Thank you everyone for entering.  Selfishly, and because it’s all about me at the end of the day, I really really enjoyed checking out the website and reading comments from real people instead of hitting the delete button on the spam I generally receive.  Thank you!  

Thank you also for taking so much time to tell me what beauty products you really love.   It’s fascinating because as a beauty writer you are cocooned, swaddled, pampered by publicists who woo you with the latest anti-ageing cream/perfume/body moisturiser/nose-hair trimmer.  As a result, it’s great to take a step out of that comfort zone.   I love being marooned in an airport departure lounge somewhere very foreign and discovering things I haven’t been sent a press release on, things you can’t buy here.  Or in a foreign pharmacy.  I spent ages reading all your comments and finding out that there’s a whole big beauty world out there, much bigger than the little planet beauty I inhabit.  

What did I discover?  That many of you are on a budget, which means you choose your products wisely and don’t make mistakes.  But a budget doesn’t stop you splashing out on two top beauty accessories: a smile and good old tap water, both of which make you feel healthy and beautiful.  Some things you won’t compromise on, even if they can feel like a leap of faith - “Natura Bisse Diamond Exreme Eye is so expensive it has to  work,” writes Sophie Matthews.  

Facial oils seem to be popular - Espa and Joe Malone were named as two of your favourites.  Rosehip Oil and Bio oil are named as being good for scars.  Nude does a good cleansing oil.  Jo Craven uses Clarins Orchid Oil under her eyes in the day to keep the skin from looking dry, and after a bath because the smell is heavenly. 

Classic products are still going strong.   Caroline loves Vaseline for her lips and eyelashes - I carry a small tin of it  (with aloe) in my purse and use it several times a day.  She also loves Badedas, to which I’m addicted.  (It reminds me of my childhood - my mum used to have it in their avocado bathroom and you were only allowed a splash if you were sick.  Very sick. Now it makes me feel comforted rather than that I’ve just had two weeks’ of some hideous gastric flu, which is a relief).   St Ives  Apricot Scrub is still going strong.   Personally I remember it as being a bit abrasive - perhaps they’ve modified the formula since I tried it years (and years) ago.  Palmer’s Cocoa Butter, Liz Earle’s Cleanse and Polish, Clarins Beauty Flash Balm,  Estee Lauder’s Day Wear (Tinted moisturiser) are all favourites.

When it comes to make-up, you don’t muck about.  Straight to the more directional brands - MAC, Nars, Urban Decay.   They’re the brands favoured by professionals, so clearly I have a very discerning readership!

And one big surprise.  I only let you choose three products.  Sherry listed as one of her’s:  Avon’s Super Shape Anti-Cellulte and Stretch Mark cream, at $15.  Now everyone knows that the jury’s been out for a long time on anti-cellulite creams.  Which means she either works for Avon and is on commission, or it really works!  I am going to call up those nice people at the press office and try it.  Sherry has two children and says that while nothing can cure those problems (I think she means the stretch marks etc, rather than the children themselves, otherwise it really would be a miracle cream) her skin is tightening up after a month’s use.  Bring it on!

When I posted this competition I didn’t really think it through, I’ll be honest with you.  How would I choose a winner when at least three of the entries were my friends!  I printed off the comments, cut them into strips and called in some unbiased assistants, immune to bribery and corruption.

 Step in Armand and Emmanuelle.   “Stand here,” I said, “hold this bag, and pull out a piece of paper.”  ”Why?”  ”Never mind why, hurry up we’re late for school…”   Armand chose the winner.

Bex gets first prize, which is the stash of goodies.  As soon as I’ve found a post office that hasn’t closed down in London I’ll send it all off to her.   (In case you’re interested, Bex loves Decleor Prolagene Gel which she really recommends for any type of scarring, from shaving accidents to acne scars - I’m buying some now, as well as St Ives Apricot Facial Scrub and Herbal Essences Shampoo and Conditioner which she rates over more expensive brands). 

Emmanuelle picked the runner up. 

Susan is a single mum and has to budget for beauty, big-time, so I’m really happy to be able to send her some treats too.  She loves Liz Earle’s Cleanse & Polish (which her mum buys for her, before you all shout, “but that’s not a budget buy!”) and also Vaseline and lots of water.  

Thank you again, I’ve enjoyed this so much I’ll have to do another one soon.   In the mean time, there are lots of great product tips so it’s worth reading through everyone’s comments if you have the time.  Here’s the link: http://kathleenbaird-murray.co.uk/2009/03/03/thank-you-daily-mail-heres-my-beauty-giveaway/