From viral lip stains to cult-status dupes, Budget Glossy Picks proves brilliant beauty doesn’t need a big budget. This week’s edit is all under £18 and entirely brilliant
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Who says great beauty has to come with a scary price tag? Not us. Welcome to Budget Glossy Picks, our weekly edit dedicated to all things skincare, body, hair and makeup that punch well above their price point, all coming in well under £20.
In the mix are genius SPF mists that make topping up SPF an absolute breeze, and a viral lip stain that has taken over everyone’s feeds (and for very good reason). We’ve also got an iconic product that has had a formula glow-up, a new clever K-beauty find, plus a setting spray with a plot twist. Its formula earned cult status under a much pricier brand name, and now you can get the exact same version for a fraction of the cost.
Intrigued? You should be. Let’s delve into this week’s Budget Glossy Picks.
SJ CORFIELD-SMITH
Our beauty director is misting her SPF on
Sculpted By Aimee Sun Mist SPF 50 PA++++, £19
“You will know Sculpted by Aimee for its brilliant makeup, but the skincare is equally excellent. It’s all formulated in Korea, a nation practically synonymous with skincare excellence, and designed to sit invisibly beneath (or over) makeup with zero pilling. This fine mist has become a staple for me. It lightly wafts over skin without being soggy, but still delivers top-notch SPF. It doesn’t clog pores and feels super hydrating, so it also works as a midday refresh. It also contains apricot oil, which gives it a lovely light scent, making reapplying sunscreen a genuine delight.”
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John Frieda Go Blonder Lightening Spray, £9.99
“Readers of a certain age will remember using either “Sun In” or squeezing lemons over hair to lighten in the sun. Neither was good, and both led to seriously frazzled and overly bleached-looking hair. This is the product we needed then, and thank goodness we have it now. It contains hydrogen peroxide (a very safe and hair-appropriate lightener) along with a blend of botanicals that can lift fair hair to two shades lighter. It also has lots of hydrating and heat-protecting ingredients, so your hair will look healthy, not like straw. Use it every other hair wash as a minimum, and only 10 times in total between colouring your hair. You can spray it all over, but I think it’s more useful targeted at specific areas like the roots for making hair look fresh and bright.”
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The Body Shop Shea Body Butter, £19
“The iconic Body Shop body butters have had a bit of a glow-up. The textures, across all 11 scents, have been tweaked to range between lighter creams, richer butters and unctuous balms to cater for all types of skin, rather than a one-texture-fits-all. The scents have also been elevated to a slightly more grown-up and sophisticated vibe. But, of course, their ethos remains the same; housed in recycled and recyclable materials and containing ethically and fairly traded raw ingredients.”
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Prequel Universal Skin Solution Dermal Spray, £19
“Whenever I get hormonal breakouts, I reach for a hypochlorous spray to mist over after cleansing and before any serums. And this is the hot new one from Prequel, the cool US dermatologist-founded skincare brand that has just launched here. You don’t need to spend a fortune on hypochlorous sprays, as they don’t contain expensive ingredients. This has been blended with minerals for added skin-calming and soothing benefits and neutralises acne-causing bacteria. It can be used all over the body and is ideal for sensitive or eczema-prone skin and is perfect for younger skin experiencing breakouts and oiliness.”
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JEMMA THOMPSON
Our Design and Social Media Manager is keeping her makeup in place with a new/ old favourite
Mco All Dayer Setting Spray, £15
“Millennials, what if I told you – whisper it – that you can have the OG Urban Decay setting spray formula back in your makeup bag? MCoBeauty is controversially known for its dupes, but this technically isn’t one (questionably similar packaging aside). Last year, after 15 years together, Urban Decay parted ways with Skindinavia, the lab responsible for creating its iconic setting spray formula. Enter MCoBeauty, which has teamed up with Skindinavia, who owned the rights to the original formula, to create All Dayer. It keeps my makeup looking freshly applied for hours, without leaving my skin feeling tight or sticky. The best bit? It’s around half the price of Urban Decay’s.”
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Sanctuary Spa Lily & Rose Mousse To Oil, £10
“I’ve always been obsessed with Sanctuary Spa’s shower mousses, but what I didn’t know I needed was a mousse-to-body-oil version. If, like me, you love your body looking like a sublime glazed doughnut but hate the greasy residue traditional body oils can leave behind, this is for you. The lightweight mousse melts into the skin, transforming into an oil that leaves my skin super soft, glowy and moisturised without feeling sticky. There are four scents to choose from, but Lily & Rose is my pick; it layers beautifully with the warm, fruity floral summer perfumes I tend to wear.”
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Bondi Sands SPF 50+ Sunny Spritz, £11.99
“I’ll be the first to hold my hands up and admit I’m terrible at topping up my facial SPF. I don’t want to mess up my makeup or make my combination skin unnecessarily greasy, so reapplication usually goes out the window. Luckily, this ultra-fine SPF50 mist has made it so much easier. The lightweight, fragrance-free formula spritzes seamlessly over makeup without disturbing it or leaving my face feeling shiny or heavy. It’s quick, easy and small enough to throw in my bag, so I actually remember to reapply throughout the day (which, for me, is half the battle).”
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Essence Brow Lift & Freeze Glue 01 Clear Control, £3.99
“I’m quite fussy when it comes to brow gel. When you have thick, dark brows, you want serious hold, but without the crispy, flaky finish some formulas can leave behind. This clear gel ticks all the boxes. It keeps my unruly brows in place for hours and gives them a sleek, laminated look while still feeling natural. The handy dual-ended brush makes it easy to shape, sculpt and put every hair into place, and once the gel dries down, it really doesn’t budge. For the price, it’s seriously impressive.”
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DAHABA ALI HUSSEN
Our content coordinator is loving her hydrated curls
Aroma Zone, Keratin AA & Fruit Acids Detangling and Repairing Conditioner, £9
“The best way to think of Aroma-Zone is France’s botanical version of The Ordinary. Everything is really affordable and ingredient-led, and I predict it’s going to be just as huge here, with their flagship store having just opened in London’s Westfield. And this is one of the standout products I’ve tried from the range. I’m very fussy when it comes to conditioner, as I can’t abide anything that weighs my hair down or doesn’t wash out properly, leaving it feeling coated and greasy. This does neither, plus it added lots of bounce. A brilliant option if your hair needs a moisture boost and some extra TLC, but you still want that light, swishy finish after conditioning.”
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Vaseline Gluta Hya Smoothing Serum Burst Lotion, £12.99
“When you have really dry, eczema-prone skin like me, you have to approach any new body lotion with a little caution as you don’t want it to irritate skin even more. But this new serum-meets-lotion from Vaseline has been a lovely surprise. It contains gentle skin resurfacers – AHAs, BHAs and PHAs – which can also be a watchout for sensitive skin, but I’m happy to report they sloughed away dull and dead skin while nurturing and nourishing at the same time, leaving my skin feeling incredibly soft, smooth and glowy.”
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Sacheu Lip Liner STAY-N Peel Off Lip Stain, £14
“I have naturally pigmented lips, so I need a lip stain that actually shows and lasts. This innovative peel-off lip liner stain did both, and I was seriously impressed with the results. I’m sure you’ve seen what these are like on your social media feeds. It is a bit of an odd process, but one that you have to trust! You apply it like you would a normal lip gloss, and it leaves a very dark stain on your lips. You then leave it for 10–15 minutes; I just got on with the rest of my makeup and left it alone before peeling it away (an oddly satisfying moment), revealing a defined wash of colour that lasts for most of the day.”
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SheGlam, Brow-Fection Micro-Stroke Liquid Pen, £4.49
“I’ve always stuck to a waxy brow pencil to define my eyebrows, so branching out to try this liquid pen felt like a bit of a gamble, but I’m very pleased to say it paid off! It was so easy to use. Because the formula is fluid, it is quite effortless to swipe on and create natural-looking, hair-like strokes without any fuss. It’s also waterproof and sweat-proof and I can personally vouch for that as my brows stayed put through one of our many heatwave days.”
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INGEBORG VAN LOTRINGEN
Our contributing beauty editor has found a heatwave skincare hero
Q+A Hyaluronic Acid Milky Toner £6.37
“Who doesn’t want to quench their skin with a cool, creamy milk in this unrelentingly hot summer? Q+A’s bargain unscented milky toner is just as lush as many much more expensive versions, and full of good stuff that will hydrate and soothe and leave you glowing. Don’t get confused by the word ‘toner’ by the way – this is really a very light, barrier-boosting hydrator.”
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Boots Ingredients Plumping Lip Balm, £5
“Boots’ value Ingredients range has had a chic peachy makeover but still offers great basics at prices you can afford. This light-ish but deeply hydrating balm with peptides and hyaluronic acid (to work on fine lines) looks very similar, ingredients-wise, to some pricey anti-ageing lip creams I could mention. It’s unscented and unflavoured, with no ‘tingly’ ingredients, so won’t irritate any lips.”
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Dr Melaxin Cemencrete Calcium Volume Multi Balm £17.90
“From Korea, this is a stick of very light, melting wax that works as a balmy hydrator for undereyes, cheekbones or anywhere you want instant plumping hydration and a highlighting glow. The many claims and words on the packaging (“smooth core stick”, “cemecrete calcium volume”) don’t make much sense, and I would take claims of improving skin elasticity with a pinch of salt, but it’s an effective instant skin boost.”
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