05-07-2025
39 Inexpensive Beauty Items That Have Great Results
A Physicians Formula Butter Glow & Go Stick offering a luxuriously creamy, easy-to-apply formula that glides on skin to give you that "just returned from a week-long tropical vacation" glow. The double-ended applicator comes with two colors that can be used as contour, bronzer, blush, eyeshadow, and lip color. So many uses and for so little money, despite being comparable to the $46 Charlotte Tilbury Beach Stick.
Monday Haircare Dry Shampoo that works just as well as more expensive competitors to absorb oil and add volume, with the added bonus of keratin to strengthen and protect against humidity. Oh, and the floral scent is definitely a compliment magnet! Amazing they don't charge more for all these benefits...
La Roche-Posay Effaclar gel made with adapalene, an over-the-counter retinoid that can help minimize the appearance of pores, attack blackheads and whiteheads, and regulate skin cell turnover. Clear skin is possible, even without a pricey prescription — just check out this review pic!
L'Oréal Paris BB Cream, a green-tinted formula that combats redness through the power of color theory. It doesn't stop there — it also works to even complexion, hydrate with vitamin E, and set the perfect stage for you to apply your makeup on. Turns out you don't have to drop $50+ on Dr Jart+'s Cicapair Color Correcting Cream!
An ultra-affordable E.l.f. color corrector that comes in a ton of shades to help counteract different types of discoloration, like redness and dark spots. Mix and match to create the perfect foundation for the rest of your makeup routine.
A lightweight gel cream from Nivea with powerful Q10 that helps plump, firm, and moisturize skin in as little as two weeks with consistent use. One reviewer found success with this when expensive neck creams from department stores and Sephora fell flat.
Hawaiian Tropic's SPF 30 Mineral Powder Sunscreen Brush offering some light coverage (and extra sun protection on top of your normal sunscreen) that won't weigh you down on hot days. Most intriguing: Reviewers are using this on their scalp and hairline because YES scalp burns can happen and NO we're not putting goopy sunscreen in our hair. It's also wayyy cheaper than the $69 Colorescience version.
Jergens Natural Glow tanning lotion — a classic because it gives you a gradual, just-got-back-from-vacation glow after just a few uses. It's easier to use than more expensive brands that risk getting streaky *and* it's formulated with elastin to help your skin feel firmer.
E.l.f.'s Hydrating Core Lip Shine in the "Ecstatic" shade, which reviewers say works as a very good, affordable replacement for Clinique's "Black Honey," the $25 "universal shade" that has a Shakira-level of fame and adoration. This $7 alternative is nonsticky, moisturizes with vitamin E, and melts onto your lips like buttah.
A Revlon volcanic face roller way easier to use than those disposable blotting pads. You just roll the volcanic stone over any oily or greasy areas on your face and then pop it in your bag for later. A portable spa treatment if you think about it.
Gold Bond's firming neck and chest cream to pamper your décolletage with some special skincare attention. The glycerin and aloe hydrate while the salicylic acid gently exfoliates, leaving firmer, softer skin. After seeing these impressive results, I have to thank Gold Bond for not charging double.
An SPF 50 Airy Sunstick Smoothing Bar that works like a giant lip balm for your face. It's nonsticky, glides on clear, works nicely as a primer, and is so easy to apply (check out the curved shape), you may actually remember to reapply for once. Plus, it's cheaper than the Supergoop version.
A Wet n Wild lipstick formulated with vitamins A and E and macadamia for silky smooth color. Reviewers are shocked at the quality considering the price: a single dollar. Nothing at the dollar store even costs that little! Some reviewers have even compared it to MAC. 👀
L'Oreal Paris Bright Reveal — a new dark spot correcting rinse-off treatment that aims to be like a professional peel in a bottle. The blue gel uses 25% AHA, BHA, and PHA to chemically exfoliate and help reveal brighter, smoother skin. Expect compliments with words like glowing, radiant, and wellness influencer.
A Curél moisture spray when you want to boost your routine with a hit of ceramides — a key ingredient for helping your skin's moisture barrier. Spritz it on your face, body, or over makeup for a hydrating refresh. Despite the chichi packaging, you're more likely to find this affordable gem at your local drugstore than at a department store.
Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water, which has a place in an astounding amount of medicine cabinets (56,000+ positive ratings on Amazon!) because it gently (but effectively!) removes dirt, excess oil, and even waterproof makeup without drying out your skin and hurting your budget. You don't even need to rinse with water — just apply and wipe off.
A Vanicream cleanser for when you just want something super gentle, simple, and effective. It costs less than $10 and, without any fanfare, cleanses and removes makeup. It's a great option for sensitive skin — no drying or irritation here. I have since sworn off fancy cleansers because this does the job better than anything else!
A beloved Maybelline "Fit Me" matte foundation that has over 40 shades so you're sure to find the perfect match. This oil-free, breathable, lightweight formula gives you buildable coverage and a fancy matte finish you normally don't get outside of Sephora.
Or TirTir cushion foundation promising up to 72 hours of buildable coverage to help hide redness, blemishes, dark circles, and other unwanted discoloration. The oval-shaped puff makes it easy to get this heavenly product in every nook and cranny for a seamless satin finish. As a bonus, it's made with red propolis extracts that have antimicrobial properties. Reviewers are saying this a great swap for Dior!
Ogx Argan Oil of Morocco Curl-Defining Cream for curls so bouncy you'll be jumping for joy (and to show them off). The argan oil-boosted formula moisturizes and tames frizz while adding a level of volume and shine you'd normally expect from a much higher price point.
Or Lottabody Wrap Me Curl Mousse, a whipped-cream-like delight that defines curls, moisturizes with shea and coconut oil, and tackles frizz all for UNDER $5. The foam makes it super easy to distribute throughout your hair, and the heavenly scent will make you feel like you're on a tropical vacation.
Bio-Oil made with vitamin E, chamomile, and lavender oil to moisturize your face and body, and help improve the appearance of scars, stretch marks, dark spots, and more. One reviewer loves using it in place of a pricey serum!
L.A. Colors metallic nail polish that somehow costs less than $2, yet still provides a striking shine you normally have to pay 5–10 times the amount to achieve. At that price point, I'm shocked it works at all, let alone WELL!
Peach Slices nose pore patches offering an overnight solution for stubborn open pimples. Just wash your face, exfoliate, and pop one on before bed. The hydrocolloid bandage will soak up gunk from your pores without drying your skin. Normally, you'd have to book a facial for these kinds of results!
A cruelty-free Essence Lash Princess lengthening mascara that's lightweight, won't transfer, doesn't smudge, and lasts all day — oh and makes your eyelashes look like tall, beautiful skyscrapers. Why Essence only charges $5 for such an S-tier mascara is beyond me, but we're all grateful.
Or E.l.f Lash Xtndr Tubing Mascara, which creates tubing around your lashes to make them appear longer, thicker, and darker. The lightweight "extensions" won't smudge or weigh down your actual lashes and — best of all — they fall right off when you wash your face. Priceless!
An Elizavecca collagen coating hair protein treatment that takes your dry, tired hair and turns it into the silky-soft locks you've always wanted. Just apply it to wet hair after shampooing, wait five minutes, rinse, and wonder why other, pricier hair treatments (like Olaplex!) don't work this well.
A tube of Roc retinol night cream possibly imbued with time traveler magic, because it will feel like you're turning back the hands of time when you go to sleep each night. OK, maybe it won't be that dramatic, but the shea butter and squalane will hydrate, and the retinol will work hard to smooth and possibly reverse some signs of aging. This reviewer says it's a great alternative to prescription retinol.
L'Oreal Lumi Glotion that's a lotion, glowy foundation base, and highlighter all in one bottle. Over 30,000 5-star happy customers love how effective this vacation-in-a-bottle is, despite the low price. Some reviewers even compare it to the pricey Drunk Elephant Sunshine Drops!
A high shine lip gloss from L.A. Colors providing a splashy shine so bright, you might blind people with your smile. The luxurious, vanilla-scented color has shea butter for moisture, isn't sticky, and costs less than a cup of coffee (even a cheap one from the corner store)!
Nyx's Pore Filler Targeted Stick that's basically Photoshop's blurring tool, but IRL. Apply it like a giant tube of face lip balm to help smooth and reduce the appearance of pores. It's under $8, which is certainly less than an Adobe subscription.
Mielle's Rosemary Mint strengthening oil, a TikTok-hall-of-famer that almost 80,000 5-star reviews confirm is worth the hype. The biotin-infused serum can help strengthen hair and encourage new growth, leaving hair feeling healthier and fuller. Reviewers say it's helped with everything from receding hairlines to sparse eyebrows — who knew something so effective was just sitting on a drugstore shelf this whole time?
An E.l.f. hydrating grip primer that reviewers say is a comparable swap for Milk's Hydro Grip primer. The cooling gel uses hyaluronic acid to help hydrate and smooth your face and clings to makeup so you can enjoy full coverage all day long.
L'Oréal Paris Collagen Daily Face Moisturizer who has been clearly cheating off Charlotte Tilbury's test paper. Like the Magic Cream, this cheaper alternative absorbs quickly and seals in moisture for smoother, plumper skin.
A Nyx liquid eyeliner, with a precision tip and long-lasting, ultra-pigmented color, capable of serving just as dramatic looks as Kat Von D or Stila, at less than HALF the price.
L'Oréal Paris Elvive 8 Second Wonder Water bringing you silkier hair in just eight seconds. On top of a wave of hydration, it also adds shine and decreases frizz and static. Reviewers note it's a close match to a certain Redken product, but for way cheaper.
"Glow Up!" Vitamin C Face Serum powerful enough to help reduce dark spots, brighten skin, and give you an overall glowy makeover. Despite having superstar ingredients like 3-O ethyl ascorbic acid for radiance and hyaluronic acid, aloe vera, and vitamin E for supreme hydration, this miracle formula costs less than $10. STEP AWAY from the C-Firma.
Catrice "Instant Awake" Under Eye Brightener to expertly conceal and brighten dark circles under your eyes just as well as the $33 Becca version. The lightweight, color-adapting formula is designed to blend seamlessly — check the drastic difference in the review photo!
An under-$10 Mielle rosemary mint strengthening edge gel you can count on to keep your hairstyle in place *without* flakiness. The formula is enriched with biotin, coconut oil, and babassu oil to help prevent breakage, hydrate, and add shine.
