Nails Inc
Budget beauty products seem to be everywhere at the moment and with the credit crunch it couldn't come at a better time.
Mascara for a pound and lip gloss for under a fiver seems perfect but how good does it actually work? Are cheaper products just as good as their more expensive counterparts or is some stuff just worth splashing out on?
Female First hit the make up counters to find out how products up and down the price scale compare.
Today we look at nail varnish.
The cheapest nail varnish comes from Opia at Primark for just £1. It comes in a selection of nice bright colours but it does take a few coats to build up a good colour. It did stay quite tacky for a long time so smudged easily but if you're prepared to wait a while for it to dry you can't ask for much more for £1.
Slightly more expensive at £1.50 is Elf nail varnish. It comes in a variety of pinks, reds and purples so is perfect for this season's berry colour trend. It is a bit on the watery side though so applying it takes a bit of effort and that also meant it chipped quite easily. But like they say, you get what you pay for and this will see you through till pay day.
W7 nail varnish, £2.95, and unfortunately it could do better. Quite a few coats were needed to get a strong colour and it chipped quite easily.
L'Oreal's Paris Resist & Shine Nail Enamel, £4.99, had a smooth lustrous texture. It dried in just seconds and lasted three days before chipping. We loved it!
Max Factor's Infinity Nail Polish, £5.50, also had a great smooth finish. It lasted days without chipping but unfortunately the colour was so intense that a residue was left when it was taken off with nail varnish remover.
Jessica Nail Varnish, £6.95 from www.feelunique.com, comes in a great variety of colours, but they could benefit from being a bit shinier. It doesn't take too long to dry but it is a bit on the watery side so several coats are necessary.
Ciate Nail Paint Pots, £7.50, are beautifully packaged with cute little bows on the pot and come in some great colours. The initial coat is quite weak but the colour glides well so you don't have to wait for that too dry before doing the second. It has a nice thick texture and lasts well before chipping.
At £10.50 you'd expect a lot from Nails Inc's nail varnish. Fortunately it lives up to it's price tag, a thick, rich colour goes on in one coat. It was smooth to touch and didn't snag on anything, not even cotton wool! The fact it lasted five days without chipping but it head and shoulders above the competition.
So again it was a luxury product that fared best with Nails Ins getting full marks from FemaleFirst. If you are a bit on the skint side though Max Factor and L'Oreal's offerings are great, cheaper alternatives.
FemaleFirst - Jessica Watson