Prior to the pandemic you wouldn't have caught me leaving the house without a full face of make up. Unless I was off out out, I'd keep it fairly simple - foundation, concealer, blush/bronzer, eyeliner, brows, and my trusty Boots No 7 mascara.
But then during lockdown all that changed. Everyone was working from home and even though I wouldn't have turned up in the office in person bare-faced, I had no issues doing it on video call. It was as if I gained this facial freedom in which I didn't have to wear make up all the time and I loved it. As did my skin.
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I am back to wearing make up again most days, but I don't see it as a necessity anymore. And with that in mind I don't really want to splash the cash on expensive products - especially not during a cost of living crisis.
So I went in search of a budget make up kit and discovered Sainsbury's Boutique range. It has pretty much everything you need, and most of it is £5 or less.
The first product I tested out was the £7 Boutique Tinted Serums which come in five different shades and are described as 'sheer coverage blurring hydrating'. I tried both the Light and Light Medium but unfortunately my skin tone is somewhere in the middle. Because I was using it as a base, I decided to stick with the Boutique Tinted Serum Light.
I wasn't the biggest fan of the dispenser but the texture of it was nice, it went on smoothly and felt lightweight which is what I was after.
Next was the Boutique Serum Foundation which will set you back £5. I was really impressed with the value of this product. I tried the shade Light Neutral 010 and it was pretty much exactly the same as my usual go to Rimmel Match Perfection in Classic Ivory which can set you back up to £9.
The Boutique Serum Foundation packaging says it has a lightweight feel which was definitely the case so I'd 100% recommend this if you're after a new budget day to day foundation.
No base is complete without concealer and as someone approaching my mid 30s at speed, it's a product a rely on more and more. The £3 Boutique Moisturising Concealer contains Vitamin E and Aloe Vera and again comes in a range of shades - but similarly to the Boutique Tinted Serums I was between shades.
I went for the lighter product Light Cool 001 and used it under the Boutique Serum Foundation to brighten up those bags.
Sainsbury's also do several Boutique Contouring Palettes depending on your skin tone. I used the £5 Boutique Contouring Palette Light which has a highlighter, contour and bronzer. I've previously used the £36 MAC Studio Fix Sculpt and Shape Contour Palette and the colours are very similar so I'd say it's a great budget alternative to the designer brands. It also doubled up well as a neutral eye shadow.
One product I did enjoy was the £4 Boutique Blonzer, which is a cross between a bronzer and a blush. I'd say use sparingly because it is quite dark but it's definitely a great piece of kit for your make up bags or on the go.
The last thing I sampled was the Boutique Volumising and Defining Mascara. It will set you back £3, and to be honest you get what you pay for. It took about five or six coats to get any volume, and I found it dried quite slowly. It's also one of those that transfers to your skin easily, but was a struggle to rub back off - so much so I had to reapply my £3 Boutique Moisturising Concealer.
I've been a No7 mascara girl for a very long time, and think I'll be sticking to my No7 The Full 360 Mascara. It may cost more but you need less of it to achieve the desired look, and the brush is also a lot nicer to work with.
Overall though I was impressed with what the Sainsbury's Boutique range had to offer, some products were better than others, but there are a few I'd be happy to make regulars in my make up bag.
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