The perfect pick-up

I'M a sucker for a cute cosmetic - I freely admit it. I once spent £20 on those little

cosmetics you attach to your phone like a charm, only realising afterwards that I didn't have the kind of phone you could attach anything to. But the assortment of lip glosses, eyeshadows and god-knows-what-else were so adorable they were worn around shoes, bags, belts, anything. 

My latest find are these handbag-sized trio sets of eyeliner (£14) by TheBalm at cultbeauty.co.uk.  These handy Pick-Up Liners are mini eyeliners in kicking shades of navy, olive and plum or black, brown and gray, and are water resistant to provide a soft texture for easy application and blending, with a long lasting finish.  The vintage inspired packaging and the names made me smile, 'You must know karate 'cuz your bod is kickin', or ‘Your name must be Mickey ‘cuz you’re so fine’, and even comes with a built-in sharpener to keep eyes perfectly lined at all times.

Creating come-to-bed eyes has never been so easy...

Cosmetically-challenged

DESPITE being a self-confessed shopaholic, it's clear that my spending alone is not enough to support the high street economy in the present credit crunch; a fact which is provoking surprise from my nearest and dearest.

 But then I have always been a firm believer that you don't need the bank account of a millionaire to feel like a million pounds. And the beauty sector is a great place for a bargain. 

 In recent years studies have shown that sometimes it can be the cheaper brands which provide the better results - the Protect and Repair Serum from the No7 range at Boots turned out to be a hidden gem in a sea of pricey anti-aging potions and over a year since that discovery the serum has been leaving the shelves quicker than it can be re-stocked. A similar situation has arisen with a night cream from Aldi.

There are some items you will never need to spend a fortune on, kohl eyeliner for example. It tends to do the same job regardless of whether it's Chanel 

or Collection 2000.

 Eyeshadow shouldn't have to be expensive either if you invest in a few preparation products first. Splash out on a eyeshadow primer - my current favourite being the Urban Decay Potion (£9.50 Boots) - and you'll get to re-discover all of those eyeshadows you bought, used once and then hid in the bottom of your make-up bag as their staying power was less than desirable. 

Any problems with creasing into the eye socket or fading are removed - it's a little miracle and will save you a lot of money (and heartbreak) in the long-run.

You will find your eyeshadow applies much easier if you get yourself a decent set of cosmetic brushes. I swear by the range available at The Body Shop (eyeshadow brushes are £8.50). Rinse them from time to time in warm water and a little bit of mild soap and they will last for years.

If you are looking for vibrant eyeshadow colours, try the GOSH range at Superdrug, Barry M is always a great option too which won't break the bank. But if you want to work this season's sultry eye look, try the latest limited edition Deadly Nightshade from the The Body Shop's shimmercube range. Priced at £16, you get four cubes of colour in silver, grey and blues which catch the light beautifully and are perfect to help you smoulder.