Here is a secret the beauty industry does not shout about: some of the best products in Australia live in Chemist Warehouse and the supermarket beauty aisle. Brands like MCoBeauty have made beautiful makeup genuinely affordable, and knowing how to shop them is a skill worth having.
Budget is not the same as lesser
Plenty of pharmacy products share factories, formulas and finishes with prestige names at several times the price. The trick is knowing which categories translate well. Mascara, lip liner, blush and setting sprays are brilliant places to save. Where it is worth being fussier is base products, because a foundation that matches your undertone and suits your skin type is the difference between makeup that melts in and makeup that sits on top.
How to shop the aisle like a pro
Shop with a list built around your actual face, not the display. Check shades in natural light near the shopfront, test textures on your jaw rather than your hand if testers allow, and be honest about your routine: a twelve step look you will never do on a Tuesday is not a bargain at any price. If you are starting from scratch, our everyday makeup tips cover the products that earn their keep.
Or take me with you
This is exactly what the Shop With Me service is for. We meet at your local shopping centre and spend an hour finding the skincare and makeup that suit your skin, your colouring and your budget, with a 15 minute phone consult beforehand so we shop with a plan. It is especially lovely for teenagers buying their very first products, no counters, no pressure, no wasted money.
Curious what a considered kit looks like? Have a peek inside my professional makeup kit, then say hello to book a shopping trip.
