5 Cheap Beauty Thrills That Won’t Break The Bank

I’m the first to admit I love pricey beauty items. The luxurious packaging, the allure of a big brand name, the phenomenal quality. It all melds together to create that lush product experience that you expect when forking out a large sum for something usually inexplicably small. However, few things make me as giddy as when I find exceptional products that are super affordable. The cheap thrills.

These are by far my favourite finds. I love that you can pick them up on a whim (or a lunch break during a bad day at the office!), that they don’t require a heap of research to avoid splurger’s regret, and I especially love that I can recommend them without feeling like I need to justify the price tag like I do when I talk about more spendy items.

Because let’s face it, as shallow as it seems, sometimes buying something new adds a little glitter to an otherwise matte day, and we could all do with some extra sparkle at the moment.

Red Lipstick: There are few products that can change your mood as instantaneously as a red pout. Whether you’re channeling your inner Marilyn with a matte brick hue or going for a more modern take with an orange-toned red you don’t have to spend a fortune, especially if you’re not sure if red is your thing yet. Revlon has been making lipstick since the 1940s and they have been bestsellers ever since with good reason. The Super Lustrous Lipstick formula is nourishing, creamy, easy to wear, comfortable, and doesn’t bleed or feather, and with well over 100 shades, there really is a colour, but preferably red, for everyone.

Face Mist: Soothing, calming, invigorating, refreshing. There’s a mist for every mood but this Mario Badescu has been a staple of mine for years. I carry a mini in my bag through Summer and top it up from the large bottle that I keep in my bathroom. You can also keep it in the fridge for a frosty misting after an afternoon spent outside (slathered in SPF of course!). There is just something so lavish about face mists, no matter the price point.

Bath Soak: Unlike bubble bath liquids which are often loaded with drying ingredients, bath soaks focus on hydrating and soothing skin. I have quite dry skin on my body but I love a relaxing soak in the tub, so I often forgo the bubbles in favour of something more nourishing. Just as relaxing and luxurious as bubbles are the soaks and salts you can find at the chemist and supermarket.

Shower Gel: Just because shower gel is functional, it doesn’t mean it needs to be super boring! I love a zesty citrus fragrance to my body wash, but a quick stroll down the beauty aisle will yield a scent for every mood. This one from Thank You in particular is an almost identical fragrance dupe for the Fresh Sugar Body Wash but for a fraction of the cost. Also, worth noting that the Thank You version is SLS free, free from synthetic fragrances, and palm-oil free if any of those things irritate your skin.

Gel Polish: I have to admit, I’m not the biggest nail polish wearer. I can rarely be bothered to sit perfectly still for long enough for them to dry and find that regular polish chips far too quickly for it to be worth the mandatory downtime. But these Essie Gel Polishes are a game-changer. Perfect, chip-free polish for at least 10 days, meaning it gives me at least a week and a half of feeling like my most chic self. Not to mention that I think I type faster when I’m tapping away with polished nails. Is that all in my head? Totally. But thinking it half the battle…