Looking good on TV doesn’t come cheap. It was reported this week that the BBC has a budget of £1million per year to spend on ‘make-up services’ for its London-based news presenters and guests.
It came after a report in 2011 revealed the BBC’s make-up team used expensive brands such as Chanel, Dior and Laura Mercier. But are high-end products the only way to look well groomed?
As a 53-year-old beauty editor, I know top make-up artists are worth their weight in gold for their ability to make less-than-perfect complexions look flawless. But I also know you don’t always have to spend a fortune on products to achieve great results.
To discover what’s worth investing in and what’s not, I created two different make-up looks using posh brands versus more budget-friendly options. So, can you spot which face cost £404 and which under £100? And can you tell which one made me feel most ready for my close-up?
To discover what’s worth investing in and what’s not, Lucia Ferrari created two different make-up looks including one using posh brands (left), costing £404. She is way more impressed than she thought she would be with the overall look of the pocket-friendly purchases (right) – costing £95 – once they’re applied together
All about the base
Luxe: Charlotte Tilbury Unreal Skin Sheer Glow Tint Hydrating Foundation Stick (£35, charlottetilbury.com)
Whenever I ask a beauty editor what foundation she’s wearing, it often turns out to be this one. It really does give skin a beautiful luminous radiance but needs powder to stay in place all day.
Score: 7/10
Less: Kiko Gloss Supreme Bare Skin Foundation (£10.50, kikocosmetics.com)
I can’t believe how expensive everything about this seems, from the container to the finished look on the skin. It’s a winner.
Score: 8/10
At the moment it seems like whenever I ask a beauty editor what foundation she’s wearing, it turns out to be this new offering from Charlotte Tilbury. I’m not surprised as it really does give skin a beautiful luminous radiance, however it does need powder to stay in place all day.
Score: 7/10
I remember queuing up in Italy to buy this last summer and it sold out on its launch day. I still can’t believe how expensive everything about this seems from the container (the same little pebble shaped bottle as the Lisa Eldridge Seamless Skin Tint, £37) to the finished look on the skin. It’s a winner.
Score: 8/10
Bags be gone
Luxe: Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage Concealer (£34, cultbeauty.co.uk)
A favourite with many make-up artists for its long-wearing, cover-anything appeal. That said, my non-professional make-up skills sometimes make it look a bit cakey under my eyes.
Score: 5/10
Less: Maybelline Instant Anti-Age Eraser Multi Use Concealer (£9.99, boots.com)
An excellent sponge applicator and it disappears seamlessly under the eyes. Choose a shade lighter than your skin tone to improve dark circles. A great find.
Score: 9/10
A favourite with many make-up artists for its long-wearing, cover-anything appeal. That said, my non-professional makeup application skills sometimes make it look a bit cakey under my eyes.
Score: 5/10
An excellent sponge applicator and it disappears seamlessly under the eyes. Choose a shade lighter than your skin tone to improve dark circles. I see this in lots of top make-up artists’ kits. A great find.
Score: 9/10
Bronze medal
Luxe: Chanel Les Beiges Bronzing Cream, in Soleil Tan Bronze (£48, johnlewis.com)
A make-up icon that doesn’t sparkle and leaves skin looking sun-kissed – and expensive. Comes in a good range of colours too.
Score: 9/10
Less: Revolution Mega Bronzer in Warm (£5.99, boots.com)
It’s hard to compete with the double C logo, so this definitely won’t win on packaging. The colour is pretty good but, be warned, it’s easy to overdo it, so have a very light hand when applying.
Score: 5/10
This pot of creamy bronzer is a modern make-up icon. It frequently sells out. Non sparkly and leaves skin looking sunkissed and expensive. Comes in a good range of colours too.
Score: 9/10
It’s hard to compete with the double C logo, so this definitely won’t win on packaging, however the colour is pretty good but, be warned, it’s easy to overdo it so have a very light hand when applying.
Score: 5/10
Brush work
Luxe: Otis Batterbee and Caroline Barnes collaboration (£95 for 12 brushes, otisbatterbee.com)
Make-up artist Caroline Barnes collaborated with Otis Batterbee, known for creating perfect brushes both for non-make-up artists and professionals. The birchwood handles are lovely to hold and the bristles are carefully angled for easy application.
Score: 8/10
Less: Boots concealer, lip and eyeshadow brushes (from £3, boots.com)
The nylon bristles feel like they won’t keep their shape for very long and the aluminium handles are a bit tinny. I used the foundation brush, £5, for this look.
Score: 4/10
Caroline Barnes has collaborated with British Brush maker Otis Batterbee who is known for creating perfect brushes for non-make-up artists as well as professionals. Smaller than most brushes on the market and made from Birchwood, Caroline was adamant that most brushes are way too big for the average face to ‘create light and shade.’ These feel lovely to hold and the bristles are carefully angled for an easy application. If you divide the cost, it works out at just over £7 per brush.
Score: 8/10
The nylon bristles feel like they won’t keep their shape for very long and the aluminium handles are a bit tinny. I used the foundation brush, £5, for this look and made do to keep costs low.
Score: 4/10
Lighten up
Luxe: Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter Youth Glow (£39, charlottetilbury.com)
The original bestseller which you can use as a highlighter or mixed with foundation over the face for the Tilbury glow.
Score: 8/10
Less: Elf Halo Glow Liquid Filter (£15, boots.com)
Probably as famous as the Charlotte Tilbury product, which came out first, but this doesn’t feel in any way cheap. The glass bottle looks very premium, and the colour choice is excellent.
Score: 9/10
The original bestseller which you can use as a highlighter or mixed with foundation all over the face for the Tilbury glow. Regular users will know that it often sells out with lengthy waits for it to be restocked.
Score: 8/10
Probably as famous as the Charlotte Tilbury product, which was launched before it, but this doesn¿t feel in any way cheap. The glass bottle looks very premium, and the colour choice is excellent.
Score: 9/10
The eyes have it
Luxe: Chantecaille Brightening Eye Kajal (£29, harveynichols.com)
One of the latest soft kajal eyeliners – a highly pigmented pencil that makes a smoky eye (without any eyeshadow) very easy.
Score: 7/10
Less: Hildun Silk to Set Kajal liner (£16, hildunbeauty.co.uk)
At £16 this is not exactly cheap, but the quality is superb considering it’s just over half the price of the higher-end kajals. It lasts really well too.
Score: 9/10
Max mascara
Luxe: Lancome Hypnose Water-proof Mascara (£29, johnlewis.com)
Most make-up artists prefer waterproof mascara as it’s less likely to smudge – crucial if you’re a TV presenter. This is a classic for glamorous long-wearing lashes.
Score: 7/10
Less: Maybelline Lash Sensational Full Fan Effect Waterproof Mascara (£9.99, boots.com)
Creates great-looking lashes and is often used by celebrity make-up artist Wendy Rowe.
Score: 9/10
Most make-up artists prefer waterproof mascara as it’s less likely to smudge which is of course crucial if you’re a TV presenter. This is a classic and is hard to beat for glamorous long-wearing lashes.
Score: 7/10
Creates great looking lashes and celebrity makeup artist Wendy Rowe often uses this one.
Score: 9/10
Blush worthy
Luxe: Merit Cheeky Flush Balm(£26, meritbeauty.com)
A sheer balm for a groomed make-up look and the packaging is very glamorous.
Score: 7/10
Less: NYX Buttermelt Blush(£8.99, superdrug.com)
True luxe for less. It has a nice creamy texture and lasts well on the skin. The blush comes in lots of pretty soft and pale colours.
Score: 8/10
Perfect pout
Luxe: Lisa Eldridge Beauty Rouge Experience Refillable Lipstick in Romy (£49, libertylondon.com)
The most perfect nude I’ve found, and hard to beat for a flattering lipstick that lasts all day. I love that the bullet is refillable, and the case is beautiful.
Score: 10/10
Less: Revolution Allure Soft Satin lipstick in Chauffeur Nude (£5.99, boots.com)
A great bargain lipstick with a surprisingly luxurious feeling texture for the price.
Score: 7/10
For a polished daytime look, this satin matt finish in one of the most perfect nudes I¿ve found, is hard to beat for a flattering lipstick that lasts all day. I also love that the bullet is refillable, and the case is beautiful. A real joy to hold and apply. Importantly I have never known it to smear on teeth which would be a TV disaster.
Score: 10/10
A great bargain lipstick with a surprisingly luxurious feeling texture for the price. Love this caramelly nude colour.
Score: 7/10
Powder power
Luxe: By Terry Hyaluronic Hydra Powder (£20, spacenk.com)
The first non-powdery powder I’ve used to set make-up for a flawless soft-focus finish, making it a perfect choice for high-definition TV appearances.
Score: 9/10
Less: Elf Perfect Finish HD Powder (£7.50, elfcosmetics.co.uk)
A similar loose-setting powder, it doesn’t feel quite as feather light, but it’s a brilliant bargain.
Score: 6/10
The first non-powdery powder I¿ve used to keep shine at bay and set make-up for a flawless soft-focus finish, making it a perfect choice for no-place-to-hide high-definition TV appearances.
Score: 9/10
A similar loose setting powder to the By Terry, it doesn¿t feel quite as feather light ¿ but it¿s a brilliant bargain.
Score: 6/10
Final verdict
I’m way more impressed than I thought I would be with the overall look of the pocket-friendly purchases once they’re applied together – particularly the foundation and concealers.
And I’m flabbergasted that, in the end, I prefer the overall look of the cheaper brands – having spent a fortune on make-up most of my life.
However, the feeling of using a luxury product and the satisfaction of an expensive compact click is, for me, one of life’s pleasures. So I’ll never give up my posh lipstick or bronzer. Like fashion, the joy of beauty is combining the high and low.
