes. Being a liquid, it goes on easily, especially onto an eye line that is a little more mature, without pulling or tugging. The eyeliner removes easily with eye makeup remover. Available in Black. 11.9g RRP $18.95.
Rimmel London Wonder’full Mascara with Argan Oil
Mascara’s today contain a plethora of beneficial ingredients, and the Rimmel London Wonder’full Mascara with Argan Oil is no exception. As you might guess by the name, your lashes are left full of volume, and wonderfully defined by the ultra-flex brush, which hugs your lashes from root to tip. The addition of the Argan Oil helps to smooth your lashes, resulting in zero clumps, and zero tugging, in a feather light volume formula. Available in Black and Extreme Black. 11ml RRP $18.95.
Designer Brands Longwear Lipstick
There is nothing worse than applying lipstick, only to have it disappear an hour later. Designer Brands Longwear Lipstick is formulated to counteract dryness, and enhance the staying power of the lipstick. The creamy texture is rich and intense, and the strong pigments ensure that your lip colour will last even when eating and drinking (always a plus when attending the Spring Races, or other events). Formulated with Vitamin E, it is highly moisturising, something you don’t often see in a long lasting lipsticks. Vegan Certified, the Longwear Lipstick is available in 14 shades. 3.8g RRP $11.95.
Models Own Cheat Day Cheek Glaze Highlighter Palette
Give your face a sunkissed look, without the sun, with the Models Own Cheat Day Cheek Glaze Highlighter Palette. The three colours in the highlighter palette are enriched with ultrafine luminescent pearls that reflect and refract light, so the lightweight formula allows you to create a decadent glazed highlight effect on your skin. Apply the powders to the high points on your face (your cheekbones, underneath your brow bones, tip of your nose, and your cupids bow) for a radiant glow, in a soft shimmer finish – it’s so natural you don’t need to use a separate blush. Highlighter Palette 22g, RRP $24.95.
Mavala Switzerland Nail Polish
With formulas that leave the nasties out, so they are actually good for your nails, the Mavala Switzerland Nail Polish range is your go to for a gorgeous race day mani/pedi. The mini size means you can keep the bottle in your handbag, to touch up any chips, so you’ll look fabulous all day. We love the shades from the new Blush Colour collection, where you can choose from bolder colours (like Hanoi – a fuchsia that’s just bursting with colour), or softer colours (like Athens, a pearlescent rose, or Shenzen, a versatile go-with-anything grey beige). Mini Nail Polish 5ml, RRP $8.50.
Nivea Anti-Age Care Hand Cream
The best manicure won’t look any good if your hands are dry and rough, so a good hand cream, in the days before race day, as well as on race day itself is a must. Nivea Anti-Age Hand Cream contains our skins own co-enzyme Q10, as well as UV filters, to help hydrate and smooth your hands, visibly reducing the appearance of wrinkles. The UV filters help to protect your hands against UV-induced age spots, so it’s perfect for the Spring Races. The hand-bag sized bottle means you can keep it with you, and apply regularly throughout the day, for all-day super soft and hydrated hands. 100ml RRP $6.95.
Hamilton Toddler Roll On Sunscreen SPF50+
A day out at the races (or any day out) can be ruined by a bout of sunburn – you won’t remember any of the fun you had, just how burnt you were afterwards. Luckily Hamilton Toddler Roll On Sunscreen SPF50+ is an easy way to protect your skin while outdoors. The roll on is small enough to fit in your handbag, so you can take it with you, and re-apply throughout the day. The formula provides broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection, and is up to 4 hours water resistant. The formula is artificial fragrance, colour, and lanolin free, so it is suitable for all skin types, including sensitive and toddler (it’s not just for toddlers!) 50ml RRP $8.95.
You can use any, or all, of our beauty budget busters to save money, and still look absolutely gorgeous. And you don’t just need to use them for Spring Racing – you can use them for weddings, parties, and other events. They’re too good to use just once. What do you think of our beauty budget busters? What is the one budget beauty product you can’t do without? Let us know what you think in the comments below.
