Affordable <i>and</i> talc-free: Maybelline mineral make-up

Been longing to hop on the mineral make-up bandwagon, but a bit strapped for cash mid-month? Yeh, me too. Good job that Maybelline have just brought out a mineral foundation and blush, so. And unlike other similarly-priced brands who are feckin' divils for using talc as a bulking ingredient in their mineral offerings, Maybelline's Pure.Foundation and Pure.Blush are totally talc-free.

The foundation is SPF15, and promises pretty much to transform you into an ethereal goddess. Their website breathlessly announces that you can expect "complete, yet feather light coverage", "natural-looking luminosity", "healthier-looking skin", "improved skin clarity" and more even-looking skin tone. Sounds blimmin' marvellous, but you may want to invest in a brush other than the one Maybelline provide you with for application as it's bit on the stubby, scratchy side.

The blusher, meanwhile, is available in 6 quite-sheer-but-buildable shades and gives a subtle, natural-looking pop of colour to cheeks.

All in all, not too bloodeh shabby!