Here at Grazia, we believe you don’t have to fork out hundreds of pounds to have a good skincare routine or impressive make-up kit. While it’s nice to treat yourself to a luxurious product every once in a while, there are so many brilliant affordable beauty brands that really do rival their high-end counterparts. Just look to the likes of The Ordinary, Typology and The Inkey List – these savvy skincare brands have stripped back on fancy packaging and created high concentrations of good quality ingredients at a very reasonable price. And it’s not just skincare we're talking about, there are dozens of make-up and haircare bargains to be snapped up that really work, too.
As beauty editors, we receive lots of exciting new launches every week before they hit the shelves - and it’s a part (a very good part) of our job to put them through their paces. As a result, we’ve discovered several purse-friendly favourites that have become staples in our beauty routines.
Read on to discover our edit of the best barganious beauty finds that deliver on results and are almost too good to be true…
Best Budget Beauty Products
1 of 12Max Factor Miracle Touch Second Skin Foundation, £12.99
'This does exactly what it says on the tin – a lightweight veil that lets your skin shine through, with a touch of natural coverage to even out skin tone. It gives good glow, too' - Joely Walker, Beauty Director
2 of 12Korres Fig Shower Gel, £9.99
'If I could use just one shower gel for the rest of my days, it would be this. The perfect level of cleansing – it leaves skin feeling fresh without stripping natural oils and smells ah-mazing (if you're into fig, which I very much am)' - Joely Walker, Beauty Director
3 of 12L’Oreal Paris Glow Cherie Natural Glow Enhancer Lotion, £9.99
'Oh I LOVE THIS STUFF. Pop under make-up as a glow-giving primer, tap over cheekbones for some natural radiance, mix in with your foundation… the options are pretty endless. A true highlighting hero' - Joely Walker, Beauty Director
4 of 12Aussie Deep Treatment 3 Minute Miracle Moist, £4.99
'A cult classic for all the right reasons, this dishes dry hair a new glossy lease of life. And because of the agreeable price point, you can really go for it with your portion sizes. Screw 'walnut sized amount', I coat every last strand' - Joely Walker, Beauty Director
5 of 12The Body Shop Aloe Soothing Moisture Lotion SPF15, £15
'I started using this in my teens. I had a red-and-puffy-face sort of reaction to a highly fragranced moisturiser and this was the only moisturiser my skin could tolerate. Since then it's been my go-to. Sure I've flitted from new face cream to new face cream I always end up running back to it. It hydrates my skin without being too rich, and gives me that all-important sun protection too' - Annie Vischer, Beauty Editor
6 of 12Johnson’s Baby Oil, £2.50
'I'm a dry oil fiend and you'll never find me without a bottle of this on the side of my bath. My top tip with this one? Smooth it onto wet skin before you've even stepped out of the shower. Oils are occlusive so they lock in hydration. It's a great one to smooth over shoulders, clavicles and shins if they're on show too, it leaves a really flattering sheen' - Annie Vischer, Beauty Editor
7 of 12Charles Worthington Moisture Seal Hair Oil, £6.99
'I first discovered this whilst in Dubai. I'd popped it in my toiletries in the midst of a panic-packing frenzy, but my hair rarely succumbs to humidity. Rarely, but sometimes. Dubai upped my frizz factor no end for whatever reason, and I reached for this gem to tame things. It did the job magically. My hair is fine and I've got a lot of it so I was worried it would weigh it down. It's very lightweight though, more of a serum than an oil, and I've been using it after every wash ever since' - Annie Vischer, Beauty Editor
8 of 12L’Oreal Paris Bambi Eye False Lash Mascara, £10.99
'This mascara does what it says on the tin. Bambi lashes – those perfectly defined, curled back, drawn on by a Disney animator sort of lashes. I'm all for that wide-eyed look, and this is one of my favourite lash go-tos. I dispense a little of the product off into the neck of the mascara tube then wiggle the brush a bit at the root of my lashes before coating the whole length' - Annie Vischer, Beauty Editor
9 of 12Typology 7-Ingredient Makeup Removing Oil, £14.80
'99% naturally derived, this gentle make-up removing oil is a godsend for dry, sensitive skin. Blended with just 7 ingredients including soothing sweet almond oil and antioxidant-rich vitamin E, it takes off the day without any irritation. I like to really massage it into my skin before rinsing it off for a mini morning pamper session' – Emma Stoddart, Beauty Writer
10 of 12NYX Cosmetics Born To Glow! Naturally Radiant Foundation, £10
'If you're on the hunt for a new foundation that offers medium, but buildable coverage and lends skin a lit-from-within glow – you're in luck as this impressive formula from NYX cosmetics ticks all of the boxes and then some' – Emma Stoddart, Beauty Writer
11 of 12Revolution Skincare Blemish and Pore Refining Serum, £5.99
'After having a mini meltdown over a recent outburst of under-skin blemishes, I tried this lightweight serum that sinks straight in and gets to work with a powerful combo of niacinamide and zinc to reduce redness and balance oil production. After just three days (using AM daily), my spots had completely faded away. It's some sort of wizardry, I tell you,' - Emma Stoddart, Beauty Writer
12 of 12Maybelline The Falsies Lash Lift Waterproof, £9.99
'I was once told by a make-up artist that I've got a lot of lashes but they're thin, so to go for thickening formulas. I found 'the one' in this Maybelline Falsies Lash Lift. The hourglass wand, bursting with bristles, has the ability to lift, lengthen and push up my lashes without a single clump in site. I'm totally hooked' – Emma Stoddart, Beauty Writer
READ MORE: The Best Of The Best New Beauty Products To Buy Now