Three budget beauty products you need in your life.

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If there’s one thing I like better than a beauty product, it’s chocolate.

No, wait. It’s a CHEAP beauty product (also; I like chocolate).

I’m not the type of gal to spend a lot of money on makeup. I wish I was that type of girl, they always seem like classier ladies than I am. But sadly, no. I am the Kmart-shopping, chemist-makeup-wearing type of cheapskate.

So when I have a cheap beauty product win, I want to shout it from the rooftop… of my local Chemist Warehouse.

I’ve bought a loooot of crappy products over the years, but somehow, I bought three goodies this month. So here they are, conveniently packaged together for you in one little post.

Image: Supplied.

1. The cheap foundation that Kim Kardashian recommended, $9.98.

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If I was Kim Kardashian, I'd buy liquid gold mixed with unicorn tears to spread all over my face, just because I had the budget. But she kindly recommended a few quality foundations under $20 for us peasants... And I fell head over heels for Maybelline's Fit Me Matte and Poreless foundation (currently $9.98 at Chemist Warehouse). More of a tinted mosituriser gal myself, I bought it before a wedding, when I wanted my skin to have a little more pizzazz; and now I'm so addicted to the dewy goodness from this foundation I'm wearing it every second day (which for me is A LOT). It's light, it's smooth, it's non-greasy and it gives good coverage.

And it was cheap. I'm getting a whole box. If you can find the right one for your skin tone, you should too.

2. The cheap hair straightener, $29.95.

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A GHD that I bought second-hand from Gumtree four years ago had finally started dying on me (why? Probably because it was second-hand four years ago... in straightener years, it's a great-Grandma). I was in the market for something new, but again, I didn't want to spend much money on it. I had the risky idea to buy a cheap straightener, as I'm about to go overseas, and could always ditch it over there if it died on me. So I bought Remington's Smooth Finish Ceramic Hair Straightener from The Good Guys for $29.95.

Once again, I am in love. (Post continues after gallery.)

This straightener works so well in my hair, giving the same dead straight or barrel curls as my GHD. I feel obliged to mention that my hair is as impressionable as a memory foam mattress (my hair is curly but thin, and relatively easy to straighten), but even so, I was surprised at how well this cheap straightener works for me.

Not only does the straightener have an automatic shut-off (which a space cadet like me needs desperately) and worldwide voltage, it also has variable heat settings. Of course, experts would recommend the high-end appliances like GHD and Cloud Nine, but if you are looking for a cheap alternative, I'm having great luck with the Remington. And judging by the reviews on The Good Guys and Big W websites, so are a lot of customers.

3. Primer with sunscreen, $13.95.

Image: Supplied.

As I said before, I am not one for fancy make-up, nor do I reallllly know what I'm doing. I do know, however, that too much sunshine = wrinkles, and daily SPF is the best way to preserve facial skin. I wanted to keep using my Maybelline foundation (see above) which does not have any SPF in it, so when I came across Rimmel's Fix & Protect Makeup Primer With SPF 25, I went for it.

It's runnier than other primers, probably because of the sunscreen. But once it's applied, it's smooth, non-greasy, and luminous. Seriously luminous. My hands were sparkling after I applied it. It seems quite white, so may not work on darker skin tones, but under foundation it might be okay.

My pores look so smooth and porcelain under the primer that I couldn't stop touching my face at first. I've even taken to wearing it just under a light layer of powder on the days I don't want foundation. And with an SPF factor of 25, it's good protection (unless you're in harsh sunlight, in which case, bump up to SPF 10000+ and get a hat and a roof).

If you're a cheapskate like me, feel FREE (get it? Us cheapskates love free stuff...) to try out these beauty wins for yourself. Both your mirror and your pocket will thank you.

I've gotta go and ask Kim Kardashian for any more cheap makeup tips. Later, beauties.