For too long, budget beauty brands have been deemed a means to an end - an alternative to pricier cosmetics and more often than not to dupe a product that your budget can't quite stretch to accommodate nor justify. Sure I have dabbled with budget cosmetics for the above reasons - haven't we all - but I have come to realise that the budget sector can often trump pricier cosmetic brands, you just need to know where to look and what to look for.

In my opinion - humble or not - the best and most long wearing matte liquid lipstick formulations are those that can be found on the highstreet - forget the pricey Anastasia Beverly Hills offerings (they are drying and patchy) and stock up on NYX Liquid Suede Cream Lipsticks, Revlon Ultra HD Matte Lip Colours and Sleek Make Up Matte Me Lip Creams - all of which will cost you less than £10 each, come in great and varied shades not to mention wear beautifully. For those in the U.S (or visiting), I can not recommend Sephora's Lip Stains nor the ever raved about Colour Pop Liquid Lipsticks - all of which again won't set you back more than a couple of dollars and easily trump high end liquid matte lipsticks.
Then there is mascara, why is it that budget beauty brands often offer the most superior mascara formulations" I own and have tried most high end mascaras over the years and more often than not, I come away feeling disappointed rather than impressed, and yet with budget mascaras it is the complete opposite. Perhaps wit...