We’ve found a £3 tinted lip balm that’s a serious rival for Rhode, false nails that are half the price of a salon mani, collagen-packed bone broth cubes to upgrade our ramen and a stupendous 3-wick candle for £20. These 16 affordable buys seriously wowed us this week
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More affordable products these days are standing up to, if not bettering, their pricier counterparts, and our writers have found 16 affordable buys that are worthy of your attention.
There’s a new brow wax that looks like a lamination treatment in a tube, an XL candle that looks and smells like it should be three times its price, a generously sized curl reviver that boosts shine with zero crunch, a new SPF that is K-Pop Demon Hunter approved, multiple designer makeup dupes and a new detangling spray that every mum with knotty-haired children needs to make mornings less stressful. Everything is under £22. Let’s find out more…
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SJ CORFIELD-SMITH
Our beauty director has two designer dupes you need to know about
Daise Peptide Lip Butter Balm, £4.99
“This velvety smooth, very lightly tinted lip balm is better than the more expensive Rhode equivalent. There, I’ve said it. It’s a quarter of the price, less sticky, contains peptides to repair dry lips, and it comes with cute, detachable charms (a huge 2026 beauty trend). There are six shades and scents – I like the neutral Very Vanilla, but I predict there will be many more as these are going to be the balms everyone is after. For less than a fiver, you can buy a few in one go.”
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L’Oreal Paris Blur Filler Blurring Lip Contour, £10.99
“Many high-end makeup brands, such as Merit and Rhode, have brought out blurring lip pencils – they are creamier and balmier than traditional liners and create a softer line that adds definition and shape, but without looking harsh. And now L’Oreal Paris is giving us the same, but for half the price. It has the perfect texture, so you can be quite quick and not overly attentive when applying. You can also use it all over the lip, should you wish. There are six lip-toned colours and they have a twisty retractable nib so no sharpener is required.”
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M&S Apothecary Warmth 3 Wick Scented Candle, £20
“The M&S Apothecary range has had a glow-up with all the mood-enhancing scents boosted by 50 percent, making them even more fragrant. I always stock up on the handwash for my downstairs loo, but I am so impressed with this three-wick candle. It comes in a big, amber jar that you would think costs triple its price. The throw is now even better because of the increase of essential oils, and it smells really expensive; a comforting and warming (hence the name) blend of amber and pepper.”
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Monday Haircare Smooth Heat Protectant, £7
“Using a heat protector is one of the easiest ways to keep hair healthy, hydrated and shiny and this new fine mist from budget Aussie hair brand, Monday Haircare, smells delicious and protects hair up to 232°C, which is hotter than the hottest setting on most heat tools, so you know you’re covered.”
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JEMMA THOMPSON
Our design and social media manager is boosting her bolognese with bone broth
Borough Broth Organic Frozen Chicken Bone Broth Cubes, £6
“Bone broth might be having a moment, but I don’t always have the time or patience to make it myself. These frozen cubes are my shortcut. I drop about three 20g cubes into anything from a quick ramen to a midweek pasta, and they add that slow-cooked, savoury depth. They are organic and contain some protein (4.7g per 100g) and collagen (2.19g per 100g). At 67p a pop, they may seem pricey for a stock cube, but when you factor in the energy, time and willpower needed to make your own, it’s worth it for the flavour upgrade.”
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Soap and Glory Let’s Get Tropical Body Scrub, £7.99
“Dull skin and ingrown hairs are my two biggest body care gripes, so I need a scrub that actually pulls its weight, and this one does just that. Coconut shell powder provides the grit factor and has Soap & Glory’s signature tropical scent, making it feel like a treat rather than a chore. While it’s not reinventing the world of body scrubs, if your skin needs a reset for under a tenner, this is an uplifting go-to.”
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Boots Little and Loved Kids Leave-in Conditioner Detangling Spray, £2.75
“My two-year-old’s hair is thick, curly and has a mind of its own, which can make mornings tricky, but this leave-in detangling spray from Boots’ new Little + Loved range has made a real difference. It smooths knots without tears (his or mine!), smells fresh and light. Everything in this range for children aged three upwards is £4 or less and paediatrician-approved for sensitive skin.”
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Kiko Love Fusion 24h Moisture Radiant Foundation, £21.99
“I’ve got oily-combo skin with scars and blemishes, so finding a foundation that covers without feeling heavy is always a mission. This medium-coverage formula in 49 shades gets it just right. It evens out imperfections while giving a fresh, luminous finish that still looks like skin. It blends like a dream, lasts through a busy day without sliding off, and feels surprisingly comfortable. No heaviness, no cakiness, just a natural, subtle glow that makes you feel put-together without trying too hard.”
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ISLA HUFFADINE
Our content coordinator has a new version of a classic for between wash days
Batiste Fresh Vanilla Dry Shampoo, was £3.25 now £2.65
“Planning hair wash day around work, social plans and post-gym sweat is harder than it sounds if you have long hair. Enter a new, fresh vanilla scent from the OGs of dry shampoo, which is saving my schedule and my greasy roots. It smells gorgeous, transforms my hair in seconds and doesn’t leave a white chalky residue (although they do have dark hair-specific options if you’re worried about that). It’s also nearly always on offer, so it’s the ultimate bargain.”
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Morphe Cheek Thrills Bronzer and Tone Duos, £19
“Following the success of their three-pan blushers last year, Morphe have launched a compact cream and powder bronzing duo, meaning you don’t have to choose between textures as you have both for the price of one. The cream formula is buttery and melts into the skin for a sheer finish, while the powder leaves a gorgeous matte effect. There are seven shades, and the built-in mirror is so big that you can do an entire face without having to keep moving it around.”
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Kiss Glam 3D and Jeweled Press On Nails, £8.50
“Press-on nails are having a serious moment thanks to improved fit, more sizes and more realistic designs and colours, and Kiss is very much leading the way with two new ranges: ‘Core’ for everyday looks and ‘Glam’ for nail art and embellishments. They’re a fraction of the price of a salon manicure, really easy to apply (I applied a full set on the Tube), you can change your look far more quickly and cause zero damage to your natural nail. What’s not to love?”
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Half Magic Beauty Eyeshadow Singles, £14
“Half Magic is the brainchild of Donni Davy, the MUA responsible for the futuristic looks in the TV show Euphoria. The range is all about creativity and self-expression: think bright and playful colours, shimmery and glittery textures and fun and whimsical packaging (all compostable btw). But that’s not to say that it won’t appeal to anyone who prefers a more low-key look. There are quite a few tonal eyeshadows that are super wearable, such as this one, which I wear on its own or applied as a shimmery top coat over a neutral base colour.”
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FLORENCE SCORDOULIS
Our contributing editor's curls have sprung into life with a 2-in-1 styler
Being Dream Curl Smoothie Curl Enhancing Cream, £8
“Being affordable mix-and-match haircare launched last year in Superdrug — and I’m a big fan of their latest offering for curls or coily hair. This lightweight cream is a hybrid between a styler and a leave-in conditioner, with all the hydrating goodness of coconut oil and shea butter for soft, bouncy definition that isn’t crunchy. It literally smells like a fruit smoothie! Plus, the generous 340g bottle lasts ages.”
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Anua Zero-cast Moisturising Finish Suncream SPF50, was £18 now £13.50
“The popular budget Korean skincare brand Anua— known for simple, effective formulas — has teamed up with Netflix’s K-Pop Demon Hunters for a limited edition release of some of their cult favourites, with packaging themed for the series, at Cult Beauty. My favourite is this glowy, niacinamide-infused suncream, which has a watery cream consistency that blends in seamlessly with zero white streaks or stickiness. It’s the ultimate finishing touch for glass skin. But if you’re a superfan, go for the fun, character-themed Ultra-Thin Spot Cover Patch pimple patches, £12.50 for eight.”
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Urtekram Fluoride-Free Whitening Charcoal Toothpaste, £3.99
“If you’re looking for a natural toothpaste alternative that cleans like a dream, I recommend Danish brand Urtekram’s organic, vegan charcoal formula. It is fluoride-free, if that’s your preference, and instead uses zinc and peppermint oil to control plaque and banish bad breath and silica to whiten. The charcoal helps remove surface stains. While it’s sweetened with tooth-friendly xylitol, I will admit, it does taste rather, er, natural, but it definitely does the job!”
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Adored By Slick City Brow Wax, £15
“This clear wax is laminated brows in a bottle, with insane long-lasting hold that will tame even the most unruly of hairs. The precise dual-sided fibre brush applicator has longer, raised brushes for initial application and a flat edge for precise shaping. You can wear it on its own for an invisible, natural look. Or for a stronger definition, I teamed it with the customisable powders in the Adored By That’s Shady Brow Kit, £18. The powder blends into the wax base and stays put like a dream.”
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