I love makeup. I love hair products. I love everything to do with making myself look and feel a little bit better. I’ve been obsessed with it all ever since I was a child, taking to the stage to perform a solo ballet piece with blue eyeshadow slapped all over me like a leftover from the 70’s. I worked in the industry for many years, later turning that passion into this blog, so I’ve seen both sides of the beauty industry and pretty much every product imaginable. Although I love a luxurious cream packaged in a delightfully beautiful pot, the buzz I get from finding a fab budget buy is possibly just as strong. Just as Primark and charity shops have become on-trend and adopted by high fashion, affordable beauty is having a resurgence – because spending more doesn’t always mean you’re getting better quality. (Read why not here.) There are now so many products and brands offering amazing quality for a more than reasonable price point, ensuring that beauty is once again accessible to all and affordable enough to be fun again. This week I’m going to be bringing you a series of posts which showcase my favourite budget beauty brands, top product picks and hidden gems that will all be worth picking up – plus every single one will be under a tenner. In celebration of my forthcoming #BudgetBeautyWeek, here are my top five reasons why I love a beauty bargain and even an opportunity to win a huge hamper of goodies for yourself…
1. It’s A Quick Pre-Payday Fix
Got two weeks left before this month’s pay check hits your bank account, but really need a shopping fix? Keep your credit card stashed well and truly away, because picking up a bold lipstick or brand new nail varnish can give you the same buzz as a pair of shoes. Adding a bright colour into your reportoire can make it feel like new, helping to ensure even a white tee looks straight off the pages of Vogue. A slick of pink lipstick, a hit of bronzer or an on-trend layer of nail paint can inject life into a tired wardrobe and doesn’t need to cost more than a fiver.
2. Trends Move On
How many times have magazines told us to buy into the hype of Chanel’s latest £45 eyeshadow palette because it contains this season’s must-have green shade? Budget beauty brands, or even more affordable high street alternatives, often copy those shades but charge a fraction of the cost – great when you know you won’t be wearing it two months later. Save your pennies for a real investment (such as a foundation you know perfectly suits your skintone and type,) and pick up cheaper alternatives when you know you’re just buying into a current trend.
3. Sister Brands Are Doing It For Themselves
So many luxury or premium names have more affordable sister brands, developed and made by the same factories (and more often than not using a practically identical formula.) Bourjois and Chanel, L’Oreal and YSL, Rimmel and OPI – all made by the same overarching companies. In a lot of cases you pay extra for the quality control process and a fancy container, so if you do your research you can really discover an amazing gem that doesn’t have to break the bank.
4. All In The Science
Technology and formulations have moved on so much in recent years that we’re all getting much more for our buck. I can remember products that cost only a few pounds being horrendous quality, but ten years later you can grab an eyeshadow palette for £4.00 that seriously competes with one ten times its price. Ingredients are cheaper, manufacturing processes are slicker, quantities are higher and demands are greater, all leading us into a market that produces seriously good stuff for only a few quid.
5. It’s Accessible To All
Although us beauty obsessives get wrapped up in the fact that we happily throw away fifty quid on a new face cream, for the masses that’s simply not realistic. Budget beauty and affordable brands ensure good skincare and makeup is accessible to everybody. My mum loves bright colours, changing her nail polish four times a week and glittery eyeliner come the festive season, but there’s no way she’d spend the same amount as me – just like she’d never part with £800 for a Mulberry bag. Our high street stores are filled with affordable products that bring beauty to the masses, and that could never be a bad thing.
Because I love budget beauty products so much, I’m giving away a huge hamper of 20 different budget goodies to one lucky person so you can try out some of my favourties and hopefully discover some of your own. If you want to be in with a chance of winning then just enter via the widget below. Why not let me know your favourite budget beauty buys by leaving me a comment: I’ll be summarising them in a future post (and hopefully picking up some new gems myself as a result!) I hope you enjoy LBQ’s #BudgetBeautyWeek as much as me…
Fave budget product is Garnier Intensive 7 Days Hydrating Lotion
I love beauties as well as you and if those are a kind of affordable I like them twice! Recently I am in love with Models Own Nail polishes…. Awesome quality, colours and affordable! I hope this Giveaway is International cause I live in Greece!xoxoxoxoMary
I love Garnier Summer Body Moisturising Sun-Kissed Look! Keeps me moisturised and glowing all year round!
i love when sister brands bring out similar products, like the glossy stains dupes.
Great hamper! My faves right now are NYX HD Eyeshadow Base, Revlon's Chubby Stains and Essence Matte Glosses 🙂
I love budget everything…even though I can affors the more expensive stuff, it feels better to buy something half price!
Mine is the Collection Lipstick in Orange Punch, don't think they make it anymore! 🙁
My favourite budget buys are L'oreal True Match foundation and Essence Multi Action mascara.
My fave beauty budget buy is Collection's Ultimate Wear Concealer.
The polishes look amazing!
Mine has to be the Maybelline matte maker powder! Its my absolute fave, I love it! Great article!
My favourite budget buys are Garnier's BB Cream & Revlon's chubby sticks!
My favourite budget brand is Borjois – smells amazing and really does the trick! I particularly like their healthy mix serum foundation, best high street foundation for sure!
Oooh I love a bargain, I'll definitely be back for the rest of this series!! A few weeks ago I picked up this amazing Flamingo Pink lipstick from Lidl for £1.99 and I just love it. The colour is rich, it feels nice on and it has serious staying power. Would definitely recommend!
Great hamper and post (as always)! My favourite budget products right now are the Essence I Love Extreme Crazy Volume Mascara and the Avene Thermal Water Spray.
My favourite budget beauty buy has to be my favourite foundation, loreal true match! such a super base for an amazing price point. Although, I do love picking up a few budget friendly lipsticks when I feel I need a splurge!
I love love love a bargain, especially when it comes to make up, I can't help myself and pick up something small every time I'm in a Boots or a Superdrug, or even in a supermarket! 🙂
Budget foundations have come a long way. My favourite are Bourjois Healthy Mix and Healthy Mix serum.
What a great giveaway! I have one running on my blog too.xxx | daisydaisyxxoenter my big blog giveaway
I love collection 2000 nail polishes, they dry so quickly and last for over a week plus they are so cheap xx
Anything from Bourjois or No7 – Been buying both for decades & still impressed with value for money.
Sore lips are friends to nobody. I use and now have to buy my daughter and my 16 year old SON, The Body Shop COCOA BUTTER LIP CARE STICK. Fabulous product.
I love a good budget makeup, I think MUA is quite a good brand and I love Barry M and models own! Rambling Makeup
Supermarket and drug store own brands are my tip. Tesco's Barbara Daly make-up range is a bit of a revelation – everything is really top quality, and so much cheaper than equivalent branded products. My newest bargain brand find is the Nip+Fab glycolic fix range – high potency glycolic acid products a fraction of the price of other high end AHA/BHA products on the market – and my skin has never looked so good, since I started using it. Also, Boots/Tesco have it on offer really frequently – extra bargain!
I have dry and chapped lips all year around. So, my favorite budget buy is Burt's Bees Honey Lip Balm. Really hydrating and smell amazing for any honey lover like me.
Bourjois cream blush is great. I use it for lips, eyes, and cheeks.http://behindthebeautyhype.com
I love beautyuk products especially the polishes and they are only afew quid. great giveaway 🙂
Slightly more budget makeup is great for me. I'm only 16 and I don't have a job as I have school so rely on my parents to give me money and I don't want to be too much of a strain on their wallets! It's nice to get a higher end product every now and again, though xxwww.eleanorbroome.blogspot.co.uk
I love the MUA eyeshadow palettes. They are such good quality eyeshadows and they are only £4 each, you can't really go wrong! 🙂 xxEmily Faye | http://www.emilyfayeslittleworld.blogspot.co.uk
I love the NSpa range at Asda, so far I've replaced Clinque Dramatically Different lotion and Liz Earle's Cleanse and Polish with NSpa equivalent and I love their facial oil too.
essence lipsticks are so good for the price
My favourite budget buy is definitely a Collection 2000 clear mascara – perfect for keeping my brows in place!
My favorite one would have to be Avon Glow Bronzing Pearls! Such a good quality bronzer, makes you look naturally glowy and it's only £5!
I absolutely love essence I love mascara! It's one of the best I've ever used and its less than £3.
My favourite budget beauty buys are the bourjois rouge edition velvet liquid lipsticks, such amazing quality for a drugstore product – I would pick them over my high end lipsticks any day!
Mine has to be MUA lipsticks and Concealer 🙂
My favourite budget buy is Maybelline Color Tattoo, longlasting and easy to use. <3 🙂
max factor flawless primer
My favourite budget buy is the Essence Road Trip lipstick, oh and Maybelline Color Tattoo.
My favourite budget buy has to be Soap & Glory's Righteous Butter
Mine is a lush bath bomb, thanks for the lovely giveaway.
I'm pretty much in love with everything Makeup Rev at the moment, especially their lip products. x x
I needed a moisturiser the other day, so popped quickly into my local 'Savers' and found this little beaut. I have very sensitive skin and I am allergic to parabens, so I was delighted to find that Balance Active Formula 8-in-1 Face Cream, clearly stated that it was oil and paraben free! I really feel it working when I use it, firming up my skin and although I still use a primer, this can also be used as a great make-up base. So how much does this little miracle cream cost? £1! I have to stock up soon before anyone else catches on! 🙂 xxx
Has to be Avon's Supershock Gel eyeliner, for £6 it is a revelation.
Favourite budget buy of the moment is the Garnier Micellar water – so gentle and removes every scrap of makeup!
My Budget beauty buy is Palmers Cocoa Butter it is a saviour for my dry skin,i take it on holiday and to work to stop my hands cracking.Its so easily absorbed,makes my skin feel hydrated straight away and the smell reminds me of my summer hols!
Revlon Matte Balm in Elusive is my fave product, it's gorgeous and wearable for anything. I also love Loreal nail polishes they have some gorgeous shades.You're so right though, budget beauty is amazing for my makeup collection although my bank may disagree with the frequency I buy makeup aha! xx
Great tips! I did not know that OPI and Rimmel are sister brands! My favourite budget buy has to be getting a new nail polish from Barry M, Models Own, Rimmel or Maybelline!http://shewhoisshort.blogspot.co.uk/
My top budget buy is the Barry M Gelly nail polishes – great colours and formula. Win, win!Alison
Miracle Matte pressed powder by Seventeen is amazing. Natural Collection blush in Pink Cloud is also good!
Amazing giveaway! My favourite budget beauty buy are Rimmel foundations and the stay matte pressed powder!Sophie x
Excellent post Haley. I tend to spend more on skin care, which is where I think we should invest our money. Great skin means you need less makeup. Rimmel is a favourite with me for lip colour and especially mascara. I swear by their Lash Accelerator mascara.
My favourite budget beauty buy has to be the Mua £1 nail polishes. They have so many great shades & the quality is fab (: xx
MUA lipsticks for just £1! xxBrenda BusyBee
My favourite budget beauty buy has to be the Rimmel Kate Moss lipsticks! They're cheap, usually on offer, I love the finish of both the mattes and the ordinary ones and they come in so many colours, my favourite red lipstick ever is #22 🙂
A very generous prize. My favourite budget beauty buy is Dove, I love their bath products, they are value for money and always make my skin so much softer after using them.
We have Catrice and P2 in Germany, which both have quite a few make-up gems. Oh, and Essence! But I also really like the Sleek palettes 🙂
love the So fragrances
Mine is nivea cream so good and really cheap
my fave budget buy is Borjois, they have some great quality products for affordable prices
models own nail varnishes, gorgeous colours!
I love little tins of Vaseline, it's great for lips, eyebrows and any dry skin
I like the Maybeline nail polishes at £2.99 each they are a bargain and have a good colour range 🙂
Got to be Superdrug's B Micellar water at the moment….and Revlon's Matte Balms! xo
love miss sporty nail polish fab value for money
Favourite budget buy is vaseline! it's so handy
Rimmell eyeliner!AShleigh
My favourite budget buy is Collection's Lasting Perfection Concealer!
Anything from Superdrug.
Aztec Secret- Indian Healing Clay!! Mix it with equal part raw apple cider vinegar, and you get literally the best clay mask ever. Only started using recently, but it's done wonder's for my face! 😀
bourjois rouge edition
Any products from Boots No7 Range are great for the price
Miss Sporty Just Clear Mascara is fab for taming my eyebrows
My favourite budget buy is the Collection lasting perfection concealor :)Velvet Blush
Choosing my favourite budget beauty buys is just too difficult…There are truly so many gems out there! I am currently loving my NYX lipgloss, Bourjois foundation, Avon eyeliner, Maybelline nail polish, Rimmel powder, Kiko eyebrow pencil, lip liner and lipstick…I could just go on and on and on!!! Great post and giveaway! 😀
Collection 2000 concealer!
My favourite budget buy is Garniers BB cream. It is really fab.
The Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet's, they don't budge!
I buy all of my eye makeup from poundland! Some brands I've never heard of but they do the job just as good as any other! I also love NYC for foundation, they're one of the only cheaper brands that do a pale shade that doesn't go orange after a few hours
I always use Rimmel Hide the Blemish, its a lifesaver!x
No7 Brilliantly Bare Beauty Enhancer as a dupe for Porefessional. I got the benefit sample in a birchbox and fell in love, the no7 one is half the price for twice as much and smooths out my pores as well as porefessional. Not exactly budget but compared to Porefessional it's a great price!
Vaseline does so many jobs, and when my hands are really dry it's brilliant
Dr Organics Pomegranate Soap – I use it as my cleanser, so so cheap, so good! xhttp://ninegrandstudent.co.uk
rimmel BB cream , not too expensive and covers really well
No 7 Nail Polish
I love the Colour Trend range from Avon,it's really good value
I love Boots Natural Collection Pressed Powder. It's £1.99
I really enjoy using Garnier's BB cream for oily skin and Essence's Silky Touch blush in Sweetheart
My fave budget buy would have to be my Avon eyeshadow quads, I have 6 of them and they are so lovely with great blendable shades. I love the mocha latte palette for an everyday nude eye
my fave budget beauty buy has to be collection lasting perfection concealer x
MUA undressed palette, it's amazing for £4!
I love Maybelline Great Lash mascara. I've been using it for as long as I can remember and it's only £4.99! Particularly great when Superdrug do 3 for 2!
My fave budget buy is the MUA pro brow kit 🙂 xxthechloelook.com <3
I can't live without Batiste dry shampoo. It makes my hair look so fresh with little effort 🙂
My favourite budget beauty buy is a highlighter I bought from H&M. It isnt available anymore, but they bring out some gems every now and then!
Definitely Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer. It covers everything!
Vaseline, best budget buy ever, great for dry skin, cracked heels, lip shine and even a little rubbed on your hands and then on your hair removes the frizzies
I love all Barry M nail varnishes, you can never go wrong with them!
I love Avon lipsticks and my fav budget buy is their lipstick in POUT
It has to be Palmer's cocoa butter – it smells great, it doesn't break the bank and it leaves my skin feeling gorgeous – love it!
My faves are Tresemme hair products and Max Factor mascara – can't go wrong!
My favourite budget buy is Essie!
I once bought Max Factor 2000 Calories Mascara and got Creme Puff powder for free! 🙂 Best deal, love both products.
My favourite is Pro-Base Conceal and Brighten Kit – At only £3.50 it's an absolute bargain
Rimmel 24 hour foundation
Such a generous giveaway! :)kayleigh x
love all the giveway love rimmel 24 hour foundation were it all the time
My best buy is E45 cream to moisturise
NSpa melting cleansing gel from Asda is my favourite bargain
My favourite budget buy is Revlon Mascara
Rimmel mascara – one of the best I ve bought!
Oh. Blogger's playing up, I can't see whether my comment went through! Just in case it didn't, my answer was Rimmel 60 Second Nail Polish
at the minute literally anything by make up revolution!
I love Rimmels Nail polishes as they are long lasting – so are Collection 2000
I usually buy Avon products when they are on offer. I use their foundation and moisturising creams.
Vaseline!I use it around my hairline when colouring my hair. I use it on my eyebrows and on nails when fake tanning.I use it as a lip balm.I use it on my feet with some socks on for soft feet.I use it on my eyelashes to make stubborn mascara just slide off.Best stuff ever! 😀
Rimmel Blusher, struggle to find a colour that suits me that's not pearly or creamy – this has a nice matt finish x
I like to buy NYC or Miss Sporty mascaras. Mascaras are so expensive and I don't like the wand on most of them for my lashes
My favourite budget buy is E45 – superb moisturiser for the whole body and a little goes a long way.Hazel Rea – @beachrambler
Vasaline – can be used in a multitude of ways
Avon Mascara
great hamper
I'm obsessed with Boots and Superdrug and I love trying new products out! My fave ever budget buy is probably the Maybelline Colour Tattoo in Permanent Taupe. Absolutely love it!Daniela xo | danielascribbles ♥
I'm using superdrugs own BB cream that's amazing 🙂
Garnier's BB Cream
Burts Bee's Pomegranate Lip Balm
MUA is a great brand. I especially love their velvet lip lacquers which can rival those costing three or four times the price.
A tin of vaseline to use as lip balm 😀
For me carmex lip balm can't be beaten for moisturised healthy lips, especially the tinted ones.
Carmex lip balm!
Oh I have a few bargain buys that I just love and couldn't live without!! Firstly would be Rimmel Perfect Match Foundation….it's silky and smooth, and I like to wear this as my day to day foundation….I find that if I apply a small amount of sudocream to my face after moisturising as a primer the foundation lasts all day! And secondly would be a black gel eyeliner from NYX I think….it's amazing and does a great job!!
Jess nail polish from Poundland is fab!
Sleek Blush by 3 – it's fab!
Essence Multi Action Mascara is great
olive oil as eye make-up removee
Loreals six hour shine lip glosses 🙂
I love Bourjois Healthy Mix Concealer. The tube lasts so long and it stays on all day without me needing to retouch it.
nivea lipbalm 🙂
My favourite budget beauty buy is collection 2000 concelar great for under eyes