Budget Glossy Picks: 16 of the best summer buys under £25

15 July 2024

From Selena Gomez's latest body buy to an acid-free toner from The Ordinary and an £8 natural deodorant that really works - the affordable newness we love from £3.99

Any products in this article have been selected editorially however if you buy something we mention, we may earn commission

Is there anything more satisfying than buying a product that does exactly what it’s meant to and gives you change from £25? That's why our edit of the best budget beauty buys tested and loved by the GTG team is back! For summer, we’ve found clever mushroom-filled skincare from Glow Hub, an under-a-fiver hydrating body wash from Dove, a purse-friendly rosemary hair oil that boosts hair growth plus makeup buys that are far more luxe than their price tags. Enjoy!

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SJ Corfield-Smith, GTG Beauty Director

Revolution Juicy Peptide Lip balm in Strawberry, £4.99

“There is a tinted lip balm boom going on right now and this one by affordable makeup brand Revolution is excellent. Available in three shades and one clear, it has a tilted applicator that makes it easy to glide straight on. Containing peptides to help repair cracked skin, the consistency is velvety and balmy without being sticky in the slightest. Its slight candy scent will make it appealing to the tween and teen market. The level of tint - a subtle wash rather than anything too intense - makes it ideal for them – and anyone who prefers a low-key lip.”

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Glow Hub Super Shroom Serum Mist, £13

“Purse-friendly brand, Glow Hub - known for fun packaging and having its finger on the pulse of the savvy skincare consumer – has created three mushroom skincare products all of which contain a blend of reishi, cordyceps and chaga mushrooms packed with antioxidants that counteract UV damage and reduce inflammation. There’s a mask and an essence but I really like this serum mist. Spray it on post-cleansing, pre-makeup or throughout the day. The spray is quite powerful so I dispense it into my palms and press it on.”

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Soft & Gentle Deodorising Body Powder, £3.99

“You might not think you need this in your bathroom, but I would beg to differ. It is a modern-day powder (containing no talc) that can be used to protect against chafing, as a deodorant and ingeniously over your bedsheets to stop fake tan transfer. I have two further uses for it. I am obsessed with my Ugg Tasman’s, £100 which I wear without socks. Cue sweaty feet. A light coating of this on the soles of my feet keeps them dry as a bone and my Uggs smelling as fresh. Secondly, a dusting on my palms before my weekly Pilates reformer class it helps me grip the bar and hold positions without my hands sweating. Niche but I think you’ll find many uses for it too.”

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Megababe The Smoothie Deo, £8

“This has been my latest natural deodorant find and I’m thrilled with it. Its compact size makes it great for travelling or a gym bag, and I love the zingy, fruity scent. Most importantly it contains fruit enzymes that help tackle body odour, which some natural deodorants can’t handle. If you’re still struggling to find a natural deodorant that works for you, give this one a go.”

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Ingeborg van Lotringen, GTG Contributing Beauty Editor

Moskinto Itch Relief Patches, £6.95

"As if the weather itself isn’t miserable enough in itself this summer, the relentless rain and occasional heat also mean mosquitoes are multiplying (in my garden at least) and I’m covered in bites. With most anti-itch creams not offering much relief, I was intrigued to try this ‘mechanical’ alternative: hashtag-shaped plasters that lift the outer layer of the skin on a bite, helping the poison to drain away and the inflammation to subside. It does work although when the tension on the skin diminishes, the itch can come back – so you may need a few consecutive plasters. But it’s chemical-free and safe for all, so really quite clever."

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Dove Advanced Care 24hr Renewing Micro Moisture Body Wash, £4.50

"Boasting breakthrough technology that promises soft skin for 24 hours plus improved ability to retain moisture, these washes come in five ‘flavours’ and do provide wash-and-go comfort, so you can skip the body cream afterwards. There are no drying sulphates in here, just mild cleansers alongside ‘micro-bubbles’ of moisturisers and microbiome-boosting ingredient complex. Who knew good old Dove could be so hi-tech?"

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Revlon Colorstay Limitless Matte Liquid Lipstick, £10.99

"I won’t pretend I like liquid lipsticks: I hate their harsh, tight feel, matte finish and lack of plumpness-inducing ingredients. But that is the trade-off you must make if you want an absolutely budge-proof lip colour, and this classic Revlon formula is definitely that. Now with extra hyaluronic acid (so it’s not quite as drying as it feels) and upcycled antioxidant cranberry extract, these deeply pigmented liquid creams (in five shades, with some nice brights) come with really good applicators that make it easy to precision-paint your lips. And throughout July, £2 from every tube sold in Boots will be donated to the Look Good Feel Better cancer charity. Win-win!"

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The Inkey List Hydrocolloid invisible Pimple Patches, were £10 now £8.10

"These are the pimple patches that have left no stone unturned to make sure they send your blemishes packing in four hours (it’s clinically proven, no less). Made of near-invisible yet redness-blurring hydrocolloid which sucks gunk out of spots while keeping the area hydrated and protected, the material is infused with pore-unclogging, anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory salicylic and succinic acids alongside ectoin to soothe and hydrate. There is no way you’re not going to see your zit whither, fast if you slap one of these on it."

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Isla Huffadine, GTG Content Coordinator

Cetaphil Gentle Clear Clarifying Blemish Cleanser, was £15 now £7.25

"My skin isn't behaving right now so I've simplified my routine and I'm focusing on the basics. Starting with this oil-free cream cleanser. It is infused with aloe vera, white tea, and salicylic acid gently cleanses without leaving my skin feeling dry or stripped. After a few weeks I noticed less irritation and experienced fewer breakouts (I teamed it with the Cetaphil triple-action blemish serum and blemish moisturiser). It's a great option for teens or anyone with sensitive, breakout-prone skin seeking an affordable and effective solution."

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Elf Cosmetics Sun Boss Gloss Broad Spectrum SPF 25, £7

"Love a gloss but want added SPF protection too? Here you go! This has all the hydrating qualities you want thanks to vitamin E and hyaluronic acid as well as SPF 25 protection. The pigment is quite subtle so you can apply a light wash or build it up to achieve your desired intensity. Plus the precise applicator delivers just the right amount of gloss - no sticky drips here!"

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Boots SPF+ Brightening Eye Cream SPF30, £5

"When was the last time you remembered to apply SPF around your eyes? Yep, we may all be guilty of skipping, because many sunscreens feel too thick for that delicate area. Step in Boots' new SPF brightening eye cream. It combines all the traditional benefits of an eye cream with UVA and UVB protection. It has a slight light-reflecting tint that brightens and adds a bit of glow, making it perfect under makeup."

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Iconic London Blurring Blush Stick, £23

"This matte blush stick is my latest trick for achieving a natural pop of summer colour. Simply swipe across your cheeks and blend with a brush - or use your fingers. Its buttery texture melts in seamlessly and with nourishing ingredients like avocado oil and African yellow wood bark extract, your skin will feel hydrated and appear smoother. Dab some on your lips to create a quick and easy lip tint - perfect for my fellow lazy makeup enthusiasts!"

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Victoria Woodhall, GTG Editorial Director

Tisserand Rosemary Hair Oil, was £10 now £7.50

"There is evidence that rosemary oil for hair growth is a scientific thing - not just a Tiktok trend. I have a friend who is not easily taken in by fads and swears she has seen a difference since using it. Tisserand are specialists in essential oils and this spray-on oil that goes from scalp to ends is a treat that leaves my hair glossy and my scalp enlivened. There’s little chance of the follicles becoming dormant with this zingy elixir that you apply 30 minutes before washing."

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Neal's Yard Remedies Bee Lovely Body Lotion, £22.90

"This creamy body lotion has everything: a gentle summer scent of honey and orange, a creamy melting feel plus it’s organic and family-friendly (from age three). The entire Bee Lovely range supports charities such as Bees for Development, which has introduced bee colonies into cashew orchards in Ghana – because more pollinators means better harvests. I note that for an extra few quid you can get it together with a shower gel too when you buy Bee-utiful Bath & Body Duo, £30 (was £38). Bella Freud fans will want to snap up the buttery yellow limited edition Pollinate T-shirt, £25 quick!"

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Rare Beauty Find Comfort Gentle Exfoliating Body Wash, £24

"My daughter is just home from university and spends hours in the bath (because it’s clean and she can) and this new exfoliating wash always goes with her. For me, it’s not scrubby enough to exfoliate my gnarly hide (in fact it’s really a body wash) but she loves the very gentle buffing konjac jelly, the comforting scent and calming dusky pink packaging that just happens to be the same colour as her bedroom ceiling. The fact that Rare Beauty founder Selena Gomez was her absolute idol in primary school I’m sure helps too. How they have both grown!"

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The Ordinary Saccharomyces Ferment 30% Milky Toner, £12.40

"Milky toners (also called serum toners) are a new-ish K-beauty import and they are brilliant prep for dry and delicate skin because they both hydrate (with water) and moisturise (with oil) straight after you’ve cleansed. Like wetting a sponge, they help whatever goes on top sink in better. This toner – which even sensitive skins can use twice a day – is an acid-free exfoliator thanks to n-acetyl glucosamine (NAG) which prevents dead skin cells from holding on for dear life. The saccharomyces ferment (from yeast) is an excellent skin softener. It’s pretty watery and is meant to go on with a cotton pad although I tip it into my palm and pat in with my fingers, which creates less waste."

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