Back to School on a Budget

For some this may seem a little premature but here in Scotland (Glasgow at least) the local schools and colleges all go back for the first term of the new academic year starting this Thursday. With that in mind I have gathered together all my favourite budget buys that will last the pace of even the most trying gym classes. Gah I hated P.E with a vengeance...

Back to School on a Budget

Complexion

Max Factor Facefinity Primer (£10.99) -  I really did try to keep my choices below the £10 mark but this slipped through the net. This primer won't fill in pores or fine lines but it will ensure that your make-up stays in place for a good 10 hours with ease. I swear by this and use it almost daily. If you do need to fill in enlarged pores I recommend teaming this with Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser (£7.99).

Bourjois Health Mix Foundation (£9.99) - A great slightly dewy finish foundation that offers medium yet buildable coverage. It illuminates and looks fresh all day long. If you have normal to dry skin I fully recommend this, if you have oily/combination skin you will need to set with powder.

L'Oreal True Match Foundation (£9.99) - If you have oily or blemish prone skin this is the budget foundation for you, the coverage is great (you can layer it on for full coverage) and yet it never looks heavy nor does it cake. It doesn't budge. I tested this out in London on the balmiest day of the year and it looked as fresh at 7am as it did at 7pm and I have incredibly oily skin. The colour range is phenomenal and a little goes a long way.

Maybelline Superstay Better Skin Concealer (£5.99) - Easily the best liquid, budget friendly concealer I have ever used. This covers dark circles, blemishes and everything else in-between. It is a great dupe for MAC Pro Longwear Concealer. If you prefer a creamy textured concealer a great highstreet find is Essence Coverstick just don't use it on the under eyes.

Maybelline The Matte Maker Pressed Powder (£3.99) - This pressed powder not only sets make-up with ease but also keeps excess oil at bay. It doesn't feel heavy on the skin nor does it cake or oxidise.

Back to School on a Budget

Cheeks

Rimmel Stay Blushed Liquid Cheek Tint (£4.49) - An easy to wear and use blush, a light gel that gives a freshly flushed look. It is hard to over do it with this formula as it does sheer out with delightful ease. The great thing about this blush is that it doesn't fade or succumb to oily skin. A great little blush find that Lisa Eldridge gives the thumbs up!

Revlon Highlighting Palettes (£8.99) - You can purchase two different colour ways one bronze, one pink. The great thing about these palettes is that they can be used as separate strips of colour or together as a blush/bronzer. They are beautifully pigmented, soft textures and really wearable shades. If worn as a blush/bronzer each shade illuminates the skin minimising the need for a highlighter.

Bourjois Maxi Bronzer (£8.99) - Personally I wouldn't bother contouring and highlighting for school/college but for warming up your complexion or simply as a bronze blush choice you really can't go wrong with this huge bronzer. It pretty much does it all and lets face it you won't run out any time soon.

Back to School on a Budget

Eyes

Revlon Colorstay Shadow Links  (£2.99)- Cheap, cheerful and you can create your own, custom and fairly dinky palettes. This way you can have a few day shades and some for after school/college should you be going somewhere more swish.

L'Oreal Color Riche L'Ombre Pure Eyeshadows (£5.49) - If you are looking for a well priced but beautifully formulated eyeshadow, look no further. The L'Oreal Color Riche L'Ombre Pure Eyeshadows are infused with gel so that they glide on with ease and cling to the lids for long wearing pigment. They really are a joy to wear and the shade 104 La Vie en Rose doubles up as a light peachy pink blush too.

Revlon Colorstay Eye Liners (£6.29) - All you want from an eyeliner, glides on to the eye be it on the lids or on the waterlines with ease, locks in place for long wear and can double up as a cream eyeshadow. This eyeliner also features a smudging tool which comes in handy if applying all over the eyelid.

L'Oreal Volume Million Lashes Mascara (£10.99) - Truth be told there are tonnes of great budget mascaras out there, at the moment my person favourite is L'Oreal Volume Million Lashes. It adds length, volume, separates the lashes and looks natural. You can also add a few coats for a more intense finish free of clumps.

Back to School on a Budget

Lips

Maybelline Baby Lips Electro Lip Balm (£2.99) - I will hold up my hands and say I am not a huge fan but they are nicely priced, smell great and do offer both a light hint of colour and moisture. Perfect for popping into a pocket.

Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet Liquid Lipstick (£8.99) - If you are more of a matte lipstick gal then this is the budget choice for you, a great line up of colours that wear beautifully, are a breeze to apply and stay put even after drinking and eating.

Revlon Colorstay Moisture Stain (£7.99) - Perhaps you prefer a glossy lip but loathe having to apply countless times a day? Well Revlon Colorstay Moisture Stain is the answer, wonderfully pigmented, gloriously glossy, non-sticky and long lasting. You can't beat them when it comes to gloss!

Back to School on a Budget

Misc

Dove Dry Shampoo (£4.59 or two for £5) - Let's face it sooner or later you will sleep in and not have time to wash your hair. Hey it happens to us all - dry shampoo to the rescue. It smells great, doesn't leave residue even on the darkest of hair tones and refreshes so well. It also adds a little volume and doesn't make my scalp itch. I am a huge fan.

Kitsch Hair Ties (£7.15) - If you have long hair along with a hair brush you will most likely want to keep a few hair ties close to hand. I'm a huge fan of these new chunky hair bands that are all the range - the ones you can wear on your wrist as well as in your ponytail? They come in tonnes of designs and don't leave a mark in freshly styled hair. Win!

The Body Shop Hand Cleanse Gel (£2.50) - Every bag be it school, work or just a handbag should have an antibacterial hand gel to keep germs at bay and generally cleanse the hands. My personal favourite is The Body Shop Hand Cleanse Gel in Coconut but really I will use anything.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing, back in college I was lucky if I remembered to pack a pen.
Jokes aside don't get bogged down by make-up or your appearance, enjoy being young and get the best education you can.