You don’t need to spend a fortune to look a million dollars, once you know the best-value brands to buy
WORDS: STEPHANIE MAYLOR. PHOTOS: GETTY
Times are tough for many of us, but you know what they say: when pennies are short we like nothing better than a beauty treat. The so-called lipstick index is the idea that affordable pick-me-ups rise during an economic crisis, but you don’t have to make do with a lip balm to lift your spirits. Our beauty team has scoured the beauty aisles to find the 26 best products for your make-up bag and cosmetic shelf. Every one of these items costs less than £20, yet feels like a little luxury.
Want to know how to make your hard-earned money go further without compromising on your looks? It’s as easy as A, B, C…
Aveeno Is your skin having a meltdown? Aveeno Calm + Restore Re-Hydrating Night Cream, £12.99, Boots, uses prebiotic oat extracts and calming feverfew to pacify sensitive skin, with nourishment from shea butter. The formula is entirely fragrance-free so you can feel safe slathering it on red, itchy, irritable skin. It’s dermatologist tested too. ‘Our evening skincare routine is such a crucial one to get right to enable our skin to repair and renew,’ explains dermatologist Dr Cristina Psomadakis.
By0maThis skincare brand is all about boosting your skin barrier, which is the secret to comfortable, healthy, hydrated skin. We’ve been won over by the Byoma Hydrating Recovery Oil, £13.99, Boots, and its glow-giving effect. While deeply moisturising, the formula itself is miraculously light so don’t be put off if you have oily or combination skin – this will help balance everything out nicely and leave your skin beaming with health.
CeraVe
Developed in the US by a group of dermatologists, all products in this range – whether a body lotion or a foaming cleanser – are enriched with ceramides (oils found naturally in our skin) to target the core of moisture loss – the skin barrier, meaning dry skin becomes resilient over time.
CeraVe Moisturising Cream for Dry to Very Dry Skin, £9.50, Boots, also contains moisture-binding hyaluronic acid to really amp up hydration levels.
Dr. Bronner’s
This one has a bit of a cult following. Thanks to its ultra-natural formula, Dr. Bronner’s Pure-Castile Soap, £9.69, Superdrug, has a multitude of different uses, from facial cleanser to hair wash, shower gel to floor cleaner, dish soap to pet shampoo. Plus, as a fair trade, biodegradable and organic formula, it’s got some pretty great green credentials, too. It’s even rumoured that the Duchess of Suss
