The Best Summer Beauty Buys Under £30
All products on this page have been selected by our editorial team, however we may make commission on some products.
Paris Age Perfect BB Cover, £11.99 | L’Oréal
Fed up with heavy foundation? This lightweight BB offers an alternative. With a serum texture, it feels like it’s barely there, offering breathable coverage that has a soft, dewy finish. Added SPF50 makes it a great summer staple, too, while vitamin B3 plumps skin with moisture so you never get any dry, caking feeling from it. Apply it with your fingers or a damp sponge – focus on the areas that need it most for a more natural-looking finish.
Available at Boots.com
L'Huile Camélia Hydrating & Fortifying Oil, £28 | Chanel
Dry, brittle nails don’t stand a chance against this silky new oil from Chanel. With a pen-like design, you can squeeze a little on with ease wherever you are. The gel texture oozes out ceramides and camellia oils which help to bring brittle, flaky nails back from the brink – as well as ragged cuticles. After just the first application you’ll see a difference – notably softer-looking skin and healthier-looking tips with a slight rosy glow. It’s also a great tool to keep handy if you regularly have gels done.
Available at Chanel.com
Après Sexe Texture Spray, £9 | Andrew Fitzsimons
This vegan and cruelty-free spray will give you that tousled, undone look, while keeping your hair feeling silky smooth and looking more voluminous. With a non-sticky hold, the product freshens up strands that have lost their body in between washes. Simply hold the spray 30cm away from dry hair and mist in – just like a hairspray – through the roots and lengths. We love its green, floral and woody scent, too.
Available at Boots.com
Gommage Crushed Cabernet Scrub, £27 | Caudalie
If you’re after a good, gritty scrub, this one from Caudalie won’t disappoint. Using grapeseed oil, honey and tiny, exfoliating particles, a generous scoop hydrates while buffing away at dead skin cells. We recommend working it into dry skin, from the ankles upwards, then sloughing it off in the bath or shower. The motion of applying it dry helps to stimulate the skin and boost its appearance – think smoother, softer and a more even tone. Perfect before any tan application, or for days where you want to feel body confident. Extra points for the fully recyclable packaging.
Available at Caudalie.com
Voyeur Waterproof Gel Liner, £27 | Hourglass
Hourglass’s new Gel Eyeliners aren’t to be missed. The velvety formula glides on and can be easily blended out with a brush or your finger. The vividness of the colour is impressive – rich and glossy, it lives up to the price tag. Play around with the pressure to create a thicker wing or tiny, micro lines to subtly enhance the eyes. As they set and dry down quickly, you’ll find they won’t smudge or bleed – ideal if you find most liners crease into fine lines.
Available at HarveyNichols.com
Foot Beauty Treatment Cream, £25 | Clarins
Clarins’ buttery cream provides weary feet with some instant relief. Just like all its body care, its velvety, whipped texture that’s never greasy or tacky is a joy to apply. It absorbs fast and uses cashew nut oil and shea butter to soak up dry, hard callouses, giving them a softer, smoother appearance. The addition of myrrh means nails get a strengthening boost too – it’s an ingredient that’s proven to retain moisture and restore damage. We recommend massaging this on post-shower, popping some clean socks and letting the ingredients absorb deeply overnight for a smoother surface come morning.
Available at JohnLewis.com
Bronze Goddess All Over Gloss, £25 | Estée Lauder
A must-try for tan-phobes, this glossy body highlighter has just a hint of warmth which accentuates gently. Never too OTT, it looks believable with just the right amount of shimmer – aka, barely any. Apply it with your hands or a big fluffy brush to the areas you want to give definition to – think cheeks, decolletage, legs and collarbone. The texture is quick drying, too, so you don’t have to wait long to put clothes on or worry about transference either.
Available at HarveyNichols.com
Complexion Brush, £15 | Jouer Cosmetics
We all need a good brush – even better when it comes with a sealed lid that makes it great for when you’re on the go. Our favourite is this one from Jouer – it has densely packed, but soft, bristles which blend and buff all formulas seamlessly. Vegan and cruelty-free, you’ll find it never aggravates the skin and reaches every single contour of your face for even coverage. A must-have for travel.
Available at Flannels.com
Hydrating Aloe Continuous Mist, £10 | Hampton Sun
Whether you’ve caught the sun, are feeling too hot, or simply want to hit refresh, this aloe-rich mist is a godsend for summer. It is lightweight, with a continuous spray that’s easy to apply to all areas – even hard-to-reach parts like the back. It contains vitamin E and menthol to smooth and strengthen skin, giving it a speedy pick-me-up. Keep it in the fridge for extra cooling benefits.
Available at Niche-Beauty.com
Beauty Liquid Flush Cheek Tint, £25 | Monika Blunder
Liquid blushers don’t get much better than this. Sheer, but buildable, Monika Blunder’s latest are ideal for mature skin types. Full of nourishing ingredients, they plump skin up with moisture, while the shades available provide cheeks with a healthy-looking flush of colour that goes the distance. Once you’ve applied them, they set fast into skin and don’t crease up as the day wears on – unlike some liquid blushers. We love all three tones, but ‘Wien’ is ideal if you want to veer on the bronze side. Brush it over your skin with the doe foot applicator, then blend out with your ring finger or a brush.
Available at CultBeauty.co.uk
Secure Glow & Facial Oil, £27 | Mebare Skins
Industry insiders swear by this glow-boosting oil which uses rosehip oil to brighten and squalane to deliver long-lasting hydration. Unlike some facial oils, this one absorbs almost immediately, so you don’t have to worry about it sliding around your face or pilling off into little balls of product. Use it morning and evening, applying just a few drops post-cleanse, then watch the healthy, luminous glow ensue. It’s not just the face that benefits – any areas of the body prone to dryness or discolouration will enjoy a layer, too. Over time, you’ll notice dullness is improved, as is uneven tone and roughness of skin texture.
Available at MebareSkins.com
Density Preserving Scalp Foam, £22.50 | Philip Kingsley
When it comes to haircare that works, you can trust Philip Kingsley. Its award-winning range speaks for itself, and now it’s expanding further with this volume-boosting foam. Using peptides and azelaic acid, it’s proven to improve hair density – with three-quarter of testers noticing the impact – and boost the condition of strands. That means better shine and hair elasticity so that breakage becomes less of an issue. You only need to apply a tiny amount to freshly-washed or dry hair. Pipette it over the whole top area of your scalp and focus on sections prone to sparseness. Massage it in gently and don’t be alarmed if you get a mild tingling sensation – this is normal. With regular use, you’ll find hair has better bounce and texture – you may even see some tiny regrowth at the hairline.
Available at LookFantastic.com
Relax & Calm Face & Space Mist, £18 | Plantopia
This can be used as a skin toner – to shrink pores and tighten skin – or as a quick refresher for thirsty complexions. Alcohol-free, it’s never drying, instead it uses anti-inflammatory turmeric and geranium to reduce redness and bolster better hydration for a smoother surface. It’s one of those products you never knew you needed. Skin benefits aside, it’s also hugely calming. A quick spritz helps you to take a moment out of your day-to-day and provides some speedy, on-the-spot grounding.
Available at PlantopiaLife.com
Solar Radiance Hydrating Cream Highlighter, £24 | Rose Inc
Anything cream-based is great for mature skin as, more often than not, it’s more hydrating. We’re loving this highlighter from Rose Inc which has tiny shimmer particles that catch the light beautifully. Available in five suits-all shades, it skims the skin gently and allows for subtle enhancement where you need it most – think the cheekbones, cupids bow, brow bone and around the eye. Added squalane keeps skin hydrated, while sea holly cells give a plumping effect. You can apply with fingers, but we recommend using a brush to really work this into the skin.
Available at SpaceNK.com
Hav Body Wash, £18 | Skandinavisk
If you’re after a quick beauty fix, you’ll love this summer wash from Skandinavisk. It has a salty, warming scent that’s ideal for this time of year, while rose brings a softer, feminine feel that instantly makes you feel clean. At £18, it’s a luxury, but one you won’t regret – especially if you’re serious about good body care – because it also contains spring water to seal in hydration long after you’ve rinsed it away. We love how long the scent lingers in the bathroom, but also on your skin. It’s so good, you’ll want to take it away with you, too.
Available at JohnLewis.com
Cloud Mascara, £24 | Sweed Lashes
For more of a tinted effect, you can’t beat this Cloud Mascara from Sweed Lashes. The brush is almost like a comb, with thin bristles that latch onto every single lash – even those tiny ones at the inner and outer corners of your eye. The definition is subtle, but impactful, while the formula stays put, never smudging or flaking come 4pm – even in the warmest of conditions. It contains panthenol, too, which is known for its smooth, conditioning benefits.
Available at SpaceNK.com
Tinted Lip Oils, £17.50 | Typology
If you want just a hint of something on your lips, don’t miss these tinted oils from Typology. They are sheer in texture, making them easy to layer up and build upon if you want more intensity. Almost like water as you apply them, the consistency is hugely satisfying, thanks to squalane, jojoba oil and vitamin E – all of which deeply hydrate. As for the shades, there is something to suit everyone, but we love Ruby Red with a tan, and Powder Pink for a wearable neutral. Unlike traditional glosses, they never feel tacky or too sticky, just light and smooth. Often out of stock, you have to be quick with these.
Available at Typology.com
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