Cheap beauty products have come a long way since the days of petroleum jelly moisturisers and beetroot lip stains. Now, you’ll find budget formulas from big-name brands across makeup, skincare and more.
In fact, companies such as The Ordinary and The Inkey List are setting high standards for affordable cosmetics, with no-nonsense formulas and coveted ingredients, including everything from retinol to exosomes. In the K-beauty sphere, it’s all about long-lasting results and nurturing skin health, often without the added cost of fragrance, which has the potential to irritate sensitive skin.
Even make-up buffs can find good beauty without breaking the bank. Many professional make-up artists are launching product ranges, offering professional standards at accessible prices. You can expect smooth textures, soothing ingredients and a long-lasting finish without the financial strain.
With the cost of living continuing to rise, low-cost beauty products are a great way to save some money. But how do you know which budget-friendly formulas are worth your hard-earned cash?
That’s where I can help. As a beauty expert, I’ve been busy testing everything from cleansers and body moisturisers to concealers and mascaras to find great products that will set you back less than a tenner. Scroll on for my favourite purse-friendly finds.
How I tested
As a beauty writer, new products are constantly landing on my desk, so I’m just as aware of the latest budget launches as I am of established fan favourites. For this article, I explored new and popular picks and revisited a large number of products from my existing collection. I narrowed down my selections to one per category – lip oils, vitamin C serums, and so on – and trialled each formula for a minimum of two weeks, though some have been mainstays in my beauty arsenal for years.
Given the diversity of products featured, I considered the following criteria during testing:
- Value for money: I wanted budget-friendly formulas that provide good results.
- Ingredients: I assessed how effective and beneficial the formulas were within each product’s category.
- Standout qualities: From staying power to instant results, I looked for products with impact.
Why you can trust IndyBest reviews
As IndyBest’s beauty writer, Lucy Smith covers the entire cosmetics spectrum, from teeth whitening kits to makeup, skincare and more. She’s constantly exploring new beauty innovations and, when it comes to affordability, brands such as CeraVe and Boots 17 are top of her list. To back up her tests, she interviews dermatologists and MUAs about the latest developments in the industry. She is always on the hunt for the most effective, sought-after ingredients and products that offer good results without breaking the bank.
The best beauty products under £10 for 2025 are:
- Best makeup remover – By Beauty Bay chamomile and oat lipid cleansing balm: £5, Beautybay.com
- Best cleanser – CeraVe hydrating cleanser with hyaluronic acid: £9.36, Superdrug.com
- Best concealer – Maybelline instant age rewind eraser concealer: £8.05, Amazon.co.uk
- Best mascara – Maybelline lash sensational sky high mascara: £7.76, Amazon.co.uk
This £6.75 product from The Ordinary is my summer pedicure must-have
9 best setting powders to prolong your makeup and control shine
11 best cream blushes for a natural and long-lasting flush
12 best foundations for mature skin, tested by a beauty expert in her 60s
8 best face masks to give your skin a boost, tried and tested
Maybelline instant age rewind eraser concealer
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Best: Affordable concealer
Why we love it
- Non-cakey
- Anti-ageing ingredients
Take note
- Can crease
- Fixed applicator prevents you from eeking out every drop
When it comes to budget concealers, I always come back to two in particular: Maybelline's instant age rewind and Collection's lasting perfection (£4.49, Boots.com). However, I prefer the former. Maybelline's is lighter and more natural-looking, and though Collection’s amps up the coverage when you need it, it’s easy to overdo. As its name suggests, instant age rewind works to revitalise dull eyes with ingredients such as brightening goji berry and fine-line-minimising peptides.
In my experience, it can crease with extended wear, but I’ve found that blending it in with a damp beauty sponge before setting with a light powder really helps. Some people aren’t fans of the in-built sponge applicator, and I can see how it might feel unhygienic, but you can just tap the product onto your fingers, rather than applying it directly to your face.
Buy now £9.99, Boots.com
Maybelline lash sensational sky high mascara
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Best: Affordable mascara
Why we love it
- Smudge-free formula
- Available in 10 shades
- Doesn’t weigh down lashes
Take note
- Need oil cleanser to remove
Whether you opt for the burgundy shade (pictured) or the glitter-loaded ‘space diamond’, this mascara delivers across the board. It's sweat-proof, easy to apply (no dreaded wand-in-eye incidents here) and, crucially, it holds a curl – something usually reserved for waterproof mascaras. Surprisingly, sky high manages this without the smudging risks that often come with oil-based waterproof options.
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The only issue is that it’s almost too good. I recommend using an oil or balm cleanser to gently melt it away at the end of the day, as removal can be a bit fiddly otherwise. Fortunately, the inclusion of glycerin and soluble collagen helps keep lashes hydrated, strong, and long, so they stay in great condition, even with the extra effort.
Buy now £7.76, Amazon.co.uk
Starface hydro stars
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Best: Affordable pimple patches
Why we love it
- Playful design
- Prevents skin-picking
- Minimises bacteria spread from open blemishes
Take note
- Ineffective on under-the-skin pimples
You've probably seen Starface's pimple patches out in the wild, sprinkled across the faces of Gen Alpha and Gen Z. In the beauty industry, even seasoned editors are reaching for these anti-acne stickers. So, what’s the appeal? It’s a little gross, but these playful, star-shaped patches use hydrocolloid – similar to what you’d find in a blister plaster – to draw out fluid from active blemishes.
In my experience, they work best on a spot that has already come to a head or after you’ve caved in and picked at it. The pimple patches are less effective on those under-the-skin, cystic types, but they do act as a protective barrier if you're prone to poke at pimples. Plus, as open spots can easily spread bacteria across the skin, these star stickers help stop a breakout from turning into a chain reaction.
Buy now £6.74, Boots.com
Garnier vitamin C brightening serum
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Best: Affordable vitamin serum
Why we love it
- Pleasant scent
- Gentle approach to BHA with included salicylic acid
- Treats existing and future hyperpigmentation
Take note
- Fragrance may prompt irritation in highly sensitive individuals
I was first introduced to this serum when the brand reformulated in April. As someone who loves La Roche-Posay’s more premium serum (£45, Boots.com), I was eager to test this affordable alternative, especially as it includes salicylic acid. I normally find BHAs leave my skin feeling tender, but I was recently told by Hailey Bieber’s facialist, Joanne Evans, that skincare acids sandwiched within other actives – such as vitamin C – can be gentler on sensitive complexions.
This proved true with this Garnier serum, and I enjoyed seeing how my face became smoother and more even after about a month of using this product. I also noticed improvements in the shade of my skin, with my post-blemish hyperpigmentation looking far less noticeable. I loved the serum’s fresh scent, and I found that about six drops would saturate my entire face and neck.
Buy now £8.70, Amazon.co.uk
Revolution Pro miracle travel bag
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Best: Affordable makeup bag
Why we love it
- Extra large to fit your entire makeup routine
- Stylish faux leather trim
- Clear sides prevent endless rummaging
You’d be hard-pressed to find a better-value makeup bag than this. It’s similar in style to Space NK's viral toiletry bag (£36, Spacenk.com), but much less expensive. Even as someone who tests make-up for a living, I could easily fit my go-to products inside, including bulky setting sprays and palettes.
Revolution’s version has the same leather-look trim as Space NK’s, and I also appreciated the clear sides, which made finding smaller items a breeze. Having tried both the Space NK and Revolution Pro bags, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed with the latter, budget-friendly option.
Buy now £9.60, Debenhams.com
Revolution glow splendour balm bronzer
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Best: Affordable bronzer
Why we love it
- Easy to blend
Take note
- Can go patchy on oily skin types
I tested this cream bronzer in a side-by-side comparison with Charlotte Tilbury’s beautiful skin sun-kissed glow (£45, Spacenk.com), and I was genuinely impressed by the similarities of the two products. despite a price difference of almost £40. While the Revolution packaging is a bit underwhelming (although I’ve noticed hints that the brand may be updating to a new compact), the product itself delivers.
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It offers great pigment payoff, blends smoothly and leaves a warm, summery glow. If you’re on the oily side, you might want to keep a fluffy brush handy to blend out any separation that can develop over the day. Still, this is a fantastic option if you’re looking to save money without sacrificing performance.
Buy now £6.00, Boots.com
La Roche-Posay cicaplast baume B5+
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Best: Affordable sensitive skin solution
Why we love it
- Soothes sunburn
- Works to recover skin barrier after excess vitamin A/skincare acids
- Non-greasy
I make sure to always have a tube of this versatile product at hand. I use it as an aftersun, a nourishing moisturiser to stave off dryness during the colder months and, most often, as a skin reset if I’ve gone overboard with things such as retinol and glycolic acid.
Recommended by skincare guru Caroline Hirons, it’s great for relief from from eczema and psoriasis. As it’s water-based, the cicaplast balm is lightweight and absorbs into the skin quickly, leaving it feeling incredibly soothed thanks to the anti-inflammatory panthenol (provitamin B5).
Buy now £8.80, Sephora.co.uk
CeraVe hydrating cleanser with hyaluronic acid
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Best: Affordable cleanser
Why we love it
- Suitable for sensitive skin
- Generous quantity
- Great second/morning cleanse
Take note
- Not for makeup or SPF removal
A cleanser recommended by dermatologists and beauty gurus alike, CeraVe’s hydrating face wash is my first port of call for an affordable formula. Packed with hydrating hyaluronic acid, nourishing ceramides, and vitamin E to promote a healthy skin barrier, this product is suitable for a range of skin types. It’s about as far as you can get from a squeaky clean, skin-tightening cleanser.
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It’s not quite oily enough to break down my makeup, so I like to use it as a morning or second cleanse – when my partner’s not sneaking it into his wash bag, that is – and it leaves my skin feeling like a blank canvas, neither greasy nor stretched.
Although it is usually sold at a little more than £10, it is often on offer and can currently be picked up for £9.36 at Superdrug (offer ends 12 August 2025).
Buy now £9.36, Superdrug.com
Byoma liptide pH lip oil
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Best: Affordable lip oil
Why we love it
- Colour-changing formula gives bespoke tint
- Featherlight feel
- Easy to apply
Take note
- Adaptive tint is subtle
Byoma’s liptide pH was recently tested by IndyBest’s Daisy Lester in her review of the best lip oils. Daisy described this product as a “stellar choice for layering over lip liner or lipstick”. Getting my own hands on the product, I found the XL doe-foot applicator easy to use when swiping on top-ups throughout the day, and I enjoyed the baby pink hue that settled onto my lips.
Of course, the pH-dependent formula will create a different tint on everyone, but I saw a perfect day-to-day flush – ideal for solo wear or atop a bold lip. Plus, with the formula including peptides, ceramides and vitamin E, you can hope to see a fuller pout over time.
Buy now £9.99, Cultbeauty.co.uk
L'Oreal Paris color riche intense volume matte
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Best: Affordable lipstick
Why we love it
- Colour withstands eating and drinking
- Non-drying matte finish
- Provides precise application
I’ve tested a huge range of lipsticks, and this one is a firm favourite. I assess lipsticks on how well the pigment holds up through eating and drinking, and, so far, L’Oréal’s color riche has shown the most impressive staying power.
Matte lipsticks often come with a trade-off in moisture, leaving lips feeling desert-dry, but this formula is different, with nourishing jojoba and argan oils. I tested shade 507, which is a warm-toned cherry-burgundy. While the deep hue initially felt a little bold, the precise bullet applicator made it easy to achieve a clean, smooth edge without the need for liner.
Buy now £9.99, Boots.com
Aveeno daily moisturising creamy oil
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Best: Affordable body moisturiser
Why we love it
- Effectively sinks into the skin, especially after showering
- Sweet, gourmand scent
- Silky texture
Take note
- Not rich enough for very dry skin
Often with Aveeno products, the natural oat scent can prove a bit medicinal – of course, if you suffer from eczema or psoriasis, this is the brand’s distinct appeal. With its moisturising creamy oil, Aveeno has bucked the fragrance-free curve, instead featuring a sweet almond scent to rival Laura Mercier’s almond coconut (from £28, Lauramercier.co.uk). This gourmand aroma is the product of two ingredients: the prunus amygdalus dulcis (almond) oil’s natural scent and a supplementary artificial fragrance, the latter making it less appropriate for sensitive skin.
However, when I applied it to my shower-fresh skin, it felt velvety smooth and moisturising. Add the brand’s signature colloidal oatmeal to the mix and you’ll have happy, soothed skin from winter to summer. If your skin suffers from more significant dryness, you may need to supplement the oil with a richer cocoa or shea butter. But for a daily dose of nourishment and hydration, this oil will serve you well.
Buy now £7.63, Amazon.co.uk
Elf power grip dewy setting spray
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Best: Affordable setting spray
Why we love it
- Quenches dehydrated skin and rebalances oil in dry complexions
- Revitalises time-worn make-up
Take note
- Botanicals may cause irritation in sensitive skin types
- More of a hydrating formula vs. one with sticking power
If you like your beauty heavy on the botanical front, have considered the likes of Tatcha and Caudalie for their plant-rich face mists, try Elf’s dewy setting spray. Its mix of turmeric, jojoba, and green tea caters to dry and oily complexions, with hyaluronic acid to hydrate and squalane to calm skin that feels drawn or rough.
In practice, it imbues skin with a youthful glow and comes into its own when applied to makeup on its last legs. At about 3-4pm on an office day, I’ll do just that and watch in real time as the spray diffuses any patchiness, melding my cream products (blush, bronze, etc) for a more seamless afternoon finish. With amino acids, antioxidants and aloe vera, it’s a real skincare-in-makeup hero at a great price.
Buy now £9.88, Amazon.co.uk
The Inkey List caffeine eye cream
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Best: Affordable eye cream
Why we love it
- Brightens tired eyes
- Anti-ageing benefits, thanks to peptides
- Great value and jam-packed with actives
The Inkey List’s caffeine eye cream has been around for more than five years, and it’s still as popular as ever. Tired eyes? Consider them jolted awake. Dry eyes? Just let the squalane and lipids get to work. Honestly, it’s hard to understand how the brand succeeded in pulling so many components – from peptides to hyaluronic acid – together within a £10 RRP.
As its name suggests, caffeine is the star of the show, working to reduce under-eye swelling by constricting the blood vessels in this area. In reality, it’s not an instant fix for things such as genetic under-eye bags and translucent skin, but if your dullness is a product of inadequate sleep, smoking or diet, you might see improvements. It certaintly worked for me; the cream completely diffused the puffy eyes I sometimes suffer from in the morning.
Buy now £9.99, Amazon.co.uk
Nyx Professional Makeup buttermelt glaze soft glow skin tint
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Best: Affordable face base
Why we love it
- Works well atop moisturisers and SPFs
- Skin appears naturally airbrushed
- Ingredients to suit both oily and dry complexions
Take note
- Oxidises slightly as the day goes on
This product is up there with some of the most luxe foundation formulas. In fact, compared with some more-expensive options, If you're eyeing premium picks such as Chanel's sublimage l’essence de teint (£140, Chanel.com), Nyx’s budget-friendly skin tint offers a surprisingly impressive alternative.
It has an effortless, lightweight, serum-like texture – like a tinted SPF – but delivers better coverage. It smoothes out discolouration and blurs large pores with a natural, non-cakey finish. Skin looks healthy and radiant (as if you’ve just spent the day in the sun), thanks to ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, shea butter, and niacinamide. It doesn't pill, feels comfortable throughout the day, and wears beautifully. My one tip is to go a shade lighter than your usual match, as the colour tends to oxidise slightly and deepen after a few hours. Although it costs a smidge more than £10 in some shades, I just had to include it in my lineup of best budget beauty buys.
Buy now £9.99, Notino.co.uk
By Beauty Bay chamomile and oat lipid cleansing balm
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Best: Affordable makeup remover
Why we love it
- Removes waterproof mascara
- Nourishes dry skin
- Dissolves a full face of makeup
Take note
- Not the most attractive packaging
If you’re strapped for cash and looking for an affordable alternative to Elemis’ cult pro-collagen cleansing balm, Beauty Bay’s chamomile and oat formula will be just the ticket. It’s very effective for melting away makeup, and it comes in a choice of three sizes – 50ml, 90ml and 200ml. Naturally, the largest 200ml size is the best value at 8p per 1ml, but the 90ml (11p per 1ml) proved a perfect fit for my toiletry bag.
After warming up the formula in my palms, the balm turns to a silky, skin-soothing oil that’s comforting to massage around my eyes. Together with a hot flannel, it made quick work of my waterproof mascara and left my face calmed and nourished, ready for my second cleanse.
Buy now £10.00, Beautybay.com
Innisfree no sebum mineral powder
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Best: Affordable setting powder
Why we love it
- Gives skin an airbrushed finish
- Effortlessly mops up shine
Finding an affordable setting powder is no mean feat, especially if you want to avoid a white cast, cakey finish or fragrance-heavy options. However, when it comes to Korean formulas, it’s becoming a pattern to see eastern beauty brands one step ahead – and Innisfree’s no sebum mineral powder is a case in point. With gentle mineral salts, oil-absorbing silica and vitamin E, this ‘clean’ loose powder keeps things simple with 10 ingredients in total, and zero talc.
On application, I watched as it smoothed my skin with just a few brushstrokes, mattifying without heaviness and leaving my foundation looking refreshed and polished. Compared with other high street picks, it’s slightly cheaper than Max Factor’s best-selling crème puff powder (£9.99, Superdrug.com), yet proved to be more effective during testing.
Buy now £9.00, Spacenk.com
Harry's shower gel, fig
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Best: Affordable shower gel
Why we love it
- Sophisticated scent
- Huge 473ml bottle
- Non-drying
Don’t let Harry’s masculine branding put you off – this shower gel is worth a try. Its fig-scented version went viral when fans of Glossier's cult-favorite skin scent ‘you’ (£70, Spacenk.com) noticed that this £6.50 body wash from Harry's is a close match to the scent.
I've been using it for the past month and can confirm the fragrance smells far more high-end than the price suggests. It’s bright, powdery and youthfully floral. As someone who wears ‘you’ most days, I’d say this shower gel’s scent is impressively close to Glossier’s fragrance. It’s not as intense as an eau de parfum, of course, but it still fills your bathroom with scent and leaves skin clean, refreshed and hydrated, thanks to the inclusion of glycerin.
Buy now £5.20, Asos.com
NYX Professional Makeup micro brow pencil
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Best: Affordable brow pencil
Why we love it
- Lasts a long time
- Makes it easy to achieve makeup-artist-worthy precision
- Doesn’t drag on skin
If you've been eyeing up Benefit’s precisely my brow pencil (£23.25, Sephora.co.uk), Nyx’s micro pencil is a brilliant, budget-friendly alternative. It’s less than half the price, comes in two more shades than Benefit’s version and delivers the same smooth, effortless application. I've used both and, honestly, the main difference is in the packaging – the Nyx pencil feels lighter and less luxe, but the formula glides on beautifully.
The tiny twist-up core gives the option to shape a sharp, defined arch or create a soft, fluffy brow. It hits that sweet spot between creamy and long-wearing: it didn’t smudge or slide throughout the day, yet still gave me enough time to tweak and perfect my look. It also lasts for ages, so you won’t need to buy a replacement for a while.
Buy now £10.00, Boots.com
Superdrug optimum collagen day cream
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Best: Affordable anti-ageing moisturiser
Why we love it
- As effective as high-end formulas
- Doesn’t go patchy under makeup
- Non-greasy
Take note
- Fragrance may prove irritating for some
I reviewed this moisturiser back in March, posing it as an affordable alternative to Elemis’ best-selling pro-collagen marine cream. After testing the two formulas side-by-side for two weeks, I concluded that the Superdrug iteration was comparable to, if not better than, the luxe alternative. Thanks to its great value ingredients roster – collagen, squalane, antioxidants, vitamin E – and smooth, non-greasy finish, I praised this day cream for transforming any dullness and dry patches on my face.
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Ultimately, it’s a great introduction to collagen skincare and sets out to plump skin and boost elasticity. However, if you’re after a formula that’s faster acting on fine lines and wrinkles, I might add in something stronger, such as retinol.
Although this day cream retails for £15, you can get it for just £7.50 if you sign up to Superdrug’s members scheme.
Buy now £7.50, Superdrug.com
Made by Mitchell blursh balm
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Best: Affordable blush
Why we love it
- Colour diffuses evenly without patchiness
- A little goes a long way
- 2-in-1 blush and bronzer in certain shades
Take note
- Highly pigmented, so easy to overdo it as a beginner
I rarely recommend a brand that lives on the TikTok shop, but this is a genuinely great product. Made by Mitchell is the brainchild of makeup artist Mitchell Halliday, and it’s making waves in the affordable beauty sphere. Specifically, the brand’s blursh pigmentation rivals Rare Beauty’s soft pinch formula (£24, Spacenk.com) and has a buttery blend that swiftly stamps out unevenness.
I tested the shade ‘toasted terracotta’ and loved the sun-kissed warmth it left across my nose and cheeks, giving a natural finish like I’d spent a day relaxing on a sunlounger. The balm is infused with shea butter to prevent dragging, while vitamin E works to soothe any inflammation from blemishes. It’s clear that this is a product built upon years of MUA experience.
Buy now £8.00, Madebymitchell.co.uk
Biodance bio-collagen real deep mask
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Best: Affordable face mask
Why we love it
- Antidote to in-flight dryness
- Stays put overnight
- Leaves skin plumped and hydrated
Take note
- Slight greasy residue on oily skin
Whether you’ve a big occasion or a long-haul flight coming up, this mask is a must. I’ve used it before weddings, on a seven-hour flight and at home in my own bed – wherever I am, it leaves my skin looking springy and quenched.
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Compared with a tissue sheet mask, I find Biodance’s jelly makeup has a more secure fit and doesn’t slide into the eyes or mouth. Together with a fabric eye mask, it’ll remain in place overnight and, thanks to its collagen, niacinamide and hyaluronic acid formula, you’ll wake to see skin looking bright and youthfully dewy.
Read my full Biodance’s bio-collagen mask review
Buy now £4.99, Justmylook.com
The Ordinary hyaluronic acid 2% and B5 hydrating serum
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Best: Affordable hyaluronic acid
Why we love it
- Multiple HA molecular weights to tackle deep and surface hydration
- Fatty acids and ceramides to nourish as well as hydrate
- Layers well with other skincare
Five stars, no notes. One of the best hyaluronic acid formulas I’ve tested, The Ordinary’s serum offers excellent value for money. Its formula includes five different HA variations, and each has different benefits. While the low molecular weight hyaluronic acid penetrates further into the epidermis (upper layer of skin), the higher molecular weight gets to work on superficial dehydration. Meanwhile, a medium molecular weight HA bridges this gap, as a hyaluronic acid crosspolymer ensures longer-lasting hydration.
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Finally, hydrolysed hyaluronic acid works together with pro-vitamin B5 to encourage a healthy skin barrier. If that all sounds a little technical, just know that this is incredible. The serum feels weightless and sits beneath moisturisers and makeup without pilling – all for less than £10.
Buy now £8.80, Boots.com
Biore UV aqua rich water essence sunscreen, SPF 50
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Best: Affordable face SPF
Why we love it
- Hydrating and supports skin barrier health
- Broad spectrum chemical (absorbs UV) sun protection
- Suitable for shine-prone skin
Take note
- Alcohol denat can be drying
- Can pill if layered with lots of other cream products
This Japanese face SPF landed on UK shelves in 2022, and I wasn’t disappointed upon getting my hands on it. The formula is ideally suited to those with normal to oily complexions, but could easily be layered with a nourishing moisturiser for dry skin types, too. As is the case with most Japanese skincare, barrier health is at the heart of the formula, with a combination of vitamin E, hyaluronic acid and amino acids. It combines five types of UVA and UVB filters, and I’ve never been burned while wearing it.
A little goes a long way with this product (but make sure to check out the recommended amount of SPF to use), and it feels light on your skin. As a beauty writer, I apply more makeup and skincare than the average person, so I noticed a little pilling when swiping on my foundation, and cream bronzer. However, with careful application and fewer products, I’m not sure this would’ve been an issue. Just bear in mind the price is a little volatile; I’ve seen it cost around £7.24, but it sometimes creeps just above £10.
Buy now £9.89, Stylevana
Maybelline superfluff brow mousse
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Best: Affordable brow mousse
Why we love it
- Smudge-proof
- Volumising
- Buildable and beginner friendly
Take note
- Not as effective for sculpting brows against the natural direction of growth
Maybelline's superfluff brow mousse is all about instant volume. The airy, tinted formula fluffs up brows in a few quick strokes, adding visible fullness without the need for precision or multiple gels. It's especially beginner-friendly – buildable, easy to control and impressively smudge-resistant once it sets.
It doesn’t have the same grip as, for example, Refy’s brow sculpt (£18, Sephora.co.uk) or Anastasia Beverly Hills brow freeze (£24, Boots.com), so if you’re trying to fix hairs in place or brush them against their natural direction, you might find it falls short. But if volume is your priority and you’re after a soft, full look that holds its shape throughout the day, this product is a high street highlight.
Buy now £8.79, Amazon.co.uk
Hawaiian Tropic hydrating protection sunscreen lotion, SPF 30
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Best: Affordable body sunscreen
Why we love it
- Summery, long-lasting coconut scent
- Translucent packaging makes it easy to use every drop
- Non-sticky
Take note
- Does stain clothes if not careful while applying
A formula I always come back to, no matter my budget, Hawaiian Tropic’s hydrating protection (previously silk hydration) is a rich lotion with ribbons of shea and cocoa butter to moisturise sun-exposed skin. This chemical sunscreen (which absorbs UV rather than blocking it like a mineral formula) provides SPF 30 across UVA and UVB.
I’ve used the range for more than five years – packing it for everything from trips abroad to days out in the UK – and it’s kept my skin soft and burn-free. It takes a minute to fully absorb, but as a chemical formula, you’ll need to wait 20 minutes before sun exposure anyway. Once it has sunk in, it leaves skin looking hydrated without greasiness and prompts neither trapped sweat nor a prickly heat rash. Just keep in mind it can leave yellow stains on light fabrics, so you need to be careful around clothing and bedsheets.
Buy now £7.50, Amazon.co.uk
What are the best cheap beauty products under £10?
When it comes to skincare, makeup and body care, there are definitely some standout budget options. For skincare, La Roche-Posay’s cicaplast balm was a multi-purpose hero for sensitive complexions, working to soothe everything from sunburn to barrier damage. In the world of makeup, Innisfree’s no sebum mineral powder proved a real-world airbrushing tool, with clean ingredients and an inclusive talc-free shade. For body care, I’ve got to give it to the Harry’s fig shower gel – never have I enjoyed such a luxury-rivalling aroma for such a budget-friendly price.
For more recommendations, browse the best mascaras for length, curl, volume and definition
