I’m a beauty editor and these are the 20 products under £20 that are worth buying
SHELLING out on a pricey beauty product won’t always guarantee good results.
In fact, many of my favourite beauty products – across skincare, haircare and makeup – will set you back less than twenty quid.
Some budget formulas have impressed me so much that I’ll never turn back to pricier, luxury formulas as they simply don’t work as well.
However, buying a budget product can feel like roulette, especially if you’ve got sensitive or compromised skin.
So, allow me to make it easier for you – here are all the bargain products I keep going back to.
ARKIVE Headcare The Good Habit Hybrid Oil
ARKIVE Headcare The Good Habit Hybrid Oil, £14, Lookfantastic
If there’s one thing that makes my toes crawl, it’s greasy hair.
Sadly, my thick hair gets greasy very quickly, so I swerved heavy products like hair oils and serums for a long time – until I discovered ARKIVE The Good Habit Hybrid Oil (£11.20)
Founded by hairstylist Adam Reed, ARKIVE boasts a fantastic range of products that nourish your hair and promote a bit of me-time.
I’m hard-pressed to select a favourite product from the range, but ARKIVE Headcare The Good Habit Hybrid Oil takes the crown for its nourishing, lightweight texture.
I’m very low maintenance with my hair, but this hair oil gives my hair some serious TLC and nourishment, but it doesn’t leave hair feeling heavy or greasy.
I love combing it through frazzled ends for an instant hit of hydration or smoothing it over a slicked-back ponytail look.
Whilst the ARKIVE Headcare The Good Habit Hybrid Oil looks small, it lasts for (what feels like) forever, as you’ll only ever need to use a pump or two – even if you’ve got thick, long hair like me.
La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Balm
La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Balm, £18, Lookfantastic
Dry elbows? Sensitive complexion? Stressed skin?
If all or any of the above applies to you, give La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Balm (£18) a go.
I’ve suffered from eczema since childhood and still experience flare-ups, meaning I’m very cautious about what I slap onto my skin.
However, La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Balm is possibly the most gentle, nourishing and hydrating formula I’ve ever used.
Formulated with hydrating vitamin B5 and soothing thermal spring water, it gets to work on tackling compromised skin without relying on harsh or irritating ingredients.
Despite its thick texture and heavy, chemical scent, it’s still gentle enough to massage into sensitive areas.
I’ve never used it on my face, as the formula is too heavy for my oily skin, but it’s brilliant for hands and body.
Boots SPF+ Hyaluronic Acid Moisturising Lotion SPF50
Boots SPF+ Hyaluronic Acid Moisturising Lotion SPF50, £8, Boots
I’ve tried more SPFs than I’d care to admit.
From pricey formulas that cost a small fortune, to options that’ll cost you less than a tenner – I’ve tried them all.
I wear SPF50 on my face and neck every day, as it’s the best way to keep my skin protected from the sun’s harmful UV rays.
However, these formulas can be heavy and greasy, whilst others are drying or irritating.
I’ve recently switched to using SPF moisturisers, as these formulas are hydrating and easy to apply.
And Boots SPF+ Hyaluronic Acid Moisturising Lotion SPF50 (£8) is my favourite.
This SPF keeps you protected from harmful UVA and UVB rays, whilst its nourishing formula instantly hydrates skin.
I used to keep SPF in my make-up bag, meaning I’d forget to apply it if I wasn’t wearing make-up.
So, now, I keep my SPF next to my skincare products and apply it directly after my serum – which has been a game-changer.
L’Oreal Paris Volume Million Lashes Panorama Mascara
L’Oreal Paris Volume Million Lashes Panorama Mascara, £12.99 £10.39, Lookfantastic
I’ve written about some brilliant mascaras over the years, but a real standout is L’Oreal Paris Volume Million Lashes Panorama Mascara (£10.39)
Despite only being a few months old, this budget mascara has amassed thousands of rave reviews, and fellow beauty journalists can’t stop shouting about how good it is, too.
What I love about this mascara is how well it lengthens and volumises lashes.
To be honest, I usually swerve mascaras with any sort of volumising claims, as their formulas tend to be heavy and prone to clumping.
However, there’s no risk of clumps with L’Oreal Paris Volume Million Lashes Panorama Mascara – instead, the tapered wand fans lashes without weighing them down.
The mascara has a jet-black formula, but it isn’t overly stark or bold – and that’s coming from me, a brown mascara lover.
What’s more, it’s a breeze to remove (I always use micellar water followed by a gel cleanser and it completely disappears), and won’t irritate sensitive eyes.
AKT The Deodorant Balm
AKT The Deodorant Balm, £21 £17.85, AKT London
While massaging cream into your pits doesn’t sound like fun, you’ll make the exception for AKT Deodorant Balm (£18.85) – I promise.
I’ve known about the impacts of alcohol and aluminium in deodorants for years but still swerved natural deodorants for a long time.
The reason? Most of them don’t work.
Or, at least, they don’t work in the way that I want them to – because, in my eyes, a good deodorant/antiperspirant must minimise BO and sweat.
So, I nearly gave up on natural deodorants, but then AKT Deodorant Balm landed on my desk.
Now, I’ll be honest – I wasn’t amused at first.
Applying a cream deodorant directly to my armpits was a no-go for me – even when using AKT’s gua-sha-inspired applicator (£26).
However, the results were so excellent – the formula minimises sweat and odour, without feeling heavy or irritating – that I forgot any previous concerns and quickly adopted AKT into my daily routine.
Now, I use it every day – even after shaving or wearing black clothes, as it doesn’t irritate skin or leave a white cast on clothing.
The deodorants are available in several brilliant fragrances – and even one unscented option – but my favourite is SC.5 Columbia Road, a gorgeous, floral, fresh scent.
MONDAY Haircare Volume Shampoo
MONDAY Haircare Volume Shampoo, £10, Lookfantastic
There are some excellent budget make-up, body and skincare options out there, but decent budget haircare feels few and far between.
But IMO this shampoo does it all and it only costs a tenner.
MONDAY Haircare Volume Shampoo (£10) has a glorious, hydrating formula that rescues dry and stressed hair.
The formula lathers into a gentle sud, which is easy to work into your whole head and scalp – meaning a little goes a long way, saving you £££.
I was surprised by how deeply this shampoo cleaned my hair, achieving similar results to the detox shampoos I’ve tried in the past.
My thick hair is prone to frizz, but MONDAY Haircare Volume Shampoo leaves my hair looking smooth and feeling soft.
It’s formulated with a cocktail of hair and scalp-loving ingredients, such as hydrating coconut oil and vitamin E, which nourishes your scalp and helps promote hair growth.
Morphe V115 Detail Setting Powder Brush
Morphe V115 Detail Setting Powder Brush, £17, Morphe
A decent make-up brush can make or break your look.
The wrong brush will make blending difficult, leaving you with uneven coverage and a less-than-flawless finish.
I use setting powder every day (Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder, £38, is my fave), so I’ve tried a number of powder brushes over the years.
When I apply powder, I tend to distribute it across my entire forehead alongside smaller, tricky-to-reach areas, like the contours of my nose.
I’ve been using Morphe V115 Detail Setting Powder Brush (£17) for a couple of years, and it’s always a dream to use.
Its soft, vegan bristles are perfect for collecting and distributing finely milled powder, and its long handle makes reaching precise areas easy.
Despite religiously using it for two years, it’s still in good nick – none of the bristles have fallen out – but the coating on the handle is beginning to flake.
However, with the brush still intact, I’ll continue to use it until I run it into the ground.
Maybelline SuperStay Vinyl Ink Long Lasting Liquid Lipstick
Maybelline SuperStay Vinyl Ink Long Lasting Liquid Lipstick, £11.99, Sephora
This lipstick is one of beauty’s worst-kept secrets – put simply, it’s so good and so affordable.
Other liquid lipsticks can be very drying and set into chapped skin or peel off lips halfway through the day.
However, Maybelline SuperStay Vinyl Ink Long Lasting Liquid Lipstick (£11.99) has a hydrating, velvet formula that nourishes lips and looks great while it does it.
It has a vinyl finish that leaves lips looking instantly shiny and glossy – without feeling sticky or heavy.
The formula stays put for up to 16 hours – though I do tend to reapply it a couple of times throughout the day.
Shades range from punchy reds to deep purple, but my favourite is Cheeky, a gorgeous dusty pink.
Sol Janeiro Beija Flor Body Wash
Sol Janeiro Beija Flor Body Wash, from £10, Space NK
“Are you JOKING?” a friend screamed at me, after telling her I’d never tried Sol Janeiro Beija Flor Body Wash .
As a brand best known for its viral Bum Bum Cream, I’d never really given Sol Janeiro’s body washes much thought – but based on my friend’s reaction, I had to give Beija Flor a go.
I usually opt for basic, unscented shower products as heavily scented formulas tend to irritate and dehydrate my skin.
Sol Janeiro Beija Flor Body Wash has a gorgeous, moreish scent, which I thought would stress out my skin, but I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how nourishing the formula is.
This body wash has a soft, creamy texture that feels hydrating on the skin, thanks to vegan squalane.
The formula also features a retinol alternative which promotes firm, supple skin.
I use it every day, and it always leaves my skin feeling nourished and gorgeously scented – plus, it looks fab on your bathroom shelf.
It’s priced from £10 for 90ml, but make sure to stock up on the 385ml bottle (£23) when it’s on offer.
Garnier Vitamin C Anti-Dark Spots & Brightening Serum
Garnier Vitamin C Anti-Dark Spots & Brightening Serum, £12.99 £8.70, Lookfantastic
Vitamin C is a staple ingredient in my skincare routine.
I’ve always got on well with this ingredient, and have found that vitamin C products help improve my skin’s radiance and tackle dark spots.
Vitamin C is also an antioxidant, meaning it helps counteract environmental stressors, like pollution and blue light.
However, some vitamin C serums can be very pricey.
So, I love Garnier Vitamin C Anti-Dark Spots & Brightening Serum (£8.70), which provides brilliant results at a fraction of the cost.
Its potent formula features 3.5% vitamin C, alongside niacinamide and salicylic acid for hydration, minimising uneven texture, and combatting redness.
I’m not a fan of thick, creamy vitamin C formulas, as they often feel heavy and greasy on the skin.
However, Garnier Vitamin C Anti-Dark Spots & Brightening Serum has a lightweight texture which instantly sinks into the skin.
Mii Cosmetics Intensive Cuticle Cream
Mii Cosmetics Intensive Cuticle Cream, £15, Mii Cosmetics
You should be using a cuticle oil or cream every day – just ask your manicurist.
Cuticle oil helps hydrate your nail bed and applying it improves circulation, encouraging nail growth.
It also helps keep nail polish hydrated and flexible, which minimises chipping, meaning your mani lasts longer.
Now, despite knowing all of this, I’ve only recently jumped onto the cuticle oil bandwagon – and it’s all thanks to Mii Cosmetics Intensive Cuticle Cream (£15).
I’ve never got on well with cuticle oil, as I find most formulas too sticky or greasy, and other formulas are heavily scented, which irritates the eczema on my hands.
However, I love Mii Cosmetics Intensive Cuticle Cream’s lightweight texture, which feels similar to hand cream.
Unlike most cuticle oils, the formula is dispensed by squeezing the precision tip, meaning you won’t end up with cream all over your hands.
I’ve been using it every night before bed and my nails are noticeably longer and stronger than ever – despite putting them through their paces with regular gel manicures.
E.L.F Cream Glide Lip Liner
e.l.f Cream Glide Lip Liner, £2, e.l.f Cosmetics
A lip liner cheaper than a cup of coffee feels too good to be true… right!?
I’ve been pleasantly surprised with e.l.f Cream Glide Lip Liner, which is an absolute bargain at just £2.
Despite its tiny price tags, I can usually rely on e.l.f for effective products that don’t cost the earth.
e.l.f’s Cream Glide Lip Liner is no exception – I love its creamy, buttery-soft formula and bold pigment.
Whilst I don’t tend to overline my lips, I often use a lip liner to add extra precision to a lipstick look.
This lip liner is perfect for this purpose, thanks to its pencil applicator, which you can sharpen into your desired shape.
The liner glides onto lips with ease and doesn’t feel harsh or scratchy on the skin – meaning you could easily use it to shade your entire lips.
The formula stays put for hours and won’t smudge either – great if you’re haphazard like me.
It has a semi-matte finish, meaning you can use it alongside any lipstick or gloss without it looking overly bold or out of place.
There are eight shades but I keep Pink Swear in my handbag, as it complements most nude lipsticks.
NYX Professional Oil Lip Drip Lip Gloss
NYX Professional Oil Lip Drip Lip Gloss, £7.50, Lookfantastic
Lip oils have exploded in popularity in the last year.
Nearly every make-up brand, and even some skincare brands, have launched a lip oil in the past year or so – meaning that the stakes are high and the options are plentiful.
With so many lip oils launching, I’ve tried more formulas than I’d care to admit, but there’s one real standout.
NYX Professional Oil Lip Drip Lip Gloss (£7.50), has a lightweight, nourishing formula and a glossy finish.
The formula stars squalene and cloudberry oils for promoting hydrated skin – meaning it’s great for chapped lips.
I love its chunky doe-foot applicator, which makes application easy and comfortable.
There are eight gorgeous shades, that range from vivid pink to chocolate brown, but I (boringly) like the clear formula, named My Main.
It’s great for applying directly to bare lips or adding a glossy finish to your favourite lipstick.
Bubble Skincare Slam Drunk Hydrating Moisturiser Cream, £16
Bubble Skincare Slam Drunk Hydrating Moisturiser Cream, £16, Beauty Bay
After launching in the UK last winter, Bubble Skincare has taken the internet by storm.
According to Cosmetify, searches for the brand have risen nearly 3000% in the last twelve months.
Suitable for skin of all ages, Bubble Skincare focuses on nourishing, hydrating and protecting the skin.
I’ve tried all of the brand’s offerings and my favourite product is Bubble Skincare Slam Drunk Hydrating Moisturiser Cream (£16).
The pump applicator dispenses product in a pretty flower shape, meaning you don’t have to scoop the product out of a jar with dirty fingers – minimising the risk of contamination.
The formula itself is deeply hydrating and nourishing, thanks to aloe leaf juice.
It’s suitable for dry to normal skin and is perfect for reviving skin that’s been battered by harsh, chilly weather.
I find that many moisturisers don’t deliver enough hydration to my skin, leaving it gasping by midday.
However, this hydrating, non-greasy moisturiser keeps my skin happy all day long.
BYOMA Creamy Jelly Cleanser
BYOMA Creamy Jelly Cleanser, £10.99, Cult Beauty
Buying a cleanser can feel overwhelming, thanks to the huge number of options.
From creams to oils and gels, knowing where to start can be tricky – especially when considering all the many price points, too.
Personally, I’ve always gotten on well with gel cleansers, which are even suitable for dry and sensitive skin.
I don’t like using anything too complex – so I skip fragranced formulas – which is why I love BYOMA Creamy Jelly Cleanser (£10.99).
BYOMA is one of the fastest-growing beauty brands of the last couple of years, after experiencing a surge of 3,868,000 searches in 2023, according to Cosmetify.
BYOMA Creamy Jelly Cleanser focuses on boosting your skin’s barrier, helping improve the texture and appearance of your skin.
It’s formulated with antioxidising liquorice root and green tea extract, which help protect the skin against the effects of pollution and blue light.
Whilst it’s not so great at removing make-up, the formula always leaves my skin feeling calm and hydrated – meaning it’s great for a second cleanse.
BONDI SANDS Technocolor 1 Hour Express Self Tanning Foam
BONDI SANDS Technocolor 1 Hour Express Self Tanning Foam, £19.99 £13.95
Fake tan terrifies me.
I did lots of dance as a teen, meaning I’ve seen (and had) too many terrible tans.
However, I took a gamble on BONDI SANDS Technocolor 1 Hour Express Self Tanning Foam (£13.95), after being intrigued by its innovative formula.
This tan uses a quiz (available here) to ascertain the perfect tanning shade for you.
This is based on your skin’s undertones, hair and facial features – making it pretty unique.
On my first try, I pensively applied the formula and waited in fear – terrified that it would leave me looking streaky or orange.
But it didn’t, and instead actually converted me into a fan.
I use the Emerald formula, which has a green guide colour, making the application foolproof.
The speedy formula will have you bronzed in just an hour, but I tend to leave it on for a couple of extra hours, to maximise the glow.
e.l.f Pout Clout Lip Plumping Gloss Pen
Pout Clout Lip Plumping Pen, £8, e.l.f Cosmetics
Despite launching recently, this plumping lipstick has already earned its place as one of my favourite lip products.
I love balmy, velvet lipsticks, and this formula ticks all of the boxes.
e.l.f Pout Clout Lip Plumping Gloss Pen (£8) has a melting, buttery texture that leaves lips looking glossy and feeling hydrated.
The formula feels soft and cushioning on the lips – much like a lip oil or gloss but without any stickiness.
It melts onto lips and won’t accentuate fine lines or chapped skin, meaning you can even apply it over dry lips.
The plumping formula feels subtle and non-irritating on the lips, yet still provides lips with a little lift.
There are eight gorgeous shades, but I love Pinky Out, a stunning nude pink.
If you’re a fan of Iconic London Melting Touch Lip Balm (£19.99) or Hourglass Phantom Volumizing Glossy Balm (£35), then I think you’ll love this one too.
Pixi On-the-Glow Blush CheekTone
Pixi On-the-Glow Blush CheekTone, £18, Boots
pH makeup is having a moment.
From green lipsticks that transform into pretty pink shades on lips, to black blushers which fade into purple hues, social media has gone wild for all things pH.
Now, I’ve been a fan of Pixi On-the-Glow Blush (£12) for quite some time.
I love the mess-free applicator and its balmy, dewy formula that can be built up easily and blended with fingers.
However, I was sceptical when the brand announced it was launching a pH version of its cult blush this year.
I’ve been very pleasantly surprised though, and love the formula’s subtle, pretty pink pigment.
Just like the OG blush balm, Pixi On-the-Glow Blush CheekTone (£18) is a dream to apply as it blends so easily.
It’s simple to build up coverage slowly, meaning you can easily apply it on the go – even without a mirror.
I keep it in my handbag, and it’s great for amping up your look while on the go.
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