SOMETIMES the best beauty products aren’t always worth breaking the bank.
These nine inexpensive picks perform above and beyond their price tag.
Thank me later!
1. The Buildable Blush
Superdrug’s dual blush has cream and powder options, just like Patrick Ta’s blush for £37 Credit: Studio
Studio London Flaunt Flawless Blush Duet, £6
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Blush is the best way to lift a tired complexion.
Years ago, Beyoncé’s make-up artist, Sir John, taught me that if you want a product to last, you should first apply a cream formula, then set with a powder version.
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It’s a great trick, but one that often requires two separate products.
This duo combines a cream formula and silky powder in complementary shades, so you can wear them alone, or layer them for maximum impact.
2. The Comforting Scent
This inexpensive fragrance smells luxurious Credit: boots.com
Boots Last Note Echoes Of You, £12.99 for 50ml EDP
I’m not one to make sweeping statements, but I think this might be the best-value eau de parfum ever made!
The scent is worthy of a far higher price tag, thanks to the sophisticated mix of pink pepper, iris, amber and musk, which make it reminiscent of walking into a loved one’s home – familiar and cosy, but more exciting than crossing your own threshold.
The combination of soft, spicy and powdery notes also reminds me of the iconic Glossier You fragrance, but at just a fraction of the cost.
3. The Party-Ready Eyeshadow
This dual-shimmery eyeshadow is perfect for the upcoming holiday season Credit: H&M
H&M Eye Scene Eyeshadow Duo, £6.99
It may feel like the sun has only just set on summer, but it will be party season before you know it, and this duo is your perfect plus-one, thanks to the combination of a smooth, satin shimmer formula and showstopping glitter.
The rich formulas aren’t at all chalky, making them easy to blend with either a brush or using your ring finger – my preferred application method, particularly with glitter as it gives you more control.
There are three shades to choose from – warm-toned, copper-hued Desert Spark duo makes green eyes pop, while the olive-based Metallic Forest is great for deeper skin tones.
4. The Hydrating Lip Tint
This hydrating hybrid lip mask is also a lip tint, best of both worlds! Credit: NYX Professional Makeup
Nyx Professional Makeup Smushy SOS Hydrating Lip Mask, £9.99
The hydrating hybrid options available now mean I haven’t used a traditional dry lipstick for a while.
This mask-tint is the latest to make it into my rotation.
I love the Red-y 2 Chill shade, but there are eight options and each comes with a different scent, like a grown-up Lip Smacker.
The soft-touch applicator is akin to balms more than double the price, and the colour is buildable, so you can tailor the saturation.
5. The Longwear Foundation
This foundation is worth the hype, it’s non-comedogenic, oil-free and has 40 shades Credit: Rebecca Spencer Photography
Revolution Superfix All Day Blur Longwear Blurring Foundation, £9.99
If I’m going to spend time applying make-up, I want it to last all day, so I’ve tried more longwear foundations than I can count – and this is up there with the best.
It has a dual-applicator, allowing you to use the pump on large areas, and a doe-foot end to tackle specific concerns.
It’s also non-comedogenic and oil-free, so won’t block pores or cause breakouts, and there are a massive 40 shades, so you shouldn’t have trouble finding your perfect skin match.
6. The High-Shine Nail Polish
With Primark’s high-shine nail polish, you can achieve a salon-worthy mani for just £1 Credit: primark.com
PS. . . Gel Effect Polish, £1
Gel polish is my go-to over summer, as warmer weather can slow down the drying time of traditional polish and even stop it setting entirely, which makes doing an at-home mani more trouble than it’s worth.
However, now there’s more of a chill in the air, I’m taking a break from gels to help rehab my nails, and this high-shine polish gives the same finish as my salon mani at home.
Plus, the three new neutral shades mean even novices can achieve a clean, tidy look, because mistakes are much harder to spot.
Not convinced?
The £1 price means it’s worth a go, regardless.
7. The Blemish Busters
These inexpensive blemish patches minimises spots at a bargain price Credit: Aldi
Lacura Blemish Patches £1.99 for 72
I don’t know what I did before spot patches were invented!
It’s safe to say that if acne-riddled teenage me could see how easy they make it to fast-track banishing blemishes, I’d have spent a lot less time worrying about my skin.
I find the patches work best when used from the moment a spot appears until it vanishes, so the bargain price means I can apply a new one every six hours without worrying about the toll on my bank balance.
8. The Smoothing Scrub
For just under £10, Ciroa’s body scrub reveals soft and glowy skin Credit: Boots.com
Ciroa Pomegranate & Cherry Sugar Body Scrub, £9.95
Ciroa has become one of my favourite bodycare brands since it reached our shores from its Aussie home a year ago, thanks to its hard-working formulas and gorgeous fragrances at affordable prices.
This new scent is my favourite yet.
The grains are just the right size to slough away old fake tan and dead skin cells, without feeling rough or scratchy, and the glycerin and aloe leave skin baby-soft.
Plus, the thick consistency means a little goes a long way, so the pot lasts forever!
9. The Bronzing Lotion
Soap & Glory’s inexpensive tan lotion prevents your tan being patchy with its hydrating formula Credit: BOOTS.COM
Soap & Glory Vanilla-licious Gradual Tan Lotion, £9.99
This is the brand’s first-ever gradual-tan product – I don’t know why it’s taken Soap & Glory so long to make one, but it’s definitely worth the wait.
The vanilla and caramel scent means it doesn’t have that tell-tale biscuity smell, which is a huge win – and it comes in an Original Pink version, if you prefer the brand’s OG fragrance.
The combination of hydrating glycerin, hyaluronic acid and shea butter keeps skin moisturised, preventing your tan from going patchy, but also means it still sinks in nice and quickly.
That’s every box ticked!
