
Georgia Day Shares Her Money-Saving Beauty Buys

Budget Bodycare
Retinol Body Lotion, £27 | Naturium
The Smoother Glycolic Acid Body Lotion, £19 | Naturium
Salicylic Acid Body Wash, £6.50 | Q+A
Body Superfood, Repairing Body Butter, £7.89 | Garnier
You really don’t need to blow the budget on luxe body lotions and potions; the cheaper stuff works just as well at tackling sandpapery shins and hardened heels. One of my favourite finds is the Garnier Body Superfood collection. All the formulas contain at least one hardworking ingredient, like ceramides or magnesium, and the scents aren’t too overpowering if you’re using them all over. The textures are also watery enough to sink straight into your skin without taking ages to absorb.
If you like the high-end shopping experience but not the price tags that tend to come with it, head to Space NK. It stocks Naturium, a brand that uses active ingredients to make clinically proven formulas at very affordable prices. It’s all good but I particularly love The Smoother Glycolic Acid Body Lotion and the Retinol Body Lotion, both of which take their cues from skincare and use science-backed ingredients to deliver softer, smoother skin. Another gem along the same lines is Q+A’s Salicylic Acid Body Wash. It’s a great budget buy if you suffer from ingrown hairs, breakouts or uneven skin texture but don’t want to spend big on something that gets washed away in the shower.

Money-Saving Make-Up
Paradise Big Deal Black Mascara, £12.99 | L’Oréal Paris
Halo Glow Blush Beauty Wand, £9 | e.l.f
Cream Glide Lip Liner, £3 | e.l.f
Although my make-up bag does include a lot of premium brands, there are some high-street heroes I’ll never give up. L’Oréal Paris mascaras have been a mainstay and my latest discovery is the Paradise Big Deal Mascara. I’ve been using it religiously since before Christmas and I won’t be without it now. As well as living up to its claim that it never clumps, it separates and lengthens lashes with every layer. It’s usually on offer too.
A good lip liner is a staple in my make-up routine, and I have no fewer than six fleshy tones on the go at any one time. Properly affordable at £3 a pop, the e.l.f Cream Glide Lip Liners are truly excellent value for money. The lasting power is great, plus they don’t drag as you apply them, and I love the shade range. I use ‘Truth or Bare’ to outline, before going in with ‘Dark Cocoa’ smudged into just the cupid’s bow and the middle of my bottom lip to create the illusion of fullness. While we’re on the subject of great formulas, the Halo Glow Blush Beauty Wand is a great alternative to more expensive options, and the hint of shimmer is a flattering, failsafe way to brighten up your complexion.

Purse-Friendly Haircare
Molecular Bond Repair Bundle, £16 (was £32) | Pantene
The Good Habit Hybrid Oil, £14 | Arkive
Bond building haircare is (thankfully) no longer only available to those with a big budget. One of the best I’ve tried lately is Pantene’s version. The Molecular Bond Repair collection contains biotin and is effective at repairing damage and fortifying hair so that it’s better protected. If you can get your hands on the bundle, then do. You’ll get the shampoo, conditioner, treatment and mask all for a fraction of the price of just one fancy shampoo. Thanks to my extra flyaways and frizz at this time of year, I’ve rediscovered Arkive’s excellent Good Habit Hybrid Oil. Although the full-size 50ml bottle won’t break the bank, a little goes a long way, so the 10ml is more than sufficient at adding smoothness and shine – and it’s only £3. Perfect for your handbag.

Skin SOS For Less
Phyto-Mucin Glow Serum, £15 | Byoma
Ultra Repair Rescue Barrier Balm, £28 | First Aid Beauty
Pure Active 8hr Invisible Hydrocolloid Blemish Patch, £5.66 | Garnier
Revitalift Laser Face Cream, £14.99 | L’Oréal Paris
Skin during the colder months is often drier and less elastic, but you don’t need to spend a fortune to fix it. I’ve been using the L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Laser X3 Day Cream, which is a new and improved version of the original. It’s called X3 because it contains three punchy actives: pro-retinol, hyaluronic acid and vitamin C, which improve uneven texture, increase radiance and add back that bounce to skin. It’s currently on a half-price offer so snap it up while you can. If you want clever formulas without the hefty price tags, get to know Byoma. Its products are cleverly formulated and use smart ingredients and delivery systems to deliver proper results. For glass skin on a budget, try its vegan plant-powered version of the viral snail mucin. The Phyto-Mucin Glow Serum contains a host of actives, including peptides and phyto-mucin (a glycoprotein that protects plants in their environment), to increase hydration and glow.
Breakouts can also be more persistent when skin is in flux. Garnier’s Pure Active Blemish Patches are my new best friend when spots do appear. They’re made using hydrocolloid technology that gently exfoliates the blemish and protects it from bacteria while it heals. Finally, if things are starting to look really bleak (think red, sore and sensitised) I find a thin layer of First Aid Beauty’s Ultra Repair Rescue Barrier Balm does the trick. It’s full of soothing ingredients like colloidal oatmeal and ceramides, and provides instant relief and long-term hydration for the cost of just a couple of coffees.
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