When it comes to budget-friendly makeup, you can't beat a trip to Boots to see what's on offer. These days, it's easier than ever to choose cruelty-free and vegan cosmetics that won't break the bank. As I've been feeling nostalgic this month, I thought I'd try out some of the bestsellers from the popular 17 makeup range.
If you grew up as a young girl in England, you're probably quite familiar with the Boots 17 brand. Like many teenagers, some of my very first makeup purchases were from this range (if I remember correctly, it was a bright pink lipstick and a lilac single eyeshadow with lots of glitter), so it's been an interesting experience to pick up a couple of products to try out and see how they feel as a mid-30's millennial. The brand has had a much-hyped revival after being discontinued in 2018 and there are plenty of new treats to discover with everything costing £5 or under!
I've played it safe and chosen some everyday makeup staples to see how they compare to what I generally use on a day-to-day basis, which may help those who are seeking some cheaper alternatives due to the cost of living crisis.
17 Extreme Extension Lengthening Mascara in Black (12ml, £4 or £3 with a Boots Advantage Card)
I'll have to admit that it's been a while since I've used a mascara that cost less than a fiver so I didn't have high expectations. 17 has a couple of different mascara formulas on offer and Extreme Extension sounded like the ideal one for me as I typically look for lots of length and definition. The packaging is very basic and quite chunky, but the rubberized flexible wand looked promising.
First coat on and I really loved the results; it definitely adds noticeable length to my short lashes, defines them nicely, and has great pigmentation. The second coat, however, caused my lashes to stick and clump together so it didn't work for me as a buildable mascara. That said, for a one-coat, everyday mascara, it stays put for a good 8 hours and doesn't flake or smudge which is £4 well spent in my opinion!
17 Glow Is Everything CC Cream (30ml, £4)
Packaged in a cute squeezy tube, I'd seen the Glow Is Everything CC Cream raved about on various socials so this one was an obvious choice for me to try out. Having been pre-warned about the very limited shade range (this CC Cream is available in only four shades), I picked up the oddly named 003P which looked like a standard beige colour online and IRL this was a decent match for my light-medium skin tone.
Upon squeezing a little of the product out, I noticed a slight chemical/plastic smell but it wasn't too off-putting so I grabbed a beauty blender sponge and cracked on. The light coverage looked surprisingly good with a subtle dewy/glowy finish and lasted well for 7-8 hours of wear. Again, this would be great for every day and those fresh 'no makeup makeup' looks. I did find that it oxidized later on in the day, turning a little orangey on my skin, but I felt that I could maybe get away with it when my complexion is a bit more tanned in the summer months. Not bad at all for the price point.
The most talked about product was the 17 Second Skin Enhancing Concealer which retails for the bargain price of just two pounds. Two quid! I couldn't believe my eyes! Into the basket it went, although straight off the bat, the shade range is again very limited with just ten colours on offer.
001P looked like my best bet which is suitable for light-medium skin tones. The texture and consistency of this concealer is amazing. It blends so easily and definitely delivers a natural skin-like finish which feels velvety smooth! The coverage is also pretty decent; it won't fully conceal dark circles but with a corrector underneath, it achieves a lovely flawless effect that didn't crease into my fine lines and feels creamy and hydrating. I'd say this worked better for my under eyes than a blemish concealer. Like the CC Cream, it does oxidize a little throughout the day so I'd recommend picking a lighter shade. This is currently my best budget buy of the year so far!
17 Makeup Summary
Pros:
- Amazing value for money, everything is under £5
- Cruelty-free
- Everything is vegan-friendly
- Great for everyday wear
- Easy products to apply & blend
Cons:
- Very, very limited shade range
- CC and Concealer do oxidise
- Packaging does feel cheap & basic
- Products have a slight chemical/plastic scent
Have you revisited 17 Makeup as an adult?
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