20 Beauty Buys We Love Under £20
Kiko Bright Duo Baked Eyeshadow, £6.39 (was £7.99)
It’s not often eyeshadows get rave reviews, but this baked formula from Kiko is one exception. Used wet or dry, the dual tones allow you to mix and match for a variation of looks. Despite being a powder, the texture glides on with a cream, satin finish, with a really rich pigment, too. Better still, unlike similar products, this never creases – trust us when we say the quality belies its affordable price tag. Great for party season.
Available at Kikocosmetics.com
The Flat Lay Co. Standing Brush Case, £13.99
The Flat Lay Co. has expanded on its range of popular drawstring make-up bags with dedicated cases for your tools. This Standing Brush bag is designed to protect your brushes from dust and dirt – plus, you can fold it down into a standing pot for easy access – genius.
Available at Flatlayco.com
Aquis Exfoliating Back Scrubber, £14
With a loofah-like exfoliating surface on one side and a smooth, microfibre material on the other, this Back Scrubber makes it easier than ever to clean those hard-to-reach areas. Ideal if you suffer with ‘backne’ or want to get rid of old fake tan, the two handles on each end make the process seamless. The scrubber doesn’t retain moisture either, so bacteria is kept to a minimum, while the microfibre side gently boosts circulation. It’s a staple in our shower.
Available at Lookfantastic.com
Cowshed Sleepy Calming Bath Salts, £18
If you love a bath, you need these salts from Cowshed in your life. A heady blend of essential oils and hydrating squalane, they fill your room – and tub – with a relaxing scent for instant calm. Meanwhile, the nourishing ingredients keep your limbs silky-soft, so that when you step out, you feel clean and smooth all at once.
Available at Boots.com
Diptyque Baies Scented Pillar Candle, £20
Fans of Diptyque’s iconic ‘Baies’ fragrance will love that it’s now available in pillar form. Chic, sophisticated and guaranteed to lift any space, the iconic scent includes notes of blackcurrant, rose and ambergris. The brand’s classic ‘Ambre’ scent is also available as a candlestick now, but this is the one that gets our vote – a beautiful addition to any tablescape this autumn/winter.
Available at LibertyLondon.com
Dr. Jart+ Tea Tree Toner, £20
Not everyone needs a toner, but if you suffer with oiliness or breakouts, they can be a godsend. Our latest favourite is this one from Dr. Jart+. Using tea tree and salicylic acid combination, it swiftly removes dirt trapped in your pores and provides gentle exfoliation. The result? Soothed skin and improved redness. The added vitamin B3 and ‘calming complex’ also means skin gets a cushion of hydration, so you’re never left feeling tight or dry. Use it after cleansing a few times a week, depending on your individual needs.
Available at MaskHouse.co.uk
Grande Cosmetics Brow-Fill Volumising Gel, £16.20 (was £18)
You can’t move for brow gels nowadays, but every now and then, one comes along that changes the game yet again. This one from Grande Cosmetics gives the same fluffy, feathered effect as Glossier’s cult Boy Brow, the only difference being this one promotes better growth at the same time. With conditioning peptides and volumising mini fibres, regular use will nourish and strengthen hairs for a thicker appearance. You need to stick with it, but expect to see results within a few weeks.
Available at LookFantastic.com
IGK Mistress Hydrating Hair Baume, £25
Frizz and dehydration are no match for this nourishing leave-in conditioner. With coconut, argan oil and shea butter, it locks in moisture without weighing your hair down. Use a thin layer on wet hair and dry it as normal, or, if you’re wearing your hair in a slicked-back bun, layer it on first to let it work its magic – you’ll love the glossy, expensive-looking sheen it leaves behind. You can also apply just a tiny amount to tame frizz and flyaways when time is of the essence – bonus.
Available at SpaceNk.com
Morphe Cream Blush in Racy Pic, £12
We love cream blushers at SheerLuxe, and this is one of our latest favourites – especially if you’re on a budget. Its gel texture melts into your skin with a wet-look finish and pretty glow. Added rosehip oil and vitamin E make it seriously easy to blend and build for either a sheer, barely-there-flush, or a high-impact dose of colour. Use a little on your eyelids to tie everything together.
Available at Morphe.com
NCLA So Rich Cuticle Oil, £13.86
Often, cuticle oils can feel quite functional – not fun – but NCLA’s covers all the bases. Aesthetically pleasing, it uses vitamin E to strengthen brittle nails and ragged skin for a smoother, healthier appearance and it’s also brimming with sunflower seed oil to moisturise dry hands. Extra points go to the rubber-grip dropper, which disperses the ideal dose of product every time. It’s also free from mineral oils, as well as being vegan and cruelty-free.
Available at Cultbeauty.com
NYX Epic Ink Liner, £9
At this time of year, everyone needs a liquid liner they can rely on. This limited-edition one from NYX is one to snap up. Waterproof, the longevity is impressive, while the rich colour looks expensive and glossy. Unlike some liquid liners, this one has a very fine, flexible tip, so you can create the neatest feline flicks every time – even if you’re an eyeliner novice. Take a light-handed approach to start with, adding a bit of pressure to boost the thickness of the line where it’s needed.
Available at LookFantastic.com
Pacifica Rosemary Detox Scalp Scrub, £14
Affordable and committed to cutting down on beauty waste, Pacifica products are well-considered, vegan and only use the best, natural ingredients. Our favourite from the range is this gritty scalp scrub. Heavy-duty – but never abrasive – only a small amount is needed to dislodge any build-up clogging your scalp’s follicles. Don’t worry about it stripping your hair – added jojoba oils lock in moisture so that strands never feel brittle or dry afterwards. Massage it into your scalp pre-shampoo and stick to using it just once a week for best results.
Available CultBeauty.co.uk
Revlon Photoready Rose Glow Primer, £12.99
Primers don’t get much better than this. With subtle shimmer particles, this one from Revlon gives skin a glossy, rosy glow that looks great underneath foundation. It has an oily texture, but don’t let this put you off – it quickly absorbs into the skin to leave behind a thin veil of coverage that sets fast, so you never have to worry about the rest of your products pilling or creasing. A great way to enhance the rest of your make-up, you can also wear it on its own for that dewy, fresh skin effect.
Available at FeelUnique.com
Revolution Skincare Soft Cleansing Sponges, £5
Reusable make-up sponges are all the rage and these Soft Cleansing Sponges from Revolution are some of our favourites. Their larger size means they can cover a wider surface area, while the fluffy texture latches onto every bit of make-up, without ever irritating skin. You’ll get a few uses out of them before you need to throw them in the wash – just make sure you rinse them out with your cleanser every time to remove any unwanted bacteria.
Available BeautyBay.com
Soak Sunday Cleo’s Paradise Honey & Oat Scented Candle, £21
It’s no secret how much we love this brand. Affordable, the entire line-up is designed to soothe and nourish, with formulas that are always kind to sensitive skin. Now, the brand has launched candles – and they don’t disappoint. The Honey & Oat scent is soft and clean, plus, it fills a room fast. Ideal for keeping bedside, the fragrance lingers long after you’ve blown the candle out. Once you’re finished, be sure to recycle the jar, or use it to store your brushes and tools.
Available at SoakSunday,com
Space NK Rewild Calming Body Wash, £14
Space NK has launched its own body care range. Not only is it affordable, it’s also eco-friendly, so you can feel good about having these products in your bathroom. Available in sets in time for Christmas, we recommend trying the Rewild Calming Body Wash first. With notes of black pepper, juniper and tonka bean, it’s definitely on the unisex side. As for the formula, centella asiatica is known for its soothing properties, while the clean, fresh scent lingers on your skin all day long.
Available at SpaceNk.com
SuperFacialist Retinol+ Anti-Ageing Renewing Night Cream, £16
After a gentle, but effective retinol cream? This one from SuperFacialist should be on your radar. With a rich, buttery texture, hyaluronic acid will cushion any irritation from the potent vitamin A. Over time, skin will look more even, with a plumper appearance, and you’ll also find your make-up applies much better with regular use. Dark spots and scars will also appear smoother, thanks to the cream’s ability to remove sluggish and dead skin cells.
Available at Amazon.co.uk
Tweezerman Facial Razor, £16
There’s a lot of scepticism when it comes to facial shaving. While it should mostly be left to the pros, the right type of razor wand – one with light safety blades – can be safely used at home. This one from Tweezerman is worth a try. Easy to use, it gently skims the face and is easy to control for seamless hair removal – use it to get rid of peach fluff around your upper lip, brows or anywhere that’s become a bit fuzzy. For those worried about regrowth, it’s a myth that shaving hair causes thickness, colour or growth rates to change, but it will give hair a blunt tip, so use the razor in swift upward motions to catch it right from the root for a smoother finish.
Available at Tweezerman.co.uk
Sienna Naturals Plant Power Protein & Moisture Repair Mask, £20
Vegan, cruelty-free and available in recyclable packaging, this nourishing mask does a bit of everything. Pea protein strengthens hair and keep brittleness at bay, while added blue tansy oil nourishes your scalp and removes any unwanted product build-up. The rich texture immediately softens hair for shinier-looking strands, too. For best results, apply it to clean hair, cover it with a shower cap or towel and leave it on for ten minutes – or longer if your hair feels particularly thirsty – before rinsing out.
Available at SiennaNaturals.com
Tweezy Mini Eyelash Curler, £6.49 (was £8.99)
Designed to take up less space in your make-up bag, these compact curlers are small but just as easy to use as regular-sized curlers. Flip the back of the curler down, hold the rubber opening at the base of your lashes and gently press. These ones don’t pinch or prod, and you’ll find they’ve been carefully designed to feel more like a hug than a harsh clamp. Warm them on the radiator or blast them with a hairdryer first for better results.
Available at Tweezy.co.uk
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