Beauty & Make-up

As the sun starts to show up in earnest (we hope) in the UK, it's the time of year when you might start thinking about sunscreen, unless you wear it daily as recommended by foundations such as The British Skincare Foundation. Sunscreen can be expensive, which worryingly can put people off using the recommended amount, but I've found a fab freebie for you, plus tips on where to get cheap sunscreen with five-star UVA protection.

We've always been a fan of downshifting at MSE, where you switch from brands to much cheaper ‘dupes’ – lookalike products, where often even the packaging is similar to the expensive brand. Now I'm challenging you to 'downshift the downshifters' and swap your favourite £4 Lidl or £6 Aldi perfume dupe for a £1.25 or £2 version at Home Bargains. Will you take the double downshift challenge?

At MSE, we’ve challenged you to ‘downshift’ your grocery shop for years (check our Downshifting Guide), but you can also save on make-up and beauty products by downshifting from brands to much cheaper ‘dupes’ – lookalike products, where often even the packaging is similar to the expensive brand.

Beauty Advent calendars are significantly pricier than chocolate ones, but they've become increasingly popular in the last few years as a way of bagging beauty products at a fraction of the normal cost. They often sell out early, but can also be heavily discounted later if they don't, so here's a round-up of some of the best I’ve seen.

The annual No7 beauty Advent calendar is mega-popular with MoneySavers, and this year Boots is releasing FOUR separate calendars. They're available online and in Boots stores now.

Most of us want to do our bit to help the planet, yet beauty products often come in packaging that isn't easily recycled. You might not know, however, that a few big brands will reward you with freebies or discounts for returning your empty containers.

Beauty – is it in the eye of the beholder, or hand of the cardholder? As the cost of lotions and potions adds up, along with their environmental impact, I've put together 11 cheap and easy beauty tips and tricks so you can avoid spending more than you need. Some of these tips are a bit extreme so I know they might not be up everyone's street, but let's see how many of them you'll give a go...

It's that time of year again, and one of the big beauty Advent calendars MoneySavers wait for has been released. Once again, Boots is offering two No7 Advent calendars at different price points. I've got the info on what's inside them and I've done the maths so you can decide if they're worth buying.

Premium brands such as Mac, Charlotte Tilbury, Estée Lauder, etc are popular among beauty fans, but often come at a price. Beauty Pie is a luxury beauty ‘buyer's club’ that claims to keep quality high and costs low by selling products straight from the lab. But can having a slice of the pie, slice the price on your premium makeup & skincare buying habits?

With Halloween creeping up on us, it's easy to forget to prepare for the holiday of scare – which is why I've got you covered (in bloooood). Here are some spooktacular quick and easy MoneySaving ideas you can make with ingredients from your kitchen cupboard... and as they say, if you've got it, haunt it! 👻