I’ll admit it. I’m a former beauty thief. Standing in our shared shower at uni my flatmate’s expensive-smelling Kerastase always looked so much more inviting than my meagre Herbal Essences duo. So every now and again, I’d have a little squeeze. How would she know anyway? And let’s face it; the issue that actually needs addressing here is how could she afford Kerastase as a student? I’m no mathematical genius but I really don’t think pulling pints at JD Wetherspoons could have supported such a habit #justsaying.
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But then we worked out something genius: there were five of us in total so if we clubbed together on certain products we’d have more money to spend on the good stuff (back then, Britney Spears’s Curious; now, Tom Ford’s Neroli Portofino). Plus, it would have meant a lot less time in the Leeds branch of Bodycare, the beauty equivalent of Poundland.
So, while there are some things to keep to yourself – foundation, moisturiser, mascara should NOT be pooled – these are the products you can (and should) go halfsies on…
The Luxe Body Cream
Weighing in at almost a litre (946ml to be exact), the Bliss Pro Size Lemon & Sage Body Butter, £62, is pretty epic. Not just your regular shea butter business, this contains sodium hyaluronate – a fancy ingredient that stops moisture escaping from your skin so scaly patches will cease to be a problem. Plus the pump top applicator means no dealing with dried-on gunk around the lid – never nice, especially when you’re sharing.
The Iconic Hair Treatment
Created in 1974 to keep Audrey Hepburn’s hair in mint condition, a bottle of Philip Kingsley’s Elasticizeris sold every minute – proof alone that it aces every hair type, even Afro. A pre-shampoo treatment that stops it looking ratty and damaged, you only need to use a shot glass worth of the stuff once a week. Available in travel-size, 150ml, 500ml and one litre options (£75), the latter will keep you going for up to a year.
The Genius Hair Setter
You don’t have to fork out big bucks for a decent hairspray, as long as it does what it says and keeps your style put without any Lego head side effects or horrid stickiness – crucial when you’re casually styling out that nonchalant hair flick at the bar. For updos, down-dos and everything else in between, TRESemme’s Salon Finish Firm Hold Hairspray, £5.99, in its whopping half litre canister is a trusty blow-dry accompaniment.
The Plus-Size Body Wash
Yes to Grapefruit’s Rejuvenating Body Wash, £8, will perk you up almost as much as your morning latte (I said almost). Zingy and fresh with an inoffensive scent – crucial when there’s more than one nose to appeal to, the citrus extracts in this gently lift away dead skin cells so you get a mini exfoliation session every time you wash.
The Toner You Always Thought You Didn't Need
The debate over whether you need a toner continues to crop up in beauty circles. The jury’s still out but Kiehl’s Herbal Extract Calendula Toner, £50 for 500ml isn’t your standard offering. It’s really gentle and as well as mopping up any ikky residue left over from your cleanser, the bits you can see floating about in the bottom are hand-picked Marigold petals that soothe and calm every complexion, even you sensitive sorts. With two people using it daily, you’ll easily get 12 months out of it.
The Wash And Go Duo
Ah, Aveda. The holy grail of shampoo that’s available in Coca-Cola sized bottles. Same hair colour as your angel investor? Plump for one of the colour specific duos. Or if you want a good all-rounder, try the Damage Repair Shampoo, £66 and Conditioner, £91. Compatible with dyed, curly, thick or fine hair it’s tasty blend of quinoa, coconut and babassu (say that one out loud) feeds it back to life. Aveda say one litre should last 1,000 washes, which works out at less than a penny per wash. Hello bargain hunter!
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This article originally appeared on The Debrief.