Splurge or Steal: When You Should Save Money on Beauty Products

Toss Up: Eye Cream
Save: If you're under the age of 30 you're in the prevention stage of ageing. One of the main causes of wrinkles is a lack of hydration so at this stage of your life your main focus should be providing moisture to your skin. Use a low-cost ultra hydrating face cream like Johnson's all over and pay attention to around the eye area, because after all prevention is the best cure.
When to Splurge: After 30 or when you first start to notice wrinkles around your eyes when your face is in a resting position. This is when it's time to invest in a specially developed eye cream with an anti-ageing formula.
 
 

Save: Lip Gloss
We all know that trends come back in cycles and it's finally time for the super glossy lip-gloss trend to shine again. As with a translucent powder, lip-gloss is colourless and therefore it's hard to go wrong with the formula. Don't bother investing in a fancy liquid lip gloss shade; just buy a well-priced or lightly tinted clear gloss and add a coat on top of your regular lipstick. An easy and inexpensive way to update your matte lippie to be on point with the gloss trend.
 

Toss Up: Face Makeup
Save: The main job you want your face powder to do is to set your make up in place. It's hard to go wrong with a powder formula so this is a product that you can definitely opt for the budget version like Essence's All About Matt fixing powder. After all, why spend big bucks on a product you can't even see?
When to splurge: Powder products are a safe bet but when it comes to liquid or mousse foundations it’s worth the extra buck. Poor quality liquid foundations will either melt or stiffen and crack on your skin - so not a good look.

Save: Brow Grooming
A brow brush and a brow pencil and gel to hold it all in place can add up but there's actually no need to buy expensive brow-specific products. Every girl should have a good eye shadow palette of shades of brown; use the shade that best matches your brows to fill them in with an eye shadow brush. Buy a Cala brow brush to brush hairs into place. If they tend to fly away, spray the wand with a bit of hair spray for a do-it-yourself gel.
 
Related: 8 Tricks You Need to Know to Get Your Eyebrows on Point

Toss Up: Face Contouring
Save: Highlighters are light-coloured with shimmery particles in them that catch the light and most formulas will do the job just fine, no matter their price. So long as it's a white or silvery shade that sparkles when you hold it in the light it will illuminate your face just the way you want it to.
When to splurge: Because they are tinted it's important you take time and a little more money when buying a bronzer. High-end bronzers will have more colour choices to match your skin tone and their consistency will be easier to blend, giving you a more natural look. Cheap bronzers can leave you looking streaky and, even worse, just plain dirty - no, thanks!
 
Related: Forget Contouring. Non-Touring Is the Hottest Trend You Need to Try.
 

Save: Toner
Toner is everyone's least favourite step of the face-washing process; why can't we just cleanse and moisturise? We're in luck; because cleansers these days no longer leave residue on one's face toner is slowly becoming less and less necessary. Some toners add nutrients such as AHAs or BHAs to your skin but these can be found in cleansers, serums and moisturisers too so just look out for ingredients like salicylic acid in your other products and there will be no need to spend money on toner. You could also try a two in one cleanser/toner like the one from IQ Clear Start. If you like the soothing and cooling sensation a toner gives you get the same sensation from an inexpensive bottle of rose water applied with cotton wool.
 

Toss Up: Hair Styling
Save: Because we're always chasing summer, beach-y waves are always in. There are tons of beach waves styling sprays on the market but beyond the alluring packaging they are all essentially the same thing: a salt spray. Check that the ingredients contain some form of moisturiser, such as an oil, and the product should give you carefree curls without drying out your tresses. Try one of the Kair products.
When to splurge: If you prefer more defined curls then you're in luck because hair mousse is having a huge comeback. Older or cheaper formulas will leave your hair feeling (and sounding!) crunchy so best you opt for a newly formulated mousse that gives you the hold without the stiffness. 
 

Save: Lipstick
So many low-cost brands have amazing shades to choose from and there's no good reason why not to use them. A perfect lip is more about the application than the product so if you apply with care any lipstick should last all night and not bleed into your skin. Line your lip with a lip liner in the same shade as your lipstick, colour your lips in with the lip pencil, apply your lipstick, dust lips with translucent powder, apply another coat of lipstick, finish with a touch of gloss if you want a bit of shine, and you’ll have long-wear lipstick without breaking the bank!
 
Related: 7 Lazy Girl Ways on How to Get the Most Awesome Lips
 

Toss Up: Eyeliner
Save: Pencil and gel-based formulas are generally a safe bet when it comes to eyeliners. If you use eyeliner every day you'll know how fast it runs out and it's not necessary for you to splurge on a simple black pencil; cheaper brands Like LA Girl make ones that work just as well.
When to splurge: If you love your neat cat-eye flicks then you'll know the need for a good liquid liner. Poor quality liquid liners tend to set and flake off, leaving you with imperfect winged tips and flecks of dried eyeliner on your cheeks; so not chic.

Save: Cellulite Cream
We know you don't want to hear it but sadly no miracle cream is going to take away cellulite. Sure, some creams will offer a short-term fix where your skin appears smoother and firmer but long-term you're just wasting your money. Rather use a low-cost moisturiser that adds hydration (and therefore elasticity) to your skin. The only real way you will make a difference to cellulite is the old-fashioned route of cutting down on fizzy drinks and alcohol and get into exercises such as running and/or squats. This goes for all 'miracle' creams that promise to lift busts, remove crow's feet and tighten neck skin. If it sounds too good to be true it probably is. Rather spend your money on eating healthily and a gym contract.
 

Toss Up: Split-End Savers
Save: Split-ends caused by heat damage and general wear and tear and are the enemy of good hair days. We happily spend money on products to repair them - anything is better a cut - but they only offer a short-term solution. Instead of spending on temporary hair repair, rather go for the chop and focus on prevention. Pat your hair dry (no rubbing), comb conditioner through with a wide-tooth comb, and always use heat-protecting products when styling or blow-drying to keep split ends at bay.
When to splurge: Most of us use some kind of heated product when styling our hair. Cheap products with low quality ceramic plates or no temperature control cause irreversible damage to your hair so always invest in a quality product. It is also vital you use a heat protecting spray every time you style and, good news, you don’t have to spend top dollar on these, as there are lots of affordable brands.
 

Save: Foot and Hand Creams
Our hands and feet do the most physical work and to combat the dry skin that comes from lots of walking or washing the dishes we like to pamper them with specific creams. These products, however, are practically identical to your regular body lotion so you can save on products by just using one lotion all over.