From the diet book that works with your metabolism to some nifty SPFs to a new cleanser from an iconic Weleda range and a game-changing skin tint - discover some of the best new beauty buys around. Oh, and did we mention everything is under £17?
If you’re in need of some new beauty goodies but don’t want to spend a fortune, then look no further. The GTG team has collated our pick of 14 of the best budget buys that are hitting the shelves now. There's the fashion-forward Zara lip balm that wowed our beauty director Inge, a new Garnier sheet mask that will keep you cool this summer, a brilliant eco brush from Tangle Teezer and an excellent serum to calm acne-prone skin, plus lots more. Fill your boots!
The book to find your metabolic type: Eat Right Lose Weight by Pippa Campbell, £7.49
“Pippa Campbell is the functional nutrition practitioner who people go to when all other weight loss plans fail. Her approach – lauded by the likes of Gabby Logan - is all about understanding your metabolic type: why is it that one person only has to look at a cake to put on a stone, whereas for another, it doesn’t even seem to touch the sides? I’m exaggerating, but Campbell has observed seven metabolic types in her decades of experience, and these can help us to understand the foods we function best on. Even if you’re not interested in losing weight, it’s an enlightening read. I worked out that I’m a ‘cortisol’ (the stress hormone) metabolic type, who needs more protein and vitamin B foods and should avoid intermittent fasting (more stress!). It’s simple, easy to follow and with metabolic type-specific recipes too.” Victoria Woodhall, GTG Editorial Director
The gentle cleanser: Weleda Skin Food Cleansing Balm, £12.95
“Having been a huge fan of the original Weleda Skin Food cream for years, I was excited to try the new cleansing balm and it doesn’t disappoint. It’s a silky balm that turns milky when mixed with water and lifts makeup and the day's grime away quickly and easily. Much like the moisturiser, this truly is a cleanser for everyone. It suits all skin types, genders and ages - it’s no-fuss but works brilliantly, at a great price point. I also appreciate the tube packaging (instead of a tub like many other cleansing balms) so you can squeeze out what you need directly onto your hand rather than having to scoop it out.” SJ Corfield-Smith, GTG Beauty Director
The real skin tint: Maybelline Super Stay up to 24H Skin Tint Foundation + Vitamin C, £10.39
"If you love the no makeup look but want or need a bit more coverage than just concealer, then listen up. This skin tint covers up any redness or discolouration on your face, while still allowing your skin to shine through. It leaves you with a glowy finish and unlike most skin tints has really good staying-power - it certainly didn't slide off the oily zones of my face. This has 20 shades, which is impressive for a skin tint as most brands only have three to six. I'll be wearing this all summer long." Amy Rostas, GTG Beauty and Social Media Assistant
The Hydration Hero: Grace & Stella Hyaluronic Acid Serum, £9.95
"I love a good hyaluronic acid; it's the key to healthy, hydrated skin, thanks to its moisture-retaining properties. If, like me, your skin is looking dull and dehydrated then this serum from Grace and Stella, a British skincare brand which is one of the bestselling skincare ranges on Amazon, is a great option. Formulated to tackle fine lines, dark spots, and pigmentation while improving skin's elasticity, it leaves your skin with a lit-from-within glow." Jemma Thompson, GTG Design and Social Media Manager
The lip protector: Malin & Goetz SPF 30 Lip Balm, £14
"I'm making a concerted effort to apply SPF on my lips on a daily basis. We all know how important it is to apply SPF to our faces, but our lips are equally exposed and often neglected. This new lip balm is helping me fulfil my goals thanks to its light texture that leaves lips feeling velvety soft and nourished without any greasiness or stickiness. It has a sheer finish and the 100 per cent mineral, titanium dioxide formula is reef-safe and water-resistant for 40 minutes - perfect for any upcoming beach holidays." Christina Callaghan, GTG Commercial Director
The acne improver: The Ordinary Aloe 2% + NAG 2% Blemish Serum, £12.90
"If your skin gets better after years of suffering acne, it’s often hard to know how to look after it to maintain the improvements and avoid the breakouts coming back. This product addresses this with an all-round caring, healing, and skin-supporting formula that will gently help fade post-acne marks. It teams NAG (glucosamine) and a targeted peptide to gently smooth texture, clears up hyperpigmentation and supports a strong skin barrier. It’s joined by hydrating, soothing aloe vera in a light, oil-free serum that can be teamed safely with other great ingredients for blemish-prone skin such as salicylic acid and niacinamide. Very useful." Ingeborg van Lotringen
The summer skin sheet mask: Garnier SkinActive Hyaluronic Cryo Jelly Anti-Fatigue Sheet Mask, £4.99
“The fact that mass-market brand, Garnier can make all their sheet masks biodegradable is something other brands need to take note of. And this is the latest one to join their sizeable sheet mask repertoire. It feels cooling on the skin when you put it on - delightful to cool skin on a hot day or mid hot flush - and is packed with hyaluronic acid to drench the skin in moisture.”SJCS
The dewy skin glow: Skin Proud Serious Shade SPF 50+, £16.95
"I know we are constantly saying this but...SPF is the most important step in your skincare routine, and this one is a great addition to anyone's skincare arsenal. It has a milky-serum-type texture and dries to a satin finish that's glowy but not greasy looking. It doesn't sting my eyes and doesn't pill underneath makeup. Definitely one you need to try!" AR
The easy makeup hack: The Little Mermaid Long Lasting Eyeshadow Stick, £16.99
"As an avid makeup lover and huge Disney fan, Kiko Milano’s The Little Mermaid collection is right up my street and this handy eyeshadow crayon is super easy and convenient to use. It comes in four shades, all ultra-wearable but my favourite is 'Shell Pearl', a versatile shimmering apricot brown that suits all skin tones.The soft purple mermaid tail-inspired shade, 'Aim To Be Mer-mazing' is a close second. Simply scribble it on where you want it and blend the creamy consistency in with your finger. It has great staying power; I've worn it all day long and it didn’t fade, crease, or transfer onto my upper lid." CC
The very long lasting lip colour: NYX Smooth Whip Matte Lip Cream, £6
“For the easiest and cheapest bold lip that’s both creamy and matte at the same time, these lip creams can’t be beaten, especially as they are currently 20 per cent off at Asos. There are 12 shades in brights and nudes with astonishing staying power. At that price, you can blend a couple of them together on your lips for your absolute perfect shade, as I did by mixing a berry and an orange. Used as a base coat, they make your pricier lipsticks last longer too and never feel drying.” VW
The skin softening shower oil: Q+A Vitamin A.C.E. Cleansing Shower Oil, £9.50
"I love a shower oil; it’s the gentlest way to clean your bod (the oils are infused with very mild cleansers) and they leave a subtle-but-not-greasy layer of oil behind on your skin so you can skip the body lotion. They have so far mainly been a luxury thing with corresponding price tags, so it’s fab to see a really good-value one with lots of good ingredients to boot (light jojoba seed oil, berry and sea buckthorn oils for conditioning vitamins). I’m not a fan of the candy-sweet ‘exotic mango and guava’ scent (I prefer less synthetic aromatherapy fragrances) but that’s just a matter of personal preference." IvL
The conscious detangler: Tangle Teezer Plant Based Detangling Hairbrush, £13.60
“I didn’t think I could love Tangle Teezer any more than I already do but the fact they’ve managed to create a vegan brush made from 85 per cent sustainably sourced castor beans means they are etched in my heart forever more. It feels just as sturdy as the original and comes with all the detangling ease too. The brand also recognises that brushes can’t last forever so when you’re done with yours you can send it back to them (for free) and they will recycle it for you.”SJCS
The calming ritual: Tisserand English Lavender Essential Oil, £10
"Tisserand Aromatherapy has launched a new collection of essential oils inspired by the herbs and pants native to England and all the ingredients have been grown, distilled and ethically harvested in the heart of England too. The aroma of the lavender essential oil is like no other; it's rich and soothing. I have been using it to create my own homemade diffuser blends and it's worked wonders for creating a calm and tranquil environment at home and even helps me get a good night's sleep." CC
The bright lippie: Zara Jelly Joy Lip Balm in Orchid, £7.99
"I’m a tinted lip balm freak but they do tend to all come in the same muted, easy-to-wear shades. So this new one by Zara is a bit of a technicolour revelation: it’s a totally punchy hot pink that doesn’t become a sheer wash once applied, but has more of a glossy lip cream-finish. It sits pretty alongside its sister Tulip (a fashion-forward pale lilac) – there are only two shades in the ‘range’ and I hope/suggest there will be more in future. The balm is properly comfy, taking good care of parched lips, and - drum roll - I adore its gentle scent (I hate scented makeup and scented lip products give me welts, but this doesn’t), which is the ‘grape’ flavour I remember from 1980s Lip Lickers (google them) and scented purple pens. Love it." IvL