While having a poke about online for some daytime makeup looks and tutorials, I stumbled across this video on Lisa Eldridge’s channel where she’s doing the signature Alexa Chung makeup, inspired by Jane Birkin and a modern cat eye, on Alexa herself. Featured in the video, used right alongside some pretty high-end products, were two cheap and cheerful Rimmel London products that I immediately decided I wanted to learn more about.

First up was the blusher. In the video, Lisa says that she is going to use the Rimmel London Stay Blushed! Liquid Cheek Tint in Sunkissed Cherry (£4.49 for 14ml from Boots), and Alexa chimes in saying she isn’t the biggest fan of powder blushers – she prefers the “dewy vibe” of cremes and gels.

And so, as someone who’s overly familiar with powder blushers I decided to take the plunge and pop round my local Boots to get the scoop on this liquid cheek tint. Not that I have anything against powders per se, but ever since I’ve been putting so much effort into my skincare routine I’ve been noticing that my natural glow seems to be ‘hidden’ behind powders, and I’ve been reaching for shimmers to add some of that glow back.

This blusher comes in a little tube that’s easy to squeeze, and the blusher comes out in a thick little clump. It’s highly pigmented, so it’s possible to start off with a light colour and build up to more. I’m still struggling to get the right amount of coverage (I tend to put waaaayyy too much on and am still struggling with finger tip streaks!), but I really like the natural effect it leaves on my skin when I do get it right.

Next up was the lipstick! During the video, Lisa teased Alexa about the state of her lips, which made me keen to hear what she was going to suggest in terms of a lipstick. So when it was time, I was a bit surprised that Lisa recommended the Rimmel London Moisture Renew Lipstick in Nude Delight (£6.49 at Boots) and not something very expensive or ‘premium’.

Regardless, I decided to check it out. I picked up the colour mentioned in the video – Nude Delight – as well as another, darker colour for autumn – Dark Night Waterl-oops! – because, at that price, how could I not?!

Like the blusher, this lipstick is highly pigmented so it’s possible to build up the coverage so it can either be lightly sheer or bright and bold – you choose. It glides on smoothly, and feels more like a chapstick than a lipstick. (Which is a plus in my book! I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again: I prefer makeup that doesn’t feel like I’m wearing any.) I wore them over a lip balm, and when applied lightly (i.e.: gently tapping onto my lip for a more sheer effect) these lasted about 2 hours without eating or drinking before I felt like I needed a touch up; when applied ‘thickly’ they lasted about 4 hours including drinking a mug of hot chocolate.

I’m pleasantly surprised that both the lipsticks and the blusher are all able to stand on their own, despite being of the cheap and cheerful variety. Which is, basically, lesson learned for me!

What are you favourite budget makeup finds? xo