It’s budget Glossy Picks time – 12 new affordable buys we rate, from just £2!

VICTORIA WOODHALL

Our editorial director's favourite read is the gift for all girlfriends

Black Coffee and Red Lipstick – Notes on Living by Alexandra Shulman, £12.99

“This collection of essays and observations will delight every hard-to-buy-for girlfriend with its warm social commentary, gentle wit and beautiful turns of phrase. It takes everyday low-key dilemmas such as how many friends do you need, how to find the perfect suitcase, or how to ace a roast chicken and winds up where you least expect. The eyeliner chapter starts at Shulman’s own mirror, goes via the search for a modest dress for an event in the UAE, and concludes with Violetta, the Ukrainian refugee she took in, getting a job at Dior Beauty, and finally teaching the Vogue veteran the art of smudge-proof application. Gorgeous!”

Lipstick London Kiss Me Soft Velvet Lip Crayon, £16

“An entire brand devoted to lipstick would have looked very different if Dragon’s Den’s Touker Sulyeman had launched it 40 years ago, when he first registered the name. Lipstick London has everything the modern lip junkie could want, from glosses to lip oils, peel-off stains, brushes and lipsticks in satin, matte and sheer. It’s bright, fun and all under £20. I love the Velvet Lip Crayon, a pencil/cream hybrid with a soft texture and staying power.”

Celimax Retinal Shot Tightening Booster, £14.90

“Another affordable K-beauty brand for your radar is Celimax, which launches into Boots on 4 November and already on Amazon. Its USP is creating customer surveys to see what real people need before launching a problem-solving solution. I’m sold on anything that’s tightening and wrinkle-smoothing using retinal, the gold-standard retinoid that’s less irritating and more potent than retinol. K-beauty is obsessed with skin barrier, and that’s catered for too with peptides.”

Milani Highly Rated Fan Club Fanning Mascara, £15.50

“If you can never quite get even mascara coverage from the inner to outer corner of your lashes, this is the wand to change that. It’s both curved and tapered and spans the length of your lash line, so you can do the whole thing in one sweep. It puts all the colour (black or brown) where you need it while separating lashes brilliantly for a fluttery finish.”

INGEBORG VAN LOTRINGEN

Our contributing beauty editor has raided the teen skincare shelves and found a gem

Indu Fresh Face Eye Stick, £16

“Formulated for teens, the packaging is all fun, but the product is a no-nonsense pick-me-up for tired eyes, packed with quenching hydrators and gentle de-puffing botanicals — nothing aggressive, trend-driven or, God forbid, anti-ageing. A fragrance-free stick that melts into skin with no stickiness or oiliness, it feels genuinely cooling (without the use of irritating alcohol). I (definitely not a teen) find myself swiping my under-eyes with it at every opportunity to temporarily plump out my lines, and it feels like a treat.”

Nivea Blackberry Shine Lip Balm, £2.99

“The perfect muted red, somewhere between berry and claret, for Autumn, Nivea’s latest lip balm tint isn’t so punchy that you can’t put it on without a mirror, but strong enough to brighten up your face. Nourishing and buttery, it has ceramides, creatine, and vitamin C, and a juicy berry scent too.”

Clarol ZnO Clear, £9.45

“Zinc oxide is underrated for its spot-subduing properties – it’s an anti-inflammatory and suppresses sebum, so depriving acne-causing bacteria of their food and minimising oil slicks. In this handy little paste, it’s combined with squalane to keep skin comfortable but not greasy. Patted onto spots overnight (you don’t want to walk around with white blobs on your face), it doesn’t sting or irritate but will send zits into retreat.”

Leighton Denny Tough Love Limited Edition Nail Polish, £13.50

“An autumnal wine shade, but this one has an ever so slightly blue base so it’s more like a creamy plum, which is really flattering and chic on your nails. I was wearing Leighton’s neon pink polish without any top or base coat on my toes this summer and was mightily impressed at how long it stayed flawless – definitely a hard-wearing varnish for low-maintenance types.”

FLORENCE SCORDOULIS

Our Contributing Editor has added a new celebrity skincare brand to her routine

Eulah Carve Butter Facial Flow Balm, £8

“This facial balm is part of an insanely affordable skincare drop from singer Rochelle Humes. From mists to moisturisers and milks, everything is simple, cruelty-free and a joy to use every day — all inspired by her grandmother’s own skincare rituals, and the brand is named after her (Eulah is also Humes’ middle name). Anyone who enjoys a mindful facial massage but finds oils too shiny for daytime will love this antioxidant-rich balm. It melts into the skin, hydrating and protecting as the last step in your routine, with calming botanical notes, and the effect is glowy (but not greasy) and wearable.”

Punchy Hot Electrolytes + Immunity in Blackcurrant, £9.99 for 7 x 7.5g sachets

“We’re already obsessed with adding electrolytes to our gym bottle, but now they’re coming for your herbal tea, too. This hydrating powder is designed to be mixed with hot water, and is packed with extra immunity-boosting benefits from vitamins, elderberry and ginger. It tastes sweet, basically like a functional hot blackcurrant squash (plus, it comes in a spicy orange flavour, too). It’s also caffeine-free, ideal for drinking on a cold winter night, contains only nine calories per serving, and is affordable working out at £1.43 per drink.”

Hero Mighty Patch Face Spot Patches, £11.99

“If you struggle with spots and standard pimple patches aren’t quite cutting it, these XL full-face strips will be a game-changer. Each pack contains five to cover the T-zone, cheeks and chin. You leave on for up to eight hours, until they go white. The hydrocolloid gel material absorbs the oil and gunk, while creating a moist environment for speeding up healing and protecting them from touching. Essentially, a hardcore detoxifying face mask.”

Imperial Leather Foamburst Cherry & Snow Blossom, £2.75

“This luxe foaming shower gel is the ultimate wintery treat. It instantly whips up into a rich lather that goes a long way and leaves the skin feeling super soft, with festive notes of cherry and vanilla. Plus, it multitasks as a shaving gel, too”.