Simple light moisturiser and Crème De La Mer face cream (Image © Ciao)

Is the value of your make-up bag enough to wipe out the debt of a small third world country? It could be time for a re-think.

What we deem as 'essential' is probably much more than bog-standard soap and toothpaste. Night cream, mascara, cleanser and foundation are just some of the can't-live-without items that clutter up our bathrooms, and with the latest miracle products often carrying exorbitant price tags, many of us are willing to risk our bank balances for the sake of looking good.

But do we really need to spend so much? Will cheaper items compromise our look or is price really an indicator of quality? Read on to find out where you can afford to cut back.

Compare prices on make-up on Ciao

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