5 Affordable Beauty Buys To Have On Your Radar
E.L.F. Cosmetics 16HR Camo Concealer, £5
Why It’s Cult: Recommended by numerous experts and make-up pros, this affordable concealer is thick, without being cakey, thanks to its sheer, blendable texture that smooths and evens out darkness, blemishes and everything in-between. It dries down into a satin finish that looks flattering on everyone, while the large brush head allows you to cover a bigger surface area in one go, so you can skip the foundation.
How To Use It: Apply a dot to your nose, chin and under the eyes, or anywhere you feel needs more coverage. Then, use your fingertips to blend. The warmth will help melt product, allowing the formula to adhere to your skin for a more seamless finish. It also makes for a great base – apply some to your eyelids before going in with eye shadow. You’ll find it works to prevent creasing or flaking, too.
Available here
Milani Make It Dewy Setting Spray, £14.25
Why It’s Cult: It’s hard to find an affordable setting spray that works, but this one comes highly recommended by make-up artist, Em-J: “I go through one of these affordable, dewy sprays every two weeks. It’s the best on the market.” Brimming with brightening fruit extracts, it adds great luminosity, as well as extra hydration and softness.
How To Use It: Apply it before your foundation to increase the longevity of your make-up, or during your base application to thin out your product. You can also mist some on top of your base for a sheer finish, and be sure to have it handy throughout the day to hit refresh when your foundation starts looking cakey.
Available here
Wet N Wild Make-Up Tools
Why They’re Cult: Experts agree that Wet N Wild sell some of the best affordable beauty on the market, and their latest tools are no exception. Starting at just £3.99, each brush uses synthetic fibres, while maintaining an unbeatable softness to deliver a seamless blend every time. Despite their velvet-y texture, the bristles are densely packed, so you get great product placement, without the brush soaking up too much of the formula. As for the sponge, this works just as well as other expensive iterations, and seeing as it’s made from hydrophilic material, it’s kinder to the environment, too.
How To Use Them: Multi-sided, use the sponge to blend everything from foundation to highlighter. The pointed tip is ideal for getting into those hard-to-reach areas, while the rounded edge works well to sculpt and define cheekbones.
Available here
No7 Advanced Retinol 1.5% Complex Night Concentrate, £34
Why It’s Cult: This is No7’s first clinically-proven advanced retinol to reduce the appearance of fine lines, while also refining pores – and it really works. It may be one of the more expensive products on this list, but in comparison to its higher-end counterparts, it’s an affordable investment for those on a budget – especially as it’s been put through extensive clinical trials. A 12-week study showed a significant improvement in the appearance of crow’s feet and hyperpigmentation, while other studies showed an increase in collagen by 55%. No wonder it has a 100k+ waitlist – so sign yourself up, pronto.
How To Use It: To ease yourself in, use this every other night to keep irritation or flare-ups at bay. As it’s a serum consistency, apply it after cleansing, but before your moisturiser, so the latter can lock in all its benefits. Over a couple of weeks, dead skin cells will begin to shed, leaving behind a visibly smoother appearance. Don’t be disappointed if the results aren’t immediate – you’re likely to see a brighter, smoother and more refined appearance within a month. Be patient, it’s worth the wait.
Available here
MUA Liquid Cream Blush, £2.50
Why It’s Cult: Multi-purpose, this £2.50 blusher is suddenly super popular. A great dupe for Glossier’s Cloud Paints, these little tubes can be used on your cheeks, lips and eyelids. With a silky, creamy texture, they’re easy to build and mix at will, for a healthy-looking flush that lasts. You’ll want one in every colour.
How To Use It: Tap these cream blushers on with your fingers for the best, subtle results, focusing directly on the apples of your cheeks for extra warmth and glow. If you want to amp up the intensity, use a damp beautyblender or brush to layer up the colour in sheer strokes.
Available here
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