#nofilter by Denise Smith

post-holiday come down, I’m absolutely broke. The beans on toast kinda broke, I may be feeling the pinch but there is always a way to build a make-up kit on a budget. Here are my favourite pocket-friendly products.

Iconic Bronze X Chloe Ormond Medium Liquid Tan, €5 IF I’M going to be broke, then at least let me be broke and tanned. This nourishing body bronzer is paraben free and enriched with aloe vera and green tea so you don’t just get a glow-up — you also get supersoft limbs too. It’s quick drying and buildable meaning a major colour payoff with zero streaks. A tan-tastic way to get an instant glow.

Max Factor False Lash Effect Mascara, €14.99 WE ALL want fuller, thicker lashes without having to slap on falsies that resemble spider legs. If you want to avoid running the risk of gluing your fingers together, bin the fake eyelashes and try this cult classic out for size. Doubling the thickness of lashes in just seconds, each and every lash is coated in rich, jet-black pigment to lengthen, curl and intensify.

Catrice The Perfector Poreless Blur Primer, €5.50 I DON’T want to sound dramatic, but pores are the literal bane of my existence so I’ll try almost anything to banish the potholes on my face. This primer contains nourishing niacinamide which helps tighten the little suckers and it also has a delightful light mousse texture that glosses over the unmentionables for a soft-focus blur effect. Apply it on its own for a smooth, fresh-faced look or as a base underneath foundation for extra long-lasting make-up.

Penneys PS… Pro Vegan Face Brush Set, €8 YOU don’t have to remortgage your house to bag the right face-sculpting tools. Penneys, as usual, has a range of affordable, high-quality bristles, complete with sleek designs that make them easy to clean.

L’Oréal Paris Life’s a Peach Blush Powder, €11.99 THIS sweet-as-a-peach blusher will give your cheeks a flush of radiant colour. Super blendable and peach-scented — yes, please — just a swipe of this will deliver a rush of natural-looking colour to your face but in the most natural way. Apply on the apple of the cheeks, blending outwards. For a sculpted look, use after bronzing powder and blend up along the cheekbone.

Ayu Cosmetics Perfect Skin Foundation, €35 THIS lightweight foundation — currently on sale for the bargain price of €10 from ayu.ie — is perfect for those all-important touch-ups on your morning commute. You can expect a buildable matt coverage that will blur out imperfections and blemishes, without clogging pores. Remember to buff into the skin using circular motions et voilà — a shine-free complexion that hasn’t cost you the earth.

Wet n Wild Color Icon Bronzer, €5.99 YOU don’t have to splash out on designer beauty brands to get the sun-kissed look this summer. This cheap-as chips-bronzer, infused with gel, glides across my skin as easily as a cream, making it blendable and buildable. It’s cruelty-free and vegan too.